Culinary Institute of America Restaurants-The Culinary Institute of America

Culinary Institute of America Restaurants-The Culinary Institute of America

Salty's Pub & Bistro - Clifton Park, NY

Restaurant: Salty's Pub & Bistro
Address: 215A Guideboard RoadClifton Park, New York 12065
Phone: 518-371-1120
Web: http://www.saltyspub.com/

Review Date: 11/22/08

-Avg. time to be seated: 5 minutes
-Average price: $15.00
-Free drink refills: Yes
-Portion size: Good
-Waiter followup visits: Numerous
-Avg. time till check brought out (after requested): 3 Minutes
-Service: Excellent
-Atmosphere: Bar/Pub, seems to be a lunch hangout of local companies (based on dress of current patrons)
-Cleanliness: Good
-Restrooms: Bar but clean
-Kid Friendly: Yes, made accommodations of either a booster seat and highchair

1-10 Overall rating: 8 (a little pricey)

Food Taste: 10

Notes: I had the broiled scallops and my wife had the chicken parmesan. Scallops were excellent and the chicken and pasta was good until she found a piece of hair in the pasta, we did not report it since it was not noticed until we were almost done, but yes she did stop eating at that point (it happens). The service was great and they had a nice selection on the menu however it seemed a little pricey (19.99 for the scallops and 18.99 for the chicken). Please note the photos DO NOT do the food justice in any aspect. Definitely worth a visit.

Barnsider Smoke House - Lake George, NY

Restaurant: Barnsider Smoke House
Address: Rte. 9 South, Lake George, NY
Phone: 518-668-5268
Web: http://www.barnsider.com/


Review Date: 11/01/08

-Avg. time to be seated: instantly
-Average price: $15
-Free drink refills: Yes
-Portion size: OK
-Waitress followup visits: 1
-Avg. time till check brought out (after requested): 10 min.
-Service: was a 5 until she fought with me about using an Entertainment coupon, then it dropped to a 2.
-Atmosphere: Casual rib joint
-Cleanliness: OK
-Restrooms: OK as long as you don't like a lot of soap.
-Kid Friendly: Looks like it would be, though we didn't use one.


1-10 Overall rating: 5

Food Taste: Tasted microwaved

Notes: In fairness the place was empty when we entered, so they may not have been in their customer groove yet. Yea, I'm sure that was it. After we ordered, we heard someone tell our waitress that the ribs would be a while but I guess she didn't want to disappoint us since she never told us this. When we received our meals; I had the ribs and my wife had ribs and chicken, the ribs were very tough, almost as if they were microwaved. I did enjoy all five of the onion rings, even though they were cold. Soon other customers began coming in, which was nice since this caused the heat to spontaneously kick on, unfortunately with the increase in customers came the difficulty in reaching our waitress. After we were able to get her attention it took about 10 minutes to get our check only the have her argue about the Entertainment coupon we were using, apparently the expiration date of "thru November 1st, 2008" was confusing to her as she insisted it had expired, you know, since today was November 1st; luckily I had a 2009 Entertainment book in the car and didn't mind using their new coupon this soon since at this point I knew I wouldn't be back.

Red Lobster - Colonie, NY

Restaurant: Red Lobster
Address: 170 Wolf Rd, Colonie, NY 12205
Phone: (518) 459-1040
Web: http://www.redlobster.com/

Review Date: 9/19/08

-Avg. time to be seated: 10min
-Average price: $17
-Free drink refills: Yes
-Portion size: Healthy (or not if you consider the butter)
-Waitress followup visits: Endless
-Avg. time till check brought out (after requested):
-Service: Great
-Atmosphere: Chain family
-Cleanliness: Good
-Restrooms: Not used this time, but other times was clean. Besides any place with the foamy soap, automatically gets at least a "B".
-Kid Friendly: Sure


1-10 Overall rating: 8

Food Taste: Good at first, but don't overstay your welcome.

Notes:
16.99 for Endless Shrimp. Available until 11/13/2008

The first two plates of shrimp come out with 12 pieces, each place afterwards is 10 per plate.

Five types of shrimp...


Cajun shrimp. (Not really that spicy, kinda' bland, skip the rice to make room for more shrimp)

Garlic shrimp. (Great and buttery)

Hand breaded shrimp (excellent at first, has long has they don't over cook it.)

Shrimp linguini alfreado (I loved it, my Doctor, not so much. Get it last so you don't fill up on the linguini. If you don't have room, take it with you.)

Coconut (Not so much, after about four pieces, very spicy)

Best thing about this years is they got rid of the beer battered from last year.

Keep in mind you also get a salad, your choice of fries or baked potato and unlimited cheese rolls. They will try to push the linguini on you at first (since the pasta fills you up), don't fall for it, it's good, but hold off. Ask for it to go, they may sneer but if they've put up with you being a pig for this long, what do you have to loose. If they don't do it, ask for a plate of it, then ask for a box.

My favorites for this year are as always the garlic shrimp and the hand battered, though after a few rounds the garlic shrimp ends up just being thrown on the plate vs. placed nicely back to front and seemed to be spicier then the first few plates, almost like a combination of a Cajun/butter mix; and tbe hand breaded shrimp which started off beautifully dipped and lightly fried, now resembles more of a deep fried browned shrimp. I guess there is a time you can overstay your welcome, especially when your dining alone at lunch time, have been there an hour and each waitress only gets three tables to be responsible for. Anyway, still a favorite for this time of year, if you haven't been yet, update your will, know where the closest defibrillator is and enjoy, it's endless shrimp... or at least 6 good plates and 2 get the heck out plates.

G.W.I.B. (Guess Where I've Been) - Amsterdam, NY

Restaurant: G.W.I.B. (Guess Where I've Been)
Address: 207 Church St, Amsterdam, NY 12010
Phone: (518) 843-6700
Web: http://www.gwibch.com/

Review Date: 9/7/08
· Avg. time to be seated: self seating, acknowledged at the counter almost instantly, approx 3 min to be waited on at the counter but had people in front of us.
· Average price: $4-$7
· Free drink refills: No
· Portion size: ok, average
· Waitress followup visits: 0, but the way the place was set up, didn't expect any
· Avg. time till check brought out (after requested): Walk up and pay at register (1 min.)
· Service: Friendly, hometown feeling
· Atmosphere: Coffee shop/ deli, Cozy
· Cleanliness: yes
· Restrooms: Didn't use
· Kid Friendly: Yes and no, brought stroller in but would only support a small one, there would be know room for a large stroller, not really an environment for crying baby, very close and confined.

1-10 Overall rating: 8

Food Taste: Had pierogies which we both found excellent and hot chocolate, my wife loved the hot chocolate with marshmellow fluff, though it was a nice size, I thought it was a little too watery for my tastes but I should note, I only like hot chocolate with 100% milk, and the fluff was too sticky on my upper lip (wow, hows that for picky). Price is what you would expect to pay for a place like this in this location.

Notes: Would like to see a larger menu selection, but again keep in mind, it's a coffee shop / Deli. We used a $5.00 coupon which is available from Entertainment books online. Recommended.

Rainbow Restaurant - Johnstown, NY

Restaurant: Rainbow Restaurant
Address: 16 E. Main Street, Johnstown, NY 12095
Phone: 518-762-4341
Web: None that we know of


Review Date: 9/6/08

-Time to be seated: 1 min.
-Average price: $10-$20.
-Free drink refills: No, $2.00 per soft drink, and they're small.
-Portion size: Comfortable serving size.
-Waitress followup visits: 1 and did ask if we wanted a refill.
-Avg. time till check brought out (after requested): 5 min.
-Friendliness of employees: Tolerated us, looked at us strange when we walked thru the door then pointed to a table we could take.
-Atmosphere: Family, not too loud, not too quiet. Each table has it's own dimmer switch for the table, though ours was sticky.
-Cleanliness: Good.
-Restrooms: Didn't use

-Kid Friendly: Greeted our 7 month old but didn't go overboard, did not offer high chair, nor did we see any but car seat sat well on kitchen style chairs. They did offer to heat up baby food

1-10 Overall rating: 6

Food Taste: Both the Captains Platter ($16.99) and the Vodka Rigatoni w/Chicken ($11.99 + $3.99) where good, but the size of the sodas with a lot of ice and no free refills was very disappointing.

Notes: Not recommended

Eastman's Docks :: Our Tours :: Deep Sea Fishing Tours: "All Day Fishing provides fun and excitement for both the pro and novice. Generally off to Jeffrey's Ledge, one of the most productive fishing grounds in the world! Fishing depths range from 100' to 300' for cod, haddock, pollack and a variety of other bottom feeders.

Half Day Fishing, is fun for the entire family. Whether the season warrants mackerel and cod just a few miles off shore or a picturesque ride to the Isles of Shoals just 40 minutes away for the action packed excitement of blue fishing. Half day trips aboard our vessel gives fun and excitement from the youngest to the oldest in the family."

---

Review:

Visited on 8/14/08

Fishing portion is great, did half a day and the price was good at only $36 (after $2 coupon from their website) which included rod rental. The workers were friendly and helpful. The boats have a liquor license so you can get drinks and snacks onboard. Only $1 per fish to have them gut and clean your catch. The restaurants food is just ok, though brought down by awful service and pricey meals. We had to seat ourselves, fetch our own menus and go back for napkins; all of which we had time for since it took about 40 minutes for 2 bowls of clam chowder, 1 side salad and 1 chicken strip dinner. I realize this seems picky, but when you combine it with any average price of $14, you expect some basics in your service. Overall a must do for the fishing, but eat before you get there and skip the restaurant.