There is a restaurant for every taste in Cooperstown and Otsego County, in general

The Cooperstown, N.Y., area offers big-time dining choices with each restaurant serving up a distinct personality. Whether it's romantic lakeside dining or eating informally in front of a big screen television with lots of loud children and adults cheering predominantly for the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox, Cooperstown has all the bases covered when it comes to finding great local restaurants.

Cooperstown Diner 136 1/2 Main Street, Cooperstown - (607)547-9201

The tiny Cooperstown Diner is better than some restaurants that think they're really good. One taste of the chicken and biscuits dinner special makes one realize that home style cooking can still be done effectively when eating out. Hearty breakfasts, substantial lunches and a few dinner selections (the pot roast is very

Doubleday Cafe 93 Main Street, Cooperstown (607)547-5468

The Doubleday Cafe is pure Cooperstown, an extremely pleasant, popular one-room cavernous bar and restaurant attracting tourists and locals. The Doubleday has a knack of going beyond good "grub" and venturing into some sophisticated and ultimately well done dinners. It may be a great restaurant for a burger, but it's even better for a marinated vegetable dish or seafood special of the day. A popcorn machine, four televisions, a charming brick wall and high ceilings, and always good service add up to the ultimate "townie" restaurant to dine.

The Hawkeye Bar and Grille PO Box 311; Location: 60 Lake Street, Route 80, Cooperstown (800)348-6222

The Hawkeye Bar and Grille is a great Cooperstown Village dining choice. Located in the stunning Otesaga Hotel -- a Federal-style piece of architecture featuring incredible 30-foot columns, an elegant interior, the magnificent Leatherstocking Golf Course, and huge outside porches with rocking chairs overlooking the 700 feet of lakefront -- the Hawkeye Bar and Grille, open for lunch and dinner, serves the best steak, seafood and chicken dishes in town. Contrary to the upscale Hotel, the Hawkeye Bar and Grille is informal, and in some areas, has a clear and beautiful view of Otsego Lake. The melange of New England seafood ( Shrimp, Scallops, Lobster and Littleneck Clams Served over Linguine Pasta with a Tomato Basil Vinaigrette) is as good as anything served in New England as the seafood and pasta are equally fresh and combine to make a truly exceptional dish. Another fine choice is the rack of lamb with a zinfandel reduction -- this is so tasty, you might want to come back one more time during your vacation to sample this excellent entree. Sample menus

Rose & Kettle Restaurant, 4 Lancaster Street, Cherry Valley, NY (607)264-3078
What a great restaurant! The chef-owned Rose & Kettle taps into local, seasonal, and small-farm ingredients, whenever possible, in and around farm-rich Leatherstocking Country to create one of the best dining experiences we've experienced, not only in the Cooperstown area, but anywhere. Tucked away in the quaint and cozy Village of Cherry Valley, N.Y., the Rose & Kettle's 200-year-old house setting creates a relaxing, charming atmosphere, perfect for a romantic night out or for that special vacation dining experience. Upscale, but never stuffy (they are nice to kids and have a children's menu), the Rose & Kettle offers myriad culinary gems, especially the orichiette pasta with caramelized garlic and shallots, chicken, and almond cream as well as the sky land farm lamb shank, "braised and toasted," with lemon herb risotto and creamy reduction. Wonderfully fresh salads, delicious desserts, some unusual wine selections and stellar service add to the overall great experience, helping make the Rose & Kettle a truly special restaurant, sure to please even the most finicky urban sophisticate. For the rest of us, the Rose & Kettle is an instant dining memory, pleasing the palate with the freshest selections in the Cooperstown region, and far beyond. Rose & Kettle Menu

Stagecoach Coffee 31 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown 607-547-6629

Stagecoach Coffee might be the best run restaurant in Cooperstown. Clean, attractive and with quick service, the Stagecoach would bode well in any urban area with its attractive hardwood floor, funky background music and light and airy coffeehouse feel. Sandwiches are terrific -especially the fresh panini - and the variety of coffees, ice cream, smoothies and muffins make the Stagecoach an instant favorite for people of all ages. The backyard patio is particularly pleasant, sort of an oasis in a Village that already is an oasis. The Stagecoach does everything right, which isn't always the way Cooperstown restaurants operate in the Village.

Blue Mingo Grill 6098 State Highway 80, Cooperstown (607)547-7496

The Blue Mingo creates such fine cuisine that it competes with the unbelievably beautiful setting on Lake Otsego. The scenic boatyard, and the amazingly fresh air would be worth the price of admission even if the Blue Mingo served the worst fast food. They don't and that is a good thing.On our memorable night, we sampled a healthy green salad (translated: no iceberg), bourbon berry baby back ribs and a herb flavored sea bass that rank somewhere in our top five best meals, including some pretty well known choices in Boston, Mass., and Quebec City, Quebec.The menu changes frequently and is brought to you on a chalkboard by the wait staff. Regarding the wait staff, we found them to be always courteous, right there when needed, and very friendly.

The Blue Mingo is located in a boatyard a few miles from the Cooperstown.You have to enter through a gift and clothing shop before finding the soothing environment of the Blue Mingo. From that point on, the night is there to remember long after you've left this incredible lakeside restaurant. Blue Mingo Grill dinner menu ... Blue Mingo Grill lunch menu SEASONAL

The Lake House, 2521 County Highway 22, Richfield Springs, NY. Tel. (315) 858-2058

If you like to have your dinner with a scenic lake view, we strongly recommend trying the Lake House in nearby Richfield Springs, N.Y.

This historic 1843 restaurant and inn is family-friendly, serves excellent steak, chicken and seafood dishes, and the views... well, they are simply amazing! Try to visit during sunset where the big dramatic sky meets the pristine waters of Lake Canadarago. During the warm weather, there's an outdoor dining deck for even better views. Recommended dishes: prime rib, chicken Kiev with herb garlic butter

Cafe Nicoletta 96 Main Street, Cooperstown (607)547-7499

Cafe Nicoletta is terrific, on par with some of the best urban Italian restaurants. It's best experienced as a special night out, although families are more than welcome in the handsome dark, candle lit environs with Sinatra frequently playing in the background.

The Pit at the Tunnicliff Inn , 34-36 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown (607) 547-9611
Located in the basement of the historic Tunnicliff Inn, this downtown favorite delivers solid steaks, chicken and seafood in a cozy setting, with an antique bar to please those who like adult beverages. Particularly good is the Sam Adams strip steak,topped with sauteed mushrooms, prepared in a Boston lager beer and dijon mustard cream sauce. The Pit lunch menu and The Pit Dinner menu

Brooks Bar-B-Que Restaurant, 5560 State Highway 7, Oneonta, N.Y. (607)432-1782

Famous for some of the best barbecue chicken, pork spareribs, beef, pork and steaks this side of the Mason-Dixon line, Brooks isn't one of those "Johnny-Come-Lately," trendy barbecue joints that serves watery rotisserie meats. With the largest indoor charcoal barbecue pit (38 feet in length) in the East, Brooks Bar-B-Que certainly isn't for the macrobiotic, vegetarian crowd as this 300-capacity family-oriented restaurant serves high-quality, hearty portions that never disappoint. The great food, low prices, efficient service and cleanliness make Brooks a must-visit dining spot when visiting Cooperstown, even if it is a half-hour away. Brooks Bar_B-Que Restaurant lunch and dinner menu

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Editor's note: read more about Cooperstown restaurants at our "Cooperstown dining on a budget" section

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Cooperstown dining in the news: Rachel Ray, host of the Food Network's $40 a Day, once traveled to Cooperstown to find the best ways to dine on a $40.00 budget. This episode wonderfully combined great footage of the Village and its attractions, Ray's love for the area and its people, and, of course, the great dining options -- including the American Hotel in nearby Sharon Springs, N.Y., Danny's Main St. Market, Brewery Ommegang, the snack area at Cooperstown Dreams Park, and the legendary Brooks Bar-B-Que Restaurant in Oneonta, N.Y. It was a great show and one that we hope will broadcast again soon!

Editor's note: CooperstownForKids.com, a Web Site dedicated to helping families plan a Cooperstown vacation, offers additional perspectives on some of the Cooperstown area restaurants mentioned above, as well as other Otsego County dining spots.