It was our first time at The Hollow and we had a great experience having dinner before the Zac Brown show at MVP. It was a gathering of old friends, some who eat super healthy and others who are more into burgers and fries. Everyone was thrilled with their food and the vibe! Our waiter, Curtis, was the kindest human and added to our joy of being together. He felt like an old friend. Thank you for a wonderful dinner! P.S. to be fair, the bathrooms needed attention. That should be easily fixable. read more

What a cool place. There's no pretense, just a rugged looking place with friendly and helpful staff and excellent bartenders. Xandra helped me pick the right meal: the scallops with a Thai chili sauce and rise. The five scallops were large, tender, perfectly cooked, and tasted amazing. Thankfully, the Thai chili sauce only had a bit of sweetness to it. Even the rice was fantastic. Xandra was attentive, a great listener, and a real help. My Hendrick's Gin martini was phenomenal. Exceptional actually! The vegan chocolate mousse was creamy and light but too sweet and loaded with cinnamon. So much so that I tasted nothing but cinnamon. I cannot recall ever having cinnamon in a chocolate mousse before. Even so, that didn't destroy the night and I look forward to trying the blackened Ahi Tuna next time as well as trying a different dessert. read more

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Stopped by The Hollow Bar & Kitchen for an event and didn't get to stay too long, but overall it was good. The place has a really nice rustic atmosphere great vibe as soon as you walk in. I grabbed an Old Fashioned at the bar, and it was really good. I didn't get a chance to try the food, but from what I saw, it looked good. I would come back and check it out again. read more

The Hollow Bar & Kitchen - Old fashion - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

My school hosted a formal for us here so that was a great first impression of the restaurant as an event space. There were still people dining in the front as our event was in the back but there was plenty of room for dancing and pictures and even a stage. The restaurant also provided catering and it was so nice to have simple finger food going around such as meatballs, chicken tenders, and spring rolls. We did also have an open bar and things were moving very efficiently and smoothly. It was very easy working with the space and the servers were also very nice. Would recommend and would love to come back for a sit down meal as well. read more

The vegan pesto chicken sandwich caught my attention, and I was pleasantly surprised by how satisfying it was. The roasted peppers and pesto gave it plenty of flavor. It's refreshing to find a place where the vegan options feel like real menu choices. read more

We were in the mood for simple pub fair and found this place to have a good variety of lunch choices. Enjoyed a lunch with a colleague at the Hollow bar & Kitchen. Perusing the menu we chose sandwiches, the Reuben and the recommended brisket sandwich. I'm a big fan of Reuben. Though I did not order it, it fell short in many areas. To start, you get a lot of bread. You don't get much meat and barely any dressing. There is plenty of sauerkraut on it. It comes with your basic french fries and although french fries for the most part aren't very inspiring, these were on the low end of that scale. They were undercooked and soggy. The brisket sandwich also fell short. You do get a lot of meat and it does come on a big thick bun, but the beef wasn't very tender, very chewy, and the barbecue sauce was too tangy. You get a choice of sides with this sandwich as well, I went with the sweet potato fries. Those were very good. read more

The Hollow Bar & Kitchen - House Dry-Rubbed Brisket - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

the Hollow restaurant Went here for dinner on a Friday evening because our hotel had recommended it. Their dining room was full so we were seated at a high top table in the bar area. They weren't busy there and we had a nice waiter. We ordered the Beer Cheese burger. It was a messy burger but tasted pretty good. The paella was a big disappointment. It was definitely not anything like the Spanish paella, which I didn't really expected since it's at a bar restaurant, but there really wasn't much flavor to it. It was more of a seafood tomato stew with Spanish rice added. Or a plain tomato based jambalaya consistency. Not much seafood and there are 4 thin bread wedges that really didn't go with the dish. It was too wet to be a paella and too dry for the bread. Don't waste your money. read more

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Staying at hotel near by and they recommended this place. Atmosphere is fine with regulars here. Food menu is fine but outstanding is Mr. Curtis who waited on me. Excellent customer service and a wonderful person. Ordered the mushroom burger with truffle fries. Didn't like the sauce but Curtis fixed the situation. read more

Great beer selection and service . They sat us promptly and got our drinks quickly . Food was great and the beer was cold. read more

Excellent burgers and sweet potato fries!! Both need and beyond burgers. Sit in bar for best vibes.

Food selection very limited Server had an attitude when we asked to be seated in dining room rather than bar read more

Excellent food. A few local beers. Eclectic staff + ambience. Mid-life crisis woman hangout. It is parts bar/dining/party/restaurant/kitchen. I had difficulty figuring out which was the most important element. They cater to winy clients who plop down at the bar, cry, shout and play with babies (on the bar counter, no less): my drinks took a while to get to my table. Kitchen makes tasty food and plates them nicely. Five stars for food taste. Review: 5 read more

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Great meal and even better service. Food came out fast and fresh. To our delight, there was an amazing assortment of live jazz music. We will be back! read more

Wife and I were in Saratoga donating to the New York Horse races.We stayed in Albany before heading home...and we stumbled across the Hollow...Not much to look at....but that was not a problem for us...Corn Chicken Chowder soup...Tennessee hot chicken and a burger to die for...All great...And our server named Xandra..Whatever they pay her it is not enough.. read more

Came here for lunch on a Friday afternoon during the busy basketball games at the MVP Arena, and I was so thankful that they took reservations. We were sat immediately when we got there, and the lunch menu had plenty of options, including more casual options such as burgers and sandwiches as well as a selection of entrees. Their craft beer selection and cocktail menus are also pretty impressive! For lunch, I opted for the Salmon Burger while my boyfriend ordered the Beer Cheese Burger, both with sweet potato fries. Mine was fantastic, and I loved the pineapple slaw on top. His burger was also delicious and cooked perfectly. The pretzel bun was also a nice touch. Overall, they have great food and drink options and a nice atmosphere, making it a wonderful choice if you're in Downtown Albany! read more

The Hollow Bar & Kitchen - Beer Cheese Burger - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

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I feel like I have been missing out on The Hollow for too long. Recently, I took my coworkers there for dinner based on a friend's recommendation. They had options to accommodate the vegetarian and gluten-free members of our group. The interior had an industrial farmhouse vibe that was surprisingly appealing. Despite being busy at 8 pm, they had no trouble seating us. They offered beer flights, which two of my colleagues shared and enjoyed trying a variety of beers. One of us ordered the tirokafteri dip to share, and we ended up asking for more pita to finish it. The spicy feta dip was perfectly blended, and I may have to order it again soon. I opted for the kale Caesar salad with grilled chicken added and a side of truffle parm fries. The salad was exactly what I needed and expected. The fries were crispy with just the right amount of umami flavor. Next time, I would ask for the aioli on the side as it appeared a bit gloopy on top. Our server was very friendly and accommodating. I can't wait to go back soon! read more

The Hollow Bar & Kitchen - Tirokafteri and Pita - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

We stopped in for a meal before a concert. The place had very interesting and comfy decor . Our waitress was great and informative. I ordered the Reuben and a bowl of clam chowder . Both were very good and hit the spot. I would definitely return to try some other items . Everyone was happy with this place read more

Great food/service and love the space it's really nice and cool vibes.The space is nice. read more

The Hollow Bar & Kitchen - Riggies pasta! - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

Atmosphere, staff,and food outstanding. Always friendly and attentive. Our go to restaurant when seeing a show at Empire Live.

500 stars! We were traveling, staying at a local hotel with a toddler. I called to find out the seasonal offerings and to see how to order the kids pasta on Grubhub as it wasn't listed. The owner volunteered to just deliver the food to us himself since kids items aren't available online!!! Long -story-short, someone at the hotel stole half our order, including the kids pasta. The owner remade the items and deliver them again to our hotel, including some pick-me-up Turtle Cheesecake! The very picky toddler absolutely loved the pasta! I had the Cesar salad which was fresh with a homemade dressing! I am told the salmon was grilled to perfection and well seasoned, very good. We also ordered the cheese sticks and given the option of marinara or spicy raspberry dipping sauce. Try the Raspberry Dipping Sauce!!!! It was very delicious! If ever in Albany, our first stop will be The Hollow Bar & Kitchen!!! Many many thanks! read more

Shrimp and grits are the bomb. But not nearly as good as the service and knowledge of the staff on what is on the menu. Not your regular bar food. Something for everyone. read more

I ordered catering from this restaurant for my father's "shiva" (Jewish mourning tradition) I was under duress, had to pull everything together so fast. Michael, the owner, took total control of the food and service. He shopped for special foods for this, including drinks. He delivered it all and set it up in our Air B and B. Everything was perfect and delicious! He then returned and packed up the leftovers for us. He is a lovely man. The food is EXCELLENT and reasonably priced. We will dine in his place, whenever we visit Albany. Thank you !!! read more

Not what I expected. Was definitely better. Great food, drinks and service. I would highly recommend and return.

The Hollow is pretty much one of your only dining options in downtown Albany, and it's a great pre-concert dinner choice if you're attending an event at the Empire Live theater next door. I really appreciate how many vegan options this place had, and we enjoyed our meal. The BBQ Seitan Wings were a huge winner in my book, and they were cooked perfectly - not too tough like many places tend to be. I also enjoyed their Brussels Sprouts. The Truffle Fries and Beer Cheese Appetizers were a bit underwhelming, unfortunately. I expected a lot more from the fries (the thicker cut fries were odd with the truffle flavoring) and the beer cheese needed a bit more flavor. Our waitress was very friendly and our bill was modest. read more

We decided to try something new and came across The Hollow. We ordered the spinach dip and chips to start and were told they were out of it. So we ordered the hummus and nan. The hummus turned out to be way too garlicky. We also ordered the Riggies and ask to have the jalapeños on the side but they were mixed in. To make up for it, our server Jade seemed to offer a dessert on the house but we were charged for it anyway. Overall, not a great experience. read more

When our stunning waitress arrived well pierced, head shorn and covered with an elaborate tribal; tattooed from fingertip to clavicle, her earrings made from two large black cicadas , I said to myself: this will not be an evening of subtleties. And indeed it was not. I really liked my meal and overall dining experience at the Hollow Bar. I am in town for a convention and made reservations for a party of 9. We were seated promptly, greeted warmly. We had nachos, and artichoke dip to start. Both fairly standard. We ordered the paella as an appetizer (I feel like this was a good mood because honestly how much paella can someone eat?) I really liked it. I think all of the food was very flavorful. I compare it to the Cheesecake Factory and I don't think that's a dig. They also know how to make big flavors. They also had 8 or 10 different chicken wing flavors including Italian. What is an Italian chicken wing. Please let me know. Some of my coworkers thought the food was too salty. Not my experience. The paella was very tasty but lacked the soccarat, that crispy layer of rice which I would argue is essential to separating paella from a tasty rice dish. read more

Service was fabulous and the place was very cute. Food was meh -- expected more based on the price and the menu descriptions. The fries were very very standard fries you can get at the frozen section of a grocery store and the "signature salad" was underwhelming. It was really carried by the truffle oil. I got the spicy apricot margarita and it was not great. It was very strong with not a lot of balance. I appreciate how they have a lot of vegetarian/vegan options though so I give them huge props for that. The rest of my party seemed to enjoy their meals and didn't have any complaints. read more

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Yes. Curtis and all the beautiful people who work here and visit here and the food was amazing. We started with the Brussels with soyrizo and the feta dip. Honestly the feta dip proportions feel off cause we had a ton of cheese left long after finishing the pita. So like ugh, food waste. And not even the leftover fries kind that you can pack up and give to the local urban campers (unhoused folks) that are in the area. Delicious despite this logistical concern. I had the salmon. It was fantastic. Dessert was a fun use of the pretzels we saw on the starters menu. Service was impeccable. I will be back. read more

The Hollow Bar & Kitchen - Salmon and risotto - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

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We Ordered the Brussel sprouts, Paella, Reuben and Risotto. The food was absolutely astounding. Maple-chorizo sprouts was such an unexpected yet delicious combination. The Paella was sublime, you could taste the effort, like it was fresh off of the coast of Spain. The Reuben was amazing, the corned beef was astonishing. The asparagus-lemon risotto was one-of-a-kind, it was perfectly balanced, especially considering the non-nuclear approach for the flavoring. We had Xandra for our server and they were so nice! Super kind, really cared about making us feel welcome and overall just seemed like a really kind person. Definitely deserving of our tip. The ambience was phenomenal, a modern approach with a super personable character. Thanks to our spider-like reflexes, we kept it that way... read more

Loved the welcoming vibe and artsy decor. Delicious burgers and other food options. Great cocktails !

The rating begins as soon as I entered. The Hostess was pleasant, and accommodating. We didn't want to sit at the high table right next to the door. So she seated us at a regular table in the dining room. 5there. The wait staff arrived immediately at out table, took, out drink order, brought water, without having to ask for it. They gave us time to view the menu. Took our order. I got the cheeseburger with truffle fries, my sister, ordered the surf, and turf. Absolutely the best burger we have ever tasted. My sister is picky about ambiance, but she gave a 2:thumbs up. We will definitely be back , oh yeah the price was good, for the meal too. Well worth it!. read more

This restaurant was fantastic! Service was excellent and the food was amazing. Highly recommend.

The Hollow was just OK. This was close to our hotel and had several vegan options, so we decided to give it a try. We ordered a beer cheese burger and a vegan Reuben. The bread on the Reuben was toasted so much you could have broken a tooth trying to bite into it. The insides were good, but getting to them was the challenge. The burger was just OK. Cute atmosphere, but bring a jacket. They had the AC cranking like they were running a morgue. Everyone around us was complaining about it. Service was OK, but nothing to write home about. read more

The Hollow Bar & Kitchen - Burger - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

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Unfortunately had a pretty poor experience here. I had been previously a couple months ago but just at the bar for a drink and that was a great experience. This time I came with my husband on a Tuesday evening around 5 and got a seat right away at a high top table. Our waiter was friendly and the place was clean with a cool/hip ambiance (but the bathrooms are kinda gross). We chose this place mainly because we wanted a couple drinks and a quick bite before a show next door. So we ordered our food and drinks at the same time. And waited........ we got our food after about 25 minutes from a food runner and asked them for our drink's because we hadn't seen our server. So the food runner went and grabbed our drinks that we saw sitting ready on the bar for some time. I had the risotto special with added shrimp and it was lukewarm. I couldn't have asked for it to be reheated even if I wanted to because again, we didn't see our server. Eventually my husband wanted a 2nd drink so he walked to the bar because again, we didn't see our server. Will certainly seek out an alternative if I'm in the area again for a show. read more

The Hollow Bar & Kitchen - New American Near Me - Albany, New York

Food was delicious and service was very timely. Would recommend! Was looking for a fun spot before a show at The Palace and this fit all the boxes! The truffle fries were AWESOME! read more

Food was great, as always! Service was fantastic! Always have such a great experience here, this time was no exception. Such a wide array of vegetarian and vegan options. My favorite downtown Albany restaurant! read more

This is my review of the hollow located in Albany, New York. We did go on a late Saturday night with no reservation and we seated immediately. The restaurant has a barn looking feel and the music is low so you can have conversations with company. For appetizers, we have muscles as well as artichoke dip. This was my first time trying muscles and it tasted great. It came with warm bread, a nice creamy sauce and Italian sausage on the side. For entrées, we had the ribeye steak, paella and hot the Tennessee hot with fries. We also ordered brussels sprouts, which was very spicy. This was my first time trying paella and it was a bit too soupy for me so I did end up ordering honey barbecue wings to go. The pricing was reasonable and the customer service was great. Overall I would rate this experience a 6 out of 10. read more

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The atmosphere is clean, fun and current. We found the decor to be classy but modern. Our waitress was very skilled and friendly. We were blown away by both the quality and quantity of the portions. Also, love that they do have options for dietary restrictions. My chicken parm sandwich was phenomenal! All the drinks were great too! As an avid Taylor Swift fan I had no choice but to order the lavender haze drink and trust me when I tell you it did not disappoint! If you're in Albany definitely swing by the hollow! read more

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Delicious food for both lunch and dinner too! Highly recommend! Atmosphere has a cool vibe and staff are super friendly!

I love the Hollow - so many great vegetarian, vegan and even non alcoholic beverage options! I loved their vegan chicken pesto sandwich - so good. And great selection with Athletic NA beer. Only issue is parking and sometimes they are randomly closed read more