The Corner Pub at Rogue’s Harbor: A Lansing favorite carries on

In my dual roles of food writer and tasting room specialist at a Finger Lakes winery, I am often asked for dining recommendations. I always say that the best place to eat is the one that you’re in the mood for. The food has to be good, but that is only part of the equation.

My favorite type of place is one where you feel comfortable as soon as you walk in the door, whether you are a regular or a tourist, whether you are looking for a date night dinner or a quick bite after a long, hot day on the wine trail. The Corner Pub in Lansing is just such a place. While the Pub has a large and loyal local following, it also caters to the guests at the historic Rogue’s Harbor Inn, conveniently located just upstairs.

With cozy, dark wooden booths inside and a large shaded porch for outdoor dining, The Corner Pub checks many boxes. The menu is large and varied, offering something for everyone. There is traditional pub fare like burgers and wings, but also full salmon and steak dinners. The food is tasty and plentiful, and can be made to order (if you don’t want the hot peppers in your chicken riggies, just say so).

Of course there is a large selection of craft beers on tap, but the wine list is also surprisingly good. What’s even more unusual is that Manager Tony Podufalski can help you select a pairing with your meal. He chose Bright Leaf’s Reserve Blend #2 to complement my pasta and it was an excellent choice.

“I worked at a winery for a while when the Pub was closed,” Podufalski said. “I learned a lot from the winemakers there. It definitely helps when I’m picking wines for the menu.”

The Corner Pub’s doors were closed for a period of several years due to a change in ownership. Its reopening, delayed first by the need for renovations and then by the pandemic, was much anticipated by the Lansing community.

“It’s great for Lansing that there is a place like this,” owner Kathy Leonardo said. “There are a few other places to eat, but this is a different atmosphere. More homey, more of a neighborhood bar. That was Kerry’s intent. Kind of like Cheers, where everybody knows your name.”

Kerry Brace, the original owner and Leonardo’s long-time partner, died tragically and unexpectedly from Covid in January of 2022, less than a year after opening The Corner Pub. Since that time many people have come together to help Leonardo carry on his dream and make the business a success.

“We have a very faithful employee group. The majority of the staff have been here since Kerry opened,” Leonardo said. “Tony Podufalski, was a friend of Kerry’s probably since they were teenagers. When he came into this, Tony came with him as a bartender and a server. Now he manages and mainly concentrates on the bar.  My brother Jim comes in Monday through Friday and checks in food orders. My daughter and Kerry’s friends will come and help out if we need it. A lot of hands come together to make it work.”

Leonardo had retired from her career at the Trust Company while Brace was renovating the space, prior to the Pub opening in 2021. Suddenly thrust into a more active role at the restaurant following his death, Leonardo now does the hiring, scheduling and receipts while depending on friends, family and staff to keep things running smoothly.

“The plan was for Kerry to do this for three to five years and then we were going to move south to Tennessee,” Leonardo said. “His brother and sister-in-law live in Knoxville, and he wanted to be close to them.”

The Corner Pub remained open during this tumultuous period, a testament to the dedication of the staff. Leonardo also expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support of the Lansing community.

Other than seasonal tweaks to the menu, Leonardo said she has no plans to make changes at The Corner Pub, though she’s less sure about what her own future holds.

“I would keep everything the same at the Pub,” Leonardo said. “This was Kerry’s dream and we’re gonna keep it…for now.”

Food for Thought appears the third week of each month in Tompkins Weekly.

Tasty Tidbits–

A Small Bite of Other Food News

The atmosphere at The Corner Pub reminds me of the now defunct Stella’s Barn in Newfield, in a good way—friendly, warm and welcoming.

For Newfielders who miss having a full-service restaurant close to home, or for those looking for a turnkey property to open their own eatery or event space, there may be good news. The former site of Stella’s, currently known as Louella’s Space, is back on the market!

Amy Gaines, owner of Louella’s Space, listed the property earlier this month but said her bakery Darling Cake is not going away.

In a Facebook post announcing the change, Gaines said that the past three years were one of the most “fun, beautiful and inspiring adventures” which allowed her business to climb to new heights. All Darling Cake orders on the books through the end of the year will be fulfilled. Beyond that, she says she’ll be concentrating on smaller custom orders.

As for the future of Darling Cake, Gaines said cryptically, “more on that later!”