Babblers: Legit Cocktails + Kid-Friendly Eats in Windham
Babblers Restaurant at Wylder Windham caters to hotel guests with a family-friendly menu that shifts with the seasons. For locals and weekenders, their solid cocktails taste like a sip of vacation, and their simple macaroni and cheese pleases our pickiest (big) kid.
Should the microgreens pictured above frighten your littles, their kids’ menu comes with a considerate tagline: “nothin’ green on these plates!” Beige-eaters will appreciate the chicken fingers and fries, grilled cheese and chips, and pasta with butter (or tomato sauce, for the adventurous).
Over the summer, charred bread, juicy, blistered tomatoes, and melty burrata were pleasingly served in a cast iron skillet, but it looks like this is already off the menu in favor of some winter-warming fried mozzarella, which my kids will probably like even better.
With artfully arranged fresh flowers on the tables and faux newspaper swathing the well-salted, appealingly crunchy fries, Babblers feels like a higher-end resort restaurant rather than a homespun Windham spot.
The sweet and spicy Bang Bang Cauliflower, served with a smear of tahini-yogurt dip, makes a satisfying vegetarian option, and it can also be served vegan upon request.
The crisp-skinned chicken, artfully arranged with seasonal vegetables, looks and tastes like something we’d be served when visiting the in-laws in the Hamptons—and it’s priced accordingly. In Sag Harbor, a roast chicken will run you about $36, so it seems fair enough that Babblers has the dish currently priced at $27. (If you’re looking for Greene County prices bigger poultry portions, just head on over to the Chicken Run where you can get a half chicken, cornbread, and two generous sides for $18.)
One of the keystones to a destination-worthy family-friendly restaurant is a stellar cocktail list. Just like their simple, creamy mac and cheese, Babblers’ martini hits the mark. They’ve got plenty of wintery cocktails, too—and a hot toddy, a winter bramble, and a smoky paloma all sound pretty soul-warming after a day on the slopes.
Babblers is located at Wylder Windham, 19 NY-296, Windham, NY. Current restaurant hours are Wednesday through Friday 4-9pm, Saturday 12-9pm, and Sunday 12-4pm; but it’s always good to call ahead: 518-734-4510.
Wylder Hotel, Windham, NY
