Chieftans Restaurant & Bar

Saw this place when taking my daughter back for the spring semester and when I found myself back a few days later with forgotten items, we decided to try it for dinner — we are glad we did. Loved the décor — large bar, tiled floor by bar, saloon doors to family friendly dining room, cozy pub chairs — great décor. Friendly waitress. I had the sirloin steak which rested atop vegetables and mashed potatoes — very well made — lovely presentation. My daughter had the vegetable tagliatelle with shrimp and loved that, bringing some back to campus for tomorrow. Pub menu with some more upscale options as well — you can get everything from wings and burgers and sandwiches to salads to steaks and fish and chips. This was a nice surprise and definitely one worth trying. Food took a little while to come out — bar area was busy but dining room was not at 8 pm on a Tuesday. Be back soon! One thought — bread plates were on table but no bread offered — was that a miss? Several have mentioned the brown bread… hmmmm– oh well, no biggie I can’t eat it anyway but my daughter would have loved it

I am a local and here a lot. It’s my favorite local spot, but I’ll stick to the pros and cons format plus lots of pictures.
Pros:
— the gorgeous guilt stocked bar with Smithwick’s and Guinness in tap
— the décor, it’s a beautiful remodel
— when the food is good, it’s REALLY good (the roast beef sandwich and burgers are spot on delicious)
— the cook … nothing had been over or under cooked
— nice, varied menu (including dessert), but not too much to get lost in, which I like
— both male bartenders, they’re top notch with customer service
— the brown bread is sensational
— they offer off-​street parking
— there’s public wi-​fi you can access inside the restaurant
— owner always on premise s and checking on customers
Cons:
— putting cilantro, raw red onion, and raw tomatoes on almost everything (even onion rings!). It tastes terrible on hot dishes and masks the flavor of what you WANT to eat!
— letting a young female family member use booths just to have loud phone conversations in the bar area
— the shepherd’s pie is not a true shepherd’s pie and needs some work (again with the raw veg all over it)
— waitresses seem a bit green to service (you’re either rushed or forgotten and have to ask for more drinks)
— the steaks and mashed have no seasoning (salt or pepper)
Still, it’s great if you’re avoiding the college crowd and love a nice bar with good food.

What a great find! My pan seared salmon with risotto was fantastic and my boyfriend’s cottage pie was wonderful. We sat at the bar, learned a little bit about the area, listened to some great tunes on the jukebox, and enjoyed conversation with a cute young couple. You must go here. It’s only been open a couple months. We just moved to the area from Austin, TX and miss the food scene. This place rules!

The idea that you needed to make a reservation for a Cobleskill restaurant was laughable — but after three meals at Chieftains we understand why.
This is a pub worthy of a big city. After several small coffee shops came and went over a decade, the folks at Chieftains went all out in their reinvention of the space. Chandeliers, warm wood, a rich feel like the best brew emporiums all contribute to a more upscale feel than Cobleskill is used to. The food is superbly cooked, whimsically presented, and the portions reasonably generous without being overwhelming a la Denny’s or a typical diner. We have had a number of items: burgers (juicy, perfectly cooked); fish and chips (my husband says it’s the best he has EVER eaten); cottage pie, shepherd’s pie and bangers and mash, all specific Irish/​UK specialties; the justly-​praised BLT sandwich. Of special note are the onion rings. These are not the heavily-​breaded bicycle tires served at most restaurants: these are real onion rings, dipped in a very light batter and cooked to perfection. They are ALWAYS our go-​to appetizer.
Desserts are also not to be missed. We have had the apple tart tatin; the meringue with fresh fruit (my personal favorite); and a Guinness/​chocolate concoction that my husband, who loves both, says was surprisingly tasty.
We’re not beer drinkers per se, but the Smithwick’s is always good.
Welcome to Cobleskill, Chieftains! May your stay be long and your reservations always full.

Cute inside, service was friendly and engaging. Food was prepared fresh and presented nicely. I will definitely be coming back!

We just had lunch here for the first time. We were greeted warmly and seated immediately. The place is beautiful! I had the soup special which was cabbage and bacon. Warning! The soup bowls are huge! For lunch I had the Bangers and Mash and my wife had the Fish and Chips. Both were very good.

Was excited to try the newest restaurant in town last night. Had the penne pasta with goat cheese, cherry tomato jam and pine nuts. It was good and worth the money even though when we arrived we were told it was at least a 45 minute wait. We elected to eat at the bar instead. The furnishings were well done and classy. Think that they really need additional people behind the bar as the poor barkeep was extremely busy and simply overwhelmed by the number of patrons.

My family and I tried this place over the weekend whilst upstate (and yes I just used the term whilst.) Normally, they always go to the same two or three restaurants but I convinced them to try something new. We didn’t realize this joint had just opened not too long ago.
We were first seated at a long table but then were asked to move to this corner booth which was kinda cool and had its own swinging door. Only issue with the door was that the waitress had an awful time bringing the food in without risk of tripping or dropping something. I held it open for her each time and its def something the owners should remove since it makes their job harder.
Anyway we had 3 diff burgers, two orders of fish and chips and one baked fish special over risotto w veg. Everyone snarfed the food. Fish was good but unfortunately the batter on the fried portions needed something in it. If not for the tartar sauce, it would have tasted like nothing. AT ALL.
It was probably me and my stomach being weird but after eating the fish I had a wicked stomachache for the next two days. Perhaps the food? Perhaps my family is just coming down with something since they’ve all been ill the past week? Perhaps I just didn’t eat well the last 48 hours? I don’t know and cant blame them.
Overall, I would come back and eat here again and try out some other stuff. The bar looked really nice and a like a spot I would come with friends if we head up again soon.

A little slow when we first came in but it is a busy time of the year. I had a Southern Burger with an onion marmalade, very sweet. I enjoyed the fries they were crisp as I like them. My friend had a Ruben, fries and a cup of soup.
A very nice experience for a new place.

I have been here twice during their opening week. The place was crawling with people who wanted to check out the new place in town. They still managed to keep wait times to a minimum and provide a friendly atmosphere and a helpful staff. I am not sure how some dude from Dunkirk (4 hours away) managed to pop in during opening week when a dinner table was Reservation Only.
The bar offerings (on tap beer) were quite varied for a small town. Smithwicks and Guinness were both on tap.
The first time I stopped in I ordered a BLT because I wasn’t ready for a full meal. The second time I stopped in I ordered the BLT because I *DID* want a full meal and knew it would be. The sandwich was awesome.
The fries (and such) come in a small metal basket which, if you leave them in it, will become cold quite fast due to the heat conductive properties of the basket. Dump the fries out on your plate and they stay warm longer.
This town has needed another place to get a sandwich and a few beers and will fill that requirement very nicely.

I’m not entirely sure what establishment the reviewer prior to myself was dining at, because my experience at Chieftan’s was nothing short of delightful.
The façade of this place is just stunning and looks like it was plucked right out of Temple Bar in Dublin. The inside ambiance is warm and welcoming, the staff friendly, and the Guinness perfectly poured.
Started with the beer battered shrimp as an appetizer, served with mixed leaves of lemon, dill, and tartar sauce. Crispy, fresh, and delicious. The homemade corned beef with red potatoes and parsley cream (which rivaled that of my own Irish family, a difficult feat) stole the show and was simply out of this world.
The whole energy of this establishment exudes nothing but light, warmth, and hospitality (all the best Irish qualities). The love that the owners have put into every facet of the pub so clearly shows, and it’s just the kind of place that Cobleskill has always needed.
By far my new favorite haunt, you would be crazy not to give it a try!
Sláinte agus táinte!

We just had a great time here! The waitress was very friendly and accommodating. The food and drinks were fantastic! We will definitely be returning again.