With so many new spots opening around town lately, one of the most anticipated additions has been Brine & Stave, Hamilton’s newest sushi restaurant. Naturally, people were a little skeptical. After all, Hamilton, NY, isn’t exactly known for its proximity to the ocean, and fresh fish isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of upstate dining. Still, some friends and I wanted to give it a shot.
Brine & Stave is open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday and has a fairly open layout with a few larger tables that work well for groups. The space itself has potential, although there’s definitely room for more tables and, ideally, more staff. However, because the restaurant had only recently opened, we figured they were still working out the logistics. The setup was self-serve style, meaning you grab whatever rolls or items you want directly from the refrigerator case. It’s a quick and casual system that makes stopping in easy, though it does take away a bit of the full-service dining experience some people might expect. With that said, I’m sure if you made a reservation or had a larger group, using the full menu would be helpful. The dinner menu can be found here.
One of the most surprising aspects was the pricing. Compared to what you might pay at sushi restaurants in larger cities, the rolls were relatively affordable. Each roll came with 12 pieces instead of the typical 6, and most were priced around $15. For the portion size, that felt like a pretty good deal, especially for college students. As for the food itself, the fish tasted fairly fresh, which was reassuring given the location, but the rice was not traditional sushi rice. This really detracted from the overall experience.
Overall, Brine & Stave has the potential to be a solid addition to Hamilton’s growing food scene. It may not compete with high-end sushi spots in bigger cities, but for a small town, it offers some variety. Although there is room for growth, it is worth giving it a shot to support a local business.