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Belhurst Castle
Categories: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Restaurants Arts & Entertainment Wineries Food Wineries Hotels, Restaurants, Wineries [Edit]
4069 Rt 14 SGeneva, NY 14456
(315) 781-0201
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
16 reviews for Belhurst Castle
16 reviews in English
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Review from Jill L.
Sunnyside, Queens, NY
4/24/2011 2 photos
First of all, we didn't stay here - we stayed at a local B&B which personally I think it's a better choice. What G and I did was the Wine and Cheese pairing - Flight of the six Belhurst wines and it is HIGHLY recommended it. You need to definitely call and make a reservation.
We were quite lucky that we had Bruce as the wine connoisseur because he was knowledgeable and you can tell he enjoyed what he was doing. He provided us with many information about wines and whenever I asked about different types of wines like Malbec - the man knew what he was talking about. Another example - apparently grapes for red wine and the process of it are fickle than the grapes for white wine.
By the way, don't rush and take your time...I believe that is what you should be doing in a tasting and understanding why some wine taste great/awful with some food. Plus I wanted to pace myself for I wasn't doing the pairing to get intoxicated and we found it silly that another couple came in later than us and left within one hour and a half. We were there for four hours - but it didn't feel that long.
So why the 3 stars? Well unfortunately, the food was just okay. You can see the potential of the food but it wasn't doing for us. The salmon was overcooked, the risotto was hard to chew, and although the steak was medium rare, you couldn't find the flavor of the meat. Not all was bad. The salad and the Pinot Gris was the best match ever...I never knew you can pair a salad with wine. The golden buck was simple but tasty and then everything else was okay. Nonetheless, it is an experience you need to try.Listed in: Seneca Falls NY Visit
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Review from Priya J.
Buffalo, NY
8/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Stopped by Edgars on a Saturday morning for brunch before heading to the Riesling Wine Festival. The scenery was beautiful driving up to the place, especially with the lake in the back. As for the food, it was nothing special. The only reason I'm giving this place 2 stars, is for the bottomless mimosas and bloody marys. I figure any place that has limitless alcohol deserves an extra star.
Brunch is my favorite meal, and I usual love any place that serves it, but this place was mediocre. When I first walked into the dining room, I was immediately excited with the buffet spread, but that was as far as my excitement would go. The belgium waffles were hard as rock, and everything else reminded me of the cafeteria food from college. The omelet station was okay. You could choose your toppings and the cook would make it in front of you. The omelet is big enough to share. I probably won't be back here anytime soon. The food is not worth $20, but if you drink enough, I guess you get your money's worth. -
Review from Richard P.
Arlington, VA
7/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
The original castle is grand, the addition on the outside is nicely done with the standard materials and massing, but the interior new addition does not live up to the exterior and leaves much to be desired. The food and service do not fit the potential of a high end or spa like establishment, I had such high expectations because of the advertisement & the grand building type, original castle, I would not discourage one from staying or eating here, but just did not meet my expectations for the money.
If you do stay, if you do not get a room in the original castle, I would seriously think twice about staying in the winery.
Also seems to be a wedding factory, e.g. They do a ton of weddings and are more set up for this mass banquet event and not a spa or resort type high end hotel.
Quality of service is not really very good for the hotel or the dining experience - the staff would benefit from some customer service training.
We have to add that we wrote a letter to the owner letting him know of our disappointment with the stay and he responded with a very thoughtful letter letting us know that he would address the issues we had and apologized for the challenges we experienced during our stay! Definitely worthy of another try if we are in the area. -
Review from Amanda M.
Tiverton, RI
I haven't stayed here but I got lunch at Stonecutters which was worth the stop and the great view for lunch.
The wine shop is also pretty robust and you can taste 5 wines for $2.50. None of the wines really stood out to me but I did bring home a bottle of Red and Isabella. -
Review from Brian T.
4/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Bellhurst seems like they have it all. 2 restaurants, hotel, spa, banquet area and a winery. However they should edit down some of their assortment and concentrate on making a few of them great. This review is solely for my experience tasting the vino however I haven't heard all that great reviews on their food either (hearsay). It seems that you are paying for the ambiance. It is a very elegant building, but I assure you, there's plenty of better places to eat and stay around Seneca Lake.
They really try hard with extras with the wine tasting, and I do appreciate that. Having several different items available to sample with mostly being sweet, like the chocolate, hence totally killing the palate for tasting. Minus points.
I'm not going to lie about it, when I taste wine, I like to see the prices, for I'm not going to drop thirty on a bottle. I'm just not. I want to taste what I would buy. No prices were on the tasting sheet and it annoyed me. Bellhurst seems rogue with that regard, for I haven't seen that with any other Finger Lakes winery.
The wines overall was just plain. Nothing all that extraordinary that I had to buy anything, and I really need an excuse not to buy bottles on wine tasting trips. As big and elegant as this places tries to portray itself, it let me down. -
Review from Angela M.
9/13/2010
Driving from Albion down to Watkins Glen State Park, we opted to stop at Belhurst Castle for lunch. I advocated for Stonecutters, since it was highly rated for its sandwiches and views by the other Yelpers. But I never win when there's a buffet and my father-in-law has a say. So instead we opted for the $9.95 lunch buffet at Edgars. This review is for Edgars only.
The experience gets 2 stars: 1 for the history and potential of the space, and 1 for the very professional and friendly wait staff.
The space was a missed opportunity for a decorator. Everything was too ornate, and not in the kind of way where it's just opulent and goes together.... it just looked old and sad and cheap. We were seated on what had been a porch at one time, and had been enclosed in such a way that it blocked the natural light and the gorgeous views of Seneca Lake. The ornate wood carvings and wood-paneled walls looked historic, but it was hard to tell in the low light. We did see the historic panels that talked about how the castle was originally built in Massachusetts and then somehow relocated to NY. Seems like they could have done a lot more to play upon the history rather than cover it with sad pink curtains.
Speaking of low light, you couldn't really see what you were getting from the buffet. Not that you wanted to, since it was all made off-site by Sysco or some other food service company and just reheated before being put into the chaffing dishes. The teriyaki pork was very dry and chewy. the battered cod with wasabi sauce had very little flavor and the batter was soggy from the sauce. The rolls were served cold. The vegetables for the salad bar were decently fresh, but the pre-made Caesar salad was dripping with dressing. Even the desserts were primarily made offsite, and they were an additional $6.95-$7.95 each.
Next time, just eat at Stonecutters and sit on the patio! -
Review from George D.
Wayland, MA
10/23/2011
I had high hopes for this place. The scenery is great is why I gave it one star. The food was awful for the price charged. The kitchen gets overwhelmed at peak times. Service painfully slow. Did I saw painfully. 30 minutes to get a beverage. I had a seafood rissotto and the lobster tail was so overcooked it was like a rubber eraser. The steaks were ok but for $30+ per entree it was underwhelming. Price value was awful. I would look elsewhere and walk in then park for the view
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Review from Michele T.
Hartford, CT
11/1/2007
Geneva has two faces... a gorgeous Finger Lake community, with deteriorating conditions.
My friend's wedding was at the Belhurt Castle, situated on top of a hill over looking the Seneca Lake.
As for the wedding details, booking the Belhurst is ideal for weddings with less than 100 guests. The hotel only allows 10 rooms to be blocked, forcing your guest to stay elsewhere. I feel I could have made my dinner that I had been served, and we all left hungry. Thank god for an open bar!
The property is gorgeous though with a vast lawn, various patios and decks to sit and sip a drink looking at Seneca Lake. If you are looking for a ceremony and/or reception venue take a peak at the Belhurst Castle. -
Review from Neal A.
Arlington, VA
5/26/2010
Stayed here with friends over a great May wkd. Beautiful and spacious rooms with lots of amenities. The Stonecutter pub was a lot of fun and we met some great people. Also, Buford and Smokin Dave were great on Sat night ( the band) A big plus - they don't overcharge for the menu and drinks. We actually got some good deals on wine. Tip - if your really nice to the staff they'll help you find the secret spigot!
Staff were generally fantastic. A special thanks to Matt, Claire, Nikki, Angela, Conchita and Bill for making our time here so enjoyable.
A couple of minor negatives - it was tough getting an order taken at Stonecutters. There is no place to go for a walk except on the highway. -
Review from Joseph R.
Souderton, PA
5/21/2010
We stayed @ Belhurst on an impromptu vacation recently, and were very pleased. Our first night was in the White Springs Manor, which managed to be rustic and elegant at the same time. The room was spacious and clean, and the bathroom appeared to be freshly renovated. We also enjoyed the bedside jacuzzi and fireplace, which the staff had lit for us in advance of our late evening arrival. White Springs is a 3 minute or so drive off the Belhurst campus, but it was easy to find even in the dark. The house had a lot of character; it was also very quiet and secluded and the grounds were pretty but in need of some attention.
The next two nights we were booked at the Vinifera Inn, which is attached to Belhurst Castle. Our room was very nice; clean and modern with a great view of the lake. We could hear the guests above us, but the noise wasn't enough to cause us much concern. Another fireplace and jacuzzi were nice touches. Bathroom was very well-appointed, and the two-person shower was really nice, though the shower heads were in need of attention. There is a rail line that runs along the lake, you can't see the train from the hotel (it is a sharp drop to the lakefront) but you can certainly feel and hear it.
We ate a lunch and dinner @ Edgar's and had mixed feelings. Dinner was pricey and our waitress was not all that pleasant; perhaps our age (we are in our late 20's & early 30's) or the fact that we chose not to drink had something to do with it. The food was excellent though, in our opinion. Lunch was a buffet, and a really good value. Our waiter Doug was extremely friendly and helpful, and we left satisfied and ready for a day @ the wineries.
Stonecutters was a real highlight. Beautiful sunken bar with a great view of the lake (too bad the sunset was behind us) and wonderful pub-style food. We were very happy with our experiences there.
Overall we were extremely satisfied with our Belhurst experience. We took advantage of their special anniversary pricing, but will certainly consider returning even at full price. The staff in particular made us feel welcome and comfortable throughout our stay. For a last-minute vacation, we feel lucky to have chosen such a beautiful spot. -
Review from Walt H.
Canton, CT
9/4/2011
A beautiful location. Spectacular grounds. Lovely ambiance. The service was welcoming and attentive. But the food was quite unremarkable and overpriced.
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Review from Cheddar C.
San Jose, CA
6/16/2009
Not sure about weddings...it is an ideal location but I just stopped in for the buffet lunch at Edgar's and was completely turned off from the place. I mean, if I was 80 and had lost all of my taste buds I'd probably be into the food...but I'm not. Just to give you an idea the buffet included: canned vegetables, iceberg lettuce salad, make-it-yourself sandwiches with wegman's bread, oily pasta with no flavor, and they didn't even do a decent molten chocolate cake. I did not order it but someone at the table did and I had to try. How can you mess up undercooked chocolate cake? The ambiance smells like old people and was generally appalled that they serve crap for food and charge for it. Would never recommend Edgar's for anything. If they cater the weddings there...watch out.
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Review from Chad V.
Geneva, NY
5/31/2010
Had breakfast buffet at the castle on memorial day, the food was awful. I did not think it was possible to feel that 9.95 would be overpaying, but with the quality of food the way it was- well, you get the point. On a good note, the staff and scenery were excellent
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Review from Rachel S.
Miami Beach, FL
7/24/2010
As a savvy traveler, this is by far the worst restaurant I've been to in the last 6 months! The grouper special that I was served was inedible and tasted like undercooked lake fish that was on the verge of being rancid. Add to that the mixed green salad had more slimy leafs than non-slimy, and that the chef tries to cover bad recipes by adding loads of bacon and butter to everything, and this becomes a nightmare of a dinner. The steamed broccoli would have been edible had I not found a worm, about 1/4" long, on one of the florets' outerside. In addition, the waiter was aloof and definitely not trained in fine dining service. There are far better places to dine in the area than this, and anyone who is wise would stay away from this overpriced restaurant.
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Review from dennis f.
Vashon, WA
8/4/2010
I was expecting much more - had dinner at Edgar's. the service was okay. it took the hostess 8 min to come to the front desk and seat us (they were not slammed) so that kind of set the tone. I was actually watching the clock and was going to leave in 30seconds when she came up. She was the pretty brusque, like we were imposing. Our waitress was fine, nothing outstanding though. The food was okay, had the rack of lamb my buddy had a pasta dish. the food was served kinda crammed on a mid size dinner plate - good portion but definitely not "displayed". the scallop appetizer was overcooked and the escargot was pretty well drowned out by the other flavors. I would probably not go back.
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Review from Dave R.
Hackettstown, NJ
10/13/2009
We were just married at belhurst and thoroughly enjoyed not only our wedding festivities but our stay as well. We've been quite a few times and have had mixed relations with the staff working the reservations. On the reservation front, be sure to absolutely clarify your dates and rooms; call again before you arrive to be sure of your reservation. There are a few terrific people at the front desk (namely Audrey) but there are those who screwed up one of our guests reservations, booking her for stay the year after our wedding - drama. Its not as up tight and for the 80+ crowd as some say, we're late 20's and had a great time at the bar (stonecutters) and terrific meals at the restaurant (Edgar's). Our reception food was excellent and well prepared, the service prompt and accomodating and the atmosphere will blow you out of the water. We ate brunch on sunday which was not only tasty and fresh but also affordable ($10), our rehearsal dinner options were creative and all 33 of us had nothing but good things to say about the food and service. As for the rooms they are top notch and some of the best that we've visited in the area. We stayed in the higher grade room in the vinifera (turret room) for our wedding weekend and were again pleasantly surprised by the comfort, roominess and cleanliness. The Turret rooms have a roomy jacuzzi in the room itself and two sinks and a double headed shower in the bathroom, also a bar area and fireplace. If you're in the area stop by for a wine tasting (try the golden pheasant and rieslings of course)
