Dove + Deer
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One of the worst and one of the best experiences of my 14,000 mile 48 state foodie road trip on this day in Albany. I had this spot on my researched itinerary for their unique menu items. It ordered a Ratatouille Stack: fried eggplant, grilled zucchini, prosciutto, tomato, red onion, fresh mozzarella, balsamic pearls, and marinara + Chipotle Alfredo: corn, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, onion, mezzo rigatoni, spicy chipotle sauce, and pecorino. The stack has nice textures which made for a unique bite restrained on the salt despite the prosciutto. But one of my favorite bites of the trip came from the chipotle Alfredo as everything worked harmoniously with a hint of smokiness to bring it all together. The servers were great and the vibe was kind of upscale without feeling overly pretentious. Beyond happy to have tried this spot!
Dove and Deer is a restaurant that doesn't quite know how to find its identity. We initially came expect a solid option for a date night after browsing the menu and seeing things like risotto, short rib, and steak. Upon arriving we were greeted with much more of a sport/dive bar energy. It took about 10 minutes before anyone acknowledged any of us waiting for a table. They told us it would be a long wait for a table but we were welcome to a window seat so we went with that. Unfortunately we were sat next to what was a makeshift employee break area where employees were eating, chatting, and rolling silverware. The Brussels sprouts were okay but the burgers were both burnt outside and raw inside despite being ordered medium. Neither of us finished and we left promptly to get food elsewhere. Not likely to return.
This was a cute local place huge space. Attentive service and good conversation. The drinks were on point they have huge bar with plenty of seating. We just came for drinks becuase there was no AC in the middle of summer but I've been told the foods good. There's also outdoor seating available
Wow! This place is so very good. The weather was perfect tonight so my coworker and I chose outside seating. The service was good and the food was very yummy. I asked the couple next to me about their wings, which looked very tasty and they rated their wings 9.5/10. I am looking forward to eating there with my husband.
What an excellent lunch spot! It's a must stop! We came here for a quick lunch spot after a tour of the state capitol. Well worth it! The Smash Burger and Chicken Wrap were great. Seasoned to perfection and very tasty! The house salad was ok nothing to report home about! Service and ambiance were great. I would return here for a dinner! Highly recommend.
Enjoyed sitting at the counter in the window and people watching while having a lovely meal. The servers were friendly and pleasant. Our food was very good. My burger was tasty, juicy, and cooked perfectly.
I wish it met my expectations, maybe I hyped it up in my head too much and they were having an off night but it really was a lackluster experience. I called earlier in the day to ask about the menu on the website which reads, "Autumn 2025." They said they are still using that menu although he corrected me on the phone and said fall/winter 2025-2026 which is what it actually read on the menu when we were in the restaurant, ok. He asked if I wanted to reserve a table, I had not planned on it but appreciated the suggestion so I did, table for two, 5:30pm. We arrived just before 5:30pm to a busy restaurant. The server who created us at the door looked around and suggested we sit at a high top at the bar. We asked about the dining room, she looked around and said there would be a wait. I mentioned I had a reservation for two at 5:30pm and she said that reservations are normally for groups of six or more and suggested the high tops in the bar area again. Our server in the bar area was polite and although he didn't seem super knowledgeable about the vegan items on the menu he said he would ask about anything he was unsure about and get back to us. The Kung Pao Brussel Sprouts came out first, very deep fried, very greasy, there was hardly any green remaining inside them. The Vegan Lo Mein seemed very light on the vegetables or tofu if there was any and the portion size considering the price. The fried tofu bahn mi was alright, the fries were some type of coated frozen fry and I am guessing, not vegan. We appreciate vegan items on the menu but I think it is important to be more clear about the ingredients and sauces. I am sure servers don't like getting asked a million questions and as a customer, I'd rather eat somewhere I don't have to worry about cross contamination or play a guessing game about menu items. Those large open tables for six against the wall we were told weren't available, yeah, they remained empty the entire time we were seated in the noisy bar area and could barely hear each other while sitting at a high top table, made to sit six people. Still trying to figure out the calculus on that one. Other food looked good going out past us but Dove & Deer is just not our cup of tea.
It's been awhile since I have been impressed with a restaurant, and at first, when the short rib came out with a steak knife, and looking a bit dry, I was afraid that I made a mistake coming here. But alas, I had no reason to worry. Other than the very thin, outer layer, the short rib was moist and tender. The flavors and textures of the broccoli rab, butter, cheese, polenta, and beef paired perfectly, and the portion was generous. My wife enjoyed her burger, truffle fries, and off the menu drink. The server handled all of our requests with ease, and the place itself had a very welcoming, European bistro quality to it. Based on every table being full on a Monday night, this is a neighborhood gem that's well known and appreciated. We can't wait to come back here.
Great Food, Shocking Customer Service -- Management Needs Serious Attention I visited twice -- first on Easter Sunday, where the food was genuinely excellent and the experience was wonderful. I was excited to return. However my second visit was a completely different story. As a party of two at a walk-up seating establishment, we were denied a table that was visibly open and available -- solely because it was a four-top and management wanted to "hold it just in case" a larger party arrived. No reservation system, no waitlist, no other parties walking in -- just an empty table we were not allowed to use. What made this experience particularly disappointing was the manager's demeanor. Rather than offering a warm explanation or alternative solution, the interaction felt dismissive, judgmental and unwelcoming. It left me genuinely questioning whether we were being assessed by appearance rather than treated as valued guests. Here's the business reality -- a party of two who ordered appetizers, two entrees, drinks and dessert on our first visit likely spent comparable to many parties of four. Turning away willing, enthusiastic customers to speculate about hypothetical future ones is simply poor business practice. The food deserves five stars. The management on this visit deserves immediate retraining. I hope ownership sees this and takes it seriously -- because the kitchen is doing its job beautifully. The front of house let the entire experience down.
The owner would rather fight customers in the comment section of their Instagram and Google reviews than serve good food. The owner turns off comments, deletes bad reviews and cyber bullies people from his burner account. I have attached screenshots of replies the business made directly to people in the comments of a post after people expressed disappointment with their use of ai. When the business stoped replying to comments defensively, a new Instagram account started commenting as a "concerned citizen of the neighborhood" indicating that the Instagram account under the name @fathermedici is most likely the owner of the business because who else would care to defend the restaurant so hard in the comments? As promised I exposed these comments as seen in the following screenshots and I also took to Reddit where many others had plenty to say about the abundance of rats and flies they have in the restaurant as well as the creepy behavior endured by others at the hands of the owner, shady hiring practices, and over priced bland food. I've also included the blatantly rude way the owner replied to multiple of his Google reviews. The only people who should be eating here are the ai bots the owner loves defending sooo much.
We were downtown for a conference and decided to try the Dove and Deer for lunch. The place is super cute, inside and outside. Our waitress was nice. But good grief that chicken sandwich was good! The salad was fresh and the fries were crispy! I was told the "smashed" burger was juicy and delicious! We both had hot tea with our lunch and had a marvelous time overlooking the sun washed streets lined with brownstones. I recommend you try it!
A must-go! A group of us came for drinks and apps on a Thursday and it was a great time! There were 6 of us and we were promptly seated without any issues, although I'm unsure if they do or don't do reservations. They have great cocktails, the pear Paloma was delicious. They also ran out of some of their cocktails that night but our waitress was great with giving us other recommendations. However, their Guinness wasn't the best pour for our experience. We split the wings, truffle parm fries, and mini wagyu hotdogs, all of which were delicious. The wings are a must if you're deciding on an app and you can never go wrong with the fries! However, I think the mini waygu hotdogs could be skipped--they didn't taste like anything better than a hotdog and for the price and portion, you could definitely opt for something else. Otherwise, the bar seating and sports games were fun and they also have darts too. A great place in the neighborhood to get together with friends or on a date!
1 month ago
It's been a while since I've had a meal here. It's always good. There have been some changes to the menu. They all looked delish. The service has always been good here. There has been some turnover in staff but they were just as friendly, helpful and professional as I remembered. I kept it casual and picked a Tofu Banh Mi which is a Vietnamese sandwich. It came with greens. I really enjoyed this dish. It was filling but didn't weigh me down. I ordered Wayward Lane Brewing Monarca Gold: A Mexican-style lager. It was very good but I have to admit I ordered because I liked the butterfly on the can. I actually liked my friend's dark smoked beer even better. Wayward Lane Brewing's Lifeblood looked like stout and tasted a bit like smoked bacon to me even though it was supposed to feature notes of toasted brown bread and caramelized sugar. My friend also had truffle ( mushroom) fries and a smash burger. He loved the meal. Dove & Deer is a pretty place. Attractive furniture and light fixtures. Big windows. A nice variety of food and beverage that you might not find everywhere else. read more
29 days ago
Thanks to InKind, I tried this place out for brunch today. If you don't have InKind, download it and you'll get reward cash equal to 20% of your bill. Also, Dove + Deer has a current welcome gift of $30 off of $90. Anywho, I felt like getting pancakes and these were nice and fluffy with a nice chew. The strawberries were sweet and soft and the maple syrup was great. The eggs were scrambled perfectly as well, with great flavor - shocking because most eggs are so flavorless. You get a choice of additional protein and I chose the maple sausage which was delicious as well. The only thing that could be improved was a bit more salt and/or pepper on the home fries but I guess most people use the ketchup that's given, so I understand the under seasoning. The service was friendly albeit infrequent, and that's just fine. Water is left on the table for self-service and that's really why I need additional service attention anyway. All in all, a great brunch place because it has lots of space and feels casual and comfortable. Try it. read more
I have visited Dove + Deer for dinner several times, and what consistently impressed me was its casual, lively vibe, along with a large bar area and even a spot to play darts. The live music on many evenings adds to the atmosphere, and I've particularly enjoyed some of the creative fusion dishes they've been experimenting with. The street corn flatbread has a strong spicy kick and reminded me of the Indian-style pizza I enjoyed back home in India. The peach salmon was another standout, with the lemon-flavored rice adding a unique touch. And the Chocolate Cookie Skillet is an absolute must-have! Other highlights include the stuffed mushrooms, truffle parm fries, and tiramisu, and the service was quite good as well. Dove + Deer is definitely an excellent option to explore if you're in the Albany area. read more
One of the worst and one of the best experiences of my 14,000 mile 48 state foodie road trip on this day in Albany. I had this spot on my researched itinerary for their unique menu items. It ordered a Ratatouille Stack: fried eggplant, grilled zucchini, prosciutto, tomato, red onion, fresh mozzarella, balsamic pearls, and marinara + Chipotle Alfredo: corn, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, onion, mezzo rigatoni, spicy chipotle sauce, and pecorino. The stack has nice textures which made for a unique bite restrained on the salt despite the prosciutto. But one of my favorite bites of the trip came from the chipotle Alfredo as everything worked harmoniously with a hint of smokiness to bring it all together. The servers were great and the vibe was kind of upscale without feeling overly pretentious. Beyond happy to have tried this spot! read more
4 days ago
Dove and Deer is a restaurant that doesn't quite know how to find its identity. We initially came expect a solid option for a date night after browsing the menu and seeing things like risotto, short rib, and steak. Upon arriving we were greeted with much more of a sport/dive bar energy. It took about 10 minutes before anyone acknowledged any of us waiting for a table. They told us it would be a long wait for a table but we were welcome to a window seat so we went with that. Unfortunately we were sat next to what was a makeshift employee break area where employees were eating, chatting, and rolling silverware. The Brussels sprouts were okay but the burgers were both burnt outside and raw inside despite being ordered medium. Neither of us finished and we left promptly to get food elsewhere. Not likely to return. read more
This was a cute local place huge space. Attentive service and good conversation. The drinks were on point they have huge bar with plenty of seating. We just came for drinks becuase there was no AC in the middle of summer but I've been told the foods good. There's also outdoor seating available read more
8 days ago
Food was creative and good. Drinks were fun, my favorite part. Service was fast, but I was in slow mode, she rose to the occasion. I had a window seat facing the street, the outside dining was full, but I was pleased with the window watching as I ate. read more
Wow! This place is so very good. The weather was perfect tonight so my coworker and I chose outside seating. The service was good and the food was very yummy. I asked the couple next to me about their wings, which looked very tasty and they rated their wings 9.5/10. I am looking forward to eating there with my husband. read more
What an excellent lunch spot! It's a must stop! We came here for a quick lunch spot after a tour of the state capitol. Well worth it! The Smash Burger and Chicken Wrap were great. Seasoned to perfection and very tasty! The house salad was ok nothing to report home about! Service and ambiance were great. I would return here for a dinner! Highly recommend. read more
4 months ago
Enjoyed sitting at the counter in the window and people watching while having a lovely meal. The servers were friendly and pleasant. Our food was very good. My burger was tasty, juicy, and cooked perfectly. read more
I wish it met my expectations, maybe I hyped it up in my head too much and they were having an off night but it really was a lackluster experience. I called earlier in the day to ask about the menu on the website which reads, "Autumn 2025." They said they are still using that menu although he corrected me on the phone and said fall/winter 2025-2026 which is what it actually read on the menu when we were in the restaurant, ok. He asked if I wanted to reserve a table, I had not planned on it but appreciated the suggestion so I did, table for two, 5:30pm. We arrived just before 5:30pm to a busy restaurant. The server who created us at the door looked around and suggested we sit at a high top at the bar. We asked about the dining room, she looked around and said there would be a wait. I mentioned I had a reservation for two at 5:30pm and she said that reservations are normally for groups of six or more and suggested the high tops in the bar area again. Our server in the bar area was polite and although he didn't seem super knowledgeable about the vegan items on the menu he said he would ask about anything he was unsure about and get back to us. The Kung Pao Brussel Sprouts came out first, very deep fried, very greasy, there was hardly any green remaining inside them. The Vegan Lo Mein seemed very light on the vegetables or tofu if there was any and the portion size considering the price. The fried tofu bahn mi was alright, the fries were some type of coated frozen fry and I am guessing, not vegan. We appreciate vegan items on the menu but I think it is important to be more clear about the ingredients and sauces. I am sure servers don't like getting asked a million questions and as a customer, I'd rather eat somewhere I don't have to worry about cross contamination or play a guessing game about menu items. Those large open tables for six against the wall we were told weren't available, yeah, they remained empty the entire time we were seated in the noisy bar area and could barely hear each other while sitting at a high top table, made to sit six people. Still trying to figure out the calculus on that one. Other food looked good going out past us but Dove & Deer is just not our cup of tea. read more
It's been awhile since I have been impressed with a restaurant, and at first, when the short rib came out with a steak knife, and looking a bit dry, I was afraid that I made a mistake coming here. But alas, I had no reason to worry. Other than the very thin, outer layer, the short rib was moist and tender. The flavors and textures of the broccoli rab, butter, cheese, polenta, and beef paired perfectly, and the portion was generous. My wife enjoyed her burger, truffle fries, and off the menu drink. The server handled all of our requests with ease, and the place itself had a very welcoming, European bistro quality to it. Based on every table being full on a Monday night, this is a neighborhood gem that's well known and appreciated. We can't wait to come back here. read more
Great Food, Shocking Customer Service -- Management Needs Serious Attention I visited twice -- first on Easter Sunday, where the food was genuinely excellent and the experience was wonderful. I was excited to return. However my second visit was a completely different story. As a party of two at a walk-up seating establishment, we were denied a table that was visibly open and available -- solely because it was a four-top and management wanted to "hold it just in case" a larger party arrived. No reservation system, no waitlist, no other parties walking in -- just an empty table we were not allowed to use. What made this experience particularly disappointing was the manager's demeanor. Rather than offering a warm explanation or alternative solution, the interaction felt dismissive, judgmental and unwelcoming. It left me genuinely questioning whether we were being assessed by appearance rather than treated as valued guests. Here's the business reality -- a party of two who ordered appetizers, two entrees, drinks and dessert on our first visit likely spent comparable to many parties of four. Turning away willing, enthusiastic customers to speculate about hypothetical future ones is simply poor business practice. The food deserves five stars. The management on this visit deserves immediate retraining. I hope ownership sees this and takes it seriously -- because the kitchen is doing its job beautifully. The front of house let the entire experience down. read more
29 days ago
13 days ago
The owner would rather fight customers in the comment section of their Instagram and Google reviews than serve good food. The owner turns off comments, deletes bad reviews and cyber bullies people from his burner account. I have attached screenshots of replies the business made directly to people in the comments of a post after people expressed disappointment with their use of ai. When the business stoped replying to comments defensively, a new Instagram account started commenting as a "concerned citizen of the neighborhood" indicating that the Instagram account under the name @fathermedici is most likely the owner of the business because who else would care to defend the restaurant so hard in the comments? As promised I exposed these comments as seen in the following screenshots and I also took to Reddit where many others had plenty to say about the abundance of rats and flies they have in the restaurant as well as the creepy behavior endured by others at the hands of the owner, shady hiring practices, and over priced bland food. I've also included the blatantly rude way the owner replied to multiple of his Google reviews. The only people who should be eating here are the ai bots the owner loves defending sooo much. read more
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Thomas V.
Alyssa, this review appears to be about an online disagreement rather…
14 days ago
5 months ago
1 year ago
We were downtown for a conference and decided to try the Dove and Deer for lunch. The place is super cute, inside and outside. Our waitress was nice. But good grief that chicken sandwich was good! The salad was fresh and the fries were crispy! I was told the "smashed" burger was juicy and delicious! We both had hot tea with our lunch and had a marvelous time overlooking the sun washed streets lined with brownstones. I recommend you try it! read more
7 months ago
A must-go! A group of us came for drinks and apps on a Thursday and it was a great time! There were 6 of us and we were promptly seated without any issues, although I'm unsure if they do or don't do reservations. They have great cocktails, the pear Paloma was delicious. They also ran out of some of their cocktails that night but our waitress was great with giving us other recommendations. However, their Guinness wasn't the best pour for our experience. We split the wings, truffle parm fries, and mini wagyu hotdogs, all of which were delicious. The wings are a must if you're deciding on an app and you can never go wrong with the fries! However, I think the mini waygu hotdogs could be skipped--they didn't taste like anything better than a hotdog and for the price and portion, you could definitely opt for something else. Otherwise, the bar seating and sports games were fun and they also have darts too. A great place in the neighborhood to get together with friends or on a date! read more
Through all the years, I never made it to Dove + Deer until recently. It's such a cute neighborhood bar, I am not surprised it was packed in a Saturday night. A wide array of diners and drinkers enjoying their evening made a lively atmosphere. The cocktail menu was solid and I ended up with a gin cocktail as usual. We were only in the mood for bar snacks at the time, so we got some wings and Brussels sprouts. The wings were perfectly cooked and juicy, I love a good dry rub because it maintains a great crisp. The Brussels sprout had a great Asian flavor and crunchy peanuts. This was a quick stop for me, but I would definitely return to try more! read more
1 year ago
The service was incredibly friendly and the food was amazing. The atmosphere was refined and fun. It was a great stop that will be made again. The only "issue" was it took a longer time than desired for the food to come out but the cocktails covered that wait time wonderfully! We all had the grocer and it was fantastic! read more
4 months ago
What an amazing restaurant! If you're looking for a place for a special event, I think Dove + Deer would be a great option. Very elegant inside, amazing food, and pricey but manageable prices for a special dinner. Everyone was friendly and knowledgeable about all the dishes. I ordered truffle Parmesan fries as well as the beet pasta, admittedly too much food for one person. Both had plentiful portions. The fries tasted clean and flavorful, exactly how I expected these Parmesan fries to taste. The beet pasta was very good as well! They use the beets moreso to color the dish, giving it its distinct color, so you can enjoy the dish even if you hate beets. The flavor was creamy, almost like an alfredo but not as strong. I would order it again. I suggest my combo, since both are moderately priced with lots of food, I spent around $30 read more
11 months ago
One of me and my fiancés favorite places to come! The food is very good, service is great and the drinks are fairly priced. Pretty spacious and great vibe! read more
10 months ago
I've been looking forward to checking out the restaurant, Dove & Deer, since I first encountered their food when their chef was highlighted at the annual Summer Gala fundraiser here in Hudson last year. Their chef served an incredible amuse-bouche with gooseberries and the chef who was there sharing the amuse-bouches was wonderfully charming and the food was incredible! I was so impressed that I've been following their social media since then and have been looking forward to visiting the restaurant all the while! I was recently in the area and while I unfortunately wasn't able to visit the restaurant in person- I was able to order through Door Dash and the meal was incredible! We ordered an assortment of things to share and were thrilled with everything! -Spicy Kale Caesar with shredded kale, croutons, and shaved parmesan! -Truffle Parm Fries with scallions and truffle aioli! -Mini Wagyu Beef Hotdogs made with wagyu beef, served in buttery toasted buns, and topped with mustard, ketchup, and relish! -Hot Lobster Dip made with lobster claw and knuckle meat, gruyere, gouda, fontina, spinach, scallion, and crispy wontons! It is often very difficult for a restaurant to adjust their menu to translate to takeout; and for them to do so where every single dish was not only delicious but also mostly with a great presentation, says a great deal about their attention to detail. This is a restaurant I look forward to dining at again many more times over the years! read more
7 months ago
Had dinner before a show at the Egg. Great location and walking distance to the venue. Everyone enjoyed their food selections (salads, burgers and sandwiches). Service was awkward and not overly friendly. It was quite loud inside so it was hard to have a conversation. I recently heard that this restaurant is closing which is always sad to hear. Don't know the reason for closure but whomever winds up taking it over has an excellent location to work with. read more
3 years ago
Stopped in for a couple drinks and some food, and wasn't disappointed. This place was hopping around supper time after work crowd likely. Drinks were tasty and well done. The beer I had was ok, some sort of double ipa that tasted like a white beer. We order some wings to share, and that came out fast. The seasoning was well executed but they were baked not fried, leaving them a little soft and not like good chicken wings. Our friend orders the crab cakes and said they were pretty solid. Very cute inside. Service was great. Would go back and try some different food. read more
2 months ago
6 months ago
4 years ago
Dove + Deer is a delight. I've been here on a couple of occasions now--most recently to warm up a December evening with some delicious food and beverage. Their Utica greens were my first encounter with Utica greens and have convinced me to order them whenever I can now--so delicious and a wonderful dish to share. They also have a lovely cocktail menu with a little something for everyone. I had a hard time deciding between their spiced sour cocktail (their version of a whiskey sour) or their Dewitt (maple forward version of a bourbon old fashioned). Ultimately, I opted for the Dewitt and was pleased. I've also tried a couple of their salads with their kale caesar with salmon added shining brightly in my memory. The service is lovely and the prices are about what you'd expect to pay at a trendy local spot ($12-$13 for cocktails and $20-$32 for entree). If you find yourself in Albany--this is a must stop. Get to it! read more
2 years ago
6 months ago
6 months ago
2 years ago
Came here during the week for my boyfriend's bday dinner. Our food was great!! And the restaurant is so pretty. Our server Hailey was amazing, she checked on us a lot and had great recommendations. Would definitely come back. read more
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32 Dove St
Albany, NY 12210
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(518) 487-4467
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http://www.doveanddeer.com
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