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EPHRATAH
At the Table: Step into the past and dine on sturdy cuisine at Saltsman’s
Sunday, June 17, 2012
One gets the sense that not much has changed at Saltsman’s Hotel in its 199 years of existence. It was a warm Saturday evening when we hopped on the Thruway and drove to Ephratah where we met friends, one of whom had been going to Saltsman’s since she was a child and encouraged us to make the trip. She promised us an interesting time, and we weren’t disappointed.
ALBANY
The Frugal Forager: Pizza and pub fare a good idea at long-running Fountain
Sunday, June 10, 2012
The Fountain Restaurant, an institution on New Scotland Avenue dating to 1962, is like a comfortable old friend who immediately puts you at ease, even though it’s been years since you last saw each other. There’s an expansive bar with friendly barkeeps and a long aisle flanked by tables for those looking for more than a beer.
GUILDERLAND
The Frugal Forager: Capital City Diner offers speedy service and fair food
Sunday, June 3, 2012
A recent survey about choice showed that people were happier with their selection if they chose from fewer options. The range of dining options at a traditional diner always leaves me, as someone who has trouble making decisions, anxious. Should it be a salad? Just a plate of fries? A multi-course meal? Or — and this one always tempts me — breakfast, any time of day? Happily, they were only serving breakfast when we visited Capital City, so the choices were already narrowed down.
MECHANICVILLE
The Frugal Forager: Ugly Rooster has big breakfasts — and everything else
Sunday, May 27, 2012
“Bring it on,” said the girl meeting The Ugly Rooster Cafe pancake challenge. Mom and I hit The Ugly Rooster in the middle of a rush to find the plastic-covered wood tables pushed together for oversized groups and a waiting list. It took about 20 minutes to get a table, but the wait was entertaining
LATHAM
At the Table: Xin Fu a good choice for a quick Chinese or Japanese meal
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Xin Fu, which our server told us means “happiness,” is one of a growing number of fusion Asian restaurants where you can get Chinese and Japanese dishes. The servings are artfully presented and are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the palate, and the restaurant features lovely wall hangings and a generally serene ambiance conducive to relaxed conversation.
SARATOGA SPRINGS
The Frugal Forager: Amid the curios, hearty breakfasts, lunches at Country Corner
Sunday, May 13, 2012
We were there for lunch and had a number of other stops to make before our day was done, but the cafe’s cozy atmosphere persuaded us to slow down and enjoy a pleasant interval before returning to the real world.
HALFMOON
Frugal Forager: Parma Italia more than a pizza joint
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Parma Italia has a lot to love. Opened about three years ago, it makes the most of a roomy storefront with plate glass windows, and its decor is in a neutral palette. “It smells good in here,” said Mom, as we perused menus at our table in front of the window.
COLONIE
At the Table: Scrimshaw restaurant makes dinner a truly special occasion
Sunday, April 29, 2012
By the end of our meal at the recently renovated and updated Scrimshaw restaurant, they’d already won me over. I’ve paid as much for dinner at other restaurants that I didn’t enjoy half as much. Maybe it was the attentive service by waiters at the top of their game, intent on making the entire evening memorable.
ROTTERDAM
At the Table: Casa Real: Authentic, reasonably priced Mexican cuisine
Sunday, April 22, 2012
If you prefer more authentic Mexican cuisine over the fast food variety that’s easy to find today, check out Casa Real, a new restaurant in the Hannaford Plaza on Altamont Avenue.
SARATOGA SPRINGS
At the Table: Gaffney’s offers tempting contemporary American cuisine
Sunday, April 15, 2012
We could have stopped with the wine and the appetizer plate, I’ll admit, but then you wouldn’t be getting such a complete rundown of possible choices from the menu at long-running Gaffney’s Restaurant. By the time we’d completed our recent visit at the Saratoga Springs mainstay, we had a good idea of the kind of food you can get there, and we weren’t disappointed by anything that we sampled.
DUANESBURG
The Frugal Forager: Diner offers homemade food at a good price
Sunday, April 8, 2012
We took the Snow Train to North Creek this winter and over a charming informal lunch, a friend said, “These fries are really good. But the best fries are at the Duanesburg Diner.” Nothing gets my attention like hearing about the best french fries. So not long after, with husband Eric in tow, I thought I’d see for myself.
CAMBRIDGE
At the Table: Cambridge Hotel offers very good streamlined menu
Sunday, April 1, 2012
We arrived late for our reservation at the Cambridge Hotel to find almost all the parking spaces taken. “It’s packed,” said husband Eric. Did we lose our table? We’d expected it to be busy since the Gordon Ramsay makeover, but it only took opening the menu to see why it was crowded at 5:30.
LOUDONVILLE
At the Table: Classic Italian-American fare expertly done at D’Raymonds
Sunday, March 25, 2012
It’s early on a weekday evening and D’Raymonds is filling up quickly with patrons. Within an hour of our arrival, every seat in the place is claimed. The aroma of garlic and marinara wafts from the kitchen, the chianti flows and music from “The Godfather” plays in the background. By all accounts, it’s a typical night at D’Raymonds.
GLENS FALLS
The Frugal Forager: 132 Glen Bistro’s creative cuisine surprises and delights
Sunday, March 18, 2012
If you find yourself in Glens Falls and hungry, I recommend you head for 132 Glen St. and the 132 Glen Bistro, where the menus change daily and are noteworthy for their tempting and creative offerings.
At the Table: Illium Cafe menu has options from exotic to familiar
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Progress at the Illium Cafe in Troy has been measured and steady. Owners Marla and Brian Ortega started out in 2010 with a successful breakfast and lunch service; now Illium has added dinner three nights a week. What husband Eric and I found there were remarkable and unusual offerings in an eclectic setting with friendly service. It is easily the most interesting menu that I’ve seen in a long time.
