Fun in Saratoga

Saratoga Springs' most underrated restaurant

I'm not going to tell you that Gaffney's Restaurant has the best food in Saratoga, or that it even cracks the top three, but I had dinner there recently with some friends and the good food, friendly service, nice ambience, and stellar entertainment combined for one of the most enjoyable dining experience's I have had in a while.

What made the dinner so great was that we sat on the back patio on a warm evening and we were able to (1) enjoy the nice weather, (2) enjoy a very good band, and (3) people watch the customers in the back yard. It was really fun and I recommend you go to dinner there the next time the weather cooperates.

The food was very good.  Their menu is not gourmet or cutting edge, but they have a little bit for everybody (vegetarians may have to stick to salads or special orders) including at least two chicken dishes, two beef, four seafood choices (haddock, tuna, shrimp, and salmon), pork chops, and some pasta choices.  Their menu is supplemented with nightly specials.  What I really enjoy there is Gaffneys' New Orleans inspired dishes, including etouffee, jambalaya, and seafood gumbo with shrimp, crab, oysters & mussels.  I had the jambalaya when we were there last time and it really blew me away it was so good.  If you make it there I hope your experience is as nice as ours was. 

Buffalo connections

I grew up near Buffalo and most of my family still lives near there.   My brother Guy sent me this link from a Buffalo News blog regarding an opera which is playing at the Spa Little Theater at 1:00pm on July 11th and was written by Buffalo composer Persis Parshall Vehar.   The entry gives information about the opera "Eleanor Roosevelt", which is a look at the life and impact of the historical first lady.  The entry continues "In case anyone is going to be in the neighborhood..."  Well, since I will likely be in that particular neighborhood, I may just check it out.  Thanks Guy.

Max London's - One Chowhounder's review

I am linking a review which is on the Chowhound web site of a reviewer's recent lunch at Max London's Restaurant on Broadway.  The long and short of it is that the reviewer described an apparently unsatisfactory experience with the food and the service. 

I have had two dinners (but never lunch) at Max London's and I thought the place was great.  I found the review interesting but do not think that commenter's experience is typical of what most people would experience at the restaurant, which usually gets excellent reviews.  I'm just posting it FYI. 

The Wine Bar - quick review

I mentioned in a previous post that I intended to take some friends to The Wine Bar On Broadway in Saratoga Springs.  I had never been there but heard some decent things about it and most recently read a very positive review on another blog.

Five of us went and we had a great experience.  The food was great and the service equaled the cuisine.  In fact many days later we were talking about what a great server we had.  One thing I liked about The Wine Bar is that they offered half portions at, stay with me here, half price.  Why do I make such a big deal out of that fact?  Because so many restaurants seem to offer half portions at what seems close to three-quarters price.  What's the sense of ordering a half dish at such an inflated price when for a few more bucks you can order the whole entree and take the rest with you?  The Wine Bar seems to understand that logic and I commend them for it. 

I don't have all the details from our dinner, but suffice to say it is worth your time and money to go there and the atmosphere is excellent as well.  I hope to be back soon.

One more thing - The Wine Bar chef/owner has a blog which you can find here.

Seven Horse Pub moving into 43 Phila and other Saratoga restaurant information

I heard that a new restaurant was moving into the 43 Phila building, but I didn't know too many specifics.  A recent article in the Schenectady Gazette tells a little bit about that venture and really is a good synopsis of all or at least most recent and near future restaurant comings and goings in Saratoga Springs. 

 

The 43 Phila restaurant will now be called the Seven Horse Pub and will feature at least some live music.  There sure are a lot of changes to the Saratoga restaurant scene in 2009.  Let's wish all of these owners well and I hope to try all of them out at least once. 

Route 471 bus returns to Saratoga Springs

I saw a welcome site on Sunday when the Route 471 CDTA Bus returned to Saratoga Springs and came down Union Avenue.  As I wrote in a previous entry, CDTA changed route 471 to a seasonal route, and eliminated the run for all but the summer months. 

I really want bus service to succeed here in the Spa City, the trouble is CDTA is apparently simply going through the motions on the reintroduction of the route and didn't even make much press out of this.  I don't know if the 471 bus will get much more ridership in the warmer months than it did before.  But that can change with some effort and outreach on CDTA's part.  Although I linked it above, I am going to copy a portion of my previous entry I made in January about CDTA and the 471 bus, because it is still relevant:

My point is:  What if CDTA got creative in Saratoga and tried some different things such as:

• Smaller buses with more flexible schedules and routes.
• Partnerships with downtown businesses, both horse tracks, the YMCA, the Amtrak station, the Farmers Market, downtown events such as the Victorian Stroll, and a host of others. This would be win-win for both entities. And by partnerships I mean joint promotions including discounts and other special efforts.
• Effective marketing and advertising - this means through unconventional means - not the same old same old.

Put a bus up and down Central Avenue in Albany and the masses will hop on, but that won't work in Saratoga.  I feel CDTA let us down, and it's more than just the loss of one bus route.  What this means to me is the loss of an opportunity to gain some momentum to make this community that much more pollution free, congestion free, and pedestrian friendly.  CDTA took a cookie cutter approach to bus service in Saratoga and at least one route failed miserably.  I am very disappointed and once again must say that CDTA let us down.

CDTA's Ececutive Director Ray Melleady made a comment on that entry, and I appreciated him taking the time to do that.  I realize CDTA has budget issues just like every other authority, but press releases and other public relations efforts are essentially cost-free, because the staff and infrastructure are already there.  When I say press releases and public relations efforts, I mean creative ones that show energy and commitment, not simply an "updates and changes" release.  I don't understand why they can't at least try some joint effort with the YMCA, which would require not much more than a few phone calls. 

Well there are my thoughts on that issue.  Metroland's blog has a related entry that you can read here about CDTA's bus service. 

Moe's Southwest Grille to donate a portion of profits to Saratoga YMCA on June 8th

Moe's Southwest Grill Holds Fundraiser for YMCA of Saratoga

June 8 . 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. 

Eat at Moe's Southwest Grill (Wilton location at 3084 Route 50) on Monday, June 8th between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. and 15% of your sale will be donated to the YMCA of Saratoga.  You will need to present this coupon when making your purchase.  Coupons are also available at each of the branches.

 

Enjoy some great food and help the YMCA!!!

Saratoga Springs listed in great towns book

I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but I have learned that Saratoga Springs is listed in the book  "The Great Towns of America: All New Guide to the 100 Best Getaways for a Vacation or a Lifetime".  Cooperstown and Lake Placid were the other two New York State communities that were also listed.  If anyone has read this and wants to give some insight as to what the authors say, please comment here.

Skidmore "Pink Palace" townhome project shows signs of life

Despite being significantly delayed and then put on hold, the planned townhome project at 32 Union Avenue on the site of Skidmore College's Moore Hall, aka "The Pink Palace", does not appear totally dead at this time.  The Albany Business Review is reporting that Norstar Development did in fact purchase the building for $1.12 million.  That price sure seems like a bargain, even considering the economy and factoring in demolition costs.  I can't wonder if Skidmore officials didn't shortchange the college a considerable sum of money by not being savvy about this.

My guess is that the project will still be on hold, and Norstar will wisely sit on this property for a few years to wait for the economy to get out of this protracted recession.  My two questions are (1) is how well will they keep up the property and (2) how long will we have to stare at an ugly and empty building?  One of my previous entries on this topic can be found here.

Former Saratogian Reporter Jim Kinney writes day trip article about Saratoga Springs

Jim Kinney left The Saratogian in early 2008 to work for the Springfield Republican newspaper.  He wrote an article about our beloved city in today's Republican and it's a well informed synopsis of what our area has to offer, including a few things you may take for granted and somewhat forgot about.