The Table At Fort Plain

I have never written a review before, but I will for this place. We had an excellent meal and great service. We were happy to see a unique menu with fresh local ingredients that wasn’t 3 chapters long. My wife and I have traveled the country in search of great food and this restaurant is right up there with many of the fine dining restaurants we have been to but with a casual atmosphere. We highly recommend it and will definitely be back.

Okay, so here's the deal, it's four hours after we had dinner and we still can't stop thinking about the wonderful experience. That about says it all, but allow me to continue. Chef Aaron understands the importance of connection. The entire seating area welcomes you into an ambiance of comfort and class, cozy and spacious, open and inviting. Our hostess made us feel right at home from the first phone call to make reservations to our last goodbye. Our waitress, the kind and generous Becca, is also a partner with Aaron of the Highwheeler Coffee shop right next door (more on that amazing establishment in a future post). Needless to say, these folks are committed to community. Okay, back to the food. My wife had the Steak Fillet, and it was cooked to perfection. Served with a bed of mashed potatoes and amazingly crisp locally sourced asparagus, the 8oz steak was good to the last bite. My Sea Bass was simply a work of art. Served over a shallow dish of miso, the sea bass was ingeneously propped up over the miso on a criss-cross of steamed carrot sticks. Hidden under the carrots were the most delicious brussel sprouts (again, locally sourced). Wow. Just wow. Nothing was overpowering, not the food, nor the ambiance. Yet it was impossible to deny that each moment was carefully curated to seep into our memory, a permanent recollection of what it means to truly dine in style. We were in a hurry to dash to see our freshman at SU so we skipped desert, but suffice to say it was a sacrifice I know I will regret. 5 Stars is simply not enough. Not nearly enough. We will be back. Very soon.

The area's hidden gem. Food is always top notch, and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Menu changes regularly, highlighting the best and freshest locally sourced food. The chef always has a wonderful selection of gourmet cheeses and charcuterie available to order as a side-board . If you like, you can even order a chiefs choice, which is a selection of at least eight carefully chosen and matched items with bread. For about $30, it is a splendid light meal for two, or a grand tasting for a full table. The dinner menu ranges from artful gourmet to comfort food done in a gourmet fashion. They also have a decent selection of wines and beers and will match them to your selections if you wish. If you manage to save room for dessert, the selections won't disappoint. Past meals include swordfish with quinoa and asparagus, followed by chocolate pecan pie, or fillet mignon with microgreens and garlic mashed potatoes followed by mango Pana Cotta. The Farroe island salmon is often on the menu and always tender and delightful. Prices are certainly fair for the quality (a grass fed fillet for under$30 is a bargain, really) and the ambiance is pleasant while not distracting.