Saratoga Springs is a foodie haven! There is no shortage of high end restaurants with acclaimed chefs to satisfy those with adventurous palates. But sometimes you just want to have a low-key, casual meal (or you have a picky eater in your group that doesn't want to venture into eclectic cuisine...ahem, that would be me). Luckily Saratoga has plenty of restaurants that are perfect for this kind of meal as well. Here are my three favorite Saratoga eateries perfect for a relaxed night with friends or for picky eaters like me!
Cantina
If you have been following along with my recent rebrand and relaunch of my website, this choice will come as no surprise to you. I gave away a gift card to this restaurant and went Live from this site to announce the winner. I always recommend Cantina to people looking for a place to eat when visiting Saratoga. Cantina serves fresh, contemporary Mexican and Southwest cuisine and "exceptional margaritas" (which I can personally confirm!). I grew up in Colorado and have had a hard time finding equivalent Mexican food on the East Coast. I finally stumbled on a couple of decent places, but for overall dining experience Cantina takes the prize.
Cantina has a large space with lots of tables so even if they are busy, the wait is usually not too long. They also have a great outdoor seating area. If you get lucky enough to snag one of these tables in the peak summer season, you will get an unexpected entertainment bonus with people-watching as horse racing fans walk up and down the main drag. Even if you are seated inside, there is a great energy about the place that makes it a great choice for dinner with friends. If you have to wait for your table, make sure to head up to the rooftop bar to order a drink while you wait. I highly recommend the Coconut Margarita with a sugar rim! But note, they don't serve any food on the rooftop; you can only get drinks. The rooftop is a great spot to chill so rest assured you will not be impatiently waiting for your table!
With regard to the food, I can only personally speak to the Chicken Chimichangas because I order the same thing every time I go here. It's that good! (But I switch out the black beans for a second serving of rice so if you order this meal it will have a serving of black beans with it!)
All of the people I have taken to Cantina have praised the meal they had, so I think you are good no matter what you order from their menu. Cantina has a LARGE selection of flavored Margaritas including Mango, Peach, Guava, Prickly Pear, Blackberry, Pomegranate, Passion Fruit, Raspberry, Pineapple, Strawberry, Strawberry Rhubarb, Blood Orange, Coconut, Jalapeño, and Watermelon. Again, I usually push the Coconut Margarita and have never had a disappointed customer.
If Margaritas are not your thing, Cantina also has a variety of speciality house cocktails, bottled and draft beers and a several styles of Tequila and Mezcal.
If you are in the mood for Mexican food, put Cantina at the top of your list! Check out their menu here.
Druthers Brewing Company
If I'm not feeling Mexican food, Druthers is my next go- to. Again, they have a great outdoor area as well as an indoor dining and bar area. Their menu is varied and they brew their own craft beers. Druthers is well-known for their Mac and Cheese dishes. There is the original Mac and Cheese as well as gourmet flavors like BBQ, Street Corn, Buffalo Mac and Loaded Mac. The perfect comfort dish on those chilly upstate winter nights! They also have delicious wood-fired pizzas, burgers, seasonal salads and a number of unique appetizers for sharing. The food is so filling that I never have room for dessert, but I intend to head there some time for dessert only so I can try their Reeses Peanut Butter Pie or the Reeses Peanut Butter milkshake. Yum!
My favorite thing to order when I go to Druthers is a half Strawberry Field salad and a Loaded Grilled Cheese sandwich. The Loaded Grilled Cheese has pulled chicken, bacon bits, muenster cheese, cheddar cheese, BBQ sauce and randh dressing grilled on sourdough bread. Certainly not diet-friendly but worth the calorie splurge! The combination of flavors is amazing!
As I mentioned, there is a large outdoor patio area that has heaters making the space a year round extension of the restaurant. It is decorated with an abundance of greenery and hand-painted murals creating a vibey space for a fun lunch or dinner. It is a great space for a larger dinner party, but reservations would be necessary. Check out all of the menu and craft beer selections here.
Henry Street Tap Room
Henry Street Tap Room is located a couple of blocks off the hustle and bustle of Broadway. Because it is off the main drag, it feels more calm and relaxed which is a nice respite from the busy summer in Saratoga. Henry Street Taproom makes all of its menu items from scratch. Check out their menu here. They also have a wide selection of beers and ciders on tap with an everchanging 16 tap selection! You can order a flight of beer if you can't decide.
Henry Street Tap Room has a beautiful inside dining room. They also have a nice outdoor setup for those warmer summer months.
There is a picture of their quaint dining area at the start of this blog post!
I will certainly highlight many more of the amazing restaurants here in the Saratoga area, but if you start with these you will not be disappointed. Let me know your favorite spot in Saratoga and tell me your favorite meal so I can highlight it on a future blog!
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