Erie Canal Bike Trail Forum

Bob from Clifton Park NY on 1/7/2023 9:40:02 AM:

Doing the ride from Buffalo to Albany this June and wanted to know if there was info on restaurants that had bike racks to secure our bicycles. Looking for about 4 steakhouses or pubs (on the nicer side ) were our bikes would be secure.

Info on your favorite restaurants along the way would be nice.

Old Jimma from the Old Country from Endicott, Maine, Wellssville, Attica, Union Center, Albany, Buffalo, Fredonia, Brocton on 1/7/2023 11:55:16 AM:

Cycling the Erie Canal, Revised Edition: A Guide to 400 Miles of Adventure and History Along the Erie Canalway Trail (Parks & Trails New York)

Available on Amazon... pricy but worth it.

I know of no steak houses located on the canal. Try camping and grilling them yourself.

Did you try researching it on the internet? That may be your best bet.

Yankee John from Vermont on 1/9/2023 12:20:14 PM:

Based on a rides in 2019 and 2020, no more recent experience:
There is a steakhouse in Newark on the south side of the river with racks and an outdoor deck and good food.
The is a restaurant at the public boathouse in Utica on the south of the river just east of the interstate overpass that is pricey but is a nice location and good food and bike racks. I noticed it was closed the summer of 2020.
There is also an outdoor beer garden in Utica at the old Utica Club Brewery near the trail that does not have bike racks but lots of spots to lock your bike to a post.
There are two Italian restaurants in Amsterdam a block down the hill from Castle with excellent Italian food. Lorenzo's is next to the trail parking and has outdoor seating. Parillo's is an old family style Italian restaurant and more run down appearing on the outside but the food is good. Neither has bike racks, but there are bike racks at the southern terminus of the new Amsterdam Gateway Overlook pedestrian bridge. This unique bridge is a must see attraction.

Old Jimma from the Old Country from Endicott, Maine, Wellssville, Attica, Union Center, Albany, Buffalo, Fredonia, Brocton on 1/9/2023 12:56:51 PM:

Thank you for this info! (Especially Utica!)

Bill in Houston from Houston on 1/9/2023 5:50:49 PM:

I don't remember seeing a single bike rack at a restaurant on the trail.

Google Maps is really good for scouting out restaurants, because it has the ratings and recent reviews. You'll find some great places. Always have a backup, because restaurants come and go quickly sometimes.

DK from Fultonville on 1/11/2023 11:45:34 AM:

This one is right on the trail. Bike rack nearby, you can eat out on the patio and keep an eye on your bikes.

https://www.lorenzossouthside.com/

Bill in Houston from Houston on 1/11/2023 3:56:48 PM:

Thinking of memorable places that we ate at on the trail, I came up with these.

Buffalo
The Dish at Canalside. Hearty food washed down with a Big Ditch Hayburner.

North Tonawanda
My Tomato Pie. The best lemon vinaigrette dressing in the universe on some kind of salad my wife got. And a meatball sandwich.

Medina
Fitzgibbon's Public House. Bangers and mash, or whatever.

Brockport
Barber's Grill and Taproom. Burger and fries at a table out on the sidewalk.

Pittsford
Simply Crepes for dinner.
Ice cream at the dairy.

Weedsport
Lunkenheimer's

Canastota
The Mexican restaurant

Rome
Sugarbeets

Amsterdam
Shorty's

Bob T from Clifton Park on 1/12/2023 9:35:32 AM:

Thanks everyone for your input. Ride safe. Bob

cyclist friendly steakhouses / restaurants