Albany NY Restaurant Reviews

Great Escape Lodge - Hotel and Indoor Water Park near Lake George

2011-01-18T07:07:00.009-05:00

We did something a little different this weekend. We went to the Great Escape Lodge near Lake George for a night (and a good chunk of two days). We got there in time for lunch at Johnny Rockets, which is in the hotel and was by far the best meal we had there.

Overall our experience was hit and miss. The big hit, and main attraction, is the indoor water park. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Instead we had dinner at the nearby Sweet Basil which was pretty good. They had early bird specials until 7 pm, which include a salad bar with decent variety.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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 E-Noise Control. And if you could do that for seating areas in the park too, that wouldn't hurt.

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.

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.

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.

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.

--Update--

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.

Albany Lawyer on Thumbtack

2010-12-01T08:23:00.002-05:00

Trying 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.

So, there is now an Albany Lawyer page on Thumbtack.com.

Comeback Love

2010-11-19T21:49:00.003-05:00

I rarely read fiction, but I read a book by my local friend Peter Golden. It's great! Loved it!

Buy it: Comeback Love

Republican vs. Democrat

2010-10-05T09:56:00.002-04:00

Our new campaign ad:

Or on YouTube: Republican vs. Democrat.

The version that will air on TV is: New York: Republican vs. Democrat

Dewey's Diner in Albany - Not Good

2010-07-29T11:42:00.016-04:00

I 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.

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.

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.

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.

I did take the $2 tip back.

Dewey's Diner - Not recommended!
-----------
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.

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!!!!

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.

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.

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.
----
Since this post is getting so many comments, I checked something else out:
The County inspection record.

There is a persistent "hazard" in their inspection reports:
"Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans"

They've been cited for problems with ventilation and ductwork five times in a row, dating back to January of 2007.

Marty - You might want to do something about the ductwork. Just sayin'.

LeBron James: Parody

2010-07-11T22:45:00.001-04:00

Here's our campaign's new video, a parody of the LeBron James Decision:

See more about the campaign at http://wredlich.com/ny

Guilderland Restaurant Inspections

2010-03-29T09:08:00.003-04:00

Found an interesting page today: Guilderland restaurant inspections. 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.

Akanomi in Guilderland

2010-03-29T08:37:00.003-04:00

Akanomi 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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Moon and River Cafe in Schenectady

2010-02-14T08:17:00.004-05:00

As part of my vegetarian kick, we went to Moon and River Cafe in Schenectady a few days ago.

Moon & River is at 115 South Ferry, just north of the intersection with Liberty and on the edge of the Stockade district. It has a broad array of vegetarian options (including some vegan), plus a few dishes with meat.

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.

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).

My wife had the Guaco Burrito - beans, cheese and salsa with avocado. Not huge but it was fresh and she liked it.

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.

We closed with pie. Chocolate for her, blueberry for me. Both desserts were great.

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.

Mr. Fuji in Clifton Park

2009-12-31T13:10:00.004-05:00

From our new guest blogger Ashley:
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Café Teria in Guilderland

2009-12-15T17:30:00.009-05:00

Update: Café Teria is reportedly closing on April 30, 2010.

One of my favorite restaurants in Guilderland has changed. Aromi d'Italia 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.

---
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.
---

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.

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.

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.

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.

Note that they have a facebook page

Blue Spice in Colonie

2009-11-23T12:28:00.006-05:00

Update (4/14/2010): The Colonie Blue Spice restaurant has reopened in the former Garcia's on Central Avenue, just across from their old location.
---
We've gone to The Blue Spice a few times now and we like it. Since it's close to our office, lunch is becoming a somewhat regular experience.

I have to say it's pretty good, maybe the best Thai food in the Albany area. We have been going to Arirang, which has Korean, Japanese and Thai. We'll still go there, but maybe save the Thai for the Blue Spice.

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.

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.

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.

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.

---
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.

Lipperas' in Chatham

2009-06-22T11:40:00.002-04:00

Went to Lipperas' in Chatham a while back. I've been meaning to write about it as I'd been there once before.

Great atmosphere - It has a dining room plus a pub area and a little outdoor seating.

I had a hummus appetizer which was just okay. It came with crisp flatbread was too salty but otherwise good.

The Beet Salad with gorgonzola cheese and walnuts was very good. Dressing was light and it worked well.

Closed out with the Creme Brûlée. Due to my limited writing skills, all I can say about that is: "Yum!"

Wasana: Thai in Catskill

2009-06-22T11:30:00.002-04:00

Wasana 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.

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.

Foxwoods CT: A Brief Excursion

2009-06-16T15:22:00.005-04:00

A 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.

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.

We arrived early and decided to try out the sushi. The MGM Grand has a nightclub/restaurant named Shrine. 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.

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:
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.

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.

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.

Eventually we made our way to dinner at Alta Strada. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Restaurant Review Writing

2009-04-20T07:44:00.002-04:00

Some 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:

Good Grub and the Spirit of Capitalism

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.

Tandoori in Colonie

2009-01-30T16:05:00.004-05:00

Update: I've been back to Tandoor twice recently for lunch. The buffet was excellent both times.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Based on my experience, I prefer two other places -- Sitar about 3 miles to the west, and Karavalli about 3 miles to the north.

The Standard in Crossgates

2009-01-15T11:25:00.005-05:00

We took the kids to The Standard Restaurant and Lounge, a new place in Crossgates Mall in Guilderland. The space used to be Bugabook Creek.

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:

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.

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 PF Chang's in Colonie, but just a little too much.

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.

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).

--------
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.

Phoenicians in Colonie

2008-12-17T15:32:00.005-05:00

We had a nice lunch at Phoenicians. It's a new Lebanese/Mediterranean restaurant. I think it's at 1686 Central Avenue -- see Google Maps. Phone number might be 464-4444. I did not find a website for it, though it might appear at: phoeniciansofalbany.com.

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.

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.

The place is small - maybe 10 tables - and prices are reasonable. Very interesting interior decor. I'm not even sure how to describe it.

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.

Oh, and I forgot the dessert. We both had baklava and liked it.
-------
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.

PF Chang - Colonie

2008-11-04T19:07:00.002-05:00

Just a quick note that I updated my previous review of PF Chang in Colonie Center.

Tesoro in Guilderland

2008-10-25T11:38:00.002-04:00

Just 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.

Melting Pot in Crossgates (Guilderland)

2008-10-25T11:06:00.007-04:00

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 Cheesecake Factory at Colonie Center, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Creo in Guilderland

2008-10-25T10:40:00.003-04:00

Creo 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Athos in Guilderland

2008-08-14T21:47:00.003-04:00

About a week ago my wife and I had dinner at the new Greek place in Guilderland, Athos. We enjoyed it. It's in the same spot which used to be Cabernet Cafe and before that Figliomeni's.

We started with the Horiatiki Salad, which looks, on the menu, like a typical greek salad. There were no olives though, and the feta that came with it was in two large slices. Usually a greek salad has olives and the feta is crumbled. The menu does say olives, so that was probably a mistake (the place just opened). Serving the feta in the larger pieces was fine, but this dish was not their best and did not live up to our expectations.

We also had an appetizer where you pick three different "spreads" or dips to go with some pita bread. We had the tzatziki (yogurt based), the melitsanosalata (eggplant based) and the fava puree (fava beans of course). These were all quite good. I was a little surprised that hummus was not one of the options, but that's not a big deal.

One quick comment about both of these -- the appetizer and the salad were $12 each. That seemed a little overpriced. With the salad, it just wasn't that great of a salad. The dips were very good quality, but we didn't get that much of them. With that said, the entrees were not overpriced.

Speaking of entrees, my wife had the chicken (kotopoulo) souvlaki. She liked it. I remember that the chicken had a great flavor, and as I write this she mentions that the rice it came with was also delicious. She didn't finish and I brought the chicken home. It was still great the next day. With that quality at only $18, it made the whole meal a bargain.

I had the "Ionian Marinato" - shrimp and scallops marinated in citrus, then sauteed with olives, capers and peppers. As time has passed I don't remember all the details of it, but it was good.

We had dessert too. My wife had Baklava and I got the "Galakobouriko" - custard in phyllo dough. We liked the baklava. The custard thing was fine, but not our thing. The menu lists a "Loukoumathes" (fried dough) but they didn't have any that night - some kind of problem with the dough - maybe it didn't rise. I liked that one of the desserts is a fruit platter. More places should do that (and I should have ordered it).

On the whole, it was very good. The restaurant atmosphere was nice too. The whole meal costs us $80, but that includes an appetizer, a salad and two desserts. Next time we'll probably skip the salad and get one dessert.

We enjoyed it and wish Athos well.

Map of 1814 Western Avenue in Albany.

Arirang: Noi's in Colonie has changed

2008-08-14T21:31:00.004-04:00

Update (4/14/2010): We went to Arirang today and it was closed. From the circumstances, I suspect it may not reopen.
-----
Update: Arirang is the name of this new restaurant. We've been back a few times and the Korean food is good too. With good quality, reasonable prices, and a great location (for us), we expect to go a couple times a month for lunch.
-------
I wrote in the past about a restaurant that was named Mino's and then Noi's in Colonie. Well it's changed again.

I went with my daughter tonight on the way back from her Tae Kwon Do class. That led to a minor coincidence. We sat down and one guy working in the restaurant (I don't know the new name yet ... the Noi's sign is still up) looked familiar. A while later he introduced himself. He's Steve Kim, the owner of Kim's Oriental Shop, just down the road. That was a pleasant surprise, and it was also neat because I got to show off that my daughter can count to 10 in Korean. I've been an occasional customer at the store for several years.

Anyway, the food seemed similar to what they had in the past. They have some Thai dishes and Japanese dishes. We had a variety:

Edamame appetizer (soybeans served in the husk - you pop the beans out and eat them - the kids love 'em). This is something you find in Japanese restaurants and it was good. I think they served a larger quantity than most other places.

I had a Tom Kha soup with chicken (also called Tom Kha Gai in Thai restaurants). That was also good, maybe the best I've had in this area.

Daughter also had a miso soup. She liked it. I didn't get to taste it until it was cold.

Side salad was nothing special. Small plate with iceberg lettuce, served with a peanut sauce dressing (ginger dressing also available). Not bad, but no big deal either.

The entrees were excellent. Cashew Nut Chicken (I asked for non-spicy for my daughter - then she didn't eat any of it), and I had Macadamia Nut Beef. Both were very good, cooked with peppers, onion, the relevant nuts, and pineapple. The sauce for the beef had a particularly rich flavor.

They will be adding Korean food to the menu, probably next week. There was a large table of Asian men (I'm pretty sure they were Korean) and it looked like they got Korean food. I saw that they had Kim Chi (a pickled cabbage) and some yellow Daikon (a sweet pickled Asian radish) and got some of that.

Looking forward to going back when they add Korean food. There is only one other Korean place in the area that I know of (Ta-Ke near Albany Memorial Hospital).

Anyway, the place is at 1558 Central Avenue in Colonie.

Aperitivo Bistro in Schenectady

2008-06-27T18:16:00.003-04:00

We had a nice opportunity to go out for dinner in Schenectady the other night. We went to Aperitivo Bistro, which is right near Proctor's on State Street. It happened to be very close to a party we were going to later at Clinton's Ditch. We were impressed with this area of Schenectady. They've really spruced the place up. It feels like a "place to be." Don't tell Brian Stratton I said anything nice about him though. :-)

We stopped at Katie O'Byrnes on the way to Clinton's Ditch and that also looked nice, though we didn't have anything to eat or drink. Just said hello to a friend.

So, Aperitivo Bistro ... it was pretty good. Started with a nice touch - the bread came out with three condiments on a nice plate. It had butter one one end, olive oil and balsamic in the middle, and a dried bruschetta on the far end. Never seen that before and I hope others start imitating it. All three tasted good, as did the bread.

Aperitivo has a "tapas" style menu. You can order a lot of small dishes, called Piattini. I'm pretty sure that means "little plate", though tapas is Spanish and the word Piattini seems kinda Italian. Guess that's fusion for you.

So we had a few of these small plates. The broccoli rabe was both good and different. it was served in a kinda soupy form. I wouldn't have thought that would work, but it did.

Next was a tenderloin carpaccio - three very thin slices of rare or raw steak, topped with a couple shiitake mushrooms and a bit of cheese with it. It was interesting. The steak didn't have much flavor, but I'm not sure it's supposed to. This wasn't the best dish of the night, but it wasn't bad or anything. Biggest concern is how small it was. I understand the concept, but if you're going to charge $10 for it, I just think you should get a little more. I don't think it was even an ounce of steak on that plate.

The fried ravioli was one of the better dishes - tasty and closer to the appropriate portion size. The only minor concern here was maybe too much breading. But still good for sure.

I got a small shrimp and scallop plate that was on the daily specials menu. It had a fennel sausage with it mixed with some kind of sauce. I thought this was one of the better items that night, but again, just too small considering the price.

One last detail was among our first items. We had the Spinach and Grilled Radicchio salad. The grilled radicchio didn't do much for us, but the salad on the whole was very good. The spinach, walnuts, and gorgonzola all went well together with the dressing.

Should also mention that the interior was nice, almost elegant. We were in a room with the bar. Apparently there is another room I didn't see, so I can't comment on that.

Slacking off

2008-06-01T18:46:00.002-04:00

I've been slacking off on my restaurant review postings. Just too busy with other things, and the muse has not been hitting me to write on this topic.

I have been very active in other areas, business, family, and politics. One interesting group is the Albany Ron Paul Meetup. We've been doing a lot on the Steven Vasquez campaign for Congress lately.

Losing Weight: Nutrient Density (even while eating out)

2008-02-12T07:43:00.000-05:00

For the first time in years, the scale this morning showed me weighing less than 200 lbs (198). I started a new "diet" back in September. I was up somewhere around 215 or 220, and my cholesterol numbers were persistently high (not awful, but too high). After losing some weight, I had my cholesterol checked and it had dropped a lot. Not all the way down, but very close to the "targets".

My new diet is based on a book on Calorie Restriction. They also use the term "optimal nutrition," and that's meaningful. I don't follow the book literally (and to their credit they encourage that), but I picked up some big concepts from it.

The optimal nutrition concept is key. I try to eat things that have a lot of nutrients in them. There's actually a list in the book of a variety of foods and their "nutrient density" - a measure of the nutritional value per calorie. Not surprisingly vegetables are great. One of the easiest things I do now is eat more vegetables. In restaurants I ask for vegetables on the side instead of fries, pasta, rice, and other things that are not great on nutrient density. Most restaurants will accommodate that. I also order a side of vegetables, maybe even two.

There's a few things I make at home now with some frequency that I like and are good on the nutrient density thing. One is a blueberry smoothie. 1 cup nonfat yogurt, 1 cup skim milk (maybe an extra 1/4 cup), and 2 cups of blueberries. Put it in a blender, add some brown sugar or other sweetener - not needed but not horrible either - and drink. Blueberries are loaded with nutrients. Sometimes I use other berries, bananas, or some combination of the bunch. Be careful when you buy blueberries. The first time I bought a tub from the freezer and didn't notice it was in syrup - which dramatically increased the calories without helping nutrition - and didn't really taste better either.

The other recipe I adopted was tuna-hummus salad. Instead of mixing tuna with mayonnaise, I mix it with hummus. I usually include some onion, maybe some spinach leaves, and maybe some peppers too. Honestly, I like this just as much as tuna salad made with mayonnaise, maybe a little better. I eat it open face on a slice of whole wheat bread (I like whole wheat better than white), usually with spinach and/or other salad greens over the top. Plus maybe olive salad and things like that.

I also eat healthier at breakfast. Kashi GoLean Waffles are pretty good. I also make a variety of things with Eggbeaters, usually scrambled with vegetables. I sometimes use veggie substitute things from Morningstar Farms, like their veggie sausages (better than real sausage) and a "Veggie Crumble" thing that they have at Target. You can have waffles, scrambled eggs and sausage - a very filling meal, with a lot fewer calories and a lot more nutrients.

I also just make vegetables sometimes at home. Last night I made asparagus with some onion, garlic, and a bit of soy sauce and sushi vinegar. It was pretty good. A couple months ago I bought frozen asparagus at the store (I wanted to try it - fresh does taste better). I checked the package label. The whole 10 ounce package had 60 calories. That's all. Just 60 calories. You can eat a lot of vegetables and really fill yourself up without getting too many calories.

If my wife makes spaghetti at home, I'll nuke a veggie Italian sausage or a veggie burger (there's a big variety of these nowadays) to go with it. I also buy some "healthy" frozen entrees - the Kashi ones are pretty good. The organic section has some others I like. They're usually 300-400 calories.

Another good thing about this approach is you can pig out once in a while and it's not really a problem. At first I did this about once a week, but now it's less often than that. If we go out to a really nice restaurant, then the diet is out the window - but I'll still get extra veggies. This isn't hard for me. I really do enjoy eating them.

I went to Via Fresca on Western Ave. the other day. They have a good selection of veggie side dishes. Plenty of other good things too, but it's important to have places you can go and eat healthy. Panera Bread usually has good soups and salads, and a half-sandwich once in a while isn't too bad for you. I pay extra for the fruit cup side.

My "sins" are not so bad. Dark chocolate is pretty good on nutrients, so I eat some of that. Camembert is one of the better cheeses so I have that on crackers sometimes.

I think one of the other keys to healthy eating is that when you're going to eat bad, don't soften the blow with "lite" versions. Don't get lite salad dressing. The olive oil and canola oil are good for you anyway. Get smaller portions of the bad stuff, not full portions of the lite version. The lite version isn't nearly as tasty and is ultimately unsatisfying.

Hummer H3

2008-01-05T07:28:00.000-05:00

We spent a week in Los Angeles, visiting Disneyland and my brother Steve. The trip was mostly good, with a couple glitches.

Glitch #1 was shortly after our arrival at LAX at the Budget Car Rental place. I had reserved a large SUV, like a Ford Expedition. With four of us and three in my brother's family, it seemed about right. Strangely they didn't have any large SUVs when we arrived. Yes, I do remember the Seinfeld episode: "You know how to take the reservation ... you just don't know how to hold the reservation."

First they offered us a Mustang convertible. I was okay with that, but our luggage didn't fit in the tiny trunk. We really only needed to fit in two medium suitcases, and they didn't fit.

So the agent looks around and says, "How about that white one?" I look over and she's pointing to a Hummer H3. Um, okay.

This was apparently a big deal, as the daily rental on a Hummer H3 is roughly double the cost of a large SUV, and they gave it to us at the same price. That pricing doesn't really make sense since the H3 is less expensive than an Expedition, but that's for another day.

The Hummer H3 was an experience. It looks distinctive. The picture below is pretty much what ours looked like:

It also attracted attention. A couple people even asked me about it.

But overall the experience was not that great. I would never buy a Hummer, knowing what I know now. For one thing, despite the fairly large exterior size, it was not that big inside. It did seem big, but not in a practical way. You can seat five people, though the three in the back can't be too big. We fit three kids (including my nephew) and it was a little tight. There is a decent amount of luggage room in the back cargo area. Our luggage fit easily with plenty more room. My wife just got a Mazda CX-9. It costs about the same but seats seven. My wife sat in the middle row last night with our two kids and there was clearly more room in that row than there was in the H3, plus there's a third row we didn't need to use. With the third row up there's decent cargo room and with it down it's huge.

Ergonomics on the H3 were poor. The best example is the power window switches. They're on the driver's left armrest, but nowhere near the driver's fingertips. They're almost at the elbow. I had to move my arm into an unnatural and uncomfortable position to open and close the windows.

Visibility is horrendous. The windows are small, but the real problem was the "A pillars" - the columns of metal between the windshield and the passenger windows. At one point I almost hit a pedestrian who ran across the street without looking. I didn't see him. Fortunately my wife saw him and warned me. Thanks Honey!

Driving was mostly okay, but not great. The biggest flaw was wind noise at highways speeds. It starts making significant noise at 70 mph, and got really loud when I got up to 80. I decided to drive slower. It also feels wide and that took some getting used to. On the bright side, it was remarkably easy to parallel park. It also seems to ride very high, higher than the other SUVs on the road.

We used one tank of gas on the trip and I didn't notice the mileage, but we didn't go very far.

Cabernet Cafe -- What Gives?

2007-12-14T22:00:00.000-05:00

I think the Cabernet Cafe may have closed. I called a couple times recently to see about going over for lunch and there was no answer. One time we drove over and it was closed, though there was no sign. I also noticed that the website (cabernetcafe.com) wasn't working and now it appears to be gone. The url is owned by a "John Wemple." I know at least two John Wemples in Guilderland. Next time I see one I'll ask about it.

Of course this is just after I bought a discount gift certificate for the place from restaurants.com, but I should be able to exchange that anyway.

Audi A4 Avant -- 100K miles

2007-11-22T08:58:00.000-05:00

Digressing from restaurants, my 2002 Audi A4 Avant (wagon) just went over 100,000 miles a couple days ago. Fitting that it was during a drive to a traffic court, since that's where a lot of its miles have come from in the last 4 1/2 years.

Overall I've been pretty happy with my Audi. First and foremost, it drives very nice. I remember shopping for cars. Drove my '96 Cavalier with 135K miles to the Subaru dealership and then to the Audi dealership. I got back in my Cavalier after the Subaru and felt like my Cavalier drove better. Then I got to the Audi dealer and drove the A4. It wasn't even close. The shifter (it's manual 5-speed) was ultra-smooth and still is after 100K.

Another nice feature, and a reason I like wagons, is that it holds a lot of stuff. Once I had bought a snowblower that I had to return. We were able to fit it in the back of my car, both ways. On the return trip it took up more space because I had partially assembled it. Our family has grown now, and the car is getting small in terms of passenger space. It fits the four of us and all our stuff for trips, but we have no room for a fifth person because the child seats take up a lot of space. So my wife will be getting a larger vehicle soon, and I probably will as well in a couple years.

While I have been fortunate not to experience this, the car is supposedly very safe. It keeps getting great ratings on crash safety from the government and the IIHS. I have experienced the winter handling and it is really outstanding. I've been driving in snow for about 25 years now (41-16=25) and it handles ice and snow better than anything else I've ever driven. Part of that is the winter tires but even before I added those it was still good in the slippery stuff.

Having a 4 cylinder (turbo) and a manual transmission has meant good gas mileage. Somewhere between 25 and 26 mpg over the life of the car.

Reliability hasn't been great, but pretty good I guess. Through 100K, I've had to spend some money on mostly minor things. It's more the hassle of having to get things fixed than the cost, but on the whole not too bad.

Looking at a new car for myself in a couple years, and Audi is definitely on the shopping list.

677 Prime in Albany

2007-11-18T21:57:00.000-05:00

Angelo's 677 Prime is a relatively new restaurant in downtown Albany. It is part of a great trend in higher quality restaurants in our area. It's also very close to some other outstanding restaurants, including Nicole's Bistro, Yono's & dp (both in the Hampton Inn), and a few other places on and near Pearl Street.

I stopped at Broadway Auto to get an oil change, inspection, etc, and had to go to federal court after lunch. 677 Prime is right on the way, so I stopped there.

I started with a soup. The soup of the day was butternut squash. It was smooth and creamy with a delicate flavor. While it was very good, I have had better. It needed something to give it a little more character. Don't get me wrong though - I ate all of it.

Next I had the Tuna Tartare, which was excellent. The only flaw was that it looked a little like a hockey puck. It was a bunch of chunks of raw tuna, diced or minced and then put together with some other ingredients I can't name -- maybe some scallions. It had a spicy sauce, which worked extremely well with it. Not a fair comparison, but the Cheesecake Factory has a raw tuna dish that isn't bad either. There the tuna comes out in very thin slices, I think with a wasabi mayo. But the last time I had it there the tuna itself was just not as good - almost a little gristly.

Getting back to 677 Prime, the last item was a salad of mixed greens. It came with a couple different kinds of cheeses (thick flakes of parmesan or asiago, and a softer cheese - maybe gorgonzola) and a few other items that I just can't remember - but it all worked well. The dressing was also very nice.

It was not a cheap lunch (just under $40 with tip), but I had three items and probably could have managed any one of them. The tuna tartare was $14 on its own.

677 Prime was impressive, and I can definitely see myself going back. But in a while. I'm still trying to diet and this meal probably didn't help. :-)

Firedog Screwed Me (Circuit City)

2007-11-16T11:04:00.001-05:00

Okay, it's not that big of a deal, but ...

We're about to go on a long trip. We have young children. In the past we've bought DVD players that go on the back of the headrest. They all suck. They last for about one and half trips, usually going bad right in the middle of a drive. Once we actually bought a new one in a Walmart while we were on the way.

This in-car DVD thing is like heroin for children. If they don't get their fix, it's a very unpleasant drive. How on earth did our parents do it anyway?

So I go to Circuit City about a week ago. This guy sells me a unit that will go in the ceiling of my car. I ask about the ones that replace your headrest, but he tells me this is better.

We take it back to the installation guys (aka Firedog) to make an appointment for the install. I specifically ask if they can install this in my car. No problem.

Today I drive there for the install. On this particular day, they have the Firedog guys who actually know what they're doing. Turns out they can't install it in my car. Something about interfering with the side curtain airbags.

I should note at this point that I'm glad they caught it before they screwed up our airbags.

Anyway, I got a full refund. But I'm still annoyed. Firedog and Circuit City just wasted an hour of my time, maybe a little more. And they made me grumpy. Grr.

Guilderland Election

2007-10-31T23:26:00.000-04:00

I'm running for Guilderland Town Board. The election is in less than a week. I hope loyal readers of this blog will either vote for me or tell their Guilderland friends to do so.

Isn't it important to have someone on the Town Board who cares about quality restaurants?

Okay, maybe that's not an important characteristic, but I'd be good for other reasons. :-)

Read more about it at:
Guilderland NY
and
Warren Redlich for Guilderland Town Board

Otesaga in Cooperstown

2007-10-30T22:02:00.001-04:00

My wife and I spent a night at the Otesaga in Cooperstown a few days ago. Our anniversary is approaching. We made the mistake of getting married in early November, which suffers from my political activities, so we took off a little early.

The Otesaga was very nice overall. We arrived and checked in. The first room we went to, #311, was not spectacular. I called to see about getting a lake view. It didn't cost much extra and we switched to room 224. The windows aren't all that big, but I still liked the lake view better, plus the room was bigger. The Otesaga is on the southern end of Lake Otsego. This is a gorgeous location, and there was still some fall foliage so it was even better than usual.

The rooms are expensive. But dinner and breakfast are included and that is a substantial value.

Dinner was outstanding. We started with a cheese plate. It had 3 cheeses and "candied grapes" - I think they were coated in sugar. I'd prefer regular grapes, but on the whole the plate was good.

We both had soup and both were excellent. Heather had the tomato basil bisque, and I had french onion soup (I went off my diet for this short trip - and gained about 5 pounds). I had a salad as well - mixed greens with walnuts and a couple kinds of fruit. Very nice.

We both had surf and turf -- filet mignon with lobster tail. The steak had a great flavor, and the lobster tail was delicious. Some veggies with it as well - I think they were roasted.

Desserts were great too - Heather had apple streusel a la mode & I had cheesecake w strawberries (I told you I went off my diet).

Service was very good. There were different servers for cocktails, the main food items, and for dessert. That was unusual but it seemed to work well.

I'd say this meal in Albany would approach $100 per person, which makes the cost of a night at the Otesaga seem more reasonable.

Breakfast (a buffet) came with it too and it was good. I had an eggbeater omelet with lots of veggies. Not sure if this is saying much, but it was probably the best eggbeater omelet I ever had. There was a wide variety of other things to eat and I sampled a few items. All good. Figure this was worth $20 each and the cost of the room is even more reasonable.

Well, we liked the Otesaga so much that we came back for brunch (we ate light for breakfast to prepare). Brunch was not included, and cost about $30 each. A lot of the breakfast choices were there, but there were many other items as well. Notable were the shrimp cocktail (rather large shrimp) and the smoked salmon plate. Both of these were really good. Another significant addition was the dessert table. This is where the diet really fell apart. We sampled another cheesecake, a couple of chocolate cakes, pecan pie (not just a sample), and more. All delicious too.

The Otesaga is well worth a visit for those who can afford it.

A final note - we had lunch the first day at the Tunnicliff Inn near the Hall of Fame. This was not a good experience. Service was horribly slow. It took so long we walked out before the main course arrived. I just wasn't going to wait any longer. No, I didn't stiff them - I left money on the table - but I didn't pay for the food that never came. Probably just a bad day for them, but if you go there and it's crowded, I suggest going somewhere else.

PF Chang's in Colonie Center

2007-10-16T23:02:00.001-04:00

Update:
We had lunch at PF Chang's in Colonie Center yesterday. This time we had the Peking Dumplings (pork), which was the best part of the meal. I also had hot and sour soup, which was about the same as last time - not very good. For the main course I had Wok Charred Beef. My wife had the Mu-Shu (pork I think), which was pretty good. She certainly liked it. My overall impression of the soup and my beef dish was that they were way too salty.

I went to the PF Chang website and they have nutrition information, but it doesn't include sodium. I'm not first to say PF Chang has too much sodium. On the bright side, the nutrition info on the site suggests ordering your meal with "light sauce", and that would reduce the sodium. They should be clearer about it on the menu itself.
-------------
We went to PF Chang's the other day. Apparently it was Boss Day so my associates took me out for lunch. I wanted to try the new place.

It wasn't bad, but not great either. I will start with the good points. The interior was gorgeous, much nicer than any Chinese restaurant in the area (with the possible exception of Plum Blossom, which is also very pretty inside). It's not just the interior. The tables, dishes, and all the rest were very well done. Servers were friendly and well dressed too.

We had several dishes. The best was the Mongolian Beef (I went off my low-cholesterol diet for this meal). Very good flavor. Beef, cooked just right, with scallions.

We had a few other dishes. I had Hot and Sour soup. It was average for the area. It did look good, as did everything else, but the flavor was just not right. My favorite for Hot and Sour soup in the area is Amazing Wok, which is mostly a take-out/delivery place. They do it just right.

I should note here, and for all the dishes, that Chinese food can be a very personal thing. I prefer "authentic" flavors. Since I've never been to China, I'm not well qualified to judge such things for real. I go by what I hear from Chinese friends, and from experiences in Chinatown and other places with a heavy Chinese population (we had a great Chinese place in Houston when I was at Rice - the main menu was in Chinese). Some people are not into "authentic", and they may like PF Chang's better than I did.

The associates split a Wonton Soup. It had a lot of good ingredients, including shrimp, but again the flavor just wasn't nailed down.

We also had Crispy Honey Chicken. This was reasonably good, but there was an inch-long sharp object in a piece I ate. Fortunately I didn't bite into the sharp side. The manager gave us a coupon for a free appetizer on our next visit. I should sue just for the inappropriate response. :-)

Then we had a noodle dish - Vegetable Chow Fun. Nothing special about it. Not bad, but not a stand-out.

Last, we had a side dish of spinach with garlic. Again nothing special, but it was decent. It was basically what we expected.

This may be a tough market for PF Chang's. Emperor's is just across Wolf Road, and is a much better all-around Chinese restaurant. Ocean Palace is only a couple miles to the east. Our associate has been raving about Shanghai Grill in Loudonville, so we'll have to try that next.

On the bright side, the prices at PF Chang's were reasonable, less than I expected. But if I'm in the neighborhood, I'll either go to the Cheesecake Factory next door for non-Chinese food, or to Emperor's for Chinese food.

Sushi Tei follow up

2007-09-22T08:20:00.000-04:00

I discussed Sushi Tei in my last post. I thought I might go back, and ended up going back quickly. My wife and I went yesterday for lunch.

It was not as good as the first time, but still decent. I had sashimi this time to give it more of a test. It's easier to tell the quality of the fish with sashimi. I had several pieces and most were fresh. A couple of pieces were a tiny bit off, but not horribly so.

We had a few other dishes. The tempura udon (deep fried shrimp in a bowl of noodle soup) was not great. I eat the same dish at Miyako regularly, and it is much better there. The flavor of the soup at Sushi Tei was not bad, but not right. Also, at Miyako you get a few vegetables in the soup along with the shrimp. Not here. And the noodles were also not as good as at Miyako. It wasn't horrible, but I would not order this again - partly because other items here are better.

My soup came with a California Roll. This was just fine. The avocado was particularly good. We also got an Alaska Roll. They used smoked salmon instead of fresh salmon. Not what we expected, and the salty taste of the smoked fish didn't really go. If you like it with fresh salmon, be sure to specify that when ordering. I also had inari (rice in a soy bag), which was okay, but it's better at Miyako and Yoshi. The tamago was acceptable but well below the better places.

My wife had a sukiyakidon (beef with vegetables over rice). The sauce was very good. It had less meat than my wife hoped for and a lot of tofu which she doesn't like. That is not a criticism - just not her thing.

Sushi Tei stood out again for one big reason - price. We had a lot of food and the bill, before tip, was under $30. While overall the quality is not up to the best in the area, Sushi Tei is the best bargain sushi place in the Albany area that I have been to. Also, their non-sushi Japanese dishes are better than other low-price places like Ichiban.

Sushi Tei in Guilderland; other sushi news

2007-09-15T20:04:00.001-04:00

Note: See my updated review of Sushi Tei.
-----
I went to Sushi Tei for lunch this past week in Guilderland. I'm pretty hesitant when it comes to new sushi places. I've got my favorites - Miyako in Guilderland and Yoshi in Latham, and it's hard to knock me off that.

It was Monday and I was craving sushi. Miyako is usually closed Mondays and I think Yoshi might be too. I don't like most other places, but Sushi Tei was new so I figured I'd give it a try. It's in the same spot as San & Bada Sushi was -- Cosimo's Plaza.

I don't remember all the details (I meant to write this sooner), but overall it was pretty good. I had an order each of shumai (steamed shrimp dumplings) and gyoza (fried dumplings). Both were good, and notably, had the right sauces. This is often a problem with Japanese restaurants but they got that right. The sushi was also good. I had about seven pieces of "nigiri" sushi - when they put a piece of fish on a small hunk of rice.

The thing that stands out in my mind most is that the prices were low, but the quality was still good. The shumai and gyoza were about $3.50 each, and there were more shumai than one usually gets in most places. The sushi is the real bargain. If you're dining in, each piece of nigiri sushi (and pieces of sashimi as well) are only $1. Some of the pieces I ordered normally go for $2.00 or more, both here and other places.

Cheap sushi is a touchy subject. When you're eating raw fish, you don't want low quality. At least on this visit, I think the quality was decent.

I still prefer Miyako and Yoshi, but I'll definitely give Sushi Tei another try soon.

In other news, Miyako has a new set of special rolls. I've had two of them and both were very good. They are, of course, expensive, generally $10 or more. But they are also large and interesting too. The other day I had one that has salmon and avocado in the middle with tuna on the outside, served shaped like hearts, and resting in small drips of a mild dressing - looks like Russian dressing but I think it's a little different.

I also went to Yoshi yesterday (sushi 3 times in one week - something's going on). Nothing new, but it was still excellent. He has an appetizer with hirame (fluke) in a ponzu sauce. I just love that one.

Cella Bistro - Schenectady

2007-09-08T10:27:00.001-04:00

In my second review of the day (I promise to go slower in the future), we went to Cella Bistro in Schenectady last night for my mom's birthday (which of course was really another day - she went out with friends that night).

Cella Bistro is in Schenectady on Rosa Road, very close to Ellis Hospital. Overall it's a great restaurant. There were some negative aspects to the experience that I describe below, but they are mostly not the fault of the restaurant and you are unlikely to experience the same problems.

First of all, the interior is really gorgeous. The bar is separated from the tables by a curving brick half-wall. There are other brick walls inside and this look works well. The hardwood floors are also quite beautiful. But wait, there's more. In one corner there's a couch and a couple chairs with a coffee table. It's a bit weird to see that in a restaurant, but it also works. Since we were eating early and the restaurant was not crowded yet, it was a good place to take our 2-year-old.

The food was very good. Cella Bistro is definitely shooting for a higher level "cuisine" thing. You don't see veal parm, fettucine alfredo, or spaghetti with marinara on the menu. When we tried to order spaghetti for our kids, they didn't have any. They did have other appropriate pastas and the kids were relatively satisfied (to the extent that our children ever are).

My mom and I split a salad with beets, mixed greens and goat cheese (on the side since mom is currently vegan). I liked the array of salad choices and this salad was good. My wife said her salad was good too. I think she had mixed greens with fontina cheese on a cracker. We also had a pizza appetizer. We ordered it for the girls and had it simplified dramatically from the fancy description on the menu. Of course they didn't eat it, so we did and it was good.

For an entree, I had a paella dish. I wavered before ordering because I've never been a paella guy, but the various ingredients with it looked attractive (especially the shrimp, scallops and sausage). It was the best paella I've ever had, but it's still not my dish.

I advised mom to call ahead and request a vegan dish, and she did so. They brought her a pasta dish with a nice variety of veggies. She liked it. Notable about this is that they made the pasta special for her, as they did not have vegan pasta.

My wife nervously ordered the lasagna dish, as this was not a typical lasagna and she is not always adventurous. It had a bechamel sauce and swiss chard. This was not her thing -- too cheesy for one thing, but still okay, and she wants to go back and try something else.

There are a variety of somewhat interested details about our experience. The restaurant was very good about dealing with our requests for changes, as we had made special orders for mom and the kids. The service was slow for us, but that was partly due to our special orders and only a problem because we were there with kids, as small children don't sit well for long meals (well, ours don't anyway).

At one point I took the two girls for a walk outside. On the way in I had noticed several signs warning about parking issues, specifically mentioning Donnan Street. Cella Bistro is on the corner of Rosa Road and Donna. We walked up Donnan and I could see the problem. The neighbors have all posted "no parking" signs just about everywhere they can. It would seem they don't like having a restaurant there. I don't think their antipathy is at Cella Bistro in particular, as there was a restaurant there before and some of the signs look pretty old.

Cella Bistro definitely does not fit in with the neighbors. Parked at or near the restaurant were a number of new cars, often German, Japanese, or otherwise fancy. I think there was even a Toyota Prius. Walking up Donnan Street I don't think I saw a single vehicle less than 10 years old. There were a number of junk pickups and cars. I did see one foreign car, a Saab with badly faded paint. Jeff Foxworthy would have been uncomfortable here. I was too. I think one of the neighbors kids yelled something at us, but I didn't hear what he said. The houses in general did not look well kept (there were two exceptions). Most diners will not notice this, I suspect.

One other thing. They do not accept Discover Card. I see this once in a while but for the life of me can't understand why any business that takes credit cards would not take Discover. If your credit card processor doesn't take it, switch processors.

Nicole's Bistro - Albany

2007-09-08T10:14:00.001-04:00

This the first of two reviews today, and I reviewed another restaurant just the other day. This furious pace will not continue.

I had a very good reason for eating lunch at Nicole's Bistro yesterday. My car battery died. I had just left Albany Criminal Court and my car wouldn't start. Maybe that's justice. I resolved a DWI case with a high BAC (0.22). The final result was a plea to a parking ticket. I would joke about our motto being "Keeping Drunks on the Road Since 2003", but this particular client was suspended while the case was pending, and his suspension was much, much longer than it would have been if he'd pled guilty to a DWAI (which wasn't offered anyway). We got the DWI dismissed and resolved the right of way violation with a parking ticket.

But that's way off topic. The point is, after my car battery died, I got AAA to tow me to Broadway Auto Clinic, which is next door to Nicole's -- at Quackenbush House. It was a little early for lunch, but I had at least an hour to kill. As if I really needed an excuse.

So, I walked inside. Nice interior and a friendly server. Offered to sit outside, I bit. They have some seats out front, but she sat me in the rather large back patio area, which was quite pleasant. I started with some kind of tomato bisque soup. I forget the other main ingredient in the title, but regardless, the soup was excellent. Flavor was good, and the tomato was not overpowering as often happens with tomato-based items. I also had a "mesclun mix" salad that was very good, and then a risotto dish for the entree. Unfortunately I have forgotten the finer details of the risotto, but I remember that I liked it.

It was a very nice lunch. As the Terminator would say, "I'll be back!"

Mexican Radio

2007-09-06T08:45:00.000-04:00

I was in Columbia County yesterday, with a late afternoon appearance in Gallatin Town Court and an early evening appearance in Austerlitz Town Court. This left me about 2 hours to kill around dinnertime, so I decided to try a nice dinner.

At first I was going to go to Chatham and try one of the restaurants there, but then I remembered Mexican Radio in Hudson. I keep seeing it listed as best Mexican food in the Capital Region. My wife and I had talked about going there sometime, and this seemed like a good chance to check it out.

I started with a chilled avocado tomatillo soup. This was both interesting and good. I then had a fajita entree, mixing steak and shrimp. This option was not on the menu, but they accommodated me. Fajitas are one of my favorite Mexican dishes, and I'm afraid this did not live up to my expectations.

Partly the problem is the way the steak was served. I'm used to the meat being sliced in fajitas. Here it came in fairly large chunks. The sliced approach is more appropriate for how you eat fajitas -- wrapped in a tortilla. It was good quality meat, but didn't have that much flavor. I did like the array of veggies that came out with the meat, with squash, peppers, mushrooms and more. But for me it just didn't come together. Not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but not outstanding either. Another minor irritant was the very small quantities of pico del gallo and guacamole that were served with the fajitas. And there were only three fairly small tortillas.

One other negative was the slow service. The place was not crowded, and there was plenty of staff on hand, but I seemed to wait for long periods and my glass of water did not get refilled very often. A minor detail is that I didn't get any chips. I'm used to getting free chips and salsa in Mexican restaurants and I guess you don't get that here.

It was good, and certainly as good as any other Mexican restaurant I've been to around here. The menu is more adventurous, and that's a positive, and the interior is quite nice, but the overall experience was not so great that I would make a special trip. Still, if we happen to be in Hudson I would certainly eat there again.

I should add a couple things. First, there were a couple of "mole" (pronounced moh-lay, I think) dishes on the menu that might appeal to others. That's never been my thing, but they did look interesting.

Second, they had a flyer promoting a Restaurant Week for the county and a Chili Cook-Off in Hudson. Restaurant Week is September 24-28, 2007, with prix fixe lunches ($20.07) and dinners ($30.07) at several restaurants in the county. The chili cook-off is on the 29th, in Hudson and "Catskill Point." You can get more information on the Mexican Radio website.

Vin Santo in Latham

2007-07-30T13:46:00.001-04:00

My wife likes to do something different on occasion, and this Friday that meant going to show at a small community theatre in Latham. The show, Sunshine Boys, wasn't my cup of tea. On the bright side, we had dinner first at Vin Santo Tapas & Wine Bar, which is in the Latham Farms plaza.

I do like the tapas concept and it was well executed here. We ordered three different tapas items along with two entrees and a couple desserts. Our tapas included chili spiced bean dip, the "tapas plate" (which has 3-4 different items on it), and the artichoke salad. The two entrees were a salad of beets and butter lettuce, and a filet mignon.

Everything was good, but the filet really stood out. It's supposedly a "small plate", and it's not huge. But it was by no means tiny, and the price ($16) is unbeatable for a filet in a quality gourmet-like restaurant. The only comparable deal I can think of is the filet at Miyako's hibachi tables - it's more money but you get more food.

Dessert was good but not the highlight of the meal. I had a creme brulee made with mango. I appreciate the variety offered (the creme brulee apparently changes often), but the mango didn't work for me. Not bad or anything, but not spectacular either. I don't remember what my wife had but I think it was good. Also, we rushed a bit to get to our show.

Now as I've mentioned before, we're not wine people, so I'm missing half or more of what this place is about.

You can read more about the place at their website: Vin Santo Wine Bar.

Downtown Cafe in Kingston NY

2007-07-26T14:53:00.000-04:00

I had a little trip yesterday, down to Poughkeepsie for a deposition and then a little stop in Kingston City Court.

I got to Kingston early. The court parking lot had no shade on a hot day, so I drove a bit to look for a lunch place nearby (with shady parking, of course). Just down the hill from the Court is a lovely spot called Rondout. I parked under the bridge (hence, in the shade) and noticed a few restaurants. One stood out - Downtown Cafe.

It stood out because I saw the phrase "Zagat Rated" outside. The outside menu listed a chicken dish with rice and asparagus. In a small hurry, I walked in and ordered before sitting down. Pleasant atmosphere, nice decor, friendly staff, etc. The food was good, though I'm judging on only one dish. I did look over the menu and liked the variety and choices. Good dessert list too.

If I'm ever in Kingston for dinner, Downtown Cafe will be high on my list.

Mezza Notte - A Second Look

2007-07-22T09:06:00.000-04:00

I wrote about Mezza Notte in March. We went back last night and had a great dinner.

We first went there with friends shortly after the place had just opened. The food was generally good then, but I noted that there are many other places in the area that have comparable food for far less money. I closed that post indicating that I hoped to go back in 6 months or so. Then a friend gave me a gift certificate so we went back a bit earlier than planned. It was a good gift.

As with the last time, I had the Carpaccio appetizer. For those who don't know, this is raw filet mignon, sliced extremely thin. It was excellent last time and this time as well. I also shared a Caesar salad with my wife, which was good.

For entrees, I had shrimp over pasta. This was really prepared well. The shrimp were rather large and cooked perfectly. The garlic/lemon sauce on the pasta was delicious. It was an outstanding dish.

My wife's filet entree was also very nice. It came with potato, portabella, red onion, and a few other vegetables, and I kept picking at the veggies on her plate. She graciously gave me a couple bites of her steak which I enjoyed. She had a side of risotto as well and that was good too.

I saved room for dessert and had the creme brulee. It was worth it. I especially liked the touch of a bit of kiwi and strawberry on top, but the main part of it is the creamy stuff (hey, I'm not really a gourmet) with the caramelized top, and that was superb. My wife had a hazelnut gelato and liked it.

Altogether, it was a top-notch meal. I still struggle with the pricing, as the total cost (including a nice tip) was nearly $140. My wife had a coke and I drank water. I should not that we're not wine drinkers, so I imagine if you have wine it gets even more expensive. It is my impression from what we saw around us and from others who have eaten there that the wine service is top-notch, but I lack the knowledge to comment further.

If you're the kind of person who doesn't hesitate to spend more than $100 on dinner for two, then Mezza Notte is the place to go in Guilderland, and one of the few places in Albany. Aside from a great meal, you get a very nice atmosphere and the sense of exclusivity. As we left, there was a stretch limo waiting outside. But not for us.

Ichiban in Guilderland - Chinese

2007-07-07T22:59:00.001-04:00

I made some negative comments in the past about Ichiban for their Japanese food. I went there for lunch the other day for Chinese food, and as I expected, it was better.

I had a tofu dish (Szechuan Tofu, I think), and it was fairly good. However, it wasn't perfect and the rice was not done right in my opinion. I should mention here that, having lived in Japan for a year, I'm pretty picky about rice. Most Americans don't notice the difference. In a good Japanese restaurant, and most good Chinese restaurants, the rice should not clump together. It should be fluffy. At Ichiban the other day, the rice had a lot of clumps, and big clumps - as big as my thumb, and I have big hands.

With that said, I would eat there again. There are certainly worse places to eat Chinese food. My current Chinese food favorites are Emperor's on Wolf Road and Ocean Palace on Central. And we love Amazing Wok in Colonie for delivery.

Knocked Up, veggie burgers and dogs, and other off-topic thoughts

2007-06-09T22:42:00.000-04:00

My wife and I saw Knocked Up tonight. Very funny. What's really outstanding is that my expectations were high because a good and reliable friend recommended it, and it exceeded those high expectations. Just really funny.

On the way home my wife and I had a pleasant dispute about who the actor was who played the sister's husband. She thought it was Paul Rudd, and I was sure it was Tim Matheson. I checked on IMDb when I got home, and I was totally wrong.

On another note, and only slightly more relevant to the overall theme of this blog, I feel the need to write about veggie burgers, hot dogs, etc. I like them. I actually like them quite a bit.

This is motivated by my recent experience with Boca Italian Sausages. I even had a good hot dog first to compare, and I really did like the Boca better. I ate it like a hot dog, but I think it would actually go better with spaghetti and marinara sauce.

I've been into veggie burgers for a while. I like various kinds, including Boca and Morningstar Farms. One of my favorite things to do, and not totally healthy, is to get a bacon cheeseburger, with chili, at Johnny Rockets, but have it with a veggie burger instead of a beef burger. Sounds crazy, yes. And the waitstaff will look at you very strangely, yes. But it works. And yes, you should have a shake with it. Think about all the calories you're saving and all the saturated fat you're not eating because you got the veggie burger instead of the beef, and that makes up for the shake, right?

Well, it doesn't really, but the shake is really good anyway so go ahead. Oh my god! I just looked at the nutrition information on their website. I don't think I can ever have a shake again. Whatever you do, do not read the nutrition information on their website. You may never eat again! :-)

Tops American Grill in Rotterdam

2007-06-03T21:39:00.000-04:00

Prompted by the Metroland Restaurant Review, we went to Tops American Grill in Rotterdam the other day. The Metroland review is far more thorough (he's a professional and I'm a rank amateur, after all), and I generally agree that it's a good place to eat.

Our experience was not quite as good as Mr. Nilsson's. There was some unspecified problem in the kitchen that delayed our food - not a good thing when you have small children with you. Our waitress seemed a bit distracted but was pleasant.

My French Onion soup was good. Maybe a little too much cheese, but that's hard to complain about and is really my cholesterol fears talking. Also it was made with salad croutons instead of a more robust bread, but it was still delicious. Speaking of bread, the bread that came out first was also very nice.

I also ordered a Tuscan bean bruschetta. This was one of the delayed items, and it wasn't great. The bread was a bit overcooked (okay, burned), and the flavors just didn't quite work. I think it had a goat cheese on it and somehow that didn't fit. Could have been a kitchen problem though.

My entree was half great and half mediocre. I had a 5-ounce tenderloin with shrimp scampi and grilled asparagus. The steak was really fantastic. It was so tender I literally was cutting it with my fork. Great flavor with an appropriately small amount of sauce (marsala wine based?). The asparagus was fair, but I expect better from a restaurant. I do better on my own grill. And the shrimp was mediocre. I did eat it, so I'm not saying it was foul or anything like that, but I expected something more. I suspect again this was a kitchen problem. It came out on a skewer which would suggest grilling, but it did not taste or feel like it had been grilled, or perhaps not long enough. I also had a side of sauteed greens that was just okay.

My wife had a roast turkey platter, a hold-over from the restaurant's diner history. She did not seem to like it and did not eat much of it, but that may have been the kids distracting her. I tried it and wasn't impressed - seemed a bit better than something from a school lunch cafeteria - but I'm not a roast turkey guy.

We split a cheesecake and it was good, not great, but I would say better than average and better than a lot of places in the area. As Metroland noted, there is a very broad selection of desserts.

As I write it this review seems more negative than I remember the experience. We will likely go back, as we both liked it. There are some intangible positives -- a pleasant atmosphere, family feeling, sense that many of the customers know and like each other, well designed interior ... something like that.

Pancho's Mexican Restaurant in Colonie NY

2007-06-03T21:26:00.000-04:00

I've been to Pancho's Mexican Restaurant a few times now and finally now am getting around to writing about it. Obviously since I've been back, I don't hate it.

Pancho's is not the best Mexican food in the world, but I'm not fond of most of the Mexican restaurants in Albany. I have a bad bias on this having lived in Houston for four years. My bias is so bad that I don't even like most of the Mexican food I've had in California. I used to half-joke that Taco Bell was the best in Albany.

Pancho's has some good and some mediocre. The first time I went the guacamole stood out to me. I'm a big guacamole fan. I like how it tastes, I like the texture (I'm into the texture of foods), and it's actually pretty darn good for you. Last time I went the guacamole was still good, but no longer stood out in my eyes.

The other thing that stands out in my mind, in not a good way, was the steak in the steak fajitas (one of my favorite dishes). I can't put my finger on it exactly, but it doesn't taste quite right. It's either the quality of the meat or the way they cook it. It does not seem like it's grilled and that's the way I like my fajitas. I'd almost say it's fried in lard. But before anyone takes this the wrong way, I had it again last time I was there and liked it. I still noticed the flavor, but it wasn't as strong and maybe it's growing on me.

In general Pancho's is a nice place. Good atmosphere, friendly staff, and the food is generally good. I'm not giving it five stars or anything, but I will be going back.

I'm still waiting for a really good Mexican restaurant to hit the area. We go to Garcia's pretty regularly as well, and I put it on a par with Pancho's. Garcia's is particularly good for kids, while I think I like Pancho's better as a lunch place. Garcia's lunch is too focused on its buffet, which doesn't do it for me.

I used to like Chili's, but for some reason we haven't been going there lately. I think something about the chain nature of the restaurant has taken something away from it, but I can't say what. I should also mention The Cheesecake Factory. They do have some decent Mexican-style dishes, but the place is usually very crowded and a bit pricey. Lunch at 11:30 is the safest bet.

Chatham House (yes, in Chatham)

2007-03-14T20:42:00.000-04:00

I only had a salad, so I can't write much. On my way to Austerlitz Town Court near Chatham, I was running early. So I drove around a little (slowly, gotta be careful in Chatham), and found Chatham House. Seems to be three different restaurants inside. I ate in the tavern, and there also seems to be a Lippera's, and then also Chatham House itself. But I could be wrong about such details. I thought I saw three distinct menus, with a good variety on each.

Anyway, I was in a small hurry, so I just went into the tavern and had a Caesar Salad with shrimp and bacon (leave it to me to find a high-cholesterol salad). It was pretty good. The four large shrimp were grilled. The bacon was not as tender as I like, but I didn't ask, and it was still good. Actually, I have to say that the bacon seemed to be a very high quality cut of meat -- thick, with excellent flavor. The dressing was also good. With a coke, the total was a bit over $20 with tip. This was enough for a meal. It was 4 hours ago and I'm not hungry yet (but I'll still snack before bed - naughty boy).

Now I gotta find an excuse to go back when I have more time. I did just get hired on a ticket in Chatham, so we'll see.

Mezza Notte in Guilderland

2007-03-11T01:55:00.000-05:00

Update: We went back in mid-July. See our more recent post on Mezza Notte.

------

There's a new restaurant in town. Mezza Notte is a upscale restaurant with at least a hint of Italian, on Route 20 just east of Route 155. The building formerly housed Phoebe's Florist. Now where am I supposed to get flowers for my wife (as if I ever do that - sorry honey)?

We had dinner there last night with another couple. The first thing I noticed was the valet parking. Valet parking? In Guilderland? Wow! We did not avail ourselves of the valet, as I find myself perfectly capable of parking my own car. The parking lot is fairly small but I don't see why you couldn't park on the street (Cornell Ave, not Western). I asked the valet and he said that people start using it when the lot fills up. And indeed when we left a few people were waiting for their cars.

Anyway, we went inside and I have to say the place is gorgeous. They really did a nice job in the interior. Our friends weren't there yet so we ordered drinks. Then our friends arrived and I bought them a round. Four drinks, including my wife's Coke, added up to just over $30. Ouch! Yes, this is foreshadowing, though not as subtle as usual.

While the interior was nice, I didn't like our table. We had a booth, and it was like a flat U. Two people sit with their backs against the wall (maybe it was a window), and the other two sit at the ends of a fairly long table. There's really room for three along that wall. This left me uncomfortably far from my buddy on the far end. Also, they brought out bread and a plate with olive oil, vinegar, and tapenade. They put the plate in the middle. I asked for an extra plate since I couldn't reach. With that said, the bread and tapenade were pretty good. I thought of asking for a different table, but let it go. During dinner, a guy sitting in a regular table got bumped in the head as one of the staff was moving a table, so I guess it was a good decision. :-)

My favorite dish of the night was the appetizer. I forget the name, but I'd call it a carpaccio - very rare or perhaps raw beef in very thin slices. They did a really nice job with this. The meat had great texture and flavor, and they had nice touches on the plate as well, with a small (appropriately) amount of sauce and some kind of citrus wedge. My wife had a salad of mixed greens. I didn't ask but the salad disappeared fast. She did leave me her tiny tomatoes, which were good. Our friends had melanzane frite (fried eggplant). They said it was good, but not what they expected. I think they had a salad too but don't remember what kind.

I had a chicken entree. It was stuffed, I think with prosciutto, some kind of cheese, and some kind of green. The dish came with mashed potatoes. It was okay, but a bit on the bland side. My wife had the rack of lamb, and devoured it, so I think she liked it. Friend 1 had a scallop special, over pasta. He said it was good, but didn't eat that much of it. I don't remember what Friend 2 had, but whatever it was disappeared.

We also had dessert. Wife and I had the panna cotta. It's something like a custard, but the flavor didn't do it for us. Interesting, but not what I wanted. Friend 1 had bread pudding, which apparently was okay. Friend 2 had a cheesecake. I got a taste of it and it was not my kind of cheesecake. Not bad, but just not the style of cheesecake and not really all that special.

Then we got the bill. Including tip and the drinks from the bar (we had no other alcohol), the total was over $250. And therein lies the problem with Mezza Notte. This is Guilderland, not Manhattan. I'm probably going to give the place another try sometime (but not soon), because I like to try different things. But there are so many good options that cost much, much less. Aromi d'Italia is about a quarter-mile away, I like the food better (the menu variety has a similar gourmet touch to it), and it's a lot less expensive.

On the bright side for the restaurant, there was a good crowd. Hopefully most had a better experience than I did because I'd like to see the place stick around so I can give it another try in 6 months or so.

Restaurants on a recent trip

2007-02-18T20:42:00.000-05:00

We just got back from a week in Florida with a stop in the Bahamas. I should be blogging about restaurants in Albany, but I just haven't been motivated to say much.

We had some interesting moments in our trip. First, we went to the Palm Beach area of Florida to visit family. The most notable restaurant experience was on the beach in Lake Worth (the beach is on the ocean, not on the lake - I don't even know if there is a lake in Lake Worth). We ate lunch at Benny's On The Beach. Benny's is actually on the pier. And the particular cuisine of note was ... hot dogs. Yes, I'm reviewing a place for its hot dogs. I'll move to the other end of the spectrum later in this post.

So anyway, Benny's has really good hot dogs. Great flavor, a touch of spicy without being too spicy. The whole family liked them. This includes certain family members who never seem to like anything. So if you're ever in the Lake Worth area and you're hankering for a hot dog, Benny's is the place.

I had nice chat with a guy there who I'm guessing is Benny. He's from Quebec, and is familiar with the Albany area. In the 1970s he would come down here to play hockey against some locals, I think as a part of a team from up there.

Next up, I just have to mention a new reason for liking Panera. We have a Panera practically next door to our office, and we go there maybe once a week, but I don't think I've ever blogged about it. I like the soups. The sandwiches are okay, but not great. They also have a cheese pastry that's damn good - my current sin of choice. But that's not why I'm writing about Panera. We were staying with relatives down there, and these relatives do not have internet access. While I could check my e-mail via my cell phone, I felt a need to get some real access with my laptop during the week. So I went to Panera there for breakfast three times, because Panera has free wifi (that is, free wireless internet access). While there I enjoyed the spinach and bacon quiche, which was, well, yummy.

But the more interesting part of the trip was a side trip I took with my wife. We went to the Bahamas, staying at Hotel Riu on Paradise Island. Riu is next door to Atlantis, a huge resort that has a reputation for being absurdly expensive. Riu cost about half as much, so it was only very expensive. Our stay was "all-inclusive" meaning you get to eat and drink without paying any extra. It seemed that most of the guests spent quite a bit of time in the various hotel bars, or sitting by the pool getting drinks from the poolside bar. I now understand the concept of all-inclusive from the hotel's perspective. If you keep up the flow of alcohol to the guests, they won't notice that the food isn't very good.

We arrived and had our first meal there, lunch. It was a buffet. There was absolutely nothing special about it. A salad bar without many choices. Some cold cuts and not much choice there either. A few hot items that were not exciting. Hot dogs too, but not nearly as good as at Benny's. And there was fresh melon, which was mostly bland. In addition to these buffets, they have three special restaurants. There's a steakhouse, a "gourmet", and a Japanese restaurant. If you know me, you know I had to try that, so we ate at the Japanese place - Tengoku (I believe it's the word for Heaven). Tengoku was weak. In the past I have been critical of Japanese restaurants run by Chinese people. I must now say that the Chinese do it much better than Bahamians. The food was not rancid or anything, but the flavors were all wrong, and I don't have much positive to say about that meal.

Breakfast the next day was a little better. A buffet again, but they seemed to do this better than lunch. Breakfast also included smoked salmon, which is one of my favorite foods. Oddly they had cream cheese next to it, but no bagels. We also had lunch at the buffet, which was no better. But this time I didn't eat much because I was saving up for dinner - and this is where the story gets good.

We had made reservations for a restaurant named Dune. Dune is considered one of the best restaurants in the Bahamas, and I have to agree. For starters it's in a fantastic location - in the "One and Only Ocean Club" resort. They really ought to drop the One and Only from the name, because it seems unclassy, even though it is rather accurate. The Ocean Club resort was the setting for part of the latest James Bond film. It looked pretty nice in the film, but that did not do justice to how stunning this place really is. While Atlantis and Riu have towers of rooms, Ocean Club has no more than two floors. It is quiet. Everything about it is tasteful, pleasant, relaxing, etc. I lack the words to convey the truly blissful feeling we had as we walked around after dinner.

Which brings me back to Dune. The food was excellent. I went a non-traditional route and had four different appetizers with no entree, while my wife had soup and a steak. My dishes included a raw tuna dish, a raw salmon dish, a chili shrimp with noodles dish and a salad. The tuna and salmon dishes were perfect. Among the best I've had, though not quite on par with Megu in NYC. The salad, with asparagus and avocado, was also quite nice, though it might be hard to screw that up. The chili shrimp dish was only very good, with the noodles in the dish being a bit too much like instant ramen noodles. My wife's soup and steak were also delicious. For dessert we had the sampler plate. The cheesecake on that plate was one of the best I've ever had - made with creme fraiche. All of the items were good, and a couple others were outstanding as well.

So as we're sitting there enjoying a quiet dinner, a table of ten sits down next to us. One guy at the table looks familiar but I can't quite place him at first. The group was mostly okay, but a little noisy. The one who looked familiar was the loudest, and I finally realized it was a moderately famous retired NFL quarterback. I don't want to name him, but let's just say his name (perhaps a nickname) would fit well with his volume. The volume might have bothered us, but it was pretty cool to be eating next to someone of his fame, so that offset the loss of quiet.

As we were leaving, my wife told me to look to my left, and I noticed yet another retired NFL quarterback sitting at another table in the same room. This one, arguably the greatest quarterback in the history of football (even though he never won a Superbowl), was eating quietly, and possibly looking over at the loud one in a bit of dismay - but I only caught a glimpse.

Those are the restaurant highlights from our trip. So if you ever win Lotto and can afford the $1000+/night for the Ocean Club, I strongly recommend it. If we ever go back to Paradise Island, that is where we'll stay, though we might have to go into debt to pull it off.

Ocean Palace (and Amazing Wok and Pearl of the Orient)

2006-10-15T20:10:00.001-04:00

Update: I'm pretty sure Ocean Palace is closed. Emperor's Palace on Wolf Road is not too far away and a great choice.
-----
We ate at Ocean Palace tonight. I loved it. My wife did not.

She had wonton soup and cashew chicken. She was not fond of the soup, but liked the cashew chicken better. I thought both were excellent. The chicken was just right and had a delicate flavor. The soup also had a delicate flavor. Neither dish was the way they are in most Chinese restaurants around here. I suspect OP is more "authentic". One hint that way is that there were two other families there while we were eating (a very early dinner on a Sunday) and both were Chinese and speaking Chinese. Also, they have menus on the walls or hanging that are written in Chinese only. That's a hint that their target market is not gringos like us.

I had a mix of tofu and minced pork. The version I had in Japan was spicier and had more pork. The one at Ocean Palace has a fairly small amount of pork, with a lot of tofu along with some Chinese mushrooms. This dish was good, but I remember liking it better in Japan. Maybe I was just looking for what I remembered. We also got noodles for our daughters, but they didn't eat much of them. It was ginger-scallion noodles. I thought it was also quite good.

This is one of those funny things about cultures. To Americans, tofu and pork together doesn't make sense. Americans think tofu is for vegetarians, so it doesn't make sense to have a dish with tofu and any kind of meat. Asians do not view tofu as a vegetarian thing. It's food. Similarly good hot-and-sour soup has both pork and tofu in it. Which reminds me -- I had hot-and-sour soup at Ocean Palace tonight. It was better than what you get at the buffet places, but I like it better at Amazing Wok.

Amazing Wok is a hole-in-the-wall (or mini-mall) place not too far from us. It's made for delivery and take-out mostly, though there are a few tables. We get delivery from them often. Their hot-and-sour soup my favorite, and their other dishes are good too. My wife likes Amazing Wok and usually does not like what she gets at any other Chinese place. I think Ocean Palace is better overall, but you have to want the authentic stuff.

I should also mention Pearl of the Orient, which we go to sometimes and like quite a bit. We used to go to a place called Dumpling House, but I think they closed.

My wife also had a comment about Chinese restaurants in general. They're not family-friendly, or at least not gringo-kid friendly. They don't have milk or apple juice. The interiors do not look fresh and clean - not dirty, but just not as nice. They don't have kids menus, crayons, or other items to distract the kids so parents can enjoy themselves.

There will be a new chain Chinese place coming into Colonie Center, called PF Chang. We hear good things, but we'll see.

A simple request

2006-09-21T08:36:00.000-04:00

As you may know, I'm running for Congress in NY's 21st district. The media will not cover the campaign. There appears to be a deliberate policy of not covering challengers except in rare circumstances. What kind of a democracy do we have if the voters don't know who the choices are?

If you think newspapers and other media should cover challengers, please contact the appropriate people at the media outlet of your choice.

For the Albany Times Union: http://www.timesunion.com/forms/emaileditor.asp

For the Daily Gazette (Schenectady): opinion@dailygazette.com
or
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
c/o The Daily Gazette
P.O. Box 1090
Schenectady, N.Y. 12301-1090

For the Troy Record: newsroom@troyrecord.com

For the Leader Herald (Fulton County): http://208.15.24.251/vnr/add_submission.asp?categoryID=625&publicationID=47

For the Recorder (Amsterdam): news@recordernews.com

Thanks,
Warren

The Chariot in Guilderland

2006-09-11T22:15:00.000-04:00

One of my old favorites is the Chariot Restaurant in Guilderland. It's been there since 1974. The Shinas family owns and runs it. Their son Andy was graduated with me and I think we even went to the same elementary school.

We had dinner there Sunday for my mom's birthday. The food was excellent. I haven't always liked everything at the Chariot, but I usually like most of what we get. Last night I got the Tuscany Toss (penne with white beans and spinach in olive oil). That was excellent. I also got a dolmadakia appetizer which was good. The main course also came with a salad which was fine - nothing to write home about (or blog about), but it was still a solid salad. Hmm. Solid Salad - might be a good name for a restaurant.

My wife got a beef dish (maybe tenderloin tips?) that came with sliced potatoes. Her dish was also quite good. My mother-in-law said something about the potatoes being like her mother used to make. I told her my friend Andy's mother still makes them like that. :-)

One particularly nice thing was the atmosphere. Our younger daughter (19 months) had not napped much and was cranky. I was able to take her outside repeatedly. They had a nice patio and we could actually see horses on the neighboring property - Hannah kept saying "neigh".

We brought home baklava and ate that at home. Not the best baklava ever, but they were good. Large pieces with a cream on the side that seemed heavier (and tastier) than whipped cream.

If you've never been to the Chariot, you should give it a try. If you've been, but it's been a while, you probably forgot that you miss it. Try it again.

Koto - Near Albany Airport

2006-09-07T21:01:00.000-04:00

I'm a member of the Japanese Cultural Association of the Capital District. We meet at various restaurants. We used to go to Miyako in Guilderland, but the service was generally slow, and we had a really bad day when we had 30-40 people and it took over 3 hours, so the group stopped meeting there. I still go to Miyako a lot, probably more than twice a month.

Anyway, JCACD meets at Ichiban usually (it's cheap, but I'm not fond of it), but they've started going to other places. Tonight we went to Koto, which is on Old Wolf Road in Latham, not far from the airport.

The interior was very nice, though it seemed a little noisy. I'd like to give a full description of the food, but due to the circumstances of our dinner I didn't try as many things as I might usually. I decided to go for sushi. I had the "Sex on the Beach" roll along with the Chirashi.

As you might guess, the "Sex on the Beach" roll is not traditional Japanese cuisine. It had three different kinds of fish along with avocado and something else, maybe something with a little crunch to it (I'm guessing shrimp tempura, but that's a guess only). The roll was fine, but at $14 for that one roll, it didn't live up to my expectation.

Chirashi is a fairly common sushi dish in Japan. In my experience it's normally a bowl of rice with various pieces of fish on top. I ordered it because that gives you a chance to try a few different kinds of fish and you get to taste the fish itself, rather than the stuff loaded into a funky roll. It was not what I expected, but not terrible. It came out on a large plate with a larger than usual amount of rice. There was less fish than I would have thought (again, since it was a bit pricey), and it included crabsticks and tamago (like scrambled egg). I didn't think the fish was first-class. Don't get me wrong - it wasn't bad. But it didn't taste quite as fresh as what you'll get at Yoshi's or Miyako. Before I forget, Koto did a good job of presentation - the food was presented on nice plates in manner that's somewhat attractive, though not on the traditional types of dishes and bowls one might see in Japan.

I don't feel my experience was enough to give a thorough review. I will probably go again with my wife and/or others and order a few appetizers and a couple main courses so we can get a better sense of the place.

I should also mention that while dinner is a bit expensive, they appear to have a reasonable lunch menu that might make sense for those on a budget. It will probably never be a regular place for me due to location and my preference for other places, but I'll give it another shot.

Panera

2006-09-01T22:16:00.000-04:00

I eat at Panera so often I forget to write about it. Our office is near Crossgates. Technically we're in the City of Albany, but we're really between Guilderland and Colonie. Anyway, there's a Panera in Crossgates Commons. Very easy for us to run over there and grab a quick bite, so we go there a lot.

For a chain, I have to say this is really quite good food. First of all, there are a lot of healthy choices, and they taste good. All their soups are healthy, but they always have two that are extra sanctified. My favorite is the vegetarian black bean soup, which they have available most of the time. Sometimes I get the asparagus-pea soup, and that's pretty good too.

There's a wide variety of sandwiches, including at least a couple vegetarian choices. Even though those are good, I usually get a sandwich that's not quite as healthy. You can also get fresh fruit as a side for 79 cents extra, and I always get that. It's usually melon, grapes and pineapple and it's always fresh and tasty.

They have a deal where you get soup and half a sandwich, called "You Pick Two". I don't actually know what it costs, but we usually seem to spend about $10 per person, including the extra for fruit and a coke or something like that.

They also have a pastry and bread section. There's a cheese danish that's so sweet it oughtta be illegal.

I'm not saying Panera is haute cuisine. But it's a darn good lunch. And while it's not cheap, I spend a lot less there than I do when I go to Miyako's for sushi.

The Cheesecake Factory in Colonie Center

2006-08-27T10:34:00.001-04:00

-Update-
As I mention in the comments below, the Cheesecake Factory has become one of our favorite restaurants. We go about twice a month, usually for lunch. The menu offers great variety with some interesting options, and the food is always excellent. Comes with good breads at the start. Salads are great. Entrees are usually huge, with leftovers often too much for a single meal. It's a little pricey, but you get what you pay for. Original post below.
-------------
We went to a charity event at the new Cheesecake Factory in Colonie Center. This was not a sit-down event, so we didn't get the experience one might get as a typical diner, but they did serve food that will be on the menu.

Despite the name, they do serve food beyond cheesecake. Staff squeezed through the packed crowd to serve appetizers, including quesadillas and some interesting "egg rolls" - one was a guacamole egg roll and the other was "tex-mex". All three of these were good.

There was a buffet with a few items, including a Hawaiian salad (called Luau, I think), a Cajun dish with shrimp and chicken, and a chicken dish with mushrooms (maybe marsala). It was all interesting and different from what you see in other places around here. These dishes were good. Nothing was "great", but keep in mind this was a buffet so we didn't have the usual atmosphere to really get the sense of the food.

The interior of the restaurant is, well, spectacular. An impossibly high ceiling (it's gotta be 30 feet or more) with well designed colors and features makes this a place you want to be.

Getting to the most important issue, the cheesecake was fantastic. I had a caramel cheesecake that was over the top delicious. My wife had a "vanilla bean" cheesecake that was delightful as well. I had been hoping to try a plain cheesecake, but they were not serving any. The caramel was so good I didn't mind.

I predict this place will do quite well.

Out of Albany - Moonbeam Cafe in Gorham NH

2006-08-07T22:50:00.000-04:00

A brief and unrestful vacation in New Hampshire led us, on recommendation, to the Moonbeam Cafe in Gorham for breakfast. I had the special -- scrambled eggs with swiss cheese, roasted red peppers, and chorizo sausage. Before you say anything about cholesterol, you should know I had a slice of French Toast on the side and took some of my wife's bacon too. So I'll die a little younger ...

The food was fantastic. A spectacular breakfast. They have a wide variety of breads to choose from for your toast. My egg dish was done just right. Wife and older daughter enjoyed their meals as well.

And a non-food hint. The TU reviewed a science museum near White River Jct., VT. The Montshire Science Museum. This is a great place to take your kids, especially kids under 10 and even under 5. Our 4 1/2 year old and our 18 month old both had a blast. We liked it too.

Red Robin redux

2006-08-07T22:47:00.000-04:00

We went to Red Robin in Latham yesterday. Since they brag about their burgers I should have tried that the first time. I had their Chili Chili Cheese Burger. Yeah, the one with a bit of cholesterol.

It was a really good burger. Still a great place to take kids. Your kid can scream (ours did), and it won't bother anyone because the place is so loud.

Apparently they were extra busy because there was some problem at the Clifton Park restaurant, so people came down.

The Italian Community Center

2006-07-30T12:46:00.000-04:00

Some time ago I did a post on Italian restaurants in Albany. In that post I forgot to mention the Italian American Community Center (IACC) on Washington Avenue Extension. Now that it's next door to our new office, I go there at least twice a month. I also just joined as a "Friend of Italy" member. I have travelled in Italy and have Italian-American neighbors, so that seems fair.

The restaurant used to be called "Le Caravelle", but they've dropped that name and the restaurant is now run by Mallozzi's, which is a restaurant operation out of Rotterdam. I think Mallozzi's also runs the food at the Western Turnpike Golf Course (Town of Guilderland).

Anyway, I've been eating at the IACC a lot recently. One key thing to mention is the Greens & Beans. This is a very healthy dish (escarole, beans, and garlic, I'm guessing with olive oil), that happens to taste great. A number of places get this dish wrong, so it's nice to have it right.

They have a good variety on the menu. The lunch menu has less on it, but there's still a lot of choices. I've been getting the an eggplant dish lately (I forget the name, but it's something about rollatini or gondola). I'm also the kind of person who will sometimes order off-menu. If I'm in a particularly health-conscious mood, I'll order pasta with vegetables in olive oil. The IACC handles this without skipping a beat.

The thing about a place like this is their clientele is heavily Italian, so they have to get it right. They consistently deliver good food with the right flavors. And I keep going back.

Provence in Stuyvesant Plaza

2006-07-22T23:41:00.000-04:00

My wife and I went to Provence in Stuyvesant Plaza for lunch maybe a week ago. It was not cheap, but it was worth it. We were able to sit outside, which is a nice touch. More places should offer this.

The food was simply excellent. We went overboard. Besides getting soup for me and a salad for her, we also got a cheese platter and then ordered entrees.

The cheese platter thing is a really nice touch. You don't see that at many places. They come out with three or four different cheeses and some bread. We're not talking cheddar and muenster. Stuff you probably wouldn't try unless you go to a place like this.

My soup was fantastic and Heather's salad was nice. Sorry to say I don't remember our entrees, but we were kinda stuffed by the time we got to them. I remember they were good, but can't say more than that.

We will definitely be going back here, though for budgetary reasons it won't be more than once a month.

99 - Western Avenue

2006-07-22T23:38:00.000-04:00

My wife and I went to 99 on Western Avenue a couple weeks ago. They had some pictures on the wall from Guilderland High School yearbooks from my year and a few years around my year. That was neat.

The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't that good either. Not sure if we'll go back. Probably not. I don't have much more in depth to say about it. Not a terribly thorough review, I know.

Smokey Bones in Colonie

2006-06-26T01:02:00.000-04:00

I just mentioned Mino in Colonie, so now I have to mention Smokey Bones. Had lunch there on Saturday. It's on Central just west of the Northway, next to L-Ken and across from Mino.

We've been going to Smokey Bones since it opened. I remember when it first opened that the food was really quite good. The baby back ribs and pulled pork had great flavor. That stands out in a chain restaurant (Smokey Bones is owned by the same company that owns Olive Garden and Red Lobster -- this particular one is in a former Red Lobster).

We still go there with some frequency, but my enthusiasm is waning. On the plus side, they offer pretty good variety on the menu. I particularly like the healthy sides, such as asparagus and broccoli. They make me feel a little better when I order the pulled pork or ribs. :-)

I had a really good salad there a couple visits ago -- I think it had mandarin oranges and pears, and maybe walnuts. Topped with the optional grilled shrimp, of course.

Anyway, the bad news is that I think the quality of the ribs and pulled pork has declined. Not that it's bad or anything, but it just doesn't have that great flavor it had when they started. Maybe I've just gotten used to it, or maybe they've let the quality of the meat slide just a bit.

I should mention that the place has a sports bar motif. There are a bunch of TVs all over the place carrying 5 or more channels of sporting events. The atmosphere is noisy enough that you can bring kids and not worry they'll annoy others, but it's not too loud either. A good family place with lots of menu choices kids will like. So we'll keep going.

Mino Sushi/Thai in Colonie

2006-06-26T00:51:00.001-04:00

Update: Mino's was renamed Noi's, and we think it may have closed recently. Bangkok Thai is still open and still good.
------
I've been there twice, in less than a month, so I must like it, right?

The first time I went to Mino I tried a little sushi. Wasn't bad, but not anything special either. I won't order sushi there again, but that's my picky Japanophile thing.

The important thing about Mino is the Thai food. We don't have a lot of Thai food in the area. Funny that this place located itself within a mile of Bangkok Thai (BT), the only other decent Thai place I know about around here. BT is on Wolf Road near Central, while Mino is on Central just west of Wolf (across from L-Kens).

Like Bangkok Thai, the Thai food here is pretty good. Neither is on a par with the average in NYC or Silicon Valley, but they're good quality Thai food. I haven't been to Bangkok Thai in a while now, so I can't compare the two very well.

I've only had a few dishes in Mino so far. The beef salad dish was okay, but didn't have as much flavor as I expect - that one is probably better at BT. The Pad Thai at Mino was quite good last time. We also got a beef curry dish (red curry, I think). That was an error on their part - it was supposed to be chicken. It was pretty good but didn't blow me away. Decent flavor, but the sauce didn't have the creamy richness I expect from a Thai curry. The first time we were there I remember having the Tom Kha Gai soup (chicken with coconut milk). I remember that being so-so. Maybe the chicken was overcooked.

Don't take the criticism too seriously. I'll be going back. I love Thai food.

I forgot to mention the Thai Iced Tea. Very good (at both places).

Red Robin - Halfmoon

2006-06-26T00:44:00.000-04:00

After a lovely day, we met my in-laws at Red Robin in the Town of Halfmoon. It's on Route 9 near Exit 9 on the Northway, an area many of us think of as Clifton Park.

The place was pretty full, with a lot of kids there. The staff do a Happy Birthday thing for people, and there must have been five birthdays while we were there. They've got someone in a bird suit who comes around too. I guess that's nice for the kids. Our kids seemed to like the place.

My wife liked her salad, and my in-laws apparently like the place too. I had the Carnitas. This is in direct contravention of my low-cholesterol diet, so I hope my doctor doesn't read this. Hey, I skipped the sour cream (well, I told them not to bring me any - they did anyway, and I managed not to eat any of it).

My dish was, well, it wasn't anything special, but it wasn't bad either. There just wasn't any particular flavor to it. I'm not saying it tasted like sawdust, but it just didn't have the right seasonings. That's mainly my fault for ordering a Mexican dish in a burger place. Same reason you don't order Spaghetti at Denny's.

I can't see myself rushing back there, but if my in-laws said they wanted to meet there again I wouldn't say no either.

Aromi d'Italia in Guilderland

2006-06-12T21:39:00.002-04:00

Update: Aromi d'Italia has changed names and format. See our post on the new Café Teria.
-------
Update: Aromi d'Italia continues to vary their menu. The other day they had a fantastic chilled soup - chilled Jamaican pineapple with Coconut ice (using a coconut gelato). One of the best soups I've ever had.
--------------
My wife and I had lunch today at Aromi D'Italia. It's a fairly small Italian place in Star Plaza (SW corner of the intersection of 155 & 20 in Guilderland).

The front of the place has a Gelato counter, and the Gelato is great! A lot of choices (including some relatively healthy varieties and the stuff we shouldn't eat too).

In the back is the dining area with some tables, but not very many - probably less than 20 total, and maybe only 15. The kitchen, or at least part of it, is in between the Gelato and the dining area. It is somewhat open so you can see some cooking going on. I never bother to watch, but it's there if you're interested.

The staff is very pleasant, both at the Gelato and in the dining area.

What stands out (besides the Gelato) is the great menu. They don't have the extreme variety of dishes you might find at some places, and they don't have all the Italian standards on the menu, but they do have a number of interesting dishes you probably won't find elsewhere. They also change the menu once in a while (maybe it's a seasonal thing), so if you keep going back you'll always see something new.

If you like to try something different, this is a great place. Also, I have been told in the past that they will make whatever you want. Just tell the waiter/waitress what you want and they'll make it if they can. So if your favorite Italian classic isn't on the menu, and you want it bad, don't be afraid to ask.

Today I was a bit adventurous and tried a new dish -- stuffed peppers. They were stuffed with a potato orzo pasta and a couple varieties of rice. I didn't love this particular dish, but that's what happens when you try new things. I usually do love the meals I get here. I should mention that my wife liked her Chicken Caesar sandwich (I think they call it a Panini), and we both liked our soups.

And I bought some Gelato too (the healthy kind) and brought it to the office for future indulgence.

Gershon's in Schenectady

2006-04-17T16:40:00.000-04:00

Had breakfast a few days ago at Gershon's. I don't go there much, but this is one of my favorite places. It's more of a traditional deli. I had a smoked salmon platter with a bagel and cream cheese. Very good. They also have great sandwiches, most of which I shouldn't eat because of my crazy cholesterol obsession. And that's probably why I don't go there more.

It's on Union Street in Schenectady. Kind of a landmark institution. Very popular with the Jewish community because it evokes the NYC deli atmosphere.

Brandon's Steak & Seafood - Schenectady

2006-04-17T16:36:00.000-04:00

I must be eating out more lately - lots to write about.

I was invited to have lunch in Schenectady with some older gentlemen (older than me anyway). They apparently have a regular lunch at Brandon's, on Van Vranken Avenue.

I had a cup of lentil soup and a mediterranean pasta dish -- it had spinach, roasted red peppers, and shrimp, drenched in olive oil. Other than the shrimp, it was a good low-cholesterol meal. And I didn't eat all the shrimp.

The shrimp were the really small kind, about the size of the fingernail on my pinky. That's a minor turnoff, but the dish was quite good. Lentil soup was excellent. The others had clam chowder and sandwiches, and they seemed quite happy.

Brandon's also has a pretty classy interior. Nice place. I can see why these guys are regulars. There was a decent lunch crowd, so it must have a good following.

Mike's Diner

2006-04-17T16:29:00.000-04:00

We take the kids to Mike's Diner (at the intersection of Carman Road (146) and Old State Road in Guilderland) for weekend breakfast once in a while.

It's a pleasant place to go. The parking lot can get quite crowded. Good food. French toast, pancakes, eggs, etc. All tasty. They often have special varieties of pancakes, and that's what I usually get.

With my current low-cholesterol kick, I had a Greek salad (yes, for breakfast). It was yummy. There was enough that I had the leftover for lunch.

My wife had eggs, pancakes and hash browns. All delicious as usual. The hash browns are good solid chunks of potato.

My older daughter had french toast. Since she doesn't eat much, I had to help her. Tough life being a dad. Okay, I only had a little, but it was decent french toast. I tend to like my own french toast better, but I never make it any more.

Pearl of the Orient

2006-04-17T16:20:00.000-04:00

Had dinner at Pearl of the Orient on Easter Sunday with family. Kind of a Jewish tradition to go out for Chinese food on Christian holidays.

I hadn't been there in at least a year. This is one of my favorite sit-down Chinese restaurants in the Albany area. We like Amazing Wok for delivery, and we used to go to the Dumpling House on Everett Road. There was a problem with their phone number, so we called Pearl of the Orient instead. It's on Albany Shaker Road near Osborne Road (also near one of my favorite Italian places, D'Raymonds).

The restaurant has a lunch buffet, which usually suggests lower quality to me. That thinking does not apply here. The food is excellent. They used to have "black pepper chicken" on the menu. It's no longer there, but you can order it, and I did. They still have black pepper steak on the menu. I had to explain this to the waitress, who said she was new.

My dish was great! My wife had sesame chicken, which she said was too spicy -- not a negative to me. They also had mu-shu pork which they liked a lot. My hot-and-sour soup was also quite good. My daughters (ages 4 and 1) had plain lo mein and they definitely liked it. We were surprised how much our 1-year-old ate.

We also had a dumpling appetizer, but this was not as good as what you get at Dumpling House (I guess that's not a surprise).

Le Bistro in Lighthouse Point, Florida

2006-03-03T07:41:00.000-05:00

When I started this blog I fully intended to review various restaurants around Albany, and I will get there, but when I go to a great restaurant elsewhere, I figure it deserves a mention.

Yesterday we went to Le Bistro restaurant in Lighthouse Point, Florida. I was looking for something special after going to a couple of ultra-cheap and unmemorable places. Le Bistro had a number of good reviews from local papers, so we took a shot. It was excellent.

For a start we were given four very small pieces of bread with a white-bean dip that had a touch of a curry flavor. Nice touch. Heather had a tomato soup, which was wonderful. I had a black bean soup which was fine, but not as good as the rest of the meal. Then we split the simple green salad, which came with a very good balsamic dressing.

Somewhere in there we were given a small plate with a grape, a chunk of swiss cheese, and something else I forgot. Again, a nice touch. Before the entree we were also given a sorbet, raspberry I think. Probably the best sorbet I've ever tasted, though I rarely eat sorbet.

The entrees were fantastic. Heather had tenderloin in bordelaise sauce. I had surf and turf, with tenderloin, lobster, and the biggest shrimp I ever saw (called Colossal shrimp). It was close to a foot long. Presentation was a touch over the top. Heather's "stick fries" came standing up in a tall wine glass (with paper to absorb some of the oil I suppose), and it also came with grilled tomatoes that were sitting on small puffs of mashed potato. On my dish the lobster and shrimp were skewered together so that they stood up on the plate. There were also two skewers with roasted garlic and olives.

Our steaks were cooked perfectly and the sauces were delicious yet subtle -- the sauces did not overpower the other flavors. My lobster and shrimp were good, but the steak was so good that the other items didn't stand out. I had a side of grilled vegetables and that was good but not in league with the steak. One notable thing about the veggies though -- the waiter (Ron) kept commenting on how the chef uses the freshest ingredients. He was correct. The asparagus and zucchini in particular had a very fresh taste to them. Perhaps the chef didn't oversauce them to show off the freshness. In my experience store-bought zucchini and asparagus are pretty bland. These veggies had a real "green" (I can't think of a better word) flavor.

Heather had chocolate mousse which she liked very much. I had creme brulee, and it was without question the best creme brulee I ever had. I don't eat creme brulee often (more than sorbet), but I've had it enough that this means something. It was served in a deeper cup than I'm used to, and there was more creamy stuff under the caramelized top.

I find that one of the biggest things that separate fine restaurants from the rest is the texture of the food. Le Bistro gets that. The tenderloin is tender. The mashed potatoes are fluffy. Etc. Definitely a cut above.

It was expensive. We broke the century mark ourselves, and we didn't have wine. A couple could easily go over $150 or even $200 if you have a couple more courses. The 6-course tasting menu is "only" $45, which is a bargain if you like the items on the menu that day.

One other comment. While the food is fancy, the menu is clear so you know what you're ordering and it's mostly food you're familiar with. We were looking at another local place and Heather vetoed because so much of the menu was unfamiliar. If you're not the most adventurous type, you'll still like Le Bistro because it's really just regular food, but much better.

Brueggers

2006-02-02T04:49:00.000-05:00

I went to Brueggers on Sunday for lunch. Trying to eat very low cholesterol, so I had what I think is called the Mediterranean bagel (it has hummus), and I had a soup. I wasn't impressed with either one. In the past I've liked some things at Brueggers. The bagels themselves are good, and I remember liking the Santa Fe bagel sandwich. But the hummus was a letdown, and the soup was nothing special. Not bad or anything, but it just didn't have that special something.

Mahar's

2006-01-22T21:52:00.000-05:00

Mahar's is a pub. I think they have food, but it's not why you go there. Mahar's is the place to go if you like the taste of beer. They have a fantastic selection of beers from all over the world.

This is not a place to get drunk. Mahar's is actually a quiet place, and there are rules of behavior. I've never seen anyone get thrown out, but I've heard that it happens.

You can register and keep track of all the beers you've had. When you get to certain numbers, like having tried 100 different beers, you get prizes, like a mug or a t-shirt.

My favorites tend to be the Belgian flavored ales, but I always like a good Porter. The bartenders are very knowledgeable, and a good way to start is to ask them for a recommendation.

I used to go more -- when I was in law school I lived nearby. Now I go less than once a year, but I should find a way to get there more often.

Via Fresca

2006-01-22T21:45:00.000-05:00

I went to Via Fresca about a week ago. It's sort of a restaurant. Basically it's a take-out place, but with high-quality food. They have a great selection of De Cecco pastas and other Italian gourmet foods on some shelves. They also have a variety of prepared foods - entrees and other items they've made. Some of it is in a cooler, and there are also two counters where someone will put things together for you. I think they also have sandwiches.

I just popped in to see it, as it's not too far from my office. I picked up a few items, including a whole wheat De Cecco spaghetti, and some prepared items. Now I don't even remember what I had, but I remember it was good. The place has a very nice feel to it -- they just opened in December.

Tough thing for them is that they're on the south, or eastbound, side of Western Avenue, near Crossgates. I would think most people who might want to pick up dinner there would be coming westbound, and so would have to make two left turns - one to get in and another to get out. Sad that something like that can matter, but it might.

Joe's Pizza in Rotterdam

2006-01-15T21:21:00.000-05:00

I've been meaning to mention this place. Joe's is in Rotterdam at 2780 Hamburg Street. A friend of mine likes to go there and had his birthday party there a week or so ago.

I'm on a new low-cholesterol kick, so I ordered the linguine a la romano (I probably misspelled that). It came with broccoli and mushrooms in olive oil. A lot of garlic too. It was excellent.

Eating low cholesterol can be tough when you go to a pizza place, so it's nice when they have good alternatives. I've had their heavy stuff in the past and that's good too.

Joe's is pretty informal. There's a take-out counter on one side, some tables in front, and a bigger room in the back. Prices are also reasonable.

Italian

2005-12-14T00:01:00.000-05:00

My picks for best Italian in Albany:

1. D'Raymonds. It's just off Albany-Shaker Road near Osborne Road. This is one of our absolute favorites in Albany. Surprising we don't get there more often. Great reputation for veal (though I'm not much of a veal eater). All the dishes are great.

They start you off with a little fried dough treat. If you order the salad, you get a lot of salad for not much money. Haven't been there in a while, but I just love everything they have.

It's got a nice atmosphere - feels homey. Not a good place for kids though. Also it looks crowded when you're walking in, but you don't notice that feeling when you're sitting down.

2. Lombardo's. On Madison near Pearl. Also outstanding. Again, surprising we don't get there more. Last time I think I picked my wife up for lunch and we got over there. Great food.

Also has a special atmosphere. Feels like you walked into the 1930s. Not that I would know since I was born in the 60s, but still. Has a bit of a celebrity thing too. Seems like I often see a local celebrity when I go there. I've seen TV news people. Once we saw the retired DA with the retired political cartoonist - even had a nice chat with them.

3. Carmine's. On Central Avenue, between Everett and Colvin, in the back of a minimall. Excellent food. Carmine is a local celebrity. His menu is more edgy. It's not classic Italian food, but maybe a bit nouvelle. Last time we were there seemed like a lot of dishes had sundried tomatoes in them.

That's the cream of the crop. I should put in honorable mentions for Provence and Milano. I haven't been to them as much, but they're good.

For some reason my wife likes Olive Garden, and we go there all the time. I'm kinda sick of it, but it is better for kids - if you can get a table.

Note from 7/30/06: I forgot to mention the Italian Community Center. Also one of my favorites, and I'm going there all the time now since it's now next door to our new office. It used to be called Le Caravelle, but they've dropped that name. It's run by Mallozzi's now. Food was good before and continues to be good now.

Garcia's and other Mexican

2005-12-13T23:52:00.000-05:00

This is a tough one. We like going to Garcia's. Our older daughter likes it too - a good place to bring kids. The food is pretty good. It's probably one of the best Mexican places in Albany.

But there's the rub. I went to college in Houston, Texas, and also lived in California for three years. When you consider that I think the Mexican food in California wasn't all that great (except for a recent dinner in LA), it's not surprising when I say that being the best in Albany is not saying all that much.

But with that said, we like Garcia's. I like the fajitas. My wife usually orders enchiladas or something like that.

I also go to Moe's Southwest Grill some. I've turned that down a notch with my frustrating low-cholesterol kick. Moe's is also pretty good. It's a bit better than Taco Bell (I'm almost ashamed to admit I like Taco Bell), but it's more than a bit more expensive.

Lately I've been ordering the big burrito (all the items have funky names, but I can't remember the name of the burrito yet - maybe the homewrecker?). I used to get the same thing in the form of a salad, but the lettuce isn't all that special.

Still a good place to go once in a while.

I hear good things about Mexican Radio in Hudson, but that's a long drive from Albany. We talk about it but haven't made it there yet.

Metro 20 Diner

2005-12-13T23:49:00.000-05:00

I go to Metro 20 Diner once in a while. Usually on Sundays if I'm in the office because BFS is closed. Metro 20 Diner is a decent place. Food is generally good. Just my opinion here, but it's a bit overpriced for the quality. There are some very good items, and the menu has a lot of choices, but the quality is basically diner and that's it. There are other diners in the area where you get similar quality for significantly less money.

On the bright side, the place is very clean. Service is generally good. And it's got a great location, which is why they can charge more for their food.

I'm on a low-cholesterol kick lately, so I've been ordering salads. Greek salad is pretty good. I used to order gyros and liked them too.

Amazing Wok

2005-11-18T14:45:00.000-05:00

Our favorite Chinese place in the area is Amazing Wok in Colonie (near the Price Chopper at 155 and Central). It's a take-out and delivery place. There are only a couple of tables. We order from them maybe two or three times a month.

A big signal with Amazing Wok is they get the Hot & Sour Soup right. Seems like most places don't have the right flavor. I often get Szechuan Beef and that's really good. I occasionally order cold sesame noodles as an appetizer. Again, very good. We order a variety of other items and it's all good. Prices are reasonable, delivery is timely, and just overall a good experience.

Sometimes you have trouble communicating over the phone with them, but patience usually gets you through it.

I should also give a brief mention to the Dumpling House, which is one of my favorites in the area, but we just don't get there all too often now with 2 kids. The dumplings there are quite good (get the 12-piece combo), and the other food is good too. A lot of Chinese I know in the area also like Ocean Palace.

Japanese places I don't like

2005-11-18T14:33:00.000-05:00

Okay, I haven't really trashed any restaurants yet, so here it goes. And this comes with a caveat - other people seem to like these places, so this is my personal view and probably does not represent the consensus.

First of all, I do not like Ichiban's Japanese food. It may be politically incorrect to say so, but Chinese do not, generally, do Japanese food right. Key flaws with Ichiban:
1. For sushi and sashimi, they cut the fish in advance. I've never seen this done anywhere. By cutting it early they decrease the freshness of it. This is not absolutely awful for sushi rolls, as the quality of the fish is pretty well hidden in the other ingredients. It is particularly bad for sashimi, however.
2. The wrong sauces. I ordered shumai (steamed shrimp dumplings), and the sauce was totally wrong. It was like a sweet duck sauce. Shumai should be served with a spot of yellow mustard on the side and it is dipped in a soy-based sauce.

I have the same general complaints about Sushi House on New Scotland Ave. They didn't precut the fish, but the sushi was not that great. The sauces were wrong on the Japanese food.

These places are fine for Chinese food, and if you're not experienced with Japanese food (I lived in Japan for a year) you might not notice these issues. Certainly both places are popular. I have been to Ichiban a few times because people I was meeting wanted to go there.

They do tend to be cheaper than the real Japanese places, but you get what you pay for. The better Japanese places in the area are Miyako, Yoshi Sushi, Saso's, Mari's, and Mino's in Saratoga. I haven't been to the latter 3 in a while - Miyako and Yoshi are just a lot closer to where I work and live. I used to like San & Bada, but haven't been in a while so I can't say. Tokyo Sushi does a half-decent job, but Yoshi's is better and is just down the road.

Of course, all pale in comparison to Megu, but that's not fair since Megu is in NYC and costs about 5 to 10 times as much as the most expensive Japanese food here.

Karavalli - Indian restaurant in Latham

2005-11-18T11:06:00.000-05:00

I've gotten somewhat addicted to this place. Considering that there are a number of Indian places closer to my home and office, my frequency of visits says something.

Anyway, like many Indian restaurants, it has a lunch buffet. I think Sunday might also be a buffet, but nicer and more expensive.

The food is excellent. Also important is the variety. There are a number of dishes on the menu that one does not find in most other Indian restaurants in Albany. I should note that I found out about it in a review in the Times Union.

Most of my meals there have been the lunch buffet. This place has a nicer atmosphere and the food is a cut above most of the other buffet restaurants. I have also ordered from the regular menu 2 or 3 times, and the food was better still.

A commenter on the TU review said Sitar is better. I do love Sitar, but I can't say it's better. Both are good, and a cut above the rest in the area. Sitar also has a great atmosphere and excellent food. Karavalli has more variety, and at least lately, I've been going to Karavalli. Sitar does not have a buffet, which can be good or bad depending on your preferences. I tend to think they're just different.

I should not forget to mention dessert at Karavalli's buffet. The gulab jamun and the carrot thing (I forget what it's called) are both delicious. The rice pudding is nothing special - not bad, but not a cut above like the rest of the food.

BFS Restaurant

2005-11-15T21:53:00.000-05:00

I should have posted about BFS before. BFS is right in front of my office - both buildings are on the same parcel of land. The food is generally Mediterranean, but with a good variety of other items. There is a deli counter and regular tables. The restaurant also does a lot of catering.

Before I go further, I should mention that the owner of BFS (Shaw Rabadi) is the owner of my building, so he is my landlord. So I may have a bias on this. But then again, I eat there twice a week, so I don't think this is bias talking.

First of all, there are a lot of great sandwiches. Then there are other good entrees. My big things there are soups and the Mediterranean items. Shaw makes fantastic soups. There are usually three soups, and they vary all the time. One of his best is the Butternut Bisque. He also makes a good chili. You never know what soup he'll have, but with three choices, you can be pretty sure there'll be one you'll like.

My favorite Medi dish is the Lebanese Maza Sampler. It has hummus and a couple of other similar items (I think baba ganooj is one of them), and comes with dolma (grape leaves stuffed with rice), tabouleh, and there's more.

Finish with a baklava.

I should mention that the servers are also excellent. They know the menu and can offer good advice. And I should also mention they just changed to a new set of herbal teas.

Highly recommended.
www.bfsrestaurant.com

Megu - New York City

2005-11-04T10:25:00.000-05:00

Okay, this is off topic a bit. We went to New York City for our 10th anniversary. We had lunch, saw a show (Spamalot) and had dinner. Lunch was at Pancho something, a restaurant on 44th Street honoring Pancho Villa. It was good Mexican food. But that's not what I'm writing about.

We had dinner at Megu, an ultra-premium Japanese fusion restaurant. It was one of the best meals I ever had. The sushi and sashimi were outstanding. We had a variety of other dishes, including two different kinds of Kobe steak. Every menu item was fantastic. The food melted in our mouths. I won't be able to eat sushi for a couple weeks because anything I have now will be disappointing.

Our waiter, Kevin, was very helpful in picking out things from the menu, and the restaurant manager Paul was also very attentive and thoughtful.

One warning, this was far and away the most expensive meal we ever ate. I can't even publish how much it cost.

Mangia - Stuvyesant Plaza

2005-10-17T15:17:00.000-04:00

Had lunch with my wife at Mangia today. Mangia is in Stuvyesant Plaza in Guilderland. I had curry chicken soup and an Italian mixed wrap. She had Minestrone and a vegetable pizza. It was $25 with tip.

The food was okay, but nothing terribly special. My soup was a bit below average. Their food is generally good, but it's a little too "nouvelle". My wrap had flecks of green in it and too much of an herb flavor. The "balsamic reduction" didn't do much, and so it was a bit bland. Also, the meat was a little chewier than I'm used to. They have a pizza buffet on Wednesdays, and that is quite popular.

Overall I think it's a little overpriced for the quality. Service was good today, but that may have been more because it wasn't crowded.

They sat us in a nice room with a lot of windows looking out on the grass in front of Route 20. My wife liked that in particular. Mangia is close to my office and I almost never go there, so maybe that tells you something. We went there today because my wife wanted someplace quick - and they did deliver that. I think she may have enjoyed her food more, so maybe I just wasn't in the mood.

Miyako - Guilderland NY

2005-10-16T22:24:00.000-04:00

Miyako is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants. Owned by a Japanese couple, there is a real commitment to quality.

The most popular feature is the "Hibachi" tables. In Japan this is known as teppanyaki -- which roughly translates to steel cook (a reference to the cooking surface). There are 8 seats at a rectangular table, with one side for the cook. He cooks up various vegetables along with your choice of meat (the filet mignon is excellent). This is really gringo food -- the cooking surface is common in Japan, but it's used mostly for fried noodles and maybe dumplings -- but the Japanese flavorings are genuine. Even though I'm a purist for Japanese food, I still like some of the gringo items. I'm not a good judge of meat quality myself, but we ate there once with a friend who is, and he was very impressed with the cuts of steak.

There are also regular tables and a small sushi bar, and a couple of rooms in the back. They used to have a Japanese sushi chef, (I like to practice my Japanese), but he left recently. The owner is trying to get a new Japanese sushi chef.

The sushi is good. Sushi in Albany is a challenge -- the ocean is far away, and there is not enough volume of customers for a sushi place to have great variety of fish. So the fish selection is limited compared to what you might find in NYC, Boston, or California (or of course, Japan). One of my favorite sushi dishes is the Carp-accio -- raw salmon in olive oil. It's kind of a fusion sashimi dish and I'm hooked on it.

When the Japanese sushi chef was there, I would ask his recommendation. I'm not as sure that a non-Japanese sushi chef will appreciate the quality issues to make a recommendation (sushi not being native to China). I should note that my wife is not a purist like me, and she likes the sushi at Miyako as well.

The regular Japanese menu is also good. One of our favorite appetizers is Edamame (soybeans served in the pods). These are delicious and quite healthy. As with the other dishes, the Japanese ownership shows though in an important area -- the sauces are right and the dishes taste like they do in Japan. This is a particular problem with Japanese restaurants that are run by Chinese. The Korean-run places generally get things right. Yes, I know these comments may not be politically correct, but shikata nai (it's kind of like c'est la vie).

The only downsides of Miyako are that the service is sometimes slow at the regular tables (especially if the place is crowded), and the prices are a bit on the high side. If you want fast and cheap, there are other places you can go. If you want good quality Japanese food across the board, this is the best place in the area.

Announcing Albany NY Restaurant Reviews

2005-10-16T22:12:00.000-04:00

Since I found restaurant reviews in local papers to be imperfect, I decided to create my own restaurant review blog. I eat out a lot, so I figure I'll share my thoughts on various restaurants.

I've been particularly disappointed with reviews of Japanese restaurants. I lived in Japan for a year, so I think I know what I'm talking about. Reviews often talk about things like the "Rainbow Roll", which is not the true measure of washoku (Japanese food). Some places don't get the sauces right. The real test of a sushi place is the sashimi, or how they do the tamago (egg).

Anyway, to make this more democratic, I'm happy to invite others to join this blog. If you'd like to post restaurant reviews, send me a draft review by e-mail (wredlich@gmail.com). If i like your review, I'll invite you to become a member of the blog. I will of course retain dictatorial power, but I'll try to behave.