Cancel

Open app

Search

Tugboat Tavern

4.1 (59 reviews)
ModerateAmerican
Closed • 4:00 pm - 9:30 PM

Tugboat Tavern American Restaurant Photos

Business Info

TUGBOAT TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Good for groups

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Tugboat Tavern

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Seafood fra diavlo
Anne B.

So we have driven by this place several times and thought "hmmmm the reviews are good but isn't that a bar?", and not stopped. This time we decided it to be our destination and I am so glad we did. Remember those places as a teen in the 80's you'd go to with your boyfriend's Italian parents? Good food, staff that felt like old friends and comfort plates that made making a decision sooooo hard cause you want them all? From the moment we walked in we felt like family and the staff was genuinely kind, laid back and super knowledgeable, as if they really cherish the place they work! I have the fra diavlo and they toned it down so I could enjoy the spicy-ness without destroying my stomach. The portions are insane and the food was deliciously presented and divinely made. Just the right amount of kick and so much shrimp, clams, muscles and they even added calamari which I've never seen!!! The drinks were well made and I cannot say enough about the waitstaff. We cannot wait to go back again and again and next time we aim to hang at the bar and sink into the warmth of the entire experience. Nice job! Oh and thanks for the gluten free pasta for my husband.

Cajun Shrimp and Sausage - Great
Rod W.

The Cajun Shrimp and Sausage is an absolute MUST when in Albany. Compliment the Bartenderess' leggings, and you'll receive a discount ;)

Wings - mild and dry rub

See all

6 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 2
Love this 4
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Food was great & fast on a very busy night. The service is the best, & incredibly friendly.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of John C.
0
172
1

4 months ago

I love this place. Great food. Very friendly staff and great ambiance. I love the theme too

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Horrible would not recommend. Waited an hour and a half and they hadn't even started our order. And we had a reservation.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Marissa S.
396
98
33

12 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Bob A.
0
28
0

6 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of F D.
47
352
22

13 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Paul B.
23
12
3

9 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Great food and a really fun place. I felt like I really fit in nice. I would definitely go back again !

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Hal F.
0
66
0

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Love the Tugboat! Great service, great food, and drink! Ian and Cathy know how to keep us coming back.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

My bf ordered garlic parm wings & said they had no taste! Last time they were great! Guess we won't be coming back anytime soon!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 2

Ask the Community - Tugboat Tavern

You might also consider

The Daisy - Carbonara

The Daisy

4.4(82 reviews)
0.4 mi

From start to finish, I was really unimpressed with The Daisy. Starting in the small crowded entry…read moreway, we waited nearly 10 minutes for staff to approach us. We had a reservation at 6pm and felt invisible when we walked in, just to be seated in a table 5 feet away. Maybe they were understaffed, but friendly staff could have gone a long way here. We started with cocktails and they were all good. We didn't really have opportunities to order more, so I only tried one. We started with the Fried Burrata and Caesar salad. The fried buratta was delicious but not enough bread, or a spoon served with it so most of the sauce went to waste. We loved the pesto on the dish. The Caesar salad was extremely underdressed and under seasoned. None of us enjoyed it. We then ordered entrees, I got the flat iron and they ordered the carbonara and the burger. The flat iron was ordered rare, and served blue. The steak and sauce on it was cold. I didn't complain because I didn't want to try and call her over, they did not check on us after the food was delivered. The sauce on it was okay but I think it took away from the flavor of the meat, very strong cumin and chili flavor, a little gritty. The fries were good and the broccolini was mushy and overcooked. The carbonara was also a miss, it was overly peppered and unpleasant to eat. This dish was ultimately sent back and we explained it was overly peppered and inedible, and she ordered something else. My friend who ordered the burger really enjoyed it and it looked great. The server was not accommodating at all and barely checked on us. We sent food back and the server just threw it away without a thought in the world, and it remained on the bill. At this point we just wanted to pay and leave. Bad service can ruin a night, and it put a damper on our girls night out. My photos came out impeccable, unfortunately most of it looked better than it tasted. I could look over bad service if the food was great, but when neither is, it's a hard pass from me.

Great location & ambiance, great service and great food. Interesting creative menu and everything…read morewas well prepared for all 4 of us. Very impressive cocktails and even have their own infused spirits! I did think the Sea Bass was a high price for the size of the fish and would order something else next time.

Photos
The Daisy
The Daisy - Burger

Burger

The Daisy - Flat iron

See all

Flat iron

Nighthawks

Nighthawks

4.2(205 reviews)
2.6 mi
•$$

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.

Photos
Nighthawks
Nighthawks - Good crust on burger but too dry and overdone

Good crust on burger but too dry and overdone

Nighthawks - Opera cake

See all

Opera cake

The Roosevelt Room - Lobster lo mein

The Roosevelt Room

4.6(58 reviews)
5.4 mi

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.

Photos
The Roosevelt Room - Holiday decor

Holiday decor

The Roosevelt Room - Seared Duck

Seared Duck

The Roosevelt Room - Interior

See all

Interior

Off The Rails - 4 elements challenge

Off The Rails

4.5(2 reviews)
9.4 mi

Ok. So there were only one other party in this spacious restaurant, and that was the family of the…read moreguitarist on stage. The place is funky in a strange way. It's attached to the golf course, sort of. I am not sure it's ADA approved as you need to climb steep steps to get in. Portions were generous and the young server was trying really hard to please. I am sure on a different day the vibe may be more lively. We were there on a Friday and it was dead.

We ended up at Off the Rails by chance at 6pm on a Saturday night (in June). We were promptly…read moreseated (6 of us, 4A & 2C). Tina our server was awesome!! She was super friendly, knew the menu really well, offered us tons of options for our selections and was very attentive the entire time. There was live music, a one man keyboardist who played easy listening tunes. We really enjoyed it :) this is a "don't judge a book by its cover" kind of place- the food was absolutely fantastic. We had 3, $25 strip steak special dinners and all were tender, flavorful and perfectly cooked. A Reuben sandwich had real homemade corned beef on it, kids meals were tasty and exactly as described. Vegetable cookery was fantastic, homemade dressings and plentiful portions. We will definitely be back, and we hope the chef and Tina will still be there! Glad to have found this diamond in the rough- go try it, good food for a great price! -The Belden Family

Photos
Off The Rails - Chocolate Martini

Chocolate Martini

Off The Rails - Fruity Pebbles

Fruity Pebbles

Off The Rails - Steak Night

See all

Steak Night

Tugboat Tavern - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...