Old friends are like old stories. You have to visit them from time to time. Cecile and I recommended our favorite place for casual dining, perfect for a Sunday outing with our dear friends, Nelson and Susan Bye. It was a chance to refuel, be grateful for our blessings, take a deep breath and relax.
The historic Bell Tower Cafe in the heart of Saratoga has three patios and fresh-air seating options. One open-air patio sits in the front of the cafe, and two covered and heated back patios provide patrons and their families, comfortable dining areas. They welcome dogs with complimentary water and dog treats. They offer breakfast and lunch dishes all day. For eggs benedict fans, I counted eight variations on their extensive menu. They also serve an assortment of breakfast burritos, omelettes, waffles and pancakes, crepes and classics. Other offerings include sandwiches, panini, combination plates, burgers, salads, soups, fresh squeezed orange juice, cocktails, beer and wine, coffee, coffee and cappuccino, etc.
Churches worldwide have been given an afterlife by savvy entrepreneurs who Convert them to libraries, schools, housing, bars, theaters and restaurants. The Bell Tower Cafe was a former Methodist Episcopal church dating back to 1896. This charming Saratoga eatery that opened in 2010 provides fresh air and the freshest of ingredients. All the produce is locally grown and they make their own bread, potato chips, baked goods and sauces.
They offer patrons friendly, attentive and quick service.
Bell Tower has an idyllic shady garden, stone cherubs, potted plants, and an arbor with vines and flowers. There is even a red phone booth that in the age of cell phones is an whimsical relic of the past. The building was used by the Red Cross during WW l, the city of Saratoga’s Town Hall, and even a school. In 1924 the church became an art gallery and sometime later housed a bridal salon. Though there is no longer a bell to ring in the Bell Tower, I love to ring few of the ornate bells located on a stand in the reception area just in front of a blue sign that boasts, “Best of Saratoga 2012.
