EAST OTTO — Local eatery Zoar Valley Tavern & Restaurant will be hosting a visit from “America’s Best Restaurants” this month.

A national media and marketing company focusing on bringing attention to local, independently owned restaurants, America’s Best Restaurants (ABR) will bring its Roadshow to the East Otto eatery on Thursday, July 17. Popular dishes will be highlighted, along with an extensive on-camera interview with owners Don and Sondra Hayden about the restaurant’s special place in the community. The episode will be aired extensively on social media channels at a later date.

Zoar Valley Tavern & Restaurant has been open since 2014, and the Haydens took it over last summer. Don spent over 40 years working as a director of operations for McDonald’s, retired on June 9, 2024, and took over Zoar Valley two days later.

Located on seven acres on the Cattaraugus Creek, Zoar Valley Tavern & Restaurant offers a convivial vibe with indoor and outdoor dining, a stage for live music and a hub for kayakers and bikers in the area. The building was built in the 1950s and was then known as Cookie’s Campout. The Haydens are looking forward to the potential they have with the tavern and the surrounding space.

“[We’re] looking to do so much more with the restaurant and the bar here,” Don said. “There’s so much potential, and, you know, we’re really looking forward to it.”

The menu serves up an array of casual dishes such as appetizers, salads, sandwiches, wraps and sides. Popular items that may be featured on the episode include the “Judge Bill” wings — the story behind that sauce recipe may be shared as well — and the pretzel-crusted haddock, served on Friday nights as part of the fish fry.

The Haydens would like to showcase their restaurant and the property as an oasis away from the chaos of daily life. Zoar Valley Tavern & Restaurant’s atmosphere, entertainment and food add up to a fun experience for patrons.

“It’s a place where you feel like you can come and unplug,” Sondra shared. “That’s the beauty of it, is that you feel like you’re unplugging from the rest of the world when you’re down there.”

America’s Best Restaurants will be filming on location from 9 a.m. to noon July 17. The restaurant’s finished episode premiere date will be announced on their Facebook page and will be featured on ABR’s website.

Restaurants featured on the ABR Roadshow are selected based on their customer reviews, menu items, social media presence and level of involvement with their community. They are found through customer nominations, internal vetting or by a restaurant applying to be featured at www.americasbestrestaurants.com.

Zoar Valley Tavern & Restaurant is open daily until 2 a.m.. It is located at 10711 Hammond Hill Road, East Otto, NY 14729. Call (716) 592-4911.