SARATOGA SPRINGS -- A family business with fresh food and friendly staff, Compton’s Restaurant has been perfecting breakfast, brunch and lunch for decades.
Located at 457 Broadway in Saratoga Springs, Compton’s Restaurant first opened in 1984 by John Compton. He ran the restaurant until 2016 when he retired and sold the restaurant to his two daughters, Sandy Compton and Tina Maher, and son-in-law Bill Maher.
Bill Maher first started working at the restaurant at 12 years old as a dishwasher, and has now worked there for 30 years.
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“It’s something I’ve always done,” Bill Maher said. “I like the business, I always have. The three of us purchased it in 2016 -- myself, my wife and her sister.”
Compton’s Restaurant offers a wide variety of breakfast foods, omelets, pancakes, sandwiches and more, and is considered by many as one of the most popular diners in town.
Compton's Restaurant has been offering breakfast, brunch and lunch in Saratoga Springs for decades
The Daily Gazette recently spoke with Bill Maher, one of the owners of Compton’s Restaurant about his business, and here is what he had to say.
(Answers have been lightly edited for space and clarity.)
Question: What are some of the most popular items that Compton’s Restaurant serves?
Answer: Our fresh fruit is definitely a big thing for us. We use 100% fresh fruit; we don’t use any kind of jar like a lot of places do. Breakfast sandwiches of course, our bacon, egg and cheese and sausage, egg and cheese; the eggs benedict is a big seller; blueberry pancakes are one.
Q: How would you describe the atmosphere at your restaurant?
A: Its definitely old-school. There hasn’t been any updates or anything like that. It’s an old-school, greasy-spoon type of thing.
Q: What are some of your favorite things about the restaurant?
A: I’ve always loved working in Saratoga. The customers have always been excellent to us. It’s a great atmosphere. You get to meet a lot of different people. It’s just a good feeling. We’ve always had a lot of people we know from every kind of walk and class of life.
Compton's Restaurant has been offering breakfast, brunch and lunch in Saratoga Springs for decades
Q: As far as costs go, what would you say your customers are spending on average?
A: Per-person probably $12 now; maybe $12-$15 is about average
Q: Why should someone who has never been to Compton’s Restaurant consider trying it?
A: The fresh food. Everything is definitely fresh, it’s high-quality for everything. I think that’s always the way to go.
Q: What else should people know about your restaurant?
A: Friendly service. The waitresses have all been there for quite a long time. It’s one of those things where people love our servers, we’ve had staff here for over 20 years. It’s nice.