This Mexican bistro recently opened in the Hanford Plaza in East Greenbush. I admit that I was…read moreskeptical. Frozen Margaritas are not really my thing, and this place specializes in them. But good Mexican food is hard to find nearby, so I headed over there tonight with a few friends for dinner. The staff at Grand Margaritas were all extremely welcoming, courteous and friendly. Our waitress, Dayana , was cheerful and helpful. Our first decision was drinks; we normally order a pitcher. Fortunately the restaurant offers a variety of non-frozen Margaritas, and we had some trouble deciding on which to choose. The Tamarind sounded good; and Dayana offered to bring us a sample round. Nice! Having settled on the drinks we turned our attention to the menu which offered a nice set of choices. We started out with the Guacamole Grande for $16. It was a generous portion of guac, flavored with onions and tomatoes. It was delicious and was plenty for the four of us to share. I ordered Tour de Mexico for $26. This was a combination dish with a Chili Releno, a beef tamale, a chicken chimichanga, a beef burrito, a chicken enchiladas, a crispy beef taco and sides of Mexican rice and refried beans. The meal was delivered to the table on two heaping plates and easily enough for two people. Each item was delicious; nothing disappointed! One of our group the Three Mariachis, which included a generous serving of ribeye steak, chorizo sausage, served with pico de gallo, tortillas and sides of refried beans and Mexican rice. All for $28. I tasted the steak which was well marinated and grilled. It was excellent. With a pitcher of excellent Margaritas, appetizer for the table and 4 entrees, our tab came to about $178 total. Everyone enjoyed their meals, and the experience as a whole was great. I'd highly recommend this restaurant.

Good and Bad - First the good. Fast friendly service and tasty cocktails. Almost too fast (more on…read morethat later). Both wife and I adore good Mexican food as we have a villa in Zihuatanejo, Mexico and there are some really great mom and pop shops there with fabulous, well prepared food. We both ordered our go-to litmus test entrees when trying a new Mexican restaurant. I had enchilada plate (4 enchi's, ground beef, steak, chicken, and cheese). The ground beef filling was good, the steak was ok but underwhelming, the cheese tasted like processed cheese wiz, and the chicken was ok but under seasoned. Worst part was the tortillas were not prepared at all - not seasoned, fried, or anything. Just corn tortillas out of the package wrapped loosely around the filling. They fell apart quickly due to the moisture in the filling. Wife had Chili Renos. They tasted pre-made and previously frozen. The batter was soggy, the peppers were mushy and the red sauce tasted like canned. The meal came out within a few minutes so this supports the notion that it was already prepared. Interesting atmosphere - there were about 20 people taking line dancing lessons in the bigger room in the back. Overall, would not recommend for food, but could be fun for younger crowd, drinks, and dancing.

CARIBE Restaurant - Schenectady, NY…read more I've had the chance to visit CARIBE twice now, and both times were for birthday celebrations. This is a cute Caribbean/Dominican restaurant with a casual order-at-the-counter setup and dine in- gives off a welcoming island vibe. The restaurant was clean, colorful, and full of Dominican flair. Both visits started with the Dominican Appetizer Platter, which in my opinion is perfect for sharing between 2-3 people depending on how hungry everyone is. It comes loaded with sweet plantains, crispy fried plantains, chicharrón, fried chicken tenders, fried cheese, salami, tostones, and French fries. If you're a fry lover, don't skip these! On my first visit, we ordered the pork chops and the pernil. The pernil was delicious--juicy, flavorful, and with the crispy top!! that my friend absolutely loved. The second time around, we both went with steak. I ordered the Bistec Salteado (sautéed steak) medium, while my friend ordered the grilled steak. Unfortunately, my steak came out well done. When I mentioned it, I was told that's how it's traditionally prepared Dominican-style. Needless to say, I wasn't happy and ended up not eating much of it. I did try my friend's grilled steak, and it was much better (for my taste). The birthday girl ordered the seafood rice and really enjoyed it. It was packed with seafood--definitely a dish for seafood lovers! For her birthday she got a choice of dessert and got the Flan- and a island girly her self she critiqued and loved!! Next time I'm in the area, I think I'll skip the entrées and order à la carte so I can sample more of the sides and appetizers. Overall, the food was good, the portions were generous, and the atmosphere was welcoming. The steak was a miss for me, but everything else was enjoyable enough that I'd return to try more of the menu.

A little history to start, what do the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines have in…read morecommon? They were all Spanish colonies. Caribe leans to Dominican and Puerto Rican dishes and those same dishes have a familiar feeling to my Filipino palate. When I visited, I opted for the Chicharron plate over yellow rice. The Filipino version of this dish is called Lechon Kawali. What is it? It's a carnivore's dream, a deep fried slab of uncured bacon. Repeat, deep fried pork belly. Other than foie gras or bone marrow nothing comes close to meat fat decadence than this stuff. It's bad for you but oh soooo good. The garlic sauce tries to cut through the fat but it's a losing game. There's a tiny bar next to the cafeteria style take out displays. There's also extra dining space and bathrooms up a small set of stairs. It's comfortable and clean in there. I liked the vibe. I'll definitely be back. I'm not getting the Chicharron next time, however good it is. I think people my age should only be allowed to have it once a year. If that dish is any indication, there are several items on their menu that will also satisfy.

The copper crow is great they have unique dishes! I loved the stuffed haddock! Also the calamari…read morewas good! They have lots of seating and a cute lounge area! Great for a date night.

First visit to The Copper Crow and definitely not our last!…read more We had a 6:30 reservation and were seated almost immediately. It took our server a few minutes to make it over to us, but the restaurant was hopping, so it was understandable. She asked if we were heading to a play afterward (smart question--I imagine they're great at getting theater-goers in and out on time). Since we had nowhere to be, we were happy to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. We started with the Crab Rangoon Dip... and WOW. Ridiculously good! If you're debating whether to order it, don't. Just do it. Our entrées were very good--maybe not the kind of meal I'll be dreaming about for weeks, but definitely well above average and full of flavor. Service was on the slower side, but honestly, it gave us more time to soak in the ambience and enjoy the evening. The menu is unique, and there were several other dishes that caught my eye, which gives us a great excuse to come back. Overall, a wonderful experience, and we're already looking forward to our next visit!

Where to start. First, a New Mexican restaurant in one of my favorite towns. Second, perfect…read moreatmosphere, the decor and colors work wonderfully. Third, but the best is the Food & Service. I haven't had a crisp Chimichanga in years, this one was perfect. My husband had the Jalisco which he couldn't get enough of. Everything was fresh and tasted the way authentic Mexican should. The staff is extremely attentive and friendly. And for the Train Buffs out there get a window seat so you can watch the trains go by. We will definitely be back many times and we wish La Herradura all the best!

Recently went out to dinner with a friend that loves chips and guac as much as I do. Neither of us…read morehad been to the restaurant in Altamont so we were excited to share a new experience together. Before I even left, I was planning my next visit. The service was so friendly. The food delicious. One of my favorite guacamoles I've had. The sangria was light and refreshing, went down a little too easy. We each ordered three tacos à la carte to create our own platter but I'd recommend adding a taco trio to the menu. Also the Al pastor was too spicy for my palate but to be fair i truly have no tolerance for spice. Lastly for my fellow parents, their kids meals are $5.99!!!

Stopped in for brunch and had a blast. The mimosa deal was great for my wife and I. We enjoyed the…read moredip trio appetizer which was solid, definitely could've used some more chips. The service was fine, I think our waiter had a large section and was trying to make sure he got to everyone. The food was the real star. Both of our main dishes were amazing and super filling. Easily enough for two meals. One of my favorite local brunch spots, especially for quality Mexican food.

Great food, great service, fun interior, can't really go wrong if you're looking for good Mexican…read morefood! Birria tacos were very good, as were all the dips in the trio sampler. Lots of other great sounding options on their menu so I'm looking forward to coming back for sure!

Is it a 3 or a 4 star? Food - 4; Ambiance - 3; and service - 5. Average comes to 4. Parking…read moreis adequate except on Cinco dr Mayo. It is a very bright venue with loud music. Service is fast (most likely hoping for fast turnover). Chips and salsa delivered upon arrival. Ordered a chicken fajita / taco salad. An abundance of peppers but could have used more lettuce to satisfy the salad portion. SO ordered a steak dish which was more than enough for 2 meals. So maybe, it's all in what you order. Is it someplace I'd go back? Sure, it'll get added to our list of places to return to.

I decided to give Don Tequila a try after hearing mixed things about it. With that being said, it…read moreturned out to be a painfully average restaurant. With that known, I ordered the Tex Mex nachos for an appetizer and they were actually very good. To explain, the chips tasted fresh and homemade. Likewise, the cheese sauce was hot and had nice flavor. I really enjoyed the nachos and I hoped my entree would be just as good, but sadly that didn't happen. Knowing that, I ordered the shrimp and steak fajitas for my dinner and I was disappointed. To breakdown, the steak was terrible. It was cut extremely thin and was as tough as a tire. Similarly, the tortillas tasted store bought and had a weird taste to them. On the flip side, the shrimp, peppers, and onions were all enjoyable. They tasted fresh and were actually cooked properly. That said, the fajitas weren't terrible, but I wouldn't get them again. Conclusively, Don Tequila is a mediocre Mexican restaurant that is nothing to write home about.

For context, I rate products and businesses on a simple scale: 5 stars means I love it, 4 stars…read moremeans I like it, 3 stars is okay, 2 stars means I didn't like it, and 1 star means I hated it or think it's unsafe. The Roosevelt Room in Troy was a great experience from start to finish. I was honestly expecting a standalone building, but it is tucked into a strip mall near HVCC. That said, parking was easy and stress free, which is always a plus. This was our first visit as a party of four, and the service was superb. The attention to detail really stood out and was noticed immediately. Our waitress checked in at the right times, kept drinks filled, and made sure everything came out exactly as expected. Meals are made to order, so substitutions were no issue at all, and it was nice to see gluten free options available. When you walk in, you pass through a curtain and are immediately greeted by a coat attendant who takes your coats, which instantly gives the place an upscale feel. The ambiance is well done, with soft lighting and nice background music. It is on the smaller side and dimly lit, but that is clearly intentional. The menus actually light up, which was a unique and thoughtful touch that fits the atmosphere perfectly. We had reservations and were seated right away. It did not seem necessary on this particular evening, but I would definitely recommend them on a weekend given the size of the space. The food itself was excellent. Everything we ordered was very tasty, and the presentation across the board was impressive. Desserts are prepared by a pastry chef and were just as good as the rest of the meal. It is definitely on the pricey side, but that is to be expected for the level of service and atmosphere. This feels like a special occasion type of place, and in that context, it is worth every penny. We really enjoyed our night and would absolutely come back. There was also a sign mentioning live jazz on Fridays, which sounds like a great added touch. Overall, a very strong 5 stars.

Finally got to visit The Roosevelt Room. What a treat! We stopped in one late afternoon for happy…read morehour. I LOVE when nice places offer nice happy hour deals! Located in a strip near HVCC, once through the doors you are greeted by a friendly to welcome and direct you and we were directed to our goal- the bar. First, the design and decor are beautiful. It has clean, updated mid-century modern design that's very cool and elegant. At the bar we we had the pleasure of being served, hosted, by Erika and Ed. Wonderful mixologists who made our time there a true delight. We had scrumptious, perfectly made cocktails and our apps were delicious. Before our apps arrived, we were given an amuse bouche (manchego cheese with fig.) What a nice touch. Will definitely be back.

From start to finish, I was really unimpressed with The Daisy. Starting in the small crowded entry…read moreway, we waited nearly 10 minutes for staff to approach us. We had a reservation at 6pm and felt invisible when we walked in, just to be seated in a table 5 feet away. Maybe they were understaffed, but friendly staff could have gone a long way here. We started with cocktails and they were all good. We didn't really have opportunities to order more, so I only tried one. We started with the Fried Burrata and Caesar salad. The fried buratta was delicious but not enough bread, or a spoon served with it so most of the sauce went to waste. We loved the pesto on the dish. The Caesar salad was extremely underdressed and under seasoned. None of us enjoyed it. We then ordered entrees, I got the flat iron and they ordered the carbonara and the burger. The flat iron was ordered rare, and served blue. The steak and sauce on it was cold. I didn't complain because I didn't want to try and call her over, they did not check on us after the food was delivered. The sauce on it was okay but I think it took away from the flavor of the meat, very strong cumin and chili flavor, a little gritty. The fries were good and the broccolini was mushy and overcooked. The carbonara was also a miss, it was overly peppered and unpleasant to eat. This dish was ultimately sent back and we explained it was overly peppered and inedible, and she ordered something else. My friend who ordered the burger really enjoyed it and it looked great. The server was not accommodating at all and barely checked on us. We sent food back and the server just threw it away without a thought in the world, and it remained on the bill. At this point we just wanted to pay and leave. Bad service can ruin a night, and it put a damper on our girls night out. My photos came out impeccable, unfortunately most of it looked better than it tasted. I could look over bad service if the food was great, but when neither is, it's a hard pass from me.

I ordered a house salad with spring mix and all I got was a box of chopped romain. A pitiful salad…read morenot worth the $9.