Uncleromulus
Plain grey will be fine
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2001
- Messages
- 15,529
But first--a rant
It's always nice when the manager on duty stops by your table to see how things are going. Nice touch and appreciated. But this night the manager on duty stopped by FOUR different tables near us (including one where the patrons had just walked in)--and breezed right on by our table w/o glancing our way!! Uncleromulus didn't appreciate that AT ALL, and it took the edge off what was otherwise a pretty good meal.
Anyway--we arrived fashionably on time at 6:00 and since we were the first people in the upstairs area, we got a great table. Sort of a two person "high-top" right up against the window looking out at Saratoga Springs over the lake. Very pretty. Our server turned out to be Thomas. A great guy, knew the menu backwards and forwards, and had some excellent wine recommendations as well. After Mrs U got her wine and me a Tiger beer we ordered appetizers. I started with Gnocchi with Braised Boar Bolognese--described further as hand rolled potato dumplings with a wild boar meat sauce. Now--I can't tell a hand rolled dumpling from a machine rolled dumpling
but these were fairly small and very good. The sauce had a paprika taste to it, but it wasn't spicy hot. The boar wasn't "gamey" tasting and all in all, it was a pretty good choice. For her appetizer, Mrs U had tempura Shrimp with wasabi vinagerette and Thai sweet Chili sauce. It had three large shrimp and she downed ALL of it. She thought it the best appetizer she had that week.
We then decided to split a salad--in this case, Southern Selects farm heirloom Tomamto Salad, with herb goat cheese, aged balsamic vinegar, and micro basil. THis turned out to be three very thick slices of tomato piled atop each other, with a bit of cheese at the top and on the bottom. One slice was red, one green, one rather pale yellow. Interesting looking and pretty good--could have used more cheese tho.
Entrees were next and that's when I asked Thomas' advice. I had my eye on the Spicy beef goulash (braised beef "osso bucco", with sauteed spatzle), but didn't really want it to be merely a hopped up version of pot roast. He told me that most nights the beef was excellent, but once in awhile it might be tough. He suggested I take the chance and I did. And it was pretty good. It was really "osso bucco" style beef but w/o any bone on the plate. Very tender. The sauce (again with paprika) was rather bland and the advertized
spatzles were few and far between.
MRs U went with a more traditional entree-filet, served with roasted squash, grilled portabello, and sauteed spinich. The steak was tender and cooked as ordered (medium)--the vegetables were all excellent, especially the 3 large portabello that came with the steak.
For dessert, I had the "24carrot" cake and Mrs U had the Key West Napoleon (with coconut ice cream, guava sorbet, and meringue). Her's was the better choice, as the carrot cake was pretty much like all the carrot cake I've ever had.
Although it was empty when we arrived, by the time we left at 7:30 the place was quite full. And there were more kids upstairs than I thought we'd see. The dress code (assuming they even have one) was not enforced. The fellow at the table right next to us had on a "Old Navy'" T-shirt. So there you go--
Truth to tell, Mrs U likes this restaurant a bit more than I do. I think
it's good, but not in that "special" category.
It's always nice when the manager on duty stops by your table to see how things are going. Nice touch and appreciated. But this night the manager on duty stopped by FOUR different tables near us (including one where the patrons had just walked in)--and breezed right on by our table w/o glancing our way!! Uncleromulus didn't appreciate that AT ALL, and it took the edge off what was otherwise a pretty good meal.Anyway--we arrived fashionably on time at 6:00 and since we were the first people in the upstairs area, we got a great table. Sort of a two person "high-top" right up against the window looking out at Saratoga Springs over the lake. Very pretty. Our server turned out to be Thomas. A great guy, knew the menu backwards and forwards, and had some excellent wine recommendations as well. After Mrs U got her wine and me a Tiger beer we ordered appetizers. I started with Gnocchi with Braised Boar Bolognese--described further as hand rolled potato dumplings with a wild boar meat sauce. Now--I can't tell a hand rolled dumpling from a machine rolled dumpling
but these were fairly small and very good. The sauce had a paprika taste to it, but it wasn't spicy hot. The boar wasn't "gamey" tasting and all in all, it was a pretty good choice. For her appetizer, Mrs U had tempura Shrimp with wasabi vinagerette and Thai sweet Chili sauce. It had three large shrimp and she downed ALL of it. She thought it the best appetizer she had that week.We then decided to split a salad--in this case, Southern Selects farm heirloom Tomamto Salad, with herb goat cheese, aged balsamic vinegar, and micro basil. THis turned out to be three very thick slices of tomato piled atop each other, with a bit of cheese at the top and on the bottom. One slice was red, one green, one rather pale yellow. Interesting looking and pretty good--could have used more cheese tho.
Entrees were next and that's when I asked Thomas' advice. I had my eye on the Spicy beef goulash (braised beef "osso bucco", with sauteed spatzle), but didn't really want it to be merely a hopped up version of pot roast. He told me that most nights the beef was excellent, but once in awhile it might be tough. He suggested I take the chance and I did. And it was pretty good. It was really "osso bucco" style beef but w/o any bone on the plate. Very tender. The sauce (again with paprika) was rather bland and the advertized
spatzles were few and far between.
MRs U went with a more traditional entree-filet, served with roasted squash, grilled portabello, and sauteed spinich. The steak was tender and cooked as ordered (medium)--the vegetables were all excellent, especially the 3 large portabello that came with the steak.
For dessert, I had the "24carrot" cake and Mrs U had the Key West Napoleon (with coconut ice cream, guava sorbet, and meringue). Her's was the better choice, as the carrot cake was pretty much like all the carrot cake I've ever had.
Although it was empty when we arrived, by the time we left at 7:30 the place was quite full. And there were more kids upstairs than I thought we'd see. The dress code (assuming they even have one) was not enforced. The fellow at the table right next to us had on a "Old Navy'" T-shirt. So there you go--
Truth to tell, Mrs U likes this restaurant a bit more than I do. I think
it's good, but not in that "special" category.
Server was new though as she didn't know what to do with my DDE card.
We were supposed to go there in December but ended up cancelling it. WP Upstairs is still on the list of places to try - just maybe a little lower. 
