I have visited Dove + Deer for dinner several times, and what consistently impressed me was its…read morecasual, lively vibe, along with a large bar area and even a spot to play darts. The live music on many evenings adds to the atmosphere, and I've particularly enjoyed some of the creative fusion dishes they've been experimenting with. The street corn flatbread has a strong spicy kick and reminded me of the Indian-style pizza I enjoyed back home in India. The peach salmon was another standout, with the lemon-flavored rice adding a unique touch. And the Chocolate Cookie Skillet is an absolute must-have! Other highlights include the stuffed mushrooms, truffle parm fries, and tiramisu, and the service was quite good as well. Dove + Deer is definitely an excellent option to explore if you're in the Albany area.

This review is strictly for brunch on a Sunday, and directed at ownership/management:…read more You guys, really? First, your Brunch menu and food are excellent, when we finally got our food - after roughly an hour of waiting - I was instantly reminded of why Dove and Deer is great - bold flavors, excellent preparation, gorgeous plates all in a city that desperately needs it. Second, I really felt bad for the 3 people responsible for running an entire restaurant on a Sunday (two waiters and one person in the kitchen). They did their absolute best, were so kind and apologetic, but obviously completely stressed out and frazzled. Tables got up and left after waiting for someone to get back to them - and we almost did too. It's unfair to restaurant staff to put the burden of running an entire place on them. I get if someone called off and you're short staffed 1 or 2 people, but did everyone call off? Besides 3 people? Come on. You have a real opportunity to be a go to brunch destination, my advice is to staff appropriately and give it a real go or risk customers not getting to experience the greatness that is your food - and taking their dollars to someplace far more mediocre. The only reason this isn't a 2 star or 1 star review is because of how hard your staff tried, and how good your food is (when it finally shows up).

So so good! Savoy is such a great place whether you're coming for drinks or dinner for a date or…read morefor a group! They have 2 separate rooms both with great moody and fun ambiance that are more tailored to dining or just drinks. As a group of 6, we were easily sat for dinner. Our server was super nice and attentive and everything came out timely. The food was awesome! The Mississippi fried chicken sandwich was deliciously done! Our group also enjoyed the fried pickles, crispy chicken wrap, and grilled chicken sandwich. The portions were perfect. They also have great cocktails, the seasonal mule was amazing! Will definitely be back!

Pretty uncrowded before 7 PM. Definitely picks up the later you go in the evening. We were able to…read moreget a table easy. But the tables were practically all full when we left. Good menu with plenty of options. And the portions are large. Not incredible, not bad. Just some middle-of-the-road tasty food. The service is...not great. Unfortunately, I think they were understaffed? After we ordered, we didn't really see our server again until it was time to get the check and leave. Has a nice dive-y feel to it. Chill vibe. Definitely a decent spot to spend an evening.

What a pleasant and delicious dining experience! The space is beautiful and all the staff we…read moreinteracted with were welcoming and pleasant. I love Italian food and I love Japanese food so putting them together can't be bad. I was a bit skeptical about trying Itameshi because they have a small menu with not many meat-free options, but actually the ones they do have are great! My partner and I started with the Cacio e Pepe gyoza and the Sunomono cucumber salad. The gyoza are pure flavor bombs; The super peppery and cheesy taste of Cacio packed into a little pocket. I'd come back just for these. The cucumber salad is fresh and light with a nice little chili kick and crunch from some cashews -- definitely a sleeper hit on the menu. The Truffle crema pasta I had for an entrée was perfectly prepared and the truffle flavor was the star. You can tell they're using actual black truffles and not just truffle oil. My partner really enjoyed his Miso salmon, served with forbidden rice and sautéed bok choy. He said the bok choy was reminiscent of sautéed broccolini and really made sense for the Italian Japanese fusion. Japanese cocktails are some of my favorites and the ones at Itameshi do not disappoint. Yuzu, lychee, hibiscus, and plum are heavily featured and each one I tried was well balanced and beautifully presented. I'm sad it took me so long to try this place and I'm glad it's within walking distance to home so we can go many times over.

And I went back a day later…read more.. Arielle took care of me and she was wonderful, engaging, and helpful. My Itameshi Spritz was smooth and refreshing. The Asian pear salad with gorgonzola was crisp and fresh with a little bite to it, which I really enjoyed. The Kare Pasta Sifudo became my main dish after the chef's recommendation. The meal is comprised of sautéed scallop, shrimp, and squid in medium spicy Japanese yellow curry sauce, served over spaghetti with Parmigiano-Reggiano. This was one of the entrees I never wanted to see end. The scallop, shrimp, and squid were tender and flavorful and that curry -- that decadent, sinful curry -- blew my mind. Afterwards, I consumed the green tea mochi. I'm happy to see that the owner(s) placed Itameshi on Google with a business profile. This means the establishment will show up in searches. I have no doubt that in the near future it may be impossible to get in without a reservation.

I was on the hunt for a Garbage Plate in my new home of the Capital Region; this is the only place…read moreI could find one on the menu...and I looked all over. I spent way too much time toiling with the prospect of not being impressed by a plate 200+ miles from Rochester. In my head, I said to myself, there are plates in Rochester that don't even impress; why should I give the time of day to someone so far removed? It took me over two years to finally pull trig. In retrospect, I am kicking myself. Portions aside, the plate here is absolutely fantastic, like wtf. The meat sauce seems to keep the obligatory warmth of nutmeg and cinnamon, but has a delicate spice that absolutely delights in its own way. The mac salad lights up my tongue with the zest of celery and the home fries give me the crunch that I deserve. The burgers are the greasy vessel that I have come to expect, but offer much more cohesion than a typical plate. I am barely exaggerating when I say this might be Top 2 plates of my lifetime. Couple that with an awesome atmosphere and an amazing happy hour and you've got gold. Thank you guys for scratching my itch.

We stayed one night in the Hilton and found this place on Yelp, read the menu, saw some photos…read more Looked fun with the NY state inspired items and they had pinball machines my kids could play. We walked over there, went inside and was greeted right away by a very welcoming young lady. The place was empty. Monday at 4:30 of course. We sat near the pinball machines and she gave us menus. The smell of urine was so strong that my 14 yr old said "we are not eating here." Clearly we left.

The place has a great, olde feel to it but the contrasting 70's American rock stripped that…read moresensation away as I dined before a print of Churchill. (When I walked by the establishment in the evening, they played cheesy American pop.) Their online drink menu did not match their current menu. In lieu of a much desired vesper (I was told they couldn't make it because they no longer have Lillet), I went with their Indigo 75 of Empress Gin, lemon juice, and Prosecco. Instead of refreshing, the lemon juice overwhelmed the entire drink. The BLTEA with bacon, lettuce, tomato, egg, avocado, and mayo was wonderful. The side salad only came with a sweet balsamic vinaigrette. With a bit more attention to detail, this place could be amazing.

Can't believe it took me this long to check out the Olde English Pub! We came here for quick drinks…read moreand apps after an event and ended up staying a while! Our bartender Olivia was super nice and ended up chatting with us for a while too! The sausage rolls and dipping fries came highly recommended by her and we opted for the sausage rolls which definitely did not disappoint and were delicious! They have some good bar food options. Kitchen closes at 10pm but the bar is open until 11pm. We also got to try some of their beers and ciders before committing which was really nice as well. And their pickle back shots were also a fun addition. Overall even without a crowd, it's a chill pub to check out in the area!