A short drive up the Northway, just off exit 19 in Queensbury, NY, sits a hidden gem restaurant and country store that the owner literally built with his own two hands–The Silo.
If walls could talk, The Silo Restaurant and Country Store would have quite the history to share. Most people don’t know that the silo itself was actually transported to its current location from a real, working farm in Saratoga County!
The original 14-by-35-foot silo was formerly used to house corn silage on a Gansevoort farm before a local man (and now Silo owner) Harry Troelstra dreamed up a vision to repurpose it along with two local barns that had fallen into disrepair. Troelstra was involved in the reconstruction process from beginning to end. A crane loaded the silo onto a flatbed trailer for transport, and the two 19th century barns (one from Saratoga County, one from Washington County) were disassembled piece by piece and cut to size. Soon, they would all be united in Queensbury for a new life.
The silo was reconstructed with the two barns built up around it in 1982, and The Silo Country Store was born. At first, there was just a small area for breakfast and lunch, but as the popularity of its food grew, The Silo saw a series of changes to make room for more dining space, and the name officially became The Silo Restaurant and Country Store.
Driving by, you might pass over this unassuming, rustic wooden barn and silo without a second thought, but ask the locals, and you’ll quickly realize you need to stop in to check it out.
In the parking lot, the aroma of freshly made cider doughnuts greets you as you make your way to the door. Made fresh 7 days a week, the Silo’s cider doughnuts were introduced less than two years ago, but they have already made a big name for themselves. Your nose will tell you they are a “must-try” treat at the Silo.
Probably best known for their “hands down best breakfast around,” The Silo also serves a great lunch starting at 11am with homemade soups, thick sandwiches, salads, burgers and more… but really, you want to try the breakfast everybody talks about. They serve their famous, consistently good breakfast all day long (7am-3pm), and when they say breakfast, they mean breakfast. They give generous portions, and it’s always good!
The omelets are stuffed generously with your choice of over 20 fillers, from traditional meats, veggies and cheeses to unique options like jalapenos, salsa, sour cream, black olives, cream cheese, asparagus and others.
Their pancakes are as big as your face, and their Belgian waffles are also gigantic (make sure to request the pure maple syrup!). You have your choice of hearty breakfast sandwiches and other country breakfast favorites like biscuits and gravy, bacon and eggs, home fries, corned beef hash, and on and on.
It’s the kind of food that makes you close your eyes, pause and savor the experience, from your first bite to your last.
But it’s not just the amazing food that makes this place an instant favorite. With so many treasures waiting to be discovered, the Silo’s country store is a hidden gem in its own right. As you browse three different floors of country home furnishings and unique gifts, you’ll come across what seems like, seriously, everything. With something new and unusual around every turn, it’s the perfect place to accidentally spend the entire afternoon.
A trip through the country store usually looks something like this…
One minute you’re browsing locally made gourmet foods, and the next you find yourself at the jewelry counter admiring some hard-to-come-by jewelry lines (Silo is an exclusive local retailer of Ed Levin and Uno de 50 jewelry).
Suddenly, a fun pattern catches your eye, and you head over to explore a corner full of clothing, jackets and purses… and then, oooh you spot something on the upper level.
Your journey continues to lead you from nook to nook as teddy bears, loons, owls and moose watch you from the covers of books, calendars, pillows and other Adirondack themed gifts along the way.
Finally, the smell of homemade sweets is too much to bear, and you make a bee line for the candy counter to get a free fudge sample. Speaking of bees, you wonder if that local honey would help your seasonal allergies… and before you know it, you’re lured back into more discoveries.
As you shop or dine at The Silo, you can’t help but admire the hand-hewn, wooden barn beams, wagon wheel decor and other authentic touches that lend to the rustic old fashioned feel of the place.
The country appeal and farming history of the region is literally ingrained in the atmosphere of this unique establishment, with an owner who was bold enough years ago to breathe new life into some tired old barns. Who knows, maybe he has something in mind for the beloved old Keene NY barn that is crumbling?
The Silo Restaurant and Country Store certainly offers an escape from the everyday hustle and bustle, a country setting where you can slow down and enjoy life. We highly recommend this hidden gem, where you won’t find inflated prices or cut corners, just plenty of old fashioned, honest-to-goodness food and service with a friendly smile.
