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.

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.

The Larkin Hifi is such a vibe! It has a cool vintage feel. I came on a Friday night and…read moresurprisingly it was pretty empty. They have a great drink selection to choose from and lots of cozy booths to sit in. Drink prices are slightly higher than other bars in the area though.

Great drinks! This was my first time coming to this bar. It is so cute and record themed. They have…read morespecialty cocktails that were fantastic. They also have different deals that go on each day. They have seating and bar seating. Also the espresso martini is a must get!! Best one I've ever had!

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.

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.

The service was excellent! We went to try the girl dinner special- the food was excellent, chicken…read morewell seasoned and still moist. The cosmo made me want like ten more so great job on that! It's not exactly a deal as the chicken is a significant up charge. Prices are definitely high everywhere but for the portion sizes I think the prices are a bit higher than average. Price aside I would recommend giving it a try and bring your friends!

The Loft is a cute space with speakeasy vibes. The staff is very friendly and attentive!! We were a…read morelarge group and we truly enjoyed their unique cocktails and mocktails (love the NA options!!) It was a little odd that the dishes came out 1 or 2 at a time, with about 15 minutes or more between the first dishes and the final dish. The server and kitchen were quick to correct the issues, and were very pleasant about the situation!! The pasta dishes had some great sauces!

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.

For a mid level hotel bar and restaurant this place overachieves…read more The bar tender is great. The food is better than you would think. The people are friendly and nice. The ambiance is pretty good. I enjoyed sitting at the bar and at a table. Can't go wrong here when passing through town.

While staying at the Renaissance Albany Hotel for a conference next door, I found Wellington's, on…read morethe lobby floor, a solid spot for a nightcap, with dining options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant and bar have an upscale aesthetic and, as I discovered, a good breakfast sandwich, with views of the New York State Capitol across the street, which was under renovation at the time. Keep in mind that the prices are a bit high. Granted, this is an upscale hotel, so you'll pay more than at other places nearby for drinks and food. The cocktails were alright, as I ordered extra dirty gin martinis and negronis while I was there. Their Old Fashioned was also ok. They do shut the bar down by 10 PM, if I am not mistaken, during the early part of the week, so do keep that in mind. The B.Y.O. Egg Sandwich with bacon on sourdough for breakfast was hearty, especially when it was sunny and blue skies outside. I enjoyed my meal and Iced Coffee with a view of the Capitol across the street--granted, it was under renovation, so it wasn't the nicest view with the scaffolding and construction surrounding the property. There is a lack of breakfast spots in downtown from where I was staying at the Renaissance, so Wellington's works for what was available. But keep in mind the pricing for lunch and dinner, especially since it will be higher than going elsewhere.

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

The Patatas Bravas were absolutely the best thing I've tasted in a long time, the flavors of the…read moresalsa verde and the aioli along with the lardon were delightful and satisfying. I very much appreciate that they didn't use cheese in this dish. You could tell the whole meal was homemade and full of flavor. Even the greens that came with my sandwich had a delicious vinaigrette with crunchy seeds and pickled red onion tossed in. I can't wait to go back to enjoy another meal!

I love having Lost & Found just down the street as an option when my partner and I want something…read morelowkey but delicious. It's a comfortable and cozy space with good drinks and a quite eclectic menu for a place you think is going to be serving up typical bar food. I enjoy their focus on local and in-season ingredients, I'm always keeping an eye on their Instagram to see what their unique specials are; their recent ode to leeks was so tasty. There is always something vegetarian/vegan on the menu so I never have to worry. Brunch here is also a great idea, those house made biscuits are worth stopping in alone. Lost & Found really focuses on highlighting and supporting Albany/the Capital Region whether it's with their ingredients, drinks, or live music so I feel even better about supporting them. Once they start offering a plant-based hot dog so I can join in on the fun and deliciousness of the Wednesday hotdog club I will rush back to give them that 5th star ;)