'Savory' Silo: Readers vote Lewiston restaurant's frozen drink as 'Best Milkshake'

Finishes top 3 in 5 different food categories

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

In this writer’s estimation, there’s no dessert better than a milkshake – and in the opinion of NFP readers, no one makes a better milkshake than The Silo Restaurant.

Lewiston’s waterfront restaurant and ice creamery took first place in the “Savory Summer” “Best Milkshake” category.

“It's an honor, honestly, and it says a lot about hard work,” General Manager Lexi Alfiere-David said. “It shows a lot about the hard work that the staff puts into what they do here, and it's a privilege to be able to do something and do it well and get good feedback. Because sometimes you do things really well, you don't hear anything about it. So, it's great winning stuff like this; and it's a gold star for them, too, because they get to get feedback on their hard work all summer.”

The Silo serves its frozen delights out of a converted caboose – a former Canadian National Railroad car purchased by owner Alan Hastings. On the restaurant’s website, it notes “the caboose is home to over 40 different flavors of locally made Perry’s Ice Cream, custom custard, floats, and creative, one-of-a-kind sundaes.”

Alfiere-David explained, “We do more of a thick milkshake instead of some parlors using syrups. We don’t. We use hard serve or soft serve – whatever they prefer – because some people would rather soft serve. And then we use milk instead of doing like a vanilla custard with a chocolate syrup. We use the actual flavor ice cream with milk.

“And then, in our ‘Haystack University,’ at our meeting, we have everyone make a milkshake to make sure they know how to make one, make it properly, make the right consistency.

“It's super simple, but it does the trick.”

Patrons have about two more weeks this season to enjoy The Silo milkshakes.

“If weather stays like this, we're planning on Columbus Day (to finish) – because there's no school, no work,” Alfiere-David said. “If we can be open on Columbus Day, that's our goal. If not, if the weather does not turn nice for us, or it gets too cold, or it's rainy, then we'll call it.”

She added, “It's been a great summer – and right now is some good weather for September, so I'll take it.”

Before the summer session wraps, The Silo workers are headed to Darien Lake because “we prioritize our staff,” Alfiere-David said. “We do the (Whirlpool) Jet Boat all together. We take them on a staff trip on the jet boat. This year, we're starting Darien Lake. We do the jet boat in the middle of the season, and we thought that Darien Lake would be fun at the end. And also, it's like a motivator: Whoever ends the season gets to go to Darien Lake with us.

“I'm doing a big Sam's Club trip before, and I'm getting everything they need, so no one needs to buy anything. I invited their kids – we got their kids a ticket, and they get to go to Darien Lake. It’ll be fun.”

In addition to its first-place finish in “Best Milkshake,” The Silo received myriad bronze medals. It finished third in the “Best Summer Dining Spot,” “Best Ice Cream,” “Best Hot Dog,” “Best Hamburger” and “Best Fries” categories.

The Silo Restaurant is open seven days a week at 115 N. Water St., Lewiston, tentatively through Oct. 12; and online at https://www.lewistonsilo.com/. Patrons can call 716-754-9680 to confirm hours before visiting.

The Silo Restaurant’s Quinn Halgash and Kaelynn Duncan hold up “The Best Milkshake” in WNY, as served from the Water Street eatery’s ice cream caboose.