Neighborhood Kitchen offering Italian-American Takeout & Delivery, ‘Neighborhood Vibes’ in Milton

MILTON — A new restaurant in Milton, Neighborhood Kitchen, opened in March, offering a variety of Italian-American takeout options and emphasizing a “neighborhood feel.”

Neighborhood Kitchen offers takeout and delivery, with customers ordering by phone, in person, or online. The restaurant opened in March at 312 Rowland St, and is operated by partners Chip and Wendy Lawrence, and Brian Donaldson, who is also the head chef.

Chip Lawrence said he and his wife Wendy grew up in Milton, and have “fond memories” of visiting Mary’s Country Store, which formerly operated at the location.

“It was this iconic little country market, before the big supermarkets, and certainly before Milton was developed,” said Lawrence. “We have fond memories of penny candy, and Hershey’s ice cream. Just going there for market stuff.”

Neighborhood Kitchen is open seven days a week, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. The restaurant offers a variety of breakfast sandwiches, and serves sandwiches, salads, and smaller portions of pastas and main dishes at lunch, Lawrence said.

The main dishes include a variety of offerings such as chicken parmigiana, chicken and filet involtinis, pork pinwheel, and more. One dish, Chicken Luisa, is named in honor of Luisa Cirelli, the former owner of Villa Luisa, who Donaldson had worked for.

“Brian worked for her 20 years ago, and learned a lot of his culinary skills from her,” said Lawrence. “That dish is paying homage to Luisa and her family.”

The restaurant also features a variety of pastas, such as gnocchi bolognese and short rib ravioli, as well as additional offerings such as a crispy chicken sandwich and a variety of salads. The restaurant offers family-style meals and catering, with Lawrence saying they have catered “a lot” of graduation parties, and will cater a wedding next month.

The restaurant does not have indoor seating, but has set up several picnic tables outside. Neighborhood Kitchen is also working on putting together ‘track packs,’ picnic-style lunches customers could bring along during a visit to the Saratoga Race Course, said Wendy Lawrence.

The restaurant delivers to a roughly five-mile radius, Chip Lawrence said, stretching into downtown Saratoga Springs, Ballston Spa, and into Galway and Greenfield. They also feature a small market section, which offers selections of candy and market items in a nod to Mary’s Country Store.

“We were bringing that Mary’s Country Store piece back from when we were kids,” Lawrence said. “The kids would ride their bikes there. … That’s bringing back that neighborhood experience.”

The Lawrences own The Basin Grill in Schuylerville, and formerly ran Circa ‘21 at McGregor Links Country Club in Wilton. Donaldson had worked for the Lawrences at The Basin Grill, and had partnered with the pair to run Circa ‘21, Lawrence said.

Donaldson had the concept for Neighborhood Kitchen, described by Lawrence as “higher-end Italian-American takeout,” in the works for roughly a decade, and eventually found the former Mary’s Country Store location on Rowland St.

“We’ve done restaurants for 30 years, but this is a whole new concept,” said Lawrence.

The building had sat vacant for a number of years following the closure of Bongiorno’s Pizzeria. The Lawrences and Donaldson purchased the building in April 2022, and after renovating the space, officially opened in March of this year.

Lawrence gave credit to Town of Milton officials, saying they were “such great partners” throughout the process.

“The Town of Milton, from the supervisor to the building department, they were so supportive,” Lawrence said. “Now we’re open, it’s been very well-received. It’s just nice seeing Brian’s passion bleed right through.”

Four months in, Lawrence said the restaurant has already begun to receive regular customers, and emphasized the goal of providing a “neighborhood vibe.”

“We’ve got so many regulars,” said Lawrence. “We’ve got a ton of support from customers who visit. … That’s what we want, that whole neighborhood vibe.”

Lawrence said Neighborhood Kitchen is working to carry produce and products from local farmers, noting that eggs for their breakfast sandwiches are from Thomas Poultry Farm in Schuylerville.

In the future, Lawrence said the group would consider potentially opening additional locations in other Saratoga County communities. 

“We want it to have that neighborhood feel,” Lawrence said. “It’s been very well-received. … It’s so rewarding to see.”