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    Gene's Fish Fry

    3.7 (51 reviews)
    InexpensiveSeafood, Fish & Chips
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Gene's Fish Fry Photos

    GENE'S FISH FRY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Seafood platter, haddock and chips.

    We were happy to stumble upon this great local venue! Outside under Canape roof dining. Nice crispy fried haddock and fries. Tasty chili sauce. A very cool find in Rensselaer New York.

    Nice white fresh fish!
    Jim S.

    A staple in the East Greenbush, Rensselaer and Troy area. Over the years there have been some small changes but one thing that has never changed is the quality of food. The fish fry is crispy and delicious! The French fries have good flavor. The process to order has become easier and easier over the years. The seating is outside over looking the Capitol of NY. There is lawn seating and an area under cover. There is also plenty of parking in back. The service is quick and friendly. This is a seasonal location, so when it does open, for the locals, it a must. They have more than FISH fries. They have Clam rolls, burgers and more.

    clam roll and Side of slaw
    Sharon W.

    This is a time honored family owned summer snack shack. People have looked forward to this summer treat for decades with the fish fry and milkshakes. During this pandemic safety precautions have been taken staff wear masks and hand Sani is available and signs with instructions are present. Staff were extremely friendly and helpful. My sister was in town so we stopped for a bite. The fish fries are consistently good I had the clam roll which was plentiful. I would choose the onion rings over the french fries, and the coleslaw was decent.

    Allegedly tarter sauce. You tell me. Mayo or tarter? Tasted like Mayo with a molecule of relish.
    Kia B.

    What happened, bro? This food used to be good. Taste buds were suffering. Haddock-bland.. fries... old.... Tarter... nasty blob of Mayo. The only reason I'm giving this 2 stars the cole slaw and lemonade were okay. It's a shame because they deliver great customer service. Oh well... maybe get a better cook or revise your recipe.

    Side entrance with outdoor seating
    Fred T.

    It was OK, that batter wasn't greasy and seemed pretty light. I had the seafood platter but it was tough to figure out what was what (except for the fish), I'm guessing they were clam strips in there with shrimp and maybe scallops but I'm just guessing as it the scallops and shrimp were so small they seemed mostly batter and the clam strips could have been squid or rubber bands for all the taste they had. Overall it was unique, a nice place to have an outdoor meal, maybe some other option would be better next time, just OK.

    You'll have to wait until May for the better clam strips in East Greenbush.
    Daniel B.

    Five stars for a seasonal inland roadside fish fry shack seems a little high, doesn't it? Perhaps. But this is my favorite of all the fish fry places in the region. However, one of the things I like most about the place is the same thing that drives a bunch of people away. And that's their non-traditional takes on the traditional sauces. At Gene's tartar sauce isn't a gloppy mess of mayonnaise mixed with relish. It's actually thinned down to more of a sauce consistency and is delightfully tangy. At some places chili sauce tastes like little more than relish stirred into ketchup. Not here. But I'm still team cocktail sauce all the way. Although this is the most tempting tartar I've ever tried. Whatever I order always gets a little dab of the stuff. Of course, you'll have to wait until May like the rest of us to get another taste from Gene's. They are closed for the season. And that's okay. The longing will just make it that much better. And it's good to support the place across the street during the winter months, because it's only at Gene's that deep fried fish in cheap hot dog buns is a warm weather affair.

    a view of the outside of the restaurant
    Ian W.

    This seasonal fish fry place is an East Greenbush institution for 48 years and has stood the test of time with all of the development going up around the area, at Route 4 and Third Ave Ext. Gene's Fish Fry was named after it's founder Gene Halsey. Gene's son Mark (now the current owner) was in my Scout Troop (Defreestville) back in the day. I can remember having Gene's BBQ chicken each year on family nights at the local Scout camp in Poestenkill, which was always very good and tasty, a very nice treat and many times better tasting than the slop served at the Dining Hall! The menu offers haddock fish frys, fried seafood (shrimp, clams, scallops, haddock), hot dogs, burgers, chicken, fries, rings, macaroni salad, cole slaw, shakes, & beverages (Coke cans & bottles, milk, coffee). The prices are reasonable with each item/dinner under $10. The Mixed Seafood Dinner is $8.75 plus tax (2008 price). You order your food at the inside takeout windows. The place has no indoor seating, but there's covered picnic table seating outside next to the DOT facility. I try and make out to Gene's each year! The fish frys are decent with the skin of the haddock left on and lightly breaded and fried. I also enjoy the fried scallops too! The one way access is kind of funky with the one way entrance next to Gene's to the parking lot in back. The exit driveway wraps around the back of Mobil On The Run. HOURS: Mondays-Saturdays 11AM-9PM, closed on Sundays

    Gene's Fish Fry's w/ Tarter Sauce, side of Onion Rings / Fries (tasted amazing)
    Bill K.

    Quick Look: Grew up in East Greenbush (EG) and summer means Gene's Fish Fry!! In Depth Review: No longer live in the area and reside in Las Vegas, NV. Believe it or not but we do not have one amazing fish-fry place like Gene's in this whole city. Fish Fry places are not big on the West Coast. I always try to go to Gene's when I visit family and friends in the Capital Region. It's one thing that never changes and holds up after all these years. It's the same fish-fry's and onion rings that I and so many grew up eating. May have a Rensselaer mailing address but Gene's sits in the town of East Greenbush, and us EG folks proudly claim it as our own! Great story, when I was a youngster I played Little League in East Greenbush and for many years I was fortunate enough to play on a team that was sponsored by Gene's Fish Fry. We always had a post game team party at Gene's on the weekends. We were the luckiest kids in town! Stopped by Gene's on a cold and damp evening this past Thursday, June 12th 2014. Despite the weather the place was full for dinner and we were able to sit outside and enjoy these amazing fish-fry's. They were delicious and still the best fish-fry's on the planet. Enjoyed watching other families indulge on Gene's. The kids still love it like my sister and I did growing up. Side note: Gene's still uses the more expensive / better tasting Haddock and has not switched to the cheaper Cod fish that many similar places in the area are using. Gene's Fish Fry on Route 4 in EG - Same building, same amazing food and same good vibes. Felt like I was that little kid celebrating with his team after a Little League game in the early 80's. Amazing how eating one fish fry made me feel like the luckiest kid in the whole town, again. DON'T CHANGE ONE THING GENE'S FISH FRY!!!

    a cash machine and menus

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    10 months ago

    Best fish fry ever be back soon . Love there food . Good service friendly people be there to eat there wonderful fish fry

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    Great food! My family and I enjoyed their platter with fish, shrimp, scallops, etc. Worth checking out.

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    Union Seafood - Unknown creature

    Union Seafood

    3.9(30 reviews)
    5.3 mi

    Union Seafood on Central Avenue in Albany is described as "Chinese meets Louisiana," according to…read morethe restaurant's website. I've been there before and the crazy, giant fiberglass crab on display in the entrance is always a hoot. So is the fiberglass shark head on the wall in the dining area. I like a place with a sense of fun and humor. I also like this place for its seafood boils. The good news is that this restaurant--which was very good to begin with-- has gotten even better. Last time I showed up, the server brought the seafood boil still in its boiling bag and cut it open in front of me. It was up to me to reach into the hot bag and pull out its contents. There was steam everywhere. A hot mess, indeed! This time, the kitchen took care of the boiling bag for me. Instead, they beautifully arranged the boiled seafood on a large platter. Wow. It looked amazing and tasted even better! This time, I'd asked for a Number 4 with mix of seasonings, including garlic and butter. There were: one big lobster tail, plenty of shrimp, clams, crawfish, potatoes, corn on the cob, hard boiled eggs and extra veggies. It was described as enough to feed three people. Coincidentally, we were a party of three. We also ordered a Cajun Fried Rice for good measure. We really didn't need it. We were so full. The fruit drinks were great, too. Union Seafood is a franchise with locations in Troy and Schenectady. They're owned by Larry Weng who also opened Ji Bei Chuan Rice Noodles & Ramen on Western Avenue in Guilderland, according to local news reports. In celebration of May being AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Month, it's probably fair to say that Asian-American owned restaurants such as Union Seafood have added much variety to the overall dining experience in Capital Region. Vive la différence.

    Ive tried this once last year and i like it. Brought my friend there yesterday. They have combo…read morechoices. We chose the 1/2 lb shrimp, 1 lobster tail, clams, crawfish. It's a lot and the seafood is fresh. I would say 3 people could share. We had it mild and mixed sauce. Maybe order hot next time since i did not taste the spiciness. We both enjoyed it. Price is not that bad. The place is huge but kinda datk inside. Service is great though. For dessert we got the coconut cake. It is kinda frozen. But it taste good. Surely coming back!

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    Union Seafood
    Union Seafood - Hibachi! NEW

    Hibachi! NEW

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    The Copper Crow - Smash burger

    The Copper Crow

    4.0(110 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$$

    Spending a weekend away in the Lake George / Berkshires area with the hubby and wanted to find…read moresomewhere to try, stopped in after jumping on Yelp to find somewhere close that was cute with decent food. Decided to give a try. The place is a total vibe, dont let the outside and area fool you! It had been a long day by the time we got here, did the outlets all day long and I was coming down with a cold. Ordered a ton of apps, Crab rangoon dip is GOOOOOODDDD!!!!... Ordered Calamari that apparently I didnt get a pic of, but It was good also. I think we got wings, but I truly cant remember. I got the risotto, I didnt love it but the Shrimp were delish, it had a super strong after taste flavor that I didnt love but couldnt truly put my finger on, Hubby said his pasta was good, but just needed "something". Would def go back just not sure how often we'd be in the area. Drink menu was super extensive and they were great as well. Started to feel not well and literally had to take our food to go, the waitress was soo concerned and caring, it was great, and it was no fault of the food or theirs, I think it was just whatever cold I was coming down with that kicked my ass and I felt like I was going to pass out, sorry TMI... But the response was so nice and accommodating from the staff. Def worth a try, just be patient with parking, it was slightly chaotic, or that night we just happened to encounter all the people in the are who couldnt drive in tight spaces, LOL!

    We had a reservation Saturday evening before visiting the Egg. The host was super duper friendly…read moreand he immediatelly brought us to a small two top in the back dining area. The wine by the glass list was limited and fifty percent was vegan. I ordered the Mosen German Reisling which is more sweet than I prefer but there were no other options. My guy ordered a brown beer on tap, i'm unsure the name. We started with appetizers crab rangoon dip with crispy delicious wonton chips. And the second mozzarella eggrolls. I would pass on the eggrolls im the future. The motz is advertised smoked but lacked a smoky flavor. The Harissa had the spice level simular to Heinz ketchup. My entree was a Cuban sandwich that did deliver some heat, well pressed with plenty of pickles. We would love to see a wider wine selection and a turn up on the spice and flavor for the appetizers.

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    The Copper Crow - Copper Crow bat

    Copper Crow bat

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    Duck bahn mi

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    Patio/exterior

    Coray Kitchen - Apples Brownie w/ cinnamon cream.

    Coray Kitchen

    4.8(41 reviews)
    6.9 mi

    I went here with friend for a late Birthday celebration, and it was absolutely fantastic. Our…read moreserver was fantastic and I wish I remember his name(maybe Rich) but he was very personable and knowledgeable. We started out with a few appetizers, croquettes, pork belly, fried cauliflower, and bread. Everything was delicious and left you wanting just another bite even though the portions were respectable. Drinks were impeccable. Dinners ranged from the lemon gnocchi that I added scallops to and it was hands down the best gnocchi I've had. Pillowy soft and light, and such a smooth texture. Friend had the Korean chicken dish which he said was delicious and the best thing he has tried, same goes for the surf and turf meal which had shrimp instead of lobster much to my friend's delight. We ended dinner with dessert which was a homemade chocolate chip cookie w homemade vanilla ice cream which was served with a drizzle of very good quality chocolate. I'm looking forward to going again. It's a smaller place so I would recommend reservations. The place itself is cozy, and not too loud.

    Dinned at Coray Kitchen to celebrate my wife's birthday, it was my first visit and I look forward…read moreto a return visit. Start to finish every staff person we interacted with was welcoming, attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. Definitely appreciated and noteworthy over the usual, requisite pleasantries. We both had specials - scallops with squid ink risotto and pork belly with tostones. Each dish was thoughtfully and creatively prepared, the proteins were cooked perfectly, and I appreciated the inclusion of some fresh, on-site grown veg. Also enjoyed the Latin American flare/flavor incorporated into both dishes. Dining prices in Albany have (bewilderingly) been on par with Boston and NYC for years now, so Coray Kitchen is certainly reasonable for a high quality meal. I also appreciate that the specials were priced similarly to on-menu items. Will definitely be back to sample the paella and fresh pasta, unless enticed away again by specials!

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    Coray Kitchen - Farm to table, some of  their produce

    Farm to table, some of their produce

    Coray Kitchen
    Coray Kitchen

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    Ocean Palace - Roast pork lo mein is awesome!

    Ocean Palace

    4.3(106 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    We had other plans for Thanksgiving, but after all the driving around, both of us were too tired to…read moredo anything but call around looking for something good and open in Albany. On my short list of Chinese restaurants to try was Ocean Palace, and thankfully, they picked up right away. This was our first visit, and we will probably be going back. There were quite a few customers, but the place has an airy feel that was quite comfortable. Lots of windows, comfortable tables, and a very calm feel to it. Staff here was great: attentive and friendly, and very accepting of my ridiculous enthusiasm for soup dumplings. :) We lived in NYC for 30+ years, and a considerable number of my dining out experiences were weekend mornings in Chinatown in Manhattan (sorry, no experience with Flushing). We've eaten a lot of dim sum over the years, so we started with a dim-sum-esque variety (the edamame dumplings in veg broth were very good, but the spring rolls were too oily), then my husband ordered baby bok choy and shitake mushrooms, beautifully presented and which he loved. But me? I ordered a *second* steamer of soup dumplings. Yes, my Thx dinner was almost entirely soup dumplings, and I'd do it again next year (don't tell my grandma). The soup in the dumpling and the meat filling were excellent. The *ONLY* quibble I have is that the wrapper was thick, almost doughy. The regular steamed vegetable dumplings had very thin wrappers, much more what I was expecting. The thickness made it much easier to get it into your spoon with chopsticks, but, again IMO, it put the proportions off. As is probably obvious, I'm neither a chef nor Chinese, or I'd have a much bigger frame of reference. There is also always a wide variety in how different families make their biscuits, etc. The food at Ocean Palace was not the best I've ever had, but it was very tasty, and though the soup dumplings were not perfect, I'd have them for lunch today again if I could.

    Ok, it's definitely Peter Chan in the kitchen after my skepticism in previous update. I know this…read morebecause first, a regular customer came in and called out "hey Peter how you doin?" Second, because the hard working chef is once again quietly exerting his authority with small acts of independence. He brought out my lunch special himself but declined to give me a dinner plate (needed because the serving entirely covers the oval plate it was delivering on) and, once again, my pork with pickled cabbage had no pickled cabbage. Touche, Peter. The regular customer ordered items I would never consider, like walnut shrimp and egg foo young. But I'm sure it was still great, as was my no-pickles pork, as is everything Peter cooks. The guy is a gem. And he looks to be in good health after that mystery hiatus so I hope he'll be around awhile.

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    Ocean Palace - Ocean Palace menu as of 12/22 1 of 6

    Ocean Palace menu as of 12/22 1 of 6

    Ocean Palace - Ocean Palace menu as of 12/22 5 of 6

    Ocean Palace menu as of 12/22 5 of 6

    Ocean Palace - Ocean Palace menu as of 12/22 3 of 6

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    Ocean Palace menu as of 12/22 3 of 6

    SHWE Burmese Restaurant - Tea Leaf Salad/Lat Phat Thoat - Crispy pea, peanut, sesame seed, garlic oil, ground pickle tea leaf, cabbage, & tomato

    SHWE Burmese Restaurant

    4.6(62 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    I walked into SHWE Burmese Restaurant at 11:05 am, just after opening. I was the only one there…read more The room was calm and unhurried, the faint aroma of hot tea rising through the quiet like a welcome ritual before the day began. Then came the pineapple fried rice with pork belly. Savory, caramelized pork belly met bright bursts of pineapple in a perfect sweet-salt balance. Fluffy rice studded with peas, carrots, and ribbons of egg. My three year old son dove in without hesitation, happily scooping forkfuls of rice and pineapple like he had discovered treasure. No negotiations. Just joy. Fifteen minutes later, box in hand, the real event began. Across melting ice. A sharp jaywalk. A cut through the gas station. A full sprint toward the train station as the gates threatened to close and my family waited. It was an unofficial, record-breaking mile fueled entirely by fried rice ambition. Once the cold air finally left my lungs, I cracked open the box. Steam rose into the winter air. The smell alone was victory. I ate every last grain on that train, a triumphant feast earned the hard way. My wife was not impressed with how close I cut it. I, however, stand by the decision. Some meals are worth the sprint.

    Shwe Burmese is a small (about five tables) family-run restaurant which serves Burmese food and…read moresushi. The Burmese dishes I tried were very good. A tea leaf salad or Lat phat thoat has "Crispy pea, peanut, sesame seed and garlic oil with ground pickle tea leaf, cabbage and tomato." It was a little funky, a bit like kimchi, with a wonderful textural crunch provided by the peanuts. Palata (deep fried layered & flattened dough), commonly served at street food stalls, is reminiscent of scallion pancakes (without the scallion). In this case, it was served with a chicken, potato, and dahl stew. The saltiness of the stew was tamed by the layered and fatty dough. I might skip the chicken dumplings because those were boiled from frozen, store bought items. The pandan dessert, similar to a bubble tea, was an added extra. I'd definitely go again.

    Photos
    SHWE Burmese Restaurant - The SHWE restaurant with yellow walls. Clean and inviting.

    The SHWE restaurant with yellow walls. Clean and inviting.

    SHWE Burmese Restaurant - Pineapple fried rice with pork (belly)

    Pineapple fried rice with pork (belly)

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    Meat Fresh Roll

    Gene's Fish Fry - seafood - Updated May 2026

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