I was in Albany for my doctoral hooding ceremony and subsequent graduation, when I was left wondering where to take my family for dinner afterwards. I was promised that Grappa 72 would exceed my expectations. As an Italian-American AND a foodie, it's hard to wow me at an Italian venue. I can honestly say that this place was all that I was promised and more. What we ordered to share: crispy arancini (special app that day), eggplant parm, fried calamari. I am a red sauce snob, and all three of these delivered on presentation, quality, and overall flavor. Entrees we ordered included: halibut (entree special and my choice), pappardelle loaded with shrimp and chicken (also a special), pork osso bucco (stole the show!). We ended with individual desserts, and their Italian cheesecake was smooth and creamy. Service was reflective of high-end dining, yet the check for six people was moderate to affordable. Considering the quality, quantity, and overall experience, this is a place I need to get back to. Now I need to find an excuse to be in the Capitol Region so I can go back! read more

Grappa '72 Ristorante - Italian cheese cake. Made in-house. - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

My boyfriend, his family, and I arrived at Grappa '72 to celebrate my boyfriend's graduation from med school! Our hostess was just the sweetest. She had lots of recommendations for what drinks and dishes to order, and she was really attentive towards our party. When we sat at our table, we helped ourselves to the fresh table bread and tapenade while we decided what to order. I decided to get the seafood special, which was a grilled branzino served with blistered green beans and wild rice. While the dish tasted a bit too oily for my liking, there was LOTS of food that came with this dish - enough for me to pack as a lunch the next day! What was also memorable about this experience was the live music playing at front. This is a very nice Italian resto for special occasions and date nights. read more

Grappa '72 Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

I am a hard girl to please when it comes to Italian food. This is the food that I cook at home. This is the food that I grew up on and my incomparable Nonna's made for me as a child. This is the food that is enveloped in love and memories for me. Now that being said, this is the best Italian restaurant I have eaten at locally! The ambience had a flare of the 80s. Our server was an adorable delight! And I thought the food was great! They seriously have the best calamari fritti that I have ever had! It was super hot, super crispy, super tender, and well seasoned! The shrimp appetizer with the cannellini beans was also excellent. I forgot what they called that. My Vitello con Fichi was delicious! The veal was so tender! Just like veal should be! The veal marsala was also fantastic! The Panna cotta and the espresso gelato, wonderful! You better bet your buns that I'm gonna be back here! read more

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Staff were super nice and friendly! The interior was promising and I was looking forward to the food, as the vibe of the whole place felt upscale and nice. The food was decent. The shrimp and beans were great, a nice starter. Nothing super unique or special but good. The veal with figs was ok. If anything everything felt under salted. The veal pieces were small. For the price I felt a little cheated. But overall not a terrible experience. read more

Grappa '72 Ristorante - Vitello con Fichi - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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I had an excellent dinner at Grappa 72. The veal chop and roasted potatoes were outstanding--perfectly cooked and full of flavor. I didn't order the rapi. Every member of our party thoroughly enjoyed their entrées as well. A quick note for future diners: the arancini appetizers come two per serving, so plan accordingly. Beyond the savory dishes, the house-made desserts are a highlight. I had the chocolate cake, which was light, moist, and deeply satisfying. I also sampled my wife's carrot cake--another fantastic choice. Service was top-notch. Special thanks to Victoria and Ogri for their attentive care and attention to detail. To cap off the evening, the owners generously offered complimentary cordials--a thoughtful touch that made us feel truly welcome. The atmosphere at Grappa 72 is warm and inviting, and the live band added a lively, enjoyable vibe to the evening. The price-to-portion ratio is excellent--excluding the appetizers, which are modestly sized. In fact, two of our guests couldn't finish their entrées. Reservations are a must. Although the restaurant is located in a shopping center, parking directly in front fills up quickly. If you like the review and/or the pictures, drop a comment, it goes a long way. read more

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55th Anniversary Celebration at Grappa 72 Met with a smile at the door by Sage. Welcoming our party of 15 to our "home" at Grappa. Shown to our table and met with hugs by our usual server, Sienna, and the man about the dining room, Ogre. For nearly 4 hours we laughed, told stories and celebrated in the atmosphere of home that is created by owner Armond and his staff. The food is second to none. But it is truly surpassed by the service and feeling of home that is Grappa. Sienna and Ogre met our every need. No they anticipated any need we might have had and delivered like the experts they truly are. Additionally, Malina, another fabulous server made sure to drop by our table to offer her congratulations like any family member would. Grappa is a true gem. It is not going out to eat. It is not dining. It is truly an experience that is difficult to explain! You have to be a part of it to really understand what this place is all about. Call now! Make a reservation for 2 or 22 ... you will be glad you did. There is a good chance we might be sitting right next to you! Dr John Metallo read more

Haven't had the chance To dine in so can't give much on service. Take out vodka sauce was delicious! Ambiance was classy! read more

Grappa never fails to disappoint. Food service and ambience are always on point. Staff are friendly and professional. Love it here.

You would never know this place is adjacent to a supermarket parking lot. Has a very fancy, upscale feel. Went on a Saturday with a friend and were seated right away without a reservation. The ambiance is dark, cozy, romantic, expensive. I had the veal chop with roasted potatoes and rapini. $40 so not cheap but a sizable meal and soooo delicious and worth it. My friend got the pappardelle special with seafood and sausage in a lemon sauce and she ate most of it. Will 100% return because I want to try a lot of things from the menu. read more

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The food was very good. My husband and I had the clam, shrimp and sausage over pasta dish; one of their nightly specials. Other people in our group enjoyed the veal saltinbuca, duck and chicken Marsala. Everyone was pleased with their meal. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable. Nice selection of wines and the coffee was excellent, as well as the tiramisu dessert. Nice ambiance and we never felt rushed! Would highly recommend. read more

Grappa '72 Ristorante - Veal Saltambocca - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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Everything was delicious ! The waiter was Great! ! Can't wait to go back . The music was in the bar and they were Awesome

We were meeting some old friends while in town and they suggested Grappa '72. Overall, it was ok, but we left feeling a bit disappointed. Here's what we observed: - It was a Tuesday night and we didn't have a reservation, but we were seated quickly. The first thing I noticed was how loud the place was. In fact, I got concerned about our ability to hear/visit with each other effectively, which definitely panned out during the evening. - Despite it being a Tuesday evening, service was incredibly slow. First, it took forever for anyone to come over to our table once we were seated, and then the entire evening's experience was just slow, slow, slow...including the length of time it took for our food to arrive once we had ordered. Multiple times we had to flag down our server for something. - The menu was broad and there were some specials for the evening. We didn't look at the wine list since we were flying out early the next morning and just ordered glasses of house wine, which was fine. - My wife ordered the special pasta of the day, a gnocchi with red peppers, chicken and shrimp in a red sauce, and I ordered the Vongole (linguini with clams). The clams were cooked well, but the sauce was the saltiest sauce I've ever experienced in a restaurant...I asked my friend who is a good cook his opinion of the sauce and he couldn't believe how over salted it was either. My wife's dish was good, but it seemed to have too much sugar in is as it was incredibly sweet. - We passed on dessert as we had already been there 2 1/2 hours just ordering entrees (no appetizers either). - BTW, the place is located in a strip mall...not impressive at all. Bottom line: Grappa '72 is way overrated from my opinion...I'm not local but if I were I'd go searching for some other Italian place. read more

Grappa '72 Ristorante - Gnocchi Special for the Day - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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We entered early for our reservation and they sat us immediately. As we sat our water was filled and crusty bread and olive tapenade was sent to the table which was a nice touch. I ordered the special homemade tagliatelle pasta with shrimp it was made to perfection, My husband ordered the Zio Anthony's pasta, which came piping hot and was very tasty. We chose not to fill up on salad or an appetizer but saw a few that we may try upon our return. I usually do not order dessert but knew I needed to try the homemade Tiramisu and it was made delicious. Next time we are in the area we will definitely come again and I will highly recommend to others! read more

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We were fortunate to get a table last minute on a busy Sunday evening. They never disappoint with their delicious Calamari to start and their veal dishes are outstanding! I usually go for the Veal Ossobuco over risotto but this time I copied my husband's Veal Pizzaiola with linguini which he always raves about. The veal medallions were like butter, tender and no knife needed. The service is always top notch. Always polite, attentive, friendly servers no matter how busy they are. Best Italian restaurant in the area, don't miss out and make a reservation! read more

Have t been here in almost 4 years...since my rehearsal dinner. Food/Drink: Very good. Really enjoyed my meal, and the food was cooked to a perfection. Dinning Area: Pretty large, open, area. Plenty of seating! Prices: Relatively Standard. 2 entrees, an appetizer, and a a few drinks for under $100. Parking: Plenty of space, mall lot. Bathrooms: Bathrooms were clean and regular size. Atmosphere: During the weekday late dinner, It was getting packed. Reservations a must. Staff/Attendants: Waitress was excellent! She was professional, kind, courteous, and prompt. I really enjoyed my time here. Great experience! 9/10 read more

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Food - always 10/10. Pastas, risottos, entrees - never have had a disappointing meal Service - 10/10 Ambience - 10/10 read more

Grappa '72 Ristorante - Special - shrimp, mussel, scallop, clams, sausage - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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I think this is the best Italian place in the area in terms of service, food quality, taste, and price. I come here quite often and am always satisfied. I hope they stay open for a long time. read more

Food and service have always been exemplary. If there was anything to nitpick about it is the ambience: at least on weekends, the noise level is very high, with very little to soak up conversation and live music, which is often too loud for the space. Otherwise a lovely experience. read more

Great service, large selection. Burrata app was delicious, monk fish puntanessca was good but I wouldn't have called it puntanessca w/o capers and green olives. Wasn't too loud, easy to carry a conversation. read more

Grappa '72 Ristorante - Monk fish puntanesaca - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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Delicious food, authentic Italian cuisine. Great staff always attentive not obtrusive. Owner is always welcoming. Highly recommend for lunch with friends or a great date night. Todd read more

Had a great night for my Birthday. The food and service was impeccable. Love the atmosphere/ambiance as it is busy yet relaxing. Had the eggplant parm, Vitello alla 72 (awesome) vodka penne,seafood risotto among other things. If you love authentic Italian cuisine this is a must try. Definitely make reservations or you will be SOL. read more

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Been going here for several years to celebrate a nice dinner. This time was a disssapointment with both meals. The pasta special with shrimp (3 small) and (small scallops) was a huge dissapointment. As was the 45.00 entre my partner ordered. We spent a substantial amount of money on prosecco, a bottle of wine, appetizer, dessert along with the entres. The waitress was perfect. read more

Another fantastic experience at Grappa '72! The food was outstanding as usual (the house salad dressing was superb!), and the service made the evening even better. Sienna, our waitress, was attentive, friendly, and wonderful throughout the meal, and her sister Sage, the hostess, greeted everyone with such warmth and kindness. They were both absolutely delightful and made us feel so welcome. Highly recommend! read more

I absolutely love this restaurant. I went last year for my birthday and decided to do it again this year! I made a reservation a week prior as soon as I got in my party and I were seated and was given menus to look over. The food was delicious and granted when I ordered was not on the menu, the restaurants made accommodations for me and I love that. I will definitely be going to this restaurant moving forward for my birthday because the service was top-tier. read more

We had our 50th anniversary celebration dinner with our family (party of 11) here and everything was just perfect. Our kids/grandkids decorated the 'wine room' table and we were delighted. The food was terrific and everyone loved their dinners. Our server, Melina, was excellent. Armond made sure everything was perfect. We are very happy we chose Grappa 72 to celebrate. read more

The four of us adults and 2 year old grandson thought the food was some of the best we've had. It was prepared well and presented perfectly. What made our dining experience all the better was the service. Everyone was courteous and professional, answered all our questions, and were attentive. Someone in our party stealthily notified one of the servers that it was my birthday. At the end of the meal, I received a slice of chocolate cake and was told it was made by the owner's wife. Warm, succulent, and over the top delightful to my palate. Thank you, Grappa 72, for a wonderful experience! read more

Myself and four friends found Grappa '72 while searching last minute for a Friday night dinner reservation. So thankful they could take us at 7:30. Simply put, great ambience, a jazz Trio, whose female lead singer had the voice of an angel, outstanding service from bagel! Wonderful food, and overall a great place to enjoy a nice Italian dinner with friends. Within our group, we had the penne alla Romanoff, the Veal Oso Buco, the mahi-mahi, And another veal dish my counselor ordered. Everyone was well pleased over fed and left happy! And by the way, happy birthday, Angelo.!!! read more

Grappa '72 Ristorante - 2016 Villa Rosa Borolo - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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One of my favorite Italian places in the area. I went with my wife and in laws. Great food and ambiance. We will be coming back.

Great atmosphere and service. Had live music, food came out quick. We got two pasta dishes and those were great as well.

The minute we walked in the door, the owner was abrasive and rude. The awning is moldy and filthy! The restaurant is in a car rental parking lot. read more

Want amazing Italian? Go to Grappa '72 - you will not regret it! We had caprese salad & portobello napoleo appetizers, the Penne Romanoff and Pasta al Pesto paired with both Cabs by the glass. I had the Washington Cabernet Sauvignon and loved it - my friend had the California, which was dryer and she loved hers. You absolutely must have the portobello napoleo. It is so warm and rich with the balsamic and melted cheese. Even the tomatoes are were roasted to perfection. This was my favorite bite of the night! The restaurant is a classy, romantic, elegant experience with dim lights and table side candles. The bread and olive appetizer was delicious! We did not have reservations and we were so pleasantly surprised that they sat us on a Monday night. If you can, call ahead and make reservations. Every single person that we encountered had phenomenal customer service. People were polite and friendly while being informative and caring. We were not rushed and yet we were not waiting for service. read more

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Wonderful food and a great time. Clientele seems to be from the suburbs, but all was good

Had my birthday celebration here and highly recommend, food was delicious and the service was excellent! Atmosphere was also very low key! Give it a try you won't be disappointed! read more

Dissapointing. Made a reservation for office holiday dinner for 12 people two months ago. We arrived and were being seated two separate tables for 6 people each. Meanwhile they had multiple other tables set up for parties of 12 but they couldn't accommodate us even though the reservation was clearly for 12, not two parties of 6. My guests were not happy! They did absolutely nothing about it! read more

One of the best restaurants in the 518! If you are looking for an upscale atmosphere with great food, great service and live jazz while dining, you must go and experience this amazing restaurant. The servers are top notch! They have an extensive wine list. They have great food. I most recently had their special, fresh made fettuccine with shrimp. Wow!!! So good. Fresh warm bread and tapenade. Fresh salad. I was too full for dessert but if you get a chance, get the tiramisu! It's to die for!!! read more

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Service was super friendly. Food was outstanding - and plentiful. Two of us got chicken parmigiana and one of us got clams. Their chef is a super star of preparation. The chicken was tasty and tender. The clams were done to perfection. The only detraction was the noise level. It was so loud that it was hard to hear each other at our own table. We shall return and hope that next visit will be a tad less noisy. Reservations are an absolute must. read more

We recently had a family birthday dinner at Grappa 72, and to say it was good would be an understatement. The staff was welcoming, and the food was outstanding. We can't wait to go back. read more

Don't let its location prevent you from trying it don't be fooled that it's in a strip mall. The food is excellent. The service is excellent. Highly recommend this restaurant. If you have not tried it. I hope it stays in business for many years to come. It's just wonderful to go there read more

The environment was very Romantic celebrating our anniversary and the food was delicious. Very attentive and accommodating waitstaff. Just a classy place with a great wine selection also! read more

I recently had dinner at Grappa 72 with some friends. It had been a number of years since I was there. The food was delicious. I had a special that included chicken medallions with mushrooms in a delicious brown sauce with mashed potatoes. I'd order it again in a heartbeat. Now I can't wait until I go back again. read more