When you're searching for a great meal after a busy day at the track, sometimes it's nice to relax away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. At Harvest and Hearth, Matt Hunter brings us to a hidden gem on Fish Creek that combines breathtaking views with classic wood-fired pizza.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- From tossing the dough and dressing it with fresh toppings, to cooking it to perfection inside a near 800 degree wood fire oven -- much of the action at Harvest and Hearth happens in plain view of just about every seat in the dining room.
"It gets olive oil and a little bit of mozzarella since it gets fontina cheese also,” said Christopher Wallace, a Harvest and Hearth employee.
"You definitely get a certain flavor profile that you only get from a wood oven,” said Dan Lawrence, another Harvest and Hearth employee.
"It is kind of like dinner and a show,” said Pete Michelin, the Harvest and Hearth owner. "On a busy night we have three guys out here. It makes for a really fun dining environment for sure.”
After living in Boston and Florida, Ballston Spa native Pete Michelin and his wife opened Harvest and Hearth after moving back to the region eight years ago.
"I have always just loved wood-fired pizza so I really just wanted to bring the concept to the Saratoga area,” Michelin said.
"Absolutely this is one of my favorite spots, again, you just don't get this atmosphere,” said Matt Tallman, a Greenfield resident.
While the restaurant does sit along Route 67, Matt Tallman and his family are among the loyal customers who prefer to arrive here by water.
"We take the boat out a couple of times a week,” Tallman said.
By neighboring a marina and the Kayak Shack rental business, guests with and without their own boats are able to take advantage of Harvest and Hearth's prime location on Fish Creek.
"It's really the only place on the lake that you can really watch the sunset right over that horizon almost every single night,” he said.
With fresh made organic ingredients prepared right before your eyes, it's a meal and atmosphere that's hard to beat.
"It's the best pizza I have ever had. Once you eat here, pizza is never the same anywhere else,” Wallace said. "No matter where you are in the Capital District, I recommend taking the trip here for a little wood fired pizza and a good time."