I've always wanted to visit More Perreca's on Jay St. I've heard so much about the restaurant and especially the bakery, Perreca's, located right next door. The businesses are located a couple of blocks from the gateway marking the entrance to Schenectady's Little Italy. So much history, food and romance in this neighborhood. We had Sunday brunch at More Perreca's. The bakery is closed on Sunday but I got a Sausage Lettuce Tomato sandwich served on toasted Perreca's bread. It was so delish. The Italian sausage was served with lettuce, tomato, roasted garlic puree, mayo and side salad. Everything was so fresh. My $11 meal was reasonably priced. The garlic purée was amazing. They need to bottle it. I'd buy some. My friend had the Mac and cheese and an espresso martini. He loved both. Rachelle was our server. She was wonderful. Very helpful. She explained some of the menu to me because there were a number of Italian sausage dishes. The food was prepared quickly which was great because we were hungry. Rachelle came back later to check on us. I gave her a thumbs up and a smile while busily chewing a bite of sandwich. The restaurant is charming with nice tin ceilings and big windows to let the light in. There are many booths which makes it cozy. When we arrived most of the tables were full. Based on the chatter in the room it sounded as though a lot of friends had gathered at the restaurant to literally break bread over brunch. The menu offers a nice variety: from egg breakfasts, assorted salads to Italian classics. It was an all around yummy and enjoyable experience. I let Rachelle know that we'll be coming back. read more

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Full disclosure: my son works here, so yeah... biased as heck . Just me and Kiernan rolling in, older bro + dad energy fully loaded -- two-man Italian food squad on a mission. Me? Chef mode engaged, tasting like a pro. Kollin was working, locked in as the waiter, moving like a ninja, didn't even notice us quietly demolishing everything in sight. Absolute respect. Every table around us? Wild vibes. Plates stacked like skyscrapers, people laughing, yelling, living their best family life -- basically a full-on Italian festival. Specials flying out like missiles, drinks hitting like tiny joy grenades, and every plate? Hot, huge, and straight fire. I had gnocchi so soft it made me question all my life choices, mussels practically jumped into my mouth, and Kiernan just nodded in silent approval -- Dad + Son synergy unlocked. We basically became part of the ambient soundtrack -- the chef dad, tasting like a pro, the son absorbing pure Italian energy. Portions massive, flavors insane, zero drama, all vibes. If you even think about Italian in Schenectady... go see Kollin. Go to Perrecca's. You'll leave stuffed, happy, and probably texting your friends in all caps about how legendary this place is. #DadAndSonGoals #GnocchiGods #LockedInLegend #FullOnVibes #PerreccasOrBust read more

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Last month my cousin and I just flew in from out of state and were hungry and looking for NY Italian food. We came here because many restaurants don't open until 4PM or later. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. We had the calamari to start, I had the eggplant my cousin had spaghetti with meatballs. All were delicious with large portions, but the standout was the eggplant. Neither one of us ever had eggplant so tender (ORDER THIS!). The woman attending our table was charming, the food was delicious, the prices supported the quality and amount of food. My mom lives nearby and I will be back again, and I will absolutely return! Loved it!! (sorry no photos taken, next time!!) read more

My family, party of six, had lunch here Thursday 2/26/26. It was Downtown Schenectady Resturant Week. Three course lunch $20-choice of 3 apps, 3 entrees, & 2 desserts. A great value! Our server, Rachelle M. was great! My app was garlic parm wings that were tasty & crispy-perfect. Three of us had the eggs in purgatory- 3 eggs cooked in a spicy marinara sauce w/ 4 pieces of toasted Perreca's famous Italian bread. Highly recommend this dish that's always on their menu. Others had the very good eggplant rollatini over spaghetti. The original coal-fired bakery is next door offering their signature crusty bread, red tomato pie, cheeses, meatballs, salamis, soppersottas, olives, giant cupcakes, & cannolli. Located in Schenectady's Little Italy. Restaurant hours: Sun, Wed, Thursday 11am-7pm, Fri & Sat 10am-8pm, closed Mon & Tue. More's Perreca's never disappoints. Beer, wine, & cocktails served so try here for brunch too. Thank you, Rachelle & staff. We had a great time. Nick & Liz, Albany, NY, USA read more

This is a mixed review. Most in the party of 8 had a great visit. I did not. What was good: service, decent ambiance, what looks like a decent menu. This was everyone's first time eating there. It's a nice space and cozy is probably a good adjective to describe it. The positives: my daughter got the carbonara and it ticked all the boxes, my wife ordered the eggplant and also really enjoyed it. We had 2 who order the rigatoni with vodka sauce. Both portions weren't quite up to expectations and they were done well before the rest of us. The bad. We ordered 4 apps for the table, 2 of the 'famous garlic breads' and 2 of the bruschetta. The famous garlic bread was dense, rock hard on the bottom and poorly sliced. Too long in the oven and too thickly sliced. We were only able to enjoy the tops of the bread. The bruschetta was the exact opposite. Underseason toppings and bread that wasn't even crisp. Both of these underwhelmed. The worst for last. I honestly think that the kitchen was playing a joke on me. I ordered the pescatore fra diavolo. Spicy yes, I know. But this dish was literally the worst dish of pasta I've ever encountered in an italian restaurant. The tomato sauce tasted like someone poured a can of Campbells tomato soup on top of my pasta. But the kicker was it was so overwhelmingly spicy that I had to give up. Not 'oh that's got a nice kick of spice'. I'll compare it to eating raw jalepeno's with a thin tomato soup. I had 3 others in our party taste and confirm the spice level. I can only imagine the chef behind the glass having a laugh with his kitchen staff after watching me try to eat this. Either that, or the top fell off the red pepper flakes when this dish was seasoned and the left it as is. I'll go back as a local and I want to try the mussels app and the eye-appealing carbonara. My advice is to steer clear of the fra diavolo. read more

First time trying More Perrecas restaurant and I found the food very good. The venue was clean and home like. Our only issue was service... We asked for bread 3 times before it came. We asked for bread dishes and it also fell on deaf ears. I can't blame this on a busy restaurant, there were only 4 other tables occupied. It's possible that the server was new, I don't know for sure, but if she was new, then she wasn't prepared to handle customers. read more

More Perreca's - Seafood Fra Diavolo. - Italian Near Me - Schenectady, New York

Food was excellent and service was excellent . Plenty of off street parking . Great atmosphere

The server was so sweet. Mariana greeted me with a smile and was so quick to take our order and bring us the food. She was so personable and kind. The food was fabulous. The Mac and cheese was better than I've ever had. And it's such a cute little place. A real sweet Italian ambiance. Ask for Mar when you go! She's the best!!! read more

Met two friends for breakfast. I have not been here in a couple of years. Food was very good breakfast fare Service was outstanding! Ambiance was welcoming and comfortable. Arrived when it opened at 11:00, so we got our pick of a table. There are also booths available if wanted. Server greeted us immediately. Coffee and ice water arrived quickly while we looked at the menu. The coffee tasted very good and was refilled often. I selected the Wild Mushroom Frittata with melted taleggio cheese and Pacetta. I really enjoyed the fresh assorted mushrooms. The cheese was new to me, and I loved it. The cheese is similar to Brie, but its flavor is comparatively mild with an unusual fruity tang. I dipped pieces of my frittata in it. Quality for only $13. Perreca's bread is legendary (liked by Jack Nicholson when he worked in area). Story posted in restaurant. It is amazing toasted! My friends each ordered the Breakfast Egg Special, one with scrambled and the other with over easy eggs. The Homefries were cooked well, and the bacon was crispy as ordered. Happy diners. Customers came in steadily, but we were able to sit and talk for 90 minutes. There is ample parking and easy access. Perreca's Bakery is right next door in case you want to take home a loaf. read more

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Best Italian- American we have had in the capital district. Rounding out great meals is the fact that the bread and deserts can't be beat

We happened to drop in during restaurant week during lunch so the menu was a bit smaller than we anticipated. However, we tried tomato pie for the first time and loved it. It's amazing. We got tiramisu and spumoni as part of the RW menus and they were both delicious. We even got a tour of the century-old coal oven where they bake their amazing bread and tomato pie crust. The staff are super friendly and the service was great. We will come back when in Schenectady. read more

This was our second time here, about a year between visits. First time was great. We met another couple there. Our frequent dining out team. Very busy night but the service was right on top of it and we had a great time. That was last year, this year not so much. In truth, a lot less. This year it was a very quiet evening and most tables were unoccupied. It started with a basket of (yesterday's?) bread which looked like something out of a grocery and that had been sitting out a couple hours. And that was it. no plates, no olive oil, nothing else. I had to flag a server for some butter and was met with a look like I'd just requested a Northern Pike. But we got a small bowl of some butter. We'd ordered a couple glasses of wine. Mine was served to me in a very warm, wet glass, with food encrusted on parts of it. I asked a server to please replace it, Got no "Sorry!" or any sign of regret, (forget about one on the house for the faux pas) but I got another glass of wine. Appetizer was delivered, an uninspiring sampler platter of meats and cheeses. and 5 minutes later our entrees arrived with a smiling, "Well, they came up soon. So here they are!" Wife got a prix fixe option (restaurant week), I got some pasta dish I don't remember. $163.00 for three adults: two entrees, one prix fixe, one appetizer and three glasses of wine. And regret for our dining choice. ... Just a quick add: in a previous life I served a few tables in some not-too-shabby joints and have some experience with proper restaurant service. We dine out regularly and rarely have a bad experience and I repay that at tip time. More Perreca's has some real problems, based on our experience, and notably several other commenters here. read more

We came here the other night and had a very nice dinner. The wait staff was friendly and attentive, the food was very good, and the atmosphere was welcoming. It's a casual place that can be great for a special occasion or just a night out with your sweetheart. We enjoy coming here because we feel welcomed and valued. read more

Every menu item is outstanding. The restaurant is on a side street off Union. The Mohawk River is couple blocks away. Perreca's baked goods, pizza dough is the best. read more

This is an Italian restaurant. They said they were out of pasta. How's that even possible? Service was slow. We had to make requests for what we needed--flatware, napkins, more water--more than once. It was too cold in there. Yes, the A/C was on but the temperature was frigid. I was telling my friend what a great place this was. Maybe things had changed since I was last there. read more

- fast delivery - my mother loved the chicken parmesan She got two meals out of one order I thought it was just alright - momma salad could use some greener leaves The attached chicken was just alright - they give a large amount of bacon read more

Tried again after about a year and while the food is good (not great), the prices charged are high (yes, I know everything is high) but the service while friendly is lacking. Please, please, ensure your wait staff is informed and when the customer ask can I get this instead of that and is informed yes, the wait staff should also inform, by the way there is an upcharge for that. This way no surprise when the bill comes. And $2 for an extra scoop of tomato sauce is ridiculous. read more

Your waitress said she didn't have $4 change to give me back. So she shorted us. Disgusting

Wow this is the best food I have had in forever, we agreed we're coming back maybe tonight. read more

More Perreca's - Sausage and peppers omg - Italian Near Me - Schenectady, New York

We usually come here at least once every few months and typically have a great experience. Unfortunately, last night we had a truly awful time here. The staff were clearly either all new or poorly trained and aimlessly wandered the restaurant while failing to check in with us, forgetting our drinks, not telling us about missing menu items we ordered as appetizers until we received our entrees, and just generally seeming overwhelmed and unprofessional. The food and drink were also underwhelming compared to previous visits. Although this is normally one of our go-to recommendations for out-of-towners and when seeing a show at Proctors, until some improvements are made to service and quality control we sadly won't be back. read more

Very poor delivery my food was kept at the house entrance step case very close to the road read more

More Perreca's - Very poor delivery No sauce or nothing came with it - Italian Near Me - Schenectady, New York

Just wanted to shout out a thank you for the best lunch which happened to be the last before you stopped serving inside. Also wanted to thank you for the many dinners and breakfasts over the years. I look forward to your eggs in purgatory. My family and I enjoyed are very special Mother's Day meal during COVID-19. I appreciate your hard work and dedication. read more

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Closed on Monday and Tuesday but no sign in the window and no notification on Google when mapping it. When I went to Perreca's to ask, the staff was impressively rude "the hours are on the internet!". It was a shame - I've never had a bad meal there. But please, putting up a sign would be a nice thing to do. And being polite about a business next door is just a nice thing to do. read more

This restaurant was like stepping back in time for me. What a pleasant memory of my childhood as I admired the old world decor. The staff greeted us with friendly smiles and were very attentive. This was my first time eating at this establishment. I went for brunch. I ordered their special grilled cheese sandwich with pesto and parmigiana crust bread, it was delicious! I will absolutely be eating here again. Such a great dining experience. I'll be going back for dinner soon. read more

We got to Perreca's Restaurant in Schenectady at 4:45pm to find out they didn't have my reservations for 9 people for my 50th anniversary dinner that i drove from Utica for. I wish I was making this up..they said no trace of the reservation that I made on Tuesday of this week with a confirmation. They told me there was nothing they could do and sent me away and my 8 family members. I checked my cell phone log confirms my 2 minute call to MORE Perreca's Schenectady 518-377-9800 Tuesday at 6:42pm outgoing call from my cell phone older lady confirmed 9 people at 5pm I have been to this place 2 times before but I will NEVER EVER recommend this #$#$^%  hole for trying to ruin my 50th anniversary..Thank God My daughter got us to a very exclusive restaurant called Palazzo's also in Schenectady to help us out and enjoy the evening.. The Palazzo went overboard to help us and their food was the best I have eaten in a long while.. read more

I did take out here on Sunday. I spent $75 on garlic bread, caprese, penne all a vodka, and chicken parm. Upon showing up for pick up my boyfriend waited for about 20 minutes past when it was said to be ready until they asked what he was waiting for and realized they forgot to make the order. They blamed it on the app that we used. The app they have listed on their own website for take out orders. They asked that he wait about ten minutes for them to make the chicken parm (it was about 7:20 now so past their closing time) When they were done he grabbed the meal and left. After he brought it home we realized they didn't even make us chicken parm, instead they made us lasagna. It was past closing time and he was already home so we had to deal. I called and left a voicemail explaining this and gave my number for a call back. I was expecting a refund on the chicken parm or at least a deduction in price consider they charge $6 less for the lasagna. They did not call back. Horrible experience. The food was okay. Update: I received a full refund. Thank you for the customer service. My review has been updated. read more

More Perreca's - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Schenectady, New York

Yes we r back again! Now it's aug'19! We just loaded in Hamilton and are staying the day. It was a nice walk from the hotel. And as natch... Eggs Purgatory with sausage and cheese. The extra is cost is soo worth it. And saving my receipt for my Canoli next door! So do it!!! It's also the BEST CANOLI we have ever had. Our food was pipping hot as usual. The first bite... my eggs may be in purgatory but my mouth is in heaven...!!! I had to take some with. read more

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Food was great and the cupcakes are amazing as usual. Best place in Schenectady. If you are in the area you should try it out.

My friend an I came here for breakfast. Our server was amazing! She told us it was her second day serving and she was on top of it! My friend and I ordered Apple Cider Mimosas and they were delicious! Our food was on point and the homemade bread was an excellent touch to our meal My friend had taken me here before when I had come to New York to visit and I was excited to come back. We sat outside and got to embrace the beautiful fall weather. read more

More Perreca's - Bacon, potato, and cheese fritata - Italian Near Me - Schenectady, New York

A must try in Schenectady! Excellent traditional and authentic Italian flavors. Eggs in Purgatory- one of their specialities! The best part is the savory tomato sauce that will make you want to lick the plate clean! The eggs and bread go perfectly with the sauce too. Chicken Milanese Sandwich- overall a very delicious sandwich! The aioli brought the entire sandwich together. The crunchy toasted bread is complemented by the well dressed arugula, slice of mozzarella, chicken and peppers. The side salad had a light dressing that provided a nice balance in texture to the sandwich. Garlic Parmesan Fries- Well made crunchy fries with soft interior. The seasoning was the perfect amount. Red Velvet Cupcake- simple and light like a small cake! A large size too, which makes it more satisfying. Peach Italian soda- The peach syrup was the right amount of sweetness. I was not a fan of the green apple flavor though. It tastes and looked too artificial for me. Overall Perecca's provides very high quality traditional Italian food. The flavors are not too bold or strong, which in turn, actually highlights the high quality and freshness of the food. read more

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Wow. Yummy food. Great service. Friendly staff. The food is served relatively quickly and is impossible not to love. Calamari was outstanding. Plentiful portions (enough for a full second meal) & they don't skimp on the bread--complimentary bread to our table of four was 7 pieces. Not too loud either. Small but mighty, I'd say. And THE BEST cannoli I've ever had. Ever. read more

Happened into this lovely little spot after an out of town sports game by chance. Wow. Aperol spritz ratio perfect. Service was amazing and welcoming and Food even better. Pasta perfectly cooked and marinara just like Grandmas. Chicken parm was tender, crispy and just the right amount of cheese. Spaghetti carbonara was rich and flavorful. Bread was so good we took a loaf home- best we have found north of nyc. We have 2 cannoli to go in the back seat and can't wait to get home to it! read more

More Perreca's has cranked it up a notch, and I now like it even more. Change is really the only universal constant, and I know that might be something strange to say about a place connected to a business with more than a hundred years under its belt. But More Perreca's has seen a lot of change over the years. Most recently, Chef Chris Tanner, who used to teach at SCCC came back to the Capital Region and did a little bit of fine tuning to the kitchen, menu, and dining room at this Schenectady institution. My favorite seat is now one of the two stools opposite the pass, where you can have a clear view into the galley kitchen, and see all the plates as they come out. When I was there for breakfast I probably should not have been amazed at how many of those plates were eggs in purgatory. I've had that dish before, and it's wonderful. Now instead of the Italian toast being balanced along the edge of the plate, it's served in a dedicated side dish. I'm a much bigger fan of that plating, because the toast slices can huddle together for warmth instead of being laid out and exposed to the elements. The day I was there, the toast was coming out on the light side for my taste. From my new favorite seat, one can watch the rhythmic display of toast exiting the machine. Perhaps they would double toast it for you. I went with a brilliant panini made from two slices of Perreca bakery's famous tomato pie. They are warmed up in the press and form a sandwich around a mound of sautéed escarole. There is an option to add sausage. I was trying to eat healthier, so I took a pass. But I think it would be even more delicious with the meat. Chef Tanner also retooled the pizza menu. I really enjoyed his house-made sausage pie with braised fennel. I'm looking forward to getting back in there, to see if the team can execute it as well, or even better in his absence. In the past, some of my experiences had been mixed. Gauging from the looks of the breakfast potatoes, I suspect they wouldn't be my favorite. But this is why it's such a valuable gift to be able to see how a kitchen makes a dish before ordering it. Have I mentioned how much I love my new seat at the counter? Regardless or a nit here or there, this place is a gem, and I'm looking forward to many more dining experiences within its walls. My hope is that after a few more visits, I'll have eating enough of the menu under my belt to give it a full five stars. read more

I went to Perreca's for lunch today and was very unhappy and disappointed with what I thought was going to be a green salad with lettuce, tomato, onion, it was just a heap of greens on my plate, I felt like I was a rabbit eating that !! I will never be going back there, I thought they use to be better than they are now. read more

I have one mission when I visit More Perreca's and that is to indulge in their Eggs in Purgatory during brunch. I wish I could get myself to try other things, but haven't to date. I come here for this one reason. Spicy food-lovers should definitely give this dish a try. I will say that a stop here might mean I slip over to the bakery and grab a loaf of their amazing Italian bread or a slice of their pizza with sauce to take home. It's a win-win! read more

I was visiting Schenectady, got hungry and decided to visit Perreca's. I heard they have great tomato pie. I have tried out their chicken parmesan tomato pie and the eggplant tomato pie, and it did not disappoint. I liked the eggplant better ( probably personal preference). They have generous portions for very reasonable prices. They did follow social distancing, waitresses and staff were all wearing mask and they make sure to have customers seated at least 6ft apart. They also have menu where you use your phone camera to access QR link which I thought was pretty genius and cool. Overall, very good and i will have to visit again because i want to try out some more items off their menu(frittata, tiramisu, eggs in purgatory). read more

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I Loved the Sauce and the bread was excellent! I ordered the Veal Cutlet and it was very tender and tasty! The portion was great and I was able to take some of the dinner home. I will be going back! read more

I went to Perrecas for the first time today. We called them 10 minutes before we got there to let them know we were coming with a party of 12. They were amazingly accommodating which was awesome. Not many places would accommodate such a group with such short notice. The food was outstanding and Taylor our waitress was amazing. She was sure that our every need was taken care of. I am most certainly looking forward to returning and adding them to my favorites list! read more

Paid a long overdue visit to More Perreca's to satisfy an Eggs in Purgatory craving for a birthday weekend brunch, and it was a great first brunch of my personal new year. We were seated in a half banquette, half table/chairs set up, and it's actually my favorite kind of set up - something for everyone! In need of an iced coffee to start things off, I got so much more than I bargained for when I was served a big, beautiful mason jar of iced caffeinated bliss. Specifically, this was a Ball wide mouth half gallon 64 oz. jar that was seriously the largest serving of iced coffee I've ever ordered/received!! So I was quite pleased/impressed with the serving size and presentation - they should call it "Perk-atory." I was torn between ordering the traditional Eggs in Purgatory vs. today's special, a version that served the dish in a bread bowl instead of on inedible ceramic - wowza. Even though I'm usually a sucker for a good special, and there's no such thing as too much Perreca's bread, I decided to just go old school and stick with the original. In no time, a bowl of spicy sauce, three poached eggs, and the perfect amount of Perreca's sliced bread sat in front of me, waiting to be devoured, and I was pretty egg-cited. The generously large sliced bread is positioned around the rim of the bowl, like rays of starchy sun stretching out for the day, just waiting to be dunked in some spicy marinara. I opted to add sausage to my dish, and while it looked different than it has in the past, it had a wonderful flavor that did nothing but add to the dish, so I was even more pumped to have that extra bit of flavor, heat, and texture. Eggs in Purgatory is such an awesome dish, and with so many ways to enjoy it, it's kinda like a choose your own adventure every time. I really wanted to save room for a famous giant cupcake, but since I had a pretty chocolate mousse birthday cake waiting for me at home, I couldn't get too baked today. In closing, I'd like to note how awesome today's service was; while I've never had a bad time at More Perreca's, sometimes service and ticket times can drag a little bit, especially on a busy Sunday - fine, nbd - but I have to say they were on it today! read more

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Had the pleasure of dining in for our first time at More Perreca's situated directly next to the famous bakery. We had to start with some of their bread so we ordered the garlic bread and added mozzarella. The bread was out of this world good and each dip into the marinara was like having a bite of great pizza crust each time. The Caesar salad was impeccable with just the right amount of dressing. Penne Vodka was the perfect consistency and the sauce competes with the best you've ever tasted. Finally a side of meatballs was essential and they tasted like your Italian Grandmother cooked it in the Sunday sauce all day. 10/10 will be back! read more

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