Unless you’re in the market for a staycation, chances are, if you live in Saratoga you probably won’t be booking a room at the brand-new Brookmere Saratoga. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to be excited about when the former home of Longfellows opens this winter: namely, Regent Restaurant and Bar, an eatery Chef Christopher Smith describes as a New York interpretation of a French restaurant.
“I call it ‘choose your own adventure,’” says Chef Smith, who comes to Regent from boutique hotels in Washington and Oregon. “If you want to come out for a quick, light dinner, you can. If you want to celebrate a big occasion and pull out all the stops, we’re also going to be that spot for you.” In other words, if you just want a bowl of soup, great. If you want foie gras and Champagne, that’s great, too.
The final menu is still in the works, but foodies can expect quality French omelets for brunch and duck fat fries for—well, hopefully forever. The focal point of the small restaurant is going to be a large bar, at which craft cocktails will take center stage. There’ll also be some French beer and a wine list that mirrors New and Old World selections.
While Chef Smith doesn’t necessarily specialize in any one type of cuisine, he says his style of cooking takes the influence of an area—i.e., the agricultural bounty of upstate New York and the Hudson Valley—and puts a global spin on it. His vision for Regent: an upscale French brasserie that still feels true to the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains.
At press time, Chef Smith was living in the area part-time while he and his family figured out where exactly they wanted to set down roots. But he can’t wait to officially call this region home. “Saratoga has all the amenities of a larger city while having that really strong sense of community,” he says. “Everyone I’ve met in this industry has just been like, ‘Here’s my cell number—call me if you need anything.’ It’s really amazing that there’s all this infrastructure and support. I really didn’t expect it in a place that has such a small-town feel.”