Clifton Park, NY Restaurants- Any Special Ones to Recommend?

[EIF1lady]

Will be in the Clifton Park area Saturday evening and am looking for an Italian/Continental restaurant that is nearby. We are willing to spend about $30-40pp.

[PSZaas]

Clifton Park has some serviceable restaurants, but nothing Special. Saratoga Springs is fifteen minutes north, with a number of choices in your price range (my favorite is Chianti), Latham is fifteen minutes south, and you might enjoy Milano or D'Raymond's, a few minutes farther, in Loudonville.

[financialdistrictresident]

The best thing about Clifton Park is you're only 15-30 minutes away from good food.

Agree with PSZaas recs. I have only been to Chianti's. I also like Cafe Capriccio and Nicole's in Albany but that might add about 15 minutes more to your trip. By the way Chianti's doesn't take reservations.

I'll also mention Augie's in Ballston Spa, which is popular with locals. Portions are family style and value priced. NOT a destination place.

Just for fun, a thread on Schenectady's Little Italy (about 30 minutes from Clifton Park):

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/645569

[financialdistrictresident]

Nicole's (Italian) is closed. Le Canard Enchaine (French) is in the former Nicole's location. Le Canard also has a restaurant in Kingston.

[financialdistrictresident]

Edit: My above post is incorrect. I believe there are two Nicole's in Albany. Nicole's (Italian) on Delaware Avenue and Nicole's Bistro (French) in the Quackenbush House which has closed. Apologies for any confusion.

Nicole's (Italian) on Delaware:

http://www.nicolescatering.com/restau...

[gerchak198]

Clifton Park is a Chowhound Wasteland.

[PSZaas]

Clifton Park has some decent pub grub (Ravenswood is a good place for a burger and beer) and it does have the area's only vegetarian Italian restaurant, or "vegetarian-friendly" or whatever they call it, Antipasto. There's sushi and coffee, at least one decent Indian joint, adequate Chinese/Thai at Tai-Pan. But nothing worth driving out of one's way.

[financialdistrictresident]

PSZaas, I had some very good spanakopita last week at Grecian ? on route 9. Portion was huge - enough for two. Also hear their moussaka is good. Second the Indian place. It has a very good luncheon buffet and when the weather is nice you can sit outside beside the zen-like pond. That's at least two places I can have a decent lunch when I don't go to The Jonesville Store or Saratoga Springs.

What's the sushi place?

[PSZaas]

The sushi place is Sushi Na, in the St. John's strip mall on Rt. 9 near 146. Not quite Yoshi's, and a little more expensive, but not bad. Grecian Gardens is a reliable Greek diner run by real Greek people. The Indian place is in a cursed location; I wish them well. But none of these places is a destination restaurant, which is what the poster seems to want, a destination Italian or Continental restaurant. None of them is even Italian!

[EIF1lady]

Right you are! I was looking for Italian/continental, but it could be casual, as long as the food is good. It seems like we will have to go to Saratoga, Schenectady or Albany. Does anyone know how the new Brandon's is?

[financialdistrictresident]

EIF1lady, the best food IMHO is in Saratoga Springs and Albany. I tried Luisa's (Italian) recently and it was good. Not a destination place and a bit too far for you from Clifton Park.

I was in Schenectady's Little Italy yesterday and Perreca's and More is not open yet (when I asked their ETA is around Thanksgiving). Bought some Tarelle and had a slice of Perreca's pizza :)

[financialdistrictresident]

Agreed. We digressed and now OP has some lunch places in CP if they ever need them . . .

Thanks PSZaas, I'll have to check it out. I also need to get back to Yoshi's.

EIF1lady, please report back.

[gerchak198]

The only thing I would add to this post is that David Zecchini of Chianti and Forno Toscano, both in SS, is opening a place in CP called Pasta e Pane or something like that. I don't know the opening date, but that will really add to the dining scene in CP.

[PSZaas]

We're looking forward to it. Pasta Pane, supposed to open "around the turn of the year."

[financialdistrictresident]

Just saw this re: Pasta Pane . . . ETA early winter 2010:

http://blog.timesunion.com/tablehoppi...

[financialdistrictresident]

PSZaas, ended up at Sushi Thai @ The Park last night . . . thought I might be heading to your rec in this thread (unfortunately didn't remember the name last night, just the thread). Now I have to ask SO about Sushi Na. He used to like a CP sushi place that is now closed.

[TonyO]

Salty's Pub has some pretty good food as well. Tehy wings at teh Ravenswood are good as well.

[financialdistrictresident]

TonyO, someone mentioned Salty's to me yesterday. Now I'm curious. I may need to check it out.

[financialdistrictresident]

Where did you end up? Please report back.

[EIF1lady]

We ended up at Cornell's in Schenectady, since we had been there once before and enjoyed it. I had a veal/ lobster tail francese entree that was delicious. My husband, who is a very picky/plain eater, had veal milanese. It was a bit disappointing; it was pounded down very thin, which is fine, but was greasy and bland. The service was excellent, but I would try somewhere else next time.

[financialdistrictresident]

Thanks for the report, EIF1lady. I still have some leftover Cornell's chicken livers in my freezer.

[markabauman]

Was in CP today. Saw that a branch of Saratoga's Wheatfields will be opening in the Crossings. Over near Clifton Country Center, I saw a Chipotle under construction-never been to one-usually avoid chains. Can't comment.

[financialdistrictresident]

Wheatfields is now open . . .

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/668680