Examiner crew test drives Uncle Mario’s Garage restaurant

One of the most frequently asked questions we get here at the Examiner is, “Where is a good place to bring the kids to eat?” When Uncle Mario’s Garage, a car-themed eatery on Route 9 opened, we knew we needed to examine it, particularly since one of the younger members of our Adventure Team is a Pixar Cars fanatic who won’t leave the house without Lighting McQueen in his pocket.

Uncle Mario’s Garage opened in June at the former Sutton’s Market Farmstead Flatbread space at 1066 State Route 9 in Queensbury. The large, airy dining room comfortably accommodated our party of 12, which included two toddlers. After the initial confusion over seating was resolved —the hostess balked at seating our whole family at one table — we settled in and were immediately greeted by very attentive bussers who filled water glasses and found a high chair for the littlest Examiner.

Nikki, our waitress, was friendly, efficient and didn’t bat an eye when we asked for separate checks. She was great with the kids and brought out their meals, mac and cheese, sliders and fries, within minutes of ordering, which kept the hungry kiddos happy while the adults enjoyed beverages from the full bar, which has a selection of craft beers and hard cider.

The automotive-themed décor, with classic car grilles bursting through the walls, a vintage gas pump with a lollypop sign and funky sculptures made for a fun atmosphere. The theme carried over to the menu with the pizzas, burgers and paninis carrying automotive names. Our table tried a variety of items including pizza, loaded mac and cheese, chicken wings and paninis. Everyone agreed the food was outstanding.

At one end of the dining room, two pizza chefs were busy sliding pies off their peels into a wood-fired oven. They looked like they were having a great time and chatted with customers as they worked. One even volunteered to take a group photo of our crew to document our dinner.

The restaurant also has a large outdoor patio with umbrella-covered tables and a patio bar, which was filled with diners enjoying the fine summer weather. As Lake George area restaurants go, the prices were competitive. We have added Uncle Mario’s Garage to our list of places to recommend when our readers ask, “Where is a good place to bring the kids to eat?”