Best Restaurants in Saratoga Springs
My girlfriend, some friends, and I are visiting Saratoga Springs this weekend. My gf and I were there about a year and a half ago and had dinner at The Wine Bar and lunch at The Grey Gelding. We found both enjoyable. We're all from NYC, so our standards for dining are quite high. We would like to find a place that is good and by "good" we don't mean the definition of good most people in the US use (that is, "expensive" and where they call you "sir" every chance they get). I mean really good food. Anything aside from The Wine Bar that you would recommend? Also, any place that allows BYOB would be great.
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Panza's 28 Tables (formerly 28 Tables w/Ron Farber):
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Our current favorites for dinner are Sperry's, Mio Posto, Maestro's, Saratoga National.
Capriccio Saratoga, Harvest and Hearth for more casual dining. The Local is also very good but seating is limited, pub atmosphere.
Ravenous (crepes), Mrs. London's (French pastry shop), Sperry's and Max London's for brunch.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/719566
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/845124http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/785591
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/641993http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/795633
A LONG thread on pizza including Harvest & Hearth and just outside S. Springs, Villa Pizzeria (Galway):
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/622265
I have not been to the Wine Bar since Chef Colose arrived last July. SO went recently. I hope to get there soon and check out their new Spring menu:http://blog.timesunion.com/tablehoppi...
Only 3 months until Track season starts on 7/20 and we shift our dining out to Albany, etc.
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re: financialdistrictresident
Went to Siro's Trattoria (former Lodge location) recently. Haven't had a chance to post a report yet. IMHO, it's not the best Saratoga has to offer. To be fair we've only been once and service was very good. Food was okay. We expected more given the price range. Also, they have gaming there now. Live piano music when we went. Very good bar scene. Better place for drinks than dinner. Bar scene can be very loud and distracting depending what dining room you are seated in.
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re: Roger K
Roger K, pari-mutuel wagering with a live teller on thoroughbred racing while you dine:
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Has any one tried Mouzon House? They also have a roof top bar that looks like it would be enjoyable as you wait for a table.
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Mouzon House
1 York Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866›2 Replies-
re: hanah
Mouzon House has same owners as One Caroline. I believe Mouzon House is the upscale version of One Caroline. To be fair, I have not been to either. I saw this recent post re: One Caroline
"I've never found the food at One Caroline to be exceptional, but when they have good jazz going, it's a fun evening. There's also their sister restaurant Mouzon House, which puts out, I think, slightly better food."
Permalink | Report | Reply
By PSZaas on May 10, 2011 09:52PMGoogled both and nothing came up except for Yelp and CH posts in 2007!
Mouzon House is on opentable.com. IMHO I find hound comments to be more reliable than Yelp, menupages, etc.
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Now that Springwater Bistro is closed, the only real alternative to high-end dining is Prime (at Saratoga National). It's a steak place/steak house.
Tiznow and Dine are nice places. Hattie's is very good if you want Southern-style, comfort, etc., food. The fried chicken is excellent, and the jambalaya is as well.
But -- if you really want excellent food -- try One Caroline. It's excellent, all around.
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re: ELA
PSZaas
May 10, 2011 06:52 PM
Dine is in transition; set to close and reopen as a Saratoga location for Cafe Capriccio, which is a perennial favorite in Albany.
I've never found the food at One Caroline to be exceptional, but when they have good jazz going, it's a fun evening. There's also their sister restaurant Mouzon House, which puts out, I think, slightly better food.
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Mouzon House
1 York Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 -
re: ELA
sixelagogo
May 11, 2011 03:53 AM
Beekman Street, assuming that it's still open, is one of our favourite fine dining places in the area...it's not stodgy, the food is exceptional, and the service is fab.
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re: gerchak198
RIP Dine . . .ETA on Saratoga Capriccio is July
http://blog.timesunion.com/tablehoppi...
Anyplace not to miss BEFORE Track Season begins on 7/22?
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re: ELA
I agree re: Tiznow. It's "nice." Nothing special. To be fair, I only ate there once and it was awhile ago. I liked the space better than the food. Service was excellent. Dine is now closed and we had some very good meals there.
ELA, what do you suggest at One Caroline? I can't get SO to go, he says it's inconsistent. . .
Also, Saratoga National has a lot more than steak. I only eat poultry and fish and it's one of my favorite SS restaurants. Two of my favorite appetizers are their spicy tuna tartare with wontons (my description doesn't do this dish and the presentation justice) and the calamari with sweet chili garlic sauce, piquant peppers, arugula. Steve knows his wine. Chef Jason Saunders foie gras of the day makes me glad I eat poultry :)
Belated congrats to the chefs (two in SS) that keep us obsessing about food:
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re: financialdistrictresident
I haven't been to the Wine Bar in a long time but all the chatter on chowhound is making me think I am missing something. I also love your description of the food at Saratoga National. Can you order that meal on the porch too or only inside? I will make both the Wine Bar and Saratoga National my next two dinners out when it is my pick. In the meantime, you should also try Sperrys and let me know what you think. I think that it is better since it reopened under new ownership. They also have the outside bar open for nice evenings. Also, Springwater reopened as the Turf Club (I think that is the name). I expect it will be good. It is the original owners of Beverly (mom and chef son). Let me know if you try it and how you like it. Also, do you if the son is still running Beverly's in the AM or if that is another son or if they sold it. We used to go to Beverly's all the time but trailed off of going out for breakfast.
I haven't been to 54 Front Street lately. So many choices - not enough time or money to try them all.
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re: hanah
hanah, I believe you can order in the bar area. Nice if you're not in the mood for the clubby main dining room (though the bar has a pretty clubby, steakhouse feel also). I didn't know S. National had outside seating :)
Both Saratoga National and The Wine Bar chefs were recipients of the Rising Star. I think I posted a link to Rising Star Chefs somewhere within this thread.
There is also a link to the Sperry's thread within this "Best Restaurants in Saratoga Springs" thread. I don't think Sperry's is as good as it was when it first opened. SO likes it more than I do.
Thanks . . .will need to check out Turf Club or ? (formerly Springwater).
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re: hanah
hanah, a recent post about breakfast in S. Springs, Turf Club and Beverly's:
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Just wanted to throw my hat into the ring. We ate at Tiznow on Saturday (yes, a Saturday in August). Their tag line is "Belgian Beer, French & Asian Cuisine, Latin Music". Sounds odd, but it seems to work. We were there for the orchestra at SPAC, so we made a reservation for 6 pm, and there wasn't another soul in the place (beat the post-racing rush). The food here is very good, my only disappointment was that they have the same menu as last summer. There were 5 of us, the service was very prompt and attentive, and everything arrived as ordered. We had two apps - duck eggrolls and Thai chicken skewers. Entrees were: Orange glazed salmon, Seared yellowfin tuna, Grilled Sambal shrimp, Moroccan spiced duck breast, and Jumbo lump crab cakes (which are actually appetizers). For dessert, there were two sorbet of the day orders (grape and sour cherry), a flourless chocolate torte, and I had the ice cream of the day, which was goat milk and dark chocolate chunk. All the plates were cleaned, but certainly nobody left hungry, which is a good combination. The entrees run $20-$25, which I think is decent for this type of restaurant. They also have a very nice bar area, with French doors that open onto the sidewalk. They do have a great selection of Belgian beer, with the appropriate glasses for each (for those purists out there), and what looks to be a pretty good wine list.
It's on Henry St, very convenient to the hubbub of downtown, but far enough away that you can actually navigate the sidewalk! Just another suggestion to add to the list. Next time, I'll try one of the other suggestions on the board!
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Tiznow Restaurant
84 Henry St, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 -
Prime at Saratoga National:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6419...
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Prime at Saratoga National
458 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866›4 Replies -
My favorite is Chianti's. They are very professional, yet friendly. Their food is delicious. One draw back is that they do not take reservations. You need to eat early or be happy to sit at the bar with wine and appetizers until your table is ready. The owner has 2 other restaurents as well, Forno Bistro (in Saratoga) and Pasta Pane (Clifton Park). They are both terrifc as well. All three restaurants are a bit different but the food does not disappoint. Last week I had Pork Shank at Pasta Pane. It was tender and moist. I took half of it home and ate it the next day. It was still delicious! Hope you all have as good of an experience as I have had!
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Chianti Il Ristorante
208 S Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866›6 Replies-
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re: financialdistrictresident
Hi, Sorry I never got back to you. I am not the best "poster". I don't have a favorite. I often have one of the specials. I usually don't have a big pasta meal, too many calories. They now offer half portions on some items. That gives me more freedom to try an appetizer without stuffing myself too much. We used to eat there almost weekly. With the current state of the economy we now eat home mostly. When we do go out, it is still at the top of our list.
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8 Tables has really good food. I was dead set against it when it opened because of its high prices but, having a little extra last week, a friend and I finally went. A $30 bottle of delicious cab, two apps--one a nice clams in white wine and broth with grilled bread and a scrumptious seafood risotto--and two entrees. The entrees were amazing veal cheeks in a wine reduction and a huge (a whole chicken) chicken dish with roasted red peppers, sausage, onions, herbs, and secrets, which I'm still eating! Warm efficient service. However, this meal came out to $75 per person with tax and tip, so bring your credit card.
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A quick thank you to all the hounds for their recommendations along with a quick report from an evening in Saratoga Springs this past weekend. We had drinks at The Wine Bar, great ambience and the food looked excellent. Then on to Beekman Street Bistro (where we got a reservation at 8.30 no problem the night before opening race weekend - unbeknown to us before we went). Quite simply the food was excellent. We're from NYC too and this place can compete with the best of them. It's a little off the main street but well worth the extra 2 blocks walk. Also eclectic wine selection and attentive but not intrusive service. I can't recommend the place highly enough. We'll be going back.
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re: weskin
Thanks for the report, weskin. The Wine Bar is my favorite restaurant. We have not been to Beekman Street Bistro in awhile and we need to get back (probably after track season ends). I know they have fresh market fare, were there any dishes that were particular standouts? We also had a very good experience at 8 Tables recently. Still a little new.
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re: financialdistrictresident
We went to Beekman Street on Wednesday and had a great meal. Service was excellent and the food was really great. I ordered the scallop dish served with fennel and grapefruit, which was good (but not great). The scallops were cooked perfectly, but the fennel and grapefruit didn't quite do it as the flavors were a bit too subtle for me. My companion ordered the hangar steak which was excellent.
We also got the mushroom bruschetta as an appetizer and I highly recommend it!
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re: financialdistrictresident
Went to The Wine Bar last night. Had warm nuts to go with my wine (a cab, forgot the name, one of the best wines I've had recently). Also had:
*roasted brussel sprouts with baby carrot, carmelized onions, hazelnuts and balsamic syrup - Thanks to the kitchen for leaving the bacon off. Very good, may need to replicate at home.
*chicken with red curry and cold noodles - I don't usually order chicken out but wasn't in the mood for the black cod and so many dishes seemed to have bacon. . .
Perfect for a cold night. Delicious.*salted caramel ice cream - delicious, I don't know how I left that 3rd scoop behind! Thanks again to the kitchen for being gracious and serving the ice cream without the chocolate cake.
While this was probably not my best or most favorite meal at The Wine Bar,
The Wine Bar remains my favorite S. Springs restaurant. The food and service are very good and consistent.-
re: financialdistrictresident
Went to The Wine Bar last night. Had a variety of small plates:
* Carrot gnocchi with roasted carrots and carrot puree and pork
*duck with white beans, etc.
*goat cheese
*scallops
*spring vegetable bruschettaAll very good (I did not try the pork). My descriptions do not do the food justice . . .As always excellent service and appreciate chef's attention to detail (asked about dairy allergies because we requested a dish without Parmesan). One of my favorite restaurants.
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re: financialdistrictresident
We went to The Wine Bar recently. Had the chicken liver mousse on grilled bread. Not sure what happened to the cherry compote but it was served with pear puree instead. Unannounced menu substitutions is a pet peeve . . .
SO had roasted brussel sprouts with a spicy jam. We replicated this at home. He had trout.
I had the cold beets with fennel, blueberries and lavender ice. Delicious. Unexpected and surprising on the palate. Also has a quinoa salad with roasted squash, marscarpone and nuts. My description doesn't do it justice.
I had salted caramel ice cream and SO had fried apple pie for dessert.
And of course, we had wine.
Delicious . . .
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re: financialdistrictresident
Went to Beekman Street Bistro recently. I know BSB gets a lot of love on this Board. Service is always excellent and food is fresh market. It never seems to make the top of our list and I'm not sure why . . . Maybe it's because we cook and when we dine out want to be surprised and have something we wouldn't make ourselves??
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The only thing worth the price is Max London's , everything else is over-priced and not worth the plate it is served on. It is a shame I heard Chez Sophie went down hill after moving into the hotel and the ambiance stinks. Mexican? I like the Cantina for California style and fun and lively. If you want authentic Mexican go to Exit 13 and eat at El Mariachi III, very good and I think it is owned by actual Mexican people, how novel. I have also heard good things about Lime. Everything else in DT Smallatoga Springs is not worth the wait or the money. Some of the other local spots (outside DT) may also be good.
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re: ilikechinese
Lime (Caribbean) is pretty good. And on the less expensive side for downtown Saratoga Springs. Link to a thread on Lime: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/411211
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Sperry's (old bar/pub with slightly upscale American dining) used to be mentioned positively on this site - any reason why that's changed? We ate there about 18 months ago and liked it.
Also had breakfast at Country Corners/Cafe. Agree with one of the posts here that wervice was sloooow, but breakfast was good.
Also agree with many posts that trying Hatties would be next on our list.
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re: amstrgy
amstrgy, Sperry's is for sale: http://funsaratoga.typepad.com/funsaratoga/2009/07/sperrys-restaurant-for-sale.html
We thought of going to Sperry's for dinner last night. Has anyone been lately? How is it?
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re: financialdistrictresident
The latest re: Sperry's:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7195...
Dale Miller comes to Saratoga . . .
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re: financialdistrictresident
Sperry's is now run by the couple the owns Circus Cafe. They used to Run Hatties as well. I know there are other partners but that is just to helps with contexts. I ate there right after they opened and it was great. I ate at Maetros right after they reopened after their moved. I was very disappointed. Won't go back any time soon. Grey Gelding has been going down hill. Maybe they will kick it back up during the summer tourist season. Chiantis and Forno still my favorite for flavor and service. I also like Saratoga National and am looking forward to trying the new resturant the is replacing Dine. Also want to try Duo. The owner/chief is from NYC. The Three Amigos in Schylerville is great for Mexican food. Lastly 28 Table is wonderful. It is just too expensive for me to be a regular. I have eaten there twice since it opened and enjoyed the food and service both times. Dinner with wine for two always runs us about 100.00 (including tip)
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re: financialdistrictresident
Let me know how you like Maestro's. My husband and I were there with another couple. The menu had a lot of variety. I have the soup as an appetizerand the Cooper River Salmon. The soup was OK. The salmon was very good. I think it was the special. The other three ordered directly from the menu. They all said there meals were OK but not the caliber of the "old" Maestro's. The restaurant had only been open a week or two to I assume that it was still working things out. However, Maestro's had never been on my top 5 list. We go but only when another couple picks it.
Another restaurant that is wonderful is 51 Front Wine Bar & Bistro (http://www.51front.com/) in Ballston Spa. This restaurant is on my short list. The owners have a history as chief/owners. I think the female owner was the original Eartha's onwer (now dating myself). She also had Hurricane Sams on Caroline Street for awhile. Anyway, if you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it! I also highly recommend reservations.
Thanks for the reminder about 28 tables and Tuesdays. I have wanted to try it but it fell off my radar. I will call and make sure they are still doing it during the summer.
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re: hanah
Thanks, hanah.
I hope Maestro's didn't take on too much with the larger space. Sometimes smaller is better. We'll see.
We've haven't been to 51 Front lately. It was really good when it opened. I liked their fried chicken better than Hattie's. Then it was just okay. Have you been recently?
Looking forward to Saratoga Capriccio (in former Dine location) since we really like Cafe Capriccio in Albany. Cafe Capriccio served complimentary pizzas the last time we were there. Part of their Saratoga Capriccio marketing and to celebrate their new pizza ovens :)
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re: financialdistrictresident
I think you do need to eat out at Sperry's more often, FDR. 4 of us went this past Saturday night and entrees spanned everything from chicken to scallops to filet mignon. All wonderful. My seared tuna tartar appetizer with pineapple salsa was spicy and delish. The chicken breast ordered by one of my dinnermates was praised as being tender and succulent. We also had asparagus with hollandaise and a couple of other dishes I can't remember. Our guests, Saratoga residents who had not been back recently, were pleased that they gave it another shot. We didn't order dessert. Service was extremely friendly and accommodating. All in all, a special dining experience despite the busy Sat. nite track crowd. Thumbs way up.
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re: cloverose
cloverose, we had dinner at Sperry's recently. Went without a reservation and they graciously found us a table. Luckily in the main dining room because by the time we left the bar was hopping and we had a hard time getting through the people to leave. Sperry's has always had a good bar crowd. The decor is a little retro (maybe even tired).
I really enjoyed my meal there. SO is happy because now I'll want to go there more often.
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Just as an additional shoutout to Karavalli's, the Indian restaurant mentioned in another reply... I was in Saratoga Springs last weekend and happened to pass by this place while wandering around town. Luckily, we were famished and randomly stopped in for lunch. SO YUM! Started with their special eggplant and chickpea appetizer (enough for 2-3 people), which was thinly sliced eggplant, friend to a soft crisp. these slices surrounded a central mix of chickpeas, with some fried bits, yogurt dressing, and onions (kind of like Chaat). SOOOO yummy! never had anything like it in all the Indian restaurants in NYC (or even in Little India, Edison, NJ). Entree, my vegetarian boyfriend had a yummy vegetable curry; and I ordered the lamb chops... HUGE portions! My lamb chops were cooked perfectly, served with a side of chick-pea & tomatos salad, and a small portion of veggie biriyani (yum, love biriyani). I was so sad that I couldn't finish the whole thing; and no doggie bag since I was traveling. :(
Oh, also We ordered a garlic naan, whcih was little more roti-like, i.e., thinner, than the usual naan, which was nice.
I'm not a huge alcohol drinker, but FYI, looked like they had a medium-sized wine selection; and pretty extensive beer selection. Service was quick and attentive.
No complaints at all. Bathrooms were clean too!
Definitely would go back if I were in the area. This place definitely holds its own, even compared to the Queens, NY, Indian restaurants.
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re: tinekerocks
Boston Globe article about Max London's:
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Morganna
Jun 12, 2008 01:29 PM
Are there some places you'd warn people away from in the down town area of Saratoga Springs? We're toddling over there Sat and Sun for the arts festival, and we'll be picking up food between events, so I'm not going to have a lot of time for a big sit down, and will likely just go somewhere near wherever I am at the moment. So if I had some ideas of places to stay the heck away from.. :) That'd help. :)
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re: gerchak
jspear
Jun 16, 2008 07:19 AM
The only avoid I would agree with is Brindisi's. Scallions has some great lunch, best take out in Saratoga, Parting glass is pub food with the best wings in the expanded capital district and wheat fields has home made pasta that is found no where else in Saratoga. Where did you go for the festival Morganna???
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re: jspear
Morganna
Jun 17, 2008 06:15 AM
Oi, I tried replying to this but lost all the work I'd done! *pout* The festival was a lot of fun. My only significant complaint is that there was no real warning about the parade, and we had never been in the town before, so all the rerouting really hosed us up. We had a hard time finding our motel, and we ended up missing a show we really wanted to see because of this. That being said, we still saw many things we wouldn't have otherwise seen, and that was fun. Now for the food...
Dinner Saturday night was at PJ's BBQ. This was a perfectly serviceable and competent BBQ place. I could taste the smoke on the trifecta platter we got (pork ribs, chicken hindquarter, pulled pork, corn muffin, slaw), and the hushpuppies were small, but with a good crunch ratio and onions in the batter (can't believe how many places in new england don't put onions in their hushpuppies). For all of that, I make better ribs on my home smoker. There was no smoke ring, though the ribs were tender, not tough, not falling off the bone, with a good bite. The sauce wasn't sticky sweet (like in some places), and that was good. The chicken was a bit dry (which is an accomplishment with dark meat), but tasted fine with the sauce. The pulled pork was yummy, but not luscious. I didn't like the slaw, and the corn muffin didn't seem worth taking up space in my small stomach. The prices were completely reasonable and I'm not unhappy we ate there, just wouldn't go out of my way to eat there again. If I didn't have my own home smoker handy, I'd probably be happy to have this place near me.
Sunday breakfast was as the Country Corner cafe/diner/whatever it's called. I had a side of ham and a single pancake, my husband got the breakfast sandwich (egg, bacon, english muffin, cheese). The bacon wasn't sweet, which made my husband happy, and so his sandwich was very yummy. My slice of ham was nicely grilled, was real ham, good ham, nice and salty, and happy-making. My pancake was large, with a nice sized glop of butter, and they serve -real- Vermont maple syrup without charging extra for it (a big plus). We both drank orange juice, but they do serve Green Mountain Coffee there. The pancake was good, not extraordinary, but it soaked up the syrup admirably and that's all I really want in a pancake most of the time. :) The service was a bit slow considering how small the place is, but we survived, and the prices were perfectly reasonable.
Lunch on Sunday was at Sushi Thai Garden. We hadn't really had much Thai food before (I've had pad thai, but I don't know if I've had GOOD pad thai) and it was across the street from Caffe Lena, where the next show was, so we went in. :) The service was wonderful, attentive without being intrusive. The decor was relaxing, a slight bit of a fishy smell, but not overpowering and to be expected where there's sushi. We ordered red curry beef and garlic beef. The vegetables in both were very fresh and not overcooked at all. The beef was on the tough side, but I really didn't mind, just made it more toothsome, and it had a good flavour. We'd never had red curry before, and my husband was a bit put off by the coconut milk in it, but I enjoyed the meat bits well enough. We both liked the garlic beef (which I think was more Chinese than Thai influenced), and the rice went really well with the sauce from that, which was more watery than what I'd get with garlic beef in an american/chinese place, but I liked it a lot. My husband usually isn't crazy about eastern Asian food, so this was an adventure for us. We'll definitely try Thai food again, though. :)
Dinner Sunday night was at Esperanto. A literal hole in the wall place with a varied menu. We both had the hard beef taco special. The tacos were a little shy on the beef filling, but the cheese was good and the tortillas seemed to have been made there. The fresh salsas they had out on a counter were very very tasty. The service was fine, but the food took longer than I'd have expected given we were like the only customers in there. I think they'd had a bit of a problem in the kitchen. The price was certainly right, and we left sated. :)
We didn't get to really do any "fine dining" because we were short on time for meals between shows. But we had a really good time, got to see some interesting experimental things, and I'm looking forward to coming back again next year. I highly recommend this festival, it's got a lot of variety for everyone, and it's a chance to see things you might not normally see.
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re: Morganna
jspear
Jun 17, 2008 10:18 AM
My only recommendation in addition would have been Hattie's for the fried chicken. I have never done Esperanto, I'll have to try it. I was going to do the festival but I knew about the parade and thought it might screw up the day.....glad you were happy, come back soon....
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re: Morganna
I had a quick lunch at Sushi Thai Garden on Phila today. Atmosphere was casual and airy. The Japanese and Thai menu is odd. I guess I'm not a fan of combining different cuisines under one roof. They didn't have fish cakes on the menu. I had a Thai iced tea, pad thai and chicken with basil and chili, jasmine rice. Food was good. Peppers and mushrooms in basil and chili dish were very fresh. Pad thai seemed to be missing fresh sprouts and I didn't taste much dried shrimp. Portions were good size. I'd definitely go back for an inexpensive lunch or casual supper. Now I have three favorite lunch places - Scallions, Mrs. Londons and Sushi Thai Garden.
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re: financialdistrictresident
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re: jaylhorner
FDR, if you're looking for Japanese next time you are in Saratoga, you might want to try Mino's just up Maple Avenue (Route 9) a little ways. Certainly can't compare by most NYC standards (neither are the prices, however), but it's quite decent.
For lunch, you might also want to try The Local- great pub over near Beekman Street.-
re: markabauman
Thanks, jaylhorner and markabauman. How does Mino's compare to Yoshi's (Latham)? I am a sushi novice and don't get the opportunity to eat it that often. Barbecue eel is my favorite. Have had good and bad sea urchin. Not a big sea urchin fan. The best sea urchin I had was at Robuchon. The worst will remain unnamed, also in NYC. PS Especially appreciate the directions. Still getting used to all this driving!
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re: financialdistrictresident
If you are in downtown Saratoga, head north on Broadway, follow Route 50 around to the right, past the Hilton Hotel. Go less than two miles and you will come to Maple Avenue (Route 9 north). Mino's is a couple of miles up on the right side, just before the train trestle that crosses over 9. Haven't been to Yoshi's. Agree with gerchak198 about the Grade B, if you consider some of the NYC places in the "A" league. A lot of Skidmore students go there and many of the menu items are very accessible.
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re: financialdistrictresident
jaylhorner
Apr 28, 2010 10:41 AM
I know you shy away from meat. Their ravioli of the day is always great. The scallops are also very good.
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re: financialdistrictresident
jaylhorner
Apr 28, 2010 12:13 PM
Also, my wife loves the salads.
For your SO, the veal chops are super.
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re: jaylhorner
jaylhorner, finally got to Maestro's - for dinner not lunch. Really enjoyed our meal. They have a 3 course, prix fixe dinner for $25. They were out of French onion soup which I hear is very good. I had the chilled melon avocado soup and the lobster spinach salad with brie. Very good. SO had the duck confit bruschetta (I had the leftovers for another dinner), a ravioli app and an arugula salad with cranberries, etc. Very good. We had a chocolate tart with hazlenut or pistachio gelato. They don't have espresso but they do have French press. Ambience is charming, a smaller restaurant which is my preference. Service was excellent. A new favorite!
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re: jspear
Six friends went to Brindisi's this past weekend. The one who related their experience is very reliable and a good judge of restaurants (he didn't have any input into where the group dined). He reported the meal as follows: "Lousy food, lousy, slow service; automatic 20% gratuity added; $5/check extra charge if they wanted separate checks; $15 plate sharing charge". I won't go there, so I can't verify this. Anyone else?
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Brindisi's Restaurant & Bar
390 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
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Well, Chowhounds certainly do disagree. Forget Parting Glass, Gaffney's, Lillian's--you cannot be serious. My 3 best in town are Springwater, Beekman St. Bistro, and Chez Sophie. Then there are several on the next tier down Sperry's, Max London's, Chianti, etc.). The town is full of great places.
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re: financialdistrictresident
It feels like summer . . .went to Tropic Hut last night after a late afternoon on the lake. They opened late this year. Heard they have a new chef but didn't notice much difference. Think casual post-boat attire , relaxed service and paper plates. Kind of feels like a picnic in the backyard or a beach side joint in the Caribbean. I ordered a beer, homemade, Saratoga potato chips (amazing!) and steamers for dinner. Tried the calamari. Overbreaded, not overcooked, needed salt. Everyone else had burgers. SO said his was okay. We left before the band started. Almost forgot, you can play horseshoes in the sand . . .
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re: gerchak
gerchak, we went to Beekman Street Bistro recently for the first time and it was very good. I think I posted a report. Heard good things about Springwater and Max's and looking forward to trying them (will probably go to The Inn at Erlowest first). I also like The Wine Bar. Dine was good. Still haven't been to Ravenous for crepes, tried twice but they weren't open.
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re: financialdistrictresident
GIOny
Aug 19, 2008 03:10 PM
I'm headed up to Saratoga just for the day and would like to try some place where I haven't been before. Thinking about the Beekman Street Bistro, I saw the menu and I like it I've heard that the track has not that crowded during the weekday so hoping to get in a restaurant without a problem..
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re: financialdistrictresident
GIOny
Aug 22, 2008 08:40 PM
Well FDR, it turned out we didn't go to Beekman Street Bistro because we wanted to eat and get home at a decent hour and they were not open yet. So we ended up going to Maestro's on Broadway near the Adelphi Hotel. It was a beautiful day and we ate outside so the atmosphere was very pleasant. We started off good, splitting a summer ravoli which consisted of Asparagus smoked mozzarella filled, brown butter, toasted walnuts, broccoli rabe, goat cheese, and Grana Padano, it was very tasty though I'm not a fan of goat cheese but I just scraped it off to the side. The arugula salad was also very tasty with locally grown aruglua but after that the experience was mediocore. I had the Copper River Sockeye Salmon which they claim is wild but I really don't know how anyone knows. What made the dish somewhat enjoyable was the surrounding risotto, but the fish itself was dry and tasteless. My DH had an Iowa Flat Iron Steak which they must of forgotton to marinade and at $28.00 for a piece of chuck they should at least know how to cook it. Also this place only serves wine and beer, no liquor, which after the day we had at the races I was really looking forward to a drink. So this would not be a place I would be running back to for dinner. I wouldn't count it out for a glass of wine and some appetizers.
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re: financialdistrictresident
Have been to Ravenous a few times since this 2008 thread. A S. Springs gem. Those frites and aioli (so many to choose from!) are addictive. Have also been to Max's:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/478257
Need to get back to Beekman Street Bistro and try Maestro's.
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Heads up...Gotcha's was one of our favorite spots, but apparently, they have decided to become a political institution as well as a restaurant. They will only offer beverages and products made in the United States. No more Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire, Stoli, Guinness, etc.
On the flip side, Max London's is the best place to eat in town. Their pizzas are fantastic and their tapas are very reasonable. Love the atmosphere and service too.
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re: LoisLane30
We just tried Gotchya's:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/679198
PS We didn't notice if they still had the same beverage policy LoisLane30 mentioned . . .
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jspear
Apr 22, 2008 11:11 AM
Springwater Bistro on Union Ave across from the track, Scallions on Lake Ave, One Caroline St, the Wine Bar and Lillian's for a steak and good dinner salad. I love the Parting Glass for pub food, especially the wings and Chianti has the best fillet and gorgonzola not to mention the sea food stew.....
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Consider trying Gaffney's (on Caroline St.), either on the upper terrace or in the restaurant section. Good prices, drinks, food, and service. Seriously.
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re: Gideon Putnam
gaffney's has got to be one of the worst places to go for food. we went last night and our server scratched his crotch as he took our order! then, when my entree, which was described as being chicken with pancetta etc over pasta, arrived without any whisper of a hint of a suggestion of pancetta, i beckoned a waitress who acted like a manager and who didn't want to acknowledge my complaint. she was the opposite of good service and it took her a while to ask if she could bring some pancetta to add to my plate. if she had done that in the first place, or tried to make it right somehow, instead of arguing, i might have moved on by now, but she argued with me! beside that, the drinks were terrible, the appetizers not appetizing. we felt like suckers.
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sixelagogo
Apr 16, 2008 04:15 PM
I've posted on Beekman street several months ago, an can highly recommend it...not overpriced IMHO, neat ambiance (local arts) and interesting wines. We walked out of One Caroline after an entirely too long of a wait (at the table) and negligibly interesting menu items....
Hatties is also really good, and can absolute recommend Mrs. London's for lunch/tea...best pastries you'll find outside of paris›2 Replies-
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re: mobiusmodx
So did you make it to Bloomers? What'd you think?
It's one of the top 2 places in the Saratoga area, right up there with Beekman Street Bistro. In fact, I'd put Bloomers at #1 and BSB at #2. The overall experience at Bloomers -- food, service, ambience -- takes the cake. Only real drawback is its location (not walking distance from downtown, like BSB is).
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You might want to do a search of this site and check out: TOP NY Capital Region - Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga, Troy. www.thesaratogalife.com is also useful. I live in NYC and go Upstate often. A few thoughts:
*The Wine Bar was very good when we went recently
*Dine was good (not in the same league as The Wine Bar)
*Beekman Street Bistro - we plan to try it soon
*Max London - heard good things but have not been yet
*Ravenous - I hear the crepes are very good but I have not been yetIf you have a car you might want to try Bloomers (American cuisine). Chef was sous chef at Chez Sophie's and it is in their old location. Thanks again to the hound who suggested it. We went again last weekend. The calamari with peperocini and scallions is a favorite app. The BBQQ quail with espresso and chipotle sauce entree is delicious. Bloomer's is a notch above Dine re: food in my opinion.
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re: financialdistrictresident
jaylhorner
Apr 16, 2008 05:08 PM
Max London's is pretty good.... haven't been to Beekman yet, but it gets good recs. In Saratoga, I also like Springwater Bistro.
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re: jaylhorner
Went to Bloomer's again this weekend. Had the "special" escargot appetizer garnished with a crispy basil leave, a green sauce with a hint of tarragon and a cream sauce (with chives?). Non-traditional, very good. We also had the calamari with peperocini and scallions. So nice to have calamari that is breaded properly and cooked perfectly. One entree was "lite fair" - Southern fried quail and grits. Quail was cooked well and not overdone (tender and juicy - rivaled Degustation and Robuchon's quail in this regard). I had the "special" porcini crusted fish (halibut?). A porcini dust, actually. It was accompanied with basmati rice and some fesh vegetables. Another delicious meal. Thanks again, jaylhorner.
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re: financialdistrictresident
jaylhorner
Sep 2, 2008 07:09 PM
You're welcome again! Glad to see you still like Bloomers. It's one of my favorites and now that track season is over, I will be there soon.
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re: financialdistrictresident
Finally got back to Dine again. After a delicious dinner wondered why I'd been so dead set against eating at Dine. Perhaps I didn't order the right dishes last time or it was during racing season. I just remember my experience being mixed. Dine is now back on the list!
We ordered a bottle of wine, and nibbled on the fennel and pepper breadsticks. We had the fried oyster with caper aioli special app and a Dine salad with mixed greens, apricots, cranberries, nuts and gouda. Very good.
For entrees we had the cioppino with grilled bread and pan seared sea bass with fennel and apple. Appreciate that the chef accomodated my request for no prosciutto.
A very good meal with great service (Fitz and other server made our dining experience a lot of fun).
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I would try Hattie's (southern food that is actually pretty darn good, and I am a transplanted southerner), I second One Caroline (piano bar, also uses local ingredients), and for gourmet ice cream you should go to the Ice Cream Man which is out by the fair grounds so it's a bit of a drive (and many of the high-end places in SS actually serve their ice cream). I went to the Wishing Well, and dinner was about 120 for the two of us; it's definitely more of a "local" place, though, so maybe the food is better on a busier night. We were not impressed with the food at all when we went. If I wanted a crudite platter of celery and carrots with black olives from a can, I could make it myself. We really like Springwater Bistro and recommend it highly to everyone; it has a tasting menu that is in the 40-50 dollar range per person, but which has 3-4 courses and wine. This was excellent. The Country Cafe has good breakfasts, and there are two locations. Also, the bagels at Uncommon Grounds are good, but we have been disappointed in the espresso they serve. Noone really knows how to pull a good shot. If you're up on a weekend after May 1 (so not this weekend, obviously), the Farmer's Market will be back in the park, and there is a ton of good stuff you could find there (local cheeses and baked goods in addition to veg) that could make a fun picnic. Also, Karavalli is a new Indian restaurant in town that is as good as anything I have had in the city. Mrs. London's is probably one of the best French bakeries in the country (the NY times had written it up several times, if you want a review), and they have excellent sandwiches in addition to croissants and pastries. Also, Ravenous is a creperie, and has excellent and inexpensive crepes. And pomme frites to die for, especially with the horseradish dipping sauce. And lemonade. And yeah, I just went to lunch there today. It's very busy, though, so maybe go right when it opens (11:30) or closer to closing time. These are places we like and frequent often. Good luck!
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re: mandalei
I second Hatties and Ravenous, although I sometimes find their fries too greasy and cold. Hatties has a buffet on Tueday nights which affords you an opportunity to sample many dishes. We only ate at Springwater two times, our first and last. The service was awful, I mean really awful. The irony was we were "checking it out" for a benefit for 375 as they do off site catering. They failed miserably. Maybe you have to be "known" at The Wishing Well as we always have a good to excellent meal there. Greet Benda, the owner, by name as "nice to see you again Brenda" might help. Down the road is Chez Pierre, excellent French (obviously) food.
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re: financialdistrictresident
jaylhorner
Aug 11, 2011 04:12 AM
I do not think this is the kind of place you would be interested in..... based on reading many of your posts.
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re: financialdistrictresident
davmar77
Aug 11, 2011 11:52 AM
my wife's uncle got a 50.00 gift cert for there but they live down in croton. we saw them at a family event and they gave it to us. it was definitely old school. good but we wouldn't run back. it was funny too as it felt like being in the 70's with the decor and the period fashion of most of the patrons.
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I have not been in many years and they have since changed locations, but I have had some of the best meals ever at Chez Sophie. For what it's worth, I'm an ex NYC'er as well.
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re: Ima Foodie
As my wife and I are employees of the NY Racing Association we spend six weeks in SS every year for the past 10.
Best Restaurants: Dine, The Wishing Well, Sergios, Ciros, Gotcha's Ya, Lanci's (the best!) that should be enough.
STAY AWAY FROM THE PARTING GLASS. Unless you're a fan of terrible pub food.
The wine bar is OK for, exactly that, wine. For a better enjoyed drink, the garden of the Adelphi Hotel is nicer.-
re: Stuartmc910
Actually, what I mean is something that is NOT that expensive, which is the definition most people use for "good restaurant". I want something that has really good food that isn't the usual $45 surf and turf, white table cloth stuff. New York City does that better than anywhere else anyway.
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re: mobiusmodx
PSZaas
Apr 15, 2008 08:35 PM
Some local choices for mid-end dining: For beef, try Cliff's, if it's a night out with guys; really good beef, and really mediocre everything else (good bar). You might enjoy the new 51 Front Street Bistro and Wine Bar in Ballston Spa; a moderately price Southern-inspired menu with beer and wine; for that matter, you might like Sunset Cafe, a casual Southwestern place across the street; all are moderately priced. Enjoy.
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Cliffs Country Inn
2345 Route 9P, Saratoga Springs, NY 1286651 Front Bistro and Wine Bar
51 Front St, Ballston Spa, NY 12020Sunset Cafe
42 Front St, Ballston Spa, NY 12020
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re: Stuartmc910
It looks like Lanci's closed in April. What would be your favorite special occasion restaurant now that they are closed? We are a group of 6 celebrating a birthday. We are interested in really good food in a nice atmosphere. I am sorry that we missed Lanci's. It looks like it was a wonderful place!
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re: jhaas
jhaas, 8 Tables Restaurant is now in the former Lanci's location. We went for the first time recently.
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Doesn't sound like this is what you are looking for but the Parting Glass is a great place for lunch. God place for pub food and a pint. Gets a little crowded though on the weekends. I haven't been there yet, but One Caroline sounds like more of what tyou are looking for.
I've been to Lillian's a few times, and always had a good meal Last time I was there I had the baked brie with a raspberry sauce in a puffed pastry and followed that up with a shrimp scampi and steak. Not the greatest steak you'lll ever eat, but very tasty. I think it came to $70per person w/ drinks. For lunch it's amuch more bar snack kind of menu.
It will be too cold most likely but the City Tavern has a rooftop bar, and the last time I was there the cocktails were great and the food was cheap. Fun spot to start or end your day.
Honeslty, I go with a bunch of guys at least once a year for a golf weekend, so what we're looking for is relaxing, good food, at a moderate price. I'm sure you are looking for something a little more upscale. There are so many places in Sarartoga, it's hard to pick for someone else.
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re: jhopp217
I'd skip lillians. Yes the baked brie with the rasberry sauce was good, but I was their with my parents and my dad's steak was still frozen in the center when it was served. When they "fixed" the problem, the steak was still poorly done.
I also had lipstick on my coffee cup and my dish was very oversalted.
There were nine of us, and it was post track season, but for the price they charge I found the service to be lacking.
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