Let me explain how I decide which restaurants I visit. I keep one master list on my phone — in the notes app — of every restaurant I want to get to someday. It’s made up of places that have reached out to me directly, spots I’ve found on my own online, and places that others have recommended to me.
When a new restaurant hits the list, they go to the bottom and work their way up with every video I make. It’s the free and fair way I’ve found to do it. The downside is that if you’re a restaurant that just got added, it could realistically be over a year before I make it out to you.
The exception is when I don’t have much going on and I happen to be in the area. That’s what happened here.
How This Stop Came Together
On Thursday, I got an email from the wife of the owner of Original Steve’s Diner in Henrietta. The message was simple. Her husband had bought the place four years ago and they’d love to have me come out and get a little boost of morale. As it turned out, I was going to be in the area the next day and didn’t have anything planned, so I decided to stop in for a quick lunch.
The Menu at Original Steve’s
The menu at Original Steve’s is massive. I don’t know if they officially have more items than any other restaurant in the area, but I’d bet they’re in the top ten. And on top of the already large main menu, they have an entire separate menu dedicated just to pancakes.
I ordered two things: the Lemon Ricotta Blueberry Lovecakes and the chorizo breakfast wrap.
The Lemon Ricotta Blueberry Lovecakes
There were a lot of options on that pancake menu that caught my eye — a peanut butter, banana, and bacon option was tempting — but I went with the Lemon Ricotta Blueberry Lovecakes because I wanted something a little more fresh and bright alongside the savory wrap I was also getting.
These things are huge. Two ginormous pancakes, folded over, with fresh blueberries inside. And I want to point out that they’re using fresh blueberries — not frozen, not blueberry pie filling like a lot of places would reach for. These have a real, plump bite to them. On top of the pancakes comes a dollop of ricotta and lemon zest.
I didn’t add any butter or maple syrup, and I didn’t need to. They were incredibly moist and sweet on their own. Really delicious.
The Chorizo Breakfast Wrap
I’ll be upfront — at most diners I’ve learned to shy away from chorizo. Too many times it comes out bland and anemic-looking, not much resembling what chorizo is actually supposed to be. I was half-expecting that when I ordered this wrap. I took the gamble anyway to see what they’d do with it.
It paid off. The chorizo had real bite and spice to it. Combined with the eggs, peppers, and cheese in the wrap, it came together as a really hearty, delicious meal. Definitely better than I was expecting from a classic diner. Original Steve’s is changing my outlook on diner chorizo.
Worth a Visit
If you haven’t been out to Original Steve’s Diner in Henrietta, I’d suggest checking it out. Start with the Lovecakes and maybe give the chorizo breakfast wrap a shot.
📍 Original Steve’s Diner — 100 W Jefferson Rd, Suite 18B, Henrietta, NY
