tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-179379372024-03-07T01:00:42.895-05:00Albany NY Restaurant ReviewsReviews of restaurants in the Albany NY area and beyond.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-52416365711288403962013-05-08T13:48:00.003-04:002013-05-08T13:48:53.002-04:00Japanica Grill in TroyThe owner of the now-closed Miyako in Guilderland has opened a new restaurant in Troy, Japanica Grill. Read more at: <a href="http://albany-ny-restaurants.blogspot.com/2005/10/miyako-guilderland-ny.html">Yelp - Japanica Grill</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-80281155058130039982012-05-04T14:13:00.000-04:002012-05-04T14:13:15.017-04:00West Boca Restaurant ReviewsNow that I've moved to West Boca Raton, I've been writing reviews of restaurants here on our <a href="http://westbocanews.com/">West Boca News</a> website.<br />
<br />
There are a wide variety of restaurants in the area, including types common to Albany like Italian and Japanese, but also more tropical and Latino choices not common to upstate New York.<br />
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The reviews are here: <a href="http://westbocanews.com/category/restaurants/">West Boca Restaurant Reviews</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-48930427112345236352011-01-18T07:07:00.009-05:002011-01-22T23:56:46.395-05:00Great Escape Lodge - Hotel and Indoor Water Park near Lake GeorgeWe did something a little different this weekend. We went to the <a href="http://www.sixflagsgreatescapelodge.com">Great Escape Lodge</a> near Lake George for a night (and a good chunk of two days). We got there in time for lunch at <a href="http://www.johnnyrockets.com/">Johnny Rockets</a>, which is in the hotel and was by far the best meal we had there.<br /><br />Overall our experience was hit and miss. The big hit, and main attraction, is the <a href="http://www.sixflagsgreatescapelodge.com/indoor-waterpark.asp">indoor water park</a>. There's a kiddie pool area with small slides and fun fountains. The lazy river is impressive and quite pleasant. Upstairs there's a structure with all kinds of fun for kids, including a huge bucket that dumps all over everything every few minutes. They also have a "flow rider" where you can ride a boogie board against a current. And there are some large tube slides that start about 4 floors up and go outside the building and back in. Very cool. <br /><br />It was a lot of fun, especially for the kids. Our children had a good time, and the place was filled with other kids who were obviously enjoying it. Even in the rest of the hotel, we would frequently see kids of all ages roaming the hallways and other areas in an extreme state of happiness. So, despite the criticisms that follow, if you want to take your kids somewhere fun this is a great place to do it.<br /><br />It is very noisy inside the water park. That seems to be common for indoor water parks so I think you just have to accept that. Something about the acoustics of splashing water and walls I guess.<br /><br />Having said that, there are glaring flaws that annoy adults. Service at the hotel's restaurants (excluding Johnny Rockets) was horrible. We tried to have dinner at the "Tall Tales Tavern." We waited ten minutes for a table, even though we could see empty tables inside. Then someone from inside walked out, complaining that they'd been sitting at their table for 15 minutes and hadn't been served at all. So everyone waiting left. <br /><br />Instead we had dinner at the nearby <a href="http://www.sweetbasilqueensbury.com/index.htm">Sweet Basil</a> which was pretty good. They had early bird specials until 7 pm, which include a salad bar with decent variety.<br /><br />Service was also slow at the "Birch Bark Grill" inside the water park. Waiting 15 minutes to get a soft pretzel just seems silly. The line was not long. It was just slow. There was only one person working the cash register, and he had to do the drinks and hand out the food.<br /><br />We go to the outdoor park a few times a year, and slow service is a consistent problem at the "restaurants" there too. It's hard to tell from the outside, but it seems like they fail to staff adequately. But this applies only to the restaurants. The water park itself had plenty of people working. Similarly, our visits to the outdoor resort and water park have always been enjoyable except for the food.<br /><br />I should mention the room. It was large and included two queen beds and a fold-out couch. I'm not sure that's really room for 6, as they claim, but it was ample space for our family of four. The couch is a big plus. On the down side, the TV was small for the size of the room. We paid about $300 for the night, and at that price I expect a 42" flat screen. <br /><br />The room's heater/air conditioner was also below par. In modern hotels, you choose a temperature on a digital panel and it constantly adjusts the operation to keep the temperature near constant. Not at the Great Escape Lodge, where you choose hot or cold (with low, medium or high fan settings) and adjust a knob for how hot or cold. So first it gets too hot, and then you turn it off and it gets too cold. It was very warm when we went to sleep so we turned it off. Then in the middle of the night I woke up freezing and had to turn it back on. And we were too warm in the morning.<br /><br />Our final meal was typically inconsistent. We went back to Tall Tales for the buffet breakfast. We did get seated right away, but the room is too small and we kept getting jostled as other patrons tried to get to their tables. The food was not just good, but very good, despite a limited selection. The eggs and bacon, in particular, were excellent. Then there was the glaring flaw - no milk. $15.99 for adults and $10.99 for kids, and no milk? C'mon man!<br /><br />I do have some practical suggestions if the Six Flags folks read this. First and foremost, keep doing what you're doing in the water park. Maybe a few more tubes for the lazy river and find a few more places for chairs, but if that's all I can find to criticize, you're doing really well on this. <br /><br />For the Tall Tales Tavern, start by making it bigger. You should be able to expand the space somehow. The section overlooking the water park is too noisy, so maybe you can glass it in? Or use sound-deadening technology? I did a quick search, so here's a gratuitous plug for <a href="http://www.enoisecontrol.com/">E-Noise Control</a>. And if you could do that for seating areas in the park too, that wouldn't hurt.<br /><br />The hallway outside the restaurant seems unnecessary, so kick that wall to the stairway. And take the space where the breakfast buffet and expand the walls around that.<br /><br />Add more staff to Tall Tales and Birch Bark. Considering how much you charge, you'll make more money by serving quicker and not losing customers. Three other families walked away from dinner when we did, costing you hundreds of dollars as well as damaging your reputation. It didn't seem to be the quality of the staff. They all seemed nice and helpful when we could get them. It's a numbers issue.<br /><br />One other thing - the resort didn't do enough to help guests find what else is available in the area. We called downstairs to ask about ice skating and the front desk wasn't sure. I called the place they suggested and it didn't seem to be open. West Mountain and Lake George are both pretty close. The resort should work with them and other area facilities to give guests more options.<br /><br />Again, despite the criticisms, the Great Escape Lodge delivered on what really mattered. Our kids had a great time. And we were happy they did. With all the flaws, we'd do it again.<br /><br />--Update--<br /><br />Since writing this, I realized that one of my kids left a pillow at the resort. We called the resort, they found it, and are sending it to our house for the cost of the postage, about $8. So the housekeeping staff and lost-and-found folks scored bonus points.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-79211124827935824682010-12-01T08:23:00.002-05:002010-12-01T08:25:11.111-05:00Albany Lawyer on ThumbtackTrying out a new website for advertising our services. I got an e-mail about it and their website has references to articles in the media about their site that make them seem a little more credible.<br /><br />So, there is now an <a href="http://www.thumbtack.com/Albany-Lawyer-Albany-NY/service/105291">Albany Lawyer</a> page on Thumbtack.com.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-74256882021529631062010-11-19T21:49:00.003-05:002010-11-19T21:50:11.675-05:00Comeback LoveI rarely read fiction, but I read a book by my local friend Peter Golden. It's great! Loved it!<br /><br />Buy it: <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781935680000">Comeback Love</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-23320256243913994892010-10-05T09:56:00.002-04:002010-10-07T08:00:12.833-04:00Republican vs. DemocratOur new campaign ad:<br /><br /><object height="193" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/m7w15CYS4yo?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/m7w15CYS4yo?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="193" width="320"></embed></object><br /><br />Or on YouTube: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7w15CYS4yo">Republican vs. Democrat</a>.<br /><br />The version that will air on TV is: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr7EJyjOOls">New York: Republican vs. Democrat</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-46747560776980257712010-07-29T11:42:00.016-04:002010-08-03T10:33:23.371-04:00Dewey's Diner in Albany - Not GoodI had a Seinfeld moment this morning. I stopped at Dewey's Diner on Fuller Road in Albany. The food was okay. I had an omelette. It was a little more expensive than I expected, but that's not the issue.<br /><br />The total was $7. I put two singles on the counter as a tip and was putting the other single in with my cash when I dropped two $50 bills. As they neared the floor they suddenly swooshed under the counter. I got down to look and there was an open duct - no grate over it. The money was gone.<br /><br />I asked the waitress where the duct goes. She said it doesn't go anywhere. I asked to speak to the owner. She said she is a part-owner and there's nothing that can be done.<br /><br />The anger started boiling up inside me, but I had the sense to get out of there. I was worried I might be taken over by a Costanza-like rage and do something really stupid.<br /><br />I did take the $2 tip back.<br /><br />Dewey's Diner - Not recommended!<br />-----------<br />Update (8/2/2010): I thought this story was over, but someone named Marty associated with Dewey's Diner called me today. To his credit, he was going to write me a check for $100 to make up for the loss. But he kept tellng me how I rushed to judgment by writing this blog post, and that I should go over to the diner and apologize. <br /><br />When he first called I was going to delete it, but he kept digging into me telling me how I was wrong and I should apologize. That anger boiled over again - Serenity Now!!!!<br /><br />My suggestion that they should put grates over the ducts didn't seem worthwhile to him. Also, he kept telling me I'm out of touch with regular working people because I think $7 for an omelette is a bit expensive in a diner that looks like a cheap dive (inside and out). Apparently that's because I'm a lawyer. And he's going to tell people not to vote for me.<br /><br />I'm not wrong and I'm not out of touch. Regular people get angry when they lose $100 for no good reason. And regular people don't like being told they're wrong when they're not wrong. I'm also a small business owner. I know if you screw up and your customer gets hurt, you don't tell the customer to apologize. Keep your $100 Marty.<br /><br />By the way, I checked two diners I go to more frequently. An omelette with home fries and toast varies, but most of them are about $5.50. Not only was $107 a lot to pay for an omelette, but even $7 is overpriced.<br />----<br />Since this post is getting so many comments, I checked something else out:<br /><a href="http://www.albanycounty.com/restaurantinspections/history.asp?OPERATION_KEY=2175">The County inspection record</a>.<br /><br />There is a persistent "hazard" in their inspection reports:<br />"Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans"<br /><br />They've been cited for problems with ventilation and ductwork five times in a row, dating back to January of 2007.<br /><br />Marty - You might want to do something about the ductwork. Just sayin'.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-10748758388795418382010-07-11T22:45:00.001-04:002010-07-11T22:45:43.236-04:00LeBron James: ParodyHere's our campaign's new video, a parody of the LeBron James Decision:<br /><br /><object width="398" height="240"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/S6fa6LE1AaQ&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/S6fa6LE1AaQ&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="398" height="240"></embed></object><br /><br />See more about the campaign at <a href="http://wredlich.com/ny">http://wredlich.com/ny</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-69222870785615191072010-03-29T09:08:00.003-04:002010-03-29T09:09:38.476-04:00Guilderland Restaurant InspectionsFound an interesting page today: <a href="http://www.albanycounty.com/RestaurantInspections/byMunicipality.asp?CityDropdown=Guilderland&Submit=Go">Guilderland restaurant inspections</a>. I had looked up one place and gotten a bad impression. But now looking at this list, it seems like most restaurants get tagged. That might say more about the inspection process than it does about the restaurants.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-16742891806299545212010-03-29T08:37:00.003-04:002010-03-29T09:08:08.766-04:00Akanomi in GuilderlandAkanomi is a relatively new Japanese restaurant in Guilderland. We had our first experience last week and were pleased. Key highlights - free delivery, decent food, and reasonable prices.<br /><br />I have to confess a bias for Japanese restaurants run by Japanese people. For the best authentic Japanese food around here, you're limited to Miyako, Yoshi Sushi, and Mari's. <br /><br />Akanomi does not appear to be run by Japanese. I called and asked a question - the conversation I heard in the background was definitely not in Japanese. Also, the name sounds good to someone who doesn't know better, but I don't think it's really a Japanese word. It doesn't show up in any of my dictionaries, though it could be a person's name. Including Pad Thai on the menu is also very non-Japanese.<br /><br />But on to what really matters: the food was not only good, but interesting. I ordered the Kitsune Udon. The soup was gently sweet. They did a really good job on the flavor. We had a few other items. The shumai (shrimp dumplings) were nothing special, and the sauce was not what I'd expect. The gyoza (pork dumplings) were good, but a little heavy on the black pepper. Same with the noodles -- so much black pepper our kids wouldn't eat them (but I liked them).<br /><br />The Alaska roll was good and I ordered a special roll, Crazy Tuna. Certainly not a traditional item, but an interesting combination including "Pepper Tuna" and it worked. They also have a "Amazing Tuna," which I might try soon.<br /><br />We did not have a menu when we ordered. They don't have it online - hopefully they'll correct that soon. We now have a couple. One interesting set of choices - they have Japanese curry dishes. You don't see that a lot around here so I'll have to try that next time.<br /><br />Overall the prices seem the same or a little lower than some of the other Japanese places in the area. Hibachi Filet is $19, for example.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-23070584695654402822010-02-14T08:17:00.004-05:002010-02-14T08:42:52.073-05:00Moon and River Cafe in SchenectadyAs part of my vegetarian kick, we went to <a href="http://www.moonandrivercafe.com/">Moon and River Cafe</a> in Schenectady a few days ago.<br /><br />Moon & River is at 115 South Ferry, just north of the intersection with Liberty and on the edge of the <a href="http://www.historicstockade.com/">Stockade district</a>. It has a broad array of vegetarian options (including some vegan), plus a few dishes with meat.<br /><br />The inside is almost too small, and yet we felt comfortable. The interior design has a definite granola feel and fits well with the experience. They seem to have a lot of live music, and we enjoyed the band that played during our visit.<br /><br />As for the food, I had the Mideast Peace Platter. It had good hummus, feta, olives, peppers and more, with pita of course. I also had the Avocado salad, which was seasoned well with a touch of salt and a pleasant dressing (might have been lime).<br /><br />My wife had the Guaco Burrito - beans, cheese and salsa with avocado. Not huge but it was fresh and she liked it. <br /><br />She had a soy-milk smoothie with chocolate and banana, and I had a chocolate milkshake. Both were okay, not over-the-top fantastic but good. <br /><br />We closed with pie. Chocolate for her, blueberry for me. Both desserts were great.<br /><br />Prices were very reasonable. You can get a decent meal here for under $10, and it would be a challenge to spend $20. That's saying a lot for quality vegetarian food with live music included.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-8009290905188124582009-12-31T13:10:00.004-05:002009-12-31T13:24:20.925-05:00Mr. Fuji in Clifton ParkFrom our new guest blogger Ashley:<br />A bold, capitalized SUSHI spreads across a space of strip mall in Clifton Park beckoning those by sincere modesty. Walk closer to the restaurant and Mr. Fuji runs across the door, hardly noticeable to the regular constituents who run in to eat in or pick up food. The restaurant’s decor understates the freshness and execution that waits; it taunts you with a sushi bar and a staff who will come out and bring you freebies while you wait or call you by your first name. While small in stature, Mr. Fuji stands tall in taste and appeal.<br /><br />Usually, I go with my friend who is a vegetarian, and is appalled by the idea of sushi. I know, I consider dropping her off my list of friends often, but in her defense, she does not hesitate to come to this restaurant at the slight mention of it. She goes all Pavlov’s Dogs for the Vegetable Hibachi, which comes with salad with ginger dressing, Miso Soup, and a decent portion of succulent Vegetable Hibachi. This is not the place that lures you in by cooking in hibachi and throwing sake in your mouth in front of you, their food speaks much larger volumes.<br /><br />I usually go for the sushi option—and I generally go with a special and the ode to my hometown, the Philadelphia Roll. The sushi is incredibly fresh, and not ten feet away, they immediately prepare it at the sushi bar. The special I ordered was the Dragon Roll, a mix of fresh avocado, rice, Eel, and Eel sauce. The tenderness of the fish, enhanced by the subtle eel sauce, is almost too savory to eat in one bite. This is the type of meal you wish would last.<br /><br />Mochi, an ice cream of your choice wrapped in flattened rice dough, often ends the evening and adds the perfect amount of sweetness to the meal.<br /><br />The taste is incredible, the service exceptional, the ambiance is plain, but let’s be real here—it’s all about the taste. I would easily say, one of the best sushi restaurants in the capital region. The price, again, understates the quality of the food, making it yet another good experience at Mr. Fuji.AshKilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01132611078883585208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-49507570361231207152009-12-15T17:30:00.009-05:002010-04-26T12:07:14.827-04:00Café Teria in GuilderlandUpdate: Café Teria is reportedly closing on April 30, 2010.<br /><br />One of my favorite restaurants in Guilderland has changed. <a href="http://albany-ny-restaurants.blogspot.com/2006/06/aromi-ditalia-in-guilderland.html">Aromi d'Italia</a> is now Café Teria. It looks like the ownership and staff are generally the same. There are substantial changes but one thing remains the same - the food is excellent. Oh, and they still have the same great gelato.<br /><br />---<br />Update (3/9/2010): Café Teria has returned to sit-down service with a wait staff. They've also restored some entrees to the menu (including a tantalizing garlic shrimp dish), and prices might be slightly lower. Food on our lunch visit yesterday was fantastic - the Butternut Bisque got even better, and the sandwich/soup combo I ordered came with a small salad as well.<br />---<br /><br />So what's different? Aromi was a sit-down restaurant where the wait staff would take your order and serve you. In the new format you order up front and wait for your food to be placed out on a counter. Then you can take your food and sit wherever you like. The entrees appear to be gone. One friend of mine was almost crying about that. The new menu is mostly soups, salads and sandwiches. I'm thrilled they have a Butternut Bisque as a regular soup choice. I've been there twice and had it both times. One of the best soups I've ever had, though it's probably not your cardiologist's first choice.<br /><br />I'm not sure how the format will work in the long run. It looks roughly like Panera, but with better food at a slightly higher price. They have something very close to that place's "You Pick Two" combo, for $10. You can get two choices of a soup, a half-salad or a half-sandwich. I think that costs about $7 at Panera. Sandwiches at Café Teria are roughly $9-13. At Panera they're more like $7. The comparison ends there - Café Teria has much better quality. The soups are richer. The sandwich meats are more substantial - dare I say meatier? The salads are more interesting with higher quality ingredients. Even the bread is better, which is saying a lot because Panera has good bread.<br /><br />They may have some hiccups in dealing with volume if they get a lot of customers. The soda fountain is behind the counter, which may slow down the cash register staff. But I'm not sure they have a better spot for it. Waiting for your food is a little awkward - maybe they should give people a pager which would buzz when the food is up. Or, like Juicy Burger, give you a number for your table and bring the food to you.<br /><br />To sum up, Café Teria is basically a higher quality Panera - with great gelato. My wife and I might spend $17 on lunch for two at Panera, versus $25 at Café Teria. We used to spend closer to $40 at Aromi. I've read in the past that economic problems are hitting high-end restaurants hard. This is another example of it. I'll miss the Aromi entrees, but I'll be getting great soup on a regular basis now.<br /><br />Note that they have a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guilderland-NY/Cafe-Teria/190716264276">facebook page</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-76486057970280580692009-11-23T12:28:00.006-05:002010-06-10T10:58:50.889-04:00Blue Spice in ColonieUpdate (4/14/2010): The Colonie Blue Spice restaurant has reopened in the former Garcia's on Central Avenue, just across from their old location.<br />---<br />We've gone to <a href="http://www.bluespiceny.com/">The Blue Spice</a> a few times now and we like it. Since it's close to our office, lunch is becoming a somewhat regular experience.<br /><br />I have to say it's pretty good, maybe the best Thai food in the Albany area. We have been going to <a href="http://albany-ny-restaurants.blogspot.com/2008/08/nois-in-colonie-is-changing.html">Arirang</a>, which has Korean, Japanese and Thai. We'll still go there, but maybe save the Thai for the Blue Spice.<br /><br />For lunch, my favorite dish has been the Chicken Panang Curry. Lunch comes with a Tofu Noodle soup that is simple and of good quality. My wife has been getting the "Bluefinger Chicken", which has a peanut sauce. She likes it. I don't like the peanut sauce myself. <br /><br />For dinner, they have a "house creation" called Blue Mango Curry. It's very good - in addition to a typical Thai red curry it includes fresh mango and some other touches. One time we had dinner there with friends and both of us enjoyed this dish. I've also had their Chicken Tom Kha soup (aka Tom Kha Gai - flavored with coconut milk and ginger) and it is spot-on - a lot of Thai places don't get the flavor or consistency right.<br /><br />Appetizers are also good - we usually get the dumplings - and the staff is friendly. The menu has a broad array of selections, for both lunch and dinner. Last I checked they were not serving alcohol. Our friends brought their own bottle of wine and the restaurant will supply the glassware.<br /><br />Parking can be difficult if the restaurant is crowded. Their lot is small. But the former Warren Tire, soon to reopen as a collision repair shop, is next door and its lot has a lot of room. That place has a big sign that says H & V.<br /><br />---<br />Update: Just had another dish here that I loved - Ga Pow Gai. It's "ground chicken" in a somewhat spicy sauce over rice. There were red peppers and I'm pretty sure it had coconut milk in the sauce. The chicken isn't really "ground chicken", if that's supposed to be like ground beef. It had small chunks of chicken. Great flavor in this dish. I'll definitely have it again. Might be only on the lunch menu, but I bet you can ask for it at dinner time.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-30784525432954881152009-06-22T11:40:00.002-04:002009-06-22T12:03:04.314-04:00Lipperas' in ChathamWent to <a href="http://www.lipperas.com/">Lipperas' in Chatham</a> a while back. I've been meaning to write about it as I'd been there once before.<br /><br />Great atmosphere - It has a dining room plus a pub area and a little outdoor seating.<br /><br />I had a hummus appetizer which was just okay. It came with crisp flatbread was too salty but otherwise good.<br /><br />The Beet Salad with gorgonzola cheese and walnuts was very good. Dressing was light and it worked well.<br /><br />Closed out with the Creme Brûlée. Due to my limited writing skills, all I can say about that is: "Yum!"Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-65316856240740764192009-06-22T11:30:00.002-04:002009-06-22T11:35:47.060-04:00Wasana: Thai in CatskillWasana is a Thai restaurant on the main drag in the Village of Catskill. The interior is simple with some artwork. The Tom Kha Gai (chicken soup with coconut milk) was excellent. Also had a spicy chicken dish w eggplant - very spicy and great flavor. They offered to cool it down with coconut milk but I toughed it out. <br /><br />Also had a Thai iced tea. It was darker than I'm used to but delicious. Rounded out a leisurely meal (waiting for a court appearance) with a tasty "black rice pudding". Prices were reasonable.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-85952254991945587622009-06-16T15:22:00.005-04:002009-06-17T01:17:36.868-04:00Foxwoods CT: A Brief ExcursionA friend of ours had a 40th birthday celebration at the MGM Grand in Foxwoods CT. We had a few interesting meals so I figured this was a good excuse for a blog post.<br /><br />Despite the tough economy, it was a busy weekend at Foxwoods. Crosby Stills & Nash were doing a concert the night we arrived, and there was apparently at least one other big show going on. Due to the crowds, our dinner reservation at Alta Strada was not until 8:45.<br /><br />We arrived early and decided to try out the sushi. The MGM Grand has a nightclub/restaurant named <a href="http://www.shrinemgmfoxwoods.com/">Shrine</a>. It has a somewhat exotic appearance. We sat in the bar/lounge area and the waitresses were dressed in a manner that seemed more appropriate for an older profession. This was, of course, very upsetting and we walked right out after we had our sushi.<br /><br />The sushi itself ... well it was okay. We had a couple rolls that were just fine. I ordered a $30 sashimi platter. They got the order wrong and came out with a $45 sushi platter which we sent back. There were a couple Keystone Cops moments where they tried to serve it to us again, but they finally got it right. It still was not what I expected. Here's what the menu says it is:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8m-eCidILng4ffMz2HT9wIS_4p3x8qDllwqoZvqY1kM2sxx4f-lmOGtCHcoc6rMet6Cfu7RAy9x0tFV8AEf27e-Vw57UISQzSUnbCbPr1YG96U71e5jktidDKZc45WrWSF9T/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 399px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8m-eCidILng4ffMz2HT9wIS_4p3x8qDllwqoZvqY1kM2sxx4f-lmOGtCHcoc6rMet6Cfu7RAy9x0tFV8AEf27e-Vw57UISQzSUnbCbPr1YG96U71e5jktidDKZc45WrWSF9T/s400/Picture+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348021321948456050" /></a>The night's finest fish from around the globe included a couple pieces each of tuna (maguro), salmon, yellowtail, and squid. They were large pieces and good quality. But it was certainly not a unique display, and it was not the finest fish from around the globe. When you sell it like that, I expect something more - an unusual fish, or a special cut of a fish, etc. <br /><br />Otherwise it was a pleasant experience. They made good drinks and the atmosphere was interesting. It was pricey - our cocktails were $10 each. The total was near $100 before tip.<br /><br />We're not into gambling, so after that we walked around the MGM Grand and over to the Foxwoods Casino. There were a few shops, but we were surprised they didn't have more shopping. I did pick up a baseball hat (really a golf hat for me) at one store. It fit well and was only $15. The MGM pool looked nice, but it was just starting to rain and nobody was there.<br /><br />Eventually we made our way to dinner at <a href="http://www.mgmatfoxwoods.com/AltaStrada.aspx">Alta Strada</a>. Like Shrine, it was an interesting atmosphere. Normally I suspect it's just a pleasant Italian restaurant. In our case there was some kind of bachelorette party at the next table. Yes, another instance where the men in the group had to suffer through young women wearing very little in public. But we struggled through. The women at our table were remarkably gracious and most of us behaved well. The resort does advertise itself for bachelor and bachelorette parties, so I guess this should not be a surprise.<br /><br />The food at Alta Strada was excellent. I decided to go light. They have a small plate thing. By ordering in quantity it was something like $6 per plate (as opposed to $8 for one plate). The table had a total of about 8 of them. <br /><br />We had a variety - broccoli rabe, spicy green beans, grilled asparagus, white beans, eggplant caponata, and calamari. We doubled up on two or three of them. These small plates were large compared to the small plates I've seen at other restaurants. Quality was outstanding. I also had the fennel and arugula salad which was great. A couple people ordered small pizzas and they were also very good - thin crust with delicious toppings.<br /><br />In the morning we met up for the brunch buffet, again at Alta Strada. They had some of the small plate items out, a few hot entrees along with eggs and french toast. Everything was excellent, including the service. The french toast was an unusual bread and I think it had raisins in it.<br /><br />I'm not much on casinos, but we did enjoy our trip. If you do like gambling, Foxwoods seems like a good place to go - but not if you're offended by scantily clad women.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-20191235019935328152009-04-20T07:44:00.002-04:002009-04-20T07:48:14.919-04:00Restaurant Review WritingSome time back someone criticized the quality of writing on this blog. I can't really argue, since I have no training in this kind of writing. But yesterday I saw an example of great writing about restaurants:<br /><br /><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124000923947030623.html">Good Grub and the Spirit of Capitalism</a><br /><br />The author talks about some great New York City restaurants and laments that restaurants in Chicago are not as good. He ties this into the very demanding customers in the Big Apple and the stoic diners in the Windy City. In the process he names a number of restaurants in NYC that I'll have to try the next few times I visit.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-66480615886554604842009-01-30T16:05:00.004-05:002010-05-03T13:23:03.537-04:00Tandoori in ColonieUpdate: I've been back to Tandoor twice recently for lunch. The buffet was excellent both times.<br /><br />We had lunch about a week ago at a new Indian/Pakistani restaurant on Wolf Road. I'm pretty sure the name is Tandoori, though I can't find it on the web. It's next to Emperor's Palace, and in the same building that used to house Bangkok Thai.<br /><br />They have a lunch buffet - I think it was $7.99. My wife is not big on Indian buffets, so she got Chicken Tikka Masala - her favorite dish.<br /><br />The food was okay, but nothing special. I remember in particular that the sauce for the Tikka Masala was rather plain. I prefer a sauce with more character - creamier perhaps.<br /><br />The buffet was fine. There was not much in the way of dessert. The selection of dishes was a little less than some other places, but not bad. When we arrived there seemed to be a shortage of Nan (Indian bread), but we got it eventually.<br /><br />On the bright side, the restaurant was busy - a positive sign. Everyone seemed to like it so maybe my taste buds were off. And it passed another standard test -- there were people who appeared to be natives of India or Pakistan eating there. If they like it you gotta figure they know better than me. And I did like the mango lassi.<br /><br />Based on my experience, I prefer two other places -- Sitar about 3 miles to the west, and Karavalli about 3 miles to the north.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-27607457507490897082009-01-15T11:25:00.005-05:002009-03-09T19:55:07.939-04:00The Standard in CrossgatesWe took the kids to The Standard Restaurant and Lounge, a new place in Crossgates Mall in Guilderland. The space used to be Bugabook Creek.<br /><br />Overall we liked it. Prices were not outrageous, with most entrees in the $20 ballpark. The menu was interesting. One thing that stood out was the portion size. My wife had the ribs, and the picture below is after she started:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJL6xH56opTCsx9pH3vpDowrrb9YyDycp7nRSJX0-Q6HKfWoMJrMJcbekRwlk-x41r7MLMXACaPJmZydXvmgUCfSzJmCQPM15FB9-0fjGoMf1B1a4WW_87g7S9OqY7fOOLGCFT/s1600-h/standard-ribs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJL6xH56opTCsx9pH3vpDowrrb9YyDycp7nRSJX0-Q6HKfWoMJrMJcbekRwlk-x41r7MLMXACaPJmZydXvmgUCfSzJmCQPM15FB9-0fjGoMf1B1a4WW_87g7S9OqY7fOOLGCFT/s400/standard-ribs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291558865309372418" /></a><br /><br />This was, seriously, the biggest rack of ribs I've ever seen. They were good, though not great. It came with sweet potato fries - something more restaurants should have. <br /><br />I had "dry-packed" scallops over mushroom risotto. This was also good but not great. It seemed a little salty to me (especially the risotto). Not as bad as <a href="http://albany-ny-restaurants.blogspot.com/2007/10/pf-changs-in-colonie-center.html">PF Chang's in Colonie</a>, but just a little too much.<br /><br />One plus is that the place is kid-friendly, though not over the top like Bugaboo was. They do have a kids menu, and a lot of people had kids with them.<br /><br />We had an appetizer too. It was a combo - three different kinds of rolls (sort of like eggrolls) along with a spinach-artichoke dip. I liked it. The rolls were good and came with a few dipping sauces. The spinach dip came in a huge container with chips - I don't know how anyone could eat all that. It was more than enough for four adults. I was so stuffed that I couldn't eat much of my entree (especially after I ate a couple ribs).<br /><br />--------<br />Update: We went back the other night. It was a Saturday night and the place was jam packed, as was the entire mall. Perhaps a good sign for the economy. While it took some time to get seated, and service was understandably a bit slow, the food was excellent. The portion sizes were, again, outrageous. The biggest standout for me was the cheesecake. I love a good cheesecake, and I'm picky. This was the best cheesecake I've ever had in Albany. Cheesecake Factory may have more variety, but for a straight-up New York cheesecake, the Standard has it. Not only was it great, but it was so big it made dessert for two other meals. My wife got a brownie thing with ice cream and it was monstrous. We haven't finished the brownie yet. She had a burger too and that was done right.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-79959019537230676832008-12-17T15:32:00.005-05:002009-03-09T19:50:57.485-04:00Phoenicians in ColonieWe had a nice lunch at Phoenicians. It's a new Lebanese/Mediterranean restaurant. I think it's at 1686 Central Avenue -- see <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=1686%20Central%20avenue%2C%20colonie%2C%20ny">Google Maps</a>. Phone number might be 464-4444. I did not find a website for it, though it might appear at: phoeniciansofalbany.com.<br /><br />Lebanese? Well, it's kinda like Greek food. Please note that they do not have a Greek Salad on the menu. I also did not see Gyros, though they did have Shawarma. My wife liked that. It came with a chick pea and eggplant salad that I liked.<br /><br />I had the lentil soup (very nice), and then found my appetite and ordered the appetizer sampler. It had hummus (a chick pea dip), baba ghanouj (eggplant dip), some pickles olives and pickled turnips, tabouleh, and kefta. The sampler was fantastic. Everything tasted great and the texture of the dips was enjoyable - not too pureed and not too chunky either. The pickled stuff was unusual from what I've seen in this genre. It was a strong flavor but worked for me.<br /><br />The place is small - maybe 10 tables - and prices are reasonable. Very interesting interior decor. I'm not even sure how to describe it.<br /><br />A very nice addition to the Albany restaurant scene. If you like this type of food (Greek, Turkish, Israeli, Lebanese, etc.) then Phoenicians is worth a try. I'm happy because it's so close to our office. We'll be back.<br /><br />Oh, and I forgot the dessert. We both had baklava and liked it.<br />-------<br />Update: I've been back a few times to Phoenicians. There is a vegetarian platter I had recently and it was great. Also just had the hummus and ground beef. I love a dish that challenges conventional American thinking -- hummus is supposed to be vegetarian, right? And the soup of the day was a white bean with rosemary. All good stuff.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-29374698283310218762008-11-04T19:07:00.002-05:002008-11-04T19:07:56.190-05:00PF Chang - ColonieJust a quick note that I updated my previous review of <a href="http://albany-ny-restaurants.blogspot.com/2007/10/pf-changs-in-colonie-center.html">PF Chang in Colonie Center</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-51116231908095276682008-10-25T11:38:00.002-04:002008-10-25T11:41:24.367-04:00Tesoro in GuilderlandJust a quick post on Tesoro in 20 Mall (Guilderland). We went a couple weeks ago for lunch and enjoyed it. As I understand things, the chef from Lombardo's took over this place (it was Nicole's Italia). Nicole's was good but Tesoro is better. It's like having Lombardo's close to home. Guilderland is developing a great array of restaurants.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-44314579659742719592008-10-25T11:06:00.007-04:002008-10-25T11:30:03.659-04:00Melting Pot in Crossgates (Guilderland)About a week ago we went to the new Melting Pot at Crossgates in Guilderland. It was an experience worth trying. The Melting Pot is a fondue franchise. In other words, it's a chain restaurant. Like the <a href="http://albany-ny-restaurants.blogspot.com/2006/08/cheesecake-factory.html">Cheesecake Factory at Colonie Center</a>, it's aiming for the high end of that arena. This is a good place for a warning. We spent over $100 on dinner for two and we didn't even have wine or drinks.<br /><br />With that budget-busting issue in mind, it was worth going. We arrived for an early dinner (on the way to a movie) and, as seems common with new places, it was full. Fortunately we were able to get two seats at the bar with a "burner". We got a set of courses that come as a package deal. It starts with a cheese dip. You get breads, veggies and a few other things to dip in the melted cheese. The server mixes up the cheese and stuff and heats it up there then it stays warm on the burner. We liked this part of the meal very much.<br /><br />Next came a salad. Not bad but nothing special. If salad is a key element of your meal, then this is not the place for you.<br /><br />The entree course really stood out. It's a little like Japanese nabe or shabu-shabu style cooking. There's a big pot of broth that's hot on the burner. You get raw meats and a few other things on a plate. Put the meats on the tip of a long fork and put that end into the broth. Let it cook for about 90 seconds. Take it out and dip it into any of about 8 dipping sauces provided. Our meal had a wide variety of meats including a well-marinated pork, shrimp, filet mignon, another steak I think, chicken, and salmon. There were also some spinach dumplings (which were almost impossible to get back out of the pot). The servers were very helpful in explaining which dipping sauces were best paired with which meats. They were well-trained and helpful.<br /><br />The meal closed with the chocolate. This has a similar plan. You get a variety of fruits, cakes, and a couple other items to dip. I remember we liked it very much.<br /><br />So the fondue style parts of the meal were all impressive. If you can afford to blow $100 on a meal for two, then you should give it a try. I can't see ourselves going there for dinner more than maybe once a year. Another option is to go for dessert only. That would cost a lot less and give you a good feel for the experience part of it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17937937.post-69828033556557542972008-10-25T10:40:00.003-04:002008-10-25T11:05:45.997-04:00Creo in GuilderlandCreo is a new restaurant in Stuyvesant Plaza. The restaurant itself is essentially on the corner of Fuller Road and Western (US-20). We went for lunch on Friday and generally liked it.<br /><br />Some initial notes: Creo is, at least for now, very busy. Its end of the parking lot was jam packed. The inside appears to be much larger than its predecessor (Mangia) and the interior is very attractive. The main dining room has high ceilings which make it seem all the more spacious. We sat in the bar area which is also nice, though the flat-screen TVs showing (at lunchtime) Judge Hatchett and Judge Joe Brown seemed a little out of place. Service was also a little off but that can be attributed to opening week and being flat out swamped with customers. Under the circumstances I'd say they're handling the load pretty well.<br /><br />I was surprised that the menu had so few choices. My mother (who ate there the night before), commented that there were almost no choices for her - she tries to eat Vegan. I also noticed that the server placed a heavy emphasis on alcohol. The lunch menu was handed to us wine side up, and shortly after that we were presented with a separate cocktail menu (with mocktails - no alcohol - as well). Just me but I don't see pushing hooch at lunchtime. I understand that's where they make their money, and I'm no temperance advocate, but I thought society was downplaying alcohol these days.<br /><br />The food was mostly good. We both started with a soup - chicken & asiago dumpling. It was very good. The broth had a solid flavor and there were good chunks of meat. I didn't really get the point of the dumplings - the asiago flavor kinda got drowned out by the soup - but I liked it anyway. Also, it came in a cup, but the cup was so deep it almost seemed bottomless.<br /><br />My other half had the steak sandwich. This was done well. The meat was cooked right and was cooked in a tasty sauce - maybe a touch of worcestershire in that. It came with a kind of steak sauce on the side but the meat was so good that the side sauce was unnecessary. It came with steak fries which were not bad at all.<br /><br />The chicken in my lobster chicken was a bit overcooked. There was a "scotch cream sauce" that tasted good but there wasn't much of it. The lobster bits that came with it were good but again, not much lobster there. It also came with "risotto hush puppies". That translated into deep fried balls of rice. Interesting, but not all that special in my eyes. Also an excellent side of vegetables including green beans, corn and cherry tomato (maybe grape tomato). The different veggies worked very well together and I'm sure there was some kind of gentle seasoning or sauce that made it work so well. I'll forgive the overcooked chicken as an opening week thing - and of course overcooked is a lot better than undercooked!<br /><br />The bread came from Bountiful Bread, which is also in Stuyvesant Plaza. It seemed odd to have a tray of bread brought out on "Bountiful Bread" paper. This is a chain restaurant that is, like Panera, a step above fast food. I like it, and the bread was good, but the presentation seems out of place in a fancy restaurant.<br /><br />We'll certainly go back and try it again, but for now I prefer Provence, also in Stuyvesant Plaza. Provence has a better menu and does the high class thing without trying so hard.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942422727278141113noreply@blogger.com5