Wheatfield's Crab Mac and Cheese
In a week, hundreds of parents will flock to Saratoga Springs to visit; despite the stresses that showing family around campus might bring in the midst of the semester, we recommend capitalizing on their company as an opportunity to explore downtown and enjoy some good eats.
Wheatfield’s boasts a large Italian menu of pasta, pizza, salads, seafood and red meat options, and it’s location in the heart of town makes this lunch and dinner spot a cornerstone Saratoga restaurant.
The restaurant delivered in terms of food but fell short in service. On a recent Saturday night, we went to Wheatfield’s with a few other students. Among the table’s dinner items were crab mac and cheese, Caprese salad, and pesto radiatori. The pastas were perfectly cooked, accompanied by rich, flavorful sauces.
Wheatfield's Pesto Radiatori
The mac and cheese proved to be one of the standouts; just the right amount of crab was mixed into the dish creating an even, consistently delicious entree. Our friend Wilbert Chan (‘18) got the clams and linguine and described it as “a little greasy.” Erin Silgardo, (‘18) ordered the pan seared chicken parmesan, and concluded that while “it was good, the chicken was a little bit burnt on the side.”
Although the food was excellent, the atmosphere of the restaurant was rushed and the wait-staff was not very attentive. The salad was forgotten, as was the fresh parmesan and ground pepper. Upon being reminded, the waitress brought the Caprese salad. The restaurant seemed logistically chaotic. Firstly, it took quite a while to get a table. When we were finally seated and they came to take our order, one of the members of our party inquired about nonalcoholic drinks and the waitress seemed totally shocked, and responded passive aggressively. Our friend then ordered a sparkling water, and although it came in a very timely fashion, the glass was dirty and needed to be exchanged.
Ultimately, the quality of the entrees was well worth the fumbling service. We recommend making a reservation in advance, as parent’s weekend is likely to further congest an already popular dining spot. When you make your reservation, consider also asking for a table in the back of the restaurant, as some tables closer to the front of the indoor space feel uncomfortably wedged into walkways.