Saratoga Spotlight: Carson’s Woodside Tavern

Carson’s Woodside Tavern, located in Malta, New York, offers a cozy dining experience with an irresistible view, making it a favorite in the Saratoga area.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the tavern, covering its unique features, history, customer feedback, and other requested details.

What Makes Carson’s Woodside Tavern Unique

The primary distinguishing feature of Carson’s Woodside Tavern is its spectacular, panoramic view overlooking Saratoga Lake and the distant Vermont Mountains. The owners, upon purchasing the property, made significant renovations to maximize this view, including adding a large outdoor deck and a “Lakeview Room” with folding walls of windows to enjoy the scenery year-round.

Other unique aspects include:

• Atmosphere: It offers a comfy, casual, and inviting dining experience.
• Entertainment Hub: The tavern is a local destination for entertainment, hosting live music every Thursday through Saturday evening and trivia every Monday. It has been recognized by local publications for having the “Best Live Music.”
• Cuisine Blend: The menu is a mix of American pub fare and Italian influences, ensuring a diverse range of options, including steak, burgers, and pasta.
• Ownership: It is a family-owned and operated business, noted as a women-owned gem in the local community.

History and Significant Events

Carson’s Woodside Tavern is a relatively recent establishment, but it occupies a location with a long history:

• Opening: The tavern opened in March 2015 at its current location, 57 NY Route 9P in Malta, NY.
• Predecessor: It took over the building that was the home of a long-time Saratoga staple, Cliff’s Country Inn, which had been run by Cliff and Kathy Barlow for 37 years before they retired.
• Owners: The tavern is owned by the Carson family, led by Bill and Susie Carson. Bill Carson brought decades of restaurant experience, having previously owned Ravenswood Restaurant in Clifton Park for 29 years.
• Renovations: Significant improvements were made after 2015 to leverage the location’s potential:
  • 2019: The outdoor patio space was significantly upgraded and named The Overlook, which included adding a seasonal outside bar, restrooms, and an expansive patio with firepits to maximize the lake and mountain views.
  • 2022: A beautiful, year-round, enclosed Lakeview Room was constructed to replace an old covered patio, featuring large folding walls of windows and a fireplace for winter use, allowing guests to enjoy the view in any weather.

Customer Feedback and Recognition

Customer feedback often highlights the magnificent view and the quality of the American-Italian fare.

• Overall Rating: The tavern holds a strong rating, with over a thousand Google reviews pointing to a great experience.
• Awards: The tavern has been recognized by local readers’ polls, being crowned #1 for categories such as:
  • Best Dining on the Lake
  • Best Burgers
  • Best American Food
  • Best Pub Fare
  • Best Chicken Wings
• Reviews often mention:
  • “The view is amazingggg from where the tavern lies.”
  • “Great food and great music on a Friday night.”
  • Praise for the house-made specialties, such as the French Onion Soup.
  • The spacious and clean internal area and large outdoor patio space.

Highlight Menu Items

Carson’s Woodside Tavern offers a full menu of American and Italian dishes, focusing on quality pub fare. Popular items frequently mentioned include:

• Woodside Wings: Available in a dozen flavors, including classics like Mild, Medium, and HOT, along with unique options like SPICY ORANGE GLAZE, Gold Rush, and Garlic Parmesan.
• French Onion Au Gratin: Described as a “top-secret house recipe” and highly praised in customer reviews. One customer recommends, “Please order their onion soup! It was so amazing.”
• Burgers: Voted #1 in local polls, these are a menu staple.
• Steaks and Prime Rib: The tavern serves steaks and offers prime rib every night.
• Mussels: A Monday night special featuring a pound of mussels prepared with a choice of decadent roasted leek and cream sauce, white wine and garlic, or steamed with drawn butter.
• Southwest Chicken Salad: A popular salad with Cajun-spiced grilled chicken, avocado, black beans, and a two-cheese blend, recommended with their Jalapeño Ranch dressing.

Contact Information and Links