Came here with coworkers for a business dinner, and from the outside you'd never expect how great it 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. read more

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Traditional Italian food in a cozy atmosphere. The ossobuco was tender and flavorful. Pasta is fresh and served al dented. We shared a sumptuous pistachio cake for desert. The service was exceptional. Recommend for couples and small groups. read more

Cafe Capriccio - Restaurant history - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

I won't bother with a long review. The food is average at best. The service is awful. End of story.

I arrived early for the reservation and enjoyed a perfect Cosmopolitan at the bar. The bartender was great at convo and welcoming. The three of us dined on the patio. The server brought complimentary bread balsamic olive oil , bread was crusty and hot. I loved my tagliatelle with sausage. My friend ordered a roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and seasonal veggies. Other friend a pasta with shrimp dish. The only dish we didn't love was the shrimp dish. The shrimp had no flavor and there was too much broth in the bowl that had no structure. The one pasta dish didn't ruin the experience in any regard and we will be back . read more

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Food and service was ok. We were looking forward to get pizza, which used to be on their menu a while back and no longer offered. read more

I walked into this old world style restaurant with a reservation for dinner and was not disappointed. I was shown to my table and the cozy warm vibe here is really nice. The staff was friendly and attentive without constantly having to check in on my table. It's always a bonus when they are able to anticipate your needs even before you are having to look up and find them. Now onto the discussion about my dinner! I can't say enough about how the pace that everything was being served was spot on. Not too slow but just right and you didn't feel like you were either waiting for a long time or rushed for that matter. We started with glasses of Chianti cause after all I am readying myself for quite the Italian meal! The bread came out with the cured meat antipasti that we ordered and oh my! It had cured meats obviously from the name of it and cheeses, and marinated vegetables what a start! For mains we had steak pasta, veal osso buco, flatiron steak and last but not least shrimp pasta. All I can say is wow, everything was cooked to perfection and our table was quiet. We are talkers so this was a rare moment haha. I can't say enough about the food, service and ambiance. All was just so so wonderful and the meal was fantastic. Lastly we had the tiramisu as if we weren't full enough but who can resist a goodie? If you're wanting a wonderful dining out experience, look no further as this establishment does Italian food right! You will walk out full and with a big smile. read more

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A classic, authentic Italian restaurant that truly delivers. The food is sensational, and the service is just as exceptional, warm, attentive, and welcoming. A fantastic all-around experience! read more

This should read more as a 3.85. Came here on the suggestion of a few people. I was lucky to grab a seat at the bar, as almost every table was taken as I walked in at 7ish on a Friday evening. The best part, there was a 3-piece band playing lovely music for most of the time I was there. Food: -wood roasted meatballs - these were unfortunately overcooked and too dense. The sauce and ricotta was pretty good, but if the meatballs were either less dense OR cooked for 90 seconds less, these meatballs could have been pretty darn good. -shrimp and scallop tagliatelle - this was pretty good. there was a decent amount of shrimp and scallops; the shrimp overdone by like 30 seconds, but didnt ruin them, and the scallops were done to perfection. the tagliatelle had a nice bite and chew. the lobster cream sauce was good, could have been slightly thicker, but, the dish was rather cohesive. -bread basket - i'm unsure why i liked the bread basket as much as i did. there was just the right amount to soak up the sauce from the meatballs and the pasta dish Overall, I can see how this place has the rep it does. I'd come back. read more

Portions are tiny, probably because the pasta is handmade and I want to devour it like a mad woman. Food is delicious. They can veganize almost anything. My drinks are always great. Nice ambiance. Spectacular service. read more

Maybe my fav restaurant in Albany. Makes you feel like you are in Goodfellas when you are in there. Seems small but there is plenty of seating in multiple rooms. Make reservations! I got the "sorrento" chicken which had a layer of eggplant smothered in cheese and sauce. What a winner. The veggies on the side were cooked perfect too. Had to get rage cakes cheesecake for dessert. It was eggnog tonight, for the holidays. Wasn't my fav tasting notes but the cheesecake quality was top notch. Highly recommend. read more

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My boyfriend and I came for a special holiday date. 10/10!! Both the service and the food were top notch. We ordered meatballs as an appetizer, and the stuffing in my boyfriend's chicken was perfection. They also have NA mocktails. My peach drink was fabulous and a NA menu is a thoughtful way for a restaurant to be inclusive. 10/10!!! Thank you for making our evening special. read more

Cafe Capriccio - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

I hadn't been here in over 5-7 years and it's better than I remembered. We had a party of 4. Beverages: Amalfi gin dirty martini, pear spritz, cybernetic, peroni. Apps: Grilled octopus, eggplant w/ four cheeses. Dinner: Salmon special, amatriciana cream homemade pasta with sausage, chicken francese with risotto, pork chop. Dessert: Pistachio & lemon cake. This is an institution! The service is impeccable. All of the pasta is homemade. The tomato sauce is very very good. The drinks are mixed perfectly and there's a great selection of beers, wines, spirits, cocktails and mocktails. The cutlery is fun with each steak knife being a different color handle. The parking isn't the best but there is on-street parking and pay-to-park options: 2 closeby lots and 2 closeby garages. There are a few steps to walk down to enter so I'm not sure about motorized wheelchair accessibility. I'm definitely adding this place back into the rotation and you should too! read more

Cafe Capriccio - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

This place was very warm and welcoming. We went here for date night. The Beet Salad is the best I have ever tested. Stuff shrimp appetizer is a must order. The pasta was undercooked. Fish was fresh and delicious. The ambiance was dimly lit and very romantic. We also order the pistachio cake. Not very sweet and very delicious. Staff was friendly. read more

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One of my favorite date night spots in my neighborhood. Delicious, freshly made authentic Italian food, with plenty of vegetarian options. The pasta here is hard to beat, but their menu is full of options. Cocktails are well thought out and well made. We love finishing our meal with dessert and a cappuccino. If you're looking for a traditional white table cloth Italian place, Cafe Capriccio should be at the top of your list. read more

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Manager Carli's Hostile Behavior Ruined Our Graduation Celebration We came to celebrate my wife's graduation--a special dinner with her parents, my brother, and his baby. Shortly after sitting down, we got word that my brother and his son couldn't make it due to illness. We let our server know immediately, and she kindly said the restaurant typically charges $20 per person for no-shows but wouldn't count the baby. She offered to check if we could order their meal to avoid the fee. That's when everything changed. The manager, Carli, came over and was instantly combative--raising her voice and insisting we owed $50, including a charge for the baby who wouldn't have eaten. She embarrassed us in the middle of the dining room, speaking loudly and aggressively while nearby diners stared. It wasn't about the money--we were happy to follow the policy--but the way she handled it was completely unprofessional. When we asked her to charge the fee to my father-in-law's card (he was treating my wife for her graduation), insisted on keeping it on my wife's. Then, to prove a point, she returned to the table once more, loudly reiterating herself and making sure we all knew who was in charge. There were several empty tables the entire time, despite the claim that they were fully booked back-to-back. We later learned that Carli is part of the ownership, which unfortunately tracks. After checking Yelp, we saw multiple other reviews describing similar interactions--guests surprised by her tone, publicly embarrassed, and then met with defensive or dismissive responses from Carli herself. It appears this is not a one-off incident but part of a broader pattern. When we left, Carli gave a sarcastic "congratulations" to my wife--her final dig. A special occasion turned sour over a $50 dispute that could have been handled with dignity and tact. read more

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The food, the ambiance, the staff!! Everything is perfect, the food is always delicious. My friends and I have been a few times and have always had the pleasure of getting cam as our server! She's wonderful and greats everyone with a genuine warm smile and great attitude! Love this place read more

During our vacation stop in Albany we had another 2 absolutely incredible dinners at the iconic Cafe Capriccio! The first night I started with the green salad and I'm always amazed at how fresh the greens are and the tomatoes are always so juicy! For my entree I had the pork chop, so tender and flavorful with herbs and the sauce on top. The mashed potatoes and fresh green beans were so good! The 2nd night my wife and I enjoyed the best lamb-shanks you'll ever taste, along with more fresh greens, and fresh pasta and sauce! So delicious every time we visit!! And the service from the staff was also excellent! No surprise that Cafe Capriccio has been serving happy customers for 43 years! Wow! read more

Cafe Capriccio - Pork Chop, mashed potatoes and fresh green beans - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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Food and service were great as always! We were celebrating daughters engagement and the staff made and it even more special

The place was fantastic and if I were in Albany just go here you will not be disappointed. I had the sorrento and it was to die for. My wife had shrimp pasta and she ate every bit. Ambiance was great as in an old fashioned genuine Italian restaurant and the prices were fantastic. Service was impeccable and you have the feeling everyone is responsible for every table, we waited for nothing and there was always someone close by to help. read more

Customer service is HORRIBLE. The manager is a hateful person who will actually call you if you don't leave a tip. Please see one star reviews on Google for details. Additionally the Italian food is FAR from great. I think people who have never went anywhere outside of Albany think it's great read more

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Food, service, and ambiance were top notch! Our table shared a caprese salad and eggplant with four cheeses, which were both amazing. My entree of risotto with jumbo shrimp followed by blood orange sorbet was a perfect meal. Highly recommend! read more

Cafe Capriccio - Risotto with jumbo shrimp - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

Our second visit. We enjoyed our last visit in September 2021 so much, that we went back! This time we had the Veal Scallopini, Pasta Ragu Napolitana, Gelato & Tiramisu. All amazing. And again, the house made pasta was the best we'd ever had. A true neighborhood gem that is well worth seeking out! read more

Cafe Capriccio - Lo, the Aperol Spritz - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

I came here with my colleagues from work. This place felt like I came to an Italian family house. The setting was intimate and the owner personally came over and told us his personal story behind the food that he created. We started off with the salad that had a polpetini (meatball) and warm roasted vegetables. Then on to the farfalle with pesto sauce. I had the steak which was really good. They paired this with some fabulous handpicked Italian wine. I'm pretty picky about Italian restaurants and this one did not disappoint. read more

Was in town for a Work meeting and Im not from the area, my mgr suggested I look at the "Private Chef dining experience" so we did that! Took me weeks to confirm the reservation but was finally able to get through & do that. We were going to have a private session with the Chef! We arrive and it was literally like walking into their house, we were soo welcomed & felt to feel like Family, Chef instantly hugged me & were at that moment became Lifelong Best Friends! From the moment we sat we were eating, I felt like we were eating for hours & hours... Now you say, "Why 3 stars", WELL... let me explain. We have MANY food restricted eaters in our group and because of that most of our meals were Veggies, Now I normally love veggies, but some of the ones served were not my faves (I have slight issues with Eggplant) and dont love other things. I came in to this having Yelped the menu and seen pics but apparently standard menu food is not whats served and dont get me wrong, what I was able to pick at was DELICIOUS.... I just know if I go back to dine normally I would more than likely give 5 stars! I also dont do heavy fish's and the other courses served were fish, Geesh, Im starting to sound like the picky one, LOL But no seriously, mine are preference issues, my team mates all have dietary, health issues. So look for an updated review when Im able to come back & try the restaurant menu!!! But yes, Chef and I are like Besties now! He was soo great to hang with! read more

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How do you write a review about one of the best restaurants you have ever been to. A place that has a warm atmosphere, fantastic service, and superb food. Well please read on and you will discover the answer. I must admit it has been a while since visiting Cafe Capriccio. It didn't disappoint. A dear friend and I decided to go for dinner on a Friday evening. The place was crowded, but we got a booth. Sophia was our server extraordinaire. After a few minutes she inquired about a beverage choice. We were given a menu and evening specials. We decided to get the shrimp pasta, and for an appetizer, Caesar salad and grilled octopus. I have never had octopus, it didn't disappoint. The pasta was one of the best that I have ever eaten. Shrimp and pasta very light with lemon. Although she was busy, Sophia would check in with us. For dessert the pumpkin cheesecake with crumbles was calling my name, it was light and enjoyable, a homage to fall. It was an absolutely marvelous dinner! I would call it unforgettable. Thank you. Sophia. read more

I tried this place based on reading the Yelp reviews. What a cute place! The staff was extremely friendly. I had the beet and orange salad (without nuts) and the porcini mushroom ravioli special. Everything was delicious. Even the bread. I loved that the ravioli came with a tomato basil sauce. Usually restaurants serve them with a white cream sauce. Very decent wine selection. I would definitely recommend taking an Uber if staying downtown and traveling by yourself. It's not far but I don't think it would be safe to walk by yourself at night. read more

Cafe Capriccio - Porcini mushroom ravioli - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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When the ingredients shine, the simple flavors wow you on their own. Cafe Capriccio clearly uses the highest quality ingredients in everything they do. The green olive oil on the table is a first sign. Is it silly to rave about olive oil? The fresh, bouncy, dense bread dipped into the olive oil seasoned with fresh cracked pepper, salt and fresh grated parmesan was the perfect way to start this magnificent meal we were about to have. This place was so lively and full of families dining, and servers running back and fourth. They have multiple servers checking on you, and while it could be confusing, they nail it. We had pretty good service all around, the the servers knew their stuff. All of them were well educated on the menu and the specials for the evening. Speaking of the menu, this is not your americanized Italian restaurant with 100 red sauce and cream dishes, and meals that will feed your family for the week. These are authentic dishes with real Italian inspirations, sensible portions, and the highest quality ingredients. For some appetizers, we really wanted to try their newer menu item, the wood fired pizza. We opted for the Calabrese, which was a simple pie topped with red sauce, fresh mozzarella and spicy house made salami. The pie was perfectly cooked, great crust and lightly topped, but that salami was such a great surprise. The flavors were so complex and excited, just in the salami. I have no idea what was added to give it that complex flavor, but it was a nice surprise. We also tried the Mushroom "meatballs" which were served in a sage marsala cream sauce. This dish was so unique, thoughtful, and damn delicious. The texture was airy and light, the sauce was perfect for them. Both appetizers were winners. For entrees, I can't resist "Fresh Pasta made in house Daily" on the menu. I had to get a dish with pasta. I enjoy ordering Veal when I am out because I never have it at home, so I opted for the Veal Francese with the pasta of the day, Lumache. The veal was out of this world tender, and the pasta, there are no words. The subtle white wine sauce with lemon was perfectly made and paired with the veal. My boyfriend ordered the Chicken and Eggplant Sorrento with a side of the lumache and tomato sauce. The flavors in everything were remarkable, and the tomato sauce on the pasta had unbelievably fresh flavor. My dining partners both order the Ravioli special of short rib stuffed, house made raviolis, in a tomato basil cream sauce. They both said that it was the best ravioli they have had. The pasta really shines here. We ordered two bottles of wine through dinner, the atmosphere is perfect, service was perfect, the food was remarkable. If you're not coming here for Italian, you are sorely missing out. read more

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Very very good Italian restaurant with pretty reasonable prices. You won't be disappointed. Friendly staff and clean environment. read more

Cafe Capriccio - Vodka sauce with sausages - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

First time back in a while due to the shootings in this area and we won't be back. The food was ok (duck ragu) but the service was awful. Our waitress handed us our dishes without a word and we didn't see her again until we got our bill, with only the slightest acknowledgment. I know she's long term. We sucked up the bar prices and luckily chose reasonable entrees and wine, but the service is what made us realize the restaurant was not worth risking our lives for. It was my birthday, so underwhelming. We had talked about going back for years. Now we can put that to rest. Sorry to say Goodbye, Cafe Capriccio. read more

My mother had made a reservation for a Saturday night. The restaurant has a policy that no-shows are charged a fee. We completely understand and we didn't ask for an exception to the policy. She died suddenly earlier that week. Although we were incredibly overwhelmed, we called the restaurant to cancel this reservation since we do not consider that fee to be trivial. There was no answer, so we left a detailed voicemail. The following day, we called again, and someone answered. Although it was busy and during service hours, we got a confirmed "okay, no problem" after making our cancellation. The reservation also went away on Open Table. The night that the dinner was supposed to happen, we got an email (we had gotten into my mom's email) that her credit card was charged $200 dollars from the restaurant. We immediately called, and were told that no one had previously called, and moreover, there were no exceptions to their policy and no chance at contesting the charge since they had called the reservation holder (our passed mother) to confirm our attendance and no one picked up (her phone was being held in the medical examiner's office). When we ended up emailing proof that we had called the restaurant multiple times days before the reservation, we were told by the manager that she didn't care about our story and hung up. Every time we have called since then we have been hung up on, and the manager has refused a refund and also refused an apology. I cannot imagine working for someone who acts like this. I understand policies, but I do not understand unwillingness to accept when something went wrong on your end. I would never recommend this place to anyone and think the business owner should do some serious reflection on how to treat costumers. read more

Our neighbors raved about Cafe Capriccio so we finely decided to go on New Year's Eve. Perhaps their prix fixe nights don't represent a typical dinner for them but I can't say we were thrilled with our experience. Our server seemed aloof and a bit brash. When she first came around to ask us for our drink order, we asked for a wine list. When she returned, we asked a second time for a wine list. We finally stopped the hostess as she sat a table near us to ask for a wine list which she provided. This was typical of our service that night. Dishes looked bland. (I failed to take pictures of our main dishes but they lacked garnishes). The bread seemed undercooked. The broth in the first-course pasta was watery. The steak came without any type of sauce. The baked potato was served with butter. The restaurant is situated in a basement and the dining room we were seated in looked like it hadn't been updated in decades. I can't recall what the background music selection was but I do remember it did not fit the occasion of a NYE dinner in an Italian restaurant. Will we go back? Well, it's been six months and while we tossed around the idea of returning, we've ended up choosing to go elsewhere. 3-stars is generous for our dining experience. UPDATE: When I research businesses, including restaurants, I make note of owner responses when considering my options. Positive responses go a long way in my book regarding how owners address negative comments. When I leave a review, I have at times positively adjusted my review when an owner accepts it as constructive criticism; I have never negatively adjusted a review based on an owner's response. Considering Cafe Capriccio's response to my review, as well as their criticism of taking 6 months to write my review, we certainly will not return. And while the owner states every dish is garnished, I don't suspect their memory to be superb either because our dishes were not. As for the baked potato, I acquiesce. It must have been mashed potatoes...again, just with butter. And if we're going to split hairs, our server created the table next to us recognizing them as long time repeat customers. When the gentleman asked for blue cheese stuffed olives for his martini, the server returned to say she could not meet his request as the blue cheese is too expensive so they're not allowed to offer them. To say we were aghast is an understatement. So much to catering to your regulars. read more

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10/10 absolutely fantastic. The caesar salad was a little strange because it was grilled - but that is the only thing we would not order again. Tomato basil garlic cream pasta with shrimp was fantastic, my husband had the same sauce but with the Ravioli of the day and meatballs. We also had 2 of the homemade desserts - absolutely delicious and the server was super kind and helpful. Will definitely be back. read more

Cafe Capriccio - Tomato basil garlic cream pasta - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

Came here with some friends and it seemed like the only place we could find that had an outdoor seating arrangement, and what a score! They've outfitted their back patio into what they call a Tuscan garden and it's such a cute vibe. Perfect for nice date. The server was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and we had some tasty drinks before long. She said their pizza would ruin any other pizza for me, which bold as it was, was a challenge I was willing to accept. Now I'm no connoisseur when it comes to pizza, I believe for the most part that all forms of pizza are the greatest achievement of humanity thus far, and unless there was pineapple erroneously added, you can't go wrong. That being said it was pretty damn tasty and I loved everything about this place. read more

Cafe Capriccio - Margherita - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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What an interesting spot in the Capital region! Homemade Italian favorites and a lot of soup and history. I was a little apprehensive as to the location pulling up on a Sunday night in the rain - and I'm glad I did it. The pasta was made in house and the sauce delicious. I had the ravioli special with the garlic cream sauce. I would recommend you try their garlic cream sauce - think vodka sauce but better! read more

First off, go eat here now. If you like Italian I will be shocked if you don't love everything at Cafe Capriccio. From start to finish the experience was surprising, fun and phenomenal. First greeted outside by the guide to help you navigate to the right door. More appreciated and needed than you may originally think. Our reservation was ready and waiting for us and we were seated immediately. You are further better by staff than really appear to enjoy working together and having fun. We found ourselves laughing and at ease immediately. The food, we had 4 patrons in total, 2 appetizers, 4 mains and 2 desserts. Everyone was in awe and every step of the meal was nothing short of perfection. The appetizers were the beats and stuffed clams. Both delicious, preferred was the clams the flavor exploded in our mouths. I should also mention the fresh bread they serve you, delicious and the oil and parmesan are already on the table for you. Mains were made up of 2 different eggplant dishes, a pasta dish and the scallop special. Everyone was in love. Eggplant on par with the best I've ever had at other Italian favorites. The scallops which my friend let me try again were perfection. They may have been the best I've ever had, with once again the flavor being tantalizing with every bite. Dessert we got the Pistachio option and Nonna's option. Both were amazing. The Pistachio cake stole the night. From all the perfection that was had this evening, the Pistachio cake reigned supreme. A perfect way to end our evening. I couldn't recommend Cafe Capriccio more. We were there visiting friends but you can guarantee next time we visit we shall be back. In the mean time please go and Enjoy!! read more

I've heard great things about this place for a few years and finally was able to experience this wonderful, classic style Italian fare with an eclectic twist. The service was amazing and just as I had hoped they made you feel like you were the only customers even with a full restaurant. Well done! I will be back soon. read more

Cafe Capriccio - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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Food/service/atmosphere all excellent...will return 1000% when I'm back in the area. Highly recommend

Amazing food! Such a great experience! Walking in the front door we were a little scared. But it definitely surprised us and was awesome!! read more

One of the best restaurants in the Capital region. Period, end of story. From the olive oil served with the crusty bread to the bowl of parmesan they provide every ingredient is flawless. They have an ample wine list and thankfully some options that didn't soak you in terms of cost. We enjoyed both bottles we tried. The night I went my party was excited about trying the octopus which they ran out of and announced right away. Darn! We did order one of the greatest appetizers I have ever had. Mushroom "meatballs". The accompanying sauce and texture was simply mind blowing! What a brilliant use of an under appreciated ingredient. My entrée was actually offered mid way through the meal. They had changed the "ravioli of the night" to a beef short rib filling. This including their red sauce and perfectly cooked ravioli was absolute perfection. If you are a ravioli lover the CC will end up being your favorite stop. Need a special spot for a date or anniversary? This is the perfect place. A friend said this restaurant is "in its own league" in terms of Italian food. I don't always agree with him but this time I most certainly did :) read more

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Sophia was an excellent server! Everything tasted great and the atmosphere was top tier!