The Wine Bar at Friends Lake Inn, Chestertown

We pulled into the gravel parking lot on this sunny winter Saturday, not sure what to expect from the Wine Bar at Friends Lake Inn. The first sight to greet us was a stream tumbling gently over rocks just outside a tiny structure we later learned was the sauna. A tiny footbridge traversed the waterfall where the stream began a steeper descent. Approaching the main building, screened balconies and seven gabled dormers emerging from the cedar shake roof of the inn’s modest grey clapboard exterior, we were greeted by one of the inn’s arriving employees who entered with us and pointed the way to the bar.

The Wine Bar and its dining area features beautifully crafted mission oak cabinetry with brass hardware. Gleaming wine glasses, each polished by hand, neatly hang like rows of crystal bubbles. Two of the room’s oak-paneled walls are constructed almost entirely of windows, inviting plenty of natural light. Overstuffed leather sofas and chairs in two separate common areas invite those not afraid to relax. The Wine Bar dining area has tables to seat 40 to 50 guests. The bar seats 8. Though no formal happy hour is featured, weekly drink specials encompass mixed drinks in summer months and martinis and mixed drinks in the winter season.

The Wine Bar at Friends Lake Inn is much more than its name implies. Located on Friends Lake in Chestertown just far enough from the main highways to feel secluded, this elegant country inn speaks of luxury, yet maintains an air of unpretentious hospitality. Though renowned for their superior wine collection, we were looking for something of the beer and liquor variety. As Pam took her time looking over the liquor selections, Kim found a draft beer to please her tastes. The bar regularly serves Stella Artois, Samuel Adams seasonal (Winter Lager) and two regional brews (Long Trail Hibernator and Davidson Brothers Brown Ale). The impressive wine menu boasts 30 different red and white wines by the glass.

Just as Pam was discovering the drink specials board, the bartender, Hawazin, suggested she might want to see the martini menu. Like a giddy five-year-old on Christmas morning, Pam’s eyes lit up as she smiled, her head bobbing in enthusiastic assent. With ten martini choices, she narrowed it down, eliminating the fruity, and selected the Espresso Martini: triple espresso vodka, Tia Maria and a shot of espresso served in a chilled glass and garnished with freshly peeled (and knotted) lemon zest. Though pricey at $12 to $16, one is all you will need to put a glow in your cheeks. The signature martini, Friends Lake Inn L'Orange Martini, sells for $22 and features Grand Marnier Cent Cinquantenaire (150th anniversary blend), Grey Goose L'Orange, fresh lemon and organic wild clover honey.

Much more than a bar, the Wine Bar offers appetizers of artisan cheeses, crab cakes, mussels, soups and salads. Entrees include flank steaks, cod filet, Black Angus burgers and an open-faced elk sandwich, to name a few. The Wine Bar is open for dining Monday through Thursday 4 to 9 p.m., Friday 4 to 9:30 p.m., Saturday 2 to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday 2 to 8:30 p.m. The bar has last call at midnight. They are open year round, but close Monday through Wednesday in the off-season from November through Christmas and from mid-March through late May. Just in case, check the hours on their website before you go. Musical entertainment is occasionally featured. Rich Ortiz, a local favorite, will be performing on New Year’s Eve. Cell phone reception is spotty, but The Friends Lake Inn does have WiFi.

We met Ellen and Hal, a couple who has made the Wine Bar a favorite destination for over 20 years, stopping in frequently on their way to Brant Lake. The Wine Bar at Friends Lake Inn is not for the faint of wallet, but is well worth the visit. Dining specials are offered on Sundays ($7 entrees before 7 p.m.) and Thursdays ($17.95 three-course dinner). The atmosphere is charming, warm and welcoming and the service is superb and professional.

barVino in North Creek

Following suggestions from several readers, we were back to North Creek again, this time to visit barVino.  We got into North Creek shortly before 4pm.  barVino wasn't open yet, so we decided to check out Laura's while we waited.  Laura's is on our "recommended" list, but we will save that for another day. 

barVino was a pleasant surprise for several reasons.  First, I was surprised to see that their beer assortment was so extensive.  I can't say it was as vast as their wine selections, but they could consider calling their establishment beerVino.  I believe I was the only patron drinking wine while we were there.  The bartender was helpful in suggesting a white wine from the specials board after I shared my preferences regarding sweetness and dryness with her.  I was under the impression that it was strictly a wine bar, and I stand corrected. 

The second surprise was the craftsmanship of the decor.   I would say it was both a modern and a classic decor, with a concrete bar counter and classic barstools (all matching, of course) of wood and padded fabric seats.  The lighting was just right to show off the overall sleekness.  The artwork throughout added a further classiness to the place.  My eyes were drawn upwards to the high ceilings and classic tin ceiling cornices, all painted green.  The tin crown molding was the only hint that the building wasn't new.  There were several ceiling fans that were large but not gaudy.  One in particular drew my eye as I tried to establish what type of wood the paddles were made from.  They had a thick, rounded, jungle wood look. 

A review isn't complete without a trip to the restroom.  Very nicely done and obviously well-maintained.  The artwork wasn't screwed down to prevent theft, as is sometimes the case in some establishments.  I wasn't surprised to learn that one of the owners is a building contractor (and if someone told me another owner was a professional cleaner, I wouldn't be surprised either).  Overall, exceptional ambience, pleasant and knowledgable staff, and plenty of drinking variety.

BarVino: Captivating

It didn't quite feel like spring when we left Warrensburg on what started as a breezy, sunny day, but it did hold promise that winter was loosening its grip. It seems whenever we mention our book or blog, barVino in North Creek is suggested. We were off to find out what all the buzz was about.

A visual sweep of the high ceilings, clean simple lines, and a sense of order and unpretentious sophistication registered a sense of calm.  In real life, I'm a photographer so I was naturally drawn to the framed back-and-white photographs hanging on the warm adobe-hued walls, this month's gallery exhibit. barVino regularly graces its walls with local artists' works.

The page-and-a-half-long beer menu boasted a nearly global selection of bottled and draft beers. Draft beer featured Guinness and an assortment of craft brews from Davidson Brothers, Adirondack Brewery, and Dogfish Head. The endless bottled list? Lagers and ales and wheats and belgians and stouts and porters, oh my! I ordered a Davidson's Ctrl-Alt-Del. The color a warm reddish brown, the aroma a little wheaty, it had a slightly bitter flavor with a hint of nuttiness.

Pam ordered a glass of white wine. Not to be outdone, and it is barVino after all, the five page wine list requires a passport. Selections from Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and California in red (55 bottled; 16 by the glass), rose, port, white, dessert,  and champagne by the glass or bottle. You can download PDF's of barVino's menus at www.barvino.net.

A trip to the ladies' room revealed more ambience. An eclectic collection of antique mirrors in the hall way and a vintage oak dry sink in the restroom held baskets of fresh hand towels. A humble print depicting an old woman carrying bundled sticks on her back, entitled "Gathering Firewood" hangs over the sink.

barVino's, where local simplicity meets urban chic. We could easily have been sitting in a bistro on Newbury Street in Boston. Not to be missed.