Loved this Irish pub down the street from our hotel. There was live music on Friday night outside…read moreand the patio was packed! We were exhausted from the drive up and just wanted good food. The owner sat our large party very quickly and we were warned the kitchen was backed up but happy to wait. Our server was kind and apologetic about the wait, but we knew what to expect. When our food came out I was so happy - delicious Irish pub food. You can tell it's not pulled from a freezer and freshly prepared. Shoot us Californians find ourselves back in Albany, we will definitely return.

McGeary's is a very lived in pub that can get pretty loud. (I had finished my meal before the band…read morestarted, which would have really cranked up the noise level.) The server asked me several questions about my gin martini to make certain the bartender got it right (just a dry martini with a twist). It ended up being very, very wrong. The best part were the fries that accompanied my Turkey Rachel. Otherwise, the sandwich was thin and greasy and lackluster.

I stayed one night at the Renaissance because I was overnighting in Albany and it looked close to…read moreCity Beer Hall which looked good on Yelp. Well that's a confusing sentence. I walked the half block from my hotel room and saw the lighted sign on the building drawing be to City Beer Hall. The bar is old school wood, long tables, and people generally having a good time. I was alone so chose the bar for sitting because that is more convenient for me and the wait staff. The beer menu was long with a few regionals new to me. Too many sours though for my taste, but those are popular now. I am not going to talk about the beers available because those will surely change by the time you read this. I ordered a beer and checked out the food menu. There were some good looking items on the menu, I really wanted a good pizza after my earlier airport pizza debacle, but a whole pizza was too much for one guy. I discussed the food choices with my friendly bartender and settled on the chicken nuggets and a side of fries. The nuggets are hard breaded from thighs and pretty good. The fries were crispy, well seasoned, and overly abundant. Overall the meal was great! It was Thursday night and they had a trivia-like game that was related to Family Feud so I played that. Might have stayed a little later than I should have but the beer was good. I was looking at the beer refrigerator and saw Fiddlehead IPA and asked my bartender about it. He was not really keen on it but that is the best beer they had there, but that is one really good beer. Later I notice that was the beer they were giving you if you ordered the $8 beer and a shot, which is an excellent value! There was some kind of drama this night. There was a lady who first tried to order Jager Bombs for her table and the bartender told her sorry we don't do those so she ordered Tito's shots instead. Well this ended about how you would expect with her losing a credit card and blaming everyone in sight for her problems. The bartender and manager were S-tier professionals managing her and keeping the food and beer flowing to the rest of us. Guys, thank you for your service! If you are in downtown Albany and you are hungry or thirsty hit up the City Beer Hall.

I was staying at the Renaissance down the street for a conference at the Albany Capital Center. I…read moreneeded a quick dinner before I went to do more work in my room. The City Beer Hall fits the bill. Located on Howard Street, the City Beer Hall has the local hangout vibe for professionals in town like me and locals wanting a beer and a pizza and fun times. The building at one point housed the city's old telephone company, and now is a cool pizza bar joint with a speakeasy that wasn't open when I went. The large room that houses the bar and long communal tables with high ceilings and large windows is like a Biergarten that is works great for happy hours and evening hangouts. Pizza wise, I was pleased with their Hot Honey Pizza that balances sweet, savory, and spicy flavors between its delicious crust, pepperoni, creamy ricotta, tomato sauce, mozzarella, fresh basil, and a lovely drizzle of hot honey. I enjoyed the pizza with a Ommegang Blueberry Falls that was a "Blueberry Kolsch" whose crisp and slightly sweet flavors balanced well against the spicy and savory I was noshing. The only downside was I found the service behind the bar to be a bit slow and distracting from conversations with other customers. I felt I was forgotten until I finally flagged for the check. But overall, the City Beer Hall was a solid experience highlighted by their hot honey pizza.

The Ax thrower instructor I was excellent. Fun time. Order the pretzel bites. Easy parking. Great…read morelocation.

I mean, I expected booze-infused ice cream would be good, but it wound up being a thousand times…read morebetter than I even thought. I got the chocolate peppermint patty flavor from their current winter menu, and it was simply fantastic: smooth, flavorful ice cream on its own, with enough of an alcohol kick to make it bar-worthy. Server Chris was incredibly nice and helpful, and the space is open and inviting. Didn't throw any hatchets, because my hands were entirely occupied shoving ice cream in my mouth, but maybe next time.

This is a relaxed, welcoming spot for a cocktail and good conversation. I've been here a few times…read moreand enjoyed discovering New York State spirits, well-made and satisfyingly substantial cocktails, and live music that adds to the atmosphere. What stands out most, though, is the sense of community. I've seen strangers come together to support someone who wasn't feeling well, and that moment really reflected the kindness and positive energy of the people who gather here. So stop on by, grab a drink, and enjoy the day.

This place is very nice -- welcoming, artsy, comfortable, small but personable. We live across the…read morestreet, and my husband and I wanted to give it a try. Unfortunately, it was not a great experience. The bartender served our drinks with no napkins and no lime. Details are key in a place like this. It was also loud, and it looked like a birthday party was happening. If that was the case, maybe the place should have closed to the public to accommodate that celebration. People were loud and drunk, and the birthday boy was saying vulgar things. We will not be coming back.

Made a reservation for 5pm dinner a week before and after we were seated the bar tender notified us…read morethat the cook had just gotten there and we wouldn't be able to get food until 7pm?? We had tickets for a show @7:30 so that definitely wasn't gonna work. Why would you accept reservations if you don't have a cook on staff? I don't recommend this restaurant. They should get zero stars in my book!!!

Formerly Parish Public House, Ophelia's on Broadway opened recently at the corner of Broadway and…read moreHudson Ave in Downtown Albany. This casual bar, restaurant and night club was originally going to be named Nanola South, a sister restaurant to Nanola in Malta, but the place was named Ophelia's instead. The owners wanted a different vibe at this location. The place has a full service bar with stools, flatscreen TVs, and tables and booths and a small spot in the front window for band/musicians to perform in the front section and the dance floor/entertainment area is in the back room. They have live bands, DJs, and karaoke here. I stopped by Ophelia's for a bite to eat after a long day. I took a seat up at the bar as there was a band already here doing soundcheck. The food menu has been simplified offering burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, salads, wings, mac & cheese, quesadillas, loaded nachos, chips & queso, loaded fries, and fried pickles. There was no cajun/creole dishes and no po boys on this menu (in April 2024), which is offered at Nanola in Malta. The bar had 14 beers on tap, cocktails, and mixed drinks. I ordered the Ophelia's Burger ($14) which took about 25 minutes to to come out. This thick burger had a grilled beef burger patty topped with lettuce, tomato, onions, and melted cheese (pepperjack) on a toasted artisan egg bun from Rock Hill Bakehouse. The burger could've been a bit hotter. The side of golden fries (not salted) were firm and not greasy. The side of Homemade pickle chips was a nice touch.  After I was done with my food, the bartender refilled my water and brought out the check. Overall, I enjoyed my food and was able to watch the NFL Draft on TV (muted) because of the live music getting underway in the front window. The service was laid back here. Took note: the customers next to me enjoyed a few drinks, but their quesadilla never arrived, so they eventually headed out. Not sure if they were understaffed in the kitchen, but other than the temperature of my food, I enjoyed the burger. I will hopefully get to try the msc & cheese next time.

The place has a great, olde feel to it but the contrasting 70's American rock stripped that…read moresensation away as I dined before a print of Churchill. (When I walked by the establishment in the evening, they played cheesy American pop.) Their online drink menu did not match their current menu. In lieu of a much desired vesper (I was told they couldn't make it because they no longer have Lillet), I went with their Indigo 75 of Empress Gin, lemon juice, and Prosecco. Instead of refreshing, the lemon juice overwhelmed the entire drink. The BLTEA with bacon, lettuce, tomato, egg, avocado, and mayo was wonderful. The side salad only came with a sweet balsamic vinaigrette. With a bit more attention to detail, this place could be amazing.

Can't believe it took me this long to check out the Olde English Pub! We came here for quick drinks…read moreand apps after an event and ended up staying a while! Our bartender Olivia was super nice and ended up chatting with us for a while too! The sausage rolls and dipping fries came highly recommended by her and we opted for the sausage rolls which definitely did not disappoint and were delicious! They have some good bar food options. Kitchen closes at 10pm but the bar is open until 11pm. We also got to try some of their beers and ciders before committing which was really nice as well. And their pickle back shots were also a fun addition. Overall even without a crowd, it's a chill pub to check out in the area!

Went downstairs just to get a drink. Looks like they have an upstairs as well for food. The service…read morewas friendly and we had a good time. It's cool speakeasy vibe.

Best sushi north of NYC, this is an iconic restaurant and bar, along with a steak house as well…read more Wonderful historic decor of NY political culture

I was on the hunt for a Garbage Plate in my new home of the Capital Region; this is the only place…read moreI could find one on the menu...and I looked all over. I spent way too much time toiling with the prospect of not being impressed by a plate 200+ miles from Rochester. In my head, I said to myself, there are plates in Rochester that don't even impress; why should I give the time of day to someone so far removed? It took me over two years to finally pull trig. In retrospect, I am kicking myself. Portions aside, the plate here is absolutely fantastic, like wtf. The meat sauce seems to keep the obligatory warmth of nutmeg and cinnamon, but has a delicate spice that absolutely delights in its own way. The mac salad lights up my tongue with the zest of celery and the home fries give me the crunch that I deserve. The burgers are the greasy vessel that I have come to expect, but offer much more cohesion than a typical plate. I am barely exaggerating when I say this might be Top 2 plates of my lifetime. Couple that with an awesome atmosphere and an amazing happy hour and you've got gold. Thank you guys for scratching my itch.

Loved this spot. I can't lie they didn't pay as much attention to us cause we weren't like regulars…read morewhen we went on a weekday but the staff is incredible so kind and amazing but def wish we felt more welcome hahah. i loved how they theme the menu different foods from spots around NY. we had the rochester garbage plate and the mozz sticks with raspberry melba sauce. loved it! drinks were interesting my whisky sour was pink??

I removed my last review. The things I didn't like about it during that period of time have since…read morechanged. The wait staff is more ample and helpful. The drinks have gotten much better. It's a nice place to go and spend some time, cocktails are quite good and seating is usually available. They also seem to have a variety of things for everyone depending on what day of the week it is. I think Monday's they have the football game(s) on and video game tourny's. I went tonight(Thurs) and they had live music. I'm not big on acoustic guitar sing song shows, but the guy was friendly and everyone who was there seemed to be having a good time. The place has been open for at least a few years now and in such a heavy turnover of a business that must mean something good.

I like blue 82…read more Pros- It's comfy, they make decent drinks, and it's well put together. Likely the reason it seems many bars have turned over around it but it stays the same. The walls changing colors is a cool mood setter. As noted by others it's an older crowd, I am "older" so that works for me. Cons- The bar can get very overwhelmed, and the table service can be anywhere from great to turribad. Drinks aren't cheap outside of specials. Skip the "food" See also Ryan M. and Stephanie's reviews as well.

I've been coming here since they first opened and have seen the highs and lows over the years…read more Through all of it, this has remained one of my favorite places to grab a drink. The atmosphere is always great, the staff are genuinely good people, and there's a great energy here--especially for a college bar. A special shoutout to Corey, the head of security, for doing a great job creating a fun but respectful environment for everyone. Whether you're in your early 20s or a little older, Corey makes sure everyone can enjoy themselves without the place getting out of hand. I've seen this place go through a few different managers, and honestly, I think it's been better recently than it's ever been. The staff, atmosphere, and overall vibe have really come together. If you're looking for a college bar where you can have a good time and still feel comfortable, this is definitely the spot.

This was such a great experience. We wanted to stop in and grab a beverage, enjoy the outdoor…read moreseating and just relax. We did that well. Service was great. While we didn't enjoy any food here, the drink selection was amazing and enough. I will definitely go back when visiting.