Find Fresh Bites at These New LivCo Restaurants

Where: Livonia, New York

If this is not your first time in LivCo, when you make your way to 25 Main Street in Livonia, you may find this restaurant familiar. Previously, this spot was a town favorite known as Lake BBQ. Last year, though, Lake BBQ received new life as the revamped Lake Bistro, expanding the prior menu in order to still offer long-time classics, but also provide even more mouth-watering bites to both visitors and the community.

Stopping in for lunch? You’ll find that new menu includes familiar but elevated options like a smoked meatloaf sandwich served open-faced on focaccia bread with fresh marinara and mozzarella. Still in the mood for barbecue? Catch the pulled pork sandwich with the house-made barbecue sauce. Don’t miss the regional classic beef on weck sandwich, either, featuring thinly sliced, slow-roasted beef on a kimmelweck roll, and served au jus with a side of horseradish.

For dinner, expect similar hearty options like macaroni and cheese topped with smoked brisket burnt ends or pulled pork. Save room for dessert, too, such as the homemade crème brulee.

In addition to expanding the menu, the evolution from Lake BBQ to Lake Bistro also included a change in hours. Now, Lake Bistro is also open in the mornings, serving breakfast items and drinks such as coffee and espresso-based beverages, smoothies, homemade breakfast pastries, breakfast sandwiches and more.

Be sure to check Lake Bistro’s Facebook page for the most up-to-date hours and menus, at www.facebook.com/conesuslakebbq.

Where: Lakeville, New York

Though only open seasonally, if you’re lucky enough to visit LivCo when Conesus Lake Creamery is open, you absolutely need to stop in to try one of the creamery’s frozen desserts. Serving Perry’s Ice Cream, including a few dairy-free options, the walk-up counter near Conesus Lake and Vitale Park is the perfect place to stop after a day on the water or exploring LivCo’s many hiking trails. (Don’t worry; if you find yourself in need of a little AC, the creamery offers inside seating as well.)  

Expect a wide range of options — so many that you may just need to make a return visit during your trip! At any given time, there are more than two dozen ice cream flavors on tap, ranging from favorites like butter pecan and cookies & cream to more inventive options like coffee and donuts or blueberry cheesecake. Beyond a cone or cup, you can also enjoy your ice cream as a sundae or float.

Conesus Lake Creamery is located at 5818 Big Tree Road in Lakeville. Keep an eye on the creamery’s Facebook page @ Conesus Lake Creamery, for up-to-date opening times.

Where: Geneseo, New York

Big Tree Inn reopened in the latter half of 2024 after sitting vacant for four years. A community staple, the historic, 1833 building has long been a fixture on Geneseo’s Main Street, first acting as a private residence before becoming a lodge and, eventually, a property beneath the umbrella of the same nonprofit that runs SUNY Geneseo’s dining facilities and services. Now, a SUNY Geneseo alum and Livonia resident is at the helm, giving the gorgeous structure a second chance.

So what can you expect if the building’s beautiful architecture catches your eye as you explore Geneseo and you wander inside? In addition to the inn’s amenity-packed eight unique guest rooms, as well as event spaces, the property also encompasses a restaurant and tavern bar. There, you’ll find a menu packed with a variety of mouth-watering options that you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere in town.

Appetizers include staples like wings and poutine, as well as fried jambalaya balls and voodoo egg rolls packed with Cajun-spiced chicken and shrimp. Beyond the requisite soups, salads and sandwiches, entrees available during dinner service include strip steak, pork chops and southern delights such as chicken and dumplings featuring house-made dumplings and fire-roasted chicken, and etouffee with Cajun-seared shrimp smothered over rice.

At the bar, expect an impressive array of spirits and beers, as well as signature cocktails like the Peachy Demeanor (peach-infused bourbon, basil vanilla and lemon) and the Sweet Emmaline (tequila, triple sec, lime and guava).

Located at 46 Main Street in Geneseo, the Big Tree Inn’s restaurant and tavern are open Monday–Saturday, 11–8 p.m., with the bar serving later on Fridays and Saturdays. Get more info at www.bigtreeinngeneseo.com.

Where: Caledonia, New York

Another historic property being celebrated anew, Springbrook Tavern likewise opened in the latter half of 2024. The 19th-century property has served past lives as an inn, pizzeria and sports bar, and now it’s an affordably priced, family-friendly restaurant and bar serving comfort food and even, uniquely, a few items historically served at the property, such as the Thursday prime rib special.

Expect familiar, comfort food-leaning appetizers and handheld bites like beer-battered fried pickle chips, nachos, wings, reubens and meatball subs. For something more substantial, try a burger or the Springbrook Plate, the tavern’s take on the regional favorite garbage plate. It’s two burger patties or two hot dogs served over mac salad and home fries, topped with mustard, onions and meat hot sauce. Other entrees include pasta and steak, and daily specials include the aforementioned Thursday prime rib dinner and the Friday fish fry dinner.

Springbrook Tavern is located at 26 North Street in Caledonia, conveniently situated so you can easily pair a visit with the adjacent and historic Caledonia Fish Hatchery, a popular tourism spot in the area. Find more on Facebook @ Springbrook Tavern.

While 2024 saw the exciting addition of many new dining spots and watering holes around LivCo, there’s still so much more to come in 2025.

• Locals know Haven Gray as a nonprofit philosophy and arts center in Livonia, located inside a historic building that once served as the area’s post office, fire station and Masonic temple. Later this year, the center will welcome Livonia’s ReNewed Coffee Co. into the space and, in the future, ReNewed will share that space with the Haven Gray Dessert Café. When open, the café will first serve the center’s class and event attendees, with hopes to later open the café to the broader public.
• Then, Letchworth Waffles opens March 15 at 40 Main Street in Mount Morris. The menu will highlight a variety of trendy treats that you may’ve glimpsed on your social media feed but not had a chance to try out just yet. Think bubble waffles, waffle balls and the viral Dubai chocolate, filled with knafeh (a traditional Arabic pastry dessert) and pistachios. To compliment these scrumptious morsels, Letchworth Waffles will also serve coffee and bubble tea.