If you remember Blessings Tavern in Colonie, New York, you may be wondering whether it is still open, what happened to the original restaurant, or where to find its menu today. The former neighborhood tavern has a new name: Blessings Family Restaurant. Although the business has changed ownership and undergone renovations, it continues at the same Watervliet Shaker Road address.
The restaurant’s story goes back to 1950. Since then, it has experienced a devastating fire, a rebuilding effort, another ownership transition, and a refreshed approach to neighborhood dining. Today, its menu combines familiar tavern favorites, including burgers and Reuben sandwiches, with Italian-inspired pasta dishes, pinsa flatbreads, seafood, and other entrées.
If you are planning a visit or simply curious about the old tavern, here is what to know about its history, current menu, prices, location, and ordering options.
Blessings Tavern: Current Restaurant Information
The former Blessings Tavern now operates as Blessings Family Restaurant in Colonie, New York. The restaurant’s official website provides its menu, online ordering information, and current business details.
- Current name: Blessings Family Restaurant
- Address: 1116 Watervliet Shaker Road, Colonie, NY 12205
- Phone: (518) 250-5051
- Official website: blessingscolonie.com
- Food options: Starters, salads, sandwiches, flatbreads, pasta, seafood, entrées, and desserts
- Online ordering: Available through the restaurant’s official website
Check the official website or call before visiting to confirm current hours, daily specials, and dish availability. Restaurant schedules and menus can change.
What Happened to Blessings Tavern?
Blessings Tavern did not simply disappear. It passed through several chapters, and its current name reflects the latest stage in that history.
1. The Restaurant Opened in 1950
Ed Blessing founded the tavern in 1950. Over the following decades, it became a familiar neighborhood gathering place where customers could meet friends, enjoy a meal, and spend time at the bar.
In 2001, Blessing sold the business to Elizabeth Altrock, a longtime employee who had worked there since 1983. Her connection to the tavern was personal as well as professional, and she became closely associated with the restaurant’s identity.
2. A Devastating Fire in 2016
In October 2016, a vehicle crashed into the tavern, triggering a fire that destroyed the building. The incident interrupted the restaurant’s long history and left its future uncertain.
Rather than ending the business permanently, the disaster became the beginning of a rebuilding effort.
3. The Tavern Reopened in 2019
After the building was reconstructed, Blessings Tavern reopened in December 2019. Former customers returned to see the rebuilt restaurant and reconnect with a place they remembered.
The reopening showed how much the tavern meant to its regular patrons. Its familiar name and neighborhood connections remained important even though the building had changed.
4. New Owners Introduced Blessings Family Restaurant in 2025
After Elizabeth Altrock died in late 2022, her nephew Wade Bennett managed the business before selling it to Sean Willcoxon and Bill Miller in December 2024.
The new owners renovated the restaurant and reopened it as Blessings Family Restaurant in January 2025. Their approach was to refresh the dining experience while preserving recognizable elements of the tavern’s legacy.
The name change matters for anyone searching for the old restaurant today: the current business is listed as Blessings Family Restaurant, not simply Blessings Tavern.
Blessings Tavern Menu: What Can You Order Today?
The current menu brings together traditional American tavern food and Italian-inspired dishes. The following selections and prices are taken from the restaurant’s online menu; prices and availability may change.
1. Appetizers and Starters
If you are dining with friends or family, the starters offer several choices for sharing.
- Saratoga Chips — $9: House-fried chips with garlic, Parmesan, blue cheese crumbles, tomatoes, green onions, and balsamic drizzle.
- Spinach and Artichoke Dip — $12: A familiar creamy appetizer.
- Pretzels with Short Rib Beer Cheese — $13: Warm pretzel bites served with short rib beer cheese.
- Meatball and Ricotta — $14: House-made meatballs with whipped ricotta, marinara, and crusty bread.
- Fried Mozzarella Rounds — $14: Panko-crusted mozzarella with marinara.
These are useful starting points if your group wants to share a few dishes before ordering individual meals.
2. Burgers and Sandwiches
The sandwich menu keeps the traditional tavern feel alive with familiar choices and more distinctive combinations.
- Blessings Burger — $20: A half-pound Angus beef burger with cheddar, maple bacon, fried onions, and signature sauce.
- The Reuben — $18: Corned beef brisket, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and sauce on grilled marble rye.
- French Dip — $21: Slow-roasted prime rib with caramelized onions and Swiss cheese, served with au jus.
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich — $18: Grilled chicken with whipped ricotta, arugula, roasted red peppers, and red onion.
- Buffalo Chicken Wrap — $17: Crispy chicken tossed in buffalo sauce with lettuce, tomato, and blue cheese dressing.
If you are visiting because you remember the original tavern’s classic menu, the burger, Reuben, and French dip are useful places to start.
3. Pinsa Flatbreads
One of the more distinctive features of the current restaurant is its pinsa selection. Pinsa is an Italian-style flatbread with an elongated shape and a crust made using a different dough method from conventional pizza.
The restaurant’s menu includes these options:
- Cheese Pinsa — $15
- Margherita Pinsa — $16
- Classic Pepperoni Pinsa — $17
- Meatball Parm Pinsa — $17
- Fig and Goat Cheese Pinsa — $17
- Blessings Pinsa — $18
The toppings range from familiar cheese and pepperoni to combinations involving meatballs, goat cheese, fig jam, and balsamic glaze. That variety makes pinsa an option for diners who want something different from a conventional sandwich or pasta dish.
4. Pasta and Italian-Inspired Dishes
The restaurant’s “Mom’s Kitchen” section features family-style recipes and house-made sauces.
Some listed dishes include:
- Penne alla Vodka — $19: Penne with creamy vodka sauce and warm garlic bread.
- Penne and Meatballs — $22: Penne tossed in homemade marinara with house-made meatballs.
- Chicken Maria — $23: Pan-fried chicken cutlet with arugula, red onion, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and lemon.
- Chicken Parmesan — $24: Chicken cutlet with marinara, melted mozzarella, and penne pasta.
- Chicken Marsala — $24: Chicken with mushrooms and Marsala sauce, served with pasta or rice pilaf and vegetables.
These dishes provide alternatives to the tavern’s more traditional sandwiches and appetizers.
5. Seafood and Other Main Courses
For a full dinner, the online menu includes seafood and more substantial entrées.
- Fish and Chips — $22: Battered haddock with seasoned fries, coleslaw, and tartar sauce.
- Bourbon Brown Sugar Salmon — $25: Pan-seared salmon with a sweet glaze, a choice of side, and vegetables.
- Lemon Garlic Jumbo Shrimp — $26: Grilled shrimp with lemon butter, a choice of side, and vegetables.
- Beef Tenderloin Medallions — $32: Three grilled tenderloin medallions with chimichurri, crispy onions, a choice of side, and vegetables.
These prices reflect the menu listings reviewed for this article, not a guarantee of what will be charged during a future visit.
6. Salads and Lighter Options
The menu also includes salads for diners looking for something lighter.
Examples include a classic Caesar salad, House Italian Salad, Beet and Arugula Salad, Salmon Salad, and Blessings Wedge Salad. Ingredients and prices differ by dish, so consult the current menu if you have particular dietary needs.
7. Desserts
The listed dessert options include:
- Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie with Vanilla Ice Cream — $8
- Peanut Butter Explosion — $10
- Carrot Cake — $10
A dessert can round out a family meal, but check availability before visiting if you have a specific favorite in mind.
Does Blessings Family Restaurant Still Have the Old Tavern Favorites?
Yes. The current menu retains several familiar tavern-style options, including burgers, wings, Reuben sandwiches, and French dip sandwiches. At the same time, it introduces a wider selection of Italian-inspired dishes, flatbreads, seafood, and entrées.
In reporting published in August 2025, the Times Union described the new restaurant as an attempt to balance the legacy of the original business with a more modern neighborhood dining experience. The owners aimed to keep at least half of the menu rooted in the tavern’s previous offerings, while the new kitchen introduced additional dishes.
For former customers, that means the current restaurant is connected to the old tavern but is not an exact recreation of its former menu.
How to Visit or Order from Blessings Family Restaurant
If you want to visit the former tavern, use the current business name when searching for directions or restaurant information.
The website provides menu and online ordering options. Its ordering pages indicate pickup service, so confirm the available arrangements if you need delivery or are planning a larger order.
Before setting out, it is worth checking three things:
- Opening hours: Confirm the hours for your intended day rather than relying on an old listing.
- Current menu and prices: Daily specials, seasonal dishes, and individual prices may change.
- Dietary requirements: Ask the restaurant directly about allergens, substitutions, and preparation methods if these affect your meal.
These small checks can prevent confusion, particularly if you have not visited since the restaurant changed ownership.
Why Blessings Tavern Still Matters to Colonie
The history of Blessings Tavern is more than a story about a restaurant changing its name. It reflects the way a neighborhood business can become part of local memory.
Founded in 1950, the tavern survived a major fire and returned after rebuilding. Later, another ownership transition brought renovations and a new menu. Through these changes, the restaurant’s connection to its original location remained part of its identity.
The current Blessings Family Restaurant combines that history with a broader menu and an updated dining space. For longtime customers, the connection to the old tavern remains relevant. For first-time visitors, the present-day menu offers a way to get to know the business on its own terms.
If you are searching for Blessings Tavern today, the most useful next step is to explore Blessings Family Restaurant’s current menu and confirm its details before visiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blessings Tavern still open?
The original tavern name has been replaced by Blessings Family Restaurant. The current business operates at 1116 Watervliet Shaker Road in Colonie, New York. Check its official website for current operating details.
What is Blessings Tavern called now?
It is now called Blessings Family Restaurant. The restaurant reopened under that name in January 2025 following an ownership change and renovations.
Where is Blessings Family Restaurant located?
The address is 1116 Watervliet Shaker Road, Colonie, NY 12205. Its listed phone number is (518) 250-5051.
What happened to the original Blessings Tavern?
The tavern was destroyed by a fire in October 2016 after a vehicle crashed into the building. It reopened in a rebuilt building in December 2019, then changed ownership and became Blessings Family Restaurant in 2025.
What kind of food does Blessings Family Restaurant serve?
Its menu includes starters, salads, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, pinsa flatbreads, pasta, seafood, other entrées, and desserts. The current selection is broader than a traditional tavern menu.
How much does a meal cost at Blessings Family Restaurant?
Prices vary by dish. The menu reviewed for this article lists starters at approximately $9–$14, several sandwiches at $17–$21, pasta dishes at $19–$24, and selected entrées at $22–$32. These are menu examples, not a fixed meal budget; sides, drinks, tax, and specials may affect the total.
Can I order food online?
The restaurant provides online ordering through its official website. Its online ordering pages list pickup service. Check the website for the latest ordering options and availability.
Where can I find the current Blessings Tavern menu?
Visit the official Blessings Family Restaurant menu. This is the best starting point for current listed dishes and prices.
Conclusion
Blessings Tavern holds a special place in Colonie, New York, thanks to its long history and connection with the local community. Although the original tavern has evolved into Blessings Family Restaurant, its story continues through a menu that brings together familiar American favorites and newer dishes. Whether you are a former customer hoping to revisit a familiar place or a first-time visitor exploring local dining options, learning about its history makes the experience more meaningful.
Before visiting, check the official Blessings Family Restaurant website for the latest menu, prices, hours, and ordering options. The restaurant’s journey from its 1950 beginnings to its current chapter reflects its lasting place in the Colonie dining scene.
DISCOVER MORE ARTICLES
African American Tuesday Blessings GIFs to Share
Encouragement African American Wednesday Blessings 2026
God’s Blessings: Quotes, Bible Verses, and Prayers
Shahzad is the Founder of BlessDiary, sharing Christian prayers, blessings, Bible-based encouragement, and inspiring messages to strengthen faith and bring hope to everyday life.
