Went on this Friday evening and had dinner in the bar. Excellent service by Lisa, very attentive and friendly. we both loved the Hawkeye. Chef Vince served up hot and tender beef on a delicious grilled roll with fries. Everything was great!!! Thank you read more

Food was delicious, service was excellent, I think I remember the servers name was Kevin and the ambiance was very nice. I would definitely recommend to others, and will go there again when visiting the Albany area. It was a special evening of close cousins meeting there for dinner from Fl., Vt. and upstate NY. A wonderful experience! A memory made! read more

We had a private luncheon at the Barnsider for my father's celebration of life and could not speak more highly of the service, attention, and food. The private room was sunny & charming. Our server Brian was outstanding and very sensitive to the flow of our event. The food (we gave the choice of steak & shrimp, steak & scallops, salmon or chicken teriyaki) was delicious, and the dessert (choc mousse cake) was a yummy way to end the event. Cocktails were just right and hit the spot. Really an absolutely perfect experience. Thank you, Barnsider team! read more

This restaurant was crowded even early, and I'm not surprised. There is a small salad bar (and includes only salad fixings and bread rolls) but that's a nice addition to the meal while you wait for your main course. We split the sirloin for 2, and the plate comes out sizzling. It was perfectly cooked, crunchy on the outside and soft inside. Plenty for 2 people and very tasty. The veggies it came with were fine. I was intrigued by the fried ice cream, which we got with the caramel rum sauce with bananas and pecans. Perfection! Reminded me of a bananas foster, but a great combo of hot and cold in each bite and a pretty unique dessert for a good price. Service was great, food was great, steak pricey but worth it, and a long list of dessert options. I thought everything here was top-notch. read more

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I'm a Canadian visiting and this place is TO LIVE FOR. Thank you Emily, Chris and Team. Halibut to Live For. Everything!!! read more

Recommended by hotel we were staying at. This place probably in the 80's or 90's may have been good but the food wasn't and the atmosphere was old and not dirty but bla....bread was ok. Salad bar was big but all iceberg lettuce swimming in water. Actually used napkins to dry it. Prices were high and quality was not. Never again. Go to Applebees or Chili's before coming here. Sad.... read more

Can't say much for this place other than the salad bar was decent. First time eating here since I've been in Albany, NY, and must say was disappointed. Had two work colleagues with me, and they agreed. We all ordered different steaks, and the consensus was the same; not tender at all. Thankfully, we had nice steak knifes as all of us were working our biceps to cut through the tough steaks. I didn't get why it was so crowded for a Monday night, and then realized it was the AARP crowd. Must have given them some serious discounts to chew through the tough meat, especially the denture crowd. read more

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My wife and I have been loyal customers of the Barnsider for many years. We chose to dine there for valentines day. We both ordered the 10 oz Prime rib I paired it with broiled scallops I ordered my prime rib rare my wife medium rear. We also chose a shrimp cocktail for an appetizer, The shrimp didn't seem up to their usual quality the texture and flavor seemed less than good..The server was wonderful. The salad bar was great as always. Things went downhill when my meal came. My prime rib looked raw and sounded flat. I asked our server to bring my rib back to be cooked more. When it came back I found it to be tasteless. Our server apologized for all of this and took my rib off the bill. The scallops were ok. I must say this was my worst experience at the Barnsider in many many years. Perhaps it was because it was a holiday which of it self should be no excuse. Respectfully, Alex B. Smuckler read more

great food, excellent and surprisingly friendly service. You don't get that often these days.

For a steak house, I thought my steak would melt in my mouth, instead it was a bit tough and over cooked so it lost its flavor. The service was good and the salad bar was good. I would give it another try. read more

Had dinner with a friend who lives in the area. He said we would have a good meal here. Walk in at 6pm and the place is hopping! We were seated shortly after arriving. Nick & Adam were our servers, and they did a fine job. Nice to have a salad bar included, albeit a pretty simple one. Shared a fried calamari appetizer. The first one that came was cold and sent back. The second one that came was warm and really pretty lousy. Something I would not order again. For my meal I chose their "famous" sirloin steaks with a baked potato. Both were fine and the steak was decent but was prepared with no seasoning. The baked potato a steamed and soft skin. My friend ordered a swordfish special which he seemed to enjoy. The Barnsider seems popular with the locals. If you're looking for simple food and a barn-like atmosphere, check it out! read more

Barnsider - Fried calamari. Fail - Steakhouses Near Me - Albany, New York

Let's start with the obvious star(s) of the show: the service. Likely the best service my fiancée and I recall having ever. Attentive, efficient, non-invasive. Other servers should take note, you don't need to interrupt conversation with forced small talk; These servers simply GET IT. We will return just based on that alone. Food wise, worth the money and certainly worthy of a return trip. The Beef Wellington temperature was perfect, pastry was perfectly done, and the sides were simple and well done. Desserts were stellar, we had the key lime pie and apple crisp. Ever once in a while, a restaraunt hits every note perfectly, and tonight was that night. Simply put, add The Barnsider on your list of places you must eat at in the area. read more

Food was fairly good, priced according to other establishments in the area. However, the acoustics made it nearly impossible to have a conversation, I could barely hear the person right next to me without leaning towards them and their raising their voice. It's a nice looking environment, not sure how they can fix this major flaw however. read more

This has been a long time family favorite! They've been in business as long as I can remember and are known for their great salad bar, delicious rolls and steaks. I took my mom here for an early Mother's Day dinner last month. She was very happy with her steak. I had their baked scallops which were slightly overcooked and bathed in a bit too much butter, but still decent. The salad bar is excellent with a good variety of options in terms of fresh salad inputs and dressings. They also have a nice hearty bread available as well as a huge chunk of cheese you can cut slices from. Service was excellent and the décor is nice- kind of elegant barn/ folk art / colonial style. Easy lot parking. I will definitely be back but recommend making a reservation. We did not have a reservation figuring we could get in easily before 5 but we were the last party admitted without a reservation. read more

A terrible experience here last night. Went to subpar salad bar after ordering. Waited an hour and a half and still no meal. We were told ours was coming next. Another 20 minutes and nothing. Our party of 4 got up passed the manager and told him we were leaving. Terrible service, terrible management and a ridiculous amount of time to wait. Been going here 30 plus years and now never again. Shameful. Don't patronize this restauran! read more

Ugh. What do you say about a restaurant that you've visited for decades and you realize its best days are in the distant, distant past? We went to the Barnsider with old friends when we were in the Capital District in late May, and it was an unmitigated disaster. I'll keep this short: service was glacial, the salad bar was good, the food eminently forgettable. We'll likely never return. Do better, Barnsider. read more

I want to preface this review by saying that this is the first negative review I've ever written about a restaurant. I mention this to emphasize that I'm not someone who typically complains, but my experience on January 4th, 2025, left me deeply frustrated and disappointed. The Barnsider has been a cherished family tradition for over 40 years. Ever since I was a little girl, it's been our go-to spot for special occasions. This evening, I hoped to continue that tradition by celebrating both my birthday and my 12-year-old daughter's birthday there. We were a party of eight, including an infant and a toddler, with reservations at 7:00 PM. Unfortunately, what should have been a joyful celebration turned into a stressful and upsetting experience, lasting until 9:30 PM due to painfully slow service. Our first waitress was polite but clearly new and overwhelmed. She didn't seem familiar with the menu or basic offerings, suggesting half-and-half cream as a drink option for the toddler in our party because she didn't realize milk was available. While she took our drink orders quickly, we waited an unreasonably long time for someone else to take our main order. Meanwhile, other tables seated after us had their orders taken and meals delivered before ours. By the time our order was placed, we had already waited a significant amount of time, and things only got worse. After another 40 minutes, the toddler in our group was understandably famished. We asked if their meal could be brought out ahead of the rest, but even that took over 35 minutes to arrive. When the rest of our meals finally came, the quality was disappointing. My steak was overcooked, and my daughter's steak was burnt on the outside yet undercooked inside. Given how long it had taken to get our food, sending it back wasn't an option--we were already on borrowed time with two young children nearing their limits. To make matters worse, the delays meant we couldn't even enjoy the birthday dessert we'd planned for, leaving my daughter visibly disappointed. After the meal, I shared our experience with the manager, hoping to provide constructive feedback for future improvement. Unfortunately, his response was dismissive and defensive. Rather than taking accountability, he blamed me for not bringing up the issues sooner. What he failed to understand was that we were just trying to get through the meal without further delays or meltdowns from the kids. There was no apology, no effort to make things right, and no acknowledgment of how much this ruined what should have been a special evening. I had intended to purchase a gift certificate that evening for my father's upcoming birthday, but after this experience, I cannot see myself supporting The Barnsider again. The evening left me not only upset about the poor service and lack of care but also heartbroken over the loss of a family tradition that has meant so much to me for decades. read more

Went here on a Saturday night with a large group of around 20. First there is ample parking all around the restaurant. We were seated promptly as we arrived. The wait staff was very attentive. The restaurant has a large very well stocked salad bar. The fresh baked bread and cheese at the end of the salad bar makes it standout from others. There are many seating configurations within the restaurant. We were sat at a very long table off the main room giving us a sorta private room. Our food took a bit too long to be served once ordered but it was hot when it did arrive. Those that ordered the prime rib were slightly annoyed by the amount of fat each piece contained. The soups were very good and those that got steak were very pleased with the flavor and doneness. Anyone that ordered the scallops were very pleased, they melted in your mouth and had great flavor. We didn't get appetizers because most of us got the awesome salad bar. If your looking for good food and atmosphere and a way to celebrate a special occasion, this is the place to go. read more

Disappointing. Tremendously disappointing We went there to celebrate a birthday and my steak au poivre tasted like steak au rump. Couldn't cut it with a knife The manager and wait staff didn't care. Dinner ruined and they just did not care. Food horrible manager and wait staff uncaring . Go elsewhere read more

The food and service were some the best I have ever had. It was comfort food and the staff exhumed service and hometown interactions. I felt welcome, even home. The Bread was memorable and soft with that perfect crisp on the outside of these Baguettes can be found at the end of the salad bar. Self serve and cut as much bread and cheddar cheese from the block as you wish. The other most notable item on the salad bar was the blue cheese dressing. Perfected and home made! Last but not least is the Beefwellington, it's probably the best I have had this far in America. The ambience is warm and barn-like in expanse, with many rooms and gathering areas, you feel like your are in a country kitchen with the best peoples and cuisines of rural America. Zack and his team served well to keep our glasses full and our courses kitchen to table on time. read more

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Tried the beef Wellington for the first time. The meat inside was gray, tough, and tasteless. The pastry was raw and chewy. I didn't eat most of it. The baked potato was cold and I had to ask for butter. Had the brownie sundae for dessert. The brownie was stale and rock-hard; I couldn't cut it with the spoon they gave me. We waited an hour for our meal. Not a good experience. This isn't the Barnsider I loved. Won't be returning. read more

Barnsider (bar/cafe) 4/5 I've been coming to the Barnsider for as long as I can remember with my family. My earlier memories of the restaurant are of the main dining area which I will not be reviewing in this review as I haven't eaten there in a number of years, but from memory I feel the current Yelp rating of 3/5 is fair. Over the past five or so years we have frequented the bar area for dinner (since COVID you can now reserve a seat in the bar area which has been very nice as it can get busy at times.) which will be the focus of this review. While the interior is a little dated (and I don't believe it has changed in my lifetime) the barnsider bar area provides a very good meal, generous pour of wine, and one of my all time favorite desserts for a very reasonable price. For wine I always order the J. Lohr Chardonnay or the J. Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon. The pours here are quite generous and are reasonably priced ($9 and $11 per glass respectively if I remember correctly) for decent wine. Thus, I would probably stick to ordering by the glass for the best value. I don't remember ever ordering any of the appetizers while in the bar area, but I have ordered the salad bar a few times which can be added to any sandwiches or burgers for $2.95. The salad bar has the usual salad topping and an assortment of dressing as well as a selection of breads and cheeses at the end. It's nice, but a bit of an outdated practice in my opinion. For dinner I usually order the Smokehouse Burger (which comes with a side of fries and a pickle) and I also ask for a side of cornbread. I order the burger cooked medium, and they cook it to my liking most of the time (this past time everything was a bit overcooked, but there was a different chef in the bar area than usual, so I believe they are new and may still be getting trained). The burger is very tasty and is topped with pepper jack cheese, fried onion, and barbecue sauce. The side of fries are crispy and seasoned well. I also always ask for a side of cornbread which is very good. My mom always orders the Grilled Chicken Sandwich with the sauce on the side. My dad ordered the Barnsider Burger this most recent time and has ordered that many times previously. My brother tried the Grilled Tenderloin Tips which also came with a side of fries, and he said he enjoyed the meal. Everytime we go to the Barnsider, I order the Turtle Cheesecake for dessert. This is one of my all time favorite desserts. The plate is drizzled with hot fudge and the slice of cheesecake it topped with caramel and chopped pecans. Maybe part of my draw to this dessert is nostalgia as it was my first introduction to cheesecake many years ago, but I always love to order it when we visit the Barnsider. Overall, I am a big fan of the bar area of the Barnsider. The good food, generous pours of wine, and excellent dessert all for a reasonable price keeps bringing us back in. If you live in the area it is definitely a place to check out if you haven't already. read more

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We had a lovely time for a 62nd birthday dinner. We had the seafood appetizer for 2, prime rib stuffed shrimp, baked scallops with filet and everything was super! So rich and buttery, heavenly! Thanks! read more

Barnsider - This lamp is over table - Steakhouses Near Me - Albany, New York

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From the start to the end, Barnsider is our go to restaurant in the Colonie area. The atmosphere is warm and staff friendly. The food is reliably excellent! I have eaten at Barnsider for many occasions or just because. I have been routinely chosen Barnsider since it was next to Macy's! I have definitely eaten here hundreds of times! read more

For some reason, it was challenging to make a reservation. And when we arrived, the greeter couldn't seem to find that. Despite that, it's worth the trip here. The salad bar was fresh and varied. The clam chowder was stocked with clams and tasty. The beef and baked potatoes looked especially delicious. Sadly, I had to stop by for take-out and couldn't enjoy their specialty. I'll be back on my next trip to Albany! read more

I came here last night for Valentine's Day dinner - food was fabulous. We ordered the beef Wellington and NY sirloin and I can't get over how both meals were so delicious and packed with so much flavor! Our servers were wonderful as well even though they were undoubtedly busy. We were all the way in the back of the room where it was a bit drafty, but the food and service made up for it. We will definitely be coming back in the future for sure! 100/100 recommend. read more

Barnsider - Steakhouses Near Me - Albany, New York

Food was great all the way around! Also wheelchair accessible with the accommodation needed for them! Baked ScallopsBeef WellingtonFilet MignonFrench Onion SoupSliced Sirloin read more

Barnsider - Beefwellington - Steakhouses Near Me - Albany, New York

Would not recommend to ANYONE. Very rude hostess (not the young girl). If you want a relaxing evening this is not the place for you! Also if you're reading this (middle aged white woman), get a new wardrobe! Xoxo Not sure how the food tastes because i did not eat here! Also it's Mother's Day and my mom is very upset that she has to officially cross the Barnsider off of her list! Burger King it is for dinner, sorry mom! read more

The Barnsider is a place that brings back alot of Nostalgia for me. I have been going there on and off over the years since my childhood. I love the look, the atmosphere and the professionalism of the staff. Where it has fallen short my past couple of visits is the quality/taste of the food. I generally have prime rib either on it's own or as a prime rib and seafood combo. Lately, when my wife asks me how it is... I unfortunately find myself saying it's ok, it's not good... but it's not bad. That's hard for me to admit, and say out loud. I have so many memories of absolutely delicious meals from the Barnsider in the past. Unfortunately, when it comes to ultimately choosing where to spend my hard earned money on a great meal. I have to make my current and future choices based on the present and not the past. Hopefully they figure out why the prime rib it tough and hard to cut/chew. Or why the seafood is bland and lacks the amazing taste it once had. But until than, I take my money where I can make new positive memories... and not live on past one's. read more

If you love beef, this is the place! I was especially pleased because the steak au poivre was a 16 oz steak and after explaining that it was impossible for me that much steak, they were nice enough to create a smaller 8 oz version for me. That is what will make me come back again. The steak was perfect, the peppercorns were fresh and the sauce was quite tasty. I was a bit disappointed with the salad bar. I remember it being much bigger before, although all vegetables were fresh and they did provide a selection of breads and a block of cheddar cheese. The fried ice cream was heavenly. We had it served with chocolate sauce and coconut. It was a very healthy serving and was easily shared between three of us. read more

Barnsider - Steakhouses Near Me - Albany, New York

Went here on a Sunday night and was sat immediately. We ordered the seafood sampler for $27, which came with two of everything on the appetizer menu that was seafood including clams casino, crab cake, scallops wrapped in bacon, etc. It was tasty but nothing special. The salad bar was great as was the bread that you can cut yourself. For our entrees we ordered Prime rib and grilled salmon. The salmon was tasty but the vegetables that came with it tasted and looked like the bag of mixed vegetables you buy ready to steam in the store. The prime rib was also good but the fries that came with it were definitely frozen. For a fine dining restaurant, I expected fresh vegetables and hand cut fries. Little touches like that would've elevated the meal. I will say the service was outstanding. read more

Always impeccable service, with delicious dinners! We always prefer to sit in the Tavern part, we enjoy their menu better.

We ate here as a recommendation from our Uber driver. We were in town on a layover. We were disappointed in the food. The salad was not impressive. When we ordered we wanted to upgrade our side and told of an extra charge we accepted that. However when we got the check we were charged for a full side. We were given the impression we could not get another side but we were also charged the full meal price which included a side. When we spoke to the rude server he refused to solve the issue. The even ruder manager offered to box our missing sides. Or to adjust the price. We ended up not leaving a tip. The restaurant was dirty and loud. For the price of the food the atmosphere should be more comfortable. read more

Fantastic service. Delicious food. Decent selection of wines. Steaks cooked as ordered. My complaint? Dining room absolutely filthy. Floors and rugs worn and dirty. Staircase gross. Food left dropped on the floor. If I had never eaten here before I would have walked out. My concern? If this is what the public -facing dining room looks like, what condition is the kitchen where food is prepped? read more

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Had dinner Thursday night and it was very disappointing. We have been going to the Barnsider for many years and it was always a place you could depend on to get a good steak. No longer true for sure! I had the surf and sirloin combo...the stuffed shrimp was good but the steak was over cooked and tough. The waiter offered to bring me another steak but I opted to replace it with more shrimp. My husband had an "awful" sirloin steak which he picked at but didn't finish. He told the wait person that it was not good but he didn't want another steak because he didn't think it would be any better. Grateful that we filled up at the salad bar ...the only good part of the meal. Anyway...it's sad but we will not be returning again in the future. Just not the same good old Barnsider. read more

First time at this cute restaurant. It came highly recommended and we enjoyed everything. We started with the appetizer of the bacon wrapped scallops that melted in your mouth. My boyfriend ordered the Beef Wellington. He had never had it before and was not disappointed. The flavor was delicious and the beef was very tender. I ordered the crab stuffed haddock. All the flavors of the crab and haddock together were delicious. We finished the meal with a warm apple crisp with ice cream. It melted in your mouth and the flavors were outstanding! All of the servers were friendly and made the evening so enjoyable. They all help each other and work together which is nice to see. We would definitely go back to this restaurant and we would definitely recommend it to others! Fantastic job to all! You can definitely tell this establishment takes pride in the food they serve!! read more

Barnsider - Bacon wrapped scallops. - Steakhouses Near Me - Albany, New York

Excellent food have enjoyed it every time I have gone there, we bring friends when they are in town. Enjoyed sitting in the rail card

Visited for the first time on Saturday night and I will never come back. My family and I had heard reviews from peers that this place is known for the excellent service and quality food. I don't know if the business has gotten new owners since their last visit, but these were things that we never received. We were left to wait over an hour to be able to eat what we ordered. We were sat in the back of the dining room, around the corner from the hallway that the waitresses moved in and out from. While we were waiting for our food, we heard staff members erupting in a loud argument over another table's order. The group was cursing back and forth at one another, until our waitress had to be the one to break up the fight. The one positive thing that I will mention is that our waitress apologized for the arguing we heard and was courteous when checking up on us. By the time we got our food, my plate was cold and my steak had too much fat on it. I'm not sure where they source their food, but it's not worth the price they slap on their menu. You're better off going to Texas Roadhouse for a steak worthy of being in the double digits. read more

Great place, great food, great service!!! Salad bar is awesome!! Prime rib was perfect. Scallops were excellent!!

Retro environment, unimaginative salad bar of basic lettuce, onions, tomatoes, etc...(I've seen far better options at the grocery store salad bars), flavorless albeit fresh baked bread and utterly flavorless steaks. The Bearnaise sauce actually had NO flavor at all. What a completely disappointing meal. Multiple servers racing around the room, completely oblivious to the patrons (nearly slamming into a man returning from the salad bar). What a colossal disappointment and waste of money. read more