The F.L.X. Wienery is a casual wine country hang out nestled among the vineyards in Seneca Lake, New York. It is not your run of the mill roadside stop; it is a culinary adventure. The entire region abounds with handcrafted wine, beer, and cider establishments that have been popping up from Watkins Glen to Geneva. Visitors, who follow the Seneca Lake wine or beer trail, are delighted that since the opening of F.L.X. Wienery, it is becoming a foodie destination as well.
Location: F.L.X. Wienery is a fun and relaxed eatery open for lunch and dinner, located in the heart of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail at 5090 NY-14, Dundee, [amazon_textlink asin=’1631215108′ text=’New York’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’04c5cfb4-e1f1-11e7-9647-5508a1e57c5e’].
Menu: Chef and Master Sommelier Christopher Bates and his wife Isabel Bogadtke opened F.L.X. Wienery in 2014.The pair has elevated the roadside dining experience and is serving artisanal hot dogs and high-quality, house-made: bratwursts, chorizo, Italian sausages, hand ground burgers and fresh-cut fries with inspired toppings.There are gluten-free and vegetarian options, with many of the ingredients sourced from local businesses like Zweigles hot dogs (fifth generation, family business located in Rochester, New York) and the buns from Village Bakery in Montour Falls, New York.
Thoughts: The restaurant looks like any road stand that you used to visit as a child on a family vacation, except for the welcome sign that reads, “Deliciousness is here, try a liquor milkshake.” It is a simple white building with large, communal tables inside and a huge patio outside. In warmer weather, diners can eat at white picnic tables accented with fire engine red umbrellas.There is a corn hole game set up at the end of the patio where patrons can enjoy passing the time before or after they eat.
Inside, a massive glass poster mounted on the wall serves as the restaurant menu. Diners step up to the simple stainless steel counter and choose either a wiener or a burger. You can create your version from the vast array of toppings (from crushed potato chips to pickled corn relish to sautéed mushrooms) or choose one the chefs have crafted, like the”Blues Artist,” a burger topped with blue cheese, Canadian bacon, fried egg, fried onions, and mushrooms. If you prefer a wiener or sausage, you can go classic with the “Kraut,” topped with a house made brown mustard, sauerkraut, herbs and fried onions, or “Whole Hog” with fried onions, bacon, cheese curd, corn relish, fried egg, chipotle mayo, and herbs. I chose the “Kraut” with a Zwiegles red hot dog. The combination and the fresh ingredients took my meal to another level. Other menu items include a vegetarian whole roasted carrot on a bun, chili or salads like the “Wienery Wedge” which includes iceberg lettuce, bacon, blue cheese, and tomatoes.
The locally sourced, “Fresh Fries” are not to be missed. They were crisp, hot and delicious. I chose to eat them with salt and vinegar, but you can eat them many different ways; topped with lemon, garlic, and parsley, or with gravy, cheese curds, and herbs. To go the decadent route, order the “Fries Royale” topped with foie gras, pecorino, truffle mayo, and herbs. Other sides include homemade thick cut chips, spicy onion rings or the famous “fried cheese” curds.
Christopher is a [amazon_textlink asin=’0470283181′ text=’Master Sommelier’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’21dda107-e1f1-11e7-8352-6f3ea1ae3e3b’] (only 149 people in the U.S hold that title). You can’t go wrong choosing a bottle of wine from his curated list to pair with your food. On the menu, there are 28 selections including Champagnes, sherries, whites, and reds from France, Germany, Spain, and California. You can purchase a bottle to enjoy with your burger. If you bring your own, they will provide plastic cups or, for a small fee, they will uncork it and pour it into Riedel glasses.
If you prefer a beer with your bratwurst, you can select one of the rare drafts like Evil Twin, “Imperial Doughnut Break” from [amazon_textlink asin=’0762773278′ text=’South Carolina’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’35af2c91-e1f1-11e7-9f80-b930bb5a1cf8′]. There are three other unique selections on tap. There are also 11 different bottled and canned [amazon_textlink asin=’0761168117′ text=’beers from Germany’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’theyums-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’425da2b8-e1f1-11e7-b73e-676d836ca6d6′], Belgium and the United States that can be purchased to drink at the Wienery. Other beverages include Johnnie Ryan Sodas, made with cane sugar, unsweetened teas, and bottled waters.
To finish off your meal, you can choose from deep-fried Almond Joys or Oreos. The Wienery also creates delicious shakes or floats which you can have spiked if you like.
If you order the Oreo stout milkshake, you must be 21 or older.
Price Range: A wiener with house toppings (lettuce, tomato and red onion) costs $2.95, Sausages are $3.95 and Burgers $6.95. The burgers and sausages go up in price depending on the toppings. If you choose a “Burger Art” burger, they range in price from $9.95 – $11.95. There are various combinations packs that you can order as well. The “Party Pack” which includes ten wieners, eight orders of chips, two cheese curds and ten sodas costs $69.95. Fries start at $3.25 and go up to $8.95 for the “Royale” version. Milkshakes start at $4.25 and go up in price if they are spiked. Bottles of wine range in price from $19.00 – $90.00. Depending on the size, tap beers start at $4.00 and bottled beer ranges from $2.95 – $9.00.
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Author Bio: Jeanine Consoli is a freelance travel writer, photographer, and foodie based in Allentown, New Jersey. A retired elementary school teacher, she used her summers to feed her passion for travel and kept journals of all the destinations she explored. Today, Jeanine is working as a writer full-time. She loves uncovering the history and understanding the culture of each location, including the local flavors of each unique place. She has traveled extensively in the United States and Europe and is excited to keep adding to the list, finding special places that are off the beaten path both at home and abroad.
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