LIGHT
FARE
Bailey’s
Phila and Putnam streets, Saratoga Springs, 583-6060. This
is two places in one, with the full menu available at both
the inside café and the outside patio bar and grill. Relax
in an Adirondack chair while toasting s’mores at your table.
Full bar, on-premises catering, banquet facilities and takeout
available. Serving 11 AM-midnight daily. AE, D, DC, MC,
V. $$
Betty’s Pizza Shack
26 Housatonic St., Lenox, Mass., (413) 637-8171. This brightly
colored, high-energy restaurant serves an amazing array
of pizzas, salads, burritos, quesadillas, and hot oven grinders.
Buckets of beer and a nice selection of wine provide the
mostly local clientele with a fun getaway right in the heart
of Lenox. Beer and wine; takeout available. Serving 11:30-9
Sun-Thu, 11:30-10 Fri-Sat. Checks, cash. $$
Bread Basket
65 Spring St., Saratoga Springs, 587-4233. Great homemade
breads, quiche, soups, scones, pastries, specialty cakes
and other luscious treats are available at this small eatery.
Open 7-7 Tue-Sun, Closed Mon. AE, D, MC, V, personal checks.
$
D’Andrea’s
33 Caroline St., Saratoga Springs, 584-3632. Pizza, focaccia
sandwiches, fried foods, “grubs” (grinder-subs), stuffed
breads. Dine in, take out; free local delivery. Serving
11-10 Sun-Thu, 11 AM-4 AM Fri-Sat. AE, D, MC, V. $
Debbie’s Kitchen
456 Madison Ave., Albany, 463-3829. The downtown Albany
hot spot for soups, creatively constructed sandwiches and
totally killer desserts. Chef Debbie Klauber and company
weave a touch of color and crunch into the ordinary, as
in their smoked-turkey-breast sandwich with garlic mayo,
sliced pears, sunflower seeds, roasted onions and cheddar
cheese. Vegetarian combos are always available, as are fresh
salads and a wide variety of ever-changing baked goods.
Don’t leave without tasting one of Debbie’s brownies. Serving
10-9 Mon-Fri, 11-6 Sat. Closed Sun. MC, V. $
Dué Enoteca
42 Railroad St., Great Barrington, Mass., (413) 528-8969.
Adjoining the Verdura dining room, this similarly handsome
wine bar offers casual Italian fare, tapas, burgers, sandwiches
and other light fare. Full bar, specialty martini list,
good selection of wines by the glass. Serving 5 PM-10 PM
daily. MC, V. $$
Francesca’s
Broadway and Fifth Avenue, Troy, 272-3726. Serving soups,
salads and gourmet sandwiches. Daily specials and desserts.
On/off-premises catering; takeout available. Serving 7:30-4
Mon-Thu, 7:30-3 Fri. Closed Sat-Sun. Cash only. $
Hungry Spot Café
Collamer Building, 480 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 584-9060.
Boasting great homemade soups, fresh rotisserie turkey and
daily lunch specials. Also featuring a vegetarian menu.
Takeout, free delivery and off-premises catering available.
Serving 6:30-3 Mon-Fri. AE, MC, V, personal checks. $
It’s a Wrap
242 Quaker Road, Queensbury, 743-0920. Offering a selection
of bagels, cream cheese and coffee, as well as homemade
fresh wraps, subs, soups, and salads. Light catering available.
Serving 6-6 Mon-Fri, 8-4 Sat-Sun. Personal checks. $
Kelsey’s
State and Lodge streets (at the Crowne Plaza), Albany, 427-3049.
The light fare/pub menu features sandwiches, burgers, chicken
tenders and other munchies in a comfortable atmosphere.
Full bar. Serving 11:30 AM-1 AM Mon-Sat, noon-1 AM Sun.
Bar open till 2 AM every night. AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $
Manhattan Bagel
133 Saratoga Road, Scotia, 399-3887. Twenty-two varieties
of bagels, plus soups, sandwiches and a grill menu. Also
serving gourmet coffee. Serving 6-5 Mon-Sat, 7-2:30 Sun.
AE, MC, V. $
Martel’s at the New Course at Albany
65 O’Neill Road, Albany, 489-0466. Nightly specials and
pizzas augment a light dinner menu featuring burgers, finger
foods, salads and sandwiches. Full bar, catering. Takeout
available. Serving 11 AM-10 PM Mon-Fri, 8 AM-10 PM Sat-Sun.
Closed Mondays from November until April. AE, MC, V. $$
Mezzo Marketplace & Eatery
340 Hamilton St., Albany, 463-6240, www.mezzomarket.com.
European-style specialty market with an eat-in or takeout
menu that highlights what is fresh in season. Artisan bakery,
hand-cut cheeses, cured meats, produce, specialty pantry
products, and fall and winter Sunday suppers. Daily specials.
On- and off-premises catering, takeout. Off-street parking
in Robinson Square lot. Open 8-8 Mon-Wed, 8-7 Thu-Fri, 9-6
Sat, 9-5 Sun. AE, D, MC, V, personal checks. $
Mild Wally’s
189A Quail St., Albany, 433-1898. www.mildwallys.net. A
wide array of appetizers, hot and cold subs, wings, pizza,
pasta dinners and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Wally’s has
pickup or delivery into the wee hours. Catering available.
Serving 4-midnight Mon, 11 AM-1 AM Tue-Thu, 11 AM-3 AM Fri-Sat,
noon-midnight Sun. Phone orders (delivery) available until
30 minutes before close. AE, D, MC, V. $
Mrs. London’s
464 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 581-1834. Featuring exquisite
homemade pastries, desserts, sandwiches, soups and salads,
espresso and other hot drinks. Takeout available. Call for
hours. AE, MC, V, personal checks. $
The Night Sky Cafe
402 Union St., Schenectady, 372-2590. Small restaurant serving
sandwiches, “metzas” (small plates), coffee, tea, cappucino,
beer, wine and desserts. Takeout available. Serving 8 AM-11
PM Mon-Fri, 5 PM till late Sat-Sun. AE, D, MC, V. $
Noche
895 Broadway, Albany, 434-4540, www.nochealbany.com. Sophisticated,
upscale lounge and tapas bar with a full kitchen that can
accommodate special events with anything from passed hors
d’oeuvres to private dinners and luncheons. Full bar, on-
and off-premises catering. Serving tapas menu 4-midnight
daily. AE, D, MC, V. $
Panera Bread Co.
Crossgates Commons, 161 Washington Ave. Ext., Albany, 862-9281.
Grab a quick lunch or a breakfast muffin or take advantage
of the comfortable surroundings and dally for a snack or
extended meal. Just-baked bread and pastries, soups, salads
and free refills on iced tea. Serving 6:30 AM-9 PM Mon-Thu,
6:30 AM-10 PM Fri-Sat, 7:30-7:30 Sun. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
$
Peaches Café
Stuyvesant Plaza, Guilderland, 482-3677. Full lunch and
dinner menu includes new appetizers and pastas. Breakfast
all day, every day, with fare such as Belgian waffles and
specialty omelettes. Takeout available. Serving 8 AM-9:30
PM Mon-Thu, 8 AM-9 PM, Fri-Sat, 8-8 Sun. AE, CB, D, DC,
MC, V. $
Pie in the Sky
314 Central Ave., Albany, 463-7355. Enjoy deli sandwiches,
daily lunch specials, homemade soups and baked goods. Salad
bar and breakfast. Cakes made to order. On/off-premises
catering. Takeout available. Serving 7:30-3 Mon-Fri. Personal
checks. $
Pizza Baron
160 Delaware Ave., Delmar, 439-2222. Pizzas any way you
like, but if you’re into something different, try the Baron
Babies, soft garlic-butter breadsticks, or the delicious
wings. Eat in or take out; free delivery available ($8 minimum).
Serving 4-close Mon-Thurs, 11-close Fri-Sat, noon-close
Sun. AE, D, MC, V, personal checks. $
Putnam Market
435 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 587-3663. A gourmet marketplace
with a deli and bakery, serving sandwiches, prepared foods,
soups and salads to eat in or take out. Some of the sandwich
specials include the High Rock (in-house roasted turkey
with cheddar and cranberry mayo), the Putnam Street (smoked
turkey with Brie and honey mustard) and the Karista (homemade
fresh mozzarella with roasted red peppers and pesto mayo).
Catering available. Serving 9-6 Mon-Sat, 11-6 Sun. AE, MC,
V, local checks. $
Slick’s Restaurant
127 S. Ferry St., Schenectady, 370-0026. Roast beef, turkey,
corned beef, tuna, and ham-and-cheese sandwiches are featured,
along with a soup of the day. Full bar. Takeout available.
Serving 11-11 daily. MC, V. $
Smith’s Tavern
112 Maple Ave. (Route 85A), Voorheesville, 765-4163. Open
since 1945. Serving sandwiches, salads, homemade soups and
award-winning pizza with homemade dough and sauce. More
than 40 types of beer and microbrews. Serving 3-10 Sun and
Tue, 11-10 Wed-Thu, 11-11 Fri-Sat. Closed Monday. Personal
checks. $
The Toll Gate
1569 New Scotland Road, Slingerlands, 439-9824. Locally
famous for the wide selection of homemade ice creams, they
also serve up burgers, sandwiches, onion rings and the like,
as well as daily lunch and dinner specials. No alcohol.
Takeout available. Serving 11-9 Sun-Thu, 11-10 Fri-Sat.
Cash only. $
Tortillas
138 Broadway, Rensselaer, 434-1080. Specializing in Mexican
cuisine such as burritos, quesadillas and nachos, as well
as burgers, gyros, wings, pulled pork, and Greek and Caesar
salads. Free delivery, off-premises catering. Serving 11-8:30
Mon-Sat. Cash only. $
The Whistling Kettle
24 Front St., Ballston Spa, 884-2664, www.thewhistlingkettle.com.
Upscale tea lounge with more than nine types of coffee and
85 varieties of premium loose-leaf tea. Light fare including
cakes, scones, panini and tea sandwiches, soups and salads.
Also offering beer and wine, Internet access, fireplace
and a comfortable atmosphere. No reservations necessary.
Serving 11-6 daily. Open until 10 PM every first Friday.
AE, DC, MC, V, personalchecks. $$.
Yellow Rock Café at Indian Ladder Farms
342 Altamont Road, Altamont, 765-2956, www.indianladderfarms.com.
Featuring soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees made with
fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, milk and cheeses produced
on local farms, plus locally raised all-natural meats. For
dessert, try the mixed-berry shortcake, homemade pies or
the cider-doughnut sundae topped with homemade whipped cream.
Indian Ladder’s own apple cider, apple iced tea, Italian
sodas, fair-trade coffee, iced espresso drinks and chai
lattes complete the menu. On- and off-premises catering.
Reservations recommended. Serving lunch 11-2 Mon-Fri, lunch/brunch
10-4 Sat-Sun. D, MC, V, personal checks. $