REVIEW: SARA’S KITCHEN, Saratoga Springs

Nov 18

Sara’s Kitchen, Saratoga Springs

419 Broadway, Saratoga Springs | saraskitchen518.com | IG: @saras.kitchen518

We like it for: Lunch, dinner, takeout, solo dining, date night, group dinners
Must try: Mezze spread, msakhan sumac chicken pastry rolls, tabouleh, beef shawarma with tahini
Vibe: Warm Middle Eastern cafe, simple decorative design, Middle Eastern playlist, somewhat brightly lit.
Sound: Ganb Habiby by Amr Diab, Keda Keda Bayza (feat. Aly Fathallah) by Mahmoud El Esseily, El Hob El Kebir by Ragheb Alama.

Since moving last year into the prime Broadway real estate that was previously home to Whole Harvest, Sara’s Kitchen has quietly built up a word-of-mouth following. The Egyptian-born Sara Ali left a lucrative career as an electrical engineer with Siemens to launch Sara’s Kitchen at farmers markets before moving into Wilton Mall. On Broadway, the slim brick space has counter seats in the windows + banquettes upholstered in pale green velvet. Sara is now joined by her partner in life and the business, private chef Michael Blake (MB Culinary Concepts) whose resume in R&D and restaurant openings runs deep. His industry experience and Ali’s recipes are proving a winning formula, and although the duo both work there full time, they have grown a small, experienced team. Service is impeccable, well paced and friendly with Sara chatting to customers at tables.

The Middle Eastern menu will look familiar for fattouch, tabouleh, stuffed grape leaves and shawarma plates, but mezze of muhamarra (red pepper dip), baba ghanoush (roasted eggplant dip), labneh (strained yogurt), toum (whipped fluffy garlic spread) and hummus served with small, warm house made pita bread are drizzled with a puddle of deep green olive oil and sprinkled with pomegranate arils, Egyptian za’atar and dukkah spices. Egyptian-Lebanese dessert baklawa and knafeh have subtle differences from their Greek or Turkish counterparts, less sweet but perfectly crisp. Lebanese wines star by the glass or the bottle, while cocktails take Egyptian inspiration from cardamom, rose and even dates in an inspired Old Fashioned.

Parking: Street or municipal parking lots.

Nearby: All of Broadway. Recommended close by: 1. The Coat Room. 2. Morrisseys at The Adelphi 3. The Wine Bar 4. Boca.