Service was exceptional! The owner and bartender took care of us very well. We ordered Palomas for…read morea cocktail and the owner ran out to get grapefruit juice. I insisted we would switch to margaritas but the owner insisted. We share a flavorful dish of chow mein with almost half a grilled jerk chicken atop. The chow mein had hearty peices of shrimp and pork and a savory flavor. After eating for what seemed like an eternity the two of us still didn't finish the plate. The flow of guests was high. Alot of take away orders and neighbor regulars popping in for a quick drink at the bar. I believe there was a dj booth and dance area in the back but we sat at a booth in the very front. It was a perfect balance of relaxed dining but still upbeat energy. Only negative is 4 parking spots so plan to street park in a busy area of schenectady.

My wife and I stopped by with our three friends about 8pm on Saturday night. I was pleasantly…read moresurprised by the nice ambiance and decor with what looked like a copper top ceiling, a main bar, a few raised tables and 2 cozy leather chairs that made me think of enjoying a nice after dinner bourbon in the study of an late 19th to early 20th century study of a business tycoon or politician from that time period.. The bar tender, Noah, was impressive and friendly in that he knew his liquor stock very well, and could explain the flavor intricacies of the various types of bourbon, vodka, and gins. They also offer some non,-alcoholic beverages for the "designated driver" of the group too. We watched Noah make everything from regular and "dirty martinis" with fresh ingredients, as well as one drink where he used a butane lighter and some tiny cedar chips in a straining tool above the drink to give it a fresh, authentic smoky look and flavor. Noah knows his stuff!!!!! The patrons were friendly, diverse, and easy to socialize with if you chose to do so. The establishment is pet friendly for "socialized pets" with a water bowl outside the establishment and some free Milkbone treats inside. Keep in mind that this establishment is a "tasting room" with the majority of products from the New Scotland Distillery, but there are other options. Just don't expect to get a Bud Light Draft or food here. The only downside is that parking in the Lark Steet and State Street location is difficult to obtain without some effort, but we managed to park our vehicles 2 blocks away. This is not a direct criticism of the establishment because the experience is well worth this minor potential inconvenience. We would definitely go back there again, especially for the specialty drinks or the flights and half flights of their bourbon and vodka products. Thank you once again, Noah, for a pleasant and educational evening!!!

This place is very nice -- welcoming, artsy, comfortable, small but personable. We live across the…read morestreet, and my husband and I wanted to give it a try. Unfortunately, it was not a great experience. The bartender served our drinks with no napkins and no lime. Details are key in a place like this. It was also loud, and it looked like a birthday party was happening. If that was the case, maybe the place should have closed to the public to accommodate that celebration. People were loud and drunk, and the birthday boy was saying vulgar things. We will not be coming back.

We sat out on the enclosed patio and had wine and charcuterie. It was delicious. We finished with…read morechocolate fondue. Perfection. Our server Josie was warm and friendly. We will be back.

Wow! Decor and night life, chic #af. This place is a night on the town with the possibility of…read morepopping over to the casino or being the all night spot. They have a large seating area with a variety of table tops. It's intimate and trendy. There's also a huge outside area (heated), that people were thriving in even though it was only 10 degrees out. The menu is broad and not your usual chain supply. If you are a picky eater you might have a hard time. Most of the food is in large enough portions you can split and trade with friends or just make it a charcuterie feast for all. Drinks were mint and I mean that in the old cool sense of the word not actually mint, although you could ask for some and they would accommodate. The self poor wine station is a bonus, adding to the uniqueness of this establishment. Reservations highly recommended! 21+ only AMAZING

Good little local bar serving up a nice mix of beers on tap, plus a simple bar food menu w really…read moregreat wings. Nice staff. All around great joint.

Newly opened by new owner!!…read more great ambience Food is 3 stars Wine & Beer good I would describe this place as the neighborhood corner bar decorated with nostalgic pictures of the city of Schenectady. Food was average the fried broccoli and cheese $10 was frozen and mushy after frying just ok I didn't eat much... The boneless chicken wings $15. were good. Greek salad $13 was good with fresh cut up vegetables and of course the drinks were good A full glass of Riesling $9 and Sam Seasonal $14. Hopefully the menu will increase to maybe some sandwiches in the future. The best part was the happy go lucky server Lynne very pleasant to talk to and johnny on the spot when you needed something.

Very cool place, one of my favorite spots downtown. The tavern is nice, bar is big, and the…read morerooftop area is awesome. Kind of wish the rooftop area was closer to the front of the building for a better street view, but it's great nonetheless. Food wise, great tavern food, and if you've ordered from Nico's in the past, prior to the tavern addition, you know it's some of the best pizza you can find around here. The fries dishes are awesome value and some unique options (cheap and huge portions). One of my favorites is the buffalo shrimp, I go there just for them. They've always got a pretty good selection of beers as well. Bar staff is very knowledgable of their beers and liquors. Bar rarely gets too crowded or crazy, part of the reason why I like going so much.

Stopped for the wing walk jack Daniels wings. Hello!!?! Amazing flavor and perfectly crispy. If…read morethey continue to offer this flavor we would def come back for more. It's a cool little spot. Just needs more sound maybe for the atmosphere and that would brighten up the mood. But great bartender and food.

I finally made it to Duke's and I wasn't disappointed! An impromptu night out led us to River's…read more Luckily, Duke's wasn't very busy that night. We were sat in the new seating area adjacent to the River and the view was gorgeous and I had excellent light for photos. Our server was very professional and kind. We started out with cocktails and I asked if they had blue cheese stuffed olives, and he said he would stuff some for me - score! They were delicious too. Hand stuffed is the way to go. I had a perfect dirty martini and my sister tried one of the signature cocktails. Both were great! They also had a pretty affordable wine list. We started with the complementary bread and ordered the tuna poke dish. The bread was good and the everything seasoned butter was fun. The tuna dish was pretty basic and good. We asked for some more wontons and it was no problem. Again, we really did have great service. My sister ordered the scallops over lobster risotto and I ordered a steak. The risotto was perfect and actually had a good amount of tender lobster. I am picky with risotto and they nailed it. I ordered the ribeye with mushrooms. It came out perfectly cooked, and was a good quality piece of meat. It was perfectly matched with the mushrooms. My sister ordered the sticky toffee cake and she enjoyed it, I am not too big on sweets. Overall, I would come back here. I thought it was a nice experience, good food, and the prices aren't crazy considering how much it costs to dine out these days.

We went to Dukes for a birthday celebration. I made reservations and when we got there we asked for…read morea booth. We were told there were none available ( there were two empty ones right in front of us) but if we waited 15 minutes we may be able to get one. At the same time, a couple from the middle room came out and said they didn't like their table. They were immediately seated in one of the empty booths. Not wanting to make a fuss, we took the offered table. The wine was reasonably priced and my filet was a little less cooked than I like it but it was delicious. My husband's strip steak was inedible. It was tough and chewy. We were told that it was because of the cut of steak. We seldom send things back but when the manager came over ( no apology- seemed kind of bothered) he sent in back with no replacement although one was offered. The manager took it off the bill Needless to say, this is the last time we will eat at Dukes.

It was by sheer fate that I found myself sitting in this coffee shop twice in two days. That never…read morehappens. Not even at my favorite coffee places. Sigh. But what brought me here wasn't the coffee, but rather the location. This is the coffee shop in the lobby of Proctor's. It's a great meeting spot in downtown Schenectady, because it's large, has comfortable seating, and free wifi. Of course, there's coffee. Which helps. And the coffee is just fine. They have a dark roast, and a house roast. The house is a blend of Ethiopian and Columbian beans. A medium costs $2.16 and it's unimpeachable. Better than the convenience store. Better than the national donut chain. Maybe that makes it even good. They also have a decaf and a flavored coffee. The very presence of flavored coffee gives me a sense of what kind of coffee shop Apostrophe is trying to be. And that's a shop for people who don't really like the taste of coffee. I'm a hard grader when it comes to coffee places. I really want all coffee shops to offer great coffee and well made espresso drinks. Perhaps, there is something at this shop that makes it a standout. But I've yet to find it. Given Apostrophe's convenient location, I'll most certainly be back. But it does seem like there's a lost opportunity to use this location inside Schenectady's great theater, to sell coffee that's as fine as its surroundings. Especially since the people who pass through during performances, surely enjoy the finer things in life.

Apostrophe has done some upgrades recently, in both the layout and the menu, and it's definitely an…read moreimprovement. The chilled food is no longer glacially frozen, and the prefab sandwiches have some flavor and haven't been stale. The coffee situation is still mezzo mezzo, and the hot options are a little hit or miss. All that said, we are back to patronizing it when at the Proctor's arcade and are feeling in the need of a pick me up and are too lazy to walk over to Jay Street, but I still wouldn't categorize it as a destination.

In from ATL on business, I've found myself at Da Joint twice in the past week. They have a nice…read moresetup with couches and comfy chairs to sit in. A handful of flat screens spread out around the place, and numerous tables are available if you are trying to use a laptop. Lots of variety in terms of hookah flavors and the service was very friendly.

They play fire Punjabi/desi music (even the new r&b releases)!…read moreThe person who works here was super chill - made us his special chai, gave us a board game, and kept us in the loop~ Never a bad idea to end the night with a laid back hookah lounge :)