Schuylerville and its restaurants
And 'Gasoline Alley' in space!
We have a free sample box now going on in Schuylerville, outside Byron’s Market.
The idea is to test the market there to see what the pickup rate is, and perhaps we can do in Schuylerville what we did in Salem, create a specific paper for Old Saratoga.
We’re not giving up on print anytime soon. In fact, we’re just getting started.
Speaking of Schuylerville, Mary Green is writing a series called Restaurant Road for our paper. She started in Schuylerville. Here’s her first piece:
Part I: Visiting Schuylerville eateries
By Mary Green
Journal & Press
On a chilly February evening, Schuylerville was bustling with people coming to and from businesses, mostly restaurants. This is not an unusual occurrence in any village, or is it? Heading toward the Hudson River on my way home I started counting eateries, simply out of curiosity. It was striking how many restaurants there are from Schuylerville to Greenwich. During a trip to Schuylerville on an errand, I took a rough count of independently owned restaurants, cafes, breweries and food trucks. I counted nearly 30. For the next few weeks I will visit each restaurant and discuss their impact on these communities. I hope you enjoy this journey.
The Revolution Cafe on Spring Street in Schuylerville sits directly across from Schuylerville Central School (SCS). Owner Cassie Wilusz opened the cafe in 2016. The Revolution Cafe was the site of religious education classes for Catholic students who would be excused from school to attend religious studies. This practice ended decades ago and the building stood vacant for many years. Cassie saw this as a great opportunity to combine her love of cooking and serving people, with her close relationship to the students at SCS. “The students come here after school and visit with each other, do their homework and just hang out,” she said. “Art students, athletes, theatre kids, they all get along so great. I have a special menu for the kids and they can run a tab!” she added. Cassie plans to renovate the upstairs and expand her business. A large menu hangs on the wall adjacent from pictures of hundreds of SCS graduates.
A stone’s throw from the Revolution Caffe is Joy Wok, Schuylerville’s only Chinese Restaurant, offering lo main, egg drop soup and vegan dishes in a spacious setting. Their vast menu appeals to local customer Paul Boivin. “Our order is always ready and always correct,” Boivin said. “We are regulars, ordering about every month,” he added. Also situated across from SCS, the building is the site of the former Schuyler Farms Dairy, operated by the Nelson families for decades, which employed dozens of cooks, waitresses and ice cream scoopers.
Is there the ghost of a revolutionary soldier roaming the Dovegate Inn and Restaurant on Broad Street in Schuylerville? Some visitors have reported seeing a figure on the stairs that meets this description. With the upcoming 250th anniversary of the surrender of Burgoyne to Gates, things can only heat up! Owners Cara Fredricks and Steve Clark opened the restaurant in 2016 when their daughter was in kindergarten. Cara recounts discussing dinner options with her daughter, “What? Do you think we own a restaurant?” Laughing, she adds, “But then I have to say, ‘yes we do own a restaurant, so what do you want tonight?’”
Some recent visitors to the restaurant and B&B had attended a dog agility event in Washington County. “We really enjoy meeting people. We have had engagements happen here and weddings too, she said.” Asked about their menu, Cara said that Steve is in the kitchen preparing a traditional menu, as well as offering meals with international influences, vegetarian meals, crab cakes, hand made gnocchi and fish. Local resident Lorraine Thompson has been a regular diner at the Dovegate over the years. “We have enjoyed Dovegate’s Thanksgiving and Easter dinners,” she said. “When family comes to town and I can’t fit them all in my house anymore, I call Cara and she puts them up at the inn. It’s really wonderful to have them just up the street,” she added.
Take a right at the light and you are welcomed by the signature colorful facade of Amigo’s Cantina, where Dylan Chrust is the chef. Opened in 2007 by Rob Chrust, Amigo’s footprint was enlarged to its present size in 2017. “I believe the secret to success is to be unique,” he said. “We had to adjust during covid. The lot next to Amigo’s was available, so we pitched a tent, added heaters and served our customers outside. It was memorable,” he added. “We also added gift cards with no expiration date, and our customers responded. It was very touching. It showed us they really wanted us here,” he explained. “Community businesses meet here regularly to discuss what’s going on,” he added. Asked what he looks forward to this spring and summer, he responded, “opening the patio!”
Walking south on Broad Street one finds the Old Saratoga Eatery, owned by Kelly Rowland. Open 7 days a week, the Eatery began in 2019. “We offer breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. In the nice weather we have tables and chairs outside with umbrellas, which people really like,” Kelly said. Asked about the camaraderie among the Schuylerville restaurants, Kelly said, “One of my staff people works at Amigo’s too. I had pneumonia in early 2025 and Amigo’s sent him over to help me stay open. I would have closed otherwise. In late February, 24 cadets from the University of Vermont stopped for lunch at the Old Saratoga Eatery after visiting the National Cemetery,” Kelly said. “A staff member from the veteran’s administration meets here with local veterans on a regular basis. Veterans learn of benefits they didn’t know they were eligible for,” she added. “The large boats that stop at the marina will order for delivery, launch a dingy and meet us on the dock,” she said. ‘It is the coolest thing!” she added.
Mama Bear’s Diner is owned by Ashley Comeaux. Ashley opened Mama Bear in 2024 offering breakfast and lunch. An SCS graduate, she grew up in Victory Mills. “I love seeing all of the local people come in. My high school principal came in the other day, and that was so cool,” she said. A realistic statue of her beloved dog Mama greets diners as they enter the establishment. “The name of the restaurant isn’t what people think. Bear was the nickname of my brother who was killed on a motorcycle in 2015. Mama was my dog’s name. The name of the diner means alot to me,” she said. “My family members work here, waiting table and cooking. I love that they are here,” she said. “We offer breakfast and lunch and almost all of our offerings are made from scratch,” Ashley said.
Bouncing back to the corner of Ferry Street and Broad Street I find Ollie’s Bar and Grill. Offering American pub food, the restaurant also is a sports bar with several televisions tuned in to professional sports. Owner Justin Orozco welcomes trivia fans on Mondays and karaoke enthusiasts on Thursdays. In April, Ollie’s celebrates its one year anniversary. Operations Manager Leah Cozzolino enjoys local visitors and out of towners alike. “We have a ‘Cheers’ type of feel here. People know each other and there is a great small town atmosphere,” she added. Steamed clams, burgers and pastrami on rye are just a few of the items on Ollie’s menu.
Turning the corner and heading east, I find Kickstart Cafe. Owners Jamie Rock and Ray Newberry opened Kickstart in September 2022. “Our coffee is highly caffeinated, more than most cafe’s,” Jamie said. “This has been an incredible experience. I guess ‘overwhelming in a good way’ is the best way to describe our experience here. We have dedicated patrons, lots of regulars,” he added. A 1975 Harley Davidson sits in the corner, a gleaming mascot reflecting the cafe’s moniker. At the Kickstart Cafe a visitor can customize their own breakfast burrito bowl. “Our menu is extensive and we continue to add items,” Jamie said.
Most of these eateries are sitting on the footprints of businesses I remember well, having grown up in Schuylerville. Whether a space formerly occupied by a jewelry store, a vegetable stand, a bank, a mayor’s residence or simply an open field, the feeling of community continues to resonate among proprietors and customers alike. A few eateries in Schuylerville were busy in the kitchen and unable to be included in this first installment of Restaurant Road. The series will continue as I belly up to the bar or counter and continue my look at what is happening in our local restaurant scene, ending in neighboring Greenwich.
And Now for the Comics — ‘Gasoline Alley’ by Jim Scancarelli
You get the idea. More tomorrow…