Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Mohawk Valley

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2026

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Mohawk Valley? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Motus

4.9

4.9 (708)

$31 to $50

American

Utica

About the restaurant

mōtus (Latin); movement, progress, passion, revolt

A tradesman's gastropub with an undeniable message of purpose.

Top review

ChantelGold

Dined on May 10, 2026

Amazing place to go for special occasions when you just want something small and intimate. The service was amazing and the food was delicious and the courses were great! Well planned and the flavors exceeded our expectations!

1909

4.9

4.9 (219)

$50 and over

American

Cooperstown

About the restaurant

With an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients, guests will find a menu that offers something for every palate, including the finest cuts of meats, fresh seafood and salads. The cozy setting, featuring outdoor seating on the veranda in season, and the serene backdrop of Otsego Lake provides a perfect complement to your dining experience.

Top review

Alexandra

Dined on May 16, 2026

Amazing dinner here for my birthday. The food and service is always great at 1909. Can’t wait to come back again soon!

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Experience

Afternoon Tea with a Twist

Tin Rooster at Turning Stone

4.8

4.8 (833)

$30 and under

Barbecue

Verona

About the restaurant

Saddle up at Tin Rooster Dancehall & BBQ - the region's top country-style bar. Experience live country music, entertainment and dancing. And don't miss some of the most mouth-watering BBQ around, including ribs, brisket and pulled pork. You can even rent Tin Rooster for private parties, barn weddings, corporate events and more.

Must be 21+ to join us for Dinner on Thursdays

Top review

Steve

Dined 6 days ago

Had a reservation,and were seated immediately. Neat atmosphere. Very friendly staff. Waited on in short order. Food was great. A couple different managers came by during our meal to see how things were going. Will certainly go back. Only thing I didn't like was it was kind of hard to find the place. Was about the only restaurant in the casino that there wasn't any signs for in the casino. Had to ask two casino staff members for help to find the restaurant.

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Experience

Dinner & Line Dancing

Ancora!

4.8

4.8 (634)

$30 and under

Italian

Utica

About the restaurant

Italian for encore, Ancora! is located adjacent to the historic Stanley Theatre and is one of the area’s premier dining establishments.

With its concrete-exposed high ceilings, stage lighting, custom-designed wine tower bar, open kitchen, colorful, local artwork and seasonal outdoor seating, Ancora! is the perfect blend of rustic old-world and urban design.

Featuring Mediterranean-inspired, mouthwatering cuisine, including a signature select tapas menu, Ancora! will have you begging for more.

Shared with friends or cherished alone, Ancora! is the ideal compliment to any evening, conversation or show.

Top review

Catherine

Dined on May 13, 2026

Service was impeccable! Greg was all over it and very attentive! The owner also came around and talked to people which was impressive! Food was fabulous! ❤️

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TS Steakhouse at Turning Stone

4.7

4.7 (3961)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Verona

About the restaurant

Located atop the Tower, TS Steakhouse features panoramic views and craft cocktails in our penthouse bar and sky-view balcony, plus an exquisite selection of steakhouse favorites created with seasonal accents. The restaurant and bar are smoke-free, but for those who like to linger over a cigar after dinner, there’s an intimate smoking parlor with its own spectacular views. TS Steakhouse has received the Casino Player Magazine Best View and Best Romantic Restaurant in New York awards including the Forbes Travel Guide Four Star Award.

Top review

Sam

Dined 6 days ago

Excellent service and excellent food!!!!! The best Filet in CNY!

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Popular dish

Filet Mignon

Popular dish

Miso Chilean Sea Bass

Popular dish

New York Strip

The Hawkeye Bar & Grill

4.7

4.7 (700)

$30 and under

American

Cooperstown

About the restaurant

Open year-round, Hawkeye Bar & Grill serves a diverse menu of seasonal favorites in a beautiful location overlooking Lake Otsego. Enjoy an enticing medley of comfort foods and regional specialties, including the best burgers in town, at this exceptional restaurant in Cooperstown, NY. Sample beers, cocktails and cordials while relaxing outside on the seasonal patio, or grab a seat inside.

Top review

Larry

Dined 2 days ago

The food was excellent and done perfectly as I asked. The server was extremely attentive and the view of its ego lake was to die for.

Roman's at the View

4.7

4.7 (79)

$31 to $50

Italian

Utica

About the restaurant

Open Now for Reservations! Starting Thursday 10/30/25

Top review

Joshua

Dined 4 days ago

Our first time here. We made it for Sunday brunch. It was a really nice time. Service was great. Food was wonderful. We will be returning sometime for dinner.

Ocean Blue Restaurant & Oyster Bar

4.6

4.6 (1655)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Utica

About the restaurant

At Ocean Blue we take our food seriously, but not ourselves. We are inspired to create a dining experience where our guests feel welcome and at home in our inviting setting to enjoy quality food, and warm hospitality. Borrowing influence from our most favorite era and styles, Ocean Blue’s interior boasts a mix of elegant black and white décor, a large copper bar, and floor to ceiling windows that offer a panoramic view of our city. Perhaps the most striking feature is our vast, open kitchen that allows guests to watch the culinary team in action, preparing our signature dishes. We cook the food, and craft the drinks that make us happy, and we want to extend to you the same feeling. Great service, great food and great drink is not enough. We create an experience. We are a feeling. We are all of the above.

Top review

Bill

Dined 4 days ago

Love this restaurant! Everything was perfect! The staff, the food and the ambiance all were on point. Will definitely be back.

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Popular dish

Famous Warm Butter Cake

Delmonico's Italian Steakhouse - Utica

4.5

4.5 (718)

$31 to $50

Italian

Utica

About the restaurant

Delmonico’s Italian Steakhouse affords Utica diners that want a real challenge the opportunity to give a 24-ounce certified Angus Delmonico steak an attempt. The 16-ounce center cut New York sirloin is nothing to sneeze at either. Not just large, the steaks are full of flavor with perfect seasoning and seared to perfection. The menu at Delmonico’s Italian Steakhouse doesn’t end there, however. Chicken is also well represented at Delmonico’s Italian Steakhouse with dishes such as chicken Sinatra, chicken prosciutto, chicken marsala and chicken riggies. The classics like shrimp scampi, veal parmigiana and lasagna are all available as well. Dessert options such as the homemade cannoli and amaretto cheesecake finish off the meal perfectly.

Top review

Cathy

Dined 3 days ago

We took our coworker out to celebrate starting a new job. It was quiet enough so we could have a lovely conversation. The food was tasty and served at a rate and pace so each course could be enjoyed. Never had to ask for a refill (magic glasses are always full). Our server was both delightful and professional.

Chesterfield's Tavolo

4.5

4.5 (465)

$30 and under

Italian

Utica

About the restaurant

The Chesterfield Family invites you to join us on this exciting new journey! After 30 years in the old neighborhood, we have packed up and moved some of our classic dishes into a modern atmosphere. Take your taste buds on an adventure with our NEW menu with contemporary twists on old dishes, as well a few new dishes all together!

Top review

Tracy Ann

Dined 5 days ago

Absolutely amazing! Five stars, hands-down! Being in the food/bar industry my whole life and being on vacation here from Boston/Providence, this was definitely a great find! Excellent service, from the hostess to the waitress to the servers to the food to the pricing! Worth every penny and every minute spent there! Kudos!

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