Photograph by Nancie Battaglia
The Adirondacks is no stranger to hybrid businesses—think Tupper Lake’s Washboard Laundromat/Donut Shop or Pedals & Petals, in Inlet, which peddles bikes and blooms. One of the latest on the scene is Bar Flies—a sudsy offshoot of Wiley’s Flies, Vince Wilcox’s iconic Ray Brook fly shop and guide service—and ADK Street Eats, which dishes up tacos, burritos, sandwiches and burgers, along with other food truck favorites. Chef Matt Fleury, a Paul Smith’s alum, teamed up with his childhood friend Wilcox to launch the partnership in 2020, at a time when the pandemic-fatigued were thirsty for more alfresco dining and drinking options.
Along with cocktails, wine, cider and a selection of from-the-cooler beers, Bar Flies keeps eight taps flowing, a rotating cast of familiar favorites like Voodoo Ranger and Fiddlehead with lesser-known craft beers. The brews are best enjoyed porch-side on a brightly colored stool, but if the blackflies chase the barflies inside, there’s a cozy bar area in the front of the shop. Nachos, pretzels and other munchies are available, but the real filling station is ADK Street Eats next door. Try the Phat Bag, a deep-fried pillow of mozzarella and pizza toppings, or the Redneck Burger, piled with bigger-than-your-mouth layers of bacon, pulled pork and slaw. The crowds are a mix of locals and fresh-from-the-water anglers—Wiley’s Flies has a handful of motel rooms and offers fish-and-stay packages—and the scene is a slice of Adirondack summer, with corn hole and the occasional bonfire. Fish stories optional.
If You Go
Wiley’s Flies/Bar Flies, at 1179 Route 86, opens for the season in May. Visit www.wileysflies.com to learn more. See ADK Street Eats’ Facebook page for menus, hours and specials.
