Back in December, I visited Saratoga Springs to explore a bit. I grabbed a Breakfast Pizza at Artist’s Palette, and after wandering over to The Turf Club Bar and Grill area, I decided I wanted to return for either lunch or dinner. A recent Saturday found me revisiting the resort, and it was the perfect time for me to give lunch a try. First things first, I started with a beer. I ordered a Saratoga Lager ($5.75), brewed in Saratoga Springs, NY. My waiter, Tom, mentioned it was similar to a Sam Adams, and if I liked Sam’s I would enjoy the beer. Hey, as long as it doesn’t taste like trees, dirt, or skunk, I’ll probably be fine! It was an enjoyable beer.
To start off, I ordered their French Onion Soup ($6.49). It’s a classic French Onion Soup topped with melted cheese and a nest of Crispy Fried Onions. After the terrible bowl of onion soup I’d recently had at Mangino’s, I needed redemption, and this sounded like it would fit the bill.
They weren’t kidding when they said a nest! I didn’t know how to tackle this soup.
I picked a few of the onions off the top to enjoy, and then worked at cutting down through them, the cheese, and bread to get to the broth. The soup easily could have been a meal, but I still had my entrée on its way, so I had to take a break from it.
I had decided to order the Classic Reuben Sandwich which had Corned Beef, Russian Dressing, Swiss, and Sauerkraut on Pumpernickel Bread served with Vegetable Slaw. Other side options were Turf Club Potato Chips or French Fries. I was told the slaw was Asian-inspired with a rice wine base, so I chose to give it a try.
The sandwich was layered with fillings in a way that helped keep the bread from becoming soggy. Each slice of bread had cheese melted on it, and the corned beef was placed on either side of the sauerkraut. I really didn’t get much Russian Dressing on the sandwich, and the sauerkraut wasn’t as pickled as I had hope, but overall was a solid sandwich.
The Vegetable Slaw was reminiscent of a non-spicy kimchi, and was slightly sweet. It was a nice change from chips or fries. Since I was pretty full from the soup, I took most of my entrée home.
I had a great meal at The Turf Club and look forward to going back with Matt (I know he wants that French Onion Soup!). Their menus are well-rounded, so everyone in your party should be able to find something.
Have you made it over to Saratoga Springs to dine at The Surf Club Bar and Grill? Let us know how your experience was, or what your favorite items are.
