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51 Front Bistro and Wine Bar
Categories: Restaurants Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Restaurants, Wine Bars [Edit]
51 Front StBallston Spa, NY 12020
(518) 727-2089
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
12 reviews for 51 Front Bistro and Wine Bar
12 reviews in English
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Review from Jessica C.
Dallas, TX
9/22/2010
I recently stopped in here to enjoy a nice glass of wine and some conversation and was a little suprised when I walked in. This is definitely more of a restaurant (bistro) than a wine bar and the bar itself is extremely small (maybe 10 chairs total). It was definitely a nice place, just not what I was expecting based on the name.
The food I saw go by looked and smelled delicious so I will definitely be back to try dinner at some point. The place was quite full despite how late it was so I would definitely consider making reservations or calling ahead. Certainly a nice addition to Ballston Spa. -
Review from Josh A.
Clifton Park, NY
11/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cute inside and comfy, I wanted to like 51 Front more than I did. We went for a Saturday night date.
Food- 2.5 Stars
The menu is oddly scattered- One Pasta, Fried Chicken, Jambalaya Pasta, Steak, etc.
Appetizer- A kind of BBQ shrimp with a cheese polenta- very good, well cooked with good flavor.
Entrees- Wifey got veal scallopini and I got the strip steak. The veal itself was fine, but the sauce was very rich and missing most the flavors described on the menu. The menu made it sound like a flavor explosion, all we could taste was cream. The sides (identical veggies on both plates, which at this price point is a serious pet peeve of mine) were meh, the mashed potatoes were technically fine but lacked anything that would make them memorable.
The steak was sub par, overcooked slightly and unevenly cooked. It wasn't a great piece of meat before it got cooked, kinda tough. The toppings didn't add much, and they weren't as described on menu. The gorgonzola was not melted, it was cold, and there was maybe 5X as much onions as cheese, meaning I pretty much never tasted the gorgonzola. If the Cabernet demi-glace that was on the menu was on there I couldn't taste it. The side (other than matching veggies) was fingerling potatoes which were fine.
Atmosphere- 4 Stars.
I liked it inside. Comfortable, nicely decorated, etc. A little tight though, our waitress had to wait the table oddly from the corner.
Drinks- 3 Stars.
Great wine and a huge glass. Waitress had no idea what beers she had on tap or was just confused as she called my beer Late Harvest then brought me a Spaten Octoberfest.
Service- 3 Stars.
Waitress was trying hard, but the kitchen and her own mistakes made it a tough one. First off she offered up a special, which I ordered, then came back and told me it was no longer available, which delayed dinner as well. The appetizer took a long while to come out (25 mins), when it did I asked for the second beer, which she forgot about. When she brought it over after we asked she apologized and offered to buy us dessert, which was her redeeming act. After that it was better.
Value- 1 Star
There are a huge list of similarly priced places I would go before 51 Front based on the menu, the food, and the service. -
Review from Mary P.
Tryin to put up a ritzy situation in Ballston Spa, 51 front bistro is confusing when someone just tells you to go there for fried chicken. You stroll up to the building and scratch your head at the exterior of the buillding which already tells you this ain't no classical fried chicken joint.
The interior is posh and dimly light for romantical sessions. There is a moderate selection of wine with full descriptors about each selection. I just decided to try said fried chicken and the flat cut steak with a friend. Pre-meal we were served two tiny piping hot rolls from the oven. Good for a little bird to eat. Tasted ok.
The "best fried chicken" was served with mashed potatoes and some roasted or something squash, broccoli, and green bean medley. The chicken itself had a nice crispy shell followed by tender meat on the inside. It was however very salty.
The flat cut steak was eaten medium with a heap of chimichurri sauce and a side of beef empanada and mashed potatoes. I actually preferred the beef empanada to the steak and preferred this meal to the "best fried chicken" which was just too salty for my taste.
Overall the atmosphere is more why I'd come here to relax over a glass of wine (or a bottle). For the price its not bad for an a-ok meal ranging from 20 + for dinner.
I wasn't convinced it was the best fried chicken. -
Review from Michael K.
Canton, MI
10/27/2011
This was a nice quiet place with a good wine selection and excellent food
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Review from Matt K.
Ballston Spa, NY
2/5/2012
Decent atmosphere but the seating is not very comfortable. They don't have ginger ale, which I thought was odd. The apps were ok. I ordered a strip steak "medium rare", but it was closer to well done. And it was smothered in a bbq sauce and was just not a good cut of meat. I was not able to eat it. They apologized and offered to cook another, but I declined. The potatoes it came with also were not very good. My girlfriend got the fried chicken, which was ok. Waitress was nice but not very knowledgeable nor very good at her job. We won't be going back.
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Review from Nick P.
Saratoga Springs, NY
4/30/2008
Surprisingly hip. I met an artist friend who had done some work for me and I needed to pay him. While we were there several other interesting types were there to offset the typical wine bar turtle neck.
The wine selection is pretty good and I'm told it's growing (your author enjoyed a beer). The food looked excellent and I was told was wonderful. I will report soon as I was not planning on eating last night.
The decor is classic wine bistro with brick walls and dark stained wood. The wait staff was wearing black, and not totally familiar with the menu (4 days old) but very good at their jobs.
Ballston Spa is Saratoga's little sibling. It's been overshadowed for a long time by the poshness of Saratoga, but that same poshness is limiting the variety of businesses that can survive in Saratoga. New business and plans abound in Ballston, and I think there is potential there for character.
Ballston Spa is capitalizing on an influx on fresh blood drawn by a cool area and housing prices more affordable than Saratoga. Artsy folks seem to be invading from the west coast.
The town itself is classic small town America, and very cute. A neighborhood pharmacy owned for generations by the same family, a tea room, and a bottle museum.
Look for a film festival in the future, and artist inspired Adirondack chairs over the summer. -
Review from Brien M.
Ballston Spa, NY
2/21/2009
This one is hard to review even though I had wanted desperately to experience 51 Front for a long time. I wish I could be a little more positive, but it is what it is. First a few good things and then a few not so pleasant.
Love the building and despite the brick walls and hard floor, it was not noisy. I can't understand why since the restaurant is so popular and full of happy diners. Very nice, creative menu which I understand changes regularly. We shared a baked brie with apricot chutney (?) and it was delicious and plenty for two. We were served two kinds of rolls: one herbed and the other cheddar. The former beat the pants of the latter but both were good. My desert, apple strudel, was very authentic to it's German roots and was made in house.
So, now for the not so great -- I don't know why this is called a wine bar. The wine list definitely doesn't thrill and I didn't appreciate the high prices. We had an Oregon or Washington Pinot Gris from the lower end and it was a grand failure. Northwestern Pinot Gris is a favorite of mine and I'm very familiar with it. This was not proper Pinot Gris; this resembled a Riesling more than anything. It should not have been on the list. We happen to like Riesling and didn't send it back, but it was a big disappointment for a "wine bar."
My duck in hoisin sauce was OK and my wife's chicken encrusted with panko was very tasty but honestly, not that special and not worth the price. My wife's creme brulee, of which she is a self-appointed connoisseur, was only average.
One reason we favor Ballston Spa over Saratoga Springs for dining out is lower prices. You won't enjoy that advantage here. The owner came from Saratoga and brought her prices with her.
Bottom line: Very nice atmosphere, nice up and coming neighborhood, creative menu, a wine list that needs work, and prices that are somewhat too high. In the end, we had a lovely night out but we won't rush back. -
Review from Jason M.
Chicago, IL
12/28/2009
A welcome addition to Ballston Spa, 51 Front offers a pleasant, upscale dining experience based on a moderately healthy menu. The menu itself is on par with similar restaurants in Albany and Saratoga, with quality ingredients and interesting, though not creative or inspiring, salads and entrees.
Surprisingly, the menu doesn't offer soup. In the middle of winter. So I had a salad, the roasted butternut squash with two strips of fatty bacon. A nice tension here between sweet and savory, and the dressing, a balsamic vinaigrette, was good but unsurprising.
Three pork chops came grilled on a bed of potato au gratin, drizzled with creme fraiche. The pork was on the sweet side, but not so heavily that the flavor of the meat didn't come through. I'd have this again if I returned.
I didn't stay for dessert, but if they don't feel strongly enough about their choices to list them on their website I doubt I missed anything. Wine menu was good, but unless you go up to the bar you won't have any idea about their selection of booze or beer. Again, if they don't feel like advertising it, we're not missing anything.
Overall the space is good (but a little cold - wear a sweater or jacket), the soundtrack is cool jazz standards, the waitstaff are friendly but a little quick to rush you out the door, and it's not a bad choice for a decent dinner. -
Review from holly v.
Schenectady, NY
3/18/2009
51 Front opened just before we were moving to Schenectady and we were very sad that we were leaving after eating here! The wait staff is great..they all work together to take care of you so someone is always there if you need it. The fried chicken is to die for...better than Hattie's up in Saratoga...super crisp, not too greasy, and always juicy! I'm not a wine drinker so I can't comment on that part of the visit but we go back again and again. It's a great addition to Ballston!
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Review from GHADA Y.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 9/14/2009
I actually went and ordered something other than the fried chicken. I had the lobster bisque and a salad. Everything is so good every time I come here. They deserve the 5 stars!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/13/2008
2 words: Fried Chicken. It is unbelievably crunchy and delicious. The sides usually vary, but they… Read more »
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Review from Dan L.
Boston, MA
11/30/2010
I was very impressed with this restaurant. I currently live in Boston, but grew up in Ballston Spa - this food is much more representative of a nice spot in Boston than your average Ballston Spa eatery. The Rissotto was fantastic (very rich though), as was the Oregon Pinot Noir. Great atmosphere and service as well, prices are reasonable. I highly recommend this place!
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Review from Isis T.
San Francisco, CA
7/17/2010
The menu was refreshingly creative. Our dinner party thoroughly enjoyed our meals. The staff was friendly and helpful. They were able to provide a gluten free meal. They did not rush us out even though it was late. The decor was delightful. I don't have anything bad to say about the place. It isn't cheap but the prices are reasonable for the food.
