PSZaas's Profile
What is swai fish?
You might be right. The sign at my local supermarket says "locally farmed," but I'm thinking that's only true if you're living in Vietnam, since I can't find any hint that there's farmed catfish anywhere in the NE.
What is swai fish?
The swai sold in local supermarkets here in upstate NY is all locally-farmed.
Seeking take-out or eat-in eggplant parmigiana in Latham/Colonie area
Cafe Italia on Central Ave. has a good version. I think D'Raymond's will serve a traditional eggplant parm if you ask 'em when you make the reservation.
Albany
Jack's is your place. Hangout for politicos, although not particularly on Sunday nights, 2nd oldest restaurant in the country, they claim, after Antoine's, pretty good food and drink, near your hotel.
Jack's Oyster House: http://goo.gl/n6QHh
WORST and BEST in SARATOGA SPRINGS
We've had a lot of discussion about meals we've enjoyed the most (these days, Sperry's is my favorite for best food, 9 Maple for best drink), but not so much about the town's low points. I've had consistently poor food, served poorly, at Lillian's, a popular joint on Broadway. I won't go there again voluntarily.
Flounder roe @ Fifty South (Ballston Spa)
To greet the spring, Kim Klopstock is serving flounder roe among other things (including roast duck, which I've praised before here); the roe is sautéed in caper butter, served with mashed potatoes and greens, twenty-five dollars or so. I've gone out of my way for shad roe, but flounder roe was new to me, more delicate than the shad. First plate was a frittura of silversides, another unusual dish 'round these parts. Apparently the local purveyors she's been working with have been supplying some exotic ingredients, and she puts 'em on the specials menu.
The diner atmosphere of Fifty South is gradually giving way to something else, a kind of community restaurant; good music, sometimes provided by live musicians, competent bar and wine list, a nice feeling to the place.
What's the best sandwich at Tony Luke's?
TL gives you a choice of rate or spinach. Has anyone ever tried the spinach?
What's the best sandwich at Tony Luke's?
I'm trying to work my way through Tony Luke's menu, using only the Oregon Ave. store as my baseline, to answer the question above, but since I only get here maybe twice a year, and sometimes I have to repeat a sandwich, it's going to take me a long time to try them all. The one I occasionally repeat, when I forget that I'm trying to try them all, is the veal cutlet Italian, which seems to have the perfect balance of flavors. I like it better than the steak Italian I tried today; the ribeye is excellent at Tony Luke's, but adding provolone and rabe to the the sandwich didn't improve on my cheesesteak baseline, mushrooms/American with. I've done the steak hoagie, and various other Italian combinations, chicken steak and chicken cutlet. Everything's been terrific, but so far the veal cutlet Italian is in the lead, with only fifty or so more sandwiches to try. Has anyone tried the roast beef?
Anyone been to Ballston Spa Newbie, 51 Front Wine Bar & Bistro?
At the moment, the Brickyard is turning out better comfort food than the Factory, but that's not a strong recommendation. Our most frequent dining destination close to home is 50 South; funky, not very pricey, decent bar, locally-sourced food, often there's live music, often worth hearing. Otherwise we typically head to Max's/Sperry's/Chianti.
Skidmore/ Saratoga Springs Post Graduation Brunch
Consider Fifty South; they'll take reservations; lots of choices, good food, not fancy, but sufficiently festive. Congratulations to your graduate.
www.fiftysouth.com/
Suggestions for late night dining in Troy?
I've actually enjoyed the chicken more than the beef brisket, and tried the fish special once; it was excellent. They sell a lot of chicken. The time to go, though, is when the view over the river is pleasant, instead of scary.
Suggestions for late night dining in Troy?
Sounds good; I always enjoy it there (the room, the old Christian Science Reading Room) is spectacular, but I'm usually there at lunchtime. Dinosaur is open until 11 on weeknights, midnight on weekends.
Suggestions for late night dining in Troy?
Holmes and Watson serves until 11, I think.
Help me hone my NOLA Plans
Coop's is a dive bar with pretty good rabbit jambalaya. That in itself makes it worth a lunch, or a late-night snack. No refinement whatsoever, one of the pleasures of the place. It's on my Every Time I Visit list, along with brandy-sazaracs-no-sugar, and a chess game with Jude Acers.
Battenkill Valley
One One One in Greenwich meets your dining criteria, on the New York end of the Battenkill. The Vermont end of the Battenkill has to be discussed on the New England board, I think. Gordon Ramsay is Kitchen-Nightmaring the Cambridge Hotel, but I wouldn't eat there until he does so. Steininger's in Salem is a great lunch stop.
Chianti (Saratoga Springs)
That's my usual starter, followed by the grilled bronzino. Tuna carpaccio is good, too; there's a swordfish carpaccio, but I like the tuna better.
The Jonesville Store (Clifton Park)
Nothing's as good as Mrs. London's, but the Village Bakery is worth a try if you're in the neighborhood. I think the bakery in Clifton Park is called Dolci.
The Jonesville Store (Clifton Park)
50 South is worthwhile for a casual dinner, but much better for brunch/lunch, I think; very good pancakes, omelettes, that kind of thing. Although in late December I had a very good dinner there, half a roasted duck, that was just delicious. Have you tried Village Bakery in Ballston Spa, speaking of bakeries? The baked goods are very good, in the present incarnation of the place.
The Jonesville Store (Clifton Park)
FDR, wonder if you've tried Fifty South, on Rt. 50 north of Ballston Spa for late breakfast, lunch, or dinner? Organic-conscious diner, good bar and wine list, quite the local scene. Lots of vegetarian/vegan/non-redmeat menu opportunities. Curious about your take on it.
Top Pizza in Capital Region?
Coincidentally, I had a pizza emergency while making pizza at home, which required me to jettison a recipe-full of pizza dough that was about to become a homemade pizza. I asked Pizza Works (Ballston Spa) for help and they sold me a pound-and-a-half of really excellent dough, which save the day. If you need dough, but not pizza, they might be your go-to place; they've certainly become mine.
Purdy's Cafe at Nell & Lo's (Galway)
I've passed it on my way to get cheese at Waterwheel Village, or maple syrup at Nightingale's, but never stopped. Thanks for the recommendation. Have you tried the Cock 'n Bull, closer to the Galway four-corners?
http://www.thecocknbull.com/
Where should I buy my whole prime rib roast? (Saratoga Springs)
We'll know that if begregory replies. bdegregory, how as your rib roast? Where did you buy it?
Where should I buy my whole prime rib roast? (Saratoga Springs)
Just reporting that the four-bone rib roast (about 12 lbs) from Just Meats that served as the centerpiece of our Christmas-eve meal was really just excellent.
Top Pizza in Capital Region?
You mentioned two places near Ballston Lake, Stewart's and the Jonesville Store, neither of which make pizza, so I thought you were being more global in your comment. Lakeside Farms, when it's open, is the best lunch around Ballston Lake. I guess if I lived in Ballston Lake and needed pizza, I'd still drive to Village Pizzeria, now that Sonny's has closed. There's Pizza Perfetta in Burnt Hills, not far away, that I keep meaning to try.
Top Pizza in Capital Region?
Waddaya mean, not much else in BL? Ballston Lake itself has at least two notable restaurants, Carney's Tavern, as close to downtown Ballston Lake as you can get, notable for a very home-y atmosphere and quite decent grub, and The Good Times, notable for its location on Ballston Lake, its antiquity, and its being extremely quirky as regards service and cuisine. (It can be a lot of fun.) In the season, the Lakeside Cider Mill is the best lunch around, the season being something like Memorial Day to Thanksgiving. Around the corner in Burnt Hills, there's Focastle Farms, year 'round, always excellent at morning and noon.
Carney's Tavern: http://carneystavern.net/Default.htm
Good Times Restaurant: http://www.goodtimesrestaurant.com/lake.htm
Lakeside Cider Mill: http://www.lakesidefarmscidermill.com
Focastle Farms: http://www.focastlefarm.com/
Albany
Cheryl Clark's negative review of Sangwych from yesterday's TU (http://www.timesunion.com/living/article/Not-even-half-a-loaf-2391710.php#ixzz1gF01fNiK ) has some details.
Deli (Ballston Lake, Malta vicinity)?
It's just a deli counter at a couple of Price Choppers, but the sandwiches (or meats by-the-pound) are genuinely excellent, hand-sliced pastrami, rye bread brought up from Rockland County, You have to eat the sandwich in the store if you want it warm, and while there's plenty of seating, you're still eating in a supermarket, but the sandwich is the real deal.
Where should I buy my whole prime rib roast? (Saratoga Springs)
Based on past experience, I've pre-ordered my seasonal rib roast from Just Meat this week.
Deli (Ballston Lake, Malta vicinity)?
Sorry to be late to the party in this thread. The Capital District is not a haven for delicatessen, except for Italian delis, of which there are many excellent ones, probably a subject for a separate thread. But Saati's in Latham hasn't been mentioned in this thread, and provides good quality Jewish deli, to take out or to eat in.
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Saati Deli & Catering
586 New Loudon Rd, Latham, NY 12110
Where should I buy my whole prime rib roast? (Saratoga Springs)
I've had rib roasts from all of the places mentioned in this post; the best I've had was from Just Meat, though, in Malta, just north of exit 12. You'll need to preorder a whole rib roast, of course. I've also had terrific beef from Roma's, in Latham, which advertises "natural beef," and Fred the Butcher, in Half Moon. Check out Just Meat.
