For context, I rate products and businesses on a simple scale: 5 stars means I love it, 4 stars…read moremeans I like it, 3 stars is okay, 2 stars means I didn't like it, and 1 star means I hated it or think it's unsafe. The Roosevelt Room in Troy was a great experience from start to finish. I was honestly expecting a standalone building, but it is tucked into a strip mall near HVCC. That said, parking was easy and stress free, which is always a plus. This was our first visit as a party of four, and the service was superb. The attention to detail really stood out and was noticed immediately. Our waitress checked in at the right times, kept drinks filled, and made sure everything came out exactly as expected. Meals are made to order, so substitutions were no issue at all, and it was nice to see gluten free options available. When you walk in, you pass through a curtain and are immediately greeted by a coat attendant who takes your coats, which instantly gives the place an upscale feel. The ambiance is well done, with soft lighting and nice background music. It is on the smaller side and dimly lit, but that is clearly intentional. The menus actually light up, which was a unique and thoughtful touch that fits the atmosphere perfectly. We had reservations and were seated right away. It did not seem necessary on this particular evening, but I would definitely recommend them on a weekend given the size of the space. The food itself was excellent. Everything we ordered was very tasty, and the presentation across the board was impressive. Desserts are prepared by a pastry chef and were just as good as the rest of the meal. It is definitely on the pricey side, but that is to be expected for the level of service and atmosphere. This feels like a special occasion type of place, and in that context, it is worth every penny. We really enjoyed our night and would absolutely come back. There was also a sign mentioning live jazz on Fridays, which sounds like a great added touch. Overall, a very strong 5 stars.

We went for an anniversary. We had never been. First, we were greeted at the door. They asked if…read morewe'd like them to take our coats. This is a lost service in the restaurant industry, but a lovely touch. We were seated in, what can only be described as, a room with phenomenal atmosphere. Low light, but you could see, comfortable seating, amazing art on the walls, and a perfect spot for a romantic dinner. The service was top notch. We were offered water immediately. They have a cocktail menu that included historical cocktails dating back to the 19th Century until present day. The cocktails were perfect. We had pre-ordered a half bottle of champagne. It was very good. We also ordered caviar service. It is 1 ounce with sour cream, egg whites, yolks, and onions. Fresh made Bellinis that were still warm. We enjoyed it immensely. It was a lovely compliment to the champagne. For an appetizer we enjoyed the escargot. We have had escargot in many places, rarely, if ever, was it as good at this was. The garlic butter was on point, the crusty bread was a great addition to the dish. It was served with tiny leaves of Swiss chard. We cannot recommend this enough. We ordered a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from their extensive wine list, Stag's Leap. This wine paired perfectly with the filet mignon bordelaise, and the veal chop with cherry peppers. We had a visit with the chef, he was a wonderful representative of this amazing restaurant. We cannot recommend this place enough. It's a little spendy, but worth every penny. Service, 5 stars! Atmosphere, 5 stars! Food, better than 5 stars! We will definitely be back.

Best burgers in the Capitol Region! I ordered the Empire Smash with Parmesan Truffle Fries from…read moreUber Eats, and everything arrived very well packaged and still hot! I've been coming here and ordering delivery for over a year and have never been disappointed.

Any time we visit our daughter at her nearby college is a great time, Illusive made it even…read moregreater! We ran an errand nearby and I found Illusive on Yelp. We approached just as they were opening for the day on a Saturday. (Slightly after noon) Not seeing many cars in the neighborhood and having the gps seem to "arrive" outside of an empty lot was an inauspicious start but when we pulled fully into the lot, we saw that they had put some work into the place and it had a nice modern look. Didn't get to take advantage of the nice outdoor seating area because the weather was rainy. We were greeted by friendly staff and seated at a comfortable table. Our timing was impeccable because the place was full within the next half hour. Our waitress deserves her own paragraph! She knew the menu inside and out and had tremendous pride in the food served and the awards they've won! Illusive is a "foodie" restaurant, every dish is elevated yet remains unfussy. For appetizers, we shared the street corn dip and tater tot poutine. The street corn dip was creamy and zesty. The tater tot poutine was revelatory, the cheese was melted perfectly, the gravy wasn't some jarred nonsense, and the tots themselves were crispy. I enjoyed the different textures of it, some more cheesy and some more gravy. My wife enjoyed a chicken Caesar salad and my daughter enjoyed a grilled chicken pesto sandwich. Her sandwich was a nice enough portion that she finished it leftover for dinner! I enjoyed the buffalo lemon pepper wings, the sauce was a nice blend of heat and zesty flavor. I appreciated the amount of wings they served, some restaurants are going for "shrinkflation" but Illusive provides a full portion! We received quality and personable service throughout a delicious meal, we will gladly return!

My wife is from Albany, and I've been making the trip to the Capital Region for the past 14 years…read more During all that time, I can honestly say this is the best meal I've had in the area. Every course was exceptional. The crab cake was outstanding, the pasta was cooked perfectly, and, as my wife said, it was the best blondie dessert she's ever had. The service was warm, attentive, and professional from start to finish. The cocktails were also outstanding--easily on par with some of the best we've enjoyed in major cities across the country. This restaurant exceeded our expectations in every way. It's clear the team takes pride in every detail, from the food and drinks to the hospitality. My wife and I will absolutely be back. Bravo to the entire staff for an unforgettable dining experience!

Great ambiance, nice staff, good food, decent portion sizes, but slow service…read more I feel like it would be rude to give this a harsh 1 star review like the others, we ordered two orders of truffle fries and a salad and it took 25 minutes to get them. In the mean time the wife and I just drank. Had a Lyre Rum Moscow Mule Mocktail, it was similar tasting to the real thing.

The copper crow is great they have unique dishes! I loved the stuffed haddock! Also the calamari…read morewas good! They have lots of seating and a cute lounge area! Great for a date night.

We had a reservation Saturday evening before visiting the Egg. The host was super duper friendly…read moreand he immediatelly brought us to a small two top in the back dining area. The wine by the glass list was limited and fifty percent was vegan. I ordered the Mosen German Reisling which is more sweet than I prefer but there were no other options. My guy ordered a brown beer on tap, i'm unsure the name. We started with appetizers crab rangoon dip with crispy delicious wonton chips. And the second mozzarella eggrolls. I would pass on the eggrolls im the future. The motz is advertised smoked but lacked a smoky flavor. The Harissa had the spice level simular to Heinz ketchup. My entree was a Cuban sandwich that did deliver some heat, well pressed with plenty of pickles. We would love to see a wider wine selection and a turn up on the spice and flavor for the appetizers.

Perfect everything. Absolute wow. Have been wanting to come…read moreto Seneca for a while now and so we made a reservation for an after graduation celebration which is super easy to do on their website. Upon walking in the host and servers were super nice and we were seated promptly. The space itself is super nice! Not crowded at all but definitely means you should make a reservation as they are super popular! Food was amazing! DO NOT MISS THE ROLLS! I'd come back just for the rolls, they were so soft, fluffy, and light with the perfect flaky salt on top to balance with the whipped honey butter. Delicious! Everything else was also great, the hanger steak is also tender and loved the hash that came with it and the crab spaghetti had ample crab meat in it. Presentation was gorgeous. Love the seasonal menus and you really can't go wrong with anything here. We skipped out on dessert but I'm sure there's great options too. Highly recommend and hope to be back!

Very pretty, smaller venue with great service. Our server Jake was very friendly and attentive- he…read morewas wonderful! What we ordered: -Berry cosmo 5/5, sweet but strong. -House made Parker house rolls: 5/5, these are a MUST. They are so light and airy and they come with a nice spread of whipped butter -Coal fired beets: 5/5, these pistachio butter was so creative and it comes with a big ball of burrata -Lamb lollipops: 5/5, very tender/easy to eat, only comes with 3 -Crab spaghetti: 3.9/5, overall good but it was more like crab cake than actual pieces of crab -Salmon (guest rating): 5/5, large piece of salmon with unique flavors intertwined -Wagyu burger (guest rating): 5/5, great flavor and the tomato jam that comes with the fries is sweet and great but I wish the fries alone were more exciting, very boring unseasoned potatoes -Hanger steak (guest rating + me taste testing): 4/5, cooked very well and I love the presentation with the potato cubes but the marinate is kind of boring

THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH STARS TO RATE DAMON BAEHREL!!!!! The hubs and I were extremely lucky and…read morefortunate in being able to come here to celebrate my birthday!!! Damon Baehrel, which is named after the chef himself, is probably considered the most exclusive restaurant in the world. It is literally a one-man show, as Chef Baehrel is the one who cooks, serves, and hosts a 5-6+ hour-dining experience for his guests at his beautiful home on his 12-acre property in upstate NY. As most know, this restaurant is booked solid until the year 2026, and they have not been taking any reservations/adding parties onto their waiting list since last year/'14 (this is for an indefinite period of time) - you bet your tootin' bootin' that I felt so victorious for bypassing others on the list by 11+ years!!! (Just note that it really doesn't matter 'who' you are, 'who' you know, and/or if you come equipped with a list of multiple referrals.) Known for his 'Native Harvest Cuisine,' every single item on his menu (besides the seafood that is brought fresh from Nova Scotia from his private supplier) is made/created/raised on the premise - when I mean every item, I mean EVERY item, from the flours, pressed oils, vinegars, breads, to the curing his own meats and aging his own cheeses! This restaurant is the epitome and the prime definition of what 'farm-to-table' should really be! We were welcomed warmly from Chef Baehrel, and I was super excited that we were his only guests for the evening - YES, IT WAS JUST THE 3 OF US, THE HUBS, ME, AND THE CHEF!!! (I think I literally sobbed right on the spot). Our super private dining experience was about 5.5+ hours, but actually flew right on by and was like a total dream - we were given a multi-course menu (about 24-26+ items, including some handful of extras since the Chef was just super excited in having us(!!!)), that featured seasonal, organic plants/fruits/vegetables/trees from his property, in addition to a lovely educational overview of each of the ingredients used for the dish. I just couldn't believe at some of the ingredients that he had used, and how each of them had a distinct flavor (and were all actually edible/okay for human consumption!) - it was amazing to listen to the experimentation, the time spent, the punctuality of harvesting such items throughout the year, and the multiple aging/preserving/curing process that he does. I had a lovely wine pairing with the multi-course dinner (delicious champagne, reds, whites, and dessert wines), while the hubs had homemade juice pairings made from the luscious fruits/tree saps (super delicious and refreshing!). The love, the passion, and the excitement from the chef was just purely an eye-opener, and this literally was the BEST DINING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE!!! BELIEVE THE HYPE (of the very few limited ones there are) - Chef Baehrel will change your life and exceed any and all expectations that you may/will have!!! You have to go there to experience it personally, as there are no words to describe such a unique experience - the overwhelming appreciation that you obtain in tasting the raw essence of the ingredients that are found around you was truly truly truly remarkable - Chef Baehrel is a GENIUS! Just note that there is no photography/video/recording equipment/note-taking allowed inside the restaurant, so PLEASE be respectful to the Chef (and, shame on those 'bloggers' who disregard/circumvent around this request/policy!). I cannot wait to go back! :D +BEST DINING EXPERIENCE EVER!!! +Chef Damon Baehrel :D +Native Harvest Cuisine :D +5.5+ dining experience :D +no photography/video/recording equipment allowed inside the restaurant - please be respectful!

Much has already been written about Damon Baehrel so I will try and be succinct. I put in my…read morereservation request in August 2012 and fully expected a 5-year minimum wait but to my delight I was able to snag a "special seating" on a Sunday at 4pm. It helps to be flexible with your dates and within driving distance. 20 courses (!), 4.5 hours. 5 hour round trip drive. 1 car rental. Completely worth it. Damon Baehrel is the ultimate host, completely charming and engaging. My wife and I were the only guests and it was awesome! Not awkward at all. What I loved about the meal, besides his "Native Harvest" dishes, was that by the end of it you can start to understand his botany heavy food lexicon, as certain themes started to emerge. Stevia and clover as thickening agents, all sap everything, powders galore, nut flours, fermentation trickery, homemade cheese. Homemade everything! (except some salt and the seafood/wine). Hearing his insanely detailed and clever course preparations makes you feel guilty about eating all of these small bites in less than 30 seconds. Damon paces the meal perfectly, always happy to chat and answer your questions at length. He takes great satisfaction in his cooking and sharing his techniques. This meal is about learning the process as much as it is about eating, and both are better for it. There were some items that sounded cooler than they tasted, but overall each dish was solid. The highlights for me were the teal duck and the duck egg "creme brulee". I guess I like duck. If you are fortunate enough to get a reservation here come with an open mind and don't expect a rich fancy-pants food experience or you will be disappointed. PS - Leaving a one-star review for a restaurant you have never eaten at just because you can't get a reservation is pathetic.

A wonderful dinning experience. Excellent service, food, and atmosphere. Will find a way to return…read moreto Manchester just to dine there.

Having visited Silver Fork in Manchester on a number of occasions over the years, I finally…read morerealized I've never written a review. Well, now is the time. We re-visited the restaurant recently for our 40th wedding anniversary, and I think it's only fitting to offer a view on what is best described as a bastion of excellence and gracious dining in Manchester village, Vermont. Situated in a refurbished former library building, the Silver Fork's setting, decor, and dining experience is indeed textbook flawless. Inside the upscale eatery evokes mid-century Moderne, a setting for the once popular Madmen TV period drama series; tony, chic, but hardly ostentatious and overbearing. On the contrary the high ceilings, lighting and space combine to offer that frozen glimpse of earlier elegance but alongside very contemporary culinary offerings. Table spacing accentuates a good use of space. We started with a "Rubies are Forever" Pomegranate cocktail with Pomegranate boba. The menu is large but not overbearing; a good mix of meats, legumes and fish. Equally the starters are enticing. French Onion soup is amazing but on this occasion we both chose the Duck egg roll with a special peanut sauce. Simply extraordinary and with generous duck portions. For an entree, my wife chose Mahi Mahi Fish, beautifully prepared over plantain. Despite being tempted by a brisket with horseradish sauce, the evening special, I chose the Ratatouille. Why? Prepared properly, this is often hard to find. The Chef's presentation of the southern French staple, was beautifully interpreted, accompanied with some goat cheese. We accompanied our meal with a glasses of red wine. For desert we shared the incomparable Caribbean Bread Pudding which is always a hit here. Allow to me to say our server Lynn showed a genuine experience both in the menu and wine list along with a pleasant disposition. We equally had the opportunity to chat with Melody the co-owner who, along with her husband Chef Mark, described their culinary Odyssey before coming to Vermont years ago to establish Silver Fork. Silver Fork presents a genuine chef-prepared culinary experience both in terms of cuisine as well as ambiance and flawless service. We'll be back!

It's a place where I got the best food and drinks. The burgers and salads were very tasty, and the…read moreoverall food was excellent. It's my favorite spot. Thank you

I love having Lost & Found just down the street as an option when my partner and I want something…read morelowkey but delicious. It's a comfortable and cozy space with good drinks and a quite eclectic menu for a place you think is going to be serving up typical bar food. I enjoy their focus on local and in-season ingredients, I'm always keeping an eye on their Instagram to see what their unique specials are; their recent ode to leeks was so tasty. There is always something vegetarian/vegan on the menu so I never have to worry. Brunch here is also a great idea, those house made biscuits are worth stopping in alone. Lost & Found really focuses on highlighting and supporting Albany/the Capital Region whether it's with their ingredients, drinks, or live music so I feel even better about supporting them. Once they start offering a plant-based hot dog so I can join in on the fun and deliciousness of the Wednesday hotdog club I will rush back to give them that 5th star ;)

On a street most people take to get out of Holyoke (one-way), I dare suggest to take a trip IN to…read morethis tavern. After the big St. Patrick's Day Race, we stopped in after Yelp suggested this was both on our way home AND a better bet than the food trucks. We were surprised that parking was a breeze, with multiple entrances. The seating os designed to fit couples or larger groups comfortably, and you can tell the local love to sit around the long bar and chat. We loved our booth! The staff was quick, knew a lot about the different food options, and cocktail selection and beer selection was great. We chose a different cocktail from the list, and shared a bunch of appetizers. The sprouts were good, and the wings were tasty. I think the only thing that got a "nah" was the crab cake. I definitely have it on my list to go back for a meal, noting several dinner specials that met my creative palette.

Woodstone is one of the few good restaurants in Holyoke. Located in the iconic old Elizurs Pub it's…read moredivided into two rooms - bar and 2 person mini booths on one side and largest booths and tables in the second room. Food is consistently good. The rosemary fries are a particular favorite!