Located on the Boston Post Road in town is one of the most unique restaurants that we have had the pleasure to experience. This inviting rustic building with its decorative wraparound porch, welcomes you through its appealing barn red colored glass doors. The owner, Nick Jhilal has made this a family restaurant that serves wonderful homemade dinners.{{more}} Most of the menu items are made on the premises, such as the tomato sauce, breads, pies, and cakes which he also supplies to many area restaurants throughout the state.
Upon entering the foyer in view was a flaming stone fireplace and a large moose head over the mantel, this fireplace also opens into the main dining area. On this cold day in January, it was a very welcoming sight. We were greeted by our server, Giuseppe, who has been on staff since the restaurant’s opening, Nov. 11 2007. That afternoon, we were seated near one of the 15 large glass windows in the bar area which made this area bright and inviting. On the celling there is recessed lighting and two large faux deer antler chandeliers, creating a very rustic, relaxing and intimate setting. The tile floors in this section are a nice contrast to the dining room’s bold wood planking. Jhilal’s wife, Kathy is responsible for the unique designed interior of the restaurant. For your entertainment the bar has a pool table, juke box, and eight large flat screen televisions. Mike Burdo, the bartender and manager, will mix your favorite drink and serve you with a wide smile and upbeat personality. This is the perfect place for after work relaxation and meetings.
We were seated with fresh water with lemon and a basket of warm corn bread and butter while we perused the menu. We had a plentiful assortment of food to choose. Appetizers included fried calamari, fried artichoke hearts, blackened sea scallops, and hot and sassy chicken, in addition to hearty soups, pasta and salads. There were many Adirondack favorites from the grill, such as wild salmon filet, sesame-crusted Ahi tuna, herb-rubbed pork chops and stuffed rib eye. These are only a few of the choices on their menu. They even have a brick oven where you could order a variety of pizzas, with their most popular “New York Works,” with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, peppers, and tomato sauce. We also understand that the kitchen chefs are a well organized team of Italian men.
Noticing the generous portions, we did not order appetizers that afternoon. I ordered the honey and apple glazed baby back ribs. These ribs were slowly cooked and brushed with their own sauce and served with country sliced fries and homemade coleslaw. The fries were light and crunchy sprinkled with salt and pepper – very tasty. The ribs were meaty and moist lick-your-fingers good. Robert ordered their old fashioned chicken pot pie; a delicate blend of chicken and baby vegetables in a creamy Adirondack herb sauce made from scratch, baked to a golden brown and served seriously hot with a side order of country red mashed potatoes. The portions were very generous and artfully presented.
After such a wonderful meal we each ordered a cappuccino, and one of their fabulous house made desserts, a pear crepe, made on premises, with a custard cream filling garnished with mint and served with a large strawberry. It was luscious. Featured are many other famous desserts on the menu, such as their house made carrot cake, red velvet cake, house made bread pudding, besides their remarkable build your own smores which is marshmallow, graham crackers and chocolate ready to assemble over a hot flame. This dessert is wonderful for a family or group of friends. We both enjoyed our afternoon luncheon at the Bear & Grill and would certainly return for dinner, to enjoy the many various foods listed on their well edited menu.
Besides the main dining room and the bar, there is a private banquet room for parties; a large garden room which can hold more than 200 people with a beautiful celling of stars twinkling above while you are dinning.
Two Guys are Vincent Farricielli and Robert Modena food aficionados, who regularly dine out agreeing to share their dining experience.