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One of the beautiful things about the internet is I can see how people get to this blog.  One of the most popular keywords lately has centered on the Horned Dorset Restaurant in Leonardsville.  If you don't know, this restaurant is a landmark and one of the best dining experiences I've ever enjoyed.  Unfortunately for aficionados of fine dining in Central New York, the Horned Dorset did not open this spring.  We have received many calls about it and from what we have learned there is hope for a renassiance, but not until next spring.  The owners of the restaurant are busy creating what they are calling an "artist colony" in Leonadsville, anchored by the Horned Dorset.  They tell me that is the focus this summer, and by this time next year we will be back to enjoying the wonderful foods created by their talented chefs.  Until then, we just have to wait.
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We don't normally play favorites and do our own reviews on this website, but last night I had the chance to visit a landmark Madison County Restaurant and want to share our experience with you, so here it is, and who knows maybe this will become a regular addition to our site.

Last night my wife and I had the opportunity to eat dinner at the legendary Horned Dorset Inn in Leonardsville, NY.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with Leonardsville, it sits in the Unadilla River Valley along NY Route 8.  It is about 20 miles south of Utica and 90 minutes south east of Syracuse.  The Horned Dorset has been hosting diners celebrating the best of life since the late 1970’s and is a place that should be at the top of your list when it comes to your list of places to go in New York State. 

It was a celebration of 7 years of marriage for Lorrell and I and we decided we wanted to do something a little different, and since I had never had the chance to made it down to the Horned Dorset to see for myself what all the fuss was about, it was a perfect opportunity.  I had spoken to the owner Kingsley Wratten many times about programs going on at Madison County Tourism, but we never seemed to be able to connect to meet in person so I could learn about the inn and restaurant.  Boy I am glad we finally got together.

The Inn has four rooms, and while we did not stay the night, I found myself thinking about the next time I want to “get out of town” and making the mental notes that this place would be fun to stay at.  With two queen rooms downstairs in this Victorian home, and two suites upstairs, the inn has very nice accommodations for people traveling to Colgate University, Hamilton College, Cooperstown or points in between.  Kingsley told us that he has plans to renovate several other homes in the vicinity and to be able to rent more rooms in the Leonardsville area. 

The restaurant is right next door to the inn and has been a labor of love for well over 33 years for Kingsley and his wife Roberta.  When they found the property it was caving in, and like many historical buildings in Upstate NY it was real close to being a memory.  First they replaced the roof, and then with a table saw and a lot of ingenuity they piece-by-piece put the place back together.  The amazing thing about both the Inn and the restaurant is that many pieces inside come from historic mansions all over New York State that were facing the wrecking ball, sometimes immanently.  Kingsley told us of the grand doors inside the dining rooms that were minutes from being destroyed when he convinced the demolition crew to go to lunch a little early so he and his wife could remove them and take them home.  There is a lot of sweat equity in this place.
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