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When asked how he came to own the restaurant, Joe Gleason simply says, “I was driving by one day… and it was for sale.” The owner of The Ripe Tomato in Malta, NY paints an interesting story of how he launched the quaint upstate New York restaurant after noticing a “For Sale” sign one day while passing through the town. He also reminisces on his almost 55 years in the food industry having started as a mere dishwasher in Manhattan and purchasing his first of 14 restaurants after only a few short years in the food service industry and with no experience in the “front-of-the-house”.

“I started as a dishwasher and hadn’t even so much as bartended prior to the opening night of my own first restaurant, “TJW Gleason’s” in Manhattan,” says Gleason. “I recall that Gin & Tonics were only 75 cents back then and a Whiskey Sour was 85 cents. After a week of trying to keep up with all the varying drink prices, I just decided to make everything $1.00.” Gleason opened that first restaurant & tavern in 1960 and it quickly became the jewel of its Manhattan neighborhood, its popularity proven by its mention in a June 6, 1977 supplement of New York Magazine called ”Columbus Avenue, Rebirth of a Vibrant Street” which included a write-up of TJWs. Gleason’s other successful restaurants over the span of his career have resided in NYC, New Jersey, Florida, St. Croix and right here in beautiful upstate, NY where his remaining restaurant resides: The Ripe Tomato in Malta, NY.

The Ripe Tomato in Malta, now in its 15th year of service was once called the “Elm Tree Tavern” but after experiencing a difficult start, Mr. Gleason was ready to put the restaurant back on the market after only two years of business until his wife, Lynn suggested that they first try to rename the establishment and roll-it out with a new theme, tomatoes! A grand reopening was planned to resurrect the struggling restaurant and on its opening day, the Ripe Tomato stopped traffic on busy Route 9 in Malta when an elephant named “Beulah” graced the parking lot to encourage visitors into its doors. Yes, the couple had cleverly rented a mammoth pachyderm to market the business and had adorned her with a saddle covered in tomatoes. Beulah was a big success and brought not only passing visitors but also a slew of media attention to the newly named restaurant. “Business tripled after that and it’s been a successful business for us ever since” says Gleason.

Today, the Ripe Tomato stands proudly on a strip of Route 9 conveniently located about half way between Saratoga Springs and Clifton Park, NY. Its inviting red glow and big country farmhouse feel continues to beckon visitors inside (even without Beulah pacing the parking lot).

Inside, checkered tablecloths continue the country-feel and smells from the kitchen coupled with unique wall art that incorporates big bright tomatoes into famous works of art (such as the Mona Lisa and American Gothic by Grant Wood), all designed by Lynn; complete the comfortable, warm atmosphere.

Although Gleason’s early restaurants served a limited menu of burgers and pub fare, the Ripe Tomato boasts an extensive menu that is a mixture of American country fare and Italian classics. House Specials on the menu include a Cedar Salmon dish served over a cedar plank for unique flavoring and a Shrimp and Scallop Bisque touted as having been voted the “Best Soup in Saratoga”. The restaurant also offers an extensive wine list and any patron should be sure to leave enough room for one of their incredible homemade desserts. Homemade pumpkin pie was the temptation on the day that this writer visited the establishment.

Gleason and the restaurant’s managing partner, Mr. Milan Vesic welcome patrons to come in for any occasion from a weekday family dinner to a romantic dinner for two or for any special occasion. They say that their ultimate goal is to leave every customer feeling, “full and happy” and my visit did just that!

Taunia Kipp is an independent Business Author and the Chief Operating Officer for Mountain Media, a privately held corporation located in Saratoga Springs, NY. The company’s proprietary eCommerce management platform, known as “Mountain Commerce” was named to Practical eCommerce magazine’s list of notable shopping cart solutions in late 2007. Additionally, the company offers a full compliment of commercial Web services such as Search Engine Marketing, Graphic Design, Web Hosting and Merchant Services.

Learn more at: www.mountainmedia.com
Visit The Ripe Tomato, Malta, NY

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New York City is known as a city that never sleeps. There are huge variety of restaurants operating 24 hours and 7 days a week. All types of restaurants in NYC can be found. Sushi, dim sum to hot dogs and donuts are available in the New York City.

In New York City there is wide variety of restaurants for you to be able to enjoy a great meal. It’s a home of some of the world’s greatest restaurants. Whether you want a fancy expensive dinning or just some delicious pizzas you can find it available in NYC at any time.

South street seaport is a popular tourist destination. There are a wide variety of restaurants here and you can enjoy the meal avoiding the usual neighborhoods tourist traps.

NYC is a great place to enjoy delicious Pizzas. If you ever visit New York do not miss trying out the delicious pizzas.

Steaks hmm yummy the juicy porterhouse or New York strip steak the NYC steakhouses offer a delicious steak options. You can find the old NYC style to the trendy steak house restaurants in NYC for everyone to enjoy.

You can take your kids too, there are restaurants in NYC for families too and you have a great number of choices of these restaurants to choose from.

Restaurants in NYC also offer fantastic Prix-fixe lunches without pinching your purse. There are some outstanding restaurants to choose from. You can save money and still dine on the tasty and delicious variety of cuisines in these budgeted restaurants.

There are  restaurants in NYC Chinatown who offer delicious food at affordable prices. The food is suitable to all sizes of groups as well as families with children. You can find countless options which include restaurants that serve Cantonese, Sichuan and Shanghai cuisines here in Chinatown.

There are restaurants in NYC called the pre-theater restaurants. You can enjoy your meal and get on in time for your Broadway show. Some of these Pre-theater restaurants offer prix-fixe menus allowing you to enjoy a meal at a reasonable price.

Restaurants in NYC give you a great option of restaurants for breakfast. You can avoid the mediocre meals. You have options from bagels and lox to dim sum and everything in between. Do check out these restaurants to enjoy the great New York breakfast.

Restaurant in NYC including Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan offer vegan friendly dinning and the vegetarian restaurants with vegan options ranges from street carts to sophisticated restaurants.

Author provides information about restaurants in nyc , Restaurants In NYC and top rates restaurants in new york.

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Prepare to dine “under the sea” at this gourmet seafood dining location and live on the edge of a living coral reef! This dining location is located at “The Living Seas with Nemo and Friends.” From the entrance, continue past Spaceship Earth and turn right after the Innoventions Plaza, before the fountain. Continue until you pass under the building overhang and then make the first right and continue until you see the blue building of the Living Seas.

This extraordinary dining location has an aquarium wall with 8 foot high windows with incredible views of the underwater life. Seating is tiered which assures everyone is able to see this aquatic display. Lighting is subdued and the interior is decorated in soothing shades of blue and green which enhance the underwater effect. In addition to freshly prepared seafood, meat, chicken and vegetarian selections are offered.

Both lunch and dinner is served at this dining location and the Coral Reef has an extensive selection of menu items to choose from. Appetizer selections give you chilled shrimp, New England Cod Cake and Sea Land which is grilled shrimp with cucumber salad and barbecued beef skewer with creamy Polenta.

Lunch entrees offer you grilled pork chops, blackened catfish, grilled New York strip steak, lobster salad, grilled mahimahi, grilled chicken breast, bbq salmon sandwich, Caesar salad, pesto risotto and pan seared tilapia. Lunch desserts offer citrus creme brulee, Bavarian cheesecake, the chocolate wave and Bailey’s and Jack Daniel’s Mousse. Drinks include: non-alcoholic specialty drinks and a selection of bottled beer, draft beer, half bottles of wine, martinis, specialty drinks and wines by the glass.

Dinner entrees include: pan-seared Ahi tuna, seared sterling salmon, shrimp pasta, grilled pork chops, grilled chicken breast, grilled New York strip steak, pesto risotto, blackened catfish and grilled mahi-mahi.

Appetizers, desserts and drinks are all the same for lunch and dinner. Lunch hours are from 12pm until 3pm and dinner hours are from 4:30pm until 8pm. Menu items are under $35.00 per person. Remember that prices and menu items are subject to change at any time.

This is the perfect restaurant to dine at in Disney World if you’re looking for fresh seafood and a real idea of what the ocean life is really like.

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