8 Tables: Our Valentines Day Experience

My fiance and I celebrated our third Valentine's Day at 8 Tables Restaurant on Putnam Street just north of the Library. 

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If I were to review it in one sentence I would say the food was very good, the portions were huge, but the service was sort of aloof and spotty.  But I can't say it in just one sentence so I'll continue.  The food was enjoyable and the staff was friendly enough that I would consider going back because overall it was a nice experience.

I'll get the bad stuff out of the way.  I say the service was aloof and spotty mostly because I had to be assertive to get what I wanted.  When it was time to tell us the specials, he asked us if we had heard him tell the specials to the other table or would we like him to repeat them.  Although there are only 8 Tables (9 actually, at least on Valentines Day) it is still a noisy place so no, we did not hear the specials.  So he recited them from memory  - at least some- with some pauses, uhhhs, and ahhhs and stopped.  I had to remind him that according to the menu, he was supposed to tell me about a pork of the day special.  "Oh yea...." and then later I saw a special dish served on the table next to me and I am pretty darn sure he never told us about that one.  They brought us the wrong size bottle of wine, I initially had to ask for a water refill (although they were on it after that) and forgot to bring the portable heater they promised my fiance. 

Don't get me wrong, none of that ruined the experience, but with prices at the higher end of the Saratoga Springs restaurant pricing scale, there shouldn't be a number of little things like that.  Again they were friendly and they did accomodate when asked or corrected.  Along those lines, Ruth Fantasia of the Times Union reviewed 8 Tables back in October and she absolutely loved it, as did at least one commenter. 

We shared the scallops with sweet corn and sage butter appetizer ($13.00 - excellent) and then the house salad ($9), which was basic but fine.  Margarita chose the striped sea bass entree which included vegetables and barley - good for them for offering a somewhat unusual grain - at least as far as restaurant side dishes go.  I had a rigatoni entree which included chicken, sausage, white beans, and if memory serves me - arugula.  The waiter told me - or perhaps warned is the better term - that my choice was "hearty" and I guess by hearty he meant not only heavy but huge.  Enough for almost three people.  Very good, in a sort of broth, and BTW Margarita loved her sea bass and we both had enough to take some home.  The bananas foster dessert we shared was very good, not spectacular, but very good.  Our total bill before tip was $125.00, which included the half bottle of wine. 

I see 8 Tables now has their entree prices on their web site. There was a time when the web site didn't include prices.  8 Tables is open Tuesday through Saturday from 6pm on, with Tuesdays being Tapas night.  Call 518-580-9800 for reservations. 

Comments

[Mr. Sunshine]

Initially I was very put off by the very high prices, especially since they were introduced during the worst depression since the, well, Great Depression! But then I found myself with a little extra money so went with friend and thought the food was really terrific (as was the service, but we went on a slow night). And I enjoyed eating it for another couple of days as well.

[Dan]

And you, my friend, are tough to please - so a positive comment or two from you is significant!