"Nostalgia – it's delicate, but potent. Teddy told me that in Greek nostalgia literally means 'the pain from an old wound. ' It's a twinge in your heart far more powerful than memory alone. This device isn't a spaceship, it's a time machine." Don Draper, Mad Men

The point of this journey is not just finding patios or places that have food and beer but a vibe. That twinge in one's heart, if you will. L and I, and others, have been on a lot of patios, we have tried a lot of appetizers and had drinks and talked about what we are looking for on Patio Finish. I mean, there have been some nice places that I would be happy to go to again but they didn't feel right for this site. Nostalgia, on Saratoga Lake in Malta, New York, caused that twinge. Driving up, seeing the lake, and then the patio, we both got big smiles on our faces. We didn't know what we were in for, and we have been fooled in the past, but the location was right.

It was great. It is the perfect spot for a day on the road, on the lake, or on the trails. It is a spot where I would feel comfortable just hanging out or recovering after a long day of Type 2 Fun.

The website claims that they are not making pub fare, but that's what it is. As we have established elsewhere, I like pub fare. Pub fare makes me happy. The menu is not without surprises though.

"Dirty Dogs" are just ones of those menu items that I am going to ask someone else to try but they sound like a phenomenal idea. Prime Rib & Hot Dogs? AMAZING! Please, someone try these and tell me what they are like. We did not get them. I got a couple of tacos while my partner got the turkey club. There may have been order envy though my tacos were very good. The menu offers a lot and I would love to explore it more.

The beer list is extensive. Very extensive. It is also not written down anywhere. The craft options featured a lot of local breweries, which was nice, and I was able to get Frog Alley's Mango Slushy Sour (though they called it the Mango Mash) which was great. They seemed to have a number of non-alcoholic items but I cannot verify that as there was no list. (Yes, I know. Positive reviews only but...it is easier for the customers and the servers if there is a list.)

Part of me wants to come back on a nice sunny autumn day, when the leaves have started to change, and sit by the fire pits, looking at the water and the trees and talking with friends about how lucky we are to be in this place at this time. Because time with friends and time is a great place is nice and will remind us of friends who are no longer with us. Nostalgia, you know?

Yes, they are dog friendly, explicitly so, stating it on the menu, and they were quick to set up high chairs for some of the most adorable children I have ever seen. They reminded me of my own son at that age.

There is ample parking.

Please, go there, enjoy the patio. Get the Dirty Dogs. Let me know what I missed.

-EWA

Nostalgia Ale House & Wine Bar