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Boston Restaurant Blog -- August, 2007

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Sunday, August 19, 2007

More Fun Times and Good Food in the Adirondacks

I took another trip to the Adirondack Mountains of New York earlier this month, and while I went to a couple of familiar restaurants, I also go to try new dining spots while on the trip. I took my time heading out on Friday (I was meeting up with family members later in the day), as I decided to take Route 2 instead of the Mass. Pike. I stopped at the beautiful Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls while on Route 2, then grabbed a tasty croissant at the Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters before hitting the road. I made it to Old Forge, NY (where we were staying) by late afternoon, relaxing for a bit before we all headed to the Hardtimes Cafe in nearby Eagle Bay. I've been to the Hardtimes a couple of times before, and it was as good as ever; my ravioli in vodka cream sauce was delicious, and everyone else enjoyed their meals greatly. (For more on the Hardtimes Cafe, check out our August, 2006 blog entry.) After dinner, we drove over to Inlet for some great ice cream at Northern Lights, then called it a night.

On Saturday, we had a quick breakfast at the place we were staying, then wandered around Old Forge and Inlet for awhile, eventually stopping at a restaurant called The Tamarack Cafe for lunch. This was my first time at the Tamarack, and it turned out to be a nice spot. The inside of the Tamarack is wood, wood, and more wood (in keeping with the Adirondack theme), and the menu is simple, with sandwiches and a handful of other dishes offered for lunch. My burger, which was cooked on a griddle, was very tasty, and everyone else raved about the turkey sandwiches they ordered. The Tamarack is actually a combination restaurant/movie house, though we didn't bother seeing a movie, since it was such a nice day out.

The afternoon was spent doing an unforgettable canoe trip on the Moose River in Old Forge. I worked off the food I ate at the Tamarack and then some, so I was starved by the time we got to the Buffalo Head in Forestport for dinner. I have probably been to the Buffalo Head more than 20 times in my life, but the last time wasn't quite as good as previous times, as the steak I ordered was pretty fatty. But the sirloin I ordered this time was lean, tender, and perfectly cooked. We all left the Buffalo Head feeling pretty happy about our meals. (For more on the Buffalo Head, check out our August, 2005 blog entry.)

Sunday morning came rolling along, and it was time to head back home. On the way out, two of us stopped at Mary's White Pine Bakery in Inlet, where we grabbed some excellent honey glazed and cinnamon donuts, as well as blueberry and chocolate chip muffins. Mary's is known for their delectable pies, but it was a bit early in the morning for that, so we continued on. We headed to the train station near Albany, then I continued on my own through the Berkshires, looking for a place to eat before heading home. I ended up in West Springfield, where I stopped at Rein's New York Style Deli. The original Rein's, which is in Vernon, CT, is an occasional stop for me on my many trips to Manhattan, though I have never quite warmed up to their food (it is more convenient than anything else). Well, the Rein's in West Springfield did nothing to change my opinion of the place, as the potato pancakes were thin and dry, the potato kugel was mushy, and the corned beef sandwich, while good, was nothing that I couldn't have put together on my own. The place wasn't terrible, but considering I was only about 2 minutes from Chef Wayne's Big Mamou, perhaps I made the wrong choice.

I already miss Old Forge, Inlet, Eagle Bay, and the rest of the Adirondacks. It is always tough coming back, but I hope to get back there either sometime in 2008, if not sooner. And when I do, I'll definitely be returning to the Buffalo Head, Hardtimes Cafe, and the Tamarack Cafe, as well as maybe a new restaurant or two.

Related Blog Entries: Adirondack restaurants, New York restaurants

Posted by MH, Boston's Hidden Restaurants, on August 19, 2007.
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