We rarely leave reviews but this was too good to pass up. This was one of the best breakfasts…read morewe've had ever. Ramona our waitress was attentive and great. The atmosphere in this Albany location was busy and vibrant. The food OMG. The breakfast potatoes were unique and so tasty. The honey butter was amazing. I had the California omelette and my wife and I shared a side of blueberry pancakes that were perfect. Don't miss a chance to visit this restaurant for breakfast if you're in NY capital region.

What a cool spot! First time visiting Cafe Madison! We called ahead and got our names on the list…read moreahead of time! Highly recommend otherwise it would be 15-30 min wait time. Service was great! The cafe itself is super cool and open on the inside. Ordered a water and coffee to start. No issues at all. For the first brunch meal we ordered the fried chicken sandwich with fries. It was delicious and well balanced though a bit messy! Ask for extra napkins! The other brunch meal we ordered was the eggs benedict special that had a spicy sauce and prosciutto as well. It was delicious! Though the sauce was a bit separated. That's an execution issue and not a flavor issue. The flavor was there! If you are in the area. Call ahead get on the wait list and give this spot a try!

This is a cute little place near Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute that shares a location with a…read morepizza establishment. The 88 is a sit down restaurant located at the rear of the area. The atmosphere is casual and definitely a college food vibe with a Middle Eastern flair. The menu is a bit diverse but also carries a theme. The service is very good and attentive and very knowledgeable about dishes that might demand a question or two. The food is flavorful and very filling with a lighter hit to the wallet. I think this is a place that you might not know about but you probably should.

The service, friendliness, food were great. Food delicious and the portions good., BUT THE FOOD WAS…read moreSERVED BARELY WARMED. Told worker and he offered to heat it up, but I was too hungry and food was too yummy to stop.

New favorite place!! **** Please note that the hours are different than what's in Yelp. They have…read morenew extended hours that go into the evening on weekends so we went for dinner on a Friday night and they closed at 9 PM on Friday. They close for half an hour between four and 430 just to switch into the evening . Check their website for accurate hours. ***** We did not need to make a reservation. We just walked in. Husband and I came for date night and we LOVED everything we had! The drinks the food the atmosphere, everything was perfect! The service was quick friendly and fun! I had the lavender mocktail which came with actual pieces of lavender in it and my husband had the other mocktail offered. Both had beautiful presentation that was so enticing! For food I had the chicken skewers which for hot honey was NOT spicy in the least so don't let that scare you away if you're sensitive to spice it's incredibly mild. I wish a small bit of rice/zucchini or something was served with the chicken to fill out the meal but the chicken itself was SO yummy!! we also ordered the shoestring truffle french fries and we were a little nervous cause shoestring could be really thin, but these were the perfect size. They weren't too thin and they were so yummy. My husband ordered the salmon and that equally was perfect, served with quinoa. After we both had the raspberry cake for dessert! I found the dessert to be larger than the dinner for myself and I had a hard time finishing it so my husband finished his and mine lol it was so so good!! it's a beautiful dining room with the screened in porch. There is a champagne vending machine for mimosas. If you come for brunch, they also offer catering. We had such a good time and we absolutely cannot wait to get back there to try their brunch menu!!!

Its a very high-toned place. The whole interior and exterior is extravagant looking and cozy. The…read moremain issue I had was that the tables were sticky and not clean. When we received out food the syrup was spilt by the server but they never refilled it for us. We also were given silverware and not napkins which to me feels a little odd. Our drinks arrival time was Staggered as well so we were not able to enjoy our drinks at the same time lest they become cold or no longer desirable. Despite all this both the food and drink were very good.

Excellent service and very good food. Had a swap out Irish Benedict (for regular Eggs Benedict) no…read moreproblem and it was delicious. Good food, good service plenty of coffee. My kind of diner, cozy, friendly and courteous . I'll be back.

There was raw chicken in my son's Buffalo Chicken Wrap as you can clearly see from the picture. Not…read moreslightly undercooked. Raw. That probably speaks for itself in terms of why you would want to avoid this place, but here's a little more for good measure. The service was slow, despite the fact that there was almost no one in the restaurant - empty drinks, food taking at least twice as long as it should, not coming back to check on pretty much anything, servers just standing around on their phones, etc. Also, my breakfast potatoes were slimy and not very warm, and my toast was barely toasted and limp. However, the biggest issue for me is that they were not even going to take this tangy salmonella special off the bill until I insisted. They made my son another one, which we ended up taking to go because it took so long that my other son and I were done eating. Evidently, they thought that simply taking the wrap back and not charging us for it would be an acceptable resolution to serving raw chicken (for the record, the only acceptable reaction would have been apologizing in horror, remaking the wrap, and comping our whole bill). When I expressed to the woman at the register that it is dangerous to serve raw chicken to someone, she argued that they were chicken tenders. I think this means she thought they came frozen and already cooked, which is even more concerning and would explain why they are not cooking things thoroughly. Wow. For your own well-being, stay far away from this place.

Absolutely loved my brunch experience at The Nest! This place is truly a gem in Schenectady. The…read morerestaurant itself is super charming with an antique feel. Our server was the sweetest, and gave us some great recommendations. We started with the honey butter biscuits, which I highly recommend! We also got the friend green tomatoes which I enjoyed too. They really do a great job a southern cuisine here. Would love to come back to try some items from their dinner menu.

Second time being here, I don't remember if they mentioned it the first time there but when we…read morereserved a table for four, we were told there would be $20 charge per person if we were late. As busy as I've seen it I get why they'd make that decision. If it was 5 bucks I'm sure people wouldn't care, but at 20 a head it definitely made us sure to be there on time lol Their biscuits (honey/butter spreads) have been great every time. A true staple. Last time I got their yoghurt parfait, great for a lighter breakfast/brunch. This time I got a chicken and waffle special. I enjoyed it but could tell the chicken was cooked in oil a little more close to its end of frying life - not dirty or gross. In the end I liked the chicken, waffle and pork belly served. Great coffee!

I enjoyed my delicious chicken and rice bowl that came with salad, chickpeas and corn along with…read moretheir homemade mezze sauce - yummy! With modern furniture, a great soundtrack playing & lots of (artificial) plants hanging from the ceiling the space has a really cool vibe. Owners/cook were really friendly and helpful; place was clean and food was good. This cafe is located in the Main building on the Maria College campus with ample parking in the back (off New Scotland). Check the website for online ordering and delivery options as well as hours (they were closed in the summer).

Nice atmosphere with hanging plants and plenty of sit down -eat in options. I ordered a specialty…read morelatte that was delish. Because it's on the campus of Maria College, you have to go and park behind the main building. They could use some more signage to let people know that's where the café is. I plan on going back.

I door dashed them the other day and the food was sooo good that I had to come over and check it…read moreout in person. I had previously ordered their chicken and Waffles and grits. Bot only was everything packaged well, they included all condiments without my having to ask for anything. Their fried chicken skin was crispy and flavorful whilst the meat of the chicken was perfectly cooked and moist. The waffle delicious and the grits were a great big portion and hit the spot. Today I decided to try their beef ribs with their baked Mac and cheese and Lil Gwen's Candied Yams. I love the nonsense decor. I find it cool that it's homed inside of a truck stop which makes for excellent people watching. They offer all day breakfast as well as nice variety on the menu. Beef Rib humongous and delicious. The yams spot on seasoned amazingly not overboard perfect balance. The baked macaroni and cheese was the VIP. These guys are a true taste of downhome soul food off the beaten path. I will definitely be back. The service was fast and friendly and efficient.

Permanently closed. Do not waste your time. Pictures and menu looks inviting, but there's no there…read morethere!

We were visiting a student at RPI and looking for a place to have breakfast. We didn't expect the…read morecafe to be so small. There are only two tables. But, we ate there without any problems! Our party of four had eggs, toast, coffee, French toast, pancakes, waffles, turkey bacon, and an egg and cheese croissant sandwich. Everything was delicious. We were impressed with the amount of customers handled and orders being filled by only one person most of the time. A cute spot and the employee was polite and kind. This would be a great spot to get an egg sandwich or pastry or sandwich to take on the go.

I can't believe it's been 3 years since I last set foot in Mumu's Cafe for breakfast. The visit was…read morelong overdue. I had some time to spare recently after dropping my dog off at a veterinary clinic in Troy. I ordered the Turkish Breakfast Plate which turned out to be the most expensive breakfast on the menu. It came with a lot of food. It included eggs, Simit ( a Turkish sesame bagel), grapes, toast, honey, olives and cream cheese. I also ordered a Turkish coffee which is a little stronger than what I'm use to. It hit the spot. Service is fast and friendly. The restaurant small but clean and cute. It looks as though the owners might have added a table. There are three or four tables in all. There's a new partition in the kitchen providing a little more distance between customers and those working on food prep. Gone are the beautiful ornate gold detailed Turkish dinner plates and teacups. I found them charming though not practical. I sort of miss them but they looked like heirloom items which wouldn't be appropriate for day-to-day use. They've been replaced by simple white dish-ware. Much more cost effective. FYI. There are no restrooms for customer use. That issue never came up for me but an older couple came in looking for a restroom and the owner advised them to go to the fast food restaurant down the street. As for the food, it was every bit as good as I expected. Some things don't change. I took the leftovers home and made another meal of it the next day.

Umana Yana - Washington Ave, Albany, NY If you're looking to…read morestep outside of the ordinary and experience bold flavors in a welcoming atmosphere, Umana Yana is a must-visit. This was my second time here--my first visit was dining in with friends, and this time I ordered takeout. Both experiences were consistently impressive. Known for its Ethiopian dishes and outstanding vegan cuisine, Umana Yana brings African culture to life through its vibrant décor, flavorful food, and thoughtfully crafted drinks. Every detail reflects passion and authenticity. It's no surprise that actress Tabitha Brown made a stop in Albany to experience the restaurant's highly praised vegan offerings. That's a testament to the reputation they've built. For my meal, I ordered the jerk lamb lollipops, jollof rice, and slaw. The lamb was tender, juicy, and packed with just the right amount of jerk seasoning. The jollof rice was rich, well-seasoned, and full of flavor, while the slaw added a fresh, crisp balance to the meal. On my previous visit, I tried the wings and waffles, and they were equally delicious. Two visits, two different meals, and not a single disappointment. Whether you're a longtime fan of African cuisine or looking to try something new, Umana Yana offers an experience that's just as memorable as the food itself. If you don't know, now you know. Add Umana Yana to your list--you won't regret it!

Service: 1 Just…read morebought some property in Albany, NY with my man, all the way from Los Angeles, CA!! It was a cloudy day, we wanted some decent Caribbean food & found Umana. Black businesses in LA respect their people and take their businesses very seriously, so I assumed this place would do the same. Unfortunately, we were treated like pests over a small misunderstanding. The waitress-Mercy, misheard me on our drink preferences & began giving us the good ol " Caribbean" cold shoulder . Why so sensitive? The sorrel sangria had way too much cinnamon. Also, I wanted pikliz with my meal, but she did not return after the drink mishap. We quickly learned, this is not a BLACK BUSINESS, this is an AFRICAN BUSINESS & they will quickly show you the difference. Food & Drink: 3 Goat roti gave a a little stomach ache, but it was decent. Oxtain was not tender, not good. The plate was mostly bones & gravy & rice. Plantains & jollof were good. The drinks were delicious though, but they were not strong at all. Price: 2 Spent 100$ so basically 25$ for each item, including the drinks. Overpriced and very small portions. The sides are literal pints, like the babyfood jar size. I was like ??? We usually pay this much at high scale Haitian restaurants in Manhattan, and completely understand the price because we are experiencing amazing customer service, food, ambience &scenery. Better to order takeout, but i heard it very difficult to do that here. Idk lol weird. Black/Indigenous Americans, do not bring your money here. You are not completely welcome here.

Love love loved this Cafe! What an awesome surprise in Troy. Food and drinks were fantastic and…read morethey have a lot of cool art and products available to purchase as well. Prices and staff were wonderful and there's plenty of seating indoors and outside as well. Paid street parking available all over nearby.

Best French Roast Decaf coffee at the Troy open market! Excellent service and interesting decor…read more If attending during the open market time and there is a line, I recommend waiting, the coffee - especially the Sumatra coffee - is worth the wait.