My cousin was visiting from Rhode Island, and I wanted him to experience the authentic, delicious food at Appian Way. It was a great choice because Joe is a good cook himself and a frequent traveler to Italy. He fully enjoyed his dining experience here. Starters: *Rapini sautéed in garlic cooked perfectly. *Fried Calamari was crispy on outside and tender inside. Always tasty. '*Homemade crusty Italian bread was outstanding. *Salad with fresh tomato slices and cucumbers Veal Francais --Joe liked the quality, tenderness of the thin veal slices in the lemony sauce. Veal Naturale -- My daughter ordered her favorite that has lots of flavorful mushrooms. Mushroom and Prosciutto Pasta --SIL raved about the homemade fettuccine and flavorful broth which he ate up with a spoon not to leave any behind. Veal Sorrentino -- I ordered for first time. The eggplant and veal were delicious. I did not like the Prosciutto layer. We all loved our homemade Gelato treat. The Stacciatella was out of this world delicious. Nobody makes it better! Chocolate was enjoyed by SIL. Service was experienced and welcoming. "Stracciatella is a variety of gelato with fine strands of drizzled chocolate stirred through it. It was originally created in Bergamo, northern Italy, at the Ristorante La Marianna in 1961." read more

The Appian Way - Veal Naturale - Italian Near Me - Schenectady, New York

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Wonderful owners - mom son duo Super nice people and they make your night feel special. Food is great and genuinely a stand out for Italian cuisine. I enjoy often the calamari linguini with garlic and olive oil sauce. Everything is made from scratch. There's no rush to leave, it's a nice way to spend an evening. Restaurant has that old school feel but they keep the music and vibes fresh. read more

This is absolutely the most Authentic Italian restaurant in the Capital District. The food is amazing! Everything that is served is made at the restaurant. The service is top notch...you are welcomed like family and treated spectacularly. I love that the dining room is very inviting and decorated with paintings of Italy. Please see my previous review on the Appian Way, it truly describes the essence of this restaurant . It is an absolute pleasure to dine at The Appian Way! read more

Very Authentic Italian food. Many "homemade" items prepared by Gina, who is the owner. Everything made with perfection. It is a small place, and each meal gets special attention so don't go there if you are in a hurry. read more

Every meal is home made and takes time to make thus giving you time to enjoy a bottle of wine and conversation with those in your party. Food is excellent appetizers entrees and of course the home made gelato !!! Love the restaurant. read more

Reservations for 5:45 pm on a Sunday night for supper. Place was packed - every table taken. Nearly a 3 hour meal, but that was fine with us. Reminded me of being in Italy, and perfect for a chilly fall evening. I was fine with the pace of the meal. Started with a carafe of Pinot Grigio and it was tasty but a bit steep at $42. The other wine for the night was a Chianti. Had the antipasto and also the eggplant for apps. Had stuffed veal and companion had chicken Marsala for our entrees. Both flavorful, cooked perfectly, tasty and tender. The portions were A+. Had to try the homemade gelato for dessert even though we we're so stuffed, I got most of mine packed to go. The gelato was the best I've ever had in the US. Place was great and so were the people and the food. Will return. read more

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Delicious food. Very nice atmosphere. It's just tough to get a reservation on short notice.

This restaurant feels like home and the staff treats you like family. This is the exact food my italian raised grandmother put on the dinner table my whole life. The atmosphere isn't very special, it's small inside, outdated a bit, a little homey, but one thing is special, the food. It's a hidden gem for sure. I need to start this review with - I did not find the wait to be long at all like other reviews I've seen. Our appetizer was served in the first 15 minutes, and we had dessert on the table at 1.5 hours, which is very reasonable for a sit down dinner. I was sat at a table already prepped with grated pecorino and perfectly spreadable butter for the amazing house made Italian bread. The bread was served extremely fresh, warm, with the perfect crusty outside and bouncy crumb inside. I loved it. I decided to order a carafe of their house Chianti, which went perfect with the night, it was very large and generous. They only served one red and one white wine, and also offered beer. We started our meal off with Calamari, we saw it on another table and it looked divine and you could tell the other patrons were loving it. It was wonderful. Perfectly fried, very lightly breaded, perhaps the best calamari I have ever had. A squeeze of lemon and I was in heaven. The light and simple marinara was also a dreamy pairing. Perfectly executed. After the appetizer, cold and fresh salads were brought to us. The salad was lightly dressed in a delightfully balanced salad dressing that tasted exactly like my grandmother made. For our meals, we ordered the Veal Parmesan and the Chicken Francaise. Both meals were served with a side of house made pasta with marinara. I ordered the veal parm and it was excellent. Veal is an absolute must for me at Italian restaurants. The veal was soft and tender, thin, great flavor. I am not a huge fan of tomato sauce but theirs was just right! It was light and fresh. Megan had the chicken and it was incredible, I stole a bite. The meat was so tender and the lemon and wine sauce was amazing and balanced in flavor. I will be trying this one next time, but veal! And we also tried the house made stracciatella gelato. It was so creamy and the bits of chocolate were a great treat. The cherry on top of an amazing meal. The menu has a wide selection and the prices were extremely reasonable. I would not hesitate to return and I definitely want to bring my family soon! Highly recommend checking this place out! read more

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Such a great dinner on New Year's Eve! The had a special menu with many good options. The Seafood Platter was amazing and the homemade linguini underneath was so fresh. Everything is made fresh, from the bread (the best!) to the gelato. I can't wait to go back to try their regular menu (we almost talked ourselves into going back the next night!) read more

If you want authentic Italian food this is the place to go. We enjoyed a relaxing dinner with time between apps, salad and entrees. Starting with the mussels marinara as an app-fantastic. Gotta sop up the marinara with the homemade bread. Followed by a simple salad with a basic red wine vinegar and EVOO. Entrees of Clams with garlic and oil over angel hair (amazing) and veal sorrentino (delicious). A carafe of wine, an espresso and a rum raisin gelato to finish off the dinner. Friendly service to boot! read more

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Service was superb! Our food was unbelievably delicious! It took quite awhile to get our entrees, but it was well worth the wait. Everything is cooked to order. It was perfection! read more

There isn't a word worthy enough to explain how amazing all the food is at Appian Way! Absolutely fabulous! We have tried almost everything on the menu and we are never disappointed! Call and make a reservation ASAP! Well worth it!! The ambiance is so warm and welcome like walking into a sweet grandmas home! 10/10 always! read more

I dined at The Appian Way on Saturday night with my family member. The place is small and spacious. It has pictures on the wall of Italy's Appian Way. The server was friendly and helpful with our orders. We started with red wine and warm fresh made bread. The waitstaff checked on us from time to time. We started with an appetizer Rapini which is a plate of broccoli rabe sauteed in garlic with penne. We had to wait for the order because the pasta was cooked from scratch. We didn't mind waiting once we tasted it. It wasn't oily and we were pleased with it. As soon as we finished with Rapini we had salad. The salad was fresh, too. Then, the our entrees were Veal Bolognese which was sauteed with marsala wine and topped with a slice of prosciutto and a dusting of parmigiano, and Calamari which was tender squid in a garlic and oil sauce served with angel hair pasta. Both entrees were awesome and delicious. The veal was tender and cooked perfectly. The squid was good well and the garlic sauce was delicious. After we ate our entrees we ordered a cup of gelato vanilla ice cream with raspberry sauce. The overall quality of the service, meals, and place was satisfying. It was worth waiting for the food to be served because they were made fresh. Because of the freshness, it is so important to call and make reservation. If you appreciate Italian cuisine and not mind staying in a restaurant enjoying company and wine, then I recommend trying The Appian Way. read more

The Appian Way - Calamari with Angel Hair pasta - Italian Near Me - Schenectady, New York

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This great restaurant is one of a kind, offering authentic Italian homemade pasta and uses nothing but the best ingredients. Highly recommended and please consider the veal parm, it was absolutely amazing! Their fried calamari is something you should try. Enjoy! read more

The best Italian food in the capital region that I have had. I had the pene alla vodka (fresh pasta) and the brasciole (a special) AND a half carafe of their homemade Chianti. You get homemade bread, and the most delicious salad to start. Everything is so fresh and every bite is incredible. We ended with homemade gelato, which was out of this world just as good as being in Italy. Also, Sal our waiter was super charming and frankly I liked him more than I liked the date I was with, so there's that. Great place, cannot wait to come back again. I feel like I've just stumbled across the greatest gem. Ps: look at their website, they have awesome pictures of the owners in the garden, picking fresh ingredients, and making pasta homemade. Super endearing and awesome to see. read more

Haven't been there in a while but food is always very good and service as well. Have to visit soon again

Always wonderful food, ambience and service. Believe me, this is as authentic as it can be for any Italian food you can get in the area

6 of us dined there on December 4th. The family who own and run the restaurant are so nice that I hesitated to write anything negative. Perhaps that is why there aren't many recent reviews. On the good side the tables were nicely set and the service was good. 5 out of the 6 thought the homemade pasta was good and the gelato tasted good. The meals came with a simple salad with tasty dressing. People had raved about the calamari appetizer and I was looking forward to it until I saw it was over$24. I decided on the pasta with calamari on top. The calamari was so rubbery that I sent it back. The second time was just as bad. I spoke to the chef and she said that had never happened before. One couple shared veal sorrentino and said it was ok. One had shrimp fra diavolo. She liked the shrimp but was disappointed in the pasta and sauce. One had linguine with garlic and oil and really enjoyed the dish. One had fettuccine Alfredo. The sauce was not as thick as some places but it was good. The serving sizes were average but not as large as most Italian restaurants and it was a bit pricey. None of us will ever dine there again. read more

Food was excellent, service was great. Highly recommend for authentic Italian food. Went on a quiet Sunday night and only people there but were never rushed. Will be back soon. read more

Stopped in after a show at Procters Theatre. We ate (5:30p) early since we are not comfortable eating in crowded restaurant. Had the salad, which was delicious, authentic lettuce and tomato. I had the Braciola and fresh made angle hair pasta. Tomato sauce reminded me of mom's. My husband had chicken parm with fresh pasta, also delicious. The only thing missing was Italian bread. They served sour dough bread which was good. Cute place nice and clean. read more

Excellent food and service. Old time atmosphere and great food. Loved the homemade pasta

Food is absolutely delicious, waitstaff are always kind and friendly. Even when it's a packed house service is outstanding! The inside makes me feel like I'm in a cozy little restaurant somewhere in Italy , it's never been so noisy that you can't have a conversation with someone in your party (except when our whole family is there haha) Incredible place perfect for any occasion from a first date to a large family birthday gathering!! read more

This was just lovely. We were a group of 6 coworkers celebrating the end of the school year. First time here for all of us. Delightful atmosphere. Food was traditional, not terribly original or creative, but fantastic, if you like traditional and high quality. Our server Salvatore entertained us with Italian and Yiddish (!) phrases and was charming and very helpful. I guess, service could be slow. Small staff, all food prepared to order. It worked for us, but our simple meal (one entree and salad each, no drinks, no desserts) took about 2 1/2 hours. We enjoyed socializing and chatting but it may not work for other occasions. Note: parking lot in the back but you can park in the street most of the time. read more

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Giving Appian Way a loving, respectful 3 stars. Just want to be clear about that. This was our third time for dinner, over the past two years. We returned because we enjoyed the atmosphere and the food prior to this. But this time was a let down. I've worked in lots of restaurants from meat markets (Bennigans) to high profile, French service (white gloves). I know, running a restaurant is very hard work and needs to be a labor of love. Appian Way is all that, and that's why I chose to celebrate my birthday there. Food was very good and I'd order each of the three meals we ordered again without hesitation. Not going into details on the dishes since I'm not really a foodie (except that I love to eat it). They were delicious and had a "home-cooked" feel to them. But.... We walked in to a full house, but well toward the end of the rush, and apparently one person servicing all the tables. The table was set for two, with two glasses of water and we'd made a reservation for three, and that didn't change until after 10 minutes went by and I finally nicely asked the gentleman working the floor if we could get drinks. There was a bread basket already on the table which I suspect would've normally been dropped off warm. This bread was quite cold. There is no wine list, it's Prosecco or a red. The red was very nice. It was then an hour and 45 minutes until our entrees were served, in two parts with one of us getting theirs five minutes before the other two. Somewhere in there we did get our appetizers. I should add, that all this time we did have a good time between us and enjoyed some fun chatter with the gentleman serving us. (Never did get his name or who he was). Also somewhere in there the crowd thinned out to where there were just three small tables (including ours). But even then, after we'd finished I'd said we'll just take the check, after 5-10 minutes went by I finally had to go to the register in the back and ask for it. Lastly...no music? And a website, but not updated since early 2021? (Sorry, maybe there's a Facebook page but not every one does Facebook, nor should they be expected to. You're obviously paying for a web presence, it needs to be maintained). But no music? I truly want Appian Way to be around forever, which of course is unrealistic and selfish. But I sense a weariness, and totally get it. This lukewarm review is meant as some honest feedback from some adoring fans who don't get there often enough. read more

Just enjoyed a wonderful takeout meal delivered curbside. Veal parmigiana and Beef braciola served with homemade pasta and fresh homemade bread. It was as good as eating in minus having Sal as your server. Thanks for staying open!! read more

The food here is to die for. All homemade, fresh ingredients. Service was excellent. Sal was polite and cared so much that we were enjoying everything. The red sauce is one of the best I've had and I loved my lemon chicken. Bread is amazing ! Oils and vinegars are superb. Come! Make a reservation. Can't wait to go back for the gelato! read more

Amazing experience. If you enjoy real food, hand crafted pasta, home baked breads, and incredibly flavorful sauces, along with charming service in a homey atmosphere, then run to The Appian Way. Expect to spend a couple of hours because these ladies cook it fresh and from scratch. But OMG it is a delightful experience. You must try the penne a la vodka. We shared this as an appetizer and I just want to bathe in the sauce. There was brasciole as a special. My partner had it and it was to die for. The rest of us had assorted shrimp dishes which were perfectly cooked. All with hand made pasta and sauce. Don't forget to end with the hand crafted gelato. Save room! read more

Wow. Ok. It's funny that I usually have my review racing in my head by the time dessert is on it's way. I wanted to really wanted to like this place . Especially after reading the last few reviews. With that being said, sure I'm a hard critic. Practically being raised in my families Italian restaurant. All Italian. Making homemade pasta before I knew how to ride a bike. Had 6:00 reservations. Seated right away. Started with the house wine. Very good. Had the fried Calamari. Just ok. I jacked up the marinara by adding crushed red pepper and grated cheese. The homemade bread was more like a white bread. Lacked flavor. Maybe if it was warm?? I was thinking a good crusty bread, but not. I have the seafood platter in red sauce. Clams, mussels Calamari, shrimp with homemade pasta. This was good. My husband had the stuffed veal. That was good as well. Came with salad. No exaggeration waited a easy 20 minutes for the check . Confused because they were not busy. That to me was unusual?? Never had to wait for a check. The other thing which I don't get ( my own opinion) is why can't your wait staff where a apron or uniform. To me it adds so much more professionalism. It just gives it a better look. read more

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Was pleasantly surprised by this small Italian restaurant. From the outside, it looked a little rundown but on the inside it was like you were sitting in someones grandmothers home. It was even peppered with photographs of someone's grandson on the fireplace mantel. You can order wine by glass or carafe, but don't expect a wine list. You're choices are Chianti or Pino. Beer: Peroni or Coors Light. Not a big deal. The Waitstaff is friendly, but busy, so as they may not seem to care, be assured that you are being taken care of. Everything is made to order and the wait time between drinks, salads and entrees is evidence of that. I enjoyed hearing my chicken and veal being pounded from the kitchen while conversing with my family. Because the longer wait, make sure not to eat to much of the tasty home made bread. The portions are fairly gigantic. You could finish one yourself, but your going to be going to bed right after if you try to do so. I had to send half of my Chicken Parm home with my mother because my girlfriends Alfredo will feed both of us for the next couple of evenings. The highlights for me were the Chicken Parm, the Penne Vodka and the homemade pasta side with the "gravy". I would love to return someday to try their seafood options. read more

The place is ok. By ok, I mean, the food is worth maybe $15 per entree, but not $22. Unfortunately, the price here is more like $22 per entree. We had an eggplant appetizer which was delicious, a stuffed veal entree (which was great, actually worth that $22), and a prosciutto broccoli pasta which was way too oily and I got tired of it after two bites. I kind of like the dining ambiance here - it's small and cozy. But the waitstaff was not present most of the time and I didn't get the water refill I wanted. read more

From the muscles with marinara sauce to the entrées of veal and seafood all are excellent tasty and plentiful.

Old style real Italian dining. asked for veal parm that was not on the menu and made it special for me. good atmosphere, very attentive service. recommend highly. only sorry that they do not have a full bar. no liquor. not a reason not to dine there. read more

The food here is amazing! It is all made fresh, including the pasta. I will admit that it takes a long time. However, if you are in good company the time flys by. This is a great date place but not a dinner and movie place. This place is your evening. If you come with an open mind to the long wait time, the food will blow you away! read more

The Appian Way - The dinning room - Italian Near Me - Schenectady, New York

We have been coming here for years and have never been disappointed. The take-out food during Covid is just as fantastic as dining in. Everything was expertly wrapped for travel, ready on time, and delicious! The best and most authentic Italian food around. read more

Went for my boyfriends birthday, we walked in it was small and very nice as soon as we sat the waiter wish my boyfriend a happy birthday which just was so sweet and thoughtful!! We had awesome service from the time we entered to until we left, the food was amazing as well as the homemade wine, also the homemade gelato is to die for and I'm not kidding!!!! Will definitely be back!! read more

First, the ONE & ONLY reason this isn't a five star review is just because there's no dedicated parking. I was there on 6/30/19, a Sunday evening, so it wasn't even a big deal for me, but I've got a long history with a beloved handicapped wife. Enough said, I hope. If not, just page down. I'm not even Italian either, except for ~47 of my 71 years with my beloved wife, and I've had pretty much all that some of the best local Italian cooks have to offer. I've only been here once, so far, but what I had, their version of Shrimp Fra Diavolo, absolutely blew me away. It wasn't exactly like any other that I've ever had .... and may have loved just as much at the time. Not even gonna try to describe it, simply because I couldn't do it justice. I'll return to The Appian Way simply because they got my attention in a gigantic way. My dinner and, actually, the entire experience, including the folks I was with of course, was extraordinary. All others in the 14 member party with me, all very familiar with great Italian cooking also, were equally impressed. Just don't go if you've got someplace else to be later. You'll probably be late for the second event, if you make it at all. Just another note about handicapped, only one step to get in, none once your in, and sufficient space to get a wheelchair around. The bathroom seemed big enough for a wheelchair and an assistant, also. Please disregard the long-winded wannabe Food Network stars. The Appian Way is well worth your time. Just don't take my parking spot, damn it! read more

This place is amazing! Sal is amazing and the food is amazing! Will come back and bring others. It is the best food I've had in a while.

You've gotta be kidding. I was told this was the be all and end all of food in Schenectady by a chef from one of the big restaurants. I ate there the same night he did. The food was warm, not hot, took forever, was expensive and was middle of the road. For a $40 meal, I would have said, UH? For $80 I say not again. read more

This is the only choice in the Albany Schenectady area. Fresh pastas, everything is homemade. Even the proscuitto!! My hubby owns a restaurant and when we are out and about.. This is the spot!! Dine with strangers, leave with being a part of a new family. Whether it's socializing with the patrons or the owners, atmosphere + great food = excellence!! Thank you Gina and family for the fabulous meal!! read more

This place was suggested by a co worker of my sisters. I'm glad it was suggestion because I don't believe we would have stopped otherwise ... it's located in a residential area and looks like a home .... but don't let's the location / looks deter you - this is a the real deal! Small so definitely make a reservation! All entrees come with a fresh green salad and the bread is to DIE FOR!!! I had the veal parmesan and my sister had the chicken cacciatore. Both came with home made pasta. Did I mention the bread was to DIE FOR! Entrees are large enough to take home leftovers for another meal! We had the home made gelato for dessert - it was perfect blend of creamy and fruity. Another reviewer is right ... this is not a quick meal ... so plan on a couple of hours ... but certainly worth it! read more