Stonecat Café occupies a converted barn along Route 414 near Hector on Seneca Lake, and the setting—exposed beams, mismatched furniture, a wood-burning stove—sets the tone for a restaurant that takes its food seriously without taking itself too seriously. The menu is globally influenced and locally sourced, combining Mediterranean, Asian, and New American elements with ingredients from surrounding farms. The kitchen gardens on the property supply herbs and vegetables in season.

The wine list emphasizes Finger Lakes producers, and there is usually a short cocktail menu as well. Stonecat has been a fixture of the eastern Seneca Lake dining scene for years, predating the more recent wave of Geneva-based fine dining and holding its own through consistent cooking and genuine warmth. The atmosphere is more rural bohemian than farm chic, which gives it a character that newer, more designed restaurants sometimes lack. Dinner service can be busy in season; reservations are a good idea.