By William Andriola ’21, Contributing Writer
Photo courtesy of Michelle Chung ‘20
With family weekend fast approaching, one of the top concerns for students should be where to take their families to eat; Commons and McEwen are good, but sometimes a little variety is important! With that in mind, the restaurants below offer some of the best food options in the area, at a variety of price points. A few of the options below, such as the ever-popular Nola’s, are in Clinton, however, this list also draws from the surrounding areas as well, such as Utica, which is a quick twenty-minute drive from Hamilton. This list below was compiled with the help of John Bartle, Professor of German and Russian Language and Literatures here at Hamilton, and is in no particular order.
Nola’s
A classic option for Family Weekend, Nola’s is an upscale yet still unpretentious, restaurant located in downtown Clinton. The restaurant offers both lunch and dinner, and primarily serves “New American” style food, ranging from the “Nola burger” to mussel-topped linguine. The restaurant also has vegetarian and gluten-free options available. Seating often goes quickly though, and Nola’s does offer reservations, so reserving seats well in advance of popular events like Family Weekend is often necessary.
The Tailor and the Cook
The Tailor and the Cook is another excellent high-end restaurant, this time located in Utica. Listed on TripAdvisor as the #1 restaurant in Utica, and with a four-and-a-half-star rating on Yelp, this restaurant is truly “one of the best nationally known restaurants” in the area. The Tailor and the Cook specializes in locally sourced “American”-style food, such as filet mignon and whole-roasted rainbow trout. Those interested should know, however, that this is not a cheap restaurant; most entrees run for about $30 to $40 dollars. In addition, because it is a relatively small restaurant which takes reservations, space might be limited. Still, if you can get a spot, this is an excellent option.
Pho Mekong House of Noodles
Another classic option for Hamilton students, the Pho Mekong House of Noodles offers delicious traditional Vietnamese cuisine for a relatively cheap price. Located in Utica, Pho offers both lunch and dinner, as well as take-out or eat-in dining. A few items on its extensive menu include spring rolls and a number of soup options as well as fresh-fruit shakes. This is a great option for a more relaxed, and delicious, meal.
Zeina’s Café
Zeina’s is an excellent restaurant in Utica which specializes in Lebanese food. Ranked as the third best restaurant in the city by TripAdvisor, Zeina’s offers great food while also not breaking the bank. With many traditional options such as gyros and falafels, Zeina’s offers something for everyone. If you’re looking for Lebanese food, another good option is The Grapevine in New Hartford.
Ocean Blue Restaurant and Oyster Bar
Ocean Blue, located in Utica, is an upscale seafood restaurant with an excellent view over-looking the city. The trendy restaurant serves a number of seafood dishes, such as Atlantic salmon or lobster mac and cheese, as well as non-seafood options, such as chicken and whipped potatoes or a burger. Be warned, though, prices for most entrees are expensive, especially those with seafood, with most costing within the $30 to $40-range.
