What else is there to do after feeding all 100+ Syracuse University football players and staff lunch but to drive two hours on backroads to Sacket’s Harbor and visit a restaurant you haven’t been to since Covid lockdowns lifted? The Whiskey Coop has yet to disappoint and this was my third time there (Chelsea’s fourth) and Chelsea was looking at their menu online, saw corn fritters and said we were going. Happy spouse, happy house. So off we went, taking the scenic route because highways suck and even in the midst of a monsoon it was still a pretty drive.
We aren’t always the smartest people and didn’t make a reservation for dinner for two on Labor Day weekend and the day before a marathon was set in town, so we had a 20ish minute wait but it wasn’t a problem for us. Once we got seated, we ordered drinks and our appetizer immediately: corn fritters over creamy lemon goat cheese with hot honey. Our waitress (who’s name escapes me unfortunately) was absolutely wonderful and quick to answer questions and accommodate any modifications since Chelsea wasn’t sure she would be able to survive the hot honey, so we asked for it on the side. The fritters arrived very quickly and set the tone for the rest of our meal immediately. The fritters themselves were simple little fried corn nuggets, but the creamy lemon goat cheese was otherworldly. An ever-present but not overwhelming punch of lemon coupled with the briney sourness of goat cheese whipped into a creamy sauce was perfect. Pair it with the sweet and savory corn and some hot honey with just the right amount of kick and we knew we were in for a great dinner from the first bite if our entrées were this good.
Chelsea ordered a Waldorf chicken salad sandwich, which may seem simple and generic, but the Coop put their own spin on a classic. Cider aioli with celery, onion, pickled red grapes and candied pecans mixed with hand-pulled chicken and served with shredded romaine lettuce on a griddled roll. The flavors were all simple but folded together nicely and it was a nice twist on a common chicken salad. We both felt that if we had to nitpick it could have used a touch more cider in the aioli, but it didn’t NEED it. Add a side of hand-cut French fries and a ramekin of the lemon goat cheese because Chelsea loved it so much she asked for more and I found myself sitting across from a very happy wife.
I asked for our waitresses opinion between two sandwiches and she recommended the “What’s the Capital of Thailand,” Coconut-crusted CFC (Coop Fried Chicken), cilantro aioli, sliced cucumber, Thai chilis, lime and peanut sauce. Normally I would go for a Nashville Hot or some other spicy, Asian-inspired chicken, but something about this stood out as a new option. The chicken was insane. Crunchy and just enough coconut flavor to let you know it’s there, a nice amount of light and flavorful cilantro aioli, crispy cucumber, a bright and refreshing Asian slaw with a touch of Thai chili peppers mixed in and peanut sauce with a gentle kick, this was a departure from my usual fare of face-melting fried chicken. Even my dancing-in-her-seat-with-joy wife who typically doesn’t go for the more exotic Asian foods took a couple bites and loved it. So much flavor and crunch packed into a lovely chicken sandwich, I’m extremely glad our waitress said to give it a shot because of how unique it was. I also had a side of hand-cut fries, but if you are expecting crispy crunchy fries with these you’re going to be disappointed. Lightly oily, a little soft and sprinkled with high flake salt, they paired nicely with both sandwiches.
Feeling satisfied but also curiously adventurous, we even went for a dessert to share. Once Chelsea heard about the Derby Pie, which was described as a weird mashup between a cookie cake and a pie topped with ice cream, she was sold. A generously sized piece of pie, this warm and gooey over-sized cookie was delicious. Then you add in the surprise of not vanilla ice cream but popcorn flavored ice cream on top and it was just a wild ride with each bite. Sweet, savory, creamy, gooey and warm all at once, it was an interesting combination to say the least.
So far the Whiskey Coop holds its streak of undefeated meals for us. I do know I have to stop sharing all of our hidden gems for everyone to go try otherwise they aren’t going to be so hidden and secretive any longer, but at the same time I feel like the Whiskey Coop is far enough out that it’s off the radar for most. But if you are feeling adventurous and want to get your hands on some of the best fried chicken you can get north of the Mason Dixon line, take the drive up to Sacket’s Harbor and give ’em a shot. At the very least you’ll get to see a quaint little town at the east shore of Lake Ontario and have a scenic drive up.
214 ½ W. Main Street
Sackets Harbor, New York 13685
(315) 646-6006