Most often, when one looks for eateries in the region that are outside of Troy, one goes across the river. However, there are a few places to the east of our fair city that deserve attention as well; some of them are among the region’s top restaurants. And so, based partially on a reader’s recommendation, my dining companion and I headed for Styx on Route 2 in Brunswick.
Built in the 1800s, the building originally served as a stagecoach stop for travellers heading to and from Troy. It has been remodeled many times since then, but one can easily imagine that the large bar in the front of the restaurant has been a permanent fixture throughout.
The place was hopping on a Thursday night, and service was fairly slow as a result. We were seated promptly enough, but then we had plenty of time to peruse the menus and contemplate how thirsty we were. Eventually a waitress, who was about to breeze by, paused to ask if we were being served, and she went and found our waitress to take our order.
The fare is standard "American" fare—steaks, chicken dishes, pasta dishes, seafood, and sandwiches. Selection is somewhat limited, with about 20 options total, plus appetizers, and the prices are average: $12-20 for most entrees, with some smaller dishes for $7-10.
Our drinks came back with our order of garlic bread, which was good but kind of skimpy for the price (five bucks). Additionally, my companion’s meal came with a trip to the salad bar, and that turned out to be pretty sad, too—while there were plenty of dressings, there were no toppings (olives, bacon bits, etc.) to speak of.
The entrees arrived fairly quickly—before, in fact, we had finished the garlic bread. My companion opted for baked lasagna, and she was quite pleased with it; the marinara sauce was particularly good. Unable to hold out until Thanksgiving, I got an open-faced hot turkey sandwich. It came with mashed potatoes and the entire plate was smothered in gravy, and while it didn’t hold a candle to my mother’s cooking (of course), my taste buds and I were still thoroughly satisfied with the meal. The only problem was that once we had finished we had a significant wait until our waitress came by to drop off our check.
The verdict: Styx serves up some solid main courses, but don’t go there if you’re in a rush.
To get to Styx, go a few blocks south of campus until you hit Route 2 (Congress Street). Take 2 east out of Troy—you won’t hit another traffic light until after Pawling Avenue (about five miles). Go straight at that light, and Styx will be about another half-mile on the right side, just past a soccer complex.
