New Wine Bar Starts Pouring on Phila

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The first of the Phila Street dominoes has fallen.

Familiar Creature, a Montreal-inspired wine bar from the team behind Hamlet & Ghost, officially opened its doors last weekend at 42 Phila.

The eatery is led by Executive Chef Michele Hunter (a Food Network Chopped Champion), who previously worked at The Adelphi Hotel and Hamlet & Ghost, as well as Sous Chef Alex Johnson, who has worked with top chefs such as Thomas Keller, Jenner Tomaska, and Eric Leveillee.

Co-owners Brendan Dillon and Dennis Kiingati, of Hamlet & Ghost fame, collaborated with New York City-based design firm Post Co. to create a modern space reminiscent of a French bistro.  Familiar Creature features indoor seating for 50 patrons, as well as an outdoor patio that can accommodate an additional 30 patrons during the warmer months.

Some signature items advertised by Creature include a white negroni, Manila clams, seasonal ice cream, local meats and cheeses, roasted chicken, and, of course, wine. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 4 p.m. until close. There are plans to expand to a six-day schedule in the coming weeks.

The restaurant’s name is derived from a line in William Shakespeare’s “Othello”: “Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used.”

The eatery is one of at least four establishments set to open on Phila Street this year. Others include Standard Fare (serving upscale American comfort food and due to open this spring at 21 Phila), Noah’s (an Italian joint at 43 Phila), and Fillies on Phila (a wood-fired pizza restaurant at 39 Phila that’s set to open this winter).