My book club met on a Thursday night at 6 and had reservations for 8 people. Parking was easy to…read morefind, the ambiance is incredible (intimate, cozy, classy) and the staff were knowledgeable about the menu and had great attention to detail. Our waiter, Patrick, was charming and friendly. We shared the prosciutto and burrata appetizer and the spicy calamari. I had the veal piccata. Everyone loved their food and the portions were generous. I will absolutely return!

Absolutely delicious meal. I was super impressed with this special, there was so much flavor, the…read morefish was cooked well and the risotto was loaded with spinach. We went with a group of six and had excellent service. Everyone really enjoyed their meals, cocktails and dessert. Overall great experience with a great outdoor seating area!

This is not a typical American Italian restaurant! Villa di Como's chef, Ali, created absolutely…read moredelicious meals for us when we were there this past Friday. We highly recommend this experience to people who appreciate an authentic Italian dining experience. Fresh ingredients, fantastic service, and Ali's craft is truly a gem to be enjoyed. Ali's warm hospitality topped off the night with a taste of his limonchello; a real treat!

$300 to eat on a plastic tablecloth on Valentine's Day, not even a candle on the table. I'm…read moreembarrassed I suggested the spot to my date. The experience felt stingy and rushed. I'm sad because I loved this spot and I'm disappointed the quality has gone down so drastically. Portions were very small and the food didn't taste special or interesting. The octopus came out room temp and had been sitting out. Entres lukewarm. The drinks were by far the best part of the meal and it took half an hour to get them. Service was all over the place but they get a pass because it's Valentine's Day. Do yourself a favor and try Rosanna's instead.

Bravo! I was fortunate to go to a private birthday party here. The staff was phenomenal. Impeccable…read moreservice. They did not miss a beat. There was a pre-selected menu of many choices, I got the linguine Alfredo with broccoli. It was the best Alfredo. So creamy and the pasta and broccoli were cooked perfectly. I was sad I didn't get a photo. I had it for lunch today too! Mmm I need to come back here for dinner very asap. There were other dishes that I would have liked to have tried. The chicken Parm was huge and looked delicious. The shrimp pesto?? I wish I got that. There were appetizers too. The calamari was delicious and the marinara??? I want more of that! Thank you for a wonderful lunch!

This place is excellent in every way! outstanding menu, service, and the meals are awesome!read more

Everything was delicious ! The waiter was Great! ! Can't wait to go back . The music was in the bar…read moreand they were Awesome

I was in Albany for my doctoral hooding ceremony and subsequent graduation, when I was left…read morewondering where to take my family for dinner afterwards. I was promised that Grappa 72 would exceed my expectations. As an Italian-American AND a foodie, it's hard to wow me at an Italian venue. I can honestly say that this place was all that I was promised and more. What we ordered to share: crispy arancini (special app that day), eggplant parm, fried calamari. I am a red sauce snob, and all three of these delivered on presentation, quality, and overall flavor. Entrees we ordered included: halibut (entree special and my choice), pappardelle loaded with shrimp and chicken (also a special), pork osso bucco (stole the show!). We ended with individual desserts, and their Italian cheesecake was smooth and creamy. Service was reflective of high-end dining, yet the check for six people was moderate to affordable. Considering the quality, quantity, and overall experience, this is a place I need to get back to. Now I need to find an excuse to be in the Capitol Region so I can go back!

A great evening from start to finish. Our waiter was very attentive but didn't rush us even though…read moreit took us awhile to actually look at the menu because we were too busy talking. The atmosphere is very cozy and intimate. There's the main dining room, a back room and then an upstairs . Also some outside seating but it was raining so that wasn't being used. The menu is Italian American. Our server mentioned that they mostly everything is made in house besides a few desserts and you can absolutely tell especially with the meatballs. Definitely some of the best meatballs I've ever had. The fall aperol spritz which is a seasonal special was also delicious!! What was ordered: Grilled Salmon with spaghetti squash & lentils Shrimp & Scallop Scampi Meatballs Fall Aperol Spritz Espresso Martinis Bread & Butter

Visited Albany on the way back from a wedding in Vermont and needed a good hearty meal after a long…read moreweekend of fun! No reservation, and a smaller restaurant we tried on a whim and were offered two seats at the bar promptly and decided to stick around. Immediately upon entering Nicole's, the atmosphere takes you to a small Italian restaurant scene depicted in many a movie. Dimly lit, but not dark, fragrances of perfume overpowered by garlic, tomato, and all the fresh seasonings and herbs in their dishes, and many many happy customers with big plates of pasta, bread, and red wine on the table. After receiving our app of fried artichokes, which came with a wonderful dipping sauce, and a side order of meatballs that melted in our mouths, but were not soft, or squishy we decided we did only needed one meal after a long day of travel. One of my go-tos when trying a new to me Italian spot is always the clam sauce, and this one hit it out of the park. I highly recommend Nicole's, and looking forward to returning again in August for my next visit to the area.

I am very surprised by all of the five star reviews. Our party of three had burger/fries, chicken…read moredish, tortellini, and garlic bread. No drinks. We all had water to drink. The burger/fries and chicken dish were average. The tortellini and garlic bread were below average. Tortellini tasted like it was just frozen and undercooked and then served warm, not hot. The garlic bread...how do you mess up garlic bread. It was $7 and it was literally two pieces that were the size of my pointer finger, and one of the pieces was burnt. I would have been embarrassed to serve it as complimentary, let alone charge for it. The three meals plus the two mini pieces of garlic bread came to $110 including tip. It was overpriced for the quality of the food. I would say at the most this should have been an $80 meal including tip. I would have given a 3 star review if that had been the price. I live in a pricey area and I'm not picky. I believe this is the only time I've given a restaurant anything below 4 stars. The place was clean and I like that they bring a glass bottle of water to the table.

Wow! I've wanted to try Rosanna's for some time now and I regret waiting so long. This is like one…read moreof those local best kept secret spots. I was able to book a reservation online for the same day. Of note, when you have the option of Main Floor or First Floor & Bar, just realize the Main Floor is up a flight of stairs. I'm not sure if there is a separate entrance but my wife was on crutches and she managed to get up the first three into the restaurant from outside but I don't think dining on the main floor would have been an option for us. Our server, Mike, was awesome and full of energy and enthusiasm. He offered suggestions and answered questions about details of the dishes. We were pleasantly surprised with how many menu items were marked v - vegan and v* - can be prepared vegan. This is great for us because it's another place in Albany that we will be able to go out to dinner with friends and everyone will be able.to find something to enjoy. The fried Artichokes are a must if you're looking for a starter. We were eyeing up the Fennel salad or vegan Caesar salad but opted to move on to main entrees. On this night they were out of the Gnocchi Cacio-Pepe which personally, I am not a gnocchi fan to start and Mike told us they were substituting a buccatini pasta instead... this had my attention! I went for his suggestion and chose the Arrabbiata instead which was delicious. My wife enjoyed her Wild Mushroom and Asparagus Risotto. We skipped dessert for this evening but there were vegan Gelato and cookie options for dessert as well. From start to finish it was such an enjoyable experience in this cozy corner restaurant which offers outdoor dining in the summer in the heart of Albany. We will totally be back with friends for another delicious meal at Rosanna's, the hidden gem in downtown Albany!

It's kind of a unique venue as it appears to have once been a house converted into a restaurant and…read moremaybe was a deli as well? I can describe it as organized chaos as they were busy and the staff really do hop around trying to keep up. Starting with over warm bread and a nice oil/garlic dip the menu offers some nice choices and is not overwhelming large. The bruschetta was good and the calamari fresh but somewhat over salty but the red sauce kicked that down some. The entree's were good and the plates plentiful with extra to take home. Several dessert choices as well and the cannoli fresh and over stuffed.

Last night we had a wonderful dining experience at Cafe Calabria II, located on Western Avenue…read moreabout 1 mile west of the I-87 interchange. The server was friendly and knowledgeable and the food was superb. We started with the Duck Pate special and the Poached Clams. Both dishes were outstanding. G/F had the Oriechiette with Rapini and crumbled Sausage and I had the fabulous Chicken Francaise. We finished by sharing the Lemon Cake and the Chocolate Cake. This was a fantastic dinner from beginning to end. We will definitely be returning!

For this style pizza, it's the best in the area. Char crust, thin, crispy, fresh, light, and full…read moreof excellent pizza flavor. This was their New Haven Style Margarita pizza. They do a good job putting elements of New Haven in their pizza. If you know what pizza is, this has to be top of your list to try! They also serve classic pizza, grandma pizza, Detroit style, etc., all at reasonable prices. Super awesome indoor and outdoor seating. Cozy atmosphere and a perfect spot to bring the family, friends, or like I did, just bring yourself!

Food: Romo's is hands down the best pizza I've tried in Albany. I love their Margherita and classic…read morePepperoni... both are fresh and flavorful in a way that's hard to describe. It's almost like biting into a garlic knot; each slice gives you that same burst of flavor if that makes sense. Service: I love being able to order ahead online and pick up when it's ready. The pickup is always quick and easy since you pay online when placing the order. Ambiance: Cute and cozy. When you walk in, there's a small counter up front, and in the side room next door, there appears to be a dining area, though I personally haven't eaten there.

Came here with coworkers for a business dinner, and from the outside you'd never expect how great…read moreit is inside. The restaurant itself is smaller and broken up into different rooms, which actually makes for a really nice, more intimate dining experience. The service was top notch. The staff and our waitress were incredibly attentive very professional and always right there when you needed something without being overbearing. As for the food, everything we had was excellent. I ordered the duck, and having it prepared in different ways including as a sausage was honestly amazing. The eggplant appetizer was on another level, and the grilled octopus was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. I also had an espresso martini, which was made really well. To top it all off, the pistachio cake for dessert was the perfect finish. Overall, this place is truly top notch great food, great service, and a great experience all around. Definitely worth checking out.

I went there for my birthday celebration. Best Italian place in the area. It almost feels like…read moredining in your family home. The service was excellent. Duck Ragu is a stand out pasta dish that I've ever had.

Sat on the patio the ambience was absolutely beautiful no bugs interfered with our dinner…read more Our server was absolutely perfect. She was helpful, accommodating, and right on point with everything. Our food was absolutely spectacular. We had the jalapeño corn fritters the buffalo cauliflower and got a pizza to take with us. That was chicken Parm. At every turn everything was perfect. It was a Saturday evening and we didn't feel rushed to get out of there. We will be returning time and time again it was worth the drive.

I really enjoy the pepperoni , which you can get by the slice. It's also really close by my home,…read moreso I am here a lot.