Kindred Fare occupies a warm, modern space on Hamilton Street in downtown Geneva, and the moment you step inside, the design tells you what kind of place this is: an open kitchen, a central bar, and a dining room that feels social without being loud. Owner Susie Atvell, who has been in hospitality since 1998, built this around the idea of spirited gatherings with good food at the center. Executive Chef Max Spittler, a Geneva native and CIA grad, runs a kitchen that sources from over 30 regional farms — Bostrom Farms, Lively Run Dairy, Finger Lakes Farm Fresh Cooperative, Third Eye Fungi, and many more. The partners are listed right on their website, and the seasonal menu reflects it. Bar director Brian Butterfield, a certified sommelier, oversees a cocktail and wine program that leans heavily on Finger Lakes producers, and it shows in back-to-back Silver awards for specialty cocktails.

The menu changes with the seasons, but Kindred Fare has built its reputation on two things: vegetable-forward cooking that actually excites people, and date-night atmosphere that hits without trying too hard. The salad program has won Gold two years running, and the vegan and vegetarian options are strong enough to earn Silver for three consecutive years — this is not a place that treats plant-based as an afterthought. Think roasted beet tartare, house-made pasta with foraged mushrooms, and composed salads too beautiful to rush through. The cocktails are inventive and seasonal, not gimmicky.

Reservations are highly recommended, even for bar seats. Dinner service runs daily from 5 to 9 PM, and the room fills up, especially on weekends. The vibe is casually upscale — come as you are is their actual motto, and they mean it. This is the reigning Gold winner for best date night spot in the Finger Lakes four years straight, and it earns that distinction by being a place where the food, the drinks, and the room all work together. If you are visiting Geneva for wine country and want one dinner reservation, this is the one to make.