Nice looking restaurant outside of Albany, big parking lot, working class/industrial neighborhood. Had high hopes from reviews, my experience was mid. Expecting Italian, got sort of Italian ish. Chicken parm was ok, pasta and sauce was watery. Lamb chop was grilled well, but it was Mediterranean styled..and other dishes on menu wasn't Italian but other genres. Maybe it was Italian at first but now it's not? Part of my disappointment was that I wanted an Italian meal, but didn't get it. Nice place to bring dates, hang out at bar with decent foods. Will not likely return. read more

See all

Went there with my sister and cousins a few weeks ago Everything was fantastic from the bread to the pasta to the shrimp salad and meat dishes Nice wine list and service was fantastic My new favorite Italian restaurant since Nonna Maria's closed ! Love this place! read more

What a fantastic little hidden gem! The menu was exceptional and the food was so delicious! The atmosphere was cozy and quaint. The service was incredibly friendly, and they went above and beyond. Highly HIGHLY recommend!! read more

The calamari is fantastic with kale crisps and a great marinara Chicken Milanese is always excellent with the fresh arugula and tomatoes on top Veal Parm also excellent Great service Owners always come out and say hi read more

Absolutely fantastic! Great food and great drinks. The bread to start was delicious. Wait staff was friendly. We had the poutine and mozzarella fritta for our appetizers. Both were awesome. Best mozzarella sticks we've ever had and poutine was perfectly portioned. For dinner we had the chicken parm stack and the steak, both were really good. Can't wait to go back! read more

IL Faro Restaurant & Bar - Italian Near Me - Menands, New York

See all

My wife and I were looking to celebrate our 2 year anniversary; I looked on Reddit for recommendations for date night dinners. Il Faro was highly recommended! I never knew the place existed! I made a reservation, they accommodated a high chair for us so we could set our 2 month old babies car seat at our table. We were greeted with such happiness, it felt like walking into a friend's house! They graciously gave us champagne to celebrate our anniversary and gave us bread to chow on while waiting for appetizers. They had just updated their menu to fall themed foods and everything we ate was remarkably delicious and tons of flavor!! The service was VERY polite and speedy. My wife was very satisfied with our anniversary meal, and Il Faro turned out to be a place we will be heading back to for more occasions - I have already been recommending it to friends! read more

See all

Highly recommend this restaurant - try the new menu with a Mediterranean flare! The service is always good, along with the food and cocktails. They are changing things up by trying several new Vegan and GF dishes and new beverages on tap like IPAs and B. Nectar cider (may have been the Zombie Killer cherry, excellent). Check it out! read more

We came to this place by accident stopping through Albany on the way back to VA. This place was very memorable, enough to make me write a review. The service was excellent and the people were so attentive and kind, the chef came out to talk to us and our server nick was so hard working and warm. The food was very good and atmosphere cozy yet sophisticated. This place deserves recognition. read more

Absolutely amazing! The service was impeccable & the food was great! The ambiance was so classy & intimate! Best mozzarella sticks in the area!! Definitely will be back to this hidden gem! read more

IL Faro Restaurant & Bar - a sign on a red building - Italian Near Me - Menands, New York

See all

Service and vibe were great. Reasonably priced and yummy food and drinks. Will return!

The food is *excellent* based on what we've had, including calamari, mozzarella planks, eggplant parm, chicken parm, steak, meatballs, cannoli, cheesecake, and some other things, too! By the way, those things may not be listed on the menu using those exact names and they might not be on the menu at all as it changes every week. I imagine they come back around every so often...or so I hope, but I'm also interested in trying whatever else they put on the menu. If there were ever a place I'd want to go for something as simple as spaghetti and meatballs with a red sauce, it would be there. I might ask for a container of that fantastic red sauce to go next time! There's a full bar with a variety of wine, cocktails, and beer. You're certainly not limited to the cocktail list. Ask for whatever you want and you're likely to get something generously boozy! The bar isn't stocked with everything you'd find at a craft cocktail bar, but this isn't a craft cocktail bar. It certainly has the basics and more, including some unique bottles you probably won't find elsewhere. It's definitely a mix of locals who are called out by name as they walk in as well as a variety of anonymous diners. So, you can decide to keep to yourself and have a great quiet dinner, or join the conversation amongst the regulars at the bar. If you're interested in a private party, there's a room for that as well as an expanded menu, if you arrange for that ahead of time. Aside from the private room, it doesn't seem like reservations are necessary, but calling ahead probably wouldn't hurt. The kitchen closes around 9, but the bar stays open later. How late depends on the crowd that night. You can call to find out if they're still going if it's getting late. The parking lot is a bit tight and may be full when you go. There's street parking, so no worries. We look forward to going back sooner or later for more tasty things! read more

Oh. My. Gracious! Rarely does a restaurant present near perfection on all fronts, but Il Faro certainly does! From the considerate seating, to sharing of menu favorites by staff, to the mouthwatering AMAZING food, I just couldn't find a mark it missed. The lighting is dimmed but not dark and the (fabulous) music is present but not overbearing. If I had a nickel for every time I uttered "THIS IS SOOOO GOOD!" while letting my eyes roll back in my head as J chewed, I could've covered dinner! You won't regret it! read more

The food at Il Faro is amazing!! Not only is the atmosphere warm and inviting, the owner is gracious and really cares about everyone who enters the restaurant. I can't recommend this restaurant enough. We are lucky to have them so close to us. read more

First time here and had a nice dinner before a show at the Egg. Service was good and food outstanding. A little off the beaten path but worth exploring Menands to find it.. read more

This is a little hidden gem in North Albany! The owners are so friendly and kind. My last experience here was my best yet. The food was amazing - cooked to perfection and teeming with flavor! We sat outside and on their new patio and it was lovely. It's a must try!! read more

IL Faro rocks - if only you were open every night. Good food, good ambiance.... You can't go wrong.

1 个月前 The place is unique and the food is good. Definitely a homey place to enjoy a good meal. read more

Parking: easy at 6:30 on a wed night Ambience: bar was full (seems like everyone knew each other?), tables a little more sporadic, plenty of seating. Nice atmosphere, potentially romantic. Service: excellent. Server was a young girl, she was very attentive, and on top of her game. Food: App- got a fried eggplant with burrata and roasted red peppers. Loved it. The contrast between hot breaded and fried eggplant vs chilled burrata was awesome. Main - penne a la vodka with chicken. Tasted great. A little creamier and not as tomatoey as I'm used to, but tasted very good. Chicken was... a little diff. Not the typical grilled chicken I'm used to. It almost reminded me of fried tempura? Can't complain about the taste, it was very good, just diff from what I expected. Dessert: tiramisu and coffee was a great way to cap dinner. Tiramisu was as tasty as I anticipated, did not disappoint. All in all, I'll be frequenting this place again! read more

See all

Family of three dined on lamb chops, monk fish, chicken parm and homemade mozzarella sticks. Food and service were excellent and very reasonably priced. It maybe our new favorite spot. Can't wait to return! read more

In Albany on business as I reside in California. Yelp is always my "go to" and when in NY, I must have Italian. Great reviews for Il Faro and even though the location was a little distance from my hotel, the Yelp reviews lured me to this place. Boy, am I glad it did!!! First off, Jessica (go Aztecs) was super nice and very helpful on menu selections! I started off with a glass of Merlot and a Caesar salad - nice, smooth wine and a large portion salad (could be for two but I was not to be denied in eating the entire salad myself)! Excellent!!! Then, Jessica recommended the Seafood Risotto, a seasonal item with lobster, shrimp, and mussels. Texture was great, risotto cooked perfectly, and a generous portion of seafood. Glad I listened! No dessert for me on this stop, so full from the great food. read more

IL Faro Restaurant & Bar - Italian Near Me - Menands, New York

See all

Tonight we made reservations for my friends birthday! We all had the best time, food was the best in the area by far, service was impeccable, staff was so personal and professional! Recommend a visit to enjoy this ambiance where one of the partners checks every table. Definitely going back read more

Il Faro is consistently one of our favorite restaurants in the capital region. It brings together good customer service with great food. The menu is largely Italian but a more contemporary take rather than a heat plate of red sauce and cheese. Everything we have had there has been good. Some items that we would recommend not passing over: - the soups are very good. - the seafood is well prepared and always fresh - the sauces are always quite flavorful. The owners (Jess and Chris) have been welcoming our family for more than three years now and we keep coming back for more! read more

Came here for Yelp restaurant week and received 30% off our food bill. I am so glad they were on the list. I will now be a regular! My significant other forgot his reading glasses. Our waitress was extremely friendly and attentive. She was quick to bring him a pair of cheaters. We began with a glass of wine and some bread! They have drink specials til 7 pm. Very reasonably priced drinks. As an appetizer we ordered the melanzana rollanti. The ricotta cheese was so light and creamy. The eggplant was cooked perfectly. There was just enough sauce to compliment the eggplant but not overpower it. It was so good, you converted an eggplant hater into a lover!!! My SO has never liked any eggplant before. I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs and my SO ordered Shrimp Scampi. Both meals were served nice and hot and the portions were very generous. The shrimp in the scampi were large and cooked to perfection. We asked that they go lighter on the garlic and they seasoned it perfectly. The spaghetti was served with three large meatballs. They were very tender and I was able to really taste the spices. We choose cheese cake with berries as our dessert, but frankly we were so stuffed we brought most of it home. I plan on trying many of their desserts at a later date. As a bonus I found out the last Saturday of every month, they show an old movie. What a great idea!!! One of the owners, Jessica, made a point to walk around and greet customers and ensure we were satisfied with everything! Jessica, thank you for a wonderful meal and such a pleasant evening!! read more

See all

Starting off with a warm and friendly waitress and a nice ambiance, we knew we were in for a good evening. Starting off with fresh, hot rolls with really flavorful olive oil. We had the penne vodka, the shrimp scampi, the prosciutto pea Alfredo and vegetables WOW! Real Italian all the way! The sauces are all homemade and taste it! read more

IL Faro Restaurant & Bar - Beautiful ambiance - Italian Near Me - Menands, New York

Came here for my birthday and received exceptional service and food! Great Italian restaurant with various options. The waitress was super friendly and generous -- threw in a tiramisu cake that was on the house. Definitely will come back again!!! read more

See all

I love this place!! The food is absolutely incredible and so is the staff!! 10/10 highly recommend

This was our first and last visit. Our waitress was excellent. But we did ask her if they could turn the heat up (or on) as it was cold. We kept our coats on, as did the others in the room while we were dining. The manager (who is also the owner) insisted it was plenty warm at 67. Please note we were next to the register that stated it was 62. The food was ok at best. (I will say the fried cookie dough was to die for!) But for the price, more was expected out of the meal and we shouldn't have had to eat with out coats on. read more

My mother has been trying to bring me here for a few weeks. Somehow for how long we've lived in Albany we haven't been here before. Now my mothers been back here 4 times in the last few months. Great to have classics on the menu while also having some different items. Chicken parm was excellent, loved the "stack" with mozzarella layered in between. We decided to splurge and get dessert even though we were so full, and it was so worth it. The layers of chocolate were silky and smooth, with a thin layer of biscotti as the base. Meals were also very reasonable, with the perfect amount of food. read more

See all

We made a reservation online for my sister's b-day dinner. The owner welcomed us warmly when we arrived, greeted my sister by name, and offered a sincere "Happy Birthday" to her. Talk about a great start to a great evening! Service = 5 stars! The food was exceptional as well... here's what we had: **Two generously portioned appetizers shared by three hungry women** Caprese Salad = 4 stars. The mozzarella was the firm but still have a wonderfully creamy taste. It was so good, I had to ask the waitress where they got the moz, which was from NJ. :-D Antipasto Freddo = 3 stars. This was on the special menu recommended by the waitress. The vinaigrette was bright and fresh. It has mushrooms, roasted red peppers, hot peppers, and artichoke hearts, all over a bed of fresh greens. What I would do differently? I would prefer olives instead of the hot peppers, but that is just because i'm an olive freak. **Entrees** Cozze Marinara Fra Diavolo = 5 stars. The 2 dz (yes we counted!) mussels were cooked in a white wine sauce before they joined a happy plate of linguini in a red wine tomato sauce. My mother enjoyed this pasta dish with great enthusiasm. Sidebar: 5 of the mussels were undercooked and their shells were not opened. The owner came over to apologize and then offered to have the mussels replaced. The chef actually made a full portion, brand new dish for her to take home! All that trouble for five mussels. We very much appreciate everyone's dedication to perfection at Il Faro!!! Linguini w/ Vongole = 5 stars. 1 dz of little neck clams were cooked perfectly in a garlicky buttery white wine sauce. The linguini made the perfect bed for these happy clams. The birthday girl specifically asked for Italian for her birthday dinner and it surely made her night! Crab Stuffed Shrimp = 4 stars. This was also on the special menu. Lightly seasoned crab meat stuffing nested neatly under 4 plumpy fresh shrimps, which were seated over a bed of cheesy herby risotto. The ensemble was lovely, but it was a bit hard to keep the crab stuffing from falling out into the risotto. I found myself eating the risotto with most of the stuffing and the shrimps by themselves. Not bad overall. But if there's a way to make the stuffing stay put on the shrimps, that would be the ideal construction. Gamberetto Marinara Fra Diavolo = 5 stars. This was ordered as a take out for my hubby who unfortunately had a toothache and couldn't join us at the last minute. 6 shrimps were nested in a bed of linguini in the same red wine tomato sauce as mentioned above. The toothache did not slow my hubby down one bit because the pasta sauce was so good that it was almost therapeutic! LOL. **Dessert** Chocolate Tartufo = 5 stars. A ball shaped chocolate shell containing chocolate and vanilla flavored gelato enveloping a maraschino cherry. The birthday girl chose this free dessert without hesitation. A happy candle and a lovely birthday tune helped us celebrate her birthday in the most proper way! Spumoni Tartufo = 5 stars. Instead of vanilla, this came with strawberry, pistachio, and chocolate flavored gelato. Yum! Thank you, Il Faro! We will be back after your renovation! Can't wait! read more

See all

Food was pretty good. I had the veal parm (they had a fancier name, with Parmigiana Vitello or something close to that). Good portion side with 2 veal cutlets. Veal could be more tender and perhaps pounded out a bit more. Sauce is slightly on the sweet side. Side offered defaults to pasta (spaghetti) or broccoli rabe (vegetable of the day?). I opted for the pasta. Pasta could have used more sauce. If it was just based on the food this review would be a 3.5 perhaps rounded up to 4. Why 3 stars? The wait was about 45 minutes (I did time this) from when the order was taken to when the food came up. On a slow tuesday night that is just too long of a wait (I have to work the next day). There were only 3 other tables with people before us and it appears that the kitchen really can't crank out food fast enough. Also, while I appreciate kitchen holding the meals so everyone at the table can be served at the same time, my meal was lukewarm while a seafood dish my friend got was piping hot. Service was good. I did see other food going by and they looked good. read more

My daughter (that lives in Italy) just finished a 15 days camp in the area and express desire to have Ravioli. So I researched and founded Il Faro and when we were there and I saw the menu I decided to go for linguine and Vongole .......Mamma mia .... no even in NY where I live since 12 years I experienced a good linguine with vongole like this.... the ravioli where good to and good selection of wines with well proportioned price. Service very prompt and present. If I'll be back around I'll return to try something else from the menù!! Only concern .... guys don't suggest Parmesan cheese with fish dishes...... usually fish doesn't go with cheese!! read more

We were just in the city for a day and decided to check out a loca Albany restaurant. I order a wine flight that comes with your choice of four wines from their listing at a reasonable price. Today we enjoyed the Braised Brisket Bolognese and Veal Parmigiana Stack. I had the brownie/ice cream, a friend had the cheesecake, and another the cannoli's. All the desserts were excellent! Entrees were decent. Highly recommended for a nice happy hour date, drinks/small plates. Nice ambiance Our server Cameron was great as was the manager. Both very hands on. My friends' individual ratings are #1: Rating 3/5 - staff was great but the food was okay, desert was amazing, nice portion sizes. #2: Rating 4/5 staff wonderful! Food solid and the cannoli is DELICIOUS! Great portion sizes read more

Try this restaurant during yelp week, it's been a lot of different bars and restaurants, but this re-edit is a nice change . The interior is very modern yet subtle, expose brick walls , local art throughout. Painted dark but plenty of lights in the dining area and large windows across the front. The menu is simple and I found out will change this summer to incorporate the many fresh vegetables from the area farms. I order a modern take on pollo saltimbucco and my dinner companion order pollo francese , both were cooked to order so there will be a wait but they came to the table piping hot, the saltimbucco came on a bed of spinach and I got the side of penne with their home made sauce. Everything was delicious, the sauce was good , very simple, just not to flavorful, but it was nice. I also sampled my companion side dish was green bean they where great sweet and crunchy and flavorful. Who knew beans could be great. We didn't stay for dessert, but got their cannoli to go, which when we opened it at home found a nice surprise of two in the container. All in all I would definitely come back and see what their revamped summer menu will be like, also they have happy hour from 5 to 7 pm so beer , wine and some drinks are on special. read more

IL Faro Restaurant & Bar - My pollo saltimbocca - Italian Near Me - Menands, New York

We've been there 3 or 4 times now and have never been disappointed. Food is great and owners and staff are very welcoming. Love receiving their weekly menu in email. Great place and great atmosphere. Definitely one of our favorites! read more

One of the best restaurants in America, let alone Albany! The food is so good and the people are great. Jenn is so charming and attentive and I just love coming here. read more

I have visited I'll Faro many times since my review and, although it still is a bit noisy and at times cold, I need to emphasize that the food, service, and ownership is among the best in the area. I have to mention specifically two dishes I've had: the pizza, when available, which is deliciously light and chewy and the eggplant parm which is the best I've had locally; crisp breading over perfectly cooked eggplant. I'm still a stickler for not serving naked pasta with a plop of sauce, but what sauce is there is very good. No matter how busy, owners Jessica and Chris find time to visit every table not only to ensure everything is okay but to just chit-chat. A personal touch that was evident in Jessica 's response to my earlier criticism of the Caesar salad. I'll Faro has become one of our reliable choices. read more

The hospitality here is seriously off the charts. They make you feel like family instantly and will go out of their way to do whatever possible to let you enjoy your time - almost to the point where I feel like I'm taking advantage of their kindness. Their service is incredible. I wish the Olive Garden hadn't diluted the phrase "when you're here, you're family" into ambiguity and cliche, because you really do feel like family when you visit. Amazing, amazing, amazing service. Two visits back we brought our friends with their 6 year old and he was immediately given some coloring books, crayons, and friendly attention. Just an example of the level of care and attention they put into their hospitality. And of course the food is always super fresh and delicious. Mozzarella sticks are still out of this world. Had the mushroom ravioli on last visit and I don't even like mushrooms and I loved this dish. Wine list is great. They always have new and exciting beers on draft. They are just really on top of what they're offering, how they offer it, and how everyone responds. Il Faro really sets the standard of hospitality and fresh, delicious food. read more

See all

Everything in the beginning was spot on, from calling and making the reservation to calling and confirming just to relieve my anxiety (it was Valentine's Day). The two women I spoke to on the phone were so nice and helpful. Arriving, my date and I both received a beautiful rose as well as an array of menus. Lots of options! Our waitress started us off with water and drinks! We ordered the calamari and kale chips and man!! Those two go together so nicely. The kale was seasoned perfectly and the calamari was just enough crispy. I would have never expected those two to go together. On to our main course, we ordered our entrees and waiting anxiously. My date is Italian and we hardly ever go to any Italian restaurants because I have to have gluten free pasta (people forget the its pasta that needs to get cooked and we just come for the sauces). When I picked this restaurant it was because under each entree they had (GFO) written in. Meaning gluten free option. So I assumed when the tortellini entree had a gluten free option there might be gf tortellini? I knew it was a stretch though so I talked to our waitress about it who said she has never sold an gf entree before (understandable), but not the best thing to here. There is no gf tortellini and there is only one gf pasta available (I'm okay with that) which is rotini. I could have asked over the phone but the website or menu could better clarify that. Anyways. My date ordered the clam linguini and I got the Gamberreto marinara. When our food came out the presentation was amazing except I noticed red pepper flakes all over my pasta that would make it the fra diavolo. I figured I'd at least try it and see if I could handle the spice instead of say something but it definitely packed some heat! I couldn't! I got the attention of the waitress who wasn't the one who set the plates down and let her know, she apologized and said she would figure it out, she handled it very well and I did not feel like any of the blame was on me because most of the time I feel that way when I say my order is wrong. I eventually got my dish and was asked if I wanted Parmesan when the food runner had none in her hands so I declined even though I wanted some. I just wanted to eat at this point, since my date had been eating the last 8 minutes. Sadly though, the noodles were not cooked all the way which is understandable considering the rush to get it out. The sauce was wonderful, I was more envious of my dates dish in which she "mmm'd"! After each bite. After our dishes were delivered our waitress was so hard to get the attention of, we wanted dessert but after waiting to just see our waitress let alone her come to our table we decided against it. I feel like we were waiting for thirty minutes just trying to get the check, and someone else bagged up our food. My leftover food was good once I heated it up, the noodles cooked. Overall the food is amazing. The host staff was amazing, my experience with the wait staff was not the best but it will not prevent us from giving it another try. Anyone reading this needs to get the calamari! read more

See all

Il Faro is a hidden gem, it's nestled in a quiet neighborhood. Inside it has the feel of your local restaurant where your business is always welcome. We started with the house salad and fried calamari. The house salad was what you would expect-pure, clean, and crisp with just enough acid to balance the smooth flavor of the EVOO. The calamari was lightly breaded, perfectly cooked, and complemented nicely by the kale chips. My sole francese was phenomenal. Lemon, butter, and the most delicate fish. It was perhaps one of the most delicious versions of sole I've had. The penne was also noteworthy. The tomato sauce delicious, and the penne light and al dente. The eggplant parmigiana was also fantastic. Well cooked, thoughtfully breaded, and served in a portion large enough to allow for plenty of leftovers. Lastly, the shrimp scampi was also delicious. It needed just a hint of salt and perhaps a squeeze of lemon to make it perfect. Overall we enjoyed great service, which made our delectable meal even more enjoyable. read more

See all

Writing good reviews about really nice restaurants where you have absolutely no complaints is so sickly sweet I'm almost reeling from this high of good will and happiness and I'm now SO ready to hug everyone and genuinely love them too. Yes, this is really Zena. Now back off. OK where was I. Oh, right - Il Faro is small and family run, has a traditional menu, but the food is stepped up a notch - or I'd say two. Think veal and pasta and calamari and lasagna, but with fresh pasta and really good bread and thoughtful ingredients and careful preparation. Red and I started with a House Salad that could have fed three ($8) - soft greens, red onion, tomatoes and olives tossed with a light vinaigrette. Red almost polished off a generous serving of Penne Vodka ($14) smooth and rich and light on the tomato. Yes, I had the Chicken Parm ($17) - now you KNOW it's really me. A bit heavy on the sauce, but the taste of the breading came through with it's all parmy saltiness, and lovely crisp edges to the tender chicken filets. The side of house-made capellini was amazing. I could have hugged it as well. Get out to Menands, eat Italian, hug someone. xxx Zena, Goddess of Fire read more

IL Faro Restaurant & Bar - Chicken Parm. Yes it's me! - Italian Near Me - Menands, New York