We tried this "hidden gem" (Albany location) 1. Best sweet tea lemonade I've ever had 2. Spiciest Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich we've had No pictures of the sandwich my husband ate it Definitely try them if you haven't already read more

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I drove up from NYC just to have brunch with a dear friend. Now in all fairness while I enjoyed this restaurant it was just that much better because of the great company I was with. The space is large and spacious. We went for brunch and it appeared to be family friendly. It's a nice place to go after church or to catch up yet you can still have an afternoon cocktail. I ordered the biscuit and gravy and my friend had shrimp and grits. In addtion we had beignets and candied bacon for the table. The beignets are not New Orleans good but would never expect anything this good in Albany. My biscuit and gravy were good. The gravy was savory and the biscuit tasted homemade. It was a little to thick for the amount of gravy. However I would love to try the biscuit by itself with another entrée. The shrimp and grits are not Southern style they are New Orleans style. My friend felt they were ok. Now the candied bacon was a hard NO. It was heavily salted. You could not eat do to the level of salt. I am not sure if this was a fluck or how it's prepared. Unfortunately we returned to the kitchen and I never return anything even if I don't like it. However, our server Alexa was very helpful and provided overall good service. If you are close by you should check out. True rating 3.5 read more

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Made a super convenient reservation online for Sunday brunch. Luckily they have a dedicated parking lot across the street. The decor is fitting and funky and the restaurant is very clean. All staff we encountered were friendly and patient with us (as my friend and I took a couple hours to catch up.) I had the aperol spritz which was the just the type of light drink I was looking for. I got the Hattie's 4 piece meal with home fries. What is there to say about the chicken? This is Hattie's so the answer should be obvious; crispy and delicious and plentiful. Home fries are topped with cheese and green onions. Yum! Next time I'll request extra green onion on top. My friend had the Cajun omelet with a side of sausage gravy and ate every bit. Highly recommend! read more

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Had a great experience at Hattie's in Downtown Albany! The food was really good, the Cobb salad was alright... Really nice ambiance as you can see with a chill vibe. The service was also good. I recommend visiting. read more

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We ate at Hattie's the night of the Stevie Nicks concert at the MVP arena on 6/12 It should have been a hint of what was to come when it was the only restaurant we could get into The first thing that happened was the tap water we tried to stick with was so nasty we could not drink it Our server, K. Suggested we get a bottle of Saratoga Springs bottled water, suggesting we could share one Since both enjoy 2 different kinds we chose one bottle each. K brought out 2 full size bottles for us, opened. I was shocked that they were quart bottles. But not wanting to make a fuss, we accepted them. Each bottle was $10. So $20 for water Our meals were ok. I ordered the Southern Cobb salad with grilled chicken The chicken was bland. My husband got the Mac and Cheese, which was bland as well with a thick glue like presentation We requested Beignets with no sauces, options being caramel and Chocolate. The server had to be sure she could do that. 3 beignets were brought out. They tasted ok. We did not finish our order. We both became sick I had to use the restroom located right off the main dining room, while I vomiting. Located between 2 dining tables. This was very awkward. I tried elsewhere and there was a line. I do not know why we both were stricken ill, both our nondescript dishes had chicken What really irked me was I felt like we were swindled into buying the overpriced Saratoga water. The server was constantly hovering., asking if we were ok A very disappointing meal. read more

Hattie's - Southern Cobb with grilled chicken - Southern Near Me - Albany, New York

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Thanks to the calm and professional staff at Hattie's as well as the US Marshals Services and Albany's Finest. My husband and I were sitting at the bar at Hattie's last month having a really enjoyable brunch. What happened next was surreal. It looked like a scene out of a movie. A suspect who was being chased by police decided to duck into Hattie's. He came running in past the bar and charged straight into the kitchen. He was followed closely by three very large, athletic plain clothes Albany Police detectives in bullet proof vests. More law enforcement followed including marshals. I counted 13 in all. They very quickly placed the suspect under arrest and led him out the front door. The officers apologized repeatedly for the interruption. I think we were all grateful. The restaurant had quite a few customers. It seemed none was frightened. In fact, a large table of women in the dining room continued partying. They could be heard laughing and toasting. The brunch was memorable aside from the incident. I enjoyed the meal. I ordered Grumbo & Eggs. My husband had Southern Eggs Benedict-- again. He really loves that meal. I'll have to try it sometime. The cocktails at Hattie's are awesome. I had a Bloody Mary. There were two bartenders on duty and they both were busy. One bartender remarked that we were probably in the safest place in the entire Capital Region. The officers were still outside the restaurant as we were finishing up. I wasn't sure how much to write about the arrest until I saw the report in the newspaper. Hattie's is owned by the nonprofit, Business for Good, which hopes to help revitalize the neighborhood with its presence. I hope the restaurant succeeds. After the incident, the management has discussed hiring security and reached out to city officials for help. If everyone does their part , we'll keep coming. The restaurant is lovely. Much of the staff is local and they're great at their jobs. Lastly, the food is awesome. read more

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I love the Hattie's in Saratoga so I was excited to try their new Albany location. With that being said, I started things off by ordering the macaroni and cheese. Knowing that, the macaroni and cheese was very good. To explain, it was cheesy, creamy, with a nice bread crumb topping. I really liked this mac and cheese. After that, I ordered the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and fries. I immediately tried the mashed potatoes and they were excellent. To put into words, the potatoes were creamy, had no lumps, and had great flavor. On the other hand, I sampled the fries which were just generic frozen fries. Then, I moved onto the chicken which was solid. The chicken was tender, crispy, and juicy. However, the breading definitely needed some seasoning because it was a bit bland. It was still overall good fried chicken. Also, I have to mention that this restaurant doesn't take cash which is absolutely ridiculous. Luckily, someone in my party brought their credit card or else I wouldn't have been able to pay. Just a disgusting business practice. At long last, the food here is definitely worth 4 stars, but I'm taking a star off for not taking cash. read more

Hattie's - Fried chicken - Southern Near Me - Albany, New York

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My husband and I had an early dinner here last weekend before seeing a show. We were blown away by the decorations and New Orleans feel of the place. The food was phenomenal and maybe the best biscuits I've ever tasted. The only thing that we didn't like was the dirty rice- it was chocked full of bell peppers (not our favorite). Best part is that they are a teaching restaurant and hire people with little or no restaurant/kitchen experience, a very generous thing to offer. The place is cashless so bring your credit and debit cards! read more

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Hattie's opened an Albany location in the a well-known old restaurant venue. I like the location and all the available parking is a huge plus. The bar area was stunning, the dining area was nice and well decorated and I loved the wind instrument display. I waited until I visited twice to post a review. Regrettably, the service was even worse on my second visit and the food was mediocre at best, definitely overpriced. At my first visit, the service was lacking and we felt extremely rushed to order and leave, it wasn't even busy. Apps served without sharing plates and the waitstaff ignored us for like 5 minutes as it went cold. This visit, we were completely ignored, we were sat in the bar side and no one ever came to us. After 35 minutes we were flagging someone down. I think one of the hosts took our orders and he came to our table a total of 3 times. Drinks, food order, bring food. We could barely get water. Couldn't ask the server for anything. Didn't take them long to drop a single receipt off to our table though for the bill. After we paid, they offered us dessert when they realized we were basically ignored all night. The key lime pie was pretty good. While I don't think I would return here no matter how good the food was, the fried chicken on my first visit was delicious. Tender, juicy, flavorful. That was the only thing I really enjoyed. The sides were underwhelming, the Mac and cheese was forgettable. I ordered the shrimp and grits on my second visit and I was shocked at the small chopped shrimp on top on the dish, not what I was expecting at the price tag. The grits were criminally under seasoned, the sauce had good flavor and spice, but there wasn't enough to flavor the grits, salt and pepper please. I know Hattie's is a big name in the area, but I don't see this place surviving if this is how they are consistently. I'd skip it. read more

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Had a really nice Sunday brunch visit. Service was excellent from the moment we stepped in the restaurant through the whole meal. We ordered chicken and waffles and the Cajun omelet. Both were good and great position sizes, the only suggestion is amp up seasoning especially in a place you really expect as their strength. It was a touch on the bland size, but I don't really want to knock it a point because the food was still really good as it was presented. The restaurant is beautiful inside, there's two sides to the restaurant and both have a great vibe. With brunch we did some bloody Mary's which were very good. read more

Hattie's - Southern Near Me - Albany, New York

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First visit, Sat Jan 18, 2025, to the newer Hattie's restaurant in the famed Lombardo's location at 121 Madison Ave, Albany, NY. This is their 2nd location, the original in Saratoga Springs was opened in 1938 by Ms Hattie & Jasper. Made reservations for us via Open Table online. It was easy with prompt confirmations. Note: this is a cashless business. Also two parking lots & on street parking. Host station had our reservation and we were seated immediately. Water & menus right away. We ordered drinks when all of our party arrived. We started with great thin sliced fried green tomatoes ($21). Dinners were Hattie's signature fried chicken (2-($24) or 4 ($28) pieces, small upcharge for all white meat, with choice of 2 sides. Sides can also be ordered ala carte - crispy brussels sprouts, collard greens, potatoes, mac & cheese, rice & beans, coleslaw-sweet or spicy. Also the fried catfish - crispy cornmeal coating with spicy coleslaw, hush puppies, & house hot sauce ($26). All dishes were served hot, well presented, and the great smell hits before the first bite. I think Miss Hattie would approved. Many Southern & New Orleans favorites are offered including biscuits, gumbo, jambalaya, po'boys, oysters (MP), Our server Matthew was excellent, answering all questions & checking on our table as needed. Dinner for three with one drink each, tax & tip was $155. A good value for authentic Southern cuisine in the Capital District. For those that remember the famous Lombardo's the bar side with the boots & the dining room are the same layout, but the decor, see the wall mural honoring Ms. Hattie & some other touches are great. Also there is a rear room to reserve/rent for parties, meetings, etc. A great first visit. Kudos to the staff & kitchen. We will be back. Thank you. Nick, Liz, & Lauren, Albany, NY read more

I'm so happy to have Hattie's in the neighborhood and to be able to walk there for dinner or a weekend brunch. The space is beautiful, especially the bar area with all of the lush greens, and I love that that they have modernized the space while keeping some of the old charm of the former Lombardo's. I never expected a Southern restaurant to invite vegetarians to the table like Hattie's has, but I am so grateful they did because the food is fantastic. The hush puppies are light on the inside and perfectly fried, the biscuits are buttery and salty, and the cornbread has a great crust with a sweet and soft corn middle. The vegetarian dinner options of Jasper's Mac & Cheese or the Royal Sweet Potato plate are both warm, flavorful, and filling. But my favorite thing at Hattie's is probably the brunch vegetarian option of Grits & Fried Green Tomato -- buttery soft grits with wilted spinach, black eyed peas, shallots, and brown butter lemon vinaigrette, topped with crispy fried green tomatoes -- I could eat this dish every day and be happy. There are plenty of other vegetarian entree and side options that I am looking forward to trying during future visits! The cocktail menu is diverse and interesting, and I have enjoyed every cocktail I've tried, but my favorite drink so far has been the housemade lemonade. The service has been a little lacking on each of our visits so far, it doesn't feel as warm and as attentive as everything else about the restaurant. But I get the impression that many of the servers are new so I'm hoping that this minor issue will correct itself with time and experience. Welcome to the neighborhood, Hattie's; looking forward to many visits! read more

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So very lovely. Kind and attentive staff. Quiet elegant atmosphere. Superb food. We tried the Brussels sprouts from the appetizer menu, Oysters Rockefeller, Fried Chicken with collard greens and grits, Fried Catfish with hush puppies and 2 sauces. Dessert we are trying the Southern old fashioned Coconut Cake, it is huge enough for two people. Ending our dinner with southern coffee. read more

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Recently had the pleasure to have dinner at Hattie's in Albany. There were 6 of us there to celebrate my belated birthday. The starters we had were gumbo, fried green tomatoes and hush puppies. For dinner we ordered the fried chicken, fried chicken and ribs combo, red beans and rice with grilled chicken, and Mac and cheese. Sides included Cajun fries, collard greens, garlic brussel sprouts and cheesy grits. We loved everything we ordered! Standouts were the fried chicken, collard greens, brussel sprouts, gumbo and the massive portion of mac and cheese. The complimentary slice of coconut cake they brought for my birthday was exceptional. All dishes were flavorful, service was great and prices reasonable. We will definitely go back! read more

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The first time I have been here. The waitstaff was very friendly and accommodating. I never tried catfish before it was superb. My daughter and I went there before a show at the MVP Arena. They allowed us to park our car there in their parking lot for the duration of the show. It was. Quick 2 block walk and getting out after the show was a breeze. Thank you so much! read more

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I'm giving Hattie's a four because 3.5 is not an option and I don't want to discourage people because all in all it was a pleasant experience. Just not stellar. Have you ever been somewhere and everything was fine yet not quite meeting expectations. The fried chicken is tasty. The catfish was cooked perfectly. The ribs were okay but salty. The sides were the let down not one of the five shared were great. Not one! Greens lacked acid, Brussel sprouts were bland, coleslaw is spicy but tasty, hush puppies were greasy and dirty rice was okay. The cocktails were good and the house Cab sav was as well. The basque style cheesecake is just burnt and it is a shame because the filling was FANTASTIC but you have to eat around the burnt crust all around. The service was really good! Everyone we came in contact with was pleasant and helpful. read more

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The restaurant is very beautiful, our server was very nice, but the service was so slow and the food was disappointing. We've tried Hattie's in Saratoga before and didn't get the hype then. But as a longtime customer of Lombardo's, I wanted to go back to the former location of one of my favorite restaurants and give it another try. Unfortunately, they painted over a beautiful and historic mural and torn down an entire part of the restaurant and put the kitchen there instead! I cannot believe that they destroyed the entire right side of the restaurant, what a shame. The right side was so grand and breathtaking and now it is gone forever. The food is super bland. They know how to fry food, no doubt, but it is desperately missing flavor and seasoning. And the chicken was disappointingly dry. The spare ribs were very fatty and you had the rip the meat off the bone. The quality of the meat seemed to be cheap or they just have no clue how to make good ribs. It is shocking to me that so many people rave about this place. It's watered down soul food. When I lived in NYC I could get a better plate for $15 delivered to my door from someone hustling out of their kitchen. read more

I've been looking forward to try this restaurant out for a long time. I heard so many positive reviews about the one in Saratoga. I should have saw the signs when I got there. 5 pm and low traffic until we left. This was Saturday. The chicken was bland, the ribs sugary, the beans and rice were flat. It states long grain on menu but it was short grain and extremely sticky. That's indicative of the starch not being washed out properly. This was a total let down. read more

Six of us had a lovely dinner at Hattie's tonight. The fried chicken didn't disappoint. I'd recommend dark meat over white, much juicier. The standout in service came from a wonderful young gentleman named Rashawn. He was always at the ready to assist whenever help was needed to provide us, and all the customers, with excellent service. Keep shining, Rashawn. From your friendly to the vigilant service made our night! read more

We had a great dinner at Hattie's in Albany. Fried chicken is amazing as well as shrimp and grits. Plenty of off street parking. The wait staff was lovely. The bathroom, in the bar area, is absolutely beautiful. A must see! This is a business that moved into a building and area rich with history. Please support Hattie's!! read more

Love Hattie's! Great Food! Great cocktails, reasonably priced! And in a appropriate glass. You don't always get that, restaurants use small glasses to save on alcohol but charge high end prices. Not Hattie's! Love it! Great service! Great Atmosphere! read more

...drove all the way out to Saratoga Springs, took an additional hour to find suitable parking and then walked into 'Hattie's' approximately three (3) minutes before they opened. The maitre' d refused to seat us ( because we were early) and had us sit at the bar for two (2) minutes before we were seated. Then the BS started: no Mac and Cheese on the menu? They took the most popular side dish off the menu for the Summer months!!?? Even though it wasn't quite Summer time?!! ( Father's Day). Ordered the Sweet Tea ( which was absolutely sublime), but 6 ounces of tea at THAT price?? Say what now?? The chicken was perfectly cooked, but way too salty, the collard greens were not properly cut ( does anyone enjoy full-leaf collards??) and the mashed potatoes were pedestrian. The red beans and rice were terrific... but I could have went to POPEYES and got the better meal at 1/2 the price ( although Hattie's cornbread and biscuits ALMOST made the long drive and horror with parking worth the price gouging and mid entree). All-in-All, I will return to Hattie's because I suppose they had an off day, but it won't be the S Springs location. Hopefully, the Albany location can get their act together sometime this year... read more

Great food and enjoyable vibe. First time at this location and have been to Saratoga numerous times. Glad that they opened this location.

Amazing food! The gumbo was delicious, candied bacon was scrumptious and the biscuits with the honey butter was over the moon! Blew me away! Brunch was spectacular. Great bottomless mimosa as well. Very cool vibe-love the decor and all the neat glass. So glad we found this wonderful restaurant. Definitely coming back. Thank you!!! read more

Good flavors...super moist and crispy chicken. And if you're not interested in the fried chicken staple, do yourself a favor and get the fried green tomatoes (great combo of tangy sauces) and the hush puppies (delicious honey butter with scallions)! They did the right thing and kept the manatee. If you know, you know. And it's got a very clean yet cozy vibe going now. A bit more training of our waitress is in order. Forgotten drinks (numerous times) and uncertain menu knowledge. Easily fixable. The other staff was on their game! Lovely greeting, great intervention, and Jasper popped out of the kitchen when we asked to confirm our gluten free inquiries. We'll be back! read more

This evening my granddaughter and I had a wonderful meal!!!! We both were so happy with our meals and with the friendliness and service from the staff!!!! I will definitely go back for another great meal in such a warm and welcoming place! Thank you all!!! read more

Matthew was an attentive but not pushy server; the food was excellent and the servings were generous. The atmosphere was not overly loud and the physical space had a warm antique vibe. read more

Had dinner there last night and it was excellent. This is the location of the former Lombardo's restaurant on lower Madison Avenue. This is a new Albany location of the legendary Hattie's in Saratoga Springs, which has been serving up southern fare since the early 1930s. There is off-street parking next to the restaurant and in a lot directly across the street. Ambiance inside is lively and the renovations in the space kept many of the old Albany elements with a mix of New Orleans, all updated and welcoming. The cocktail I had - a Vieux Carre - was mixed to perfection. Jambalaya, grit cakes, key lime pie all outstanding. Excellent service. Highly recommended. read more

Excited to have them in Albany, but a few issues still to be worked out. The beignets and biscuits with jam were both excellent and everyone enjoyed their drinks. Many of the servers we saw working seemed pleasant but ours was anything but. I don't think he said a word to us the entire time - he would just show up at the table and stare until we assumed it was time to place our orders and seemed incredibly annoyed the entire time. The creole omelet was fine, but dry. It supposedly had cheese inside, but couldn't tell. Potatoes were fine, but dry. Needed hot sauce or some type of sauce to go with it. The space is beautiful, they did a great job renovating. Will give it another try once they get the kinks worked out. read more

The restaurant, food, service,ambiance and parking (lot right across the street) were excellent. How do you say this diplomatically well guess I can't the neighborhood is horrible. Druggies hanging out, very sketchy was not super comfortable going to and fro. read more

We ordered a 2 piece chicken dinner that came with 2 sides for $22 to take out. The chicken was over cooked and the pieces were tiny. The Brussel sprouts were ok at best and my husband had a side of dirty rice that was also ok. We had a drink at the bar while waiting. The bartender was accommodating and friendly. The drinks were a bit overpriced, the ambiance was mediocre. We won't be going back. So glad we bought 1 meal to try. Food is way overpriced. read more

great ambiance and staff. separate lot across the street to park. we started with the biscuits and corn bread and fried green tomatoes. entrees were the nashville hot chicken with grits and collard greens along with sausage mac and cheese. easily the best mac we've ever had and the chicken was juicy. wish i had room for desert! read more

Hattie's - nashville hot chicken - Southern Near Me - Albany, New York

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(This is a review of Hattie's in Albany.) Fried oysters not recommended; too much batter and minimal oyster taste. Fried chicken excellent, if salty (not surprising). Red beans and rice was tasty, but odd; a lot of sausage (andouille), and not that many beans; not a recipe I've ever seen for this dish; I was expecting more beans and only a bit of meat. Collards excellent. Mashed potatoes (dirty style: with skins, and chunky) were good but dry and under-seasoned. Portions were ample. Service was good. Value was average; the total bill seemed a bit high; cocktails expensive but this seems to be the new normal. If it was a better value, I'd go back. read more

Good food. Absolutely horrible seating if you go with more than two people. Hostess was curt, waiter basically silent... simply staring at us when time to take our order. Not trying to be negative, but other than the decent food... not a pleasant experience. In a nutshell: this location is good for takeout orders. read more

For a restaurant known for chicken, was extremely disappointed being served a raw chicken breast. It was then returned overcooked. Server didn't care and didn't discount the meal. Would NEVER go back! Horrible customer service. read more

I had the highest hopes for Hattie's. My dining companion is a fried chicken enthusiast-- he LOVES fried chicken! Our current favorite place is YaYas and the Loudonville Popeyes (believe it or not). Hattie's had a lot of buzz in a local restaurant group I belong to, so we were excited to try it. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the hype. We originally intended to sit down for dinner, but were pretty sweaty from a bike ride, so decided to go for carry out. The good news first-- The young man at the front door/register was phenomenal. Very helpful navigating the menu and providing info and his personal favorites. The décor of the restaurant is beautiful. They really did a superb job renovating the space. It looks like it'd be a great date night spot and, on the way out, we noticed a large parking lot across the street, which is definitely a plus in downtown Albany. The menu had a nice variety and we both ordered the chicken & ribs dinners with sides. Now the not-so-good news (and it breaks my heart to say this)... The chicken was crispy but bland. Not really seasoned and somewhat tough to chew-- certainly not what we were expecting from a renowned "chicken place." The ribs had nice flavor but were super chewy, not falling-off-the-bone tender. (We both agreed that we've had better ribs at Mission BBQ.) Mashed potatoes were decent, but it's kind of hard to mess those up. I was surprised about a $2 upcharge for gravy-- that was disappointing. My Brussels sprouts were nothing really noteworthy. (Honestly, I think the ones I make at home are better.) My companion said his collard greens were okay. (I think he was being generous because he didn't finish them.) The dirty rice was soggy and lacked flavor and we both agreed that we enjoyed a $2 box of Zaterain's more. No rolls or cornbread came with our meals as is customary with this kind of platter. We ate our food because, quite frankly, after a long, active day, we were hungry and because it rang up over $65 for 2 take out dinners. I don't like giving bad reviews, however, overall, we found the food at Hattie's to be mediocre and overpriced. We've had tastier fried chicken/BBQ platters with more generous portions for half the price. While we'd love to see local businesses thrive, we felt compelled to share our honest opinion. read more