Such a Lucky Find!

I’ve eaten my share of yummy food from hotel restaurants, but I’ll be the first to admit they’ve never been on a Top 10 list for me. Until now. 

From the moment Chris, Susan, and I walk into 30 Park, located inside Clifton Park’s Hilton Garden Inn, we feel welcome. The décor invites us in with open arms, and the space is all dolled up for the holidays ahead. 

We chat over our first drink – an apple cider mule, ice cold in a hammered copper mug, brimming with the seasonal blend of cider, lime juice, vodka, and ginger beer – perfect!

We begin with a few appetizers (they’re sampling some new items on us!) My favorite is their flatbread; fresh mozzarella cheese, basil, tomatoes, and a tasty garlic parmesan sauce with a savory balsamic glaze drizzled over the top. The flavors have melded together, and the bread is crispy, just how it should be.   

Chris chooses an OMG! dish as her ‘must have this again!’ appetizer: the clams casino is delicious, topped with bacon, tomato, garlic, and scallions, and served in a buttery garlic and wine sauce with thick slices of grilled ciabatta bread for dipping. (She tells me it’s even better the next day!)

Susan comments that she’s never thought of loaded tater tots, but they’re much better and not as heavy as loaded potato skins. These crispy treats are smothered in bacon, cheddar jack cheese, scallions, and ranch dressing, and we all agree – much better than any of us were expecting! 

The last appetizer brought out was a Mediterranean platter brimming with olives, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, house-made hummus, feta cheese and bread, and to top it off… Dalmas, those little perfectly rolled grape leaves!

We found the restaurant to be just perfect; plenty of parking, convenient location and appropriate for a quick bite after a long day (of work or shopping!) or a special event, say a family dinner or first date even. The mellow volume (we love to catch up!!) and easy welcoming pace were a pleasant surprise.

I haven’t had lamb for a long time and am thrilled to try it again. The three chops that make it to our table are medium-rare, and we can tell - just by looking at them - they’ll melt in our mouths when we take our first bite. They’re tender and juicy, and I joke that if I were home, I’d be gnawing on the bone to get every last morsel. They come atop Dutchess potatoes and are paired with perfectly roasted carrots – a wonderfully delicious meal for this holiday season!

The seasoned Rib-Eye steak is cooked medium, presented with mashed potatoes and fresh asparagus spears. The marbling enhances the flavor and makes the meat so tender – we don’t even use the steak knife provided. 

The Don Rueben sandwich is next – and who doesn’t love a good Rueben?! This one is delightful! It’s piled high with beer-braised corned beef, thick slices of Swiss cheese, a heaping portion of sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing on grilled marbled rye bread. The French fries are piping hot and crisp, sprinkled liberally with seasonings for even more flavor.  

In the middle of everything, we’re treated to a tableside visit by the team of chefs who work at the DC restaurant owned by Don Green. It’s interesting to ask all (eight!) of them how long they’ve been a chef and what their favorite thing to cook is. One had planned to be a teacher but chose a different path. One worked his way up from dishwasher to chef and has been in the business for 25 years. When I ask another, ‘What kind of chef are you?’ referring to his specialty, his grin is infectious. “I’m a ‘thankful to be here’ chef,” he says with a smile. One loved working with seafood, another loved creating scrumptious desserts, another said he strives to create unique Italian dishes, and another brought his love for Puerto Rico to the table. All of them talked about teamwork – and how they each have a voice in what makes it on the menu and in front of their guests – a very impressive group!

Janine Fusco, the bartender, and Jack-of-all-Trades, works where needed, filling in for management and decorating the various spaces throughout the restaurant.  She is the consummate bartender, smiling brightly while bringing us the seasonal Fall Sangria and creamy martinis made with Rumchata. Janine is bubbly and outgoing and wants to be sure everyone who comes in a stranger, leaves a friend.

Jackie’s our waitress – and what a pro she is! What I love most about her is how she reads our table – coming over to chat when appropriate and leaving us to catch up otherwise. She is super friendly and attentive, shares honest recommendations on the menu, and asks each of us about our lives and interests throughout the meal. When I call to make my next reservation at 30 Park, I will schedule a night she’s there! 

For dessert, we sampled lemon blueberry cheesecake, jumbo chocolate chip cookie a la mode, and the chef-inspired ice cream pie – which happens to be chocolate peanut butter that day. Yowza!

It’s evident that the staff enjoys being there, and all are grateful for the chance to interact and connect with folks who love food and drink as much as they do. Kudos!

Opulent Wintery Scenes Welcome You… 

Written By Megin Potter

Visitors are captivated by a winter wonderland of soft blues, icy whites, and shimmery silvers that stay radiant until New Years. 

Cool Colors, Warm Welcome

When you first walk into the hotel entrance, a stout 12’ tree sets the tone, dressed head-to-toe in mirrored baubles and diamond dusted snowflakes, a burnished silver garland winding up its base. 

Beside the blazing fireplace, a large, bedazzled nutcracker stands guard while fun fringe pillows and plush embellished textures add layers of coziness.

An elegant faux fur trimmed tabletop sleigh, puffy white snowman, pillar candles, and silver jingle bells accent the display.

“I just love how pretty it looks,” said Janine Fusco, a stylist with more than 20 years of experience, who was at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Saratoga Springs for seven years before coming to the Hilton Garden Inn two years ago. 

Situated in Clifton Park Center, 10 miles south of Saratoga Springs, the hotel, which is close to retail and corporate offices, has more than 100 guest rooms, multiple meeting and events spaces, and amenities including an indoor pool, business, and fitness centers. 

Janine makes all the swags, wreaths, and greenery boughs draped atop the mantels herself, playing with shapes, sizes, and groupings, and all seem to say, “Let it snow!”

An enchanting Santa nestles a sack of gifts on his hip with his two elegant reindeer donning matching coats (which Fusco also made!) on top of a glass display dripping with crystals beside an illuminated twig tree.

This is just one of the many glowing displays throughout that add a frosted luster to the glistening icicles and sparkling snowflakes surrounding you as you sip from a collection of festive libations like “Naughty Nog,” “Jack Frost Martini,” and “All the Gingle Ladies.”

Adornments Galore

Guests are greeted with a jolly pop of color In the Whitney Room, where over-the-top reds, golds, and Grinch green baubles dangle from the nine-foot tree where lollipops and sweet candy sprigs cluster among the branches as two cheeky elves climb a candy cane ladder to the bright white star topper. 

Flocked trees make the large space feel cozy, even once the divider is opened, combining the Whitney with the adjoining Travers Room for one large event. Here, a themed photo backdrop sparks the Christmas spirit from just after Thanksgiving until the second week of January.

In the Adirondack Room, creamy neutrals and stunning glittery golds highlight the 60” wreath. Dreamy owls survey the scene from their perches tucked into the branches of a woodland forest-themed tree crowned with ostrich feathers and complementary metallic bows. 

With a touch of glamour, and a glint in her eye, Fusco hung furry white stockings by the fire with care …at the Hilton Garden Inn Clifton Park, in hopes that all would be there!