The Wishing Well

We’ve chosen to come here on a number of various popular holidays because they can be depended upon to handle a large crowd, serve good food, and provide excellent service. This visit was on Easter Sunday.
We arrived at the exact time of our reservation and were promptly seated. We observed other tables periodically become available and promptly refilled. Management has good control over their reservations and scheduling. Our server was friendly and efficient even as she was winding down on her shift as the restaurant was approaching the end of the dinner hours.
Considering it was Easter Sunday, a varied menu was offered and our party of three had no difficulty selecting something to please each individual. The medium-​rare Prime Rib was cooked to perfection and tasted delicious. The half duck had plenty of meat, a nice crispy skin, and just enough fat remaining to make sure all the meat was moist and tender. It also was served with raspberry bread pudding and a blackberry glaze. The Smoked Ham was tender and flavorful. Each dinner was served with mashed potatoes and haricot vert. Dessert was included in the price of each dinner. The Apple Cobbler, Carrot Cake, and Flourless Chocolate Cake with raspberry purée were all a hit. A full pot of excellent quality coffee was provided for the entire table. Only bottled beer is available, no drafts. A nice selection of wine by the glass and by the bottle was also available along with a full bar.

I really tried to like this place — but it was awful through and through. We came here during restaurant week… which was more expensive than the prix fixe menu that the restaurant normally has. Um… restaurant week is a time for new customers to try out nice places at a lower price point.
Bread: nothing special
Appetizers: Blt salad and prosciutto wrapped shrimp. Blt salad was composed of packaged bacon bits, tons of mayo, and lettuce. Prosciutto wrapped shrimp was oversalted.
Entrees: pork and stuffed rainbow trout. Pork dish was topped with canned jalapeños that reminded me of nachos at a shady movie theatre. The trouts’ stuffing was sweet to the point that it felt like a sugary dessert. Every entrée (on the restaurant week menu) has the same sides: buttered carrots and bland mashed potatoes.
Dessert: key lime «pie» and dark chocolate bark. Key lime pie was not a pie, more of a tart and extremely dry and the bark was so salty I felt my blood pressure going up.
Service was decent. Ambiance was nice with the piano player being the best thing going for the restaurant… but that’s not saying much.
Overall: disappointed. I made a wish in the wishing well that food would get better.

This place is a hidden gem. We came here for Valentine’s day and we had a wonderful experience. The ambiance was perfect. Our waitress was great and came often to see how we were and the owner greeted us. Everything we ordered was delicious. The lobster risotto and the crab cakes were to die for. Had a wonderful experience and would definitely come back if we are in the area.

My husband had lobster and said it was good. I had steak and I’m pretty sure it was horse meat that had been whipped at the track. Yuck!

Three and a half stars for good, traditional fare served in a cozy, rustic setting.
Ambience is one of WW’s strong suits. The dining room has a charming, country farmhouse feel, with the low lighting providing a sense of intimacy.
Service is also very professional, and on the occasions we’ve brought children, the servers have easily accommodated their needs. WW has a fairly extensive kids’ menu; between that and the service, it’s definitely a place you can bring children.
On a recent visit I started with a Manhattan, expertly mixed with Bulleit rye. Then oysters on the half shell — very fresh and enjoyable, although there was only one choice of oyster on offer that night.
My grilled swordfish wasn’t quite as good: seared nicely on the outside, it was too well done, and was dry, not juicy. The au gratin potatoes and asparagus sides were tasty, though.
WW features an extensive wine list, with 100’s of selections spanning many styles and price points. Plenty to choose from, no matter what you’re looking for.
All in all a good spot.

Terribly disappointed Thanksgiving! 600 reservations and no valet parking and one bartender working. $ 30. For turkey dinner with no salad, minimal amount of turkey, mostly dark over the worse dressing with nothing in it. Served a tablespoon of mashed white and tablespoon of mashed yam and NO CRANBERRY SAUCE! Way over priced for poultry and food wasn’t enjoyable. Big waste of money for our table of 6. Won’t ever go back.

Big disappointment understandably it was Thanksgiving. Restaurant had reservation for 600 ppl However you’d think they’d have offered valet parking n had piano player present as they normally do
The turkey dinner way over priced $ 30.
Turkey portion small w majority of dark meat stuffing bland w nothing in it who serves thanksgiving dinner w /​no cranberry sauce ! Dinner bill was well over $ 300
Next day everyone felt it wasn’t worth the price n weren’t satisfied w thier meal choices ! Salads were ala cart etc … complaint — extremely overpriced for what we got !

It’s a family tradition to start the day by going to the track and end it with dinner at the wishing well.
Loved their seasonal veggies — right now are corn on the cobs and tomatoes.
The cornbread and onion soup is fabulous too.
My crab cakes were a bit too big for me and I wished I ordered it as an appetizer.
It’s a pretty crowded and loud during track season and not a place to go if you are trying to romance your partner…

I must say that Friday nights dinner was a horrid experience. I ordered scallops for the appetizer. They were 2 and very small I let that go. For the main I ordered rib lamb chops they brought me a lamb soup bone that I couldn’t cut in any which way. I asked them to take both items off the bill which they did. I asked to speak to the chef to find out what he cooked for me I guess he was embarrassed and avoided me. I’ve been going to the wishing well for 15 years the last 2 years were on a downhill. I know the owners mother n son and they didn’t have the common curtesy to come to my table and apologize. They want to make money for 365 days in 42 days time. The Saratoga meet. Owner which I will not mention your name, u should be ashamed of yourself.
Phil P.

The food is traditional fare with excellent modern infusions. There is no better place for lobster! I only live in Saratoga on the Simmer but look forward to coming back year after year

Went there for restaurant week but end up ordering from both menus. Because everything looked so good. Service was outstanding food was great too. Def an older crowd at this place but food was worth hanging out there

Written by hubby – and I totally agree!:
OMG off the chart delish. Whole staff fantastic. The wine Lady with the accent. Mmmm. Brought us a special glass of wine that went with the raw clams She said you need to taste this with your raw seafood.
. Our waitress so friendly and helpfull. Our dinners were off the chart. Upon leaving met the owner and his wife.
Class act.
Was only in Saratoga Springs for a short time. This place is a must to eat at. If you are looking for a quick 8 dollar dinner stay away. Not to say it is not there.
Ahh a live piano player through the dinner.*****

The Manhattan clam chowder was excellent. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his duck entrée. The steak Diane was good but under cooked on the first try. The complimentary sliced beefsteak tomato was delicious and a nice touch as a starter and the corn on the cob was yummy. Service was also very good!

Rustic horse racing atmosphere with excellent and service. A Saratoga tradition.

The staff was really nice, and my chicken breast was pretty good. Not as quite well cooked or as good as I was expecting though.

This place may be the best restaurant in the Toga/​Lake George region. As others have written, get there early during track season. Also, don’t be surprised if you see a celebrity or two in the dining room.
*White bean and shrimp salad was amazing
*Crab cakes are HUGE
*True old school bartenders

Located in Wilton, The Wishing Well has been a Saratoga Springs institution since I attended Skidmore College «a long time ago». It was the restaurant of choice for the finest dining in the area, and in my opinion, remains so. This is the choice for a special occasion, to impress an important client, or a romantic dinner. The ambiance breathes old money (you will most likely find Marylou Whitney there during track season), yet it is far from presumptuous. In fact, the ‘country inn’ setting is one of the most inviting I’ve experienced … ever.
I have had the pleasure of enjoying the wonderful culinery mastery mentioned in other reivews. The Lobster Bisque, Frogs Legs and Escargot top my list. But, to be truthful, I have never had anything but a fabulous meal here. And the service is appropriately attentive … right on the mark.
During Restaurant Week 2014, when some of the other local establishments offered their low-​end menu choices (e.g. pizza, pasta — you get the idea), The Wishing Well boasted a perfectly cooked steak (the best ‘restaurant steak’ my companion ever tasted) and a stuffed pork chop that took two follow-​up meals to finish.
I highly recommend The Wishing Well. You can be certain that both the cuisine and the service will be 5 Star … every time.

The Wishing Well is a great restaurant a little outside of Saratoga Springs. The service, first of all, deserves 5 stars. Everyone was incredibly friendly and went out of their way to make sure that our dining experience was superb. I went with six of my family members and had a great meal.
For appetizers we all shared the sauteed frog legs and escargot, both of which were tender, delicious, and in fantastic sauces. My grandmother had a to die for lobster bisque, and my grandfather’s french onion soup was also stellar.
For my meal I had the pork chops, which were cooked perfectly. Pork chops can occasionally be a little tough, but these were excellent. My mom had the crab cakes which were absolutely out of this world. So much crab meat, huge portion, and in a fantastic sauce. My grandma’s lamb chops were also wonderful. I did not try my grandfather’s sirloin, but at one point in the meal he made a point to tell us that it was potentially the best steak he’s ever had.
Desserts were also phenomenal. The flourless chocolate cake is extremely decadent, and the chocolate chip cookie skillet with butter pecan ice cream as well as the raspberry pie were both impossible to stop eating. Absolutely excellent.
Overall, a great dinner at The Wishing Well. The staff and management are all incredibly friendly and do a wonderful job at making you feel at home in their establishment. I would definitely go back again.

Had a family event at this restaurant and the décor, service, food, ambiance, and attention to detail were excellent.
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My Dad lives in Saratoga Springs, NY and this is one of his very favorite restaurants in the area, so we always make a point of having a «Guy’s Night Out» whenever I’m up to visit him.
The Wishing Well is located along Rte. 9 just a few minutes north of Saratoga Springs, and it looks like an old farm house nestled back in the woods. The restaurant has been in operation since the mid 1930s, and it’s very popular with the locals and the track crowd from the Saratoga Springs horserace track.
Inside you’ll find four dining rooms with fieldstone fireplaces which provide the ideal ambience for a small, intimate dinner party or a larger special event, and they have a lighter small plates, tavern menu in the fireside piano bar.
The food is very elegant with grilled steaks and chops, seafood including lobsters, crab, shrimp, and fresh fish, and some real classics like duck, veal, and turkey. All of that is matched with fine wines by the glass or the bottle.
The Wishing Well is not at all pretentious, in fact I would describe it as cozy and comfortable, with incredible food that is served by some real down-​to-​earth people who are pleasant to chat with while enjoying your dinner.
We’ve been coming here for years, and I always enjoy an outstanding meal with my Dad at The Wishing Well.