First Look: The Patio at Doc's

Have you been to Doc’s? It’s just downstairs at The Park Theater, and the cozy atmosphere and great food had us there often this winter. And well, who can resist the pub mix they have at the bar?!

That said, our visits there are about to get even more frequent as their patio just opened for the season! Once we saw the umbrellas peeking out from behind the hedges on Park Street, we could barely wait to pop in to check it out.

The moment we sat down, we felt like we were in a little oasis in the heart of downtown. Surrounded by greenery and planters overflowing with flowers (with lights strung up overhead for summer nights!), we immediately knew this was going to be amongst our summer favorites.

What really sold us, though, was the food. Okay, and the drinks! While we started with our usuals - an IPA for Tom and a glass of rosé for Bri, we couldn’t resist sampling this beautiful (and delicious!) gin sour cocktail.

Back to the food! We started with calamari, which is always a win, and avocado fries. Not sure how we didn’t know that avocado fries were a thing, but after devouring them (and that delish cajun ranch dipping sauce) within minutes, it’s clear we’ll be starting with these from now on, too.

We loved the veggie cauliflower crust pizza (with chimichurri, spinach, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, etc.), and we were so psyched to hear that there are plans in the works for a rooftop garden above The Park - it doesn’t get much more local than that for fresh herbs and veggies! The pesto grilled chicken sandwich looked amazing as well, and you just can’t beat their hand cut fries. A couple other favorites? We love the Impossible Burger (fellow vegetarians, you must try it!), and the Doc’s Grilled Cheese with mushrooms, red peppers, and avocado is always high on our list.

Finally, there’s always room for dessert, and it turns out their ice cream sandwiches are a work of art. The flavor of the day was raspberry white chocolate between shortbread cookies, and it was the perfect end to a sunny afternoon.

Chef Jessica Hoy and Doc’s Restaurant Manager Alexandra Fracchia

Will we see you there this summer? We’ll be the ones hogging all of the ice cream sandwiches ;)

P.S. In case you missed it, a first look at another new downtown restaurant here.

First Look: The Exchange

We know we weren’t the only ones who were bummed when we heard the news that Rock Hill Bakehouse Cafe downtown would be closing, and we definitely weren’t the only ones who were all the more excited when we learned that the cafe would live on under new ownership as The Exchange! After seeing the (super cute) new logo go up on the windows a couple weeks back, we couldn’t wait to pop in and see what was new.

We got to chat with the new owners, Sara and Chris Patten, and learned that Rock Hill had always been a favorite lunch spot for them. In fact, Sara had always wanted to open a cafe, but found it hard to justify since she would have just rather gone to Rock Hill to eat! :) We love that they kept the menu choices (and staff!) that made everyone love Rock Hill, while adding their own special touch. Sara’s love for cooking was easy to see, and she’s proud to offer a menu with a focus on fresh, quality food that makes you feel good (case in point: so many great salads and new dressings!).

The space is still cozy and welcoming, with new windows, updated decor, and fresh flowers adding a light and bright feel. And while the stage is gone (making room for some more seating!), it was fun to see that they kept the floor boards as decor for the wall! We hear they have even more renovations in store next year, and we can’t wait to see the changes they continue to make to the space.

So - the food! We grabbed a sunny table next to the window and quickly ordered the yogurt parfait (with honey, fruit, and local granola - so good!). I had to get the Rise and Shine Toast after seeing a photo of it on their Instagram (a drizzle of olive oil, hummus, avocado, tomato and an over easy egg on toast) - and it was everything I hoped for and more. Tom got the Veggie Breakfast Panini, and we spent the next 5 minutes passing it back and forth, fighting over who got the last bite (you can’t beat that perfectly toasted bread!). We couldn’t leave without sampling the soups (with a soup sampler, of course!), and the rumors are true - they are the best. Our favorite was the Broccoli Cheddar Tomato (we went back for more the next day!), but the Curried Cauliflower was amazing and for the meat eaters out there, the Buffalo Chicken smelled awesome. Also, they do catering and takeout. Backyard picnic anyone? Yes, please!

See you at The Exchange! We’ll be the ones eating all the soup. Oh! And they’re going to be open on Saturdays starting April 29 (in addition to Monday - Friday) - a new weekend brunch spot!

Sara Patten outside The Exchange Cafe

P.S. In case you missed it, a First Look at another new downtown restaurant - [farmacy].

First Look: [farmacy]

We were so happy to see that [farmacy] opened its doors downtown this week! You might recognize those brackets around the name from sister restaurant, [forged] in Hudson Falls. While we’ve not yet made it to [forged], we’ve heard such great things and couldn’t wait to see AJ and Christina Richards’ newest venture.

Located in the Lapham and Parks building on Ridge, the owners are big fans of history and charm, and we love that they took the time to both preserve and restore the character in the space (which was an old feed store!). Double doors open to the alley on the side, where horse drawn wagons used to pull up to load feed, and we’ve got our fingers crossed that the outdoor seating that’s been proposed for the alley will be approved - would be so much fun this summer!

Back inside, the original hardwood floors and tin ceiling have been preserved, and there are thoughtful touches throughout - from the dinner plates found in antique stores, to the vintage inspired lighting, and vignettes with old books and postcards. There are three great spaces to enjoy - the chef’s table/bar up front where you can watch the food being prepared, a second low-key bar in the center, and a cozy space in the back with bench seating.

And the food! We grabbed a few small plates along with drinks at the bar - the shishito peppers are always a win with us (and these are prepared with brown butter and ginger beer aioli!), and since Tom is a big bread guy, we had to go for the house sourdough with pink butter and himalayan salt - so good! The vegetables though (pictured below) are a work of art and might have been the favorite - the cider poached carrots were perfection. We’re excited to head back again soon to check out the rest of the menu!

Until next time, [farmacy]!

P.S. More things to do here.