Ilium is another name for Troy. It's a new brewery located inside the Ilium building on Fulton…read moreStreet in downtown Troy. Even though it was a weekday, it was hopping. The Ilium has a nice vibe. It attracted a young crowd. An employee at the door was ready to card some of them.The place was packed. All of the seats at the bar were filled by women who came as a group. Others, a mix of young men and women, filled the booths. I like their specialty cocktails. I think that's what brought many women there. But on this evening we ordered Guinness and pretzels which were very good. Between the seating, lighting and music, it's a comfortable place. As a pre-diabetic, I wish there were more food offerings with protein. That's my only criticism. I know they have really good pizza because I sampled some at a Yelp event. Adding real protein to the menu would help to slow the absorption of alcohol so that customers could stay longer. As for me, it would keep my carbs from spiking especially if I have their yummy cocktails.

While on a brewery crawl with friends in Rensselaer County, I made sure we stopped at Ilium, mostly…read morebecause of the current Yelp buzz there. Make sure you follow the street numbers, because the doorway to the west says "Ilium" above it, but the tap room is next door. The interior is very inviting, with many comfortable bar stools and seats on the first level, and a lounge upstairs which will seat about 20 people with an assortment of tables and lounge chairs. We were able to chat with the owner/brewer, Mike, for quite a while, he's very outgoing and great for chat. There will be about a dozen pours available on tap, with approximately half of them being their own brews, and the other half being a combination of beers from neighboring breweries, hard seltzers, and ciders. Pours will change about every 2 weeks. There is also a short homemade cocktail list and a reasonable amount of liquors available to make good, basic, cocktails. They will let you sample anything on tap prior to ordering it. I don't know if flights were available, we didn't ask and didn't find out if short pours were available. As someone who likes some carbs and salt as I'm drinking, I really appreciated the warm mid-sized complimentary pretzel that came with each beer. You'll have to check their calendar of events to find out what other types of foods may be available on any given day. Ilium's location in Troy is very convenient, and this is a great add to the list of breweries in the area.

Loved the cocktails. Loved the staff. Loved the vibe…read more It was calm, dark, and cozy. It was a really great spot to end my night out with my husband to chat and have a well made cocktail. We can't wait to go back!

Always enjoyable. Usually quite as a good cocktail bar should be. Great drinks, good small plates…read more The bartenders take their time explaining and making your drinks.

Always great food and service! Never disappointed with either! Highly recommend anything on their…read moremenu!

It's a classic Troy staple. You can't miss it!! The wings are great. The atmosphere is what you go…read morefor.

Last night I hosted a surprise birthday party for 40+ people. I cannot say enough of the ease from…read moreplanning to execution, the staff are so attentive and friendly. Ashley the event coordinator was easy and helpful to work with. She was responsive to texts and emails for any of my questions that rand came up. My guest's raved at the atmosphere and food. we chos the pizza and handhelds with an optional Charcuterie board. Our bartender was friendly and provided quick service with no lag time for drinks. 10/10 across the board!!! Service, Food and atmosphere!! Thank you so much for helping me make my event successful !!

I have found the best restaurant-made potato chips at Common Roots Brewing in Albany. The thing is,…read moreI wasn't even looking for them. They came free with my Nashville fried chicken sandwich order.They do great deep fryer food. My sandwich was all sorts of crispy, spicy and tangy fun. The space, however, has changed a lot. I remember when it was the Pump Station several years ago. The late owner, Neil Evan, was a fixture there and his seafood Mac & Cheese was something to rave about. By contrast, Common Roots has a more limited menu and plainer furniture. A lot of pizza varieties, tacos, salads and burgers. Decent bar food. By contrast, Common Roots flagship in Glens Falls appears to have a better menu with more variety. I generally eat healthy. I can't eat bar food regularly. The meal was great for a Friday night out. There's also a very good non-alcoholic beverage and drinks menu. I was happy to see all of varieties of stout. The snowy stout was delicious. So was the kombucha. The bar where I sat was clean, sleek and modern. The bartender, who took my order was helpful with suggestions. The main dining area looked a bit sparse for 8pm on a Friday night but the business is still relatively new. I'd like to see an expanded menu with at least a few more healthy choices and some family-friendly selections. Meanwhile, I'll know where to go if I get a craving for awesome freshly made potato chips.

Overall a good experience! The Ruck has a great beer selection and a convenient beer menu that also…read moregives untapped ratings which was a helpful addition. The drinks came out quickly after we ordered them. The food took a decent amount longer. While we did wait 30 minutes for our food when it wasn't very busy , when it did come out it was hot and delicious. Flavorful wings, yummy disco fries/tots and some of the most well seasoned onion rings I've ever had. The atmosphere of the restaurant is classic pub food bar place but was well cleaned. Other than having to wait a little longer than usual for our food it was a great experience. We were so excited to eat by the time it came I did forget to take a photo of the food but it was all portioned well and well seasoned.

My first visit to The Ruck was enjoyable. I went by myself. I was actually trying to find the…read moreRensselaer County Clerk's Office. People kept telling me, " It's across the street from The Ruck. You know, The Ruck?" That was no help to me. I was unfamiliar with this tavern. To think that it's more famous than the county offices sparked my curiosity. So after I took care of my paperwork with the county I stopped in at The Ruck. I would describe it as a business and dive bar that makes craft beers. I made it in for lunch on a weekday. I took a seat at the bar. I was surprised to see the menu was quite extensive. There was a nice selection of soups. I ordered a cup of Greens and Beans along with 5 oz. of Fat Orange Cat Brew Chonky . I liked the beer. The soup was quite good, too. The man seated next to me was eating wings. He was raving about them. He said they were the best in town. I'll have to try them next time. Service is very good. The bartender was a good guy. Very nice and helpful. He said that on football game nights the bar is packed with Bills fans. Sounds like a lot of fun.

This restaurant is everything I don't really like, but I still had a good time. We arrived after…read moremaking reservations the day of on a Saturday evening at 7:45PM. It was darkly lit inside (with pinkish/red lights no less); it was extremely loud to the point that I had trouble understanding what my wife was saying (which might not be the background music!); and the prices were expensive. The entire night they played 1980s New-wave British music which I don't mind, but had it been something I detest I would have lost my mind. We were seated at a tiny table with a small candle which provided some actual heat on the cold winter night. Our server was extremely helpful and though he didn't have all the answers he did offer to go and find out. They have a long menu but it doesn't have a lot of food options on it, with most of the pages devoted to alcohol. They had only one dessert option when we were there. My wife and I both ordered the Hanger Steak with fries, mushroom sauce, and green salad (about $40 each). Hanger steak is my favorite cut and hard to find so I jumped on it. Food came out in about 25 minutes, which is amazing considering how small their kitchen is. The steak was cooked perfectly (they didn't ask how we wanted it), smothered in a lovely mushroom sauce, and covered an ample portion of crispy homemade fries which were so good I would have thought them bagged frozen items. Even the basic salad which was just various types of lettuce was great. They aren't cheap, but they are focusing on "farm to table" and that means quality food at commensurate (fair?) prices. Burgers and chicken sandwiches are $15, so if you want something lighter but still tasty you can go that route. Speaking of light, if you go into the bathroom on the right you will find a cold, dark, tiny room lit solely by a PINK bulb. It feels like being on a spaceship (as if I know what that is like), and after when you leave seeing the main light in the restaurant is very jarring. It was a fun experience but not inexpensive and not one that checks the boxes that I look for in a restaurant. Dark, loud, and cramped might be hip for the young or "save the earth" crowd, but I am too old to give up creature comforts for such things. The food, though expensive, was absolutely outstanding in every way though and I won't forget that steak for a long time.

I think it's safe to say this was the best brunch, dish for dish, we've had in 2025…read more Their chicken and waffles were highly suggested by our welcoming waitress. Given the colder weather we started off with the Lobster bisque with a side of bacon. While not kosher, the combo was top tier for an early morning. End the meal sharing their gigantic cinnamon bun. I still dream about this til this day

Not much to offer really the beer is a bit pricey for the and the patrons aren't the or the owner…read morefor that matter

Disappointed with the service we received this morning. We walked in because my daughter's hands…read morewere chocolately and sticky. Asked to use the bathroom for hand washing. The guy behind the bar appears annoyed said yes. My husband bought a coffee to support the bar. We then bought a hot chocolate. The guy poured a Swiss miss packet into a cup and charged us 6 bucks!. We will never do that again. Should have gone to Alejandro's for the good stuff

This place has become my usual spot for lunch when I'm in Albany area. There's parking lot next to…read morebrewery. I had raspberry and dragon fruit hard seltzer. It is very refreshing. Not overly sweet. I could smell the raspberry when I was drinking it. It has vibrant raspberry color too. My favorite dish here is the chili. Not too salty but well seasoned. Perfect consistency. Brussel sprouts are great appetizer. Crispy, not bitter as it is drizzled with balsamic vinegar. My husband had Reuben sandwich. It's good but greasy. You order the food and drink at the bar area. You are given a buzzer that you put on the table. The waiter will come to deliver the food. There's misunderstanding about our salad order. We ordered regular salad but were given a side dish size. The waiter quickly told the kitchen to make regular size salad.

Food is back on the up and up. Menu is gaining depth and creativity once again. Execution this…read moretime was as good as you'll get at a brewery. Well done! Beer was terrific as always! See you all in a few months.

Stopped in here on a Sunday afternoon and we were greeted by Roger. He was so welcoming and took my…read moreboyfriend and I through their extensive list of brews. My boyfriend liked several of their beers so he opted for a flight of four - their Brown Ale, Red Ale, Extra Special Bitter and Ordinary Bitter. I went with a glass of carbonated Sangria from a Niskayuna-based winery, Capoccia Wines. I had no idea Niskayuna even had a winery! He really liked their beers and I loved the Sangria - it was so refreshing and fruity. It's super spacious with a bar area and adjoining room with more tables and corn hole. They had signage for a corn hole league that just ended. They also have an attached store with equipment for home brewing. Highly recommend stopping through! We loved chatting with Roger about the brewery and about his travels too.

I drove right past the place on my first visit, even with navigation going. I had been thinking,…read more"Farm brewery... where's the farm?" The tasting room is in the larger portion of a strip mall on Route 4. The seating at the bar is very cozy, and on your left you have a larger, very well maintained, area with tables and the rest room. The beer is good here, and so is the art of conversation, which, to me, is equally important at a brewery. They let us sample a few items before settling in on our chosen pours. I loved the eclectic setting, and for me you can't go wrong with 60s and 70s music (yeah, I was around for all of it).

The first moment my husband and I toured Takk house we knew it was the venue. The building is…read moregorgeous, timeless, and the exact vision we had for our wedding. We chose to go with the all inclusive wedding package, which took care of so many details that would otherwise be stressful. Our wedding planner/coordinator Andrea is simply amazing. She was so easy to work with and took so much stress off of us, which actually let us enjoy the planning. She was there for us every step of the way and we're forever grateful for her hard work and dedication throughout the process. Sarah the in house florist is unbelievably talented, I honestly could've just given her our colors and let her take the reigns. Sarah's way of bringing a vision to life is breathtaking. Julie the in house designer was also a dream to work with! She executed our vision above and beyond and even suggested ideas we went with that were stunning! After all of the planning our wedding day came, and what a fairy tale it was. My husband and I, our families and friends are just speechless at how magical it was. The day from the very beginning to end was perfect. The timeline Andrea put together for us went smoothly. Her and her assistant Hayley were on top of everything, and also had anything you could think of on them. Shout out to the aprons with scissors, tissues, and anything else you would never think of needing during the getting ready process! We also did a first look on the roof top. I will remember that moment forever, it was so magical and breath taking up there. The private moment we got to share together really made us feel on top of the world. Now to the good part, the food! The in house catering meadowlark was perfection! There were so many options for those who had special dietary restrictions but also so many options for those who don't. Everything, and I mean everything was delicious. The way the Takk house team comes together for your big day is beautiful. You can tell that every single one of them loves what they do and will go above and beyond to make your day special. We can never thank them enough for such a perfect day!!

I got lucky enough to be invited to the All Over Albany birthday bash at the Takk House. I was…read morepretty excited to be going, both for the party and because my niece is getting married there this summer and I wanted to check out the venue. The building is pretty nondescript from the outside with a poorly done modern façade but the interior retains the charm of a 19th century brownstone. When you enter the building you can either go up the stairs or down to the coolest looking non working bowling alley. Upstairs is a large rectangular bar and a grand staircase to the second level. Straight ahead is the ballroom, with men's and ladies rooms in the hallway. Heidi, one of the owners, was kind enough to let us take a peak upstairs - there's a couple of rooms, one set up like a bedroom, the other with a dining table and chairs. I think further along is a balcony that overlooks the ballroom. The 3rd floor contains the owner's apartment and a gym that's under renovation. The place is not bright and shiny and brand new, instead it retains its 19th century charm along with some funky cool thrown in. I think if I was looking for a non-traditional (not cookie cutter) venue Takk House would be my pick.