Fifty South Restaurant Review

Restaurant/Business Name:
Fifty South (restaurant); The Lily and the Rose (catering)
Rating: ***** (5 Stars)
Address: 2128 Doubleday Ave. (Rte. 50), Ballston Spa, NY 12020
Year Established: 2008
Contact(s) Name: Kim Klopstock
Restaurant Phone: 518-884-2926 (restaurant); 518-885-8588 (catering)
Contact email address: kim@lilyandtherose.com
Hours: Wednesday & Thursday Dinner Service 4:30-9 p.m.; Friday & Saturday Dinner Service 4:30-10 p.m.; Sunday Breakfast & Lunch 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday Dinner Service 2-8 p.m.; Monday & Tuesday: Closed

Last night, I had the pleasure of a wonderful evening out with my husband at Fifty South. The restaurant is located on Route 50 in Ballston Spa, just south of Saratoga Springs, NY. This restaurant is certified gluten-free, and is wonderful for so many reasons. If you are living gluten-free and haven’t been here yet, I strongly suggest you give it a try. I have listed five reasons why you should try this restaurant, followed by an interview I had with Kim Klopstock, owner of Fifty South.
1. Warm, Welcoming Atmosphere.  (*****)
The restaurant is simple on the outside, yet inviting with its simple decor and lighting near the front entrance. Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted and welcomed with smiles from the hostess. The restaurant has three main areas: a bar area with a few booths; a large dining area that can handle large parties such as birthdays and showers; and a smaller dining area with about ten tables. The decor on the inside of the restaurant is very warm and welcoming. It has a rustic feel that brings the outside in with the addition of some tree limbs, and is softened by the white twinkling lights throughout. It has a fine dining sophistication with the coziness of being at home. It also brings in some Saratoga charm with items such as the classic track hats displayed throughout the space. 

2. Outstanding Locally-Sourced Ingredient Quality. (*****)
Fifty South is a farm-to-table restaurant that uses the finest and freshest ingredients from local and regional farmers and vendors whenever possible. Fifty South strives to use fair trade, organic, and bio-dynamically farmed sustainable products, while leaving as small an environmental footprint as they can.

3. Remarkable Recipes and Preparation.  (*****)
As you already know, it can be very challenging going out to eat being gluten-free, but at Fifty South you can be rest assured that you’ll leave feeling not only happy and healthy, but that you’ve had an outstanding meal. I have gone three times in the last six months, and each time I have been more than pleased with my meal. And because I usually don’t get to have more than a salad when I go out to eat, when I’m at Fifty South, I always indulge.
      To start, I ordered a glass of Angry Orchard Hard Cider, which is gluten-free and usually on draft at Fifty South. They also have a few bottled gluten-free beers available, along with an extensive wine list. With your drink order, they give you complimentary homemade chips and tapenade.
From their daily specials menu, I ordered a cup of cream of broccoli, chicken, potato, and bacon soup for an appetizer. It was delicious. It was super creamy and thick, and was loaded with everything the title described. The chicken was so tender it practically melted in my mouth, the potatoes were cooked perfectly—soft, but not too mushy—and the bacon lightly infused the creamy broth without overpowering the rest of the soup. At the moment I finished my cup of soup, I had some regrets that I hadn’t ordered the bowl.
My husband ordered the chicken wings as an appetizer, as he always does. This time he ordered the Spicy Thai wings. I tried a few and they were superb. They were sweet with a mild heat, and had undertones of soy sauce. My husband, the chicken wing connoisseur, says that the wings at Fifty South are the best he’s ever had. The wings, no matter what flavor, are always cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside and super juicy on the inside. I believe this is due to the freshness of the chicken, never being frozen. They also make their own blue cheese dressing that comes with the wings that is to die for. It’s creamy, and is loaded with blue cheese chunks.
For my entrée, I had the Fish and Chips, which is another one of those menu items I usually can never order out, so I went for it! The portion size was huge, which I certainly didn’t mind. I was happy to have my leftovers wrapped up for me, so that I could treat myself again the next day. The fish had a crispy battered crust and was fried in Fifty South’s gluten-free dedicated fryer. The filet itself was light, flaky, and moist. However, it was a little under seasoned for my taste, but nothing a little salt didn't fix. It came with a house-made remoulade sauce that complemented the fish wonderfully, and with a small side of homemade cole slaw. The slaw itself was chopped extremely fine and was wet, but not drowning in dressing. My entrée choice was the perfect item to follow my soup, which was a bit heavier. The fries, or “chips,” were cooked with the skins on, crispy on the outside and cooked perfectly on the inside. And, again, they were cooked in the gluten-free dedicated fryer, so I had no worries of being contaminated.
 For dessert I had the Omi Meringue Cup with fresh berries and vanilla ice cream, topped with fresh whipped cream. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful meal. I usually go for anything chocolate for desert, but since I have already tried all the chocolate desserts on their menu (all divine), I decided to go with something a bit lighter. 
This was the first meringue cup I’ve ever tried, and I was delightfully surprised with it. It was not only beautiful to look at, but it was also playful and reminded me of my childhood. The meringue was crispy and light, and melted in my mouth like cotton candy does. It was sweet, but not too sweet. The vanilla ice cream, and fresh berries balanced out the sweetness nicely. I ended up eating the entire dessert. 
  
4. Oustanding Service.  (*****)
The staff at Fifty South have treated me with the upmost respect and care every time I’ve visited. This is what really takes the restaurant to the fine dining side. All of the wait staff are extremely attentive and knowledgeable when it comes to being gluten-free. I’ve asked many questions about the food and about their gluten-free items. Each time, the wait staff answered me with clear and definitive answers. If they didn’t know a specific answer to one of my questions, they would go check for me without hesitation.
      Kim and her staff treat you like family. Our server on this visit, Lindsay, was extremely polite and went out of her way when asked about certain menu items to describe them as well as possible. Sam, the server on my previous visit, stopped by our table to see how we were, what we were having for dinner, and how we were enjoying it. This was unexpected and made us feel special and at home.
Kim was at the restaurant cooking on our visit, and when she wasn’t in the kitchen, she was out on the floor visiting with guests. She stopped by and chatted with my husband and me. Kim is a wonderful person who cares about what she is doing for her community, and it certainly shows. She takes the time to get to know her guests, and I think this is what sets her apart from so many other restaurant owners, not only locally, but across the nation. I like going in a place of business knowing that the person who runs that particular business cares about their patrons and their community. Once you meet Kim, it won’t take you long to know that she does care on so many different levels.

5. Price. (*****)
Prices range for appetizers $9-14, burgers and sandwiches $10 and up, and entrees $15-$31. This is a family oriented restaurant with food that feels like fine dining in many aspects. And, for all the things I have just mentioned, you actually are getting so much more for your money. You know your food came from a good source that supports your local community, your meats were treated humanely, the love and dedication put into the food you are eating and the restaurant itself, and the sense of being part of the Fifty South Family. All of these things make Fifty South stand out above the rest. So, if you haven’t tried Fifty South yet, I encourage you to give it a try and comment on your experiences below. I would love to hear what you think.

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