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    Ria's Bistro & Bakery

    4.5 (53 reviews)
    Closed 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

    Ria's Bistro & Bakery Photos

    Business Info

    RIA'S BISTRO & BAKERY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Reviews With Photos

    The Roast Beef Grilled Cheese Sandwich Aka Lark Sandwich
    Sovy M.

    This place is it. There is no going further. Remember when Lark Street neighborhood was bustling with great food and then the pandemic hit and it was hard to find any good food to eat? Without paying an arm and a leg. This place on State Street is all about bringing business and money back to Downtown Albany. I had the best Roast Beef Grilled cheese. I am a Desi person (Pakistani) so I very rarely eat sandwiches but you know when I do decide to get one, it has to be the best kind, oozing and hot and all. This was the Best Roast Beef Grilled cheese sandwich I had, with cheese, horse radish, mayo and banana peppers for the sizzle. It was mouth watering, I am drooling just reliving that memory of my lunch I had there. They call it "Lark" Sandwich. Which I thought was so cute. *there was no strings that normal cheap roast beef has, also the bread was super fresh and toasted. Plus the best part was they let me wash my hands. Which was their sweetest gesture after I begged them, because I had a rough day and needed to wash my hands. They don't have public bathrooms but they made an exception and they didn't know that I am a reviewer and YouTuber as well. I am in Love with this place. They have a lot of baked goodies too. The YouTube review link is below, if you care to check it out. https://youtu.be/njVufz8LZmQ

    Menu
    Louise K.

    Ria's Bistro is a tiny space with epic sandwiches! (I haven't tried breakfast..yet!) We happened upon it and are quite happy we did! My husband got the State Street- Roast beef, white cheddar, lettuce, tomato, horseradish mayo on a ciabatta roll. You also get a side of chips. I had the capitol. Basically an Italian with an olive spread on a French baguette. (I am posting a picture of the menu). Both sandwiches were amazing! The bread was fresh and the meats were exceptional. The portions are quite big in my opinion. I couldn't finish the whole sandwich. Rest assured, I took it home with me! Highly recommend this spot! The staff was friendly and helpful!

    The Assembly Grilled Chicken Sandwich sooo good I swear you won't regret it.

    The place is going somewhere, I love it. Food is good, customer service 10/10, I don't know what else to say. Try it and you won't regret it

    Capitol Sandwich

    The food was just 9kay this 0lace should be more like 3 starts. The samwitch I had was WAY too salty. They have this olive spread that is super salty. 5 starts for someone who likes things really salty. The service service was good overall, I would say. It's super cute inside of the restaurant.

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    5 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The food is so delicious and cooked perfectly. The staff are friendly, and it is such a cute spot right downtown

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    4 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Business owner information

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    Maria L.

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    2 years ago

    Great food, awesome service, lovely lunch spot near the Capitol and the concourse. Good sized servings too.

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Straight gas. It's so good. Def would recommend. It's all good. I want more. Mmmmmmmmmmm

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    2 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Amazing sandwich! I have a recommend this place. The bread was fresh baked this morning. The Service was fast and the coffee was strong.

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    7 years ago

    Great little cafe in Albany. Bread is great. Fresh mozzarella. Friendly staff. Great cappuccino.

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    8 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

    The sandwich I had was different from the norm and very good - an excellent lunch choice.

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Small, but with a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options. I got the barge sandwich minus bread and cheese... perfectly done!

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    5 years ago

    Delicious sandwiches and friendly people. Next time I'm in Albany I'm going to eat at Ria's

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Ria's Bistro & Bakery

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    Fiorello Importing & Luigi's Deli

    Fiorello Importing & Luigi's Deli

    4.8
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    I will always support local delis and restaurants however sometimes we have to be honest with…read moreourselves when writing reviews on places that we WANT to love. First off I'm not sure what food people in these reviews are eating, because in my experience the Italian mix sub was very bland, the bread was dry, and the meat looked pale and weird. That ambience of the place was nostalgic which is the reason why I gave it 3 stars and not 2. The woman helping me was friendly enough but made it a point to tell me how gas prices were fine at $4.10 per gallon as long as Trump was the president, which annoyed me because it gives an indication that details don't matter here. Given the taste of the $15 small sub I paid for it definitely tracks. Be your own critic, but for me it's the history of this place and not the food has people coming back. I won't be one of them.

    After all these years, Fiorello still serves the best Italian sub in this region in my book…read more Service is warm, friendly, and helpful like you'd expect from a mum and pop shop, and I love that this is a local family-run business. Some notable changes I noticed during the most recent visit include a big flat screen TV and tables and chairs indoors. The freezer apparently was out of order, but I would have loved to get their tiramisu which is also one of the best I've ever had. Their sub always strikes the right balance in the dressing, bread, meats, and toppings. Toppings are consistently good quality, and you can customise your sub by asking staff what you do and don't want on it. I hope they stay healthy and busy for decades to come.

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    Genoa Importing

    Genoa Importing

    4.4
    (76 reviews)
    3.8 mi
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    Such a gem hidden inconspicuously on the side of a road, Genoa Importing was a find! Really good…read moresandwiches made to order (cold cuts, warm, whatever you want!) and lots of authentic items you won't find elsewhere. Think a convenience shop focused on Italian goodies - I saw raw honeycombs, what looked like fresh cannolis, and lots of olive oil. I definitely plan on coming back to try more options, but the sandwich I had was DELICIOUS. Their cookie selection and pasta sauces also caught my eye. Service is quick and it's essentially all carryouts. I"ll be back!

    We used Genoa to cater our Christmas Eve celebration this year. I stopped in about 2 weeks before…read morethe date and they were so friendly and accommodating. I ordered 1/2 trays of everything for our group of 13 and we had more than enough food. Our dishes were Penne with Vodka Sauce, Meatballs with Marinara along with more penne in sauce, Chicken Marsala and Antipasto. The Chicken was absolutely delicious with lots of mushrooms and flavorful sauce. The meatballs were enormous and more importantly tasty. The only dish I wasn't entirely pleased with was the antipasto. I was envisioning whole chunks of cheese, olives, peppers and rolled cold cuts. Instead it was finely chopped cold cuts and American cheese on a bed of oily greens with a few pickled vegetables. Alas, I don't have any pictures! I didn't think to take any with all the festivities. I would definitely use them again for my catering/party needs.

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    Chocolate chip cookie
    Chocolate chip cookie
    Genoa Importing
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    Gershon's Deli & Caterers

    Gershon's Deli & Caterers

    4.0
    (152 reviews)
    13.1 mi
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    I know Gershon's is a well-known local institution. We've been here a handful of times over the…read moreyears and, I had their sandwiches on a weekly basis periodically thanks to group lunch orders at a previous workplace, and the experience overall has been mixed. On good days, they can serve one of the best sandwiches. Otherwise, I've had several occasions where I was left wondering why my pastrami sandwich was literally two pieces of bread with a small bit of pastrami - no dressing or anything else, and no questions asked. I like the attentiveness of the staff whenever we come here in person whether for diner in or takeaway, and their fresh pickles are wonderfully crunchy and worth looking forward to. They have some delicious pies, too, and the chocolate cream pie is our fave. I would go back, but the inconsistency over time certainly has dampened my enthusiasm that I may have once had.

    Gershon's closed permanently 1/30/26! Sad. It will be…read moremissed by many. R Gershon's Deli (Facebook) Dear Friends of Gershon's, It is with a heavy heart that I share this news with our loyal customers, friends, staff, and extended family. I have made the incredibly difficult decision to close Geshon's Deli & Caterers. Friday, January 30th, 2026, was our final day. This decision was not made lightly as Gershon's has been an integral part of my life since I was a little girl. After my father's untimely passing, I took over with one clear mission, to honor his legacy, keep his dream alive, and continue providing quality service and "good food for good people." For more than 60 years, Gershon's has been shaped by the people who walked through our doors. Every employee, customer, client, and friend has played a role in our story and our success. Unfortunately, rising food costs, ongoing economic challenges, the lasting effects of COVID, and the loss of my final opportunity this week have left me with no other choice. To everyone who has supported me over the past nine years, thank you. Thank you for the memories, for trusting us with your celebrations, holidays, milestones, and everyday moments. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your lives, in both the joyful times and the hard ones. I will miss seeing you all more than I can put into words. I am deeply grateful for the love and support you've shown me and my family over the years. I wish vou all nothina but the best. Please take care

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    Turkey and swiss sandwich with Russian dressing
    Turkey and swiss sandwich with Russian dressing
    Poppy w. delish veggie smear!
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    Capri Imports Italian Deli & Catering

    Capri Imports Italian Deli & Catering

    4.6
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    14.9 mi

    Once again, we ordered a half tray of the Eggplant Parmesan for a party. It is incredible because…read morenot only is it not greasy, the thin slices of eggplant practically melt in your mouth. No one makes it better! And the quality is consistent. A week ahead, we order either a half tray or a full tray depending on the number of guests. In either case, leftovers are welcome because it reheats beautifully. I am an Italian-American who cooks, and I say making excellent Eggplant Parm is not easy. Even if you cut the eggplant with a Slicer, it is an art to fry it without it becoming greasy because eggplant is like a sponge. Plus it is takes skill to prepare it with the right amount of cheese. Capri Eggplant Parm is perfection. It slices into well defined pieces. It pairs well with Italian Rolls or Italian bread. The Sementelli family has owned and operated Capri since 1973. It carries quality imported food products as well as deli meats, olives, bread, roll, and prepared meals in the freezer area. It is a gem tucked away on upper Broadway in Schenectady, NY.

    Great Italian deli. Nice selection of salads, roasted peppers, etc. Imported olive oils, cookies…read moreand sauces. Probably the most friendly staff I've ever encountered. Fresh ingredients, great smells and good selection of all italian favorites.

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    Veal & peppers...and polenta.
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    Pumpkin ravioli with candied pancetta - added some olive oil, chives, & Pecorino Romano.
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    Ria's Bistro & Bakery - delis - Updated August 2026

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