The Willows

I think this is one of the most underated fine dining places in Utica. The scallops were unreal and the service was great. We were going to share on entrée and they brought the entrée out on 2 plates. A g

Only order the meat dishes if that. I ordered the risotto, and it was basically soup. After sending it back, I ordered a pasta with red sauce that was generic, soupy, and not worth the price. They even charged $ 8 for 4 shrimp. Form my experience, they have not earned the pretension. The folks that I ate with who ordered meat were reasonably satisfied.

Owned and operated by a 33-​year-​old chef, Willows should be better known than it is. Dishes reflect influences from all over the world, and they are prepared with a distinctive touch that is neither bashful nor ostentatious. My wife ordered duck confit, I had orecchiette with sausage, and we reveled in how much flavor was delivered. Willows is also fortunate to have a staff that is equal to the task of informing diners about the intricacies of each menu item, so guesswork is eliminated. In addition to a great meal, we had fun, which is a gift that I value as much as the food. I would recommend Willows without hesitation. Portions are ample, so arrive hungry.

I have to go to Utica once a year and this was our third time and we were tired of eating in the dreary hotel. Someone suggested The Willows and I’m so glad he did. I had some Thai Beef Soup — YUM, and an appetizer that was fried slices of eggplant layered with the Utica greens. Really was too large for an app. My husband had Scallops St. Jacques and they were delicious. Our awesome waiter kept the wine flowing so I don’t remember what my husband had for an entrée. We’ll definitely be back next year. Thanks, Willows!

Considering this place is in Utica, it’s better than most. Food was over seasoned and flavors killed the natural flavor. Had the pork shank which was delicious but over powered by salty risotto and tomato dark gravy like base. Heirloom tomato and mozzarella was ok. The mozzarella tasted like it was sourced from the supermarket, lacking taste and on the firm side. (fail). Service was extremely slow (forget if you’re thinking dinner and a movie). Server was very nice but seemed stretched thin between serving the large parties and the bar area. And was only able to serve food as fast as it was coming out of the kitchen — so I think it was due to kitchen being slow. Tap water tasted very much like tap water. Not sure why it tastes better elsewhere. Bread and butter was ok but they filled the butter with sugar… Parking situation doesn’t make it better either.

Fabulous experience this past week at The Willows.
First of all, it was packed on a Tuesday night, always a great sign!
It is always a wonderful dining experience with delicious food that’s presented beautifully.
Our server was the best! Knowledgable, attentive, without overdoing it, just perfect.
The greens here are out of this world, cooked to perfection and not greasy.
The Bordetto (?) a seafood cioppino was delicious, in an aromatic red broth.
Can’t say enough about a great dining experience.
Can’t wait to return.

Excellent restaurant. Atmosphere and service are A+ the three times I have attended. Great for special events. The filet is extremely good. I have also attended the tailor and the cook and I still prefer the willows.

Great food from a talented young chef. The place also sports a discerning wine list. If you are looking for a good meal then stop by.

i live in nyc and frequent the best restaurants PER SE – DEL POSTO – etc. This place equals or surpasses all of them. I love the food and service. What atreasure

Honestly, I don’t know why the high reviews. Guess it’s because it’s Utica and there aren’t a lot of options. The salmon came out overcooked and well-​done, a big no-​no. To me, that’s like cooking beef well done. They didn’t even ask for a temp on it and I admit, I forgot to make sure. In a quality establishment, the default should be medium-​rare unless otherwise requested by patron. The Caesar salad was the best part of the meal. The house salad with champagne vinaigrette was bit uninspired. I can’t even remember the other dish we ordered (oh a pasta of some sort which was too watery and not memorable).
I admit also that I did not eat any meat dishes so I can’t comment on the other menu items which were predominantly meat-​oriented. That may be a different experience entirely. I definitely suggest all pescetarians who are hoping to have options here look elsewhere.

Great place for quiet atmosphere. Very good menu selection for all tastes Food was prepared well and tasted good. Service staff was friendly and attentive. Only hick up, the service was a little slow for our group. Kids menu was available if requested.

This is the best restaurant I’ve found after a year in Utica. The duck with bing cherry sauce is incredible. Sometimes duck works for me, sometimes it doesn’t, but this really blew me away. I dont know that chicken gets much better than their ½ roasted chicken with thin strips of vegetables and creamy mashed potatos. It would be an impressive meal in LA at twice the price, so it shines that much brighter in Utica.
A good meal doesn’t guarantee a good dessert, but the 8 layer chocolate cake is definitely worth a try. On different visits, I’ve had the last piece, and the first piece, still slightly warm from the oven. It’s not too sweet, rich and dense yet fluffy. It comes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that is, again, not too sweet and absolutely smooth and creamy. The frosting on the cake doesn’t overpower but makes a nice compliment.
The ambience is on the nicer side of forgettable. However, the staff are clearly professionals.

Lamb was good, service was slow but very good. Menu selection excellent food. Presentation superb.

From start to finish, the best meal we’ve had in Utica since we moved here. Everything, from the bread and butter to the dessert, was fantastic. Service was relaxed, but attentive. We will be back!

I had the opportunity last evening to dine at the Willows with a meeting for our practice and it was well… stunning. Having been to the location last when it was Café Canole (and that too was incredible lol) The Willows menu is diverse and their presentation just outstanding. I personally had the duck, and I have never had duck in 20 years, but I realized after having the dish at the Willows that I HAVE NEVER HAD DUCK LIKE THIS! I normally dont do desserts but with the others I felt compelled a bit to try and had the apple and grape cobbler ala mode. It was insanely good. My peers got the prime rib special and all raved about it as well. Kate our server was responsive and completely spot on and the ambience was excellent. We are lucky to have a place like The Willows in our area. Dont wear jeans, I think it would dampen the quality of the experience ;) Oh and you have got to try the calamari before dinner. WOW.

A nice small establishment, that really seems to want to provide you great crafted food. The best part is they do just that.

The food was all excellent all around. I was able to sample the crab cakes and had the lamb chops. Both were the best I can recall having. The calamari was more on the average side, though it’s aioli dipping sauce made it stand out.
I look forward to my next visit, and any one who’s looking for a great hand crafted meal, should give this place a shot.