Capital District Parent Pages

Nothing comes out of hibernation quite as dramatically as Saratoga in the summer, and the Family Chow loves to partake of the party atmosphere and fantastic food options during this time of year. On a recent sunny afternoon, we decided to check out Bailey’s Café, conveniently located on the corner of Phila and Putnam streets, just off the main drag of Broadway.

Bailey’s has been in business for a long time, undergoing a renovation in the late ’90s while preserving the building’s historical touches like the colorful stained glass windows and tin ceilings. We opted to sit inside near the bar to escape the heat, though on a cooler day we might have taken advantage of the nice outdoor dining patio.

We were seated right away and drink orders were placed within minutes as we perused the menu. It was clear from glancing around the space that there is a strong emphasis on libation at Bailey’s. There are more than two-dozen specialty cocktails listed on a giant chalkboard above the bar as well, as many great beers on tap. Mom chose a raspberry Mojito, while Dad and the kids stuck with sodas.

Although it wasn’t a quiet space, the music and nearby conversations mixed to create a pleasant din. The menu is straightforward, if not terribly innovative, including a few starters (quesadillas, wings, chips, fries), some salads (ceasar, chef, spinach), and entrées of mostly burgers and sandwiches. The kids’ menu listed several kinds of sandwiches, a hot dog and pasta, and all include chips, animal crackers and a drink (a good value at $4.95).

The drinks came quickly, and we asked our server for some suggestions regarding what to order. Unfortunately, she had not tried a number of the options we had in mind, so we went with the menu descriptions. Son surprised no one by ordering a cheeseburger, while Daughter branched out a bit with the salmon burger. Dad ordered The Royal Scarlet sandwich with roast beef and cheese and Mom picked the portobello mushroom sandwich .