Second review for the Nest, but just had to report on this trip as it was SO GOOD! I went with three girlfriends and we all could not decide between the many awesome-sounding options so we did a four-way split :) All of the egg entrees were incredible! I will be having dreams about those potatoes as well as the Nest's homemade sweet hot sauce... would HIGHLY recommend asking for some of that and then putting it on everything! The pancakes were not my style personally (I am much more of a waffles or French toast kind of girl), but all three of my friends loved them. Definitely a top brunch spot in Schenectady for me! read more

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A word of advice: Don't come here for brunch. We've been to The Nest many times and it seems that every time we go something new happens- waiter forgetting to bring us drinks, waiter brining us another table's food, waiter bringing us the wrong check and taking forever to find the check... or this time: food was burnt to a crisp and biscuits were clearly a day old. The pork belly Benny was so over cooked that it actually hurt to eat- not to mention that the eggs were so underdone that excessive white came out (please don't explain to me how poached eggs are made- I know how poached eggs are made). The biscuit was stale and clearly just reused from the day before. Why didn't I take a picture? It was so dark in there you wouldn't be able to see it anyways. You might say- well none of this is really a "deal breaker" sure- but when you need to put a credit card on file to hold the reservation AND a 20% tip is already included in the bill AND if you cancel less than 24 hours before a reservation they charge you $25 PER PERSON- I expect nothing less than excellent food/ service ALWAYS, especially for the amount of hoops I need to jump through. The Nest is trying too hard to be "upscale dining" and is failing. Don't waste your time or hard earned money here- they lure you in with the "exclusivity" then they will rob you blind and you will still have to pay a %20 tip. read more

We visited with family here on Thu 1/18/24 5:30pm. We had a reservation for eight. This was our first visit here but were familiar with Devin & Kaytrin's other place the Cuckoo's Nest in Albany, NY. Subway tiles, rough wood, industrial lighting around the long first floor bar & dining area. There is also a balcony dining area above. We ordered our drinks while we caught up and looked over the menu. A modern take on Southern style cuisine running the gamut of buttermilk biscuits to jambalaya. Also must tries are Nola shrimp & grits, fried chicken or fried chicken & waffles. Small plates, salads, & fixins are there for the sampling & sharing. We all enjoyed our small plates and meals. Three of our party had the apple smoked pork chop-large, thick chop Sweet Tea Brined, Cider Braised Cabbage, Apple & Sausage Stuffing, Creole Honey Mustard. A very hearty meal. Biscuits were hot, flakey, served w/ honey butter-if you say you offer southern cuisine you need to have perfect biscuits every time-job well done. Jambalaya was spot on. Nice twist on the crab cake w/ the horseradish slaw. And the high praise for the pork braised collard greens & garlic green beans. Small plates are a value and entrees are from $18 to MP. Next visit I will evaluate their Nola Shrimp & Grits, a good measure of southern cooking. Open: Tuesday - Friday 11:30 am -4:00 pm lunch service 4:45 pm - 9:30 pm dinner service 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm happy hour at the bar Saturday Brunch 10:30 am to 2:00 pm Saturday Dinner Free on street parking after 5pm. Note: The Ziemann group is planning to open Mila, a Mediterranean inspired menu, at 500 State St. in 2024. A good first visit to The Nest. Service & food were very good. We need to visit again. Thank you to all. Nick & Liz Parisi, Albany, NY read more

My friend and I hadn't been out in a while, but I've been dying to try this place out since it opened. We figured we'd give it a few weeks to settle in, and work out any kinks, and I have to say that it was a pretty wonderful experience overall. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. Everybody was respectful of one another considering the pandemic. The service was very good, and very attentive. The food came out at the perfect pace, allowing us to enjoy our appetizers and talk, with a small but reasonable wait until the next course came out. We both ordered cocktails from the menu, which were pretty great. My friend got the pineapple Express which I got to taste. It had a beautifully tropical vibe to it, as one might expect from a pineapple drink. It was sweet and festive. I ordered the Porch Sling, which I believe was bourbon and blackberry. It was deliciously refreshing. Food wise, we started with the deviled eggs. They were yummy, savory, and had a nice vinegar edge to them. They really woke up my mouth. Next we split the Brussel Sprouts which really blew our minds. They were beautifully roasted, and what I believe to be sesame oil, which took away their natural bitterness, and allowed their caramelized sweetness to come forward. Then the main course came out. The first dove into the moist cornbread, which wasn't too sweet, and had good flavor. The mac and cheese was also very good. Hot and gooey with a nice bread crumb crust. But the fried chicken was impressively delicious. My first comment was that the pieces were small, but then I realized that's what you get when you have real chicken that hasn't been injected with hormones. I even had extra mac and cheese, cornbread, and a couple of pieces of chicken to bring home. So it was more than enough food overall. Overall, I have to say this was a very pleasant experience and I can't wait to go back. On behalf of Schenectady, I want to welcome The Nest to the downtown area. read more

Food is very good. I don't know. What else you want me to say?The place was very nice.Was busy people seem to be having a good time,Selections are a little unique, the ambience was great. read more

We went to a weekend brunch and loved every dish we ordered. This has to be the best brunch spot in the Albany area. Food was so delicious and very reasonably priced for the quality and huge portion size. Our server was very kind and our food came out really fast. We'll certainly return to try different dishes on the brunch menu and would also love to try their dinner menu. read more

The Nest - Eggs Benedict - Southern Near Me - Schenectady, New York

3.5 stars- This was our very first visit after hearing great reviews. The restaurant is gorgeous and fantastic customer service. We had reservations for our work group and even received a courtesy call to inquire about our arrival. The biscuits with butter and jam was my favorite thing here. I ordered chicken and waffles from the brunch menu. The waffle was pretty good but chicken was so so. Would I order it again? Probably not. I'm also aware that I've had real authentic southern food so it is very hard to compare. Drink menu was okay. Overall, I think if I ever did come back, I'd just get biscuits or try the Nashville chicken sandwich. read more

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We made a reservation at The Nest to spend a nice evening as we waited for our daughters who were attending a show at Proctors with a friend. When I approached the entrance, I was welcomed by a hostess, who asked if I had made a reservation, which I did. I was waiting for my husband to meet me, so I wanted to have a cocktail at the bar first. There was room for me. Captivated by the unique features in the bar menu, I couldn't decide what I wanted to have. I knew I wanted it to be special, though, especially after a long, arduous work week. So, I asked the bartender what she would recommend. Ultimately, she recommended a Pom. The cost was high for what it was. The flavor was somewhat dull; it was something I certainly could create at my home bar with ease. Once my husband met me, he ordered the bourbon special, which was incredibly unique. Nearly worth the $16 cost, it featured quality bourbon followed by a spicy shot of flavor at the end. Both cocktails and the bar service set us up for an evening of competent, attentive customer service. When we finally sat, we took a hightop table on the front windows, a picturesque view overlooking downtown Schenectady. We begin the pork belly appetizer. It was phenomenal. The pork belly was soft and flavorful on the inside and crispy and caramelized on the outside. The Chicharrón was a nice touch, offering a crispy surprise with each bite. My husband ordered the shrimp and grits as his entrée, and I ordered the Delmonico for myself. I can easily say that this was one of the best steaks I've eaten in the Capital District. The meat was tender and juicy, and the spices were potent and smoky. I initially questioned the chef's choice of side, thinking fries are too basic for the $40 cost, but the flavor of the spices coating the potatoes was something I had not tasted before. My husband's shrimp was delicious, served on a bed of warm, creamy grits. They literally melted in my mouth with each fork full. Overall, the bill was hefty in the end, but if you are looking for a delicious meal in a cozy, urban atmosphere, check out The Nest! read more

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I am from Schenectady, but having lived in NY for nearly 20 years, my food standards are very high. But I was pleasantly surprised by how good this restaurant is! Everything was so tasty and was made with love! I was also impressed by the wine list because it had high quality, hard-to-find wines (e.g., Flowers Chardonnay). Although I place little value on the ambiance of any restaurant (and value the food as the top priority), I must say that the interior is also very nice. I highly recommend this place - you won't be disappointed! read more

Pro: Great Food, Service and atmosphere: the Grit Tots, crab dip, Fried chicken, and Nashville "hot" sandwich were excellent. The sandwich however did not have any heat. I highly recommend the grit tots with sausage gravy but order your own, you won't want to share. The fried chicken was perfection!!!!!!!! Crispy on the outside and tender, juicy and most importantly FLAVORFUL on the inside. The cornbread was excellent. The sweet mash was kind of like dessert, too sweet for my taste and the fries were perfect. Con: WEAK expensive drinks, the Pineapple Express looks beautiful but tasted disgusting it was like a mix of fake sugar and medicine, just nasty! The brunch mimosa with the Ghost liquor was good but weak. Tito's and lemonade was basically lemonade there wasn't a hint of vodka. The $10-12 price per drink wouldn't have been an issue if they actually had liquor in them. I recommend this place for the food, it's really good, and the brunch menu looks amazing. read more

Fried chicken is one of my favorite meals on earth and when it's done right, it is absolutely magical. With that said, The Nest has pound for pound some of the best fried chicken I've have ever eaten. To untangle, I ordered the half fried chicken with macaroni and cheese and it was glorious. First, I sampled the macaroni and cheese and it was excellent. To explain, it was creamy and cheesy with a delightful bread crumb topping. As a bonus, the shells were tender and tasted homemade. After this, I was ready to try the fried chicken. As soon as I made my first bite, I knew I was in for a treat. The chicken was crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. With every bite, my mouth was watering and I just wanted more and more. You could hear and taste every crunch and it was yummy, crunchy goodness. Simply put, this was top notch fried chicken. In conclusion, The Nest has delicious macaroni and cheese and some of the best fried chicken I have ever had. read more

The Nest - Macaroni and cheese - Southern Near Me - Schenectady, New York

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Amazing!! The food is just so good!! Their biscuits are delicious with either the honey butter or sausage gravy. We had the fried green tomatoes and crab dip for an appetizer. The fried green tomatoes were by far my favorite. They are so flavorful. The shrimp and grits was good. I tried the pork chop and that was delicious with the smokey flavor and was a very juicy chop. I wanted to eat all the pimento cheese mashed potato's but it would be wrong to eat someone else's food. LOL. The mussels too were excellent. I can't say enough about this restaurant. The food, drinks and friendly staff make me want to go back sooner than later. Well done!! read more

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The food here is great. So far I've gotten the Philly and the chicken sandwiches. All of them have been great but the bacon jam one is the best 100%. The deviled eggs were ok but a little mustard heavy for my taste. But hey we don't all love every recipe. I can't tell you enough how bomb that bacon jam is. Literally makes my day to eat that sandwich. read more

Back in March, we dined two nights in a row at The Nest. We had other dining plans for the second night, but left that establishment due to service issues. We gladly drove the 20 minutes to The Nest hoping for another enjoyable dinner. The kitchen and dining staff did not disappoint us. We'll return if ever back in town and we'll recommend to others we know who travel through. If you like Pork Belly don't miss ordering theirs! read more

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WHEN: Sunday @ 11am Oh man the nest was busy and crowded during brunch time. My friend and I did walk in, we didn't have any reservations bc we didn't think it'd be so crowded on a Sunday. We were offered a 45min table upstairs or we had to wait 15-30min for a table. We took the 45min spot. This spot is the hit, the interior decorations are so modern, it felt like you just walked into a cafe in New Orleans or California. The ambiance was chic, romantic. Everyone dressed up to brunch, even the staff and hostesses. It's a good date spot if you want to dress up and get fancy in Schenectady. WHAT WE ORDERED Tom Tom (fried chicken n waffle) Mimosa with OJ I've only tried chicken and waffle in Berkeley CA. The Tom Tom had an acquired taste. The chicken is mixed with cheddar cheese, hot sauce, the waffle had a bit syrup. It was an interesting combo. The Tom Tom is a smaller portion than other chicken waffle that I've tried. The mimosa was so alcoholic. I don't usually order alcohol at restaurants, the champagne was so strong, I asked for more OJ to my mimosa. You have to order the mimosa to your brunch entree tho, it's the perfect mixture. SERVICE Excellent service, servers are attentive to our needs, checked on us a few times. I was impressed that our food came out 5-8min after we ordered. It was so quick which I appreciate. read more

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We went for brunch and it was really great:' we walked in no reservation and sat outside. It was a beautiful day so it was fine. Servers were hustling with the outside tables but it was fine. Food was great drinks and service awesome read more

The Nest was delicious, we got the tom tom and the pork belly Benedict. We were so full after and the service was great. You can tell Marnie is a great leader for the establishment. Unfortunately we drove so couldn't grab drinks but keep in mind that this is definitely a cocktail forward ambiance! Nothing wrong w that, seems like a great place to meet with a group of friends. Wouldnt recommend the latte as its quite small read more

The Nest - texas boy - Southern Near Me - Schenectady, New York

Awesome food!! Unique. Place was very busy so expect to be there for some time. Well worth it.

This place was pretty busy when we went. Wish the menu had more options but overall was pretty good. The best thing we're the biscuits with the butter! Yum. read more

The Nest - Avocado Toast - Southern Near Me - Schenectady, New York

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I had a wonderful brunch experience here. The food was stellar, with every dish impressing me with its depth and complexity of flavors. The dishes were rich but perfectly balanced with acidity, making them refreshing and satisfying. The service was very friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a delicious and memorable brunch. One of the best places in Schenectady read more

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Terrible experience for Mother's Day breakfast. I ordered one meal, it was bland with no flavor at all. They offered me another one to go the same thing when I took it home it was horrible the waitress was very nice though. $200 (they added 22% tip, for 3people).. Overpriced food and money wasted I will never order breakfast there again just the lobster mac and cheese which is great but wasn't an option. My daughters enjoyed the chicken and waffles. read more

Always a full dining experience at The Nest! The service is friendly and attentive, drinks are delicious, and food is impeccable every time. This is one of my top recommendations for the area! read more

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The food here just can't be beat. I literally dream about this place everything is perfection. Ambiance 10/10, food 10/10, and all the servers are soooo sweet and have the best recommendations!!! read more

The Nest - Southern Near Me - Schenectady, New York

Firstly, reservations are a MUST. And if you want to have it for a specific time you need to make the reservation like weeks in advance. This place seems to be the most popular place in Schenectady for brunch. We walked in and this place was LOUD. I'm not sure if they always have a DJ, but he was set up right in front of the door so the hostess couldn't really hear us when we gave the name for the reservation. The DJ did a great job, I think that the volume could've been turned down just a bit I ordered the Nick-griddle which was really good. I was full for the rest of the day! Egg was not runny but all the flavors were there. Chicken was nice and crispy. I feel like biscuits for me are like 99% of the time a miss because they are dry, but this is the 1% where they just hit the spot. Service was also great. Overall I would come again, but I don't think it would be worth waiting for a table if you didn't make reservations. read more

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Lunch date with my wife. First time here.... Server was great. Recommended the fried green tomatoes and the crab dip to start. Both were great. Green tomatoes were to die for tbh and I hate veggies. Main dish was that's my jam was also pretty good. Fries were crispy... pickle was spicy. Overall good spot... super cute inside and modern. Wife was happy and that's all that really mattered. read more

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We came here for brunch yesterday. Our party kept on growing and the staff was very accommodating. Our waitress was super sweet and attentive. The drinks and the food was delicious. This place is certainly popular in the area and I can see why. It has a nice southern homey feel right here in the Capital Region. read more

The Nest - Macaroni and cheese - Southern Near Me - Schenectady, New York

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Went here for Brunch . We sat upstairs which was very nice . As other reviewers have said , it's definitely loud. Very pricy and the drinks were small and expensive . With that being said , the food and service are impeccable. You have to go at least once . Everything was delicious but a must have is Katyrin's biscuits . My husband got the Classic Breakfast and said he doesn't know if he's ever gotten such perfectly cooked eggs anywhere (over easy). With our entrees we tried their hot sauce that I'm sure they make in house and it was to die for . The breakfast potatoes were unlike any I have ever had. They are roasted and then deep fried . I had super anxiety over the parking but just a side street over is a parking lot for proctors and easy walk to The Nest. Because they were having an event it was 10.00 to park but usually I think it's 5.00. They only accepted cash when we were parking but there was plenty of it . read more

The Nest - Avacodo Toast with Homefries - Southern Near Me - Schenectady, New York

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We were seated in the dining area by ourselves with no other customers but a private party in the next room. They kept walking past our table to the bathrooms. They also set the fire alarm off before our dinner came out and lt couldn't be turned off, so while the entrées were good, we had to eat them with the chaos of the alarms and firemen coming past our table along with whom we expected was the owner trying to deal with the issue. He was drinking a cocktail and never even looked at us. Don't think the manager would have been drinking. While the waiter was apologetic, he didn't seem to understand how the ambience was totally ruined until he offered us dessert and I said we just wanted to get out of there. They did comp us our one glass of wine each, but I felt under the circumstances that our whole dinner should have been comped or given us a gift card to come back another time. I gave it 2 stars for the food only, but there were tables open on the first floor bar area and if we had been seated there, the party and fire alarm would have been less disruptive. I really wondered if they put us separately due to ageism. Although it is unlikely that will happen to many other diners, their response/service was very disappointing. They even could have suggested we move before our entrees were served, but didn't. We won't go back. read more

The brunch was amazing and the service was even better. Great spot for families, we had a one year-old toe and had a wonderful time! Very accommodating very friendly and the food is tops in the area. read more

Best chicken sandwich and staff in Schenectady. I'm an executive chef and this is THE BEST. Put your phone down and grab a sandwich. read more

The Nest - Best chicken sandwich in Schenectady hands down. The staff is so kind also. Put your phone down and get here! - Southern Near Me - Schenectady, New York

Great food, excellent service. Make reservations way ahead of time. Would like to go back.

All of the food we had was delicious. We really enjoyed the grit tots and fried green tomatoes. Both had amazing flavor! The fried chicken was awesome, as were the short ribs. The only item I didn't totally love were the brussel sprouts. They were a little sweet for me. Service was fast and attentive. Would come again and definitely recommend! read more

We were looking for a place to have an anniversary brunch while we were out of town and this was recommended to us. It's in a cute part of Schenectady with plentiful off street parking, at least on Sundays. Vibrant decor and bar area, which was completely full with diners. They had some mimosa/bottomless specials and several craft drinks, some with coffee. The food and drinks were priced well for the area, and the service was great, they were very attentive despite how busy the whole place was. The grits special was beautifully presented, the Kale was a bit tough, spinach might work better. The biscuits served with fresh jam and butter were flaky and delicious. read more

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Wonderful spot!! We went here on a Sunday for brunch and made reservations a few days prior. Good thing we did because they were fully booked shortly after. I've been to Cuckoo's Nest several times so I had high hopes for their sister restaurant. After we were seated, we looked over the menu, which is similar to the Cuckoo's Nest. We started with an iced coffee, iced tea and an order of biscuits. The coffee was great as was the tea, which was freshly brewed. The biscuits arrived warm and were accompanied with honey butter and blackberry jam. They were perfect in every way -- flaky and buttery -- and the honey butter and jam were absolutely amazing. For our entrees, we split the chicken and waffles and a sticky bun. The chicken and waffles portion is HUGE! Definitely good enough for two people. The chicken was cooked perfectly and we liked how it came with both dark and white meat. The waffle was also nicely cooked -- crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I'm also a fan of their honey hot sauce so I was glad to see it on the plate too. The pecan sticky bun smelled and tasted heavenly. It was delicious! Overall, a wonderful meal with a nice atmosphere and great service. Every staff member we interacted with was so friendly and attentive. Highly recommend! read more

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Great for dinner. Stay away during lunch. Have always enjoyed many great meals during dinner pre show at proctors. Shrimp and grits is always a hit and the drinks are fantastic. Service is never friendly but efficient which is always appreciated prior to a show. However when we went for lunch recently it was offensive how slow the server was given the restaurant was nearly empty. The portions were inadequate and the meals lacked flavor (BLT had no dressing / jam /aioli and chicken sandwich portions were alarmingly small) read more

One of my favorite places for fried chicken. I'm so glad they opened a location in Schenectady. I'm a big fan of Cuckoo's Nest and Crave, and The Nest lives up to the high standards previously set by the owners. I don't think I've been disappointed by anything. The grit tots are one of my favorite dishes and I'm not even really a fan of grits. But that sausage gravy is the best you'll ever have. The hot chick soul bowl is the perfect combination of Mac & cheese drizzled with ranch, topped with bacon and homemade hot sauce covered chicken tenders that are so juicy you won't even notice you are eating boneless chicken. The service was outstanding also. Make sure you make reservations a few days in advance for the best times because they get booked quick especially for brunch on the weekend. read more

The Nest - Raspberry lemon tart - Southern Near Me - Schenectady, New York

Dining alone, I sat at the bar. Shrimp and grits were excellent. 5-Star service and cocktail was superb as well.

This restaurant is amazing! The food does not disappoint, the space itself is beautiful and the staff is friendly and professional. The Nashville Chicken sandwich is a winner as is the Soul Bowl, pictured below. They also have a very unique "sweet bbq" sauce that is a flavor I've never encountered elsewhere and tastes delicious. read more

The Nest - Soul Bowl - mac n cheese, fried chicken, bacon ... what else could you ask for?? - Southern Near Me - Schenectady, New York

Pork belly! Lively staff Reasonably priced Drafty bar, get a seat away from the entrance. read more

Excellent food and truly excellent service. Highly recommended, especially if you're celebrating something. Their event planning staff are very easy to work with and really know how to come through for you. And again, EXCELLENT food. Possibly the best brunch in the area. I've had the pork belly eggs Benedict, but I could easily have ordered at least a dozen things on the menu...and the drinks are incredibly well balanced. Again, highly recommended. read more