Char Burrito Bar occupies a small storefront at 68 Castle Street in downtown Geneva, and it solves a problem that the town's dining scene has mostly ignored: where do you eat if you want something fast, customizable, and not terrible for you? Geneva's restaurant identity leans toward wine-paired tasting menus and farm-to-table dinner plates, which is wonderful if you have two hours and $80, but less useful when you are hungry right now and want something built to your specifications in five minutes.

The format is straightforward — burritos, bowls, and tacos assembled in front of you from a lineup of proteins, salsas, toppings, and sauces. What sets Char apart from the generic fast-casual burrito chain is the scratch cooking and, more notably, a plant-based menu that actually satisfies. This is not a place that throws a sad pile of lettuce in a tortilla and calls it a vegetarian option. The vegan and vegetarian selections are substantial enough that Char has won FLX Finest Gold for Best Vegan/Vegetarian in both 2024 and 2025, alongside Gold for Best Mexican Restaurant in 2023. That double recognition — best Mexican and best plant-based — is unusual, and it reflects a kitchen that takes both audiences seriously.

Char is not a destination restaurant. You do not plan a trip to Geneva around it. But it fills an essential role in the town's dining ecosystem: the quick, affordable, satisfying meal that lets you spend your time and money on the wine trail or a proper sit-down dinner later. Families, college students from nearby Hobart and William Smith, and wine-trail visitors looking for a fast lunch between tastings all end up here, and the line at noon on a Saturday confirms that the formula works.