9757 Bailey Hill Rd
Sherman, NY 14781
716.769.7854
website
A remote bar evoking a mountain lodge hideaway along the New York border, Pine Junction is popular both with locals and with the guests of the nearby resort areas like Findley Lake and skiing resorts of the nearby mountains. This bar is a bit off the beaten path, but its specialty is all about good hearty food and good drinks to keep you warm in the winter months or the chilly New York fall. Come to this getaway and you’ll quickly be filled with good food and good memories.
Some great things I’ve tried:
- Deep Fried Pickles: Breaded dill pickle spears served with ranch or bleu cheese dressing. These spears are crisp and fresh on the inside, but still crunchy and inviting on the outside. A great app/
- Reuben Balls: This appetizer is a type of “croquette,” or fried roll, which is filled with sauerkraut and corned beef. Served with a thousand island type of dip.
- Piggy Back burger: This half-pound monster burger is cooked well done and topped with bacon, pulled pork and American cheese. Just when you think you can’t handle more meat, this one outdoes itself. Piled high with the delicious pork and beef combo, it’s hard to beat this monster.
- Beef brisket sandwich: The brisket isn’t always available, but when it does it’s worth getting. The brisket practically melts in your mouth. Just a little bit smoky, it’s perfect that the meat is served on an otherwise plain hoagie bun. It’s all you need.
- Pulled pork: The pulled pork is soft and delicious, what makes it work is the “Pine Junction BBQ,” a sweet, molasses-based sauce. Perfectly smothers the pork.
- Big Beastro burger: This half-pound delight is on the spicier side. Fried jalapenos make it perfect, they add a heat without diminishing the rest of the burger.
The atmosphere of the spot is great. Its website states, “Part of the adventure is trying to find us!” and in fact it’s a pretty good way to say it. The place is remote, but it’s just so peaceful; surrounded by what is in the fall a beautiful cacophony of colorful trees. It’s just a few miles from Peek n’ Peak, a popular ski resort that brings out the crowds. This part of New York is striking and it’s great to have a spot like this to escape for some good food.
Price points are pretty good here, the food comes out pretty quickly and the staff seems competent in handling large crowds but being friendly and welcoming the whole time. All in all, this little hideaway will be a good experience to fill you up.
Recommendations
- There are large outdoor spaces if you want to dine outside, and it’s also perfect for large groups.
- The bar features a lot of good local craft beers, with rotating options on tap.
- The burgers are the top thing to try here.
Another Food Critic 