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.

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.

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.

We went for an anniversary. We had never been. First, we were greeted at the door. They asked if…read morewe'd like them to take our coats. This is a lost service in the restaurant industry, but a lovely touch. We were seated in, what can only be described as, a room with phenomenal atmosphere. Low light, but you could see, comfortable seating, amazing art on the walls, and a perfect spot for a romantic dinner. The service was top notch. We were offered water immediately. They have a cocktail menu that included historical cocktails dating back to the 19th Century until present day. The cocktails were perfect. We had pre-ordered a half bottle of champagne. It was very good. We also ordered caviar service. It is 1 ounce with sour cream, egg whites, yolks, and onions. Fresh made Bellinis that were still warm. We enjoyed it immensely. It was a lovely compliment to the champagne. For an appetizer we enjoyed the escargot. We have had escargot in many places, rarely, if ever, was it as good at this was. The garlic butter was on point, the crusty bread was a great addition to the dish. It was served with tiny leaves of Swiss chard. We cannot recommend this enough. We ordered a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from their extensive wine list, Stag's Leap. This wine paired perfectly with the filet mignon bordelaise, and the veal chop with cherry peppers. We had a visit with the chef, he was a wonderful representative of this amazing restaurant. We cannot recommend this place enough. It's a little spendy, but worth every penny. Service, 5 stars! Atmosphere, 5 stars! Food, better than 5 stars! We will definitely be back.

Loved supporting this black owned business! We came on a Saturday night and there was a DJ playing…read morea good mix of everything. Our mocktails were super tasty and tropical with a hint of guava! Bartenders were also friendly. There's some additional seating upstairs and in the back patio area.

Have been a couple of times. The owner and staff are very friendly. They have some interesting…read morebottles to try. When I did not know what I wanted, the owner actually took some time to tell me about some of the different bottles they have. That's customer service! You see that so little these days. Plus there is a cool little outdoor area in the back that you could not even tell is there from the outside. Best of luck to you!

My recent experience at Finn's was exemplary from beginning to end…read more I stopped by Finn's with a colleague for dinner. The exterior and the surrounding neighborhood doesn't really give a good indication of the goodness you'll find inside Finn's. Immediately upon entering, I was met with a lovely and bustling dining room. My colleague and I sat comfortably at a high top table. We began our experience with cocktails I got one of their specialty cocktails (it was a rye cocktail--I don't exactly recall the name of it). It was spirit forward and delicious. For my dinner, I got their chicken schnitzel. It was hands down the best chicken schnitzel of my life. It comes piled with a perfectly dressed caesar salad and topped with trout roe. My good gracious--I'll be dreaming of this dish. It was perfection. Our server was so kind and just wonderful throughout our experience. Can't really say enough--wonderful from beginning to end! Get to it!

Finns is in a very interesting area. When our uber first pulled in, we were unsure if we were in…read morethe correct spot. It's a bit chilly inside the small restaurant area. Bring a sweater in the winter time. The staff is fantastic. We went as a party of 8. The menu is small and absolutely delicious. We ordered most of the apps as a table and each ordered an entree and dessert One of the best meals of my life. Get the chicken schnitzel if you can. You won't regret it.

WHAT BROUGHT ME HERE Located in the heart of downtown Troy,…read moreEmry's Garden stood out to me as it sits on the corner of an intersection in direct view of cars passing over the bridge into the city. I decided to eat here in celebration of getting a new job in the city. THE ATMOSPHERE Arriving at 8pm on a Friday night, the whole restaurant was packed. I made reservations so we were seated immediately. There was almost no overhead lighting- instead, most of the restaurant was lit by downward-lighting lamps at each table. Each table had a jar of flowers which added nice color to the environment; it was woodsy, but not in the polished, laminated sense. It felt more natural, cabin-like, combining well with the shrubbery, paintings with big frames, natural lighting from windows, and giant mirrors. The place was small, packed, and loud with people and background music. That's my only minor complaint; it was quite loud from all the people and everything was tight together, and I think the music was good, but would be even better with some more abstract, atmospheric score. This isn't the place to watch the game; there's no TV's. But it is the place to order a fancy cocktail or a Banana Bread Old Fashioned. And there is a bar. THE SERVICE I happened to know our waitress from high school on accident and she was wonderful. We were checked up on frequently, our food arrived fast, and the conversation was enjoyable. THE FOOD I ordered the Mickey's Riggies, a Rigatoni dish in marinara sauce mixed with peppers, chicken, mushroom, and Parmesan cheese. Flawless. My friend & I also got Bavarian Pretzel sticks as our starter and man, that buffalo sauce was good. Costed $60 without tip. THE BATHROOM My design professor once said if you want to understand the personality of a restaurant, check out its bathroom. Well, that didn't really apply to this place. The men's bathroom was a little jank, unlike the great atmosphere of the restaurant itself. It wasn't disgusting, just a little jank. BONUS: THE SPEAKEASY Yes, there's a speakeasy, but you're not going to learn about it on this Yelp review. You should visit it yourself if you get the chance. Dress up.

They are normally closed on Sunday, but opened for a Mother's Day Brunch. They should have stayed…read moreclosed. The service was terrible and the kitchen was a disaster. We waited almost 2 hours for our food and when it came out it was not worthy of the wait. The staff and management had no idea what to tell us and kept saying that the food was almost ready. After waiting 1 and a half hours they just threw up their hands and said there was nothing they could do about it. They took money off the bill, but the experience was a big zero!

Cameron ran the bar. He mixed up a tasty gin and tonic for me. This tasting room is dedicated to…read morethe promotion of their Maine-centric offerings of various liquors, beers, and ales. They lack food but have a history of hosting group and business events. To that end I'm confident they offer a unique experience. I love the set up and location of this place! It's cozy. And you're probably familiar with the statement that if they don't have exactly what you want to drink they'll definitely have something you'll love. Support Local. Go there. You'll have a great time.

If you're in the area I highly recommend you make a stop here!! The spot is super lowkey, I love…read morethe layout/theme. It's small but spacious. The prices are reasonable and the service is amazing!! I went recently and had Rachel and Nash taking care of me and they were amazing. Rachel is so bubbly and radiates happiness! Their drink menu is pretty big, they are an "open" bar but the liquor they use is made locally so they only use one brand so in that way you are limited BUT the drinks are still delicious. I had the Lady's Limoncello which is featured in the little boomerang I posted. They do give you complementary trail mix (not sure what to call it - can also be seen in the background on the video) and I think that's amazing. They don't have a food menu so it's nice to have a little snack while you drink. I came from out of state and I would love to go back. Loved the experience and the staff! Also Rachel makes an amazing pina colada shot!!! It was my friend's birthday and she made us a couple of shots and they were so yummy!!

What a gem in Troy! Dark, warm, cozy, lively spot. Perfect ambiance for a night with family and…read morefriends or a great couples date night. To find a speakeasy with a full food menu is unusual. We arrived slightly after it opened and it was already toasty warm with music playing and we were greeted right away. You can sit wherever you want at the little tables or on the couches. Food was great, drinks were even better and the service was friendly and prompt. The music volume was perfect for talking without shouting. After we ate we took our drinks to the couches and the waitress brought over games without us even realizing there were games. Such a fun night, highly recommend this spot for a really great night out!

We came here for drinks after dinner downstairs at Emry's Garden. They do not take reservations but…read morethere was plenty of space indoors. The vibes resemble a den/ men's cave. Lots of paintings, mirrors, red velvet, arm chairs. The drinks menu is limited but the bartender can make anything. We got a variety of drinks, they were all good. The music isn't as loud, which makes for a nice evening if you want good conversation.

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.

We stopped in to celebrate a new graduate in the family. The drinks were so-so. Just not boozy…read moreenough. If I'm going to pay about $15-$18 a cocktail--it better be good! The food here is delicious, three of us ordered the burger and fries and one of us ordered the fettuccine with crab meat. The fries really stood out. My daughter was afraid to order the fettuccine but she was so glad she did. The waitress was super nice and it is cozy inside.

Out for date night and decided to give L'Roca a try since it's new in our neighborhood. The…read morerestaurant is really nice inside with comfortable seating and intimate lighting. You could eat closer to the bar to enjoy the music and people watching, or toward the back with the fire place. Service was great. Our waiter was helpful as we tried to figure out what to get, and we even had a chance to talk with the owners son. After going back and forth with the menu that is full of great options, I ordered the Bistec Encebollado, grilled veggies, rice and pigeon peas, and plantains. The steak was so big, I totally left with a second meal. My husband ordered peppered steak, mashed potatoes and grilled veggies, and that was also a large serving. Both meats were juicy, tender, and well seasoned. The mashed potatoes were freshly mashed and perfectly seasoned, as were the vegetables, and the plantains were nice and sweet. I will definitely be coming back. The vibe was nice, and the food was delicious!

L' Roca was good. Food was tasty. Atmosphere is very nice. Service was a little slow at times. I…read morewasn't in a rush, but arrived hungry at lunchtime on a Saturday. I was warmly greeted, seated, and given a menu and then it took some time, well after I was ready, to be visited to place my order. No biggie, but I was ready and it wasn't busy, with guests at 1 other table. When I finished my meal, I waited again. Not a huge problem but a lot of side work was being done vs providing service. I let server know I was all set and he acknowledged then continued to make drinks for kitchen staff. I had ordered lemonade but after checking, it looked like they were out, so he offered the juice (without explaining). Food was very tasty. Lunch was $37 before tip, for 3 tacos meal, 3 empanadas app, and the fruit drink.