We tried to eat lunch on a Monday at 11:15. 2 in our group were there and two were on the way. There was nobody seated in the restaurant as it just opened at 11am. It was hot out and we wanted to be seated at our table. The friendly hostess told us that since we did not have more than 50% of our party there that we could not be seated and that was restaurant policy. We looked at each other and at the large dining room where no one was seated. We pointed out that there was no one in the restaurant and that we wouldn't be preventing anyone else from getting a table. Monday at 11:15. We couldn't believe we wouldn't be seated. We told her that we would not be waiting outside in the heat and instead would go to another restaurant. In the parking lot we called to speak with the manager. She also explained that that is the policy. We told her that we understand that policy when the restaurant is busy. But it was empty. Monday at 11:15. She was very curt with us and said well we can't break that policy because then we, as customers, would expect that on a busy night. We said no we wouldn't. We said your policy makes room for no common sense. She said nope our policy IS common sense. This was the manager! We told her well you just lost business today and we will never come here again. We went around the corner to D'Raymonds to spend the $100. They weren't even open yet and they sat us! And there were 4 other tables seated! Truly bad customer service at Lanie's. We told our story to the waitress at D'Raymond's and she said the same thing happened to them and they also refuse to go there ever again! I wonder how many other customers they have lost by not sitting people when the restaurant is empty and they won't sit people. I was looking forward to trying Lanie's, but will never go there again. read more

We had a late lunch/early dinner here last Friday and the staff was incredible! I flew in to surprise my grandparents and we chose this restaurant because the menu and food looked delicious. And oh my gosh everything was great! Our waiter, Jack, was kind and patient with our party. I highly recommend this restaurant. And the French onion soup was *chefs kiss.* read more

We've driven by about a million times so we decided to stop in tonight. It's hard to describe the inside decor and ambiance. It looks like it's been there since the 1970's so I was a little surprised to see that it opened in 2001. Wow was it busy, but they turned the tables pretty quickly so we didn't have to wait long. No reservations here unless you have a party of 8 or more. We started with the eggplant rollitini which could have been an entree for 2. Huge portions was the theme of the night... I ordered the haddock special which was spinach, artichoke, tomatoes and mushrooms served in a lemon butter sauce. Very delicious, but again, realistically was probably the equivalent of 4 adult portions. My husband ordered the BBQ burger. There was almost as much bacon as burger, but the bacon was overdone for my taste. The fries were ok. It was served on a brioche bun. Summary...huge portions...good bang for your buck, quick good service. I get the feeling that the best dishes here may be the Italian dishes, but their menu is huge. It's definitely not our typical scene, quite the interesting people watching experience for us. I'd consider coming back in the summer for the outdoor seating I've heard so much about and would also pick up some takeout in the future, but it may not make it into our regular rotation. read more

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Unsettling experience. I'm having trouble figuring this place out, to be honest. Food was good. Portions were ridiculously large- almost foolishly too big. Prices are high. Staff was bizarre. And the ambience is very appealing but incredibly loud. We tried the 'chopped salad' which is not at all a traditional chopped salad. It wasn't chopped! It was very fresh, though fairly boring. We also tried the open faced turkey sandwich which was just toast, turkey gravy and about two pounds of french fries. Again, pretty ordinary and one note. One of my customer service pet peeves is when the staff is managed or discusses the operation in front of guests. I do not want to hear when your shift ends, or how many shifts you get next week, or the state of the ladies bathroom. MANY of these conversations were taking place all over the restaurant by several servers, bussers, and even kitchen staff (why is the kitchen staff dressed in s dirty apron wandering the dining area and chatting up the servers...?). And because nothing has been done to dampen the echoey dining room we heard them all. And I doubt I'll ever forget watching one of the servers making out with a guy just behind the salad bar. I don't mean a kiss to say goodbye. I mean MAKING OUT. And many staffers walked by them as if nothing was going on. It went on for several minutes. The menu is extensive with a bent towards Italian. The food is surprisingly pricey considering the location and the market. I'm hoping we just caught the staff at the end of a difficult shift. But I'm worried the overpriced food, and nice decor may just be lipstick on a pig with a poorly managed restaurant on the floor and in the kitchen. We're going to try this place again because I honestly couldn't figure the place out on our first visit. I know this review seems a little unfocused, but that's exactly the way our dining experience here left us. Must say the patio looks incredibly inviting! read more

Lanie's Cafe - The not chopped 'chopped salad'. Fresh, but boring. - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

I ordered the shrimp scampi last night, no clue what happened didn't even eat much of it but puked it all out once i went back home, not sure if it was the shrimp or what, never getting seafood here again. read more

The husband and I met his family here on our first night in New York. The patio was the place to be and the weather was gorgeous. They were accommodating of us as a few more family members showed up than expected. Our waitress was great and paid attention to our table. As the last straggler came in, she made sure to swing back by and get drinks for us as needed. She took our order and it came out promptly. We started off our meal with the bacon-wrapped prawns. Though they were described as coming with Tiger Sauce and we didn't see any, it didn't stop them from being delicious. Our meals were plentiful in size and delicious. Overall, we had a good experience here. I did not go inside the restaurant at all so I am not sure what that is like, but the patio was definitely nice. read more

Lanie's Cafe - Bacon wrapped prawns - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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Many menu choices. Good food. Very busy lunch place but seating was quick. Had the steak quesadilla which was good. Inside will look better once they can fill it up with tables again. read more

Sadly, I have to update my review and downgrade them! As stated before, this was one of my favorite places to return to when going home. I went a few weeks ago and met a friend there. The 2 items I noted in my prior review are gone! (Southwest Chicken and Chicken Scallopine) The whole menu has been revamped. You can now no longer get a "single trip" to the salad bar, which was approximately $5-7 dollars. Now there is only one option-"unlimited" and I think that was $10-11. That's a game changer, when you can spend $6-$10 more and get an entree and the salad bar. They also changed up the cheese at the salad bar-not as good. Then my friend and I tried to split the bill as cashing out always turns into a mess and the waitress said that was another recent policy change! My friend and I both agreed that has gone downhill, which stinks. It was nice to know that we could go get decent food for a reasonable price with awesome salad to boot! Unfortunately, I don't think that I will be returning any time soon. read more

the food is very tasty, the waitress and bartender are nice and polite also the place is sparkling clean

Not what it once was. Service and management spotty at best. What once was a loyal customer has become nothing more than a number - get 'em in get 'em out don't worry about quality or comfort. Sad but so done with this place and I'm read more

Only my second time eating here, but definitely not my last. After a brief wait, we were seated. Social distancing was maintained throughout our time there. All staff wore masks and the masks were on appropriately! Friends ordered Chicken Parm dinner, Spaghetti with clam sauce and I ordered the Hot Italian sandwich. To say the portions were generous is an understatement! All were served in "to go" containers. All the food was delicious. Our waiter was very attentive and responded quickly to all requests. I did give 5*s even though I was disappointed in the time of Covid, that the menus were not disposable and no assurance was given that they were cleaned after each use. Fortunately I carry hand sanitizer with me which I shared with companions. Will definitely return in the spring when it's warm enough to eat outside again. read more

Nachos. Nachos. Nachos The low down...We had to wait for a table so we sat at the bar and made the executive decision to order the Nachos Supreme ($15) and I'm so glad we did. Nachos layered to perfection. Every chip has TUNS of cheese along with meat, beans, black olives, guac and diced tomatoes. Those on a diet stay far far away. There were 7 of us at the bar and after 15min it looked like we didn't even make a dent!! read more

Lanie's Cafe - Lanies Cafe in Albany - Nachos Supreme (literally the largest plate of nachos I've seen) - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

It's not worth an 1 1/2 hr wait to eat an awful meal. If you don't have at least 8 in your party, you can't make a reservation. The food is just bad bar food too. read more

I usually never attempt to leave a review. If I don't like the experience, I just don't return. But today was something else. I had the worst service and worst server I have ever encountered. It was myself brother sister in law and 5 year old niece. We sat outside, the sever Chris looked at us and never greeted. He walked up to the hostess and said," you can't just keep them away" looking at our table after. A while goes by till he greeted. "Hey guys, I guess I'll be your server" I responded by yeah I guess they couldn't keep you away from us. He responded "trust me I tried to avoid you guys but here I am" I was shocked and honestly didn't know what to say. He proceeded to ask if we were ready to order because he has to go call his grandfather. Again shock. We ordered drinks and apps because we did have a while to look at the menu. I told him to go call his grandma father and he said he's got him a text. It was my nieces 5th birthday. I let him know and he said," oh of course it is on fathers day". We ordered dinner and he brought out the food and give my niece a bag of cookies with dinner. He said kids get this for birthdays. Items were missing from the food we ordered, but of course he disappeared and we couldn't even say anything till the end. He brings it out and we just boxed the food. That was pretty much it. I had given him my card initially so I can pay for everything. He dropped the check off without running my card. I had to call him over and he remembered I gave him my card. Still left 20%. This was a fathers day celebration and a birthday celebration. It was embarrassing and very upsetting that my family had to go through such an experience. I was mortified because I'm the one that invited them and wanted to celebrate with them. Could be just one bad apple or the server had something going on, but if you're not feeling it Chris, call in sick, don't spread your negativity on others. read more

My boyfriend and I went on a Wednesday night. It was packed Pros: -Staff was friendly -Portions are generous -My boyfriend really enjoyed the butterfly shrimp and his Alfredo was good Cons: -I don't think there was enough staff- we had to wait a while to order. -For having so much Italian food, I don't think their marinara sauce is that good. -Meatballs were a little spicy I'd try it again but I wouldn't get anything with red sauce. read more

The food here is the best. Service is outstanding and you may have to wait to get in but it is worth it. The portion they are you are to die for. Best place to eat. read more

Warning. The owner of this restaurant doesn't know about service dog laws or seem to care, even after being shown the law written. They denied my family seating outside after waiting 45 mins for a table because we have a service animal. Then they told they don't believe us - even after being shown the MD note & service certificate read more

Great place, great food, great protions. That says it all. The waitress was friendly and always there for us. The food protions were very large, and yet amazingly tasty. I had the seafood pasta - there were tons of clams, muscles, shrimp, scallops, and pasta. It was very tasty, a nice thick sauce, and not salty at all. My wife had the shrimp and loved it. The prices were very reasonable for the size portions we recevied. Also the apatizer was priced well and was very reasonable to split amongs four people. My daughter has been there a few times and has always loved the food and enjoys going back. They also have a very nice salad bar that is fresh and varied. Highly recommended. read more

Diverse menu. Great salads. Nice atmosphere. Service was friendly but non-intrusive. Family place. Lots of care for customers!

Really nice, fresh salad bar! Clean and appetizing. Entrees- chicken marsala and linguini with marinara and Italian sausage were both appetizing and satisfying. Positive, pleasant service. read more

I've enjoyed eating here in the past. I've even hosted work events & client entertaining here. Tonight was the last time I will ever go to this spot. Owner wouldn't allow my daughter & I to dine on the patio after we waited for 45 minutes for a table. Reason being: they don't allow dogs, not even service dogs. Owner didn't care that this is against the law. I think his own employees were embarrassed by his indigence. read more

Great food nice place for date relaxed dinner good lunch. Can't wait till all is back to normal. They have salad bar but can't during COVID.

My friend and I came here for an early weekday lunch. The coffee was very nice, I then got the veggie panini and upgraded to onion rings for a side. It came out perfectly grilled, with provolone, red onion, Portobello mushroom, and spinach, with balsamic dressing. It usually also comes with roasted red peppers, but I opted out of those. This was a hearty sandwich, and I ended up taking half home. The bread was lovely, and the veggies and dressing all came together well. The onion rings were huge and crisp, not greasy at all. For dessert, I was torn between the lemon and carrot cake, but I did go with the lemon and was very pleased. An airy lemon cake with tart lemon cream and powdered sugar, the slice was the perfect size to feel satisfied, but not overstuffed. My companion had a crock of chili surrounded by warm tortilla chips, and said it was very good. Price was extremely reasonable: with tip, it came out to about $45, and we both had additional drinks, and I had dessert. The environment was originally intimate, with low lighting and comfortable seating, but it did get a bit loud when packed for the lunch rush. The service was friendly and attentive, but not overbearing. I did also use the bathroom, which was impeccably clean and decorated in a fun way. Overall, a great experience, and I will be back when in the area. After all, I still need to try that carrot cake :) read more

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This place was so good! The outdoor seating was gorgeous, quiet and relaxing. The food was very good! The pizza i had was to die for! I wish I lived closer so I could come by more often but when I am in the area I will definitely stop by here again. read more

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Great place to eat love the outside Dinning. I'm so happy to have been asked on a lunch day with my honey love read more

Lanie's Cafe - The Lanier's - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

Food was amazing, unexpected really large portions. The Warm apple cider was delicious... mmm ! Highly suggested and my Reuben sandwich did not disappoint! The atmosphere was very cozy and the service was excellent. Whenever I'm back in the area, I will definitely stop in. read more

I like their salad bar very much. Their food is very delicious and you will experience a warm environment.

My fave place to eat. Never have i had a bad experience food nor service. Whenever im asked where i want to eat i say lanies!! Ive tried a little bit of everything from the menu. Veal is my favorite. Salad bar is always amazing. Idk why anyone would complain about the prices one entree plate feeds 2 people....if your frugal get an appetizer its as big as a regular meal anywhere else My only complaint is a changing table is not available for babies in the bathroom :( id love to see one in there in the near future!! read more

Very disappointing experience for the second time in under 2 weeks. They were both take out orders so no opportunity for immediate resolution. Last Tuesday I ordered a chopped salad with a portobello mushroom instead of chicken because I eat vegetarian. When I opened the salad there was chicken and no portobello so I had no dinner. I didn't bother calling because I had decided that it was my last time getting take out from Lanie's since I had been disappointed multiple times in the last year. Tonight I was overruled so we ordered 4 meals. A salad, nachos, and 2 dinners with pasta. When we opened the bags tonight there was no pasta, and no sour cream and salsa for the nachos. Tonight I did call to complain and was given "new staff" as the excuse. They agreed to refund $2.00 for the salsa and sour cream. Unacceptable. What good are nachos without sour cream and salsa (BTW it was for me, the vegetarian, so basically I had chips and cheese). They also offered a refund for the pasta. Again, how much is pasta when you order veal parm at $28.00? I understand everyone has been impacted by the pandemic, orders take longer, wait times are longer, but it is unacceptable to allow food to leave your establishment without being certain ALL items are included and correct. There are many other local restaurants that we have supported during the pandemic without issue and will continue to do so. Unfortunately, Lanie's is now out of our rotation. read more

I can't imagine why this place has so many good reviews. First I ordered their maple old fashioned, which was so sweet it was undrinkable. We hit the salad bar and to be fair the salad bar wasn't too bad except the cucumbers were a mix of fresh and old squishy cucumbers. I then ordered the blackened ribeye steak and I was surprised when the food came out in what couldn't have been more than 10 mins. What arrived on the plate was a gray piece of meat that looked very unappetizing. When I tried to cut into it, I thought there is no way it was medium as I ordered because the steak knife was having trouble getting through it. I finally cut a piece off and though it was pink inside, it was literally like a piece of rubber and it was flavorless. I don't have proof obviously, but I would bet a lot of money that this steak was cooked days ago and refrigerated and then microwaved to serve it to me. I'm absolutely positive of it, although I'd also bet they would never admit it. It was one of the worst steaks I ever had and it was $35. The penne on the side was luke warm at best. Let's just say I will never go back there. read more

I have always loved this restaurant. Unfortunately last night I went there for dinner and was very disappointed. We ordered the calamari- which tasted old-not fresh and was lets say less than warm. The fried breading on the calamari was tasteless and falling apart as it was an old batter or something? Needless to say it was $18.95- which I dont have a problem paying for as long as it is appetizing! The lettuce at the salad bar was warm and tasted and looked like it wasn't washed. I was expecting a nice crisp, clean, cool salad like I had in the past when I was there. I ordered the chicken parm and penne. The sauce and the penne again were not warm but actually cool. The chicken parm was good but there was very little mozzarella cheese on it. There was a lot of sauce on it -but again it wasn't warm. The olives in my boyfriends not so dirty martini tasted spoiled and the special cocktail I got was warm with a large branch like plant - that was I guess suppose to be the garnish- was horrendous as it poked me in the eye as I went to take a sip. Very disappointed and sad quite frankly since Lanies was always my go to especially in the summer when the patio is open. Hopefully they will get back to the way they were. read more

Huge disappointment. Have eaten here for years. Worst meal I've had. Food overcooked and looked unappetizing. Service was ok. Drinks eh.

delicious home cooked food, large, aka 2 meals per entree, portions, cozy atmosphere decorated for holidays, friendly, fast service and great value for your $!!! long lines on weekends and dinner so go early or lunch read more

This place is deceptive, it looks really freakin' expensive but you get what you pay for. My first visit was today at 11:30am. By 12:45pm it was packed, and this on a Thursday. Hustle and bustle but our wait person (Carolyn P) was in excellent form. Never ignored or overlooked us and wasn't a pest but always near when needed. Food was high quality and the restroom was impeccable. Almost as nice as the Ritz Carlton in Boston but without the attendant and cloth towels. You wanna impress your girl or wife??? Take her here. After lunch and a few drinks (wine), Lanie's was no more expensive than most decent places in the Albany area. Decor was pleasantly seasonal for the holidays. Lanie's Cafe is the bees knees, fuhgeddaboudit! read more

After reading the consistent good reviews,I'm so glad I decided to go to Lanie's to celebrate my birthday. It was a nice day and we saw that the parking lot is getting full, we were worried about the wait time but surprisingly, we were seated rather quickly at the patio. They have a band playing inside. Me and hubby ordered prime rib and Lanie's stuffed steak! Both were phenomenal and yes, they were not kidding when the other reviewer said that the portions are HUGE!!! I love the ambiance of the place,its more relax, unlike other places where the crowd seems stuck-up/snotty... The salad bar is included with the house entree. The receptionist, the server are all very friendly and efficient. Overall,a nice experience. I can't wait to come back!!! read more

Lanie's Cafe - 16oz prime rib and Lanie's stuffed steak with side of Penne - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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I have been here various times throughout the year and I have found the food to be good but not the best I've ever had. The portion size is very large so be ready to have leftovers for a few days! I like the outdoor seating even if it is just in a parking lot. The salad bar that comes with the pasta dishes is very good and has many options, great feature to have. read more

Lanie's is close to my home, so I have been a long time patron...especially during summer months, when the patio is open. So when planning an outing for several coworkers to have a belated holiday "celebration", I suggested we meet up at Lanie's for an early dinner. This was a Wednesday, around 2pm in the afternoon, when the resturant was NOT crowded. We ordered an appetizer before our meal, which was good, but the waitress began taking our plates away before we even finished the appetizer, to "make room on the table". There was still quite a bit left and we were obviously still eating. I had to ask her to leave my plate. We finished our meals without incident and paid. Two of us went to the restroom and on the way back to our table, purchased two drinks at the bar. Almost as soon as we returned, the waitress approached us and stated they had a two hour rule for customers, and if we would like to finish our drinks we could do so at the bar. Now, if the tables were full and there were other customers waiting for a table...sure... I would understand. The issue that I have is that there was hardly anyone in the resturant at the time. There were customers at 3 tables, aside from our own. There were numerous vacant tables. Also, if there is indeed a 2 hour rule, customers should be made aware upfront. As I stated, I have been to the resturant many times when the place was packed and have NEVER been told to leave a table because I had been there too long. To be clear, we were not rowdy or intoxicated. It was just four coworkers catching up after the holidays, having good conversation. Needless to say, the experience was not pleasant and I will not be returning. There are other resturants in the area that are less costly with food that is just as good and the service is by far better. Ralph's on Central Ave, for instance. read more

We decided to try lanies for my wife's birthday dinner. Poor decision. The wait time wasn't too bad and that's the only reason I didn't give it 0 stars. Upon being seated we waited approximately 10 minutes to be asked for our drink orders. After receiving them we placed our order for appetizers and meals. An hour and 15 minutes go by without receiving our apps or even seeing our waitress while sitting with no drinks. Finally our appetizers come and the pictured "mozzarella moons" were a sad excuse for food. Boxed frozen mozzarella sticks would blow these "fresh" things out of the water. Her specialty drink might as well have been a shot of tequila it was so overpowering. My water tasted like it may have came out of the toilet. When we received our chicken and veal parm we had hoped it would make up for the disappointing experience. NOPE! Those too were horrible. We each took 2 bites and paid and left. The scraps from delmonicos dumpster probably taste better than our meals tonight. I have no clue how this place is highly recommended. Thanks for a wasted mom and dad date night lanies. read more

Lanie's Cafe - Mozzarella moons. - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

My husband and I have so many memories at Lanies. We have been coming here together, for the last 7ish years. Birthdays, graduations, date nights, and to celebrate the purchase of our home. The meals are outstanding and you always get some to take home! The salad bar is always replenished and fresh! We like sitting in the bar, but they entire restaurant always has the cutest decorations, always over the top! The Christmas decor is my favorite! read more

Delicious prime rib dip sandwich! Tender prime rib on toasted roll with cheese and very flavorful au jus sauce.