I haven't been able to get to the Union Grille yet, but I did peruse the restaurant's web site including its menu. The prices, especially for breakfast, seem very reasonable and the lunch/dinner menu has a wide array of choices. Chez Sophie fans should be forwarned that Union Grille is taking the former Chez Sophie place in the hotel, not its place in the local fine dining scene. What I am saying is that the new restaurant has more basic and stick-to-your-ribs fare, such as "Woodstock" Pot Roast", "My Mother's" Meatloaf, Bangers and Mash, Mac and Cheese, Turkey Dinner, a nice selection of salads, burgers, and sandwiches, and a choice of appetizers that includes a plate for two that offers knockwurst, bratwurst, banger sausage, potato and cheese pierogies, sour cream and "Union Grille" mustard. The menu also has a few Utica inspired offerings (the owner Brindisi family's hometown) including East Utica Greens and one of my favorites, Chicken Riggies.
I've made it a point to defend the Brindisis from criticism on other blogs mainly because the criticism (insults) started to get unfair, and in fact really ugly. I in turn took some criticism back from anonymous posters, but that goes with the territory. I will point out here as I did elsewhere that the Brindisis are filling two restaurant locations in our city and employing many people at both of them. This is important; no one wants to see the former Doc's, The Backstretch, and the many South Broadway locations empty as they are and we're not even into winter yet so the tougher times may be still ahead. The Union Grille's menu, as well as a separate children's menu, may not satisfy Chez Sophie fans, but it does satisfy the needs of many hotel guests, including families with children, people that can't spend $35 for just an entree, and people on the go that need a quick meal. There are plenty of great fine dining options in town, and the current local economy can only support so many of them. From what I've heard and read Chez Sophie was a wonderful restaurant, but its departure means the other higher-end restaurants in town will gain some of that niche market share and the Hilton gains a restaurant which is probably more suited to the varied needs of hotel guests. I want to give the Union Grille a try soon and once again I give the Brindisis credit for helping the local economy and successfully operating two restaurants here in Saratoga Springs.
Read the Saratogian article about Union Grille from October 2, 2009 here.
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