It wouldn’t be Saratoga Springs without a wine tasting or special food sampling every weekend. (Hey, saratoga living didn’t name it the best small city restaurant destination for nothing!) But what about every day of the week? That’s exactly what’s on the menu for Saratoga Restaurant Week, which takes place next week, November 5-11. Monday through Sunday, you’ll be able to celebrate (and taste) the best of Saratoga’s culinary scene, with nearly 50 participating restaurants serving up a variety of cuisines and menu options, including $10 lunch specials (plus tax and tip), and $20 and $30 three-course dinners.
Saratoga Restaurant Week is presented by Discover Saratoga and Spa City Brew Bus, and offers locals and visitors alike the opportunity to see all the unique and incredible restaurants that Downtown Saratoga has to offer. Plus, it’s a boost to the local restaurant community during a slower time of the year. “Our main mission is to promote Saratoga as the destination for meetings, conventions, special events and weddings and sporting events—everything,” says Discover Saratoga President, Darryl Leggieri. “Saratoga continues to be this cultural mecca that everyone gravitates towards. It’s got great energy, and it’s a year-round destination.”
In that spirit of keeping the Spa City a year-round tourist hotspot, Saratoga Restaurant Week has enough variety to satisfy nearly anyone’s tastes. For a quick and tasty $10 lunch, go to Esperanto, BurgerFi, Gaffney’s Restaurant or the Falafel Den. Or, for those with a longer lunch break, sit down and sip some tea (or wine or beer) at Local Pub & Tea House, Thirsty Owl Bistro, Saratoga Stadium or Diamond Club Grill. For the $20, three-course dinners, you have your pick of more than 20 great local restaurants. If you’re in the mood for some European fare, pay a visit to Forno Bistro, Chianti Il Ristorante, Boca Bistro or Ravenous Creperie. Or if you want something that reminds you of good old fashioned home cooking, step into to Hattie’s Restaurant, PJ’s BAR-B-QSA or the Olde Bryan Inn (we’re just scratching the service here). And for just $30, you can enjoy fine dining at some of Saratoga’s most luxurious and popular restaurants such as Prime at Saratoga National Golf Club, Mouzon House, Hamlet & Ghost or The Blue Hen. There are even options for those who live a little outside Saratoga: Chez Pierre (featured in saratoga living‘s brand-new Luxury Issue) or the Wishing Well (both in Gansevoort), Bellini’s Italian Eatery (Clifton Park) or Lake Ridge Restaurant (Round Lake). For a full list of the participating restaurants, click here.
All of the restaurants, bars and kitchens for Saratoga Restaurant Week also function as donation centers for Toys for Toga!, a holiday toy drive sponsored by Discover Saratoga, DeCrescente and Druthers Brewing Company. You can donate new and unwrapped toys to any of the participating restaurants from November 5 to December 15, and help local children have a happier holiday season.
Want to compare and contrast? For our feature on Saratoga Restaurant Week from last year, click here.