Saratoga Dreamin....
 

My wife and I have tickets for the weekend of the Travers and it is our first time in Saratoga.. Besides the Carolina Barbecue which we are dying to try:D , can I have some recommendations for Resturants in town... I can't find a lot of info on the web regarding resturants. Since this is a splurge, Price is Noobject...

Thanks

Jim

I love Wheatfields. I go there a few times a month. It is right on Broadway, and has some outside seating too.

I would reccomend making a reservation at the Gideon Putnam for Sunday brunch.

I also have always had a good time at Leone's (Mexican).

I'm sure the experts can chime in with the hot spots...

Have fun! Is it August yet??

well...where do we start? If mexican is something you'd like to dabble in then Leon's is the best. Only a short walk from the track. There is always Siros..never eaten there but drank plenty there. Pretty fun place to go right after the races. Downtown there are many places to choose from. I'm glad to hear you are making the trip. You will LOVE it.

Good ideas.

I also enjoy Leone's after a day at the track. Good food, and some Espolon, delicious.

Another good Mexican place is El Mariachi out towards Exit 13.

If the Carolina BBQ is the drive up and eat outside place, it is awesome! For breakfast there is a place called the Packhorse, they had the greatest Eggs Benidect I have ever had.

Geez. Now I'm going to be thinking about Saratoga all day.

We had a good meal at Doc's Steakhouse downtown last year Travers Eve.

But we just usually go to Kings after the races to drink and then get pizza the rest of the week to save money for the track.

I can hear Tom Durkin now.....And they're OFF at SARATOGA!!

My morning fav is the Horseshoe restaurant located right at the Nelson St backstretch entrance. Go early, watch workouts and gate card drills and have a great breakfast only 50 yeards from there! You'll see many trainers and owners there after AM works.:)

i hear they don't serve breakfast anymore at the packhorse. that's that place a couple a miles south of town on 9p right ? i think they changed the name of that joint too.

I like the Inn at Saratoga, across from the Holiday Inn as well.

Lot of fun great little traditions you'll notice at the Spa:

1. The Pink Sheet - It's really more of novelty now but it has many imitators from the Purple sheet to Blue sheet etc. But this is the original. It started back in the beginings of the meet in the late 1800's early 1900's. The woman who worked in shops and boutiques would put their picks for the days cards on the a "pink sheet" and have their advertisements on the back.
The tradition is kept alive by the local paper The Saratogian. It's a little cheesey but the Pink Sheet is as much part of the history and traditions at the Spa and no first time visit should be without one.

2. 17 mins before each Post you will hear a bell chime. This is another tradition still carried out today which means "RIDERS UP" This was used to alert jockey's and horseman to get to the paddock for Riders Up, since back in the day their was no cell phones etc

3. Ohhhhh The Big Red Spring, No first time visitor should go without a visit to the Big Red Spring for a sample of the naturally carbonated water. Hmmm sooo good. This natural phenomanon was one of the early attractions to Saratoga and helped it become one of the country's first true Resort towns.

4. though scratches are announced and are on monitors, You can still visit under the grandstand where they will still post the scratches for the day on a chalk board like they did many decades ago before technology.

I'm sure I'm missing some but If you are a horse racing fan beyond the gambling aspect, this will truely be a fantastic experience for you. The place is a living functional museum. From the Old wooden grandstand that was built in 1864 to the backyard picnic area and all the little shops and such that line up around the jockey's quarters to being able to bring in your own chairs,food, and of course BOOZE. There is really no place like Saratoga, well maybe Suffolk Downs LOL LOL but seriously you are going to be in HEAVEN.

The Olde Bryan Inn is a nice place too. It has been around for hundreds of years and is supposedly haunted. Good food and atmosphere too!

Mmmmm....Big Red Spring Water is the best...I encourage everyone to drink in its goodness...it will leave you thirsting for more!!!

No C.J. we aren't talking about 10 dollar Vodka Tonics from the Jim Dandy Bar.

By the way speaking of the Jim Dandy Bar...it's always been a tradition of ours that whoever has the first decent hit of the day has to buy a round at the Jim Dandy. One of the Bartenders at the Jim Dandy Bar is the legendary Phonsie Lambert. He's been a great friend of mine for many years. (coached against each other) He took over that spot after his father(also known as phonsie) passed away several years ago. But anyway that's just one more reason to love Saratoga.

:eek: :eek: You are bad!!!

I love the water at the Big Red Spring but I guess it's somewhat of an acquired taste.

It is one of those things people either love or hate.

Personally, I can't stand the stuff, tastes like Stewert's Vichy Water.

Restaurants:
Pennell's on Jefferson St is not far from the track....good dinner
Sergio's north of town on Rt 9 is pretty good
Longfellows out by the lake is decent.
Paul's in Ballston Spa is a bit out of the way but is pretty good

Pubs/Bars
Parting Glass
Siro's after the races
The Waterfront
The Olde Bryan Inn
A bunch of places on or just off Maple Ave between Lake Av and Phila St

The Racing Museum on Union Av is worth a visit...

Edible food....

Chez Sophie
Lanci's
Beekman Street Bistro

Bars....

There's only Clancy's....the later the better.

Born and raised in Saratoga...there is better drinking spring water at some of the other springs....to each their own!!

Travers weekend will be very crowded...after hours will be good and the scenery at the track will be great...but during the races the lines will be long at the windows, the concession stands, and the rest rooms.

No comment on the springs...other than there nice to wash the grease off your hands after...
Actually, the trees around them are much nicer.

Now...back to the question.
For me, I've always been a "breast man", though I've never been known to turn down a pair of steamin' hot thighs.
So, my vote goes to Hattie's
45 Phila St
(518) 584 4790

If you drive and like fried...P J's. Their ribs are also great. A cold pitcher of somethin', a big side order of golden fries....OK, I'm dreamin' too!

Yeah, Travers is a bit of a pain but a great party always. And usually good races/fields to bet all week.

The girls in the dresses Saturday...wow. ;)

The restaurant formerly called the Packhorse is now El Marachi.

Augies in Ballston Spa-great Italian food,HUGE portions!(Don't buy an entree, split it!)

MaTH,

This is Carolina Barbecue.. my joint on the grounds of the Race Course. On the backyard side across from the grandstand Carousel Teletheater ..




Breakfast: Beverly's, on Phila
Premium Dinner: As BTW suggests, Beekman St. Bistro
Group (or modestly priced) Dinner: Ripe Tomato
Pizza: Talk of the Town, in Glens Falls
Drinking: As BTW suggests, and as I frequented when a drunkard, Clancy's

I'm getting so hungary.
Steve - Do you have pulled pork bbq and is the sauce tomato based or vinegar based.

Where is Lanci's

Putnam Street just past Caroline on the east side of the street.

Thanks...never been there but I'll check it out

Tell them I said hi.

The BBQ lineup? We have shredded pork.. beef.. chicken.. turkey..

Three sauces..

Original Carolina (Mustard-Vinegar with a hint of sweetness);
Hot Carolina (Same as above with a nice heat);
Carolina Red (50-50, Mustard-Vinegar & Kansas City Sweet)


Then there are my two Specialty Items:

Montreal Smoked Meat (Brisket) & Real Chicago Italian Beef...


And off-the-menu... PIE... Don't forget the pie.. (Though getting it away from Chuck and Sciacca can be... challenging.)

And this year, I may introduce 'Andy's Daily Cobbler'.. Peach.. Apple.. Blackberry.. Andy LOVES cobbler..

Hot Carolina Shredded Pork, I can't wait.

We need to get you on the Food Network...maybe YOU do the throwdown to Bobby Flay on your BBQ! We'll get Andy, Grabowski and Jerry Brown as judges...3 good handicappers and non too shy with the fork!

Flay is a big racing fan. Owner too..

Of course besides the daily fare at the 'Cue, and the specialty action at the 'Captain's Table' with Sciacca, shrek and Donkey, Chuck, et al, there is our famed Italian Sunday Dinner by my pal Donnie Tessitore and I... Sunday behind the 'Cue has become pretty remarkable in and of itself... Donnie's Eggplant Parm... Chicken Napolean... Meatballs/Sausage... My Ceasar Salad... Tortellini Boscaiolla... Herbed Tenderloin... Whatever... We do it 4 of the 6 Sundays...

I have my Lasagna Classico (Lasagna with Polpettini) in the oven for Sopranos watching as we speak...

And already did a throwdown at the track - Chantel was one of the judges :) .

Mmmm Italian beef, can you e-mail me one :D

making me hungry! and i just love eggplant parmesan!

donnie makes incredible eggplant parm.

i'll stop by that Carolina B-que sometime during the meet.