Union Seafood on Central Avenue in Albany is described as "Chinese meets Louisiana," according to…read morethe restaurant's website. I've been there before and the crazy, giant fiberglass crab on display in the entrance is always a hoot. So is the fiberglass shark head on the wall in the dining area. I like a place with a sense of fun and humor. I also like this place for its seafood boils. The good news is that this restaurant--which was very good to begin with-- has gotten even better. Last time I showed up, the server brought the seafood boil still in its boiling bag and cut it open in front of me. It was up to me to reach into the hot bag and pull out its contents. There was steam everywhere. A hot mess, indeed! This time, the kitchen took care of the boiling bag for me. Instead, they beautifully arranged the boiled seafood on a large platter. Wow. It looked amazing and tasted even better! This time, I'd asked for a Number 4 with mix of seasonings, including garlic and butter. There were: one big lobster tail, plenty of shrimp, clams, crawfish, potatoes, corn on the cob, hard boiled eggs and extra veggies. It was described as enough to feed three people. Coincidentally, we were a party of three. We also ordered a Cajun Fried Rice for good measure. We really didn't need it. We were so full. The fruit drinks were great, too. Union Seafood is a franchise with locations in Troy and Schenectady. They're owned by Larry Weng who also opened Ji Bei Chuan Rice Noodles & Ramen on Western Avenue in Guilderland, according to local news reports. In celebration of May being AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Month, it's probably fair to say that Asian-American owned restaurants such as Union Seafood have added much variety to the overall dining experience in Capital Region. Vive la différence.

Ive tried this once last year and i like it. Brought my friend there yesterday. They have combo…read morechoices. We chose the 1/2 lb shrimp, 1 lobster tail, clams, crawfish. It's a lot and the seafood is fresh. I would say 3 people could share. We had it mild and mixed sauce. Maybe order hot next time since i did not taste the spiciness. We both enjoyed it. Price is not that bad. The place is huge but kinda datk inside. Service is great though. For dessert we got the coconut cake. It is kinda frozen. But it taste good. Surely coming back!

We used to come here when it was the Lighthouse and then stopped coming after having a not so great…read moreexperience at a banquet hosted right after the change. Recently, we decided to try again and have eaten outside on the patio 3 times where it is an absolutely beautiful atmosphere eating by the water. We joke that it is like being on vacation for the night. The food is good, some dishes better than others but overall enjoyable. The prices are a little high for what you get. Our waitresses have always been kind and efficient. One of our top 5 most frequent restaurants visited.

Went there for an Event that was held in the hall. The atmosphere is amazing, beautiful location…read morefor a venue overlooking the Mohawk River. The appetizers were amazing, great meatballs, chicken & pastas. I had the Prime Rib for dinner which was cooked to perfection. My only issue was the "Instant Mashed Potatoes"! I was told that the meal there was approximately $150 a plate, and to provide such an excellent meal with instant potato's for that price is uncalled for. I found the service to also be excellent, water glasses kept full, quick delivery of hot food and cleanup.

I'm out of superlatives for Hooked, but since it had been a while since we had been, I thought it…read morewise to update my review. This is a haute cuisine place that is masked by the casual dining atmosphere. Seriously: top notch chef, original recipes, a core dedication to quality seafood, paired with a fresh fish counter and some prepared food to go. We usually go for something special, but tonight I decided to get an old childhood standby, fried clams (the Boston Basket) and the fish burger sandwich. I did not expect either to be as transportive as they turned out to be. The fried clams were as delicately done as I've ever had: not crispy, but not too floppy, with excellent breading. And while I prefer my clams naked, we tried all three of the dipping sauces -- a remoulade, tartar sauce, and cocktail sauce. Now normally I loathe cocktail sauce and can take tartar sauce or leave it, so I figured we'd eat up the remoulade and ignore the other two. Still, I gave them little nibbles. Man! The cocktail sauce was like no other I've had, with a heavy hint of horseradish and a far fresher flavor than I've ever had. Then the tartar sauce -- genius! It had a delicate spicing, with capers providing a floral backdrop. That was only a preliminary, as the fish burger proved to be complex, with hints of multiple kinds of fish, and a fennel-based spicing. I ended up having that afterglow, as if I'd had a couple of cocktails and was sitting next to a fireplace, that is the hallmark of truly fine food at an advanced level. We also had the usual outstanding service, attentive without being pushy. I seriously think Hooked should consider splitting into two restaurants: one where the ambiance is upgraded to match the high caliber of the food, and another cheaper one that is strictly fast casual and takeout, and they'd more than double the business. There is a restaurant back where we come from in California, Turtle Bay, that did this with fine dining on one side and the quick, simple, and affordable food on the other side, with a big shared kitchen between them but with completely separate ambiances. That way I could come back more frequently, and still have the original Hooked for special occasions!

Well, the oysters were fantastic, and that's why I made the 35 mile trip. I hate city traffic!!!…read more I also had the calamari with peppers, also good. Not like rubber bands, tender. Now the downfall, the chicken sandwich. I did notice other plates coming to tables looking like the fryer temp. is too hot, or cook time was too long. Some fish fry that came out looked quite dark as did my chicken, as you can see! A slight burnt taste was evident. It had good flavor under that burn, and the chicken was close to not being juicy, almost dry. The place is clean, and if not for the location, I would sit at the bar and have the raw bar! Something very important to me that hit me the instant I stepped through the door, if you're looking for a great shot of A/C on a hot day, not here!!! Barely got comfortable from the almost 90 degree day on a bike, and then worked up a return of sweating as the place filled up.

Great service. Our waiter was very helpful. The flavor was really good we chose the explosion which…read moreis all the seasonings together. We did a one step up from mild. Tiny kick but great flavor. We will go back for sure. Also they have a nice ambiance looks upscale inside.

Stopped in here while I was in town for work and had a pretty mixed experience. The atmosphere was…read morenice and it seemed like a good spot to grab seafood, but the service was noticeably slow throughout our visit. It took a while to get drinks and place our order, and we found ourselves waiting more than expected between courses. That said, the food itself had some highlights. The crab was absolutely amazing--fresh, flavorful, and definitely the standout of the meal. We also really enjoyed the shrimp cocktail, which was well-prepared and hit the mark. Unfortunately, the mussels didn't live up to the same standard; they lacked flavor and just weren't our favorite. Overall, it's an okay spot with some strong dishes, but the slow service and inconsistency in the food would make me hesitate before returning.

What can I say other than "eh." I would not go out of my way to go back, but I can also say it is…read morenot the worst I've had either. The food was fresh. My Fish did not have much flavor. My companion's fish was overcooked a little. They do offer non fried options which I think is a great option. So many fish shacks around here do not offer that option, so I hope they continue to do that.

I did an order for pickup and not only was the food amazing, so was the price! I ordered a clam…read morestrip roll and rice pudding and it came to $12 and change. They put so many clam strips on my roll too, it was overflowing. The rice pudding was out of this world too. All the workers there were super nice and helpful. I can't recommend this place enough!

Food was great. Quick service. Chicken and beef were seasoned great. Will not be our last visit.read more

We arrived just shy of lunch time. It's a beautifully appointed modern industrial look restaurant…read more Lots of TV screens. Far too many in my opinion. We waited quite a while to get the attention of the hostess to seat us. Finally after being seated we order drinks which came quickly. Order a beef and a chicken be bum bop. Branches came and was tasty. The lunches was delicious. The be bum bop was just okay. Wasn't a fan of the overcooked and soggy purple rice and the meat was bland on both chicken and beef. Overall, I don't think we'd eat there again due to the high prices. $20 for a single lunch is pricey. Service was just okay.

Fabulous visit to Ember & Cork. It was a group of 4, 3 of whom had never been before including…read moremyself. The Espresso Martini was not on the menu but they were able to make it. For appetizers, we ordered the oysters and burrata and prosciutto toast. I did not try the oysters but the others said they were good. I would order the toast again. For my entree I ordered the steak frites. One of the best steaks I've ever had. Perfectly cooked to medium rare. Had a lovely crust on it. For dessert, we shared the bread pudding with salted caramel gelato, burnt basque cheesecake and pear fritters. All three were delicious but the bread pudding was the standout. I highly recommend ordering it. Also have to mention our server Frank who was lovely and very attentive. We had a lot of questions, if there was something he didn't know he was very quick to find out the answer and was very thorough.

I was really excited about Ember and Cork. I really Love the…read morenew revitalized downtown State Street and I visit frequently. There is a parking lot behind the restaurant with free parking after 5. The menu reads exciting and includes a lot of fun and modern ingredients, the space is bright and inviting and we had great service. The cocktail menu was small and uninspired, but we enjoyed a few cocktails. My favorite of the night was a dirty martini with house stuffed blue cheese olives. Their aviation inspired cocktail called Flight 99 was okay, but left me wanting an aviation. We decided to get a few appetizers the share over some cocktails and didn't order any entrees. We started with the Shrimp Ceviche and the Foie Gras Torchon. Both plates arrived and the presentation left a lot to be desired. The shrimp ceviche was good but the baby corn and sweet potato were weird. It didn't belong at all. I don't know if it is traditional or what but it just took up space, made the presentation uninviting and added nothing to the dish. The chips were great though and the shrimp were large and of great quality. The Foie gras torchon was like a chilled pate, it was alright. 4 tiny slices of toast was not enough for the plate, the green strawberry compote was a good pairing, the dressed greens were fine but again, didn't add much to the dish. We heard the special of soft shell crab and wanted to order it. For the second round, we ordered the bone marrow and soft shell crab. The bone marrow was maybe 3 bites, the bones were very dry and didn't have much marrow to scrape so that was disappointing. The soft shell crab was a large portion and was very good and treat to have during the season. However, it was $65. Maybe our fault for not asking but that price is obscene for that dish. It was soft shell crab over spinach. We were pretty full and ended the meal with bread pudding which was fine. Our bill before tip was $280 for 4 appetizers, 6 cocktails and a dessert. I was sticker shocked. I really regret not asking the price on the soft shell crab. The food did not live up to the hype at all and I don't think I would return based on the quality and prices.

Amazing dinners at Milas Restaurant 518…read more FLASH-FRIED CALAMARI caramelized artichoke purée, puttanesca aioli, basil, fennel pollen WHIPPED HERB RICOTTA confit tomato, calabrian chile honey, garlic crunch, focaccia FILET DUKKAH "AU POIVRE" pistachio dukkah pink peppercorn crust, potato pave, harissa honey carrots, truffle toum, cognac cream The flavors in their dishes are out of this world ************************************ We tried the new Mediterranean restaurant Mila's for dinner tonight and all I can say is wow The descriptions match the pictures in order MARIAS GLASS- Limoncello, Meyer Lemon Aperitif, Fever Tree Sicilian Lemonade, Prosecco MACCHU PISCO- Strawberry Pisco, Grilled Pineapple, Elderflower, Milas Citrus Blend, Egg White GREEK SALAD- feta, tomato, cucumber, candied olives, sumac onion, za'atar vinaigrette KUBENAH (Yemeni Monkey Bread) feta, za'atar, garlic butter, served with caramelized onion and dill labneh This was SO flavorful I loved the caramelized onions MANTI (Beef Short Rib Dumplings) tomato sauce, garlic yogurt, aleppo brown butter, dried mint THESE DUMPLINGS WERE AMAZING the tomato sauce was the best sauce I've tasted in a long time and this appetizer prompted me to get the short ribs for dinner LOBSTER PASTA- tomato, leeks, lemon tarragon pangrattato, bottarga, lobster cream, linguini BEEF SHORT RIBS-turkish coffee braised, labneh whipped potato, shishito peppers, sumac onions, carob molasses Ughhhhh these short ribs were amazing so many great flavors especially the carob molasses THE 50/50- Volcano Blanco Tequila, Sumac Cordial, Watermelon Cheons, Citrus, Dukkah Vanilla Panna Cotta- brûlée orange, pomegranate, white chocolate, mint The flavors in the were so so good Dark Chocolate Tahini Cake- sesame brittle, salted caramel, coffee ice cream That cake was 100000/10 I will say this was a little fancier and more pricey than your typical dinner but definitely an amazing spot to celebrate or have a date night The staff was extremely friendly and helpful

Absolutely phenomenal!…read more We had high expectations going in and they were significantly exceeded. The restaurant itself is beautiful and the bar area is stunning. The tables are all well spaced and even with the high ceilings, it wasn't overly loud at all. The server and bus people were great and our waters were constantly full and the server spaced the whole experience out perfectly. She was quite pleasant yet professional. The cocktails were some of the best in the area. On par with places like Hamlet and Ghost and Josie's Table. High quality and not something you could easily make yourself at home, even with knowing what you're doing. So tasty and beautifully presented. All of the food was super flavorful and perfectly cooked. We wanted to try a bit of everything and ended up taking quite a few leftovers home. For appetizers we tried the olives, whipped herb ricotta and the cheese croquettes. All of those were amazing! The olives were so well flavored and you get a bunch. The herbed whipped ricotta was fantastic but the star was easily the bread it came with. It was so good! I see why there is an option on the menu for "more bread, please" because it's the best focaccia I've ever had. The cheese croquettes were also great and the truffle cream it's plated on was a wonderful touch. For our dinners we tried the chicken, za'atar fries, hummus and the four cheese flatbread. Easily the greatest flatbread I've had. It was beautifully presented and such a fun way to do a flatbread! The chicken was amazing, very flavorful, juicy and gorgeously plated. The delicious amba yogurt complimented the flavors of the chicken so well. The hummus was so fresh and the pita it comes with is always so good. The fries were delicious and the truffle aioli it came with was a perfect dipping option. We can't stop talking about how good it was and can't wait to return!

Words that come to mind for me regarding Mi Bandera would be informal, friendly, authentic. I'm…read morepretty sure it's a family run restaurant, as I could hear children in the back of the building. The menu features all the different types of cuisine you would expect in a Peruvian restaurant: Peruvian/Hispanic, stir-fries, and pasta dishes. Fish also features very heavily on the menu, which of course means many ceviche options too. We started with roasted corn nuts brought to our table, followed by beverages of limeade and purple corn beverage which was mildly sweet with cinnamon added. Our entrees were fairly simple, a beef stir-fry with fried rice, and grilled chicken on french fries with rice and salad. These came out quickly. The portions were more than adequate, and my simple side salad was better than similar side salads I've gotten at fancier restaurants. Small bottles of yellow and red sauces are provided to spice up your meal: yellow for fairly spicy, and red for REALLY spicy. For me, the yellow sauce was perfect for my chicken and my rice. Meals here seem like dishes you would have visiting family and friends in Peru, and I would not be surprised if Mi Bandera already has a loyal set of customers they would consider family and friends.

I finally found something that is so different, and I have always liked raw seafood which was hard…read moreto find except in Japanese restaurants but Peruvian raw seafood has much more flavor, and so delicious. It was amazing. The waitress seemed friendly, and cool. I told her I am deaf, and she was okay with that. We still communicated just fine. I want to come back there even I live one hour, and about 15 minutes from there! It would be a worthwhile trip!

We had a seafood boil one time and it was very good. The wings are the best thing to eat here and…read morethey're a deal 20 wings for I think $22 plus tax and they are nice big meaty wings with great sauces. Try it

- fast delivery - lobster tails are large and juicy…read more- buy one lobster tail meal get another free At least today it was - potato was soft - corn was good and crunchy - sauce was good - huge amount of fries - bbq wings were good