The Palmer House Cafe

By far the best kept secret in the capital region a must try absolutely best every time

As I understand it, the chef/owner is a masterbaker, but not a real chef.
My experiences with his food have been less than disappointing. The menus are wordy, pretentious, and surely a logistical nightmare for the person who actually has to do the cooking for a place with such a disconnected menu and "executive" chef. Yes, I'm sure that they have their share of loving regulars, and the random passer-bye, but this place has no hope of any kind of long term survival,, just like the last kitchen this guy helmed. Professional diners beware.....

2010-2011, the most miserable WINTER in SMALLBANY!  5 stars, I am sure you'd all agree...however....

The Palmer House Cafe?

Four stars...Five Stars...Four Stars ...Five Stars...Five Stars really?

(really Four, but I'll explain)

My boo..." I mean I wish we had something like this in Albany!!!"
Me..."  Oh c'mon ! Have this in the culinary waste land of Smallbany?"

After a long drive from Woodstock through the western Catskills into the Helderbergs, this place hit the spot. Located in the sleepy town of Rensselaerville, it's the only place there to eat! But is it five stars?

Oh disclaimer....I spent years in the kitchen, front of the house, behind the bar....too me five stars is having my tounge molested by Foie de Canard paired with a white Burgundy followed by smoked lagoustines with some herb infused sauce.

So why 5 stars for 3 3/4 to 4 1/2 star food? I'll pay 12 bucks for meatloaf, 25 for an entree, just make daddy feel good and give him and happy ending!

So what makes 5? Because it is the experience baby...it's food, the ambience, the feel, the decor, the smile from the waitress, the YES YOU CAN HAVE A PITCHER OF MOTHERS MILK FOR 15 BUCKS! That's a start.

What it is and what it isn't. A gastronomic temple..no...A drive to the country for good tasty food, beer, wine (yeah good priced list) in a warm, cultured atmosphere?  F&*K YEA!

A Chile Rellenos with a good sauce...a very good meat loaf with excellent mashed potatoes ( yes meatloaf with grass fed beef) ....and great risotto with preserved lemon that could feed ( and well it did) two (and we took some home) and nice raspberry trifle for dessert! All this for 64 bucks????? WHAT!!!

A small menu (but larger that Wine Bar on Lark) , but it changes weekly (and the menu works together)....only four nights a week, but they are open at 5...sometimes music too... So is it five stars???

To me it isn't ....that would be like the New York Times calling Peter Lugers steakhouse "extraordinary..."    

But I know food, I know service, I know liquor, and I know pricing...I know how hard the work is, and can I differentiate from restaurants that strive to make people happy, and ones that just go through the motions...(like in Albany)...

Dining is about a complete experience...and when you get a complete experience ...you get a review like this!

Be forewarned Albany Area Chefs and Restauranteurs ..I am coming to your restaurant, and after this past winter....your work is even more cut out for you...,  because I have been in a particularly Foul Mood!