We LOVE this place. We found it last year on a tour of Albany and went back for both breakfasts. Convenient public transportation stop in Capitol area. Excellent food, perfectly comfy and tasty. There were plenty of plant-based food options. The tofu scramble was the best we have ever had. The decor is a wonderful combination of Elvis memorabilia and 19th century Victorian. The staff is great and the people that go there live in the neighborhood. read more

I absolutely of the ambiance of this restaurant! It's such a lovely place and the building is also so unique! I've come here a couple of times and have always enjoyed my meals, the breakfast burrito is amazing and the big iron breakfast sandwich is also super good. The side of greens was a little heavy on the dressing but refreshing. I loved there seasonal drinks as well, the latte was delightful and my friends enjoyed their mimosas too! We were a relatively large group and the waitresses were super accommodating and everything came out really timely. I definitely recommend trying iron gate for a great brunch! read more

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When it comes to a weekend brunch, my three top choices in the Albany area are cafe Madison, umana and iron gate. They're my splurge brunches (three steps up from a typical diner, and boozy drinks!) but man, oh man the waits are rough. Luckily, Iron gate allows you to join a wait-list so you can wait at the comfort of your own home.The inside is also quite quaint - it's a converted mansion with a lot of the old charm still there. The servers are great too - they've always been super friendly, helpful and accommodating. Iron gate has specials and those are my usual go to as I love trying something new. Last time, we tried a beet with a poached egg and hollandaise sauce and oh it was delicious and 'healthy'. On the flip side, we had an apple cider sandwich that might have spiked my cholesterol and diabetes through the roof - it was good but I needed to share the second sandwich. My friend tried the Cajun scramble (normal menu) and I'd 100% get that next time - well seasoned and cornbread was 10/10! read more

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I came across Iron Gate on Yelp. I was visiting Albany and looking for a good breakfast spot. Parking isn't the easiest, but the area is so walkable that it won't take long to get there by foot wherever you find a parking spot. Upon approach you might miss it as it's tucked away behind a large tree, some foliage, and an iron gate! The greeter politely guided me to where I placed my to-go order, and I wasn't rushed while looking at the menu, although I already knew what I wanted: I ordered the Caprese omelet and the Spinach and Mushroom omelet. I love their portion sizes and the omelets came with large salads. There's plenty of indoor seating that gives an antique 19th century dining area feel. The outdoor seating is nicely shaded by the surrounding buildings, so either option is cool. I have no complaints and if I'm in the area again, I'd return for sure. read more

If it's quaint ambiance you enjoy with your breakfast/brunch, then you've found the right place. Nestled behind an adorable brick courtyard, this restaurant is housed in a made over historical mansion. The food was tasty and well seasoned. Our waitress had an upbeat sunny disposition and was very attentive to our needs. We ate in the main dining area with early century decor and charm. Also available was an eclectic bar area for quick on the go yummy treats. A beautiful back patio, not in use during the cold season, offered a nice view thru the windows just the same. It looked as though locals and visitors alike were happy to enjoy a relaxing start to their day here at Irongate Cafe. Definitely will return for another visit. read more

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we were visiting Albany and found iron gate cafe by the stellar reviews. Wow! The food was delicious! And the ambience is cool as well. I would love to go back and try other things on their menu. Best hamburger I've had in a long time! And the Bloody Mary wasn't shabby either. read more

Had a fabulous lunch at Iron Gate Cafe this past Saturday! We used the wait list which was fantastic... very accurate with the timing of our table being ready . We all ordered the mother clucker sandwich on a brioche roll and we all gave it two thumbs up read more

Definitely worth the wait ! Great service and. The food was divine . I had the sundown Benedict . Roasted sweet potatoes really make this dish sing read more

Iron Gate Cafe - The sundown Benedict - Cafes Near Me - Albany, New York

This place is popular. Even on a weekday, there was a wait. Luckily, my dining companion got there earlier than I did and put our name down, so I didn't have to wait long. This cafe is huggggeee. Seriously, we kept turning the corner into another room with more tables. I don't think I've ever seen a restaurant laid out like this, in a big old house with tables nestled in every hallway and corner. Super charming. I went for the Buddha Bowl, which had roasted sweet potato, broccoli, sliced avocado, spinach quinoa, & fried tofu tossed in sweet Thai chili sauce. Generous helping of perfectly crispy tofu. Everything was fresh, well-balanced, and well-portioned. Their menu had lots of sweet brunchy things that would totally be my vibe on another day. Well worth the visit! read more

Iron Gate Cafe is located in downtown Albany and it is very charming. There is an outside patio and multiple indoor dining rooms. On a Friday afternoon, I joined the Yelp waitlist and the wait was less than 5 minutes. When we arrived, the hostess informed us that there were bees outside so we opted for indoor seating. Inside it is very cozy and there was a lot of Elvis decor inside. The menu offers a variety of soups, salads, wraps and sandwiches. I had a hard time choosing exactly what I wanted, there were so many great choices. There are also daily specials. We had a small pineapple juice and matcha latte to start. They use sweet matcha instead of traditional matcha. For our meals, we had the vermonster and elvis memphis scramble. The vermonster sandwich has roasted turkey, sliced apple, maple-walnut spread, cheddar and lettuce on multigrain bread. It comes with chips and a pickle. The elvis memphis scramble has three eggs scrambled with bacon, maple sausage, green peppers, and onions toppled with pepper jack hollandaise with grilled cornbread. Both meals were a very good portion and very filling. I liked how the vermonster sandwich was a sweet and savory option. I think I might of liked it on different bread instead of the multigrain bread, but all the components were very flavorful. The ingredients were fresh. Service was wonderful. There is a 4% credit card processing fee. After lunch, we walked around Empire State Plaza. There is metered street parking and I used the ParkAlbany App to pay. read more

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Everything we ate was delicious and the portions were balanced. Friendly staff, fast service. Perfect place for a family breakfast. read more

Iron Gate Cafe - Raspberry Brie French Toast Spinach & Mushroom Omelet - Cafes Near Me - Albany, New York

Great food and very exceptional service. Love eating here for brunch at the raspberry Brie French toast and orange juice. Both were delicious. Beautiful ambiance and decor read more

Visited today for the first time, decided to go for a late brunch on a bustling Saturday. The atmosphere was lively and had a charming historic vibe with an edgy twist complete with The Ramones and The Misfits decor! The drinks were enjoyable, and the food tasted fresh. I had the French toast complete with brie and berries which was delightful. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back to explore more dishes on the menu. read more

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Delicious food, friendly servers, nice atmosphere. Definitely recommend and would go back. Large portions nice for sharing or leftovers

Met a group of friends here for Saturday brunch. Service was friendly and efficient. They sat us in the back courtyard - an absolutely lovely setting with greenery and a working fountain in the middle of the courtyard. The variations on French toast and the breakfast sandwiches were all delicious as were the lattes (hot, cold and Chai!) I hadn't eaten here in a while and was glad to have been seated outside on a beautiful summer day. read more

Iron Gate Cafe - Latte - Cafes Near Me - Albany, New York

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We found this on yelp looking for a breakfast spot near our hotel. There is an option to check in online in yelp and it said about a 40min wait and to check in with the host upon arrival. There is street parking and we didn't see signs for parking garages. We circled the block and got a place right out front. There is outside seating in a front and backyard courtyard as well as inside. Both were immediately available upon our check in which was maybe 10 min from getting on the waitlist. Thankfully there was no one waiting when we got there but there are benches inside to wait. When we left at 11 there looked like a line wait. We chose to sit out back and there was a water feature and greenery surrounding the patio. The tables and chairs are iron but had cushions and umbrellas for shade. There was light music playing, bird feeders in the trees and even a few yellow jacket prevention measures tucked away in the trees. I gotta appreciate the effort to make a nice outdoor dining experience. We were promptly given water and menus and then she came back to take our drink and food order. My husband had the loaded ham, 2 fried egg, cheese loaded rosemary Parmesan bagel special that had a hash brown on it with a maple Dijon. It was a large sandwich with a side of fresh fruit which included a slice of watermelon, pineapple, strawberries, blueberries, grapes. I had the raspberry Brie French toast that had a few strawberry slices and blueberries. 2 triangle slices had the Brie spread and 2 had raspberry preserves. It came with a small side of syrup. I also had a side of hash browns that were nicely browned, with onions and flavor. Nice soft potatoes not crispy fried like a fryer. It was all very good. If I was in the area, I'd put this in the top of my breakfast go to places. Many breakfast eateries you end up with greasy sloppy food and this place takes care in their products. The menu boasts local products and names where they come from so I always appreciate that extra touch. Our server was smiley, attentive and efficient. read more

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The food is okay but not particularly impressive. The ambiance is nice, but I wasn't satisfied with the service. I had brunch and wanted to drink more coffee, yet the waitresses only came by twice to refill my mug. I think this reflects a common issue nowadays -- you're expected to leave larger tips, but the quality of service isn't as good as it used to be. It feels like tips have become more of an obligation than a reward for good service. read more

Great breakfast/brunch spot with a huge menu, warm atmosphere, in a charming historic old home. Lots of seating, friendly service. Stuffed French toast and latte were delicious. I was pleasantly surprised by how reasonable the prices are. Highly recommend. read more

Was in Albany for a homecoming reunion. Very tough place to find good food. Eventually found a breakfast spot. The Iron Gate Cafe is set in a brownstone type building. Finally used their web based waiting list to get a seat. Ordered a caprese omelet. It came with home fries. Awesome!!! Coffee as well. Well prepared dish. 3 eggs, fresh vegetables in the omelet and quality cheese. Friendly service. I'm a breakfast person. The food rivaled my favorite north jersey spot, Raymond's and many of the top NYC restaurants like Bubby's. I wanted to order the French toast as well. But was afraid of the 3 hour drive ahead of me. Thank you to the staff. read more

They don't accept reservation unless 5 people or more, we were visiting, called to make reservation, and we couldn't, but the costumer service was so nice and helpful and gave us a chance to come in without having to wait so long. The food and service was great!! read more

Food and service were awesome! Loved the setting of the restaurant, nice and cozy!! Looking forward to going back when we return to Albany. read more

All of the items were amazing!! They were really flavor and filling, this is my second time going and I always have to pack to-go plates. My favorite item is the raspberry Brie French Toast, the flavors really compliment each other. The drinks are also filling and very good. The service was excellent. Very polite, and you will get your food on time. The atmosphere is also pretty cool. It makes you feel welcomed and comfortable. Every time I go to Albany, I have to eat there at least once!! 10/10 read more

We had such a wonderful brunch here so even though the wait can be very long, it was worth it. Tons of gluten free items on the menu. GF pancakes were so tasty, as was the maple syrup they came with. They reminded me of mochi in terms of consistency, which was great. I added chocolate chips to them, a side of fruit, and whipped cream and everything turned out absolutely delicious!! read more

Iron Gate Cafe - GF pancakes plus chocolate chips, side of whipped cream, and a side of fruit. Yum! - Cafes Near Me - Albany, New York

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Great setting in old mansion nice lunch and breakfast fare. Street parking can be tough to find but it's worth it.

I forgot to take pictures but this was a cute place. Very deceiving from the outside because you think you're walking into a small cafe. But then you get seated and the place is a lot bigger. Old house made into a cafe. Very cozy and comfy. Staff was very welcoming. I had latte and the French toast with bacon. Both delicious. I was in the area for business and if I lived closer It would be a definite regular spot I would go to. They have a nice patio outdoor seating, but today was way too cold for it. read more

Never disappoints!! The food is consistently delicious. The ambience is amazing and the service is excellent. We have enjoyed eating at the restaurant for many years and now my grandkids are at the age where they enjoy it regularly and take their friends! Love the Iron Gate Cafe! read more

Service, kind n attentive, food, delicious n well-received by omni n vegan folk, and the place is a stellar spot in Albany that reveals the creativity and dreamy ambience that a great menu, and love for food n folk/culture, deserves. If you need healthy food for friends that are on another planet of food choice-this is both a creative and practical choice for breakfast, brunch, n lunch in a town that has forgotten its healthy, food-optioned self. Best spot I ate at w/friends over the two weeks frustratingly searching. Where'd all the real menus of food diversity, vegan n gluten free food, and omnivore-friendly food sharing spots in the Capital Region go? Go here! read more

Great brunch spot in downtown albany. Cute interior and efficient service even on busy days. We once had a large group of about 16 or so and were able to reserve a whole room. The food has always hit the spot, they have a good variety, fun specials, and a good deal of vegetarian options. read more

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Cool but weird Elvis-style atmosphere. Very busy, recommend calling ahead to get on the waitlist. Menu is all day breakfast/lunch. Food was fair for the price. Good menu of coffees available. Was given 4 stars instead of 5 because the condiments at our seating were empty. #attentiontodetail read more

Iron Gate Cafe - Buttermilk Pancakes - Cafes Near Me - Albany, New York

Went today with a large party of 20. They hosted all of us in their front room. The service was amazing and the staff was very friendly. Everyone loved the food and the atmosphere. The latte was delicious!! read more

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This has been a fun spot for brunch with friends. We always try the mimosas and have yet to be disappointed. I've had a variety of their dishes and have enjoyed them, even when I've been skeptical - from me, that's a big compliment. I love sitting outside when the weather is right, but any of the rooms inside are a treat. The building is so old and so many of the original details are still there. read more

The place is amazing, losts of old wood decor. Great friendly service. And the food is amazing!

Outstanding! The entrance was what originally caught my eye but the food and service is the real magic in this place. Walking through the gorgeous gate entry you see why the name is so appropriate. Entering the building you're covered by trees with small berries and the sunshine breaking through the leaves. It's beautiful. Walking in we were greeted by an employee who gave us a kind and warm welcome and asked us what our preference for seating was. We sat outside and we're thrilled to enjoy the ambiance that we witnessed when entering the courtyard. Your waitress was sweet and perfectly attentive. The food was spectacular and for our second visit to this restaurant, I am 100% backing the raspberry and Brie French toast. It has the perfect balance of cheese and sweet fruit. The syrup that comes with it isn't completely necessary but is a delicious addition. I also ordered home fries to avoid commuting theft from the plates of others this time and washed everything down with a mimosa. Beautiful is the only word to describe this experience and I look forward to the next time I visit Albany. read more

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I had the Iron Gate eggs Benedict which was not tasty.. unlike any Eggs Benedict I have previously had. We also had a prosecco and orange juice drink which was not good. People were friendly and it was a lovely day it definitely is not a restaurant we are apt to frequent again very soon. Disappointed. read more

The chicken was dry. It felt like a factory unit!! Indoor seating had 1.5 hour wait but outdoor seating was immediately available did not make sense. I enjoyed the salad however!! read more

The food and service was amazing with beautiful scenery. Our server was amazing although I did not catch their name as well as the hostess. read more

Iron Gate Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Albany, New York

Stopped in for brunch on a Friday. Food and coffee are delicious! Highly recommend the caprese omelette and the raspberry brie french toast. The architecture and ambiance is exciting, definitely worth checking out - especially when it's warm enough to eat in the garden. Service was fast and friendly, Gabriela was an amazing server. Definitely worth the visit! read more

Iron Gate Cafe - Caprese omelet and raspberry brie french toast - Cafes Near Me - Albany, New York

Looking for a restaurant for Sunday brunch n as always found iron gate cafe on Yelp with great reviews n thought we'd try it. I'll warn we had a long wait almost 90 mins. But the good thing was we put our name on the long wait list. Was 46 th () on the wait list. Checked in n we still had a long wait. So we drove around downtown Albany Capitol district n to RPI n got back to cafe n dropped to 12 th on the wait list n then it was just a few mins wait. Must be a good cafe for this long wait. Nice cafe w indoor n outdoor seating. Victorian house that's converted into cafe. Friendly welcome staff n clean restaurant n restrooms. We ordered the blue sky salad, Elvis Memphis scramble, Phoenix rising Benedict n farms house hash Benedict n cornbread. Blue sky salad had lots of greens, walnuts, blueberries, goat cheese w apple cider Vinaigrette. Was v fresh y n crunch. The Elvis Memphis scramble had bacon, sausage, onions, peppers w a pepper jack hollandaise sauce n grilled cornbread . Yummy n the corn bread was a generous piece. so good. The farmhouse scramble Benedict cane w crumbled sausage, roasted sweet potatoes n side of home fries. Was very good. And finally the Phoenix rising Benedict was w Ho muse made black bean sliders, sliced avocado n pepperjack hollandaise sauce. All the food was so delicious. All plates cleaned. Not a morsel left. Thank you for a great brunch. Worth the long wait. Will be back again if n when we are in the area. read more

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A wonderful brunch spot! The Iron Gate Cafe is located within a beautiful old building. When you walk in, there is a small bar, with several larger dining areas, set up in a way that I felt like I was eating in someone's fancy dining room. Very cool. There is lots of outdoor seating as well. The decor, music, and overall vibe was very pleasant. I had a peach Bellini and a grilled cheese with soup. The food was good, but I wish they had tomato soup available to complete the meal (chicken soup was delicious, just didn't go with the sandwich). My friend got the breakfast burrito and it looked and tasted great! We also had an infant with us and they were very accommodating and gave us a table in the corner where it was easy to navigate a high chair. Overall I was pleasantly pleased with this restaurant, and think it's a cute brunch spot to take your friends, significant others, family, or even for a solo dining trip. Other things to note: -Street parking only, but it was very easy to find on the weekend -Make sure to get on the waiting list through yelp! This place is quite busy, and getting on the waitlist allows you to see when you will be able to get a table and save time waiting -There is a (small) surcharge for bills paying with credit cards read more

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Wait is always long on the weekends so make sure you get on the wait list early! We love the brie stuffed french toast, breakfast burrito, and sweet potato benedict. read more