What can we expect The Standard to be?
The Eveready Diner in Hyde Park, which is owned by the same restaurant group.
When we first saw the signs for The Standard, the new restaurant going in at Crossgates, we thought, "Oh, look, there's a mid-century ring-a-ding-ding chain now. Whatever."
But then we heard a little more about it. The Standard is being opened by a company that runs a group of restaurants in the Hudson Valley. So we did a little research to get a sense of what we might expect.
First off, the owners of this restaurant group (Serving You Restaurants) seem to have a thing for mid-century style. It looks like every one of their other restaurants incorporates that time period into its aesthetic.
The Eveready Diner
Hyde Park
Both Chowhounders and Yelpers rave about this place. Wrote one person on Chowhound earlier this year, "It is rare to find a diner this good." Posted another person on Yelp, "I don't know of a better diner." The Eveready was also featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives -- which, depending on what you think of Guy Fieri, may or may not be a good thing (we saw the ep and the Eveready did look good).
Coyote Grill
Poughkeepsie
The website for this restaurant says the place "transports you to the aura of a 1950's roadhouse." The menu looks like sort of the standard steak, seafood, pasta and everything else kind of place with a bit of a Southwestern and Asian influence. A poster on Chowhound wrote the Coyote Grill has "something for everyone," big portions and food that's worth a wait. Yelpers weren't so impressed, though, with one calling the food "mediocre."
Double O Grill
Rhinebeck and Wappinger Falls
This looks similar to Coyote Grill, but maybe a little more fusion-y. One person on Yelp described it as "one level higher than TGIF." A Zagat commenter called it "a cheesecake factory wanabee." Hudson Valley Mag gave the Double O its 2008 Editors' Pick for Best Big Menu.
Has anyone eaten at any of these places? Thoughts?
We heard from a rep for The Standard that it's "definitely" going to open the first week of December, with December 1 as a target.
photo: Flickr user gailf548
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Comments
i've eaten at the Eveready a number of times -- it's a quality diner, good variety and quality of food. It's maybe even a little better than the Alexis in North Greenbush.
... said Carl on Nov 19, 2008 at 4:25 PM | link
I think this place looks awesome. I’ve walked by a couple of times and can’t to have a martini in that bar. I actually went in to grab an employment application just to check it out. I went to Marist College and I’m quite familiar with their other restaurants. They have a great decor and some awesome food. I cant wait for this to open.
... said Kate on Nov 19, 2008 at 4:56 PM | link
To say that the Eveready is a little better than the Alexis is like saying Michael Jordan is a little taller than Gary Coleman. There is nothing wrong with the Alexis, but the Eveready is in a league of its own.
... said matt on Nov 19, 2008 at 5:08 PM | link
I've eaten at the Eveready a few times. Food quality was fine, nice portions, and the staff is friendly. The decor is a trifle over the top, but Hyde Park is a bit of a tourist town.
... said Eric on Nov 19, 2008 at 5:45 PM | link
I went to marist and went to the Eveready all the time. It's pretty good.
... said Joe on Nov 19, 2008 at 6:10 PM | link
'Better than the Alexis' is hardly a compliment in my book. I'd put Alexis toward the bottom of my list of CapDist diners. Latham 76, Metro 20, Western Ave, and Duncan's would outrank it without question. Been a while since I've been in Inga's, Westgate, or the diner on Wolf Rd, but those would outrank it in my book too.
Maybe it's time to followup on the Pizza playoffs with a Diner review! Let's see...French toast, eggs, hash browns, muffins, grits, scrapple, so many good meals to look into!
... said komradebob on Nov 19, 2008 at 6:23 PM | link
I hate a late lunch/early dinner at the Double O Grill earlier this year. It's worth every minute of the drive there so I'm thrilled that a similar place will be open locally. I don't think the capital district will be disappointed.
... said Harper on Nov 19, 2008 at 9:58 PM | link
"Serving You Restaurants"?!?!
teeheehehehehehehe
ah. ridiculous.
... said heathah on Nov 20, 2008 at 12:33 AM | link
I've been to both Double O and the Eveready. Both are very good, but the real prize was at the Eveready. You know those comically-oversized brandy snifters? Their sundaes come in glasses just slightly larger than that, and in at least half a dozen over-the-top flavors. Any place that has sundaes bigger than your head is a keeper in my book. Dee-licious!
... said 23-Hour Alice People on Nov 20, 2008 at 7:20 AM | link
I've been to all three "Serving You" restaurants, and they're all excellent, although they all have the overpolished feel of a franchise, without actually being a franchise. If the new place is anything like the Eveready, I'll be happy: no more making up excuses to drive to Hyde Park just to go ("Gee, I just really love the FDR historical site! Let's go again this weekend!")
Plus, the family in question is the Vanikiotis family, and they're great. My brother was on a soccer team with one of their kids when he was little, and the kids got to eat for free at one of their places in Wappingers Falls all the time.
... said Siobhan on Nov 20, 2008 at 8:51 AM | link
I've been to the Eveready and the Double-O. The Double-O had amazing food, great service, and I would go back there in a heartbeat. When I read an article about this place in Steve Barnes' blog, and he stated that it is owned by a company with restaurants in the mid-hudson region, I crossed my fingers hoping that it was the same owners as the Double-O. Just like the Double-O, I can almost guarantee that this place will develop a reputation for quality food, great service, and will always be packed. Can't wait!
... said Andy on Nov 20, 2008 at 10:24 AM | link
Actually, I've been to the Coyote Grill earlier this year; the food and service were both pretty decent. Not overwhelmingly wonderful, but decent.
... said Kim on Nov 20, 2008 at 10:58 AM | link
Will this open soon please!? I’ve been teased long enough!
The Double O in Wappingers Falls has to be my favorite place of all time. The service is fun and hip, the food is fantastic and the restaurant is lively. Get ready Capital Region, you are about to be blown away.
... said Tracy on Nov 20, 2008 at 11:03 AM | link
A group of friends and I went to the Double O for brunch - everyone had fantastic meals and the service was sterling. We also had fun sightseeing the lunch plates that were going to other diners. We vowed to return -- great to hear that the Standard is coming to us! Can't wait.
... said Penny on Nov 20, 2008 at 12:55 PM | link
As a 845-native, it's a sin to have not been to the Everyready Diner. I've been there a ton and am thankful that they are one of the few diners down south to have vegetarian food! And its sooooo good. Strawberry butter is full of win.
... said Ellie on Nov 20, 2008 at 1:06 PM | link
To say that the Eveready is a little better than the Alexis is like saying Michael Jordan is a little taller than Gary Coleman.
Well, I didn't want to diss the Alexis, which is reliable but never fantastic, and I have only lunched at the Eveready, and it's hard to be blown away by a sandwich (unless it's an exceptional reuben) -- so if you think it's that much better, that's excellent.
Frankly, just the idea that anything that isn't a national chain is opening around here is exciting. We rarely eat at chains, but more and more that's making restaurant choices here very tough.
... said Carl on Nov 20, 2008 at 2:19 PM | link
LOVE the Eveready!
Here's my daughter on probably her second trip there (got to sit in the big seat this time!): http://flickr.com/photos/kgigante/2945298175/
My Eveready story is like this: My wife and I were dating back in college and I took her on our first road trip to NYC. We left the city very late at night and decided to take route 9 back up to see stuff. It was about 3:00am and I was dozing off at the wheel - I mean resting my eyes - I mean nodding in agreement with everything she was saying to me when, out of the blue, came this big bright glow! It was the glow of the neon from the Eveready!
The entire area was new to us and we had to go in. At about 3:00am we ate disco fries (fries with gravy and cheese), milkshakes, and burgers! Couldn't be better. Took pics with big E.D. as well (pre-digital days though)
A few weeks later we tried to take some friends down with us and we got lost. It almost was like the time that George Costanza partied in the old meat storage facility that was a niteclub and when he took Jerry there it was nothing but a meat facility!
We asked for directions and finally made it there. We've been back many times. We try to go on every trip to NYC, and also on our regular trips to the Stormville Flea Market.
There you go. I'm smiling now!
... said kmg on Nov 20, 2008 at 9:13 PM | link
I'll put the Eveready up against any diner in the Capital Region and it's not even the best diner in Dutchess County -- that honor goes to the Historic Village Diner in Red Hook and their awesome fried pickles.
That said, this is our gain that the Eveready people are opening something up in the Albany area.
And don't get me wrong. I'm with Carl: I'll take the Alexis or just about any other local joint over a national chain every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
... said Beaver on Nov 21, 2008 at 12:35 AM | link
Hey, I think komradebob is on to something. A diner competition sounds like a great idea.
... said James on Dec 8, 2008 at 8:59 PM | link
Has anyone checked this place out yet?
It looks awesome, but how's the food?!
... said Danny on Dec 9, 2008 at 11:35 AM | link