Following apartment parties, and the constant hopping from one event to another, many Skidmore students find themselves exhausted, slightly underwhelmed, and in need of some sustenance. Reflecting back on my own experience navigating the infamous Halloween weekend, I realized that my favorite part of the entire weekend was brunching with friends the morning after a long night. While there are many place to eat in Saratoga, I assembled some of the best breakfast spots that Saratoga has to offer. Each review also includes a brewery rating out of five stars (let’s face it, coffee is an important part of each college student’s life, especially if one wants to grind through a pile of homework on a Sunday afternoon).
Ravenous:
While Ravenous may not be considered your typical breakfast spot — as it is open until 9pm most days — it is still a great option. Though on the more expensive side, Ravenous’ pommes frites are to die for! The homely and warm feel of the place also adds a nice touch. The crepes, both savory and sweet, are delicious, but tend to be less-filing compared to other places on the list. Another downside to Ravenous is the long waiting time and somewhat slow service.
Recommendation: The infamous pommes frites mentioned earlier with the pesto mayo dressing.
Photo Credit to @ravenouscrepes
Brewery Rating: ★★★ Ravenous is not famous for its coffee, but they do have specialty drinks that make up for its limited caffeine options.
Compton’s:
Open in the early (or late) hours of the morning, Compton’s is ideal for a high-calorie meal after a night out downtown. Their prices are also very affordable for college students, and the quality of the meal is suitable to the amount of money you pay. The service is always pretty quick and the staff is friendly. Compared to the other options, however, it seems that the menu is quite limited.
Recommendations: Mushroom and cheese omelette is my staple at Comptons, especially after an exhausting night.
Brewery rating: ★★★1/2 Coffee is usually average: not watery, but could definitely be richer.
Photo credit to TripAdvisor
Triangle Diner: A Skidmore classic, there has been much said about Triangle Diner. A convenient walk away from campus, it is definitely the closest of all of our options. However, the waiting times are actually insane. If you’re planning to go to Triangle, I would take in consideration an extra 20 minutes of waiting outside. While it may be nice to sit on one of their red benches and chat in the breezy weather, it can be too brutal in the colder seasons. Eventually, if you get a table, the experience is worth the rate. The options are endless, the special menu is extensive, and the portions are definitely above average, to say the least.
Recommendation: Their egg Benedict with fresh avocado is delicious. Their gigantic pancakes come at a close second and are bound to give you a food coma.
Brewery rating: ★★★★★ Free refills! They also offer many different and creative flavors on a daily basis. Last time I was there, they had a french toast flavored coffee, and it was amazing.
Sweet Mimi’s Cafe:
Located just off Broadway, Sweet Mimi’s is perhaps the “classiest” spot on the list. Charming and cozy, Sweet Mimi’s is a great option for a Sunday brunch. The menu has many healthier items, but I would highly recommend the specialty pancakes. When I went, the waiting time was not nearly as bad as, say, Triangle Diner’s, but the food service could have been faster. Though Mimi’s is easily accessible through the CDTA bus, the cafe tends to be a bit too overpriced for your typical student.
Recommendation: Can’t decide between getting a cinnamon roll or a pancake? Sweet Mimi’s offers the best of both worlds with their cinnamon roll pancakes!
Brewery rating: ★★★★1/2 The iced coffee was wonderful — both refreshing and very strong, which is helpful if you left all your homework to Sunday.
Photo credit to Aniba Rahman
Photo Credit to Aniba Rahman
What is your favorite place to brunch in Saratoga? Let us know on our Instagram or Facebook page @skidmorenews