Souper Finger Lakes Food: The American Hotel, Lima NY

 

Sit down and enjoy a drink and some soup

After an afternoon spent exploring in the chilly, eastern Finger Lakes region, we needed a quick thaw. As we drove through the town of Lima we we were greeted by the friendly sign in front of The American Hotel.

The American Hotel sits “at the Crossroads of Western NY … and at the Center of the World”. As you sit at the bar watching Turner Classic Movies and chat with the friendly bartender about whiskey and sports, you can understand why. The vintage ice box, and ringing cash register, take you back to a simpler time.

The dining area of the American Hotel

This hotel, restaurant, and tavern has been in operation longer than Lima has “been” (circa 1861). There has been an American Hotel on this site since about 1790. The first two were made of wood. The present day building was built in 1840.

This is the original ice box

The hotel has been owned and operated by the Reynolds family since 1920. It is still operated as a hotel, the second floor rooms are available for rent. The Reynolds family has always resided on the third floor of the hotel. Rose Reynolds continues to keep The American Hotel a destination with her more than 100 varieties of delicious homemade soups.

 

I don't know what this is, except for the room keys.

I could say more about the charm of the hotel, the friendly and accommodating staff and the great food, but I though it more fun to share the soup list with you:

1. Oriental Beef
2. Broccoli Cheddar
3. Chinese Chicken with corn
4. Cold Blueberry
5. Chicken Victoria
6. Crab & Broccoli Bisque
7. Beef Stew
8. Butternut Squash
9. Chili Macaroni
10. Stracatelli
11. Potato-Leek
12. Cream of Broccoli
13. Escarole & Sausage
14. Beef-Barley
15. Clam Chowder (New England)
16. Cauliflower Cheddar
17. Split Pea
18. Navy Bean
19. Chicken Noodle
20. Vegetable
21. Mushroom Wild Rice
22. Zucchini & Spicy Sausage
23. Mushroom – Barley
24. Cock-a-Leeky
25. Gazpacho
26. Tortellini
27. Chicken Cacciatore
28. Corn Chowder
29. French Onion
30. Cabbage & Spicy Sausage
31. Cheeseburger Chowder
32. Sweet & Sour Cabbage
33. Curried Crab Bisque
34. Italian Sausage
35. Tortilla Soup
36. Butternut & Apple Bisque
37. Spicy Thai Peanut
38. Minestrone
39. Spanish Rice
40. Goulash
41. Bacon & Tomato Bisque
42. Double Squash with Pesto
43. Lentil & Franks
44. Chicken Romano
45. Russian Potato
46. Dutch Meatball
47. Salmon & Mushroom Bisque
48. Sauerkraut & Franks
49. Ham Florentine
50. Mexican Rice with Chicken
51. Sweet Potato & Leek with Bacon
52. Mushroom Bisque
53. Beef Burgundy
54. Dijon Beef
55. Iced Melon
56. Banana Bisque
57. Pasta Fagiolia
58. Prime Rib
59. Tomato & Rice
60. Hotel Chili (available from October to May)
61. Spicy 15-Bean
62. Cabbage & Spicy Sausage
63. Chicken Broccoli-Tortellini
64. Mulligatawny
65. Vegetable Beef
66. Italian Vegetable
67. Leek Chowder
68. Sunday Supper
69. Black Bean & Kielbasa
70. Spinach Meatball
71. Aruba Bean
72. Lentil & Pasta
73. Creamy Vidalia Onion
74. Chicken Divan
75. Garden Goulash
76. Hamburger & Vegetable
77. Clam & Sausage
78. Lasagna Soup
79. Sweet Potato & Bean
80. Potato Horseradish
81. Taco Pronto
82. Spaghetti & Meatball Soup
83. Creamy French Onion
84. Puff Ball

AND THE LIST KEEPS GROWING!

Reviews: YELP “The wraps are delicious, but for something different their liverwurst or fried bologna were winners. Small little restaurant- they only serve lunch. Everyone is very friendly. And homemade cookies with your check!”

URBAN SPOON “Snobs need not apply, they won’t “get” this place.”

American Hotel
7304 E Main St.
Lima, NY‎
(585) 624-9464‎

Dining Hours

Sunday
Noon-8 pm
Mon, Tues, Wed
11:30 am-3 pm &
5-9 pm
Thursday
11:30 am-3 pm
Friday
11:30 am-3 pm &
5-9 pm
Saturday
11:30 am-9 pm

Where does the name “Lima” come from?  The town, organized in 1789 was named Lima to reflect the residents that came from Old Lyme CT. In the early 1800s Lima was considered the educational center of New York State.