For context, I rate products and businesses on a simple scale: 5 stars means I love it, 4 stars…read moremeans I like it, 3 stars is okay, 2 stars means I didn't like it, and 1 star means I hated it or think it's unsafe. The Roosevelt Room in Troy was a great experience from start to finish. I was honestly expecting a standalone building, but it is tucked into a strip mall near HVCC. That said, parking was easy and stress free, which is always a plus. This was our first visit as a party of four, and the service was superb. The attention to detail really stood out and was noticed immediately. Our waitress checked in at the right times, kept drinks filled, and made sure everything came out exactly as expected. Meals are made to order, so substitutions were no issue at all, and it was nice to see gluten free options available. When you walk in, you pass through a curtain and are immediately greeted by a coat attendant who takes your coats, which instantly gives the place an upscale feel. The ambiance is well done, with soft lighting and nice background music. It is on the smaller side and dimly lit, but that is clearly intentional. The menus actually light up, which was a unique and thoughtful touch that fits the atmosphere perfectly. We had reservations and were seated right away. It did not seem necessary on this particular evening, but I would definitely recommend them on a weekend given the size of the space. The food itself was excellent. Everything we ordered was very tasty, and the presentation across the board was impressive. Desserts are prepared by a pastry chef and were just as good as the rest of the meal. It is definitely on the pricey side, but that is to be expected for the level of service and atmosphere. This feels like a special occasion type of place, and in that context, it is worth every penny. We really enjoyed our night and would absolutely come back. There was also a sign mentioning live jazz on Fridays, which sounds like a great added touch. Overall, a very strong 5 stars.

We went for an anniversary. We had never been. First, we were greeted at the door. They asked if…read morewe'd like them to take our coats. This is a lost service in the restaurant industry, but a lovely touch. We were seated in, what can only be described as, a room with phenomenal atmosphere. Low light, but you could see, comfortable seating, amazing art on the walls, and a perfect spot for a romantic dinner. The service was top notch. We were offered water immediately. They have a cocktail menu that included historical cocktails dating back to the 19th Century until present day. The cocktails were perfect. We had pre-ordered a half bottle of champagne. It was very good. We also ordered caviar service. It is 1 ounce with sour cream, egg whites, yolks, and onions. Fresh made Bellinis that were still warm. We enjoyed it immensely. It was a lovely compliment to the champagne. For an appetizer we enjoyed the escargot. We have had escargot in many places, rarely, if ever, was it as good at this was. The garlic butter was on point, the crusty bread was a great addition to the dish. It was served with tiny leaves of Swiss chard. We cannot recommend this enough. We ordered a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from their extensive wine list, Stag's Leap. This wine paired perfectly with the filet mignon bordelaise, and the veal chop with cherry peppers. We had a visit with the chef, he was a wonderful representative of this amazing restaurant. We cannot recommend this place enough. It's a little spendy, but worth every penny. Service, 5 stars! Atmosphere, 5 stars! Food, better than 5 stars! We will definitely be back.

Best burgers in the Capitol Region! I ordered the Empire Smash with Parmesan Truffle Fries from…read moreUber Eats, and everything arrived very well packaged and still hot! I've been coming here and ordering delivery for over a year and have never been disappointed.

Any time we visit our daughter at her nearby college is a great time, Illusive made it even…read moregreater! We ran an errand nearby and I found Illusive on Yelp. We approached just as they were opening for the day on a Saturday. (Slightly after noon) Not seeing many cars in the neighborhood and having the gps seem to "arrive" outside of an empty lot was an inauspicious start but when we pulled fully into the lot, we saw that they had put some work into the place and it had a nice modern look. Didn't get to take advantage of the nice outdoor seating area because the weather was rainy. We were greeted by friendly staff and seated at a comfortable table. Our timing was impeccable because the place was full within the next half hour. Our waitress deserves her own paragraph! She knew the menu inside and out and had tremendous pride in the food served and the awards they've won! Illusive is a "foodie" restaurant, every dish is elevated yet remains unfussy. For appetizers, we shared the street corn dip and tater tot poutine. The street corn dip was creamy and zesty. The tater tot poutine was revelatory, the cheese was melted perfectly, the gravy wasn't some jarred nonsense, and the tots themselves were crispy. I enjoyed the different textures of it, some more cheesy and some more gravy. My wife enjoyed a chicken Caesar salad and my daughter enjoyed a grilled chicken pesto sandwich. Her sandwich was a nice enough portion that she finished it leftover for dinner! I enjoyed the buffalo lemon pepper wings, the sauce was a nice blend of heat and zesty flavor. I appreciated the amount of wings they served, some restaurants are going for "shrinkflation" but Illusive provides a full portion! We received quality and personable service throughout a delicious meal, we will gladly return!

- The Chop Salad Left This Earth, and I'm Never Coming Back. ​Walking into Angelo's 677 Prime, I…read moreimmediately felt the need to adjust a monocle I don't own. It has that upscale ambiance, but the food is where they truly flex. ​ ​The Bread: Warm, carb-heavy sorcery. It was so scrumptious I contemplated stuffing an extra loaf into my jacket for later. ​The 677 Chop Salad: Out of this world. I am entirely convinced that romaine lettuce was grown in a zero-gravity greenhouse and massaged daily by angels. ​The Salmon: A perfectly cooked, flaky masterpiece. It was so delicious I almost apologized to it before eating it. ​And honestly? For a place this nice, the bill didn't even hurt. An absolute home run from start to finish.

677 Prime remains one of the premier dining destinations in the Capital Region -- and for good…read morereason. It's an essential stop whenever I'm in Albany, striking that rare balance between upscale sophistication and genuinely warm hospitality. Under the leadership of Jaime Ortiz and Ken Kehn, the restaurant continues to deliver a consistently exceptional experience. We had a 6:30 p.m. reservation for five while celebrating a friend's 45th birthday. We arrived early to enjoy the outstanding happy hour offerings, including $11 well martinis, excellent deviled eggs, oysters, and duck wings. The next day, I reviewed the bar tab and noticed we had been charged $16 per martini instead of the happy hour price. Since we ordered several rounds, the difference was significant and also affected the gratuity, as we tipped 22 percent. To the restaurant's credit, when I returned and pointed out the mistake, the staff addressed it promptly and reimbursed us for most of the overcharge. 677 is a good choice if you're visiting for a celebratory steak dinner, a business meal, or cocktails at happy hour, every detail feels polished and thoughtfully executed. One standout is the Hanging Tomahawk for Two -- a dramatic 50-ounce prime cut, sliced tableside and paired with parmesan- and butter-breadcrumb-crusted fingerling potatoes. It's every bit as impressive as it sounds. What truly elevates the experience is the staff. They don't simply serve guests -- they anticipate needs before you even realize them. In an era when fine dining can sometimes feel formulaic, 677 Prime distinguishes itself through constant refinement and a commitment to making each visit better than the last. Easily one of the finest restaurants in Albany. One pro-tip: review your tab before paying.

Wow! We had a great experience at the Delaware! The ambiance is excellent. It's a moody vibe with…read moreforest wallpaper and hanging air plant planters with candles in them hung from the ceiling by string (I was impressed they have to turn each of the candles on every night!). The food and cocktails were delicious! We had a Nigroni and Blackberry Basil drink. The Nigroni was blended well, smoky and a good quality. The Blackberry Basil drink was also delicious, which says something as I'm a picky cocktail drinker! I ordered the bucatini which was flavorful with specialty mushrooms and whipped feta. The description slightly varied from what I received as I didn't see any of the nuts described but it was so good I'll overlook it. My husband had a buttery bass which he enjoyed. Our chocolate cake was rich and the perfect size for a sweet ending. Waiter was attentive and friendly. Overall highly recommend and thought the value was on par for our area. Also bonus points for cardboard takeout containers. I hate plastic and styrofoam.

For some reason, a lot of my local Yelp searches didn't include The Delaware, which was just wrong…read more Now that I've been there for dinner, that's no longer a concern. This restaurant has a lot of things going for it which appeal to me. They do need to clean up their web information, and with that, the associated Yelp information. Both list the weeknight opening time as 5pm, and yet in different spots, they list a weekday happy hour starting at 4pm. Other snippets of conversation I overheard imply they have to make a few other menu updates. But as per my review, that didn't adversely affect my opinion of the place at all. We did, in fact, show up during the "happy hour period prior to 5pm," and we sat at the bar for drinks, for happy hour foods, and for our dinners. The happy hour menu is vague for cocktails... "well crafted cocktails" will be discounted, but you really have to ask which ones get the discount or not. We were content to order some of their regularly crafted cocktails. We were inundated with menus as well, one of which we got by mentioning it was our first visit there. That had two of immediate interest, the lobster and scallop crusted salmon, and the quail. I had never had quail, so of course I had to try it, and it was delicious (as was the salmon, which I also got to sample). I can't comment on table service, since we sat at the bar for the entire evening, but that was quite enjoyable... friendly service, made to feel welcome immediately, great conversation among staff and patrons. I look forward to exploring more of their offerings on future visits.

Last night's dining excursion took us to the always superb Chez Mike. It's one of our local…read morefavorites. They always deliver outstanding food and superb service. We started with the Spring Asparagus and the Shrimp Toast. Both were superb. G/F had the Monkfish and I had the Calves Liver. We cleaned our plates. Chez Mike is consistently excellent and we highly recommend it!

Not sure how I haven't reviewed Chez Mike yet. This is one of our favorite spots, service is always…read morefriendly and quick. Coat rack made of silverware is adorable. I get fried calamari almost everywhere I see it on a menu and Chez Mikes is the best I've had BY FAR. Menu changes with the seasons, the olive butter with bread is fantastic, even for those who don't love olives I'd recommend it. Hidden gem!

The copper crow is great they have unique dishes! I loved the stuffed haddock! Also the calamari…read morewas good! They have lots of seating and a cute lounge area! Great for a date night.

The women greeting us rolled her eyes when we asked if it was possible to have a booth. We had…read morereservations and there were many open. She told us no so we settled with a table. Our server was friendly and attentive. She helped us select our meals. The atmosphere was nice and we really enjoyed the food. The low rating is because it took over 45 minutes to get our meals. We watched people get seated around us and receive their food and couldn't help but wonder if the kitchen forgot us or had to remake something. Our server was sweet and recognized the wait was far too long. She did keep checking on us and bringing water while we waited. She offered us a free desert so we choose a cake slice (to go) to share but then ended up leaving because we paid our bill and sat another 10 minutes so we decided we would move on with no dessert. The food was really good. I had the filet, horseradish mashed potato, and Brussels. The filet was cooked perfectly. The potato's were good but just tasted like regular mashed potatoes. The Brussels were not cooked enough so I could only eat some of them. The Korean cheesesteak was the star with smashed potato's. I tried a bite of my husband's and wished I had also ordered it. Again, food was good but they need to get a little more organized and rolling your eyes for a customer question isn't a great first impression. If you aren't in a hurry at all, and don't want a booth, the food is great.

Wow! I've wanted to try Rosanna's for some time now and I regret waiting so long. This is like one…read moreof those local best kept secret spots. I was able to book a reservation online for the same day. Of note, when you have the option of Main Floor or First Floor & Bar, just realize the Main Floor is up a flight of stairs. I'm not sure if there is a separate entrance but my wife was on crutches and she managed to get up the first three into the restaurant from outside but I don't think dining on the main floor would have been an option for us. Our server, Mike, was awesome and full of energy and enthusiasm. He offered suggestions and answered questions about details of the dishes. We were pleasantly surprised with how many menu items were marked v - vegan and v* - can be prepared vegan. This is great for us because it's another place in Albany that we will be able to go out to dinner with friends and everyone will be able.to find something to enjoy. The fried Artichokes are a must if you're looking for a starter. We were eyeing up the Fennel salad or vegan Caesar salad but opted to move on to main entrees. On this night they were out of the Gnocchi Cacio-Pepe which personally, I am not a gnocchi fan to start and Mike told us they were substituting a buccatini pasta instead... this had my attention! I went for his suggestion and chose the Arrabbiata instead which was delicious. My wife enjoyed her Wild Mushroom and Asparagus Risotto. We skipped dessert for this evening but there were vegan Gelato and cookie options for dessert as well. From start to finish it was such an enjoyable experience in this cozy corner restaurant which offers outdoor dining in the summer in the heart of Albany. We will totally be back with friends for another delicious meal at Rosanna's, the hidden gem in downtown Albany!

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.

It's a place where I got the best food and drinks. The burgers and salads were very tasty, and the…read moreoverall food was excellent. It's my favorite spot. Thank you

I love having Lost & Found just down the street as an option when my partner and I want something…read morelowkey but delicious. It's a comfortable and cozy space with good drinks and a quite eclectic menu for a place you think is going to be serving up typical bar food. I enjoy their focus on local and in-season ingredients, I'm always keeping an eye on their Instagram to see what their unique specials are; their recent ode to leeks was so tasty. There is always something vegetarian/vegan on the menu so I never have to worry. Brunch here is also a great idea, those house made biscuits are worth stopping in alone. Lost & Found really focuses on highlighting and supporting Albany/the Capital Region whether it's with their ingredients, drinks, or live music so I feel even better about supporting them. Once they start offering a plant-based hot dog so I can join in on the fun and deliciousness of the Wednesday hotdog club I will rush back to give them that 5th star ;)