Colonial Inn - Watkins Glen

Among the various dining options in the Watkins Glen and Ithaca area, Colonial is definitely the best choice. While Reinheit in Ithaca offers Chicago-style soy ice cream and another place nearby serves soft-serve, Colonial takes the prize with its homemade ice cream. Although it's slightly less creamy, it still delivers the same great taste as typical vegan options. They use coconut and almond milk to create their delicious treats. I tried the chocolate ore flavor, while my fiancé opted for mint chocolate chip, and we both absolutely loved our choices. The restaurant also features live music, and there's seating available both inside and outside. For a perfect evening, I recommend having dinner at Wildflower, then enjoying a beer from Crooked Rooster (which is linked to Wildflower), and finishing off with some ice cream from Colonial.

The restaurant offers a great selection of vegan options, which is a nice touch. We tried the pistachio ice cream, and while it was a bit less creamy than other homemade ice creams I've had (not sure if that was due to it being vegan), it still tasted delicious.

While it's not quite as good as Ben & Jerry's just a few blocks away, I was happy to find a selection of six vegan flavors: vanilla, Oreo, mint chip, pistachio, mocha, and skyberry. We tried the Oreo, mint chip, pistachio, and mocha, and I found the mint chip to be the standout, with mocha coming in a close second. They also have a delightful boutique shop featuring locally made products. If you're looking to support local businesses, this is definitely the place to visit.