Gourmet Cafe

185 Glen Street, in downtown Glens Falls, an easy walk from the Hyde Collection and the Park Theater. Chef-Owner Francis Willis runs the kitchen with his wife Tracy on the front of house. Francis brings 20-plus years in the restaurant business and a working point of view about fine food and wine, which shows up on the menu rather than in the marketing. The menu rotates and is built around creative plates rather than a fixed list of bistro standards. Pasta Night is the chef's signature on the regular calendar, the dish to order on a first visit. The room is small and the cooking is unhurried, which matters more than the address suggests. Open Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., closed Sunday. Online ordering, gift cards, and party platter delivery available for events. Best for downtown workers on a long lunch and Glens Falls residents who want a chef-driven dinner without the drive to Saratoga.