Cardona's Market is a traditional Italian market that feels like stepping into a neighborhood deli…read morein Italy. The shelves are stocked with imported pastas, sauces, and specialty items that make it hard to leave empty-handed. I ordered the Chicken Cutlet Sandwich, which was outstanding with a perfectly crispy cutlet and fresh ingredients. The macaroni salad was a great side, and the cannoli was the perfect sweet ending to the meal. If you're looking for authentic Italian flavors and a true old-school market experience in Albany, Cardona's is definitely worth a visit.

My wife and I were in town visiting our daughter and wanted a light lunch before a boat cruise. My…read moredaughter recommended Cardona's and I'm glad she did. The market has that old time vibe of being part of the neighborhood. Amazing selection of Italian goods and some seating. Perhaps most importantly, a really nice selection of creative sandwiches, filled with high quality ingredients, that they can also put on a wrap. I loved the Rabe C, broccoli rabe, fried eggplant, provolone and hot pepper spread. Great flavor combo and a pop of heat from the pepper spread. My wife enjoyed a delicious roast beef wrap and my daughter enjoyed a vibrant pasta salad. All that plus a local orchard sparkling apple cider! Almost forgot to mention, the woman working behind the counter was pleasant and the staff were all professional. I can see why it's a local favorite!

This locally owned shop is a gem on Lark Street. Having read some of the reviews, I saw that the…read moreowners work hard to ensure they have organic/healthy options for neighborhood residents. Sure enough, I found that to be true. I introduced myself as a new resident to the neighborhood and explained that this was my first visit to their store. The owner introduced himself in like and stated if there is anything that I needed but couldn't find, they would do their best to offer it in the future. The store isn't the most organized but it's only because they carry so many different items that you'll be hard-pressed to not find what you need. From groceries, paper products, cleaning supplies, and health and beauty supplies. You'll find lots of natural products which fits the shop's name. Support local businesses! Support this store!

This store is one of the main things I'll miss about living on Lark. Any time I needed something in…read morea pinch I'd head over and Lark Natural Foods would have it, be it tape, batteries, bleach, fresh onions, or an ATM! The owner and his family are amazing people and I'm always happy to be a patron there They also have the sweetest kitty

Rosanna's -- A Genuine Gem That Deserves Every Star There…read moreare restaurants you visit and forget, and then there are restaurants that stay with you long after the last bite. Rosanna's is firmly in the second category -- and after an exceptional dinner that left both of us completely satisfied and already planning our return visit, I cannot recommend this place highly enough. From the moment we walked in, the ambience set the tone for the entire evening. Warm, inviting and thoughtfully designed, Rosanna's strikes that rare balance between intimate and lively -- the kind of space that feels equally suited for a romantic dinner for two or a celebratory night out with people you love. The lighting is soft without being dim, the energy is buzzing without being overwhelming, and every detail of the room communicates that this is a place that genuinely cares about the experience it creates for its guests. The service matched the atmosphere perfectly. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable and genuinely enthusiastic about the menu -- not in a rehearsed, corporate way but in the way that only happens when staff actually love where they work and believe in what they're serving. Questions were answered with confidence and warmth, dietary considerations were handled graciously and without any fuss, and the pacing of the meal felt exactly right. Not rushed, not forgotten -- just perfectly timed. It is the kind of service that makes you feel like a valued guest rather than just another table to turn over. Now the food -- where do we even begin. We started with the Shrimp Balls and they were an immediate knockout. Perfectly seasoned, beautifully presented and gone far too quickly. The arugula dip alongside them was bright and fresh -- a genuinely clever pairing that elevated what could have been a simple appetizer into something memorable. This dish alone would be worth coming back for. For mains we ordered the Wild Mushroom Risotto -- elevated with a grilled shrimp skewer addition that turned an already outstanding dish into a complete and deeply satisfying meal. The risotto was everything a great risotto should be -- creamy without being heavy, deeply savory with layers of earthy mushroom flavor, finished beautifully with truffled pecorino that added just the right amount of richness. The shrimp skewer on top was perfectly grilled, plump and fresh -- a brilliant pairing with the earthiness of the mushrooms. Our dining companion ordered the Boneless Beef Short Ribs which arrived tender, deeply flavorful and beautifully plated -- the kind of dish that makes you close your eyes on the first bite. What makes Rosanna's truly special is that everything works together -- the room, the service, the food and the overall feeling of being genuinely well taken care of. This is not a restaurant that relies on one strong element to carry the others. Every component earns its place. Whether you are celebrating something special, treating someone you love or simply in search of a great dinner in wonderful company -- Rosanna's delivers on every level. Do yourself a favor and make a reservation. You will not regret it. And the pellegrino soda was great I got the blood orange! And we took the olive oil orange cake to go yum!

I haven't been to Rosanna's since it opened originally, and it has since changed hands, and so did…read morethe menu items. The cuisine was Italian inspired, and heavy on vegan and gluten free option, which is a great find locally, if you're looking for that. We were sat upstairs and I enjoy the ambiance here. I will note that the chairs are uncomfortable, which does not make a cozy dining experience. The cocktail menu was really great, a lot of gin options which is right up my alley. I had the Corpse Reviver and a glass of wine, both were great. We started with the shrimp balls, which sounded intriguing. They ended up being delightful, almost like loose crab cakes. The flavors were great and I loved the pesto. For my entree, I opted for the lemon mushroom tagliatelle. The pasta was very fresh and chewy, loved that. I enjoyed the combination of lemon and mushroom on the dish, but there were so many different mushrooms of all different textures, that some bites were more enjoyable than others. The snapper puttanesca was gorgeous as well. Overall it was a good meal, but I might have liked it a little more before the change. Definitely a great option if you are looking for dietary restrictions.

Everything here has a cooked at home feel and the staff is phenomenal. I go regularly and enjoy the…read morehouse and patio :)

OMG! Such a great time! We went on Saturday in early January. I had always heard great things about…read moretheir Sunday brunches. I had tried to go previously on a sunday in the line was almost to the curb. It was dead of winter , so I decided to go someplace else. I'm so happy that I decided to go on a Saturday. They do call ahead reservations , which is great. We had a table of three, and we were seated with a minute of our time. The staff was very friendly, and the food was amazing. I was very pleased that this wasn't an affordable outing with the rising costs of everything. The three of us made a pack to return again and i'm looking forward to it soon.

Where are you celebrating life today? Viva Empanadas is a…read moregreat spot to do just that! The Albany location at 90 N.Pearl Street is visually stunning while the empanadas are a true fiesta for the taste buds. Popped in for a late lunch where we enjoyed the tropical lemonade and the empanada special. Shrimp D'verde, Spinach & cheese, and Colombianita for me Classic Cheese, Vegan-licious, and D'verde for my friend The gentleman at the table across from us ordered the rotisserie chicken which looked and smelled amazing - might have to go back to try it soon! They also have a weekend brunch menu served from 10-2 that looks epic.

Not one, not two, but 3 separate credit card companies sent immediate fraud notifications after our…read morecards were swiped at this restaurant. I went here on Saturday, on Monday morning my credit union called letting me know they are increasing fraud protection on my account because I swiped my card at this restaurant. The owner was asking us to Zelle her money. We are still monitoring our cards to make sure everything is okay. We went to multiple restaurants in Albany during the course of the weekend and this didn't happen anywhere else. And the drinks are watered down. Don't come here.

Absolutely lucked into this place while visiting our daughter at a nearby college. We were headed…read moreto the donut shop next door and saw the sign for the cheese shop. (Certainly a lucky neighborhood) It looks small from the street but once you walk in, it opens up to a sizable store. We were greeted by a friendly staff member, he took the time to describe their cheese selection and the other things going on in the shop. He then pivoted to giving us tons of help selecting the right cheese. We sampled a couple of things and then he dialed in three choices for us to buy. (With an assist from another customer that insisted that we would love the Delice de Bourgogne) Prices were reasonable enough for the quality. We added some gourmet crackers that were neutral enough to not overpower the cheese. The next day, we made the three cheeses the focus of our lunch. The Delice de Bourgogne was the star of the show, a creamy, earthy, and savory masterpiece. The two year aged Gouda and creamy blue cheese were delightful as well! Truly glad that we walked into The Cheese Traveler!

What a fantastic find -- a small but very well curated collection of cheeses, with an extremely…read moreknowledgeable staff who don't pressure you but provide help where needed. We appreciated the relatively local (Quebec, VT, NY) cheeses they have, and our destination cheese, Wisconsin Brick (which we had never tried before, and which they were quite willing to work with us on getting the appropriate size). The sandwiches looked delicious but we were there at the wrong time of day, alas, but we will 100% be back. If you like cheese, this is a destination location for the region.

I have found the best restaurant-made potato chips at Common Roots Brewing in Albany. The thing is,…read moreI wasn't even looking for them. They came free with my Nashville fried chicken sandwich order.They do great deep fryer food. My sandwich was all sorts of crispy, spicy and tangy fun. The space, however, has changed a lot. I remember when it was the Pump Station several years ago. The late owner, Neil Evan, was a fixture there and his seafood Mac & Cheese was something to rave about. By contrast, Common Roots has a more limited menu and plainer furniture. A lot of pizza varieties, tacos, salads and burgers. Decent bar food. By contrast, Common Roots flagship in Glens Falls appears to have a better menu with more variety. I generally eat healthy. I can't eat bar food regularly. The meal was great for a Friday night out. There's also a very good non-alcoholic beverage and drinks menu. I was happy to see all of varieties of stout. The snowy stout was delicious. So was the kombucha. The bar where I sat was clean, sleek and modern. The bartender, who took my order was helpful with suggestions. The main dining area looked a bit sparse for 8pm on a Friday night but the business is still relatively new. I'd like to see an expanded menu with at least a few more healthy choices and some family-friendly selections. Meanwhile, I'll know where to go if I get a craving for awesome freshly made potato chips.

If not for the amazing atmosphere, Common Roots would be pretty common…read more Although the establishment is vast with plenty of seating, the food has much to be desired. I ordered a sour beer of raspberry-lime. It was decent but something was missing I still can't determine. My starter were house made chips with their blue cheese dipping sauce. They arrived almost instantaneously and were well done, which I appreciated. The dipping sauce is so thick, it's more like a spread with some intense flavor. My smashburger arrived, which looked great until I realized the burger had been smashed to the point of being paper thin, making the edges crispy. This made for a "bread sandwich" that was dry until I got to the sauce and kimchi in the absolute center, which was quite good. There was no side salad option, so I went with the German potato salad. It was over-seasoned to the point where I had to stop eating. The runner also brought over fries, which I hadn't ordered, but he left them on my table anyway. They were also well done and tasted good. However, I was "potatoed out" at that point. Many other diners had pizzas and they looked great. Clearly, they knew something I didn't and I should have tried one of those instead. I couldn't relay this to the server because he kept disappearing for long periods of time and never happened to see me hold up a hand for help. He was kind but not attentive by any means. After fifteen minutes of waiting, he did reappear and finally got my check. Common Roots could be an amazing place to dine and hangout but they've got some work to do. Five stars for the atmosphere and two stars for food and service.

Great sandwiches. Coffee is on the mild side…read more Easy to find. Very nice staffing.

Walking into this sandwich shop, I was immediately drawn to the fun and vibrantly painted wall…read moremurals which I really liked! I ordered the #1 which was their special sandwich with a few meats such as pate, bbq pork, jambon and some other items in it. Also the #3 grilled beef and scallion sandwich along with a Vietnamese iced and hot coffee with condensed milk. The sandwich baguettes were fresh and quite good. I am big on condiments and both sandwiches did have mayo and veg but a little on the skimpier side. They were tasty don't get me wrong but I will ask for add ons next time for extra meat and veg filling. Also, heavier on the house made mayo too. The iced coffee was good as well but not as strong as what I'm accustomed to in sweetness and coffee flavor. Service here is good and the wait wasn't too long. A nice lunch option as they have a number of sandwiches that I would definitely try!