Brindisi's is closed and other Saratoga Restaurant news

• Am I the first to report that Brindisi's Restaurant has apparently closed?  UPDATE: The Business Review followed up my entry with a report that the restaurant is indeed closed.  I heard from a friend that it would be closing, and it was dark both Saturday and Sunday nights - and in fact may have been closed for a week or two now.   Please comment on here if you know more.
• Perhaps Brindisi's is the location of the new restaurant which I reported on that was looking for staff on Craigs List last month.
• One place that definitely is not closing is Maestro's, which had it's heated front porch going strong this weekend.  I was walking up Broadway this past weekend and saw the flames from their outdoor heaters from far away - not only good heat but good marketing.  It was impressive, but I have to admit it gave me pause and I wondered about fire codes and safety.  The flames were enclosed in glass, so it's obvious that they went to great lengths to be safe and presumably legal, but it still gave me pause.

•  I like going to Hattie's once in a while, but I have to say despite the fact that their fried chicken wins awards, I find that particular dish just okay.
• What a gem The Parting Glass is  - and it's unfortunate that I sometimes take it for granted.  My wife and I stopped in there Saturday night for a casual dinner and the next thing we knew we were enjoying a great Irish band and we were dancing right in front of the stage.  The band, Forthlin Road, had a nice mix of Irish tunes and Southern American Rock.  They were talented, funny, perhaps drunk (imagine!), and really engaged the audience. 
• It's not The Parting Glass, but The Local is another cool Irish Pub good for a casual meal and a beer, or two. 
• I'll close here by linking The Saratoga Life entry I wrote earlier today which is basically just a list of links to the Table Hopping Blog regarding Saratoga area restaurants and the details on their Thanksgiving dinner offerings. 

Comments

[Rob]

When I lived on Marion Pl., the Parting Glass was part of my weekly routine. Food is nothing spectacular, but the Shepherd's Pie and lamb stew were always nice cheap meals and went great with a couple of beers. Not to mention the back room is one of the few places in Saratoga where you can hang out with a larger group of friends and not feel like you're constantly fighting for space.

I'm lukewarm on The Local. Nice space, enjoy the variety of tap lines, but the service is abysmal.

[Ron Brindle]

I agree with you about the Hattie's fried chicken. It's always been just OK to me. I've never been a beer drinker but I can recommend The Local for reasonably priced pub food like fish & chips and Shepherd's Pie. Good deals at a cool neighborhood joint.