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 hightimefor 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!