Standard Fare Joins Growing List of New Phila Street Eateries

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Phila Street. So hot right now. Phila Street.

New York’s hottest club is Phila Street.

I don’t know how to put this but Phila Street is kind of a big deal. It has many leather-bound books and smells of rich mahogany.

OK, now that the pop culture references are out of the way, it is indeed true that Phila Street in downtown Saratoga Springs is bustling with new establishments set to open their doors this year.

One of the eateries is Standard Fare, a new enterprise from Bocage Champagne Bar owners Zac Denham and Clark Gale.

Located at 21 Phila Street, Standard Fare aims to deliver “upscale American comfort food,” with a menu that includes dishes like meatloaf, mozzarella sticks with caviar, double-cut Berkshire pork chops with apple sauce and potato pancakes, “big dumb milkshakes,” and over-the-top pies and cakes. It’s a restaurant that Denham and Gale said would be appropriate for both a high school baseball team celebrating a big win and a couple in search of an evening date spot.

“The name reflects our goal: raising the bar for the kind of food we all secretly crave but often overlook,” Gale said. 

Denham and Gale said the restaurant will feature a chic design that’s unlike anything else that currently exists in Saratoga. 

Standard Fare will be open seven days a week, with extended late-night hours (midnight during the week and 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays). Lunch, brunch, and takeaway options will follow shortly after the initial opening, which should happen at some point this spring. 

“2025 is shaping up to be a huge year for dining in Saratoga,” Denham said. “With so many exciting new openings, we wanted to create a space that cuts through the noise—something that feels timeless yet vibrant, indulgent yet accessible. Comfort food that’s nostalgic yet surprising.” 

“We’ve loved being part of the Phila Street community with Bocage,” said Gale. “This area has such a unique energy, and if you’ve never ventured off Broadway, you’re missing something special. The vibe here is unmatched, and we’re excited to contribute to its story.” 

The story of Phila Street has a few other chapters being added to it this year as well. One is Familiar Creature, a forthcoming “Montreal-inspired” wine bar located at 42 Phila that was created by the team behind Hamlet & Ghost. Familiar Creature will serve local meats and cheeses, roasted chicken, French small plates, and, of course, wine. The kitchen will be led by Chefs Michele Hunter and Alex Johnson.

Then there’s Noah’s at 43 Phila, an Italian joint from Chef Noah Frese of Siro’s fame. Perhaps setting the tone, the restaurant’s first Instagram post features the cast of “The Sopranos.” The red sauce venture is billed as “your new, favorite, usual spot” where “everything [is] made with love, taking you back to the best part of an Italian’s childhood.” 

Finally (for now, at least), there’s the more casual Fillies on Phila, a wood-fired pizza restaurant that, according to Saratoga Living, is set to open this winter. The owner, Micah Henzel, also co-owns the neighborhood bar/restaurant Milton Tavern, which opened in Ballston Spa in 2023. Fillies will be located at 39 Phila, the former home of Nashville of Saratoga.

By our count, that’s at least four new restaurants opening up on Phila Street this year that will join local favorites like Harvey’s, Sweet Mimi’s, Mittler’s, Bailey’s, Bocage, Trattoria Fortunata, and Solevo.

It’s been alleged that there are more restaurants in Saratoga Springs per capita than anywhere else in the country. It may be hard to determine whether that’s definitely true, but take a stroll on Phila Street in between Broadway and Henry Street later this year and you might believe it.