Last night my friend and I decided to go in search of fish fry. I had a list of places in the area. We decided to investigate The Craftsman Wood Grille & Tap House. There is an open grill kitchen with four chefs working together. They are known for their meats and their pizzas, mainly, and a fun bacon flight thing with bacon cured in a variety of flavors. Still, fish and chips is on the menu – not sure if it is a Friday only thing or not.
Presentation: The plate – OMG, such a beautiful presentation. The fish looked like a giant corn dog laying in a bed of the tiniest sweet potato fries with parchment paper underneath to absorb lingering oils from the fryer. Four stainless steel condiment cups held ketchup, maple butter, coleslaw and tartar sauce. The chef included a grilled lemon.
I do love when the waiter delivers a lovely looking meal.
Taste: I tasted a bit of mustard in the coleslaw or maybe I thought I did because it appeared yellow. The combination of maple butter with sweet potato fries is always a yes! So delish. This was a substitution and we both went for it in lieu of regular french fries.
I didn’t love the fish but, you know, I certainly didn’t hate it. I had to “fish” for it under all that batter – I didn’t eat that part because it tasted soft, not crunchy – basically pancake batter-y. Overall, I think the portions were just right and it left room for us to share a slice of cake for dessert, since this was a pre-birthday meal for me. (Thank you, Bobbi!)
Restaurant Experience: I love this restaurant. It has a gorgeous ambiance. We arrived before 5:00 PM without a reservation. No one was eating yet and we were seated in a booth by the window – I believe it was referred to as table 1. The other tables filled quickly after, and by the time we were ready to leave, the restaurant was at full capacity including the bar area.
Stickley furniture prevails. The whole place is a Stickley-gasm. There was a party going on in the conference room that I wanted to crash, maybe a rehearsal dinner or wedding reception with people dressed in suits and gowns.
It’s all so pretty – I didn’t really want to leave.
They also have an outdoor space – a roof, a bar area, seating, heat lamps and a fireplace. On Thursdays they do live music in that space – so fun!
Location: The Craftsman is located at 7300 East Genesee Street (Route 5), Fayetteville, New York 13066
Hours of operation:
Sunday 4:00-9:00 PM, Monday-Thursday 4:00 – 10:00 PM, Friday-Saturday 4:00 – 11:00 PM
Call for more information: (315) 637-9999
Or visit their website, which includes a menu with prices.
Parking: They have an ample parking lot for the restaurant and the adjacent hotel – The Craftsman Inn. If you haven’t been, it is a mission-style lover’s paradise – filled with Stickley furniture.