a saratoga springs institution. it's been a couple of years now since dale miller took over as executive chef at sperry's so we thought it was high time for us to try it. we had not been there in a good number of years. arriving before 5 without a reservation on a saturday, we figured we could still score a table. while we sampled two new creations for fall at the bar, a pumpkin pie martini and a seasonal mojito with apples and cider ($21 total), bartender andrew secured us a 5:15 reservation.
the warm popovers were not what i remembered. while flavorful and large, they were much heaver than i recalled. i could do without them. for our appetizers my wife chose the artichoke fritters ($10) which we both thought were excellent with the meyer lemon aioli and balsamic greens. definitely worth ordering again. i chose the crispy thai pork belly ($12) with sweet potato silk and soy brown butter glaze. it was more meaty than previous pork bellies i've been served, including once at a namesake restaurant of this executive chef, so i'm not sure i can fairly compare it. while i thought it was a nice balance of flavors, it was not outstanding.
with our appetizers and entrees we chose a glass of molly dooker "two left feet" ($12) - a shiraz blend, and a pint of sam adams oktoberfest ($5/16 oz.). my wife's entree was an oven roasted halibut fillet ($34) served with leek and shiitake compote, a vintage port sauce, and sides of fresh green beans and a bed of piped potatoes. the halibut was perfectly cooked and well balanced with the compote and port sauce.
my entree was a new addition to the fall menu, a braised lamb shank ($28) with chermoula rub, fregola sarda, and sides of baby carrots and green beans. the shank had a huge amount of meat, tender enough to easily pull away from the bone, and was deliciously flavorful without being gamey.
too full for desert, we settled for a couple cups of very good coffee ($3 each). extra credit is offered by me at this point for serving sugar cubes, both white and brown - a weakness of mine.
a final note of alert. while reviewing my receipt during this review i've noticed an error in what i was charged. i believe it is truly an error because the item for which i was charged, in place of what i ordered, is not even on the fall menu. i'll give them a call to see how they address the problem.
follow-up: management handled my billing error over the phone and promptly credited my credit card with the appropriate amount. nice work!