First night in Albany brought us to Albany Ale and Oyster…read more Great food and beer here! Whenever there is a Main Brewing Company beer on tap anywhere I am sure to get it. They are an elite beer company. The tuna tartar was delicious and fresh, I really enjoyed it. The oysters on the east coast are always amazing. My wife loved the clam chowder, I tasted it and it was very flavorful. The people with us got an amazing charcuterie board! It was very well put together. There is lots of conversation going on around us but not so loud you can't hear your own.

My partner treated me to lunch at Ale & Oyster. While I was excited to come, my expectations for…read morethe resto were not entirely met: -Our server ignored us for at least half an hour. We couldn't easily flag someone down to take our orders. -Our waters tasted like fish water :( -I ordered a house salad with added shrimp, but I only got 3 pieces of shrimp. It didn't feel like it was worth my money. Not sure if I would return again.

Was one of the best places! We came the same time last year and this was a stop. incredibly fresh…read moreoysters. Eight different varieties.Tedie got fresh whole billy clams I got a white fish sandwich whatever white fish they cut fresh that day didn't check which one it was. No need it was delicious. Crabcakes phenomenal and a restaurant where you can go in and buy fresh fish right from the counter definitely makes it one of a kind. let's just say it was so good when they said it in front of us I didn't take any pictures because I was more interested in eating. service is amazing but then again the owner was the one that was serving us, And just the inside of it is a quaint looking restaurant a very very clean restroom. And lots of goodies to purchase if you like!!

It's been two years since I said we were looking forward to returning to try their bowls or fish…read moreand chips. Well, at least we kept our word today when we ordered their two different bowls for takeout. My wife ordered the Fishbowl ($30) with the grilled fish of the day (salmon), cherry tomatoes, quinoa, feta, peaches, arugula, and basil lime vinaigrette (she said no to onions). She could not get over how tasty the quinoa tasted and wondered how they prepared it. She also thought the peaches could have been a little sweeter since we are in prime peach season. While the salmon was just slightly overcooked we'll attribute that to it continuing to cook as we drove the meals home. Even with those minor negatives, she said she would definitely order the dish again. I chose the Poke Bowl ($35) for my meal (my first ever poke bowl) with marinated raw tuna and salmon, edamame, cucumber, watermelon radish, snap peas, nori, avocado, sesame seeds, scallions, and pea tendrils, all over sushi rice with ginger gochugaru oil and soy sauce on the side. This was absolutely delicious. It was a wonderful blend of fresh flavors and textures. If I have another poke bowl somewhere else I only hope it can come close to measuring up to the enjoyment I experienced with this one.

I got the Halibut dinner .. was delicious.. cooked perfectly and a great price.. oh did I mention…read morethe delicious French fries that was enough to feed 3 adults ! It's my new favorite seafood spot !!

I feel right at home at this fancy little homestyle restaurant. The seafood is out of this world…read morewhenever my friend and I go out to dinner or we're depressed. This is where we end up. We love it here. The price is right and the food is unbeatable.

My wife is from Albany, and I've been making the trip to the Capital Region for the past 14 years…read more During all that time, I can honestly say this is the best meal I've had in the area. Every course was exceptional. The crab cake was outstanding, the pasta was cooked perfectly, and, as my wife said, it was the best blondie dessert she's ever had. The service was warm, attentive, and professional from start to finish. The cocktails were also outstanding--easily on par with some of the best we've enjoyed in major cities across the country. This restaurant exceeded our expectations in every way. It's clear the team takes pride in every detail, from the food and drinks to the hospitality. My wife and I will absolutely be back. Bravo to the entire staff for an unforgettable dining experience!

Great ambiance, nice staff, good food, decent portion sizes, but slow service…read more I feel like it would be rude to give this a harsh 1 star review like the others, we ordered two orders of truffle fries and a salad and it took 25 minutes to get them. In the mean time the wife and I just drank. Had a Lyre Rum Moscow Mule Mocktail, it was similar tasting to the real thing.

Union Seafood on Central Avenue in Albany is described as "Chinese meets Louisiana," according to…read morethe restaurant's website. I've been there before and the crazy, giant fiberglass crab on display in the entrance is always a hoot. So is the fiberglass shark head on the wall in the dining area. I like a place with a sense of fun and humor. I also like this place for its seafood boils. The good news is that this restaurant--which was very good to begin with-- has gotten even better. Last time I showed up, the server brought the seafood boil still in its boiling bag and cut it open in front of me. It was up to me to reach into the hot bag and pull out its contents. There was steam everywhere. A hot mess, indeed! This time, the kitchen took care of the boiling bag for me. Instead, they beautifully arranged the boiled seafood on a large platter. Wow. It looked amazing and tasted even better! This time, I'd asked for a Number 4 with mix of seasonings, including garlic and butter. There were: one big lobster tail, plenty of shrimp, clams, crawfish, potatoes, corn on the cob, hard boiled eggs and extra veggies. It was described as enough to feed three people. Coincidentally, we were a party of three. We also ordered a Cajun Fried Rice for good measure. We really didn't need it. We were so full. The fruit drinks were great, too. Union Seafood is a franchise with locations in Troy and Schenectady. They're owned by Larry Weng who also opened Ji Bei Chuan Rice Noodles & Ramen on Western Avenue in Guilderland, according to local news reports. In celebration of May being AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Month, it's probably fair to say that Asian-American owned restaurants such as Union Seafood have added much variety to the overall dining experience in Capital Region. Vive la différence.

Union Seafood is one of those spots that keeps things simple and lets the seafood speak for itself…read more Everything had that fresh, straight-from-the-kitchen feel, and the portions were satisfying without feeling overdone. I also liked that the flavors weren't trying too hard just good seafood, seasoned well and served hot.

I was here on a layover and got half a pound of peeled shrimp along with half of a pound of the…read morelittle neck clams. It was fresh and delicious with all the flavor sauces, little bit of everything! I took a little bit to come out maybe 15 minutes or so, but it was worth it. Hot fresh and delicious. Also really friendly staff.

Stopped in here while I was in town for work and had a pretty mixed experience. The atmosphere was…read morenice and it seemed like a good spot to grab seafood, but the service was noticeably slow throughout our visit. It took a while to get drinks and place our order, and we found ourselves waiting more than expected between courses. That said, the food itself had some highlights. The crab was absolutely amazing--fresh, flavorful, and definitely the standout of the meal. We also really enjoyed the shrimp cocktail, which was well-prepared and hit the mark. Unfortunately, the mussels didn't live up to the same standard; they lacked flavor and just weren't our favorite. Overall, it's an okay spot with some strong dishes, but the slow service and inconsistency in the food would make me hesitate before returning.

I'm so conflicted about reviewing this place. Their BBQ is glorious, but trying their a la carte…read moredishes gave a sense of bitter dejavu because the food was as puzzling as at Seoul Korean Restaurant that basically put me off for life. Here's the gist: - Tangsuyuk (aka sweet and sour pork): any person calling themself Korean should know at first glance that how they present the pork and the sauce just ain't right. The lightly battered pork strips should be served on a plate, not in what reminds of Arabian Nights. The sauce gets even more puzzling. What makes tangsuyuk sauce so magical is (1) the delicate balance between the sweet and sour, (2) thick, gloomy consistency that coats the battered pork, and (3) FRESH sliced veggies that typically include cucumber, carrots, onions, woodear mushrooms, and colourful capsicum. Instead, what they served was a runny, overly tangy concoction with frozen peas and carrots (!?!?). Needless to say, we didn't even eat half of the stuff which prompted two different staff to ask if we needed a takeaway box (we said no). When we pulled up the photo of this dish on their menu and online that shows a wonderfully authentic presentation (which we fully expected to havd on our table) and showed it to staff, they had this uncomfortable body language that indicated they knew what we got on our table was an abomination, but they apologised and said what we got was what it was. I'm so baffled as to why they didn't make even the bare minimum effort to slice some fresh veggies, which I know they have available because I see them in side dishes and appetisers, for the sauce. - Nangmyeon. A lot gets lost in translation but basically, what I expect is...well, again, what is depicted in the menu photo. What I got was a very poor, austerity version and I barely ate half of it. The nauthenticity and poor presentation of these a la carte dishes are a direct replication of those of Seoul Korean Restaurant. What is puzzling is how awesome their BBQ is, from the marinade and soybean soup to the egg souffle, purple rice, and the side dishes. So, my star rating leans towards the BBQ experience vs a la carte, and that's my recommendation. They have a lot going for it and they got a lot of things right, from the tasteful music selection and industrial-meets-pocha vibe to the flat screens showing endless footages of Korean goodies preparation. Staff are patient and friendly, even though it took some effort on the latest visit to get the cheque sorted due to administratively caused overcharge. I hear they have good soon tofu and kimbap. I hope they continue to improve and get the locals on board because I'm glad they're here and I want them to thrive.

We arrived just shy of lunch time. It's a beautifully appointed modern industrial look restaurant…read more Lots of TV screens. Far too many in my opinion. We waited quite a while to get the attention of the hostess to seat us. Finally after being seated we order drinks which came quickly. Order a beef and a chicken be bum bop. Branches came and was tasty. The lunches was delicious. The be bum bop was just okay. Wasn't a fan of the overcooked and soggy purple rice and the meat was bland on both chicken and beef. Overall, I don't think we'd eat there again due to the high prices. $20 for a single lunch is pricey. Service was just okay.

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.

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!

Absolutely wonderful experience! Impeccable service,…read moreelegant and charming ambiance, and the food was perfectly delicious with appropriate portions. Chef's kiss! Nice selection of adult drinks/beverages. The Mezze platter appetizer was a great way to start off and try five of their Greek spreads with pita; They were all very tasty, with the highlights for me being the Tzatziki and the Tirokafteri. Do not skip out on the Lamb Chop Lollipops appetizer, which was flavorful and grilled to perfection. As if the entire experience wasn't already more than enough, I would come back for those alone. THE BEST sear on the salmon with the Salmon Scaloppini entree. The sauce, salad and mashed potatoes paired perfectly. With the Lamb Souvlaki entree came the most tender, succulent lamb and I don't know how they made rice taste SO good. For dessert the Greek Baklava was the best I have ever had with well blended textures and flavors. Truly the cherry on top of an excellent dining experience!

Excellent legit Greek food…read more Recommend the mezze platter as a starter: hummus, tzatziki, ezme, eggplant tomatoes, and tirokafter. All super flavorful and decent size portions for a starter. Can serve about 4. Also recommend the keftedakia grilled lamb & beef seasoned with garlic, mint, parsley & onion and served with tzatziki. Also decent sized for an appetizer. Can't go wrong with any fish here. Service was excellent both times we went. Online ordering via Toast https://order.toasttab.com/online/athos

I was in Albany for my doctoral hooding ceremony and subsequent graduation, when I was left…read morewondering where to take my family for dinner afterwards. I was promised that Grappa 72 would exceed my expectations. As an Italian-American AND a foodie, it's hard to wow me at an Italian venue. I can honestly say that this place was all that I was promised and more. What we ordered to share: crispy arancini (special app that day), eggplant parm, fried calamari. I am a red sauce snob, and all three of these delivered on presentation, quality, and overall flavor. Entrees we ordered included: halibut (entree special and my choice), pappardelle loaded with shrimp and chicken (also a special), pork osso bucco (stole the show!). We ended with individual desserts, and their Italian cheesecake was smooth and creamy. Service was reflective of high-end dining, yet the check for six people was moderate to affordable. Considering the quality, quantity, and overall experience, this is a place I need to get back to. Now I need to find an excuse to be in the Capitol Region so I can go back!

My boyfriend, his family, and I arrived at Grappa '72 to celebrate my boyfriend's graduation from…read moremed school! Our hostess was just the sweetest. She had lots of recommendations for what drinks and dishes to order, and she was really attentive towards our party. When we sat at our table, we helped ourselves to the fresh table bread and tapenade while we decided what to order. I decided to get the seafood special, which was a grilled branzino served with blistered green beans and wild rice. While the dish tasted a bit too oily for my liking, there was LOTS of food that came with this dish - enough for me to pack as a lunch the next day! What was also memorable about this experience was the live music playing at front. This is a very nice Italian resto for special occasions and date nights.