Only open Friday and Saturday! Wonderful, try them! We thought it was closed but NO, we love this place. read more

This review isn't of the food here, because I haven't had the food. It's a review of the cocktails. Sometimes in my reviews I mention that I don't know much about the cuisine that I'm reviewing and you should take my opinions with a grain of salt. That won't be the case here, because I'm a big weird cocktail nerd, and I'm putting my hands on your shoulders, looking you straight in the eye, and telling you that cocktails at 288 are very, very good, and not in an I'm-grading-on-a-curve-because-there-aren't-many-places-around-here-serving-truly-good-cocktails kind of way. The drinks here are well-balanced and tasty, but also INTERESTING, which makes this end of Lark Street with 288 and The Savoy officially the best place to get legitimately good and creative cocktails in the Cap District. The cocktails at 288 are good because the bar manager, Emmanuel, is an absolute pro: he was the reason that the cocktails at the late, lamented Speakeasy 518 were the best around, and now he's brought his expertise to 288. He's working with a much smaller bar here, but describing your favorite flavors to him and letting him surprise you is still a great idea. If you want to order off of the menu, the Commodore #2 (with house-made grenadine) might be my new official drink for fall/winter 2021. Really, though, you should just order whatever looks good, and be prepared to end up ordering another. read more

288 Lark Wine & Tap - I think I might have just said, "surprise me!" for this one. - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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We stopped in here for a pre-dinner drink. The bartender was extremely friendly and delivered impeccable service and a delicious lemoncello martini. We will certainly be back. read more

Best Italian food I've ever had in my life! I can't recommend enough. Everything was delicious but the tiramisu is out of this world! They completely Nailed it. Another amazing dish is the owners special pasta from the wheel of cheese. They have an excellent selection of drinks, especially the wine. The service is outstanding. Perfect date night spot! Really lovely ambiance and just a wonderful dining experience. read more

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This really is just a nice restaurant on Lark St. I have only been during COVID and each of the well spaced tables were booked. Says something about the staying power of a place that was closed for a while. Right now you actually eat in the Villa di Como side (same owner). The ambiance is nice, pretty elegant decor and the use of the building itself is lovely. Reminded us a little of Gotham Bar and Grill in Manhattan. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive. The wine list is decent although one would think they would have only Italian wines (hint). Who needs a California and Argentine wine when all of Italy is available. What did we eat.... I'm not a pizza fan but Leon is. He had the sausage version. The crust is doughier than a wood fired crust but had a nice chew and texture. I ended up eating more of it then I thought (blame the wine). The Buratta salad and the octopus really shouldn't be missed. We were sad that they ran out of the fennel. Boo. Settled for the citrus greens instead. It was flavorful but something I would make at home. We really enjoyed our Covid date night. We will be back, Leon needs a plate of pasta. That means more Octopus for me!! read more

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Unfortunately, this is a scam business. The individual advertising as being from Italy is not truthful. The "Chef di Cucina" does not exist; there is no real person with that name. I'm unsure why Ali feels the need to fabricate these stories to support his business. What matters is serving quality food, not creating a false narrative. Want to be a celebrity chef? Want to aspire to a Michelin-starred status? Sure, you can do that at home with your kids. It's rather amusing; I've never encountered such a setup before. read more

288 Wine & Tap in Albany had its soft opening during the final of June. There wasn't a lot of information available. The hours of operation weren't listed on the website. Whenever we walked by, the new business seemed to be closed. It felt as though we were trying to get into a "speakeasy," which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. The result was an aura of mystery about the place and that piqued our interest. On Thursday evening, June 27th, my husband and I walked by the bar, which is located at 288 Lark Street. A woman seated by the door welcomed us in. The renovation work is beautiful. The space has a very on trend, yet intimate vibe. We decided to sit at the bar, where we were warmly greeted by Peter, the bartender. He was very helpful in making food and drink suggestions. The owner & executive chef Ali Celik also stopped to greet us. We started off by sharing a Prosciutto & Cantaloupe Appetizer. It's an Italian classic which my husband insisted we had to try. The portions were large. The food was very fresh. Next, we shared the Cannelini Beans, which were cooked in sweet onions, fresh lemon juice, herbs and olive oil. It was topped with a spicy sauce. We thought that dish was delicious as was the evening's special, Fruitti di Mare. The two shared appetizers and one entree left us feeling quite full. I had Prosecco on tap with my meal, which I enjoyed. My husband ordered a number of Vodka Absolute drinks. Here's where it gets messy. When we got the check, we discovered that he was charged $16 per drink. He said that anywhere else on or around Lark Street, he would have been charged $10 per drink. Since I go drinking with him sometimes, my experience bears that out. The wine menu has prices that are clearly listed, but there's nothing listed for the numerous beers on tap or for any cocktails. Buyer beware, if you want to order something that's not on the menu, be sure to ask for details so you won't feel as though you've been price gouged. Because of the drinks, the check came out to $138. 288 Wine & Tap bills itself as a bar and not a restaurant. It actually has a very limited food menu. It So what cuisine it is able to pump out is impressive, especially since the kitchen doesn't appear to be very large. As Mr. Celik points out on his website, he's no stranger to local dining industry. According to the Times Union, Mr. Celik owned Mercato's Pizzeria & Restaurant in Delmar for more than a decade until it was recently shuttered to focus on his new venture. 288 is a welcome addition to Lark Street. According to the staff, there are plans to eventually add a sports bar next door. It will be nice to see the vacant old buildings open for business again. The soft opening was a smart idea. It allows Mr. Celik and his staff some time to tweak their menu and operations. For starters, it would be helpful if the menu included a listing of beers and Prosecco on tap as well as a list of prices for high end cocktails. That additional information would spare patrons a lot fo guess work and unwanted surprises. read more

288 Lark Wine & Tap - Cannelini Beans were cooked in sweet onions, fresh lemon juice, herbs and olive oil. The dish was topped with a spicy red sauce. - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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I had a great time in this cute Northern Italian wine bar. Food, service, ambiance was top notch. Appreciate you accommodated us in cold weather without a reservation. Such a good find. Thank you , keep up the good work.. read more

Great cocktails and amazing food! Must try the octopus carpaccio and margarita pizza!

Traveled to Albany last week for the first time and was so happy to have discovered this hidden gem! The owner, bartender and wait staff were incredibly friendly. I had the wild mushroom risotto with salmon for dinner and they paired a couple of different glasses of red to complement the meal. When I finally made it to the airport I realized I left my credit card at the bar. The owner, Ali, walked to FedX the next morning and sent it to me. If you're ever in Albany head to 288! read more

Came here with a few colleagues some days ago looking for a nice wine spot. This place is very nice, cozy and intimate. The wine and beers are great. Staff very professional, friendly and knowledgeable. The owner came out at some point to check on us and he was great :) On top of the drinks we also had the cheese plate and some spaghetti, both of which were absolutely wonderful. We are not from Albany but if I ever find myself here again I'll definitely be back! Thanks for a great service :) read more

Growing up in Los Angeles and having lived in San Francisco for many years restaurant scene in New York continues to surprise me, last example being 218 Lark Wine & Tap. Ground level with low ceilings can trigger your claustrofobie. Outdoor seating is very tight like restaurants in India or narrow street restaurants in Greece. Food is hit and miss but definitely not the best or anything good to talk about. I was surprised with the high menu pricing. read more

Great place! Food is exquisite! The wait staff is beyond accommodating. Cheese Platter!!!! read more

Have been frequenting 288 since it's inception, and was always extremely pleased with the food, service and atmosphere. Although, the physical experience is on hold right now, a very worthy substitute is available in the form of takeout from Villa di Como, the sister venue next door. Smooth ordering and pickup procedure, and I had two 288 staples, spaghetti ala vodka, with a separate side order of meatballs, along with the most delicious buffalo chicken pizza ever. This will certainly be a fixture in our current takeout landscape! read more

I just had a wonderful experience! We were looking for a charming place for a glass of wine after a day at the museum. This new hidden jewel was perfect!! The wine and food was of quality. We were a group of four. Our server was very attentive and patient. She was knowledge of the wines and the menu. We were very impressed when Mr. Ali Celik, introduced himself as the owner and wanted to make sure that all of our needs were met. Thank you for the warm and personalized service. read more

Excellent service and food. Housed in the old Justins - it somehow​ feels new and old at the same time. They have a nice Italian​ menu and i loved my chicken dish. I would absolutely go back and try more things on their menu. ​ read more

To preface: we stopped in for drinks and maybe a snack so can't give 5 stars...yet. We were warmly greeted by the gracious owner who talked about the recipes he's using as authentic Italian from the Lake Como region where his family operates hotels and restaurants. Peter the bartender immediately offered drink menus but we took him up on his promise to make custom cocktails with whatever we like. Hubby ended up getting their signature Italian cocktail and Peter make me something amazing with St Germaine, vodka cucumber mint etc. Both were delicious. We ordered the cheese board which was yummy but wished we were hungry enough to explore the rest of the menu. Our air conditioning was out so we stayed cool inside but the lovely patio is open. 288 made us feel like old friends at our favorite neighborhood Italian place and we look forward to coming back. read more

I really tried to enjoy 288 Wine and Taps after hearing good things from a friend. My experience was from what I had anticipated. We started off with a cheese board which was just a few slices of cheese and a jam. The cheese slices were something I could have purchased at Price Chopper in terms of the quality of the cheese. It was way overpriced for the quality and the amount of the serving. We had two entrees which we had wait over 45 minutes for from the time we finished the cheese board. I had the spaghetti and meatballs and my partner had the sliced Filet Mignon special. Again the Spaghetti and Meatballs was a huge pile of pile of pasta with two small meatballs which cost over twenty dollars. My partners filet dish which was maybe 6 oz of Filet on it cost thirty two dollars and it was requested as Mid rare and came to the table as Mid well. I love Italian and was very disappointed you can find much better dining experiences in Albany with less cost with little to no effort read more

Tried really hard to get in due to the "on the street" reviews I had heard. Called several times and emailed, but was never sure if I would hear back. The hours are so limited and it's hard to speak with anyone. In any case, I finally got the chance to go to 288 and I was very underwhelmed. The atmosphere is claustrophobic with high top tables that are small and only seat 4, and a low ceiling. It was also rather dark on one end of the small table with most of the light at the other end. As for the food, it's decent, but way overpriced, and not as good as I had anticipated. We were given 4 or 5 pieces of toasted pita bread without any oil or butter after sitting at the table for about 20 min. It was kind of thrown at us with no explanation. When we asked for more and for oil, we felt like were bothering the wait staff with our request. A crusty Italian bread with a delicious dipping oil would have seemed much more appropriate at what is touted as an Italian restaurant. The charcuterie board was disappointing with some slices of meat and some olives.....for 20.00! The octopus was paper thin slices of something that tasted like smoked fish. As for the meals, they were just decent. The portions are huge....almost too much. The pasta is one type for all dishes; a thick spaghetti, which is not homemade. Everything our table had for main dishes was good, but nothing to necessarily rave about. We never got to dessert, because we were relatively full and to be honest, kind of wanted to depart. It was very crammed, too warm, and just not comfortable. Didn't feel like the kind of place you go to relax. The service was eh. The waitress was slightly dismissive and was not overly attentive. For a hefty bill of roughly 275.00 (1 glass of wine, 3 apps, 5 main dishes) for 5 people, we expected so much more. Won't be back. read more

Can't remember the last time I came back the very next night to the same restaurant, but last night was twice in two days for what I'd consider the best food and service in Albany. The chef/owner personally welcomes and checks on you, the bartender and wait staff were incredibly friendly and accommodating, and the food/wine (specifically the shrimp scampi and imported Italian pasta) was amazing. read more

288 Lark Wine & Tap - Cacio y pepe prepared my the chef at your seat. - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

A very nice experience. Atmosphere is wonderful. Food was delicious and presented very well. Our server was friendly and professional. The only downside was my $18, measured drink. read more

Their food is the best Italian in the Albany area! Amazing for takeout! We got takeout due to the pandemic and it was delicious! The vodka sauce is incredible along with the pizza! read more

Great new addition to Lark street businesses. Brand new, nicely remodeled Italian restaurant. Great wine selection and knowledgeable staff. Amazingly delicious food. Spaghetti alla chitarra with smoked salmon, frutti di mare and roasted potatoes with portobello mushrooms are a must try. Great for a date night or a small get together with friends. Highly recommend! read more

288 Lark Wine & Tap - Spaghetti alla chitarra with smoked salmon, frutti di mare. - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

Excellent food and wine!! I had a chicken pasta dish w gorgonzola and light tomatoes sauce. It was DELICIOUS! I don't usually order this type of dish for fear it will be too rich- it was perfect. Love the decor. We will be back. read more

Fantastic service and incredible food. If you have any appreciation for chef inspired cuisine you'll live this place! It has become my favorite place to relax. A fantastic atmosphere! read more

I am disappointed that Yelp deleted my previous review. This is an amazing establishment that I always look forward to visiting. It fosters a wonderful community and delivers on all fronts. read more

We have been here twice and absolutely love it. Having grown up in Italian families and been to Italy several times, we know good Italian food, and Chef Ali Celik really has created something special. Over the course of two visits, we have tried the spaghetti cacio e pepe, prepared at the table by the chef, the frutta de mar special, and spaghetti and homemade meatballs among the full pasta dishes. Each was incredible, and portions are huge. On our first trip we tried the burrata salad appetizer before each ordering a full pasta dinner. The second time, we did three small plates (burrata again because it is the best cheese I have ever had), the octopus carpaccio, and the cannellini beans. All were spectacular. I was surprised how much I loved the beans, actually, which could have been boring but instead were a highlight, served with pita bread and a spicy peppery paste that added a great kick. We then split the spaghetti and meatballs entree, which was plenty of food. Both visits, we shared a bottle of Super Tuscan red, which at $38, was among the more affordable bottles on the menu. Very full-bodied sipping wine. Our wonderful server, Corey, waited on us both times. She is a real pro. So friendly, knows what she is talking about and committed to us enjoying our evening. Chef Ali stopped by to say hello. He is clearly living the dream with his new bar/restaurant, cooking the Lake Cuomo-inspired dishes that are his passion. We will be back to 288 Lark again and again. read more

We've visited 288 Lark in person before, but it was pleasure to get food from them during quarantine. We got a pizza, the burrata salad, two pasta dishes, a tiramasu cake, and some of their homemade limoncello. The food was beyond in quality and deliciousness. I cannot stress how amazed and pleased our family was with the food. We will 100% order from them, quarantine or no! read more

We were warmly greeted on a chilly night on our first visit to 288 Lark Wine & Tap. It's a beautiful space, warm and inviting, perfectly lighted and tastefully decorated. I ordered a house white wine, mild and smooth and my husband had IPA that he loved. It's a small menu with one type of pasta and we wondered if they're making the pasta in-house. Upon asking it was confirmed that it is homemade. We ordered, shrimp scampi and pasta carbonara. Soon after I was anxiously awaiting bread. It's Italian restaurant so naturally I figured we would be served bread. I figured wrong. Dinner was served along with small bowls of red pepper flakes and Parmesan cheese to finish our dishes to our own liking. The entrees were delicious. A few minutes after the entrees were served, our server brought a "bread" to mop up our pasta. Yay! Only, not yay. I was sad, it was four slices of a thicker pita... in Italian restaurant? What gives? I was terribly disappointed. I felt robbed. If you don't want to make your own bread, at least bring in a tasty bread like Perecca's or Rock Hill Bakehouse. read more

Delicious, but painfully slow and overpriced. Most of the dish was pasta, worth 99 cents. I won't be going back.

I love the food at 288 Lark! We have been ordering curb side for the past few weeks. The pizzas, salads and side are great. Wonderful people too. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

I had the pleasure to celebrate my 30th birthday @ 288 Lark Wine & Tap, the owner and his staff were super attentive in making the day extra special for us--before dinner we enjoyed high quality wine in the back patio which was super cozy and romantic! Inside the restaurant while you are eating delicious fresh pasta, you get to explore all of Italy's beauty through the paintings on the walls. My husband and I will definitely come back for the pasta... the flaming cheese wheel was the best part of the meal, the owner/chef definitely knows how to put on an authentic show of fresh delicious pasta with the cheese melting away in your mouth--his love for Italy is admirable, he serves justice to Italian food! The food, ambiance, service, drinks, warm feel of Italy definitely has drawn me! We finished off the celebration by sipping on limonchella's in the back patio. We can't wait to come back with friends to enjoy more choices of Italian cuisine. read more

288 Lark Wine & Tap - Delicious Fresh Pasta, extra creamy & cheesy! - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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288 was astonishingly good. Located on a block of Lark Street with too many dark storefronts, it is a warm, lovingly designed refuge, with a top quality northern Italian menu. We loved the sauteed calamari and signature octopus carpaccio. I always test an Italian restaurant's carbonara, and 288's did not disappoint. My daughter loved the pasta with vodka sauce, and my husband the antipasto salad. Tables were filled the night we went. Great to see. read more

This has got to be the finest restaurant in Albany. Every single thing about it from the special drinks (Bellini was awesome), wines and the food is way above average. The ingredients and spices and olive oil taste like they were just flown over from Italy. The octopus carpaccio is unheard of even in the fanciest of NYC restaurants. Make a reservation. You won't be sorry. The staff is so friendly and professional and the chef/owner checks on each table. Nice touch. read more

Came up for a conference from Manhattan & absolutely loved this place. The homemade food, the wine, the service... SPECTACULAR. They accommodated any allergies our friends had. Chef came to check on us. Highly recommend it!!! read more

We were just popping in for a drink, but the service was so excellent and the owner was so sweet we ended up staying for food (and I'm glad we did). We had an excellent charcuterie and cheese board, delicious drinks, and wonderful atmosphere. Thanks again for a great meal! read more

We love having 288 Lark Wine & Tap in the center square neighborhood, along with sister restaurant and pizzeria Villa di Como. Owner Ali cares about being part of a community, and makes it a point to interact with his guests, making them feel at home while dining. The menu options are excellent. If you love authentic Italian food, be sure to stop in for dinner or try takeout options during current time of social distancing. read more

We keep going back because the food is delicious. The octopus carpaccio and the Tagliata of filet mignon are our favorites. Our kids loved the spaghetti with meatballs. Haven't had a bad meal yet and the owner is so personable and willing to accomodate. The atmosphere is urban and cozy. Not your typical run of the mill Italian restaurant, with lots of different dishes you won't find around Albany. read more