Phelps restaurant to be featured on America’s Best Restaurants' Roadshow

Mike Murphy, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
·4 min read

PHELPS, NY – A Phelps food favorite will be getting a bit more attention.

America’s Best Restaurants, a national media and marketing company focusing on bringing attention to local, independently owned restaurants, will bring its ABR Roadshow to the Main Street restaurant in the village on July 11.

Popular dishes – think The Roost, a panini sandwich featuring New York apples, turkey and cranberry aioli − will be highlighted, along with an extensive on-camera interview with owner Megan Kasperek, a Phelps native, about the restaurant’s place in the community. The episode will be aired extensively on social media channels at a later date.

The Local Palate has grown over the years since opening as a small grocery in 2020, but Kasperek still considers it a hidden gem of the Finger Lakes.

“We have a very loyal local following, but we are just starting to reach the surrounding communities,” Kasperek said in an email. “Post covid, we’ve rebuilt our community through food. We’re more than just a restaurant, we’re a space where people come together to enjoy live music, have meetings, play games, meet up with old friends and make new.”

Mary Jane Valentino and Arlene Eddington decide on breakfast at the Local Palate in Phelps.
Mary Jane Valentino and Arlene Eddington decide on breakfast at the Local Palate in Phelps.

In addition to the Roost, a trademark dish that has been a fan favorite from the beginning, Kasperek also plans to feature items that are available all the time, such as the Mush Love Goat Cheese flatbread with mushrooms and local goat cheese. And for the hungry, the Manwich, named because of its size, Kasperek said, which features house-roasted beef, peppers, onions and cheese and is served on house-baked bread. 

“Our executive chef Jason Conrad and sous chef Kate Hungerford have both been with us since last summer and that really changed the game for us as far as our menu is concerned,” Kasperek said. “We still have a simple concept − soup, salad, sandwich, flatbreads − but elevated. We still feature locally sourced products, and seasonal flavors of the Finger Lakes, including local beer and wine."

And they like to have fun here, which visitors can tell from the Local Palate’s themed brunch from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

The hit TV show comedy “The Office” is a recent theme, but “The Golden Girls” and “That ‘70s Show” also have been popular. On Thursday nights, the Local Palate hosts a battle of the burgers, which puts two creative burgers up against each other, and each order is a vote for the burger to move on.

“The winning burger of that battle moves on to the next week against a new burger,” Kasperek said. “If we chose your burger to battle and you beat ours, your next burger is free.”

The film crew hits the restaurant on Tuesday afternoon, which is great timing. The Local Palate also kicks off its summer sidewalk series of tacos and tunes, which will run through the end of August. Expect taco specials, live music, and a featured brewery tasting each week.

And stay tuned: “We’ve been working hard to launch Local Palate on Wheels, a mobile trailer that will make its debut at the Sauerkraut Festival in Phelps in August,” Kasperek said. “We have an espresso bar on board, pastries, and will offer quick grab-and-go lunches at businesses and events throughout the year.”

The restaurant’s finished episode premiere date will be announced on its Facebook page and will be featured on America’s Best Restaurants’ website at https://americasbestrestaurants.com/rests/new-york/local-palate.

The Local Palate is owned by Phelps native Megan Kasperek, but its success is a team effort with people like Ah'kell Whitfield and others she's worked with in the hospitality industry.
The Local Palate is owned by Phelps native Megan Kasperek, but its success is a team effort with people like Ah'kell Whitfield and others she's worked with in the hospitality industry.

"I cannot and do not take all the credit and want to give credit where it’s due,” Kasperek said. “My staff works very hard and Local Palate wouldn’t run without them. From cooks to servers to dishwashers, my dad who does a lot behind the scenes, long time patrons of mine well before Local Palate who help behind the scenes, and our families who support us at home. It’s very much a team effort.”

About Local Palate

To order online, visit the Local Palate at localpalatecafe.com. Corporate delivery and catering also are offered. The Local Palate, 91 Main St., Phelps, is open Mondays through Saturdays. Call 315-548-0101 or visit https://www.facebook.com/localpalateflx/.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Local Palate in Phelps NY to be featured on America’s Best Restaurants