“I’m having trouble getting a good picture of just how gooey these [sticky buns] are . . . there we go”
If you take the eastern lake road, afoot, out of Camp Cory and head south, you’ll hit, after about 6 miles, a general store.
You also, depending on whether you take the busy Upper East Lake Road or the nicer, but haunteder, Lower East Lake Road, just might pass through the Viking Resort (abandoned?).
Anyway, if you survive the ghosts, you’ll make it to the Olney Place.
Head inside. There are probably a few guys having coffee and reading newspapers around the cozy wooden table in the middle of the main room.
This is a general store and also a sandwich shop and also a snackery and also an outdoor eatery and also a sometime-music venue and also a taproom. Bo and Pat got some Gatorades out of the convenience store part of the store.
Go to the glass display case and look up! Lo! A menu is up there!
There are different “flavors” of Eye Opener: bacon, sausage, ham, and no-meat. Pat and Bo both ordered bacon, and ordered a no-meat for Abby, our person-who-would-be-picking-us-up-soon-and-driving-us-back-to-camp.
If you’re lucky (or if you’re not — maybe they do this every day!!) there will be fresh and warm sticky buns sitting up near the cash register. Do yourself a favor and order one. Then do yourself another favor and eat it. I know you don’t like owing people favors, but this time it’s worth it.
The orders placed, Bo and Pat retired to the taproom, where there is a magnificent vista overlooking Keuka Lake.
The bacon on the breakfast sandwich was crispy AND thick. Now, we’ve had plenty of breakfast sandwiches. We had to. It’s our job. But it occurred to Bo that this might be the only time we’ve had thick, flat, crispy, delicious, salty… hang on.
Ok now that your Dear Blogger has eaten another one, he can proceed. The bacon was tasty. The breakfast sandwich was reliable — it’s actually sort of interesting that that isn’t a more consistent thing. Of a dozen or so different breakfast sandwiches at different locations, not all of them are reliable. Some are too slippery. Some are too soggy. Some lack cohesion. Some are too boggy. But the sandwiches at The Olney Place stick together; the bun (big and fluffy) doesn’t crumble; the ingredients don’t fall out; the eggs are cooked enough but not too much; and we’ve already talked about the bacon.
The sticky buns were outstanding. They were super gooey. They were LITERALLY finger-lickin’ good. Bo licked his fingers. Pat licked his fingers. There was sugary brown goop on our faces. We laughed and laughed and licked the sticky bun goo off of our fingers with glee. And, also, they were huge! This wasn’t one of those times when you order a sticky bun and, after a bite or three, it has vanished into your gastric acid. No. With these sticky buns you take your time. You’ll have no regrets.
Store History: The location began as a canning house during the first three decades of the 1900s. In the 1930s it was purchased by a local man named Sam Kenyon, who turned it into a general store named “Kenyon’s.” Sam operated it until the 1950s, when his nephew Leo purchased it and operated Kenyon’s until 1979. Charlie Brown then purchased it and changed the name to “Charlie’s Mart,” operating the thriving little store until 1988. From there local business owner Barry Cox (owner of the Switzerland Inn at the time) operated the establishment and changed the name to “Froggy’s Country Store.” It has had several owners since then until Seth Olney purchased the property in 2006, tore down the then-dilapidated structure, and built the existing store, naming it “The Olney Place” (As he was often reminded during the purchasing process that it was the “only” place between Penn Yan and Hammondsport!)
Open May through October
Monday 7 AM – 7 PM
Tuesday 7 AM – 7 PM
Wednesday 7 AM – 7 PM
Thursday 7 AM – 7 PM
Friday 7 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 7 AM – 9 PM
Sunday 7 AM – 7 PM
With 10 as a must-eat, this dining experience rates a peaceful gray morning on the lake, a fishing boat speeding by, sun peeking out from behind the ol’ buttermilk sky (“I might come out!”), hinting at the beautiful August day to come.
Don’t Miss: The warm cinnamon rolls, if you make it there at the right time! (sub-Pro Tip: usually like a half hour after opening).
Don’t Miss (lunch edition): The Zach Deputy sandwich. Turkey, provolone, lettuce, grape jelly, mayo, and hot sauce on toasted wheat.
Pro Pro Tip: Learn the super-interesting legal details and travails of the Olney Place on their website!
