Like my previous review of Big Apple Diner, driving between Saratoga Springs and New Hampshire four different times in September also had me passing by another entry on my perennial “I should check that place out” list. In this case, it was a place in Hudson Falls on US-4 as you are heading from Fort Ann into Glens Falls/Queensbury, Sally’s Hen House.
Sally’s Hen House is a roadside diner decorated in the classic “country diner” style, which means it is loaded up with barnstars, antique signs, windmills, and other modest kitsch inside and out. A quick look at the parking lot shows that the place is popular with both locals and contractors, with a healthy crowd already starting to form when I showed up at 7am (which I mention is usually quite a good sign).
The interior is the classic diner concept of a central U-shaped serving counter and a bunch of tables around the edge of the dining room, with yet more of the antique “country” decor of outside, and the requisite chalkboard with the day’s specials. Menu-wise, it’s also classic American diner breakfast fare, with the notable exception that Sally’s Hen House is one of those places that offers two different styles of corned beef hash: both the canned stuff, and a house-made version. This always surprises me a bit, since to me the house-made stuff is pretty much always better, but I know some people like the canned stuff, so to each their own.
Since they had house-made hash, I ordered an Irish Benedict, opting to upgrade to both the house-made hash and hash browns (vs the standard home fries). This was a bit of a mixed bag. The Irish Benedict itself was incredible (probably the second-best I’ve had this year, after The Bristol Diner). Tender and flavorful corned beef and potatoes, nicely crisped on the grill, with a good spicing left. While the Hollandaise sauce was on the edge of breaking, it was very flavorful and paired nicely with the excellent hash. But I was a bit disappointed with the the hashbrown upgrade, instead of some nice shredded hash-browns, this was just pre-made patties. Decently executed, but I really like proper hashbrowns a bit more. I vowed to get the home fries instead the next time.
Which turned out to be a week later, when this time Carol and I were headed back to Saratoga Springs. She opted for the same dish I had gotten the previous week, but sticking with the home fries instead of the hash browns. The Benedict was great, but the home fries? Actually a bit more disappointing than the hash browns, since they were generally overcooked and a bit tough. Oh well, I guess the pre-formed hash brown patties were a better call.
Since I had gotten the Irish Benedict before, this time I opted for the Country Benedict, with country gravy and sausage. This generally was quite good: with a nice, rich country gravy with a lot of sausage bits in it, but like the Irish Benedict, the home fries were disappointing.
Overall, I rather liked Sally’s Hen House, and glad I had a chance to finally check it out. And the house-made corned beef hash is truly one of the in the region. But they could really work on improving the potato options, in my opinion.
