A truly incredible place and one-of-a-kind experience. 2 Ames brings such a unique vision into the food and drinks they offer. I’ve eaten here for years, whether it be dinner, lunch, or brunch, and it’s consistently exceeded my expectations. No joke, some of the best cocktails I’ve ever had.
I’ve always recommended 2 Ames to anyone visiting Chautauqua and will continue to.
Great addition to the Institute! Love coming to listen to the live jazz music. Food is also really yummy. I always get the triple cooked fries or oxtail poutine and what ever daily special they have. The Chautauquans that own this establishment are very personable and take their time to get to know their guests. Definitely a home-y and friendly vibe. If you like good wine, this is the place to go. So many different options to try. Can’t wait to see their approach to serving the community during COVID-19. I know I’ll be looking forward to some good curbside pickup with my favorite wine.
Ps. The house wine is a Montepulciano. It’s good and at a great price point.
This is a very good restaurant. The location is top notch and the ambiance is very pleasing, though occasionally it is a bit cold. The food is quite upscale but consistently high quality and tasty no matter what’s on the menu. Maybe not the best for kids as the selection is more veered to explorative pallets and the experience is not speedy. Overall a must visit restaurant (I would recommend a reservation)!
Fantastic meal with a limited menu -(which in my opinion is a good thing for such a small kitchen) We are thrilled that a restaurant of this quality is in the Institute. Would love to go back and just dine for the heck of it. Everything was fabulous for a pre Bonnie Raitt concert dinner
The location is right in the middle of the grounds of the Chatauqua Institute. The former home has a tight entry by the modest bar and has several rooms and a three-season porch. We sat in the porch at a small table with a view to the excellent singer/guitarist Sarah James.
We had the Greyhound drink [good vodka and grapefruit juice], which was delicious. We also ordered the Poutine appetizer, which had a rich brown gravy over shredded roast beef, homemade fries and cheese. Yum!
I recommend this bar, but it is quite loud to the point of difficulty hearing the singer. The tab was pricey, too. A good place to be, but bring your wallet.
Had a wonderful dinner with my husband, son and his fiance. We started with fine wine, the brussel sprouts and the blood orange salad. All selections were fabulous. For entrees, the guys had the scallops; they said the BEST scallops they've ever had ( both have eaten scallops all over the country)! I had the smash burger with fries - delicious! Son's fiance had the veggie pasta and she loved it. 2 Ames was a great dining experience all around. Try it; you won't be disappointed!
Great spot for food and drinks after a lively concert at the amp but should stay open later. Also lowkey best poutine in the state
Nice little lunch, had the pesto and prosciutto sandwich with a side salad included. A nice local tap list supports, along with decent cocktails.
We stopped for coffee and were happy to find our new favorite coffee shop in the area! Lattes were much higher quality than available elsewhere in the Institute and baked good looked good. They have a great COVID set up too - you stand outside and order through a window. No outdoor seating but plenty of benches available nearby. The barista said they were planning on staying open through the winter so we will definitely be supporting them!
We ate both breakfast and dinner at 2 Ames today. Both meals were delicious, with care paid to the preparation of each. Service was delightful too. Charlene was just so friendly and accommodating, and so obviously invested in the business’ success and the customers’ experience. We’ll be back for breakfast tomorrow!
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