The Whistling Kettle — Restaurant in Troy

First of all, go to The Whistling Kettle. Although I'm withholding the fifth star for the time being, it's not because things aren't top notch there. To the contrary, every aspect of my visit was outstanding. So, whether five stars or four, I say go now, go frequently, and go excitedly. It's a gem.

Second of all (is that even a thing?), were it not for a nearly-idiosyncratic rating adjustment I use, TWK would have received from me a well-earned five stars. (The adjustment provides a defensibly objective assessment of the parts of any venture that would be unacceptably subjective without it.) Perhaps even more distressing to a careful reader would be a growing realization that the adjustment would have resulted in a 5-star rating is my experience had been not quite as good as it was. (This result is rare; the adjustment tends to be neutral or to raise a rating.)

Anyway, the gist of my (almost inexcusably long) introduction is that I lowered my rating because they did a really great job. Allow me to elucidate. (That definitely should NOT be a thing, even though it kinda is. Why in the hell did I select such a stilted construction? Never mind: back to TWK.)

The tea selection is fairly broad and seems well curated. (Although I'm no tea specialist, I have a keener interest in, and wider experience with, tea than the average American.) I ordered an individual pot of Golden Monkey. It was so generously sized that the multiple cups it held saw me not only through lunch but also dessert. I enjoyed it so much I took home a bag of it along with a bag of Scottish Breakfast. TWK's teas are top drawer in every respect.

The very-sweet-but-not-too-sweet-as-a-dessert scone I had after lunch? Also incredible. It was birthday cake-flavored, which I usually think is an awful flavor for anything but its namesake. Not in this case; it was rich and delicious, spot-on and top of the heap. (You're already wondering what top will be describe my lunch, aren't you?)

I had a savory vegan crêpe for my meal. It was seasonally appropriate, very filling, and delicious (no need to read that as "delicious for a vegan dish," it was just straight-up tasty in every respect). Lunch was absolutely top flight (yes, "'flight' was the answer we were looking for" (RIP, Alex)).

In addition to my excellent repast, my server was wonderful, the dining room was cute without being kitsch, and the sidewalk view made possible by TWK's huge, spotless, plate-glass windows provided a perfect diversion from the games on my tablet.

"So," you must be asking yourself, "what could make me give this place less than five stars? Because just a touch more attention to detail could make this place world-class. Here I go.

My crepe wasn't a crepe. It was delicious but really more of an Injera. So, change the name or get the crepe done perfectly. And the chips (advertised on the menu as kettle chips) were, in fact, Kettle Chips. In the bag. No, no, no. Open the bag and put them on the plate. They were delicious, they were an excellent choice of default side order. But not in the f*&#ing bag. It's "just not done," as they say. And, finally, no bags in cheap aluminum pitchers for serving this level of tea. The tea was fine, but the presentation made it seem disappointing. If you're gonna serve Royal Beluga 000, don't use imitation horn spoons, get the real things. (Side note: being vegan I have an issue with both the eggs and the horn spoons, but they just made the point too well not to use.)

The Whistling Kettle. I'd give it 5 stars except I need to encourage them to become a destination worthy of taking the Empire Service from the City up to the wonderful Capital District just to eat and drink at. Go get 'em,...

Stopped by this long-time favorite on our way out of town last weekend. Fairly busy, but things initially seemed to be working. I ordered a quiche, while my spouse selected an “afternoon tea” platter. After our drinks arrived, we waited for the main course. And waited, and waited.

After an hour of trying to patiently understand what might be going on, we noticed three other tables, all of whom had been seated well after us, were getting their food. We both went to the front desk. I leaned in and told the two staff members that I was not about to make a scene, but, “I want to know where the hell our food is.” The staff apologized, and told us we could wait 10 minutes for the manager to come speak to us (she was working the kitchen), or we could just end our visit with no money changing hands, and no hard feelings. We took the first option, and waited a little longer.

The manager came out and personally delivered our order, apologizing for the delay. When we pointed out the jarring discrepancy between the speed of our order with that of the surrounding tables, she calmly explained that some foods take longer to prep than others. We accepted this at face value, even though we did not completely believe her explanation for the items we ordered. We ate our lunch, no longer enjoying the experience one bit, and the original server delivered our check, trying to smile, but clearly frustrated.

This is a heartbreaking review for me to write, because the original Ballston Spa location was a favorite of my entire family, including my late mother. Furthermore, I’ve always been patient with service issues, and understand that everyone, and even an entire restaurant, can have a bad day. But this went so far beyond that, I simply cannot remain silent. I hope that Whistling Kettle finds its way back, or else I will NEVER eat...

I walk in around 11:30 AM on a Thursday. I was told by a gentleman on my order would be ready in a couple minutes. I wait about 12 minutes. A young woman with glasses on in the front who was making drinks ask me can she help me, I gave her the name. She then goes to the back comes back and tells me it’ll be out when it be out. I said excuse me how much longer she says it’ll come out when it comes out very rudely Very disrespectful and she’s very lucky that she didn’t get cursed out. There’s absolutely no reason to talk to people this way especially if you do not wanna be talked to in that manner back you’re in a business a place of work you should be professional at all times it’s very simple to give someone a timeframe. instead of being rude and telling someone it’ll come out when it comes out send when I go to the original gentleman who told me it would be a couple minutes. I tell him what she said he shrugged his shoulder like he didn’t care at first, and then when I went into explanation on how he told me a couple minutes and I’ve been here 15 and now she’s telling me it’ll come out when it comes out. It’s very unprofessional you could easily give someone a timeframe Then says about four minutes I said OK that’s better but telling someone that is gonna come out when he comes out is rude, which is when he shrugged his shoulders after he told me four minutes the order came right out listen the next time I’m spoken to disrespectfully trust me. You’re gonna have a bad day at work. Talk to people who respect and treat people how you wanna be treated. Right is right and...