We were absolutely blown away by our experience at The Wishing Well. We arrived a little early for our reservation and were pleasantly surprised to be seated immediately. From the moment we walked in, the ambiance made us feel like we had stepped into a cozy Adirondack retreat --warm, inviting, and the perfect setting for a relaxing evening. The service was prompt, pleasant, and genuinely warm. It felt effortless, like the staff truly enjoys making guests feel welcome . We visited during Saratoga Restaurant Week and chose the prix fixe menu, which turned out to be an incredible value for such an outstanding meal . My husband ordered the filet mignon and declared it one of the best--if not the best--he's ever had (definitely in his top three!). I had the trout, and it was absolutely scrumptious --perfectly prepared and full of flavor. From start to finish, the whole experience exceeded our expectations. We're already planning our next visit! read more

See all

I decided on a spur of the moment reservation for a weeknight dinner. It's been a long harsh winter and I was looking forward to a cozy meal in a rustic yet old world setting. On the night that I was there, I had the option of ordering from their weekly specials, or their regular menu. Additionally, it was restaurant week so I could choose that menu as well. Wow! With my glass of Malbec we ordered their restaurant week duck cassoulet, grilled shrimp with mango salsa as well as the filet mignon steak frites. Lastly finishing off with a delightful crème brûlée. My tummy was more than satisfied on this cold evening. Service here was wonderful and the staff were attentive without being overly intrusive. The Wishing Well, a local favorite is where you go for an enjoyable evening of fine dining. read more

See all

We had dinner in the bar area. Loved the piano man playing in the lounge. Very nice touch. Dinner was very good as well. I loved the chicken milanese on the bar menu. It was served over linguine and topped with arugula salad. My guy had the salmon which was also very good. Great service as well. read more

See all

This is a cozy upscale restaurant. Its very cute and out in the forest a bit hidden, you'd never know its there. The wait staff is very attentive. I was impressed how the managers would assist the wait staff. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. They allowed me to make an adjustment on my order which was very kind. Everything tasted great! No complaints there. But the bathroom stalls are very small and I hit my head on the coat hanger. That was my only issue. Overall a great experience! Would highly recommend to anyone. I did not consider it overpriced either, very reasonable. Especially when comparing to NYC prices read more

See all

We went here because we were gifted 100 bucks and ended up adding 85 more to cover the evening. The wife ordered the three course which is available if you go early. She is rather picky but enjoyed it very much. I had the filet Diane which came to the table along with mashed potato and overcooked asparagus. My steak was a medium rare as ordered but was hard to cut. I don't know if it was my dull knife but the steak seemed tough. I have to say the service was excellent and attentive. So limp asparagus cost a star. read more

Several family members visited The Wishing Well for Thanksgiving. We were all quite disappointed. The food was mediocre, the servings were deceptive (more on that in a moment), and the prices were ridiculous. One person in our party chose the salmon entree. It was incredibly bland and more fishy tasting compared to other establishments. We also noted that the salmon on the special Thanksgiving day menu was more expensive than The Wishing Well's regular menu - price gouge much? Two in our party ordered beef and remarked that it was "okay but not great". For the rest of our party who ordered the traditional turkey dinner, we were all impressed at what appeared to be a huge heaping portion. Upon closer inspection, two thin slices of turkey breast were draped atop a huge mound of dressing. So essentially, a pile of bread was used to create the impressive appearance. Overall, we all felt that the experience and value was simply not worth what we paid. We dined here about 8-10 years ago and it was a good experience. The W.W. is a long standing institution in the area. Its better days are behind it, and based on the quality of the food and the prices, it seems that they're a bit full of themselves and perhaps a bit arrogant for assuming that they can get away with lower quality and higher prices. They need a reset/revamp. We won't return unless they do, if even then. Very disappointing. read more

This place was good and bad for different reasons. We loved the atmosphere and the feel of the place in general, and the service is unmatched. We were never rushed. The only disappointment was the food. It was mediocre and overpriced for what it was. We were there on Valentine's Day, so a busy night. We may give them another chance, but probably not. read more

We came to the Wishing Well for Easter dinner with my in laws. I didn't catch our servers name but he was great! The drinks were good, I had their specialty margarita and my husband had a Bourbon and pear beverage. For dinner I had the filet mignon, it had a good crust. The best part was the light lobster salad. I wish it had a little more lobster but it was still good. My husband had the ham Easter special, which was spectacular. I really appreciated the thin sliced pieces. We also got family sides with the lobster Mac and Cheese and the Brussels sprouts. Since it's a holiday we got dessert and my husband and I split the carrot cake, which was decent. read more

The Wishing Well - Filet Mignon, my husband is too impatient for me to take a picture of his food. - American Near Me - Wilton, New York

See all

We've been coming to the Wishing Well for years. It's a Saratoga institution and I've never had a bad experience. I always look forward to seeing what their specials are, the food is great and the service is wonderful. Great people and a great place to stop if you're in town. read more

I've driven by The Wishing Well so many times over the years that I can't even think of trying to count how many. I always thought it was more geared towards a more "mature" audience and was just basic "American" food. Well, it definitely leans "American" and the people that I saw in the restaurant were more "mature", but I wanted to give it a try. That said, we're only doing takeout these days, so we ordered online: two appetizers and two entrees. The appetizers were the beet salad and crab cake; entrees were the burger/fries and fish tacos. First - the quality of everything was excellent; albeit cold by the time it got to the house. That said, we understand that it's takeout and make necessary adjustments. I was able to deconstruct the burger and fries to heat that up in the oven successfully. Everything else was OK at room temperature/cold. We really enjoyed the crab cake - it was not greasy and the accompanying salad was very tasty. The only thing that I would have changed (and I should have asked for ) was the aioli on the side instead of under the crab cake (so it really couldn't be reheated). The beet salad was also excellent - nice amounts of chèvre, mixed greens and, of course, beets. The vinaigrette that was served on the side was mild but very tasty. My fish tacos were blackened as advertised and were quite delicious; there were 2 of them. The jalapeños were gigantic - I would have cut these a bit smaller as they were fresh and had quite a kick. But overall, I really enjoyed the fish tacos. The burger was gigantic and got great reviews. The slab bacon served with it was was really good - as were the fries. I ate a bunch of the fries and had to snag a couple of slivers of the slab bacon. It was served with a big hunk of iceberg lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles. The bun was absolutely delicious - buttery and soft but sturdy. I could have made a meal out of that bun and the fries. They also included a bag with bread that I assume is served complimentary when seated. Bread was good - I did a quick heat in the oven on that as well. Quick kudos also to the choice of take-out boxes - everything was recyclable and /or eco-friendly. The ambiance is really nice - dark wood, cozy rooms, tablecloths - "old school" vibes. It has been around since the 1930's, after all. When this covid craziness is over, I'd love to visit the Wishing Well to enjoy a meal along with the overall experience. read more

See all

Make sure you have a reservation! The service was top notch & the food was fabulous. Fresh local vegetables & fruits were on the specials menu since it was summer time. I had the filet & it was cooked perfectly, served with fresh corn on the cob, mashed potatoes & green beans. My blackberry margarita was to die for! We finished our meal with the peach shortcake, the peaches were juicy & sweet, the shortcake was mostly just a biscuit, but overall still good. read more

The Wishing Well - Peach Shortcake - American Near Me - Wilton, New York

See all

First time dinner on a Thursday evening. Inside is very nice, including piano music. Found it amusing the piano guy played a Grateful Dead song. Wedge salad excellent. Caesar salad average. Bread average. Cocktails average. Chicken parm no better than in any of the average Italian restaurants. Tried the seared halibut special. It was certainly seared - but to the point where the outside was leather and the inside was bone dry. Couldn't break it apart with a fork without serious effort. Skip the onion rings unless you like oil-soaked beer batter. The complimentary fresh corn on the cob was excellent. Service was very good. Feel like we got robbed for the money we paid or we just "chose poorly" from the menu. This is a one and done for us. read more

Going to the Wishing Well is like going back in time - in a good way. Dark and cozy in the bar area - we will be going back as my partner just loved it. Our cocktails came with extra that didn't fit in the glass, we shared a great crab cake, and then I got a huge steak. Service was top notch and there was a live piano player. read more

First class all the way around. The service is impeccable, the food is amazing and the ambiance is exactly what is needed. It's great for date night or that special occassion. read more

Once again the single stars strike again! This is not a 3 star establishment nor is it 4. Bordering on 3 3/4 is where I would settle. We've eaten here a bunch primarily bec of the proximity to our shack. And yes I know it's a Saratoga institution and yes I know the history and tbh I've never stepped foot past the bar. The ambiance, cheesy lounge singer, awesome bartender Paul, Bob hanging out at the end of the bar really make this place a literal walk back in time. However this place isn't cheap by any stretch and the food is pretty good, not great. Most recently we had some artichoke flowers stuffed w some sorta cheese and it was more reminiscent of a jalapeño popper. Just ok. The wife had an average looking pork chop that was a bit dry and I had a very expensive bone in delmonico. It was a good steak, not a great steak. Especially for the price. The broccolini as a side you don't often see. So imho it's definitely worth the effort but measure your expectations. read more

This was our first time having dinner at the Wishing Well. It was our anniversary so we wanted an upscale restaurant. We were not disappointed. We started with the pate - a generous portion and it was excellent with all of the accoutrements. For dinner my husband got the braised short ribs served over polenta The short ribs melted in your mouth, and were so tasty. I ordered the 8 oz filet mignon au poivre. It was served over mashed potatoes and asparagus. Again, the meat melted in your mouth. cooked perfectly medium rare. At about 5:30 a man began playing the piano and singing, setting the mood. We will be back for a special occasion! read more

See all

Had the French Onion soup and it is the best in town. Service and ambience is fantastic!!

Have been going to the Wishing Well Restaurant for years and it keeps getting better and better. my husband made reservations for Valentines Day. The food was excellent, the service was outstanding, we had at least 5 different waitstaff and we love the atmosphere. You won't be disappointed read more

Our food was bad, bad,bad! I ordered the 1 1/2 lb. lobster with crab stuffing $49.00. it came out cold and the only meat was in the claws, I have no idea what happened to the tail meat. The "so called" crab meat stuffing was missing the crab and had NO flavor! Husband had veal Milanese that was forgot on the stove and came out so dry. I don't know how anyone can ruin a piece of veal like that. Way too expensive for quality of food They are not handicap accessible. Had to go through kitchen to get in and couldn't use bathroom read more

As locals, we should have known not to come during track season, but we have enjoyed eating at this establishment and wanted to bring a visiting guest. The unnecessary (and mandatory?) valet parking was the first sign of "doing too much." That overall vibe continued through out the meal. While the servers and busboys were kind and attentive, they were overly so, often overstepping each other due to a lack of communication and multiple visits to the table. This was especially disappointing when a drink order was never delivered. I recognize the changes restaurants go through during track season, and the food, as always, was great, but I think we'll only be returning to the restaurant in the off-season when prices go back down 20%. read more

I have been here before and in the past was pleased. Not this time. My salmon was unseasoned and tasted funny. I love salmon but only managed to eat half of it. The vegetables were 5 small burnt pieces of potato. The side salad was 90% arugula, and really needed some other flavors. Service was very good. read more

Such a great, classic spot! We made reservations online for a Saturday night and were seated immediately upon arrival. We instantly loved the restaurant's high ceilings, which were covered with wooden beams, and the dimly lit rooms with several fire places. Our waitress greeted us soon after we were seated and took our drink order. My boyfriend ordered the Old Fashioned drink special, which he didn't love, but opted to drink anyway. I started with French Onion soup and it was really good with plenty of melted cheese on top. For our entrees, I got the Seafood Imperial pasta special, which was cavatelli pasta with shrimp, crab and lobster in a sherry cream sauce topped with breadcrumbs. It was fantastic -- perfectly cooked and loaded with seafood! My boyfriend ordered the prime rib and it was a HUGE piece that was cooked perfectly to his liking. For dessert, we couldn't decide so we ordered the chocolate chip cookie skillet and the strawberry rhubarb mousse with almond cake. The skillet was so delicious and the cookie was cooked perfectly. The rhubarb mousse was amazing and I wished there was more of it. Overall, the food, service and ambiance were amazing! I highly recommend the Wishing Well, especially for a date night or special occasion. read more

See all

Save Yourself & Skip this One ! Friends of Ours Said it was one of the Best Restaurants In Upstate NY - Maybe it was in years past , not anymore. Entry is Cozy like a Dark Rustic Barn , With a Bar . We were kindly greeted by a nice gentleman who asked to take our coats . Once seated You felt as if the Spirits of Christmas Past Were right there with you , Decor is Pleasant yet old school . I ordered 2 Separate items , A Salad and A Shrimp Cocktail To my Suprise both were plated on one plate ! Who Does this ? In a Restaurant of this Quality? Maybe to save 3 cents on washing extra plate . Restaurant Restrictions these days are a challenge for sure . Service was efficient and friendly. Food Was Bland and overpriced. Better Choices Everywhere read more

See all

Best occasion or just perfect meal out. Food always prepared perfectly and service is impeccable.

Let's just get straight to the point- the food was good! Not mind blowing amazing, but good enough. The 4 stars is for the overall experience. Pleasant efficient service. Extensive award winning wine list. I had a glass of Malbec (I didn't get the name of it unfortunately) but it was very nice. I had the Maryland crab cake with citrus marmalade and lemon aioli. The crab cake itself was good. Lots of crab and flavorful. I wasn't too keen on the marmalade as it was throwing it off a bit to me mixed with the lemon aioli. The sweet and savory wasn't working for me in this case. Then I had the wedge salad which was pretty nice. I originally wasn't thrilled with having to breakdown half a head of lettuce because it felt like too much work as you're trying to converse with your friends and prepare your salad- but the taste made up for it. My main course was the salmon with mashed potatoes and succotash. It wasn't bad at all. Three others in our party had the rack of lamb. They all seemed to enjoy it. Only one comment about it not being seasoned well enough but all said it was tender. The atmosphere is dim and like that of a clubhouse. It's rustic and not really fancy but not a jeans and shorts place either. I think it's a good spot for a date or friends gathering. Not a place for children in my opinion. I don't remember anything notable about the background music. The bar is warm and well stocked. Here's the bottom line: Solid food, solid restaurant, probably one of the best you will get in this area. Parking is plentiful and a little dark in spots at night if you're trying to be low key or on a sneaky date. read more

See all

Oh my!!!! Only great things to be said about this wonderful, quaint, warm and welcoming restaurant!! Beautiful ambiance!!! Victor and Gwen were AMAZING!!! Food was phenomenal!!!! Drinks were even better!!! Desserts?! Yes please!!! read more

The Wishing Well - Crab stuffed Rainbow trout - American Near Me - Wilton, New York

See all

Outstanding long standing tradition with great food and service! We celebrated our anniversary and so enjoyed

Maybe not quite as good as it used to be but still a very nice place to go get dinner in a little bit of an old fashion " piano bar lounge" atmosphere. read more

This is admittedly in a part of town I don't visit often, but the bar itself is probably one of the most charming in the region. Very old with the rifle horsey idea, complete with a piano (sometimes a player to boot...). The bartender also works at another spot in the Saratoga area, so we know him well. I would say that the cocktails are better than the food. It's kind of a minefield with the menu...it's quite a variety...some of which they do well (crabcakes are lump and Maryland worthy), but the trout (I catch them anyways...) was really weird with a crab stuffing (why would you do a salt water stuffing with a fresh water fish?)... I think if you keep to the simple side of the menu, you will fare better here. For a drink with friends...this is non-touristy and well worth a few miles out of town. read more

Lovely atmosphere and one of the best steaks I've had during my visit to NY. Service was pleasant and attentive without being overly pretentious. read more

Always delicious great atmosphere wonderful service dinners are always yummy . Have had parties there w wonderful service and experience

Amazing service and delicious food! There were 7 of us who came to this restaurant last night, 7 weary diplomats and nurses who drove all the way from NYC and this place was the best stop to be relieved, fed, and cared for. The guys running this place are sooooo warm and friendly! Right from the entrance before being seated, down to the servers, you already feel so welcomed and taken care of. I got to know about this place from google search of best restaurants and I saw good recommendations, and I am glad I listened to those. This was second on my list - the first one was another logcabin restaurant which was 25 minutes from this place, and the service was awful, that we left that place and moved here. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. If we come back to Saratoga, we will definitely come back here. read more

The food was great. The service was great. Big problem next. We were set next to a birthday party. With little consideration for guests, this business rates poor for me! Then a table with a baby crying. The waitress apologized. One of the party goers apologized. The evening was ruined! No return noted. read more

This diamond in the rough has been here forever, run by the same family, first Husband and Wife team and now Son, and these people seriously know how to keep it on the real real; Really fGood Good Food. Real Good Service. Especially Good Friends. No, I don't know the people who run this gem, but the very first time I came here to dinner on my 23rd wedding anniversary it felt like I was hanging at my local. I immediately struck up a conversation with the two nice gals at the bar who easily could have been my Mom and sister. It took me a half an hour watching the Belmont Stakes go off, laughing and having a cocktail before I realized I was hanging with the owner of 51 years and her daughter. Chemistry? I would like to think so but it was apparent that they owned the room- they were everyone's friend, and why not? They were kind, successful, and happy to be where they were! After 45 minutes of feeling at home at the bar we moved to the main dining room. Prix Fixe was the way to go and Easily had the best Osso Bucco I have ever had in my life served with mash and brown gravy to die for. Now here's the kicker: My wife ordered the fish and was not happy with it. It wasn't cooked wrong, it didn't have bones or smell bad, it just wasn't here "cup of tea" that evening. She pushed it aside and we split my pork- there was plenty of it- (but damn, no doggie bag for me- oh well, 23 years of putting up with me, I guess was worth giving up the midnight snack that night)- So anyway the waitress was in sudden and very kind " fix it mode"- We both assured her it wasn't necessary- offers to bring another entree were made but the old ball and chain was already tearing into the pork shank on my plate... to our unbelievable surprise was a $20 credit on our check at the end of the night-WOW! And on top of it all a small box of chocolates for the Anniversary! (I got my midnight snack after all!) Clearly there is a reason the parking lot is always full here: This place is a Class Act! read more

The Wishing Well - My beautiful wife and Veuve Cliquot... - American Near Me - Wilton, New York

I love The Wishing Well Restaurant and wish I lived closer so I could dine there weekly. This small unassuming restaurant welcomes you with the open arms of what feels like a sweet old grandfather. As I walked in the older bartender smiled and gestured to have a seat at the bar. The cute little host stand offers a visitor's sign in book. The subtle warm lighting together with the kind hospitality harkens to walking into your family's home. The bartender knows how to shake up a mean martini. He's elegant yet caring - I loved watching his style while I waited for my table and listened to the piano player. It was packed with tons of smiling, happy diners there for an evening of fun. The connected rooms reveal that this was most likely a home in a previous life. Quaint decor looks like a family's keepsakes. You can feel the memories all around. The server was a no nonsense woman who knew her stuff. She was busy but made us feel welcome and not rushed at all. The food is much better than you can expect. It rang of special entrees from Manhattan instead of this small house turned restaurant on a country road outside of a charming horse racing town. Everything was perfect from appetizers to desserts. I think of The Wishing Well often and cannot wait to return. read more

See all

Great ambiance you will find live music on the weekends. Amazing food and the service is exceptional. Great place for special occasions, but plan to come knowing that you will be paying. This place is very pricey. read more

Love this place. Great food and fair prices. I've been eating here for about 30 years, never a disappointment. read more

My favorite place in Saratoga. The tomatoes, the corn on the cob, the ambience. I look forward to visiting every year I can make up upstate for horse racing. read more

The Wishing Well - American Near Me - Wilton, New York

This is definitely a rustic little spot with an unexpectedly beautiful menu. I went with a large group and the service was great, absolutely has that small town feel. The menu is fantastic with tons of menu options from steak to seafood to pasta and risotto. I really like that the menu is clearly labeled with the "gf" to designate all the gluten free options. I ended up settling on the jumbo shrimp cocktail (which was amazing) followed by the baked salmon over spaghetti squash and the bourbon creme brûlée for dessert. I truly enjoyed everything I ordered this evening. read more

The Wishing Well - Bourbon Creme Brûlée - American Near Me - Wilton, New York

Recently had dinner at the Wishing Well in Saratoga springs the prime rib was 30% fat and cold the green beans were like shoe leather and cold and very small and thin. The horseradish sauce tasted sour and had lumps. I ordered a margarita and it was the worst I have ever had. The service was really good. The decor was cold and plain. We were completely disappointed . read more