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

Bombbb Italian food especially for Albany. We came here on a Friday night with a party of six for a birthday. The restaurant itself is definitely not in the greatest area but the inside is super cozy and welcoming. For appetizers we got the meatballs and burrata salad. I'm not a fan of burrata so I can't comment on the taste, but everyone at the table seemed to enjoy it. Meatballs were really really good and I'm super picky about meatballs. The sauce was delicious and we had plenty of bread to mop it all up. For dinner I got Ragu Neapolitana which was amazing. Nice and saucy and had so much flavor - I was honestly scraping the plate in huge spoonfuls because I couldn't eat it fast enough lol. Everyone else loved their meals as well. The staff was super friendly and you can tell they love their job. It would be a shame if this restaurant closes due to Covid - I would definitely return. read more

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

I think when you grow up eating Italian food at home it makes it difficult for an Italian restaurant to really knock your socks off. With this in mind, the food at Cafe Capriccio is freshly made, tasty and generally quite good. I have never seen them made with olives and capers before - the flavors were a bit overwhelming. They were clearly freshly made and others may enjoy them, but not for us. They offered to remove them from the bill, but I told the server not to as we had eaten a few before deciding we were not fans. I had the ragu napolitana and enjoyed the dish very much. There were nice chunks of slow cooked meat mixed in with the pasta and the sauce was flavorful. My girlfriend went for the tomato, basil, garlic tagliatelle with grilled chicken - she was overall pleased with the meal. $25 or so for a nice plate of fresh pasta seems reasonable, especially considering the quality of ingredients. read more

Had a business dinner tonight at Cafe Capriccio. Having eaten here before I made the suggestion & reservation to my colleagues. The food was spot on as usual but the service was not up to the food. Delays in getting before dinner drinks & water. Ordered a second round of drinks & waited & waited until we finished eating. When the waiter stopped by we asked him what happened to our drinks??? We passed on his offer to get our drinks after the fact. What was funny was when the bill arrived he said: "The second drinks were taken off the bill." Pretty funny that the second round of drinks we never received were taken off the bill. :). I still love the place & rack this up to just a bad night. Go to Cafe Capriccio it is a great place to eat. read more

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

First off, if you are looking for brick oven pizza and this restaurant pops up, forget about it. This place has not had pizza on the menu in years! After we got over that minor disappointment we focused on the menu and were delighted by the house made pastas! The ravioli special stuffed with burrata cheese in a creamy tomato sauce was exceptional, especially with a side of homemade meatballs. The gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce was velvety and accompanied by jumbo shrimp and mushrooms. The third dish was the tagliatelle with tender beef and a rich tomato sauce. The servers were attentive and overall the experience was extraordinary! Bravo to Cafe Capriccio. This place has a feel of old world Italy. read more

So the food is out of this world. Best Italian I've ever had. BUT, they rushed us from the second we sat down through three courses. The severs were constantly coming by, taking plates with yummy sauce and trying to take a drink that hadn't been finished. I get that they want to turn over the table but my goodness! Let us enjoy the fantastic (rather pricey) meal we just ordered! read more

Went to Cafe Capriccio for the first time tonight. From the moment you walk in the door you are greeted and they make you feel at home. We were seated immediately (we had reservations, highly recommended). We were seated outside on the patio and it was very nice. The servers were friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. We started with the stuffed portobello and meatball appetizers. They were phenomenal. The meatballs melted in your mouth. The main dishes did not disappoint. I got the veal Scallopini. It was delicious. I highly recommend Cafe Capriccio. read more

Cafe Capriccio - Veal Scallopini - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

Boyfriend and I ordered takeout for our anniversary. When he arrived home after picking it up, he noticed they forgot the appetizer. After calling, they said we can pick it up but we live 15+ mins away, not so convenient on our anniversary night. We were refunded with no issue. However, the amount of pasta was disappointing. Food tasted ok but given the serving size and price, I would say there are plenty of better options for Italian within the area. My boyfriend said he did like the atmosphere and the establishment was very cute and cozy, so he ended up leaving a big tip which he later regretted after the quality, portions, and less food than we ordered. read more

Authentic American Italian food in a romantic setting. You won't go wrong coming here. read more

Amazing meal, fun servers, quaint location on side street close to downtown. We went on Father's Day and had a really great meal. Started with the antipasti and eggplant for starters , both very tasty! For entree, I ordered the calamari Neri with grilled octopus and it was by far the best calamari Neri I've had . The sauce was almost like a gravy with little pieces of calamari on it and chocked full of flavor . My parents ordered the rack of lamb and chicken Franceses and cheese cake for dessert and they also were so delicious ! We were full and content . The atmosphere was nice and relaxing for a family meal and the waiters were also attentive and gave great recommendations on what items to try and pair , and also had some great dad jokes for the day :). We will be back ! read more

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

Appetizers and main course both served cold, not warm, cold. . Had them reheat the meals which took about 10-15 minutes, not sure why. Got 2 Negronis, one was bright red and the other was dark red. Completely different drink both times. Got tiramisu to top off the night and it was frozen. Had freezer burn on it. No drink, no app, no meal, no dessert, not one was comped. - Called the next day to speak with someone about my experience, was laughed at in the background for asking to speak to a manager. Management did not have the decency to call me back. First and last time dining there. read more

I just held my wife's birthday party at the chef's table. The food was delicious and was selected for us by Jim Rua and staff recognizing our allergies and preferences. This was the best Italian meal my guests and I ever had. The service was great. Silas was very attentive and was there for whatever we needed. Mike's pesto bread was delicious (my wife is a pastry chef and agrees). Would suggest this restaurant's chef table for a great place to have a small group for an intimate dinner. read more

Walking into Cafe Capriccio is like walking into your Italian grandmothers house. The fragrant food fills the air and you instantly begin to salivate in anticipation. The staff is kind and knowledgeable of the menu. I was quickly sat and greeted by Sam, who is a true expert of service. She made recommendations and knew everything about the menu. The puttanesca was bright on the pallet and full of flavor. The octopus was cooked to perfection, a slight al dente on the outside and soft on the inside. The puttanesca was perfectly balanced, the olives and anchovies were delicate and not at all overwhelming. I can't wait to join them again for dinner. read more

Cafe Capriccio - Puttanesca with grilled octopus - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

We had a wonderful dinner at the Chefs table last night. The team of Ryan, Maziey, Mike and Jim were amazing! From a dietary standpoint we were not the easiest group to feed. Allergys from all peppers, and dairy, would normally be an issue in other restaurants. Not at Cafe Cappricio. Food and Service could not have been better. I have been coming to this restaurant for over 20 years, and it is always wonderful and consistent in quality and service. What a special event to celebrate my son's birthday. Thank you Jimmy and team, and Carly for arranging everything for us! read more

Had the grilled octopus for appetizers and ravioli for my main course. Having been to southern Italy and eaten at numerous locally owned Italian restaurants, this place ranks in my top 3 that I've ever eaten at. The service was fantastic, the menu changes to what's in season so it's extremely fresh. The ambience is something like you would see off the Godfather, it looks like a hole in the wall, but once you walk in you're greeted and treated like royalty. I highly recommend Cafe Capriccio if you find yourself in the downtown Albany, NY area. read more

Don't waste your money. I went with 10 friend for a tasting dinner, $160 per person. It tasted like someone who just had learned how to cook had made everything on the menu. I've been to 2 other tasting dinners before at different places. This place should rename this to a buffet. A $22 per buffet is way better Italian food than what they claim to be a "tasting dinner". How do you call it this when you don't even season the dishes?! Gross Edited: My grandmother was 100% Italian. I know what Italian food is. Also I've been to Italy 3 times. read more

Food was good, the place is really nice, but our waitress was horrible. She acted as if she didn't want to be there, every time she talk to us she just looked mad for whatever reason. I went with my parents since my dad had come business meetings in Albany. My dad needed to use the company's card to pay for his meal, but his personal card to pay for our meal. He apologized to the waitress for "making her life difficult" but it was something he had to do. She completely messed up the cards and charged other things into the company card. She of course had to go back and fix it. Probably if she wasn't mad at life and if a rush this wouldn't have happened. read more

Excellent food, great service. Interesting place, definitely with a vintage vibe. We are from out of town, visited on recommendation. We loved it! If back in area, will visit again. Definitely make reservations in advance. There is street parking, and restaurant states you can park in municipal lot next to restaurant. Lot has a sign stating $10, but not sure if money collected at night though. We parked pretty easily on the street. read more

Consistently excellent. Excellent service, excellent food, cozy atmosphere. The professional staff always make me feel at home.

food and service were excellent!!! we were tended to immediately after walking in the restaurant. Servers and food were prompt. Can't wait to try again read more

Lovely family feel... we shared a simple meal of pizza and a salad and wine... oh man the fresh bread and olive was lovely - The service was attentive, friendly and helpful in deciding on what to order. The cozy atmosphere felt very much like we were among family and friends. I will be back to try More things! read more

Food, service and ambiance were perfect. The best Italian restaurant around with known professional service staff. The place is a gem. Well done Jimmy and staff. read more

The food was fabulous! Great attentive wait staff! I had the ravioli and my husband had the pasta and meatballs with Capriccio sauce! Everything was amazing! read more

We love this place. Jim Rua met us at the gate and showed us the herb garden. The new Tuscan Garden has a great vibe with classic old soul music. We shared garlic shrimp, grilled octopus, meatball burrata on arugula, truffle cheese pizza (added spicy chorizo) and then, the world famous (seriously) calamari neri (squid ink pasta) with some more grilled octopus and a bottle of Scala Covina red and you're transported. read more

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I moved to Albany a few months ago and searched for good restaurants in the area. I've heard a lot of recommendations, but so far, this is the only one that's truly blown me away. Friendly, quick, approachable service. A developed and authentic menu plus plenty of specials. I went for a fish special that blew me away with its flavors. My partner enjoyed a fantastic tiramisu. And unlike a lot of nice restaurants, the ambiance didn't feel forced--no painted olive murals or fake grass on walls, just a small space with beautiful decorations that felt genuinely cozy. (The live jazz singer in the background was lovely.) What a perfect place to enjoy a date night. read more

Cafe Capriccio has excellent catering service. I had to sort of "wing it" and come up with something for my birthday and Carli got it taken care of. There was even some confusion with the dates but they still got it done, everything worked out perfectly. And the food was fantastic all my people loved the Ravioli and the steaks were cooked with variety to accommodate everyone. Definitely worth the money. And not to mention I planned to feed 12-15 people, everyone ate, AND THERE WAS STILL LEFT OVERS!!!! Do you understand how amazing that is????? Forgot to take pictures because it was so damn good I had to put my phone down and savor it. Thank you everyone!!!!! read more

OMG This place is just a little off the beaten path but woah. Everything and I do mean everything was so delish. flavorful. great service. Delish. we got the chicken-amazing. Ravioli-amazing. Veal-amazing! hands down a 10! read more

Authentic Italian cuisine in Upstate New York. A creative menu, with really good bar service. Candlelit atmosphere, but also accessible for large families. Service was attentive and professional. Dessert was also excellent. We certainly will be back! read more

This intimate little gem is an institution in this capital city. It's hidden, and not in the best of neighborhoods. But no matter. Its well worth seeking out. Should you & your significant other be seeking an intimate, cozy, romantic, relaxing spot in-which to coo & cuddle sharing some Pino & pasta than seek no more. Low lighting, candles, flowers, high booths, opera, Italian food advertisements adorn the walls. The service is professional, un rushed but attentive. A limited yet authentic menu. Highly recommend any in house homemade pasta, the eggplant dish is delicate, not overly sauced- perfect. They also serve their own boule of fresh bread which was also excellent. I enjoyed my 1/2 portion of tagliatelle in the garlic cream sauce w baby spinach & toasted walnuts. A creamy but not overly unctuous dish and the 1/2 portion was more than ample. Highly recommended. read more

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The food was good. Not outstanding. Very odd service tho. First they tried to seat 4 of us in a very small booth with a broken bench. When we asked to move, they reluctantly did so. At the end of the meal, there was a Question about the bill. A discussion over 4 or 5 dollars. The manager came over and instead of trying to be nice , she insisted that they were right and wouldn't adjust the price. Then Days later added 10 dollars to the credit card charge!! Just so strange. We've been looking for a while for a good spot in Albany. This ain't it... read more

Food wasn't bad, but portions are very small for the price. I had the shrimp pasta, which was really good, but a tiny portion. We had a party of 7 and our bill was $336; $396 with tip! We each had an entree, shared 1 appetizer, 2 desserts, and 2 members shared a salad. So yeah.... Prepare to spend some coin. Other than we all left hungry and we paid quite a bit, this is a decent place to take a date or special occasion. read more

Save yourself from intimidation and harassment. These people will berate you on ur TIPS and stalked my friend on Instagram! As if our bill being over $200 for 4 people wasn't already outrageous, my friends and I were bullied into giving a larger tip by the hostess after receiving a phone call upon leaving and was threatened by her to charge each of us a 20% gratuity on each card even though we were a group of 4. This restaurant does not have the basic ability to split charges based on each person's order so we had to manually calculate our individual totals for them. On top of being forcefully charged 20% on each card, we were in a position where we paid even more money due to the lack of communication and misunderstanding of the server. So disrespectful! read more

Went to Cafe Capriccio for dinner. Not a good experience. The service, at best, was adequate and the food wasn't good. We left a tip that was far more than the server deserved. The restaurant then had the audacity to call us to question our tip. There is no way I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

Once in a blue moon does one experience a paradoxical night out quite like the one we had at Cafe Capriccio. I will save the granularity and cut to the chase: The food? Wonderful. You could walk out speaking Italian it's that good. Monday Tuesday Thursday Wednesday. The management? Haphazard, with a glaring lack of professional integrity. If a restaurant deems a party is limited to two hours on a Friday evening, which I can understand is a mainstay in the industry, this must be presented upon booking regardless of what the restaurant thinks customers can infer. Not once was this explained, nor is it written anywhere on the website or booking apps this restaurant uses. If turning the tables is that important, explicitly specify it on public facing platforms in order to proactively respect not only the reservation party, but the waitstaff as well. I wholeheartedly feel badly for the member of the staff who told us to, quite literally (but as politely as they could), get up from our table and leave when we had 15 minutes before meeting the undisclosed 2 hour maximum limit, after dinner drinks still in hand. Their apparent, extreme discomfort in informing our party is rivaled only by the callousness of the request itself, proxied by (I can only assume) management. I can fully empathize with the busyness of the restaurant industry, the fact that we're all human, and that we're all trying to be and do our best ....and, this experience was truly disappointing and disheartening (and based on many other reviews, not too uncommon). I wish the team there the best, as we all want small businesses to flourish...but just as a suggestion: leave the gun, take the cannoli, and think twice before dining at Cafe Capriccio. read more

Satisfying Italian with an interesting regional Tuscan menu that goes beyond the usual fair. All the dishes I tried were fresh and well cooked. Service was good. The place is a bit on the pricey side ( pasta dishes for ~$18) but at least the portions are quite large. The place has a nice family home atmosphere. The best dish I tried was probably the squid ink pasta. It had a very fresh seafood taste with a bit of spiciness and the pasta was well cooked. Another interesting dish was the sausage risotto. It was very flavorful and had a lot of capers. The overall flavor reminded me of the lemon caper sauce used in veal piccata. I recommend sharing this dish, as the portion was very large and it could get a bit boring if it is the only thing you order. The homemade eggplant ravioli were alright, but I was more of a fan of the sauce than the stuffing, which was not too flavorful and was overwhelmed by the sauce. I am a huge fan of beet salads, but the one I tried here was just OK. I felt it needed more goat cheese to make it more interesting. The antipasto plate was also just OK. I had a satisfying meal at Capriccio and would not mind returning if I ever find myself in Albany again. I recommend focusing on the main dishes over the appetizers, and sharing them as they are large portions and so that you can try more of their interesting options. read more

Cafe Capriccio - Calamari Neri squid ink pasta - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

Food was amazing. Service just as good. Daniel recommended the Pork Ossobuco, it was ridiculous. My group had multiple appetizers, desserts and main courses. One thing was better then the next. Thanks to all the help for the experience. I will definitely be back. read more

Great Food! Great Service! Enjoyed my meal tremendously! Old School establishment, enjoyed it immensely