While Darren and I were in Saratoga last week, we met up with his Skidmore adviser and his wife for dinner and drinks at The Wine Bar on Broadway.  The Wine Bar is a charming bar/restaurant that is more of a tapas place than a formal restaurant.  The atmosphere is warm and cozy with dim lights, candles, small tables and a fireplace surrounding a traditional bar.  It reminded both of us of the many quaint wine bars we’d find in the West Village, especially with the holiday lights and decor.  Very festive.

As you would expect, the wine list was extensive with all sort of whites, reds, blends and champagne to choose from.  I tried a delicious Beaujolais from the vineyards in France.  Beaujolais has such a short season so I always try to have a few glasses when its available. The smooth and fruity taste is one of my favorites although I have been sampling an array of Shiraz’s and Syrah’s as of late.  Darren opted for a blend of reds which he thought was good too.

The menu for dinner is very limited but there are some nice choices.  There are 6 appetizers/salads .  I went for the beets with orange foam and sprinkled with chevre cheese.  Scrumptious.  The others tried the arugala salad with fresh figs, and dates.  Also a delicious choice.  There are six main dishes which can be ordered in half portions so you can either have a sampling of one or two or you can order a full dinner size portion.  The choices are few but they are varied: duck, lamb, scallops, sea bass, and tuna.  I defied the rules and went with the risotto appetizer as my dinner.  It was served with two grilled shrimps on top.  The risotto was cooked to perfection and was very tasty.  Darren tried the lamb chops which were flavorful but a little overdone.  Roy and Gayle each had fish and thought their dishes were fresh and tasty too.

Overall, we had a delicious meal and some wonderful conversation.  If you find yourself in Saratoga, I’d recommend a stop at The Wine Bar– even if just for a drink.