This is a relaxed, welcoming spot for a cocktail and good conversation. I've been here a few times…read moreand enjoyed discovering New York State spirits, well-made and satisfyingly substantial cocktails, and live music that adds to the atmosphere. What stands out most, though, is the sense of community. I've seen strangers come together to support someone who wasn't feeling well, and that moment really reflected the kindness and positive energy of the people who gather here. So stop on by, grab a drink, and enjoy the day.

This place is very nice -- welcoming, artsy, comfortable, small but personable. We live across the…read morestreet, and my husband and I wanted to give it a try. Unfortunately, it was not a great experience. The bartender served our drinks with no napkins and no lime. Details are key in a place like this. It was also loud, and it looked like a birthday party was happening. If that was the case, maybe the place should have closed to the public to accommodate that celebration. People were loud and drunk, and the birthday boy was saying vulgar things. We will not be coming back.

Boyfriend and I were in Albany NY for one night - he wanted to go to Cheesecake Factory, but the…read morewait is apparently typically long on a weekend night (I have no idea - never been there!) so we decided not to chance it, and uber'ed from our hotel to this restaurant, hoping it would be good. I'll be honest - my heart sank as we got there, I almost cried. The neighborhood is *sketch*. The outside of the restaurant didn't look like much - but I felt better once we got in. Beautifully decorated with great lighting, lounge-style atmosphere. Great Latin music. We sat on the bar side as it was less busy. Beautiful bar with lots of options! Bartender made us **amazing** margaritas... omg were they strong! Loved it! Since we had never been there before, we played it safe. First we went with a fried calamari appetizer - not the best, but not bad - but then it's not typically something you'd order at a Mexican food restaurant. Boyfriend had the street steak tacos as main - hold the cheese as he forgot his lactaid, lol - and I had the steak quesadilla. Delicious! We loved it. The steak was especially well seasoned, not overcooked and sides were yummy. We ended the evening with churros - definitely homemade and on par with the ones we love at El Mirador in NH. Boyfriend even took his life in his hands and had some of the ice cream, couldn't resist - it was that good! Overall, as Boyfriend put it - this is absolutely a hidden gem type of spot - service was spectacular, food was delicious and we would totally return! (**Seated next to us were two young women on an obvious first date - girl #1 showed up, then girl #2 showed up a few minutes later with a big bouquet of flowers... what a nice touch! We just wanted to put it out in the universe - we hope you guys make it, you were super cute :)**)

I wanted to give L'Roca five stars because it has so much going for it including a charming staff…read morebut on our particular visit, service was extremely slow. There's also an irony here, because this is the only Capital Region restaurant I've encountered that adds a service charge to the bill of between 15- 20 percent. I'm assuming this is a new practice because service charges-- which are common in cities like Miami-- are not mentioned in any of the previous Yelp reviews for L'Roca. This Latin-American restaurant has been open for about a year. When I looked online, the general explanation for service charges is that restaurants collect these fees to offset operational costs and management has the option to put a portion of the fees towards tips for staff but they don't have to. I asked the servers if that was true and they said yes. So for a meal that basically cost about $60, there was an addition service charge of over $12 and since it appears that only part of it will go towards tips, I paid an additional $10 in hopes that the staff could get a decent tip and with tax my whole meal cost over $90. That was a bit of a surprise. On the bright side, loved the light up menus and the food is great. My friend loved his steak and side dishes. I thought the fried green plantains were especially delicious. I liked the pigeon peas and stew,too. It was a Friday night and I'm glad they were busy but the wait for everything and anything was long. We were shown a table in the back because the seating in the front of the restaurant was almost full. I wasn't upset when it took a while for a server come back to take our orders. But there was also a wait of more than a half hour--perhaps as much as 40 minutes--before the food was served which was unfortunate because my friend was very hungry. The great sound system helped us pass the time. There's even a jukebox. With the dim lighting and the pretty decor, the back room had the feel of a nightclub. We ordered dessert to go but even getting the slice of very good tres leches cake took an additional fifteen minute wait. The kitchen may have been overwhelmed. The two or three servers were at times distracted. They got into conversations together and the bartender had to remind them that customers were waiting to be seated. I saw no apparent manager on duty. I would like to return because I hope the problems are an aberration. Other reviews indicate some service issues but nothing as we experienced. With talented chefs and a friendly staff, I wish them success. I also wish they'd lose the service charges and improve time management.

It's been a while since I've had a meal here. It's always good. There have been some changes to the…read moremenu. They all looked delish. The service has always been good here. There has been some turnover in staff but they were just as friendly, helpful and professional as I remembered. I kept it casual and picked a Tofu Banh Mi which is a Vietnamese sandwich. It came with greens. I really enjoyed this dish. It was filling but didn't weigh me down. I ordered Wayward Lane Brewing Monarca Gold: A Mexican-style lager. It was very good but I have to admit I ordered because I liked the butterfly on the can. I actually liked my friend's dark smoked beer even better. Wayward Lane Brewing's Lifeblood looked like stout and tasted a bit like smoked bacon to me even though it was supposed to feature notes of toasted brown bread and caramelized sugar. My friend also had truffle ( mushroom) fries and a smash burger. He loved the meal. Dove & Deer is a pretty place. Attractive furniture and light fixtures. Big windows. A nice variety of food and beverage that you might not find everywhere else.

Thanks to InKind, I tried this place out for brunch today. If you don't have InKind, download it…read moreand you'll get reward cash equal to 20% of your bill. Also, Dove + Deer has a current welcome gift of $30 off of $90. Anywho, I felt like getting pancakes and these were nice and fluffy with a nice chew. The strawberries were sweet and soft and the maple syrup was great. The eggs were scrambled perfectly as well, with great flavor - shocking because most eggs are so flavorless. You get a choice of additional protein and I chose the maple sausage which was delicious as well. The only thing that could be improved was a bit more salt and/or pepper on the home fries but I guess most people use the ketchup that's given, so I understand the under seasoning. The service was friendly albeit infrequent, and that's just fine. Water is left on the table for self-service and that's really why I need additional service attention anyway. All in all, a great brunch place because it has lots of space and feels casual and comfortable. Try it.

I've been here once every time they rotate their drink menu to try their seasonal menu, so at least…read more10 times now. They've got the best drinks in all of Albany hands down. My best friend and I have wandered NYC, Pitt, Philly for cocktails before we settled our lives in Albany and Savoy takes us back to the good old days. We come here to catch up and just have a good night. Lots of other locals too and bartenders are great. Their food is pretty banging too -- caesar salad with ANCHOVIES, delicious burgers and fries to satisfy my fries craving. Street corn. Bacon jams. Brussel sprouts. Yum yum yum. If you're just visiting Albany and need a place to stop by for a good night, highly recommend!

Pretty uncrowded before 7 PM. Definitely picks up the later you go in the evening. We were able to…read moreget a table easy. But the tables were practically all full when we left. Good menu with plenty of options. And the portions are large. Not incredible, not bad. Just some middle-of-the-road tasty food. The service is...not great. Unfortunately, I think they were understaffed? After we ordered, we didn't really see our server again until it was time to get the check and leave. Has a nice dive-y feel to it. Chill vibe. Definitely a decent spot to spend an evening.

Five stars just doesn't do The Argus Hotel (TAH) justice! So many more could be awarded but for…read morenow I am relinquished to conform and will try to do TAH justice in my review. TAH is a former mansion turned attorney's office turned B&B, currently owned by Terra and Matt. A dynamic duo with a powerful history of business savvy, hospitality, craftsmanship, culinary experience and so much more. TAH was an amazing place but it was these two that welcomed my family into their home and embraced us with all of our nuances and imperfections as if they were part of the family too. Attentive and observant of what we needed, what worked or didn't in the house and were quick to adjust as needed. TAH is still a pretty new hotel and they are doing an amazing job ironing out all of the kinks that come with anything new. I was speechless when I first entered the house and spent hours absorbing the beauty of the house and their labor. As for the actual hotel...Built in the late 1890's, the hotel has the modernized features of central AC, WiFi, Satelitte TV, etc. but still holds the historic charm. The walls are adorned with hardwood paneling, wood floors and classically decorated with beautiful, modern furniture mixed with some classic pieces for added flare. There are a multitude of rooms for sitting and enjoying conversations and cocktails at the rustic bar in the main entrance as well as ample seating in the main area where the tremendous fireplace can be enjoyed. The bar serves a full menu of drinks which can be enjoyed whether you choose to stay at the hotel or not. Sleeping rooms are plentiful too and nicely decorated. There are a full compliment of sizes and configurations, even a separate carriage house turned into a perfect spot for families needing a bit of isolation from the main house. The carriage house/ cottage also has a small kitchenette, bathrooms, living rooms, etc. My wife, son and I stayed in the suite with the sun room off the back. A large room enough room perfect for a family with smaller kids and the ideal spot for a relaxing afternoon in the sunroom. All of the rooms were well stocked with the basic necessities and each had their own keypad for access as did the main entrances to the Hotel. This was my first visit to Albany so I was not familiar with the area. Having some down time between family events I did make my way out to some local restaurants and the neighboring park. I enjoyed the area and the scenery of the neighborhood and would definitely encourage anyone to do the same. The area has so much local flare and personality to enjoy it should be considered criminal to miss out. I am counting down the days until I can return for another phenomenal stay!

This is a review of only the cocktail lounge. Friends from out of town were staying in the…read morecarriage house behind the hotel and we agreed to gather in the lounge for a drink or two. The building itself is impressive, although maybe not quite as impressive as the castle-looking building next door. Our party of seven settled in at the bar as there otherwise did not seem to be a large enough table for all of us to gather around in either the main lounge area or a small room off to the side. The dark wood paneled walls, large fireplace, assortment of easy chairs, couches, and high desktop table gave off a feeling of warmth and welcoming. The friendly bartender introduced herself (sorry I've forgotten her name) and informed us that spirit-wise, the bar was capable of preparing the standard, traditional drinks like Manhattans, martinis, etc. All beers were poured from cans, and at my request, she recited the names of about six that were available. I don't believe anyone in our party inquired about the wines that were available. The building simply calls out for an explanation of its history. Upon our request, the bartender offered to provide either the "brief" or "full" option. We requested the full history. She was obviously well up to the task. You would be amazed at the variety of things you could learn here. Just to touch on a few key topics that were mentioned, consider Alexander Hamilton's wife, puffed rice, Bab-o cleanser (cue up the jingle), Bishop Gibbons, and an orthopedic surgeon. I don't know what the normal food arrangements are in the Lounge. I'm guessing that our out-of-town hosts requested some snacks for us as a few bowls appeared with mixed nuts, crackers and cheese, fresh grapes, humus, and warm pretzel/croissant rolls, and a plate of prosciutto wrapped cream cheese. Overall, the atmosphere here is simply friendly and inviting. I think it will become an occasional gathering place for our local friends when looking for a place that is quiet and relaxing.

Met my friend for lunch and we had an amazing meal. I tried the earthy organic pasta which…read morerecommended by our waiter. It had Brussel sprouts and mushrooms with ricotta and white wine. It was incredible. My friend ordered the grass fed burger which was cooked perfectly. I loved the interior. The dark walls gave a feeling of elegance. It was quiet for lunch so I'd like to go back and see the dinner vibes. Service was attentive and knowledgeable providing great recommendations.

We've always been pleased with our experiences at Mint in Glens Falls. We decided it would be nice…read moreto visit them in Slingerlands. We were surprised at the lack of customers when we arrived at 6 PM on a hot and muggy Tuesday. There were a couple of parties on their covered patio, but only one booth in their dining room was filled, and there was no one at the bar or in the cocktail area. This is a shame, especially with the old style jazz music that was playing and the attractive ambiance. And, I'll say right up front that our meal was enjoyable with top level service. From their list of crafted cocktails my wife decided upon a zero proof Elixir, Scarlet Begonias ($14), crafted with Lyre's London Gin, earl grey and butterfly pea flower simple, and lime. It was quite flavorful and beautifully presented. While they didn't offer any draft beer, my eyes immediately focused in on Left Hand Brewing's Milk Stout Nitro ($9) - I hadn't had one in a long time, and its flavors of brown sugar, vanilla, and coffee were still so amazing. One of the highlights of our meal was the Forager Toast ($18) that we had as an appetizer. The lightly toasted and flavorful bread was topped with herbed ricotta, local roasted mushrooms, and arugula greens with an oil drizzle. This was so tasty. For her entrée, my wife chose the Scallops Marrakesh ($32) with a half-dozen large scallops over tomato, garlic, olives, and chickpeas with Moroccan spices on dressed arugula with grilled lemon. While the scallops lacked a more beautiful browning from searing, the dish was otherwise very good. As a side note, the half portion she took home that evening was even more flavorful the following day after all the flavors had more time to meld together. I ordered the Seafood Thai Curry ($36). The mix of mussels, arctic char, scallops, seasonal vegetables, and a very flavorful yellow curry with jasmine rice off to the side, was truly a hit with me. While the spiciness was not too great, it was definitely noticeable and perfect for my palate. I was too full after eating all my Seafood Curry to consider having dessert, but my wife had saved room by planning to bring a portion of her entrée home. Her choice was the Pistachio Tiramisu ($15). Beautifully presented with its ladyfingers soaked in espresso liqueur, mascarpone cream, pistachio glaze, and whipped cream with an espresso dusting, it tasted as good as it looked. She allowed me a taste. Relaxing with cups of freshly brewed coffee at the end of your meal is always a good idea at either Mint location. I believe it may be FTO French Peru from Capital City Roasters.

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.

I'm definitely a fan of this place. This is the second time we've stopped by and we all try each…read moreother's dishes which have been great each time. Today, I got the Korean chopped cheese which comes with fingerling potatoes. The bread is soft but substantial enough to hold all the beef and cheese which is nice and flavorful albeit a tiny bit salty. The fingerling potatoes were different and a good choice since you need the large amount of potato to cut through the richness of the meat and cheese. The menu here is a decently sized and varied, with some Asian inspired ones like this sandwich. Note: some of the dishes, like this one, are quite large and could easily feed two people. The space is large with regular tables and chairs, an area with couches and lounge chairs, and an outdoor patio area with tables and umbrellas. We've opted for the outdoor area each time since it was nice out. Service is nice and friendly. Check it out.

Wow! I can't believe it took me so long to get here. I haven't enjoyed a meal this much in a while…read more I don't get over here much, but I think I will be back soon to try more of this menu. The restaurant is gorgeous, in a former bank, they have a parking lot and a small patio. We loved the dark and moody vibe of the place. I was very excited to try some of this chefs work after drooling over the menu for weeks. We were welcomed by Vince, who was super friendly and knowledgeable on the menu. He provided great service through the whole meal. We started with martinis, they have a great cocktail program. I ordered a dirty martini with blue cheese olives and it was perfect, and strong. We also opted to try the Oyster Shooter, how fun! It was an oyster served with a little shot of gin with cucumber. The shot was sweeter than I expected, but I simply had to try it. We probably didn't need an appetizer, but luckily the Bao buns were the perfect size for two. The Korean fried chicken was crisp and moist and coated with a thick sweet and spicy sauce. It definitely had some heat, but it was a nice heat. The peanuts and cilantro paired great with the buns. Besides the menu, they had a number of specials for the evening, so keep your options open. We did decide to stick to the menu though. I ordered the signature duck and my sister ordered the porcini ravioli. The duck dish was stunning, I couldn't take enough photos of it, and the taste blew me away. The duck was so crispy and tender, the fatty flavor reminds you of a holiday. The carrot puree, potatoes, greens and cherries added complexity and balance to the plate. I never finish my dinner, and I ate every morsel on this plate. The porcini ravioli was no different, it was incredible. The thick creamy sauce had so much flavor we were trying to guess what was in it. It was so rich and dreamy and the additional of walnuts was a fun crunch. If you love mushrooms, get this. We loved this meal, and I will rave about it. I am coming back for the pork belly dish, soon.

Outstanding Food, but Service and One Dish Fell Short…read more I want to be clear: this is one of the best restaurants I've ever eaten at, anywhere. The food, the chef's talent, the ambience, and the overall experience are exceptional. That said, our visit last night was slightly disappointing. I made reservations two weeks in advance to celebrate my wife's birthday. Unless you're planning to sit at the bar, reservations here are practically a necessity -- although not absolutely required by the restaurant. Given that, the restaurant more/less knows in advance how many guests it needs to accommodate. We arrived on time, were quickly seated at our table, and, just as on our previous visit, were greeted by a very friendly server who brought my wife a glass of champagne. Unfortunately, things went downhill from there. Aside from the two drinks we ordered, 40 minutes passed without any food arriving. We were still waiting for bread. At that point, I had run out of patience and asked our server about the delay. Within five minutes, we received bread and were told that the restaurant had gotten busy quickly and the kitchen had fallen behind. I understand that unexpected rushes happen. However, at a restaurant of this caliber, where reservations are in all practicality needed, a delay of this length is difficult to understand. Especially for bread. Our appetizers took approximately 60 minutes to arrive. We ordered a dozen oysters and pork sopes, and both were absolutely excellent. For my main course, I ordered the gnocchi with tiger shrimp, which was stellar. My wife ordered one of the specials: squid ink risotto with scallops and sausage, along with side of tiger shrimp. She enjoyed the dish, and there was no question that the risotto was properly cooked and the seafood was excellent. The issue was the sausage. To be clear, the sausage itself was excellent. Unfortunately, its flavor overpowered the risotto and seafood rather than complementing them. The ingredients were individually good, but together, they didn't quite work. In short, the dish fell short of what I would expect from this restaurant and its chef. I have tremendous respect for the talent in this kitchen, which is precisely why I believe the restaurant is capable of better. The dish wasn't bad by any means; it just didn't seem balanced like everything else we have had there. Dessert was cheesecake, and was a solid 10 out of 10. Had we not waited 40 minutes for bread and nearly an hour for appetizers, I probably would have overlooked the shortcomings and given the restaurant the rating I believe it would ordinarily deserve: 5 out of 5 stars. However, the lengthy delays, combined with a dish that didn't quite live up to expectations, make it difficult for me to give a perfect score. I'll give it 4 out of 5 stars, and I wouldn't go any lower because I know just how exceptional this restaurant and its chef can be. This was our first visit in about a year, and I sincerely hope the issues we experienced were an exception rather than a new pattern. This restaurant has earned a tremendous amount of respect from me, and I would happily return. My critique comes from a place of appreciation for what it does so well. When a restaurant sets the bar this high, it's only natural to hope that every visit lives up to it.

When it comes to going to bars, this is where I usually end up at the end of the night. It's a dive…read morebar, and my favorite one at that. All of the bartenders are excellent and have been there for years. It's a small spot, but there is usually a lot of room until after 11pm. The patio is a great place to hang out after work in the summer. They usually get a mix of craft and mainstream beers as well as common liquors for mixed drinks. This is again one of my favorite spots, and maybe out of my own nostalgia, hope never changes.

This is a mall bar. The room, is cozy. They have a good choice of drinks. Good service. I will come…read moreback

Tonight we stopped at 605 because their Facebook specials were too tempting to pass up. We ordered…read morethe lamb meatballs with tzatziki, and they were absolutely incredible! Honestly, everything we've ever had there has been outstanding. But tonight, my review is really about a staff member, Cory. While we were there, a customer came in upset about having to place her special-order request in person. Cory remained calm, courteous, and professional as she tried to explain the policy and even stepped away briefly to help another guest and diffuse the situation. Unfortunately, the customer became verbally abusive and called Cory an insulting name before storming out. I just want to recognize Cory for handling a difficult situation with grace and professionalism. No one in the service industry should have to endure verbal abuse simply for doing their job. Kindness and respect cost nothing, and Cory deserved both tonight.

This restaurant was very snooty and some what discouraging; there's absolutely no takeout at all…read more The owner came up to me and tried to suggest that I go down the street to Hala resturant to get a takeout order. She looked me up and down and based on the way that I was dressed, even though I was in African-American and wasn't dressed like everybody else I felt as though she profiled me as soon as I walk through the door, it's a shame that restaurants like these still exist.