Loved the cocktails. Loved the staff. Loved the vibe…read more It was calm, dark, and cozy. It was a really great spot to end my night out with my husband to chat and have a well made cocktail. We can't wait to go back!

Always enjoyable. Usually quite as a good cocktail bar should be. Great drinks, good small plates…read more The bartenders take their time explaining and making your drinks.

From start to finish, I was really unimpressed with The Daisy. Starting in the small crowded entry…read moreway, we waited nearly 10 minutes for staff to approach us. We had a reservation at 6pm and felt invisible when we walked in, just to be seated in a table 5 feet away. Maybe they were understaffed, but friendly staff could have gone a long way here. We started with cocktails and they were all good. We didn't really have opportunities to order more, so I only tried one. We started with the Fried Burrata and Caesar salad. The fried buratta was delicious but not enough bread, or a spoon served with it so most of the sauce went to waste. We loved the pesto on the dish. The Caesar salad was extremely underdressed and under seasoned. None of us enjoyed it. We then ordered entrees, I got the flat iron and they ordered the carbonara and the burger. The flat iron was ordered rare, and served blue. The steak and sauce on it was cold. I didn't complain because I didn't want to try and call her over, they did not check on us after the food was delivered. The sauce on it was okay but I think it took away from the flavor of the meat, very strong cumin and chili flavor, a little gritty. The fries were good and the broccolini was mushy and overcooked. The carbonara was also a miss, it was overly peppered and unpleasant to eat. This dish was ultimately sent back and we explained it was overly peppered and inedible, and she ordered something else. My friend who ordered the burger really enjoyed it and it looked great. The server was not accommodating at all and barely checked on us. We sent food back and the server just threw it away without a thought in the world, and it remained on the bill. At this point we just wanted to pay and leave. Bad service can ruin a night, and it put a damper on our girls night out. My photos came out impeccable, unfortunately most of it looked better than it tasted. I could look over bad service if the food was great, but when neither is, it's a hard pass from me.

Great location & ambiance, great service and great food. Interesting creative menu and everything…read morewas well prepared for all 4 of us. Very impressive cocktails and even have their own infused spirits! I did think the Sea Bass was a high price for the size of the fish and would order something else next time.

What a beautiful restaurant!…read more Did you ever have a long day and want to drink a big glass of red wine with dinner? The Scarlet Knife put a check in all the boxes. I walked in with no reservations. I noticed the space is very large with multiple dining rooms. I'm tired, I asked for a table close to the open kitchen. Once seated, I'm given a large, leather menu. There are lots of great entree choices but after I review all the selections, I'm going with the SK Bistro Burger. The entree also has a wine pairing suggestion, a Cabernet Sauvignon. It's like they read my mind, I'm sold! I'm starting to read about the restaurant, they have a large wine cellar and was recognized by Wine Spectator with an award for excellence. My bistro burger arrives, I can see this is a well crafted burger. From the pretzel bun to the thick burger patty, Scarlet Knife served me a great meal that I would typically order at The Capital Grill. My only issue, the onion straws were cold. I scraped them off and continued with my meal. I'm just passing thru town, Scarlet Knife was a fantastic spot to dine and have a generous pour of award winning Cabernet Sauvignon.

Scarlet Kitchen has been on our must try list and I was happy to find they had availability for…read moreEaster brunch and were serving their typical brunch menu. We arrived early and were seated promptly; water was poured before we even had napkins on laps. This surprised me, as reviews indicated that service could be slow and this was a holiday. But this started a constant service of someone checking in on us every 2-3 minutes (I am prone to exaggeration for a good story, but I assure you this was true. I kept checking my watch to confirm). We put in an appetizer order (deviled eggs) that was served within a minute or two. These were well seasoned and tasty, ice cold from the refrigerator. It's not that they didn't taste fresh, but they were served to us so quickly that I know that they were prepared well in advance and only the warm pork belly was recently prepped. Our meals were served as the appetizer was finished (I was still chewing). At this point, we were 10 minutes into our seating. Our meals included steak and eggs, which I incorrectly assumed would require a little bit more time. Not true! Our plates arrived, piping hot and tasty enough...but boy did we feel rushed. Our server, the manager, bussers, and other attendants stopped by our table every few minutes. I recognize this was a holiday, but there was not a steady stream of people coming through the doors and plenty of open tables were available. Our conversation was repeatedly interrupted with these check-ins and we all took great care to eat the meal as slowly as possibly to stretch things out. At this point we were on track to be out the door in 30 minutes. As a table we made a decision to order dessert and we were able to savor and dawdle long enough to get us to one hour. $180 later, we finished our Easter visit out in the parking lot where no one was pushing us out. (I will note that several families arrived after us and completed their meals in 30ish minutes. What's special about brunch when it's that rushed?) I wish I could review the food better, but my taste buds hardly had time to register the experience. Entrees were hot but clearly prepared well in advance and kept at the ready under heat lamps or in warming ovens. The dessert was cold and sweet as appropriate, but had that prepped yesterday feel to it. This is not what I expect from a restaurant that markets itself as a fresh farm to table establishment. I don't quite regret going to Scarlet Knife, but there are enough quality restaurants in the greater area that I probably won't return.

Loved supporting this black owned business! We came on a Saturday night and there was a DJ playing…read morea good mix of everything. Our mocktails were super tasty and tropical with a hint of guava! Bartenders were also friendly. There's some additional seating upstairs and in the back patio area.

Have been a couple of times. The owner and staff are very friendly. They have some interesting…read morebottles to try. When I did not know what I wanted, the owner actually took some time to tell me about some of the different bottles they have. That's customer service! You see that so little these days. Plus there is a cool little outdoor area in the back that you could not even tell is there from the outside. Best of luck to you!

This restaurant is everything I don't really like, but I still had a good time. We arrived after…read moremaking reservations the day of on a Saturday evening at 7:45PM. It was darkly lit inside (with pinkish/red lights no less); it was extremely loud to the point that I had trouble understanding what my wife was saying (which might not be the background music!); and the prices were expensive. The entire night they played 1980s New-wave British music which I don't mind, but had it been something I detest I would have lost my mind. We were seated at a tiny table with a small candle which provided some actual heat on the cold winter night. Our server was extremely helpful and though he didn't have all the answers he did offer to go and find out. They have a long menu but it doesn't have a lot of food options on it, with most of the pages devoted to alcohol. They had only one dessert option when we were there. My wife and I both ordered the Hanger Steak with fries, mushroom sauce, and green salad (about $40 each). Hanger steak is my favorite cut and hard to find so I jumped on it. Food came out in about 25 minutes, which is amazing considering how small their kitchen is. The steak was cooked perfectly (they didn't ask how we wanted it), smothered in a lovely mushroom sauce, and covered an ample portion of crispy homemade fries which were so good I would have thought them bagged frozen items. Even the basic salad which was just various types of lettuce was great. They aren't cheap, but they are focusing on "farm to table" and that means quality food at commensurate (fair?) prices. Burgers and chicken sandwiches are $15, so if you want something lighter but still tasty you can go that route. Speaking of light, if you go into the bathroom on the right you will find a cold, dark, tiny room lit solely by a PINK bulb. It feels like being on a spaceship (as if I know what that is like), and after when you leave seeing the main light in the restaurant is very jarring. It was a fun experience but not inexpensive and not one that checks the boxes that I look for in a restaurant. Dark, loud, and cramped might be hip for the young or "save the earth" crowd, but I am too old to give up creature comforts for such things. The food, though expensive, was absolutely outstanding in every way though and I won't forget that steak for a long time.

We stopped in to celebrate a new graduate in the family. The drinks were so-so. Just not boozy…read moreenough. If I'm going to pay about $15-$18 a cocktail--it better be good! The food here is delicious, three of us ordered the burger and fries and one of us ordered the fettuccine with crab meat. The fries really stood out. My daughter was afraid to order the fettuccine but she was so glad she did. The waitress was super nice and it is cozy inside.

We came here for drinks after dinner downstairs at Emry's Garden. They do not take reservations but…read morethere was plenty of space indoors. The vibes resemble a den/ men's cave. Lots of paintings, mirrors, red velvet, arm chairs. The drinks menu is limited but the bartender can make anything. We got a variety of drinks, they were all good. The music isn't as loud, which makes for a nice evening if you want good conversation.

What a gem in Troy! Dark, warm, cozy, lively spot. Perfect ambiance for a night with family and…read morefriends or a great couples date night. To find a speakeasy with a full food menu is unusual. We arrived slightly after it opened and it was already toasty warm with music playing and we were greeted right away. You can sit wherever you want at the little tables or on the couches. Food was great, drinks were even better and the service was friendly and prompt. The music volume was perfect for talking without shouting. After we ate we took our drinks to the couches and the waitress brought over games without us even realizing there were games. Such a fun night, highly recommend this spot for a really great night out!

WHAT BROUGHT ME HERE Located in the heart of downtown Troy,…read moreEmry's Garden stood out to me as it sits on the corner of an intersection in direct view of cars passing over the bridge into the city. I decided to eat here in celebration of getting a new job in the city. THE ATMOSPHERE Arriving at 8pm on a Friday night, the whole restaurant was packed. I made reservations so we were seated immediately. There was almost no overhead lighting- instead, most of the restaurant was lit by downward-lighting lamps at each table. Each table had a jar of flowers which added nice color to the environment; it was woodsy, but not in the polished, laminated sense. It felt more natural, cabin-like, combining well with the shrubbery, paintings with big frames, natural lighting from windows, and giant mirrors. The place was small, packed, and loud with people and background music. That's my only minor complaint; it was quite loud from all the people and everything was tight together, and I think the music was good, but would be even better with some more abstract, atmospheric score. This isn't the place to watch the game; there's no TV's. But it is the place to order a fancy cocktail or a Banana Bread Old Fashioned. And there is a bar. THE SERVICE I happened to know our waitress from high school on accident and she was wonderful. We were checked up on frequently, our food arrived fast, and the conversation was enjoyable. THE FOOD I ordered the Mickey's Riggies, a Rigatoni dish in marinara sauce mixed with peppers, chicken, mushroom, and Parmesan cheese. Flawless. My friend & I also got Bavarian Pretzel sticks as our starter and man, that buffalo sauce was good. Costed $60 without tip. THE BATHROOM My design professor once said if you want to understand the personality of a restaurant, check out its bathroom. Well, that didn't really apply to this place. The men's bathroom was a little jank, unlike the great atmosphere of the restaurant itself. It wasn't disgusting, just a little jank. BONUS: THE SPEAKEASY Yes, there's a speakeasy, but you're not going to learn about it on this Yelp review. You should visit it yourself if you get the chance. Dress up.

They are normally closed on Sunday, but opened for a Mother's Day Brunch. They should have stayed…read moreclosed. The service was terrible and the kitchen was a disaster. We waited almost 2 hours for our food and when it came out it was not worthy of the wait. The staff and management had no idea what to tell us and kept saying that the food was almost ready. After waiting 1 and a half hours they just threw up their hands and said there was nothing they could do about it. They took money off the bill, but the experience was a big zero!

My recent experience at Finn's was exemplary from beginning to end…read more I stopped by Finn's with a colleague for dinner. The exterior and the surrounding neighborhood doesn't really give a good indication of the goodness you'll find inside Finn's. Immediately upon entering, I was met with a lovely and bustling dining room. My colleague and I sat comfortably at a high top table. We began our experience with cocktails I got one of their specialty cocktails (it was a rye cocktail--I don't exactly recall the name of it). It was spirit forward and delicious. For my dinner, I got their chicken schnitzel. It was hands down the best chicken schnitzel of my life. It comes piled with a perfectly dressed caesar salad and topped with trout roe. My good gracious--I'll be dreaming of this dish. It was perfection. Our server was so kind and just wonderful throughout our experience. Can't really say enough--wonderful from beginning to end! Get to it!

Finns is in a very interesting area. When our uber first pulled in, we were unsure if we were in…read morethe correct spot. It's a bit chilly inside the small restaurant area. Bring a sweater in the winter time. The staff is fantastic. We went as a party of 8. The menu is small and absolutely delicious. We ordered most of the apps as a table and each ordered an entree and dessert One of the best meals of my life. Get the chicken schnitzel if you can. You won't regret it.

While on a brewery crawl with friends in Rensselaer County, I made sure we stopped at Ilium, mostly…read morebecause of the current Yelp buzz there. Make sure you follow the street numbers, because the doorway to the west says "Ilium" above it, but the tap room is next door. The interior is very inviting, with many comfortable bar stools and seats on the first level, and a lounge upstairs which will seat about 20 people with an assortment of tables and lounge chairs. We were able to chat with the owner/brewer, Mike, for quite a while, he's very outgoing and great for chat. There will be about a dozen pours available on tap, with approximately half of them being their own brews, and the other half being a combination of beers from neighboring breweries, hard seltzers, and ciders. Pours will change about every 2 weeks. There is also a short homemade cocktail list and a reasonable amount of liquors available to make good, basic, cocktails. They will let you sample anything on tap prior to ordering it. I don't know if flights were available, we didn't ask and didn't find out if short pours were available. As someone who likes some carbs and salt as I'm drinking, I really appreciated the warm mid-sized complimentary pretzel that came with each beer. You'll have to check their calendar of events to find out what other types of foods may be available on any given day. Ilium's location in Troy is very convenient, and this is a great add to the list of breweries in the area.

Ilium is another name for Troy. It's a new brewery located inside the Ilium building on Fulton…read moreStreet in downtown Troy. Even though it was a weekday, it was hopping. The Ilium has a nice vibe. It attracted a young crowd. An employee at the door was ready to card some of them.The place was packed. All of the seats at the bar were filled by women who came as a group. Others, a mix of young men and women, filled the booths. I like their specialty cocktails. I think that's what brought many women there. But on this evening we ordered Guinness and pretzels which were very good. Between the seating, lighting and music, it's a comfortable place. As a pre-diabetic, I wish there were more food offerings with protein. That's my only criticism. I know they have really good pizza because I sampled some at a Yelp event. Adding real protein to the menu would help to slow the absorption of alcohol so that customers could stay longer. As for me, it would keep my carbs from spiking especially if I have their yummy cocktails.

Run do not walk!! This is some of the best pizza in the northeast; heck, the country…read more So damn good! Street parking out front. The service is so friendly. Just awesome. And the interior was beautiful. Hard to believe o was in South Troy lol. Not noisy at all - very easy to carry on a conversation. The hangover cake is to die for - wow! Highly recommend!

The food was wonderfully tasteful and our server Mia was very attentive and helpful! We loved the…read moreenvironment and feel of the restaurants ambiance. Will certainly be returning!