Umana Yana - Washington Ave, Albany, NY If you're looking to…read morestep outside of the ordinary and experience bold flavors in a welcoming atmosphere, Umana Yana is a must-visit. This was my second time here--my first visit was dining in with friends, and this time I ordered takeout. Both experiences were consistently impressive. Known for its Ethiopian dishes and outstanding vegan cuisine, Umana Yana brings African culture to life through its vibrant décor, flavorful food, and thoughtfully crafted drinks. Every detail reflects passion and authenticity. It's no surprise that actress Tabitha Brown made a stop in Albany to experience the restaurant's highly praised vegan offerings. That's a testament to the reputation they've built. For my meal, I ordered the jerk lamb lollipops, jollof rice, and slaw. The lamb was tender, juicy, and packed with just the right amount of jerk seasoning. The jollof rice was rich, well-seasoned, and full of flavor, while the slaw added a fresh, crisp balance to the meal. On my previous visit, I tried the wings and waffles, and they were equally delicious. Two visits, two different meals, and not a single disappointment. Whether you're a longtime fan of African cuisine or looking to try something new, Umana Yana offers an experience that's just as memorable as the food itself. If you don't know, now you know. Add Umana Yana to your list--you won't regret it!

Yelpers and hard-to-please Redditors praised Umana Yana but I was initially unclear on the "must…read morehave" items given the fusion aspects. Umana Yana is named after a Guyana location but much of the fare is African. In addition to scouring photos I even looked on DoorDash for popular items. The jerk lamb lollipops and red curry fish tacos were excellent. Umana Yana is an expert in spice and sauce, and also has a knack for combining fire and sweetness. The lamb has plenty of built-in flavor but was also adorned with a topping vaguely in the pico de gallo paradigm along with pineapple, and there's a green sauce on the side.

I cant say enough about the food at Tara's! The menu has so many options and vegetarian dishes to…read moretry. I enjoyed dinner on the back patio Wed evening. I had my heart set on Maqooda but the kitchen was sold out. The chicken tikka masala is always 5 stars. Creamy spiced tomato sauce and plenty of tender chicken. As I was preparing to leave the chef brought me a freshly cooked Maqooda. He also offered to bring me more rice. This extra effort really makes guests feel special. Tip use the Inkind app for purchases to gain points for future purchases.

Tara Kitchen continues to deliver with delicious, complex flavors. We enjoyed the intimate…read moreatmosphere of the Schenectady original location. Our server was personable, attentive and sweet. She gave us recommendations and she wasn't wrong. My Lamb Tagine Tangia was so good. The lamb was tender with a mix of sweet and savory flavors. I was able to enjoy some the next day too. Others got Chicken Tagine M'Chermel and Lamb M'Kwara. All were appetizing and tasty. For appetizers we had some delicious orange flavored hummus, pickled cauliflower and harissa olives. I especially loved the hummus. Ground Lamb Cigars were also appealing. Two had homemade mango lassi. It was a wonderful night out. Our clothes smelled like Moroccan food as we left. None of us complained.

One of my favorite things is discovering new purveyors of international food. So I was very…read moreintrigued when I saw Alima's West African food stand at an area market. The menu sounded awesome. The curry green beans and the lentil soup seemed like a good place to start and we also got a bunch of the fresh drinks including lemonade with mint, hibiscus tea and the regular lemonade. All that excitement and anticipation went out the window 2 seconds after paying. Every one of the drinks was diluted to within an inch of its life. It was like we were drinking tap water with literally 1 drop of flavor. And at $4 a cup, I felt that it was a major rip off. As for the food, it was not served hot and the flavor wasn't bold or interesting. I felt let down on every front and having spend nearly $30 on everything, I also felt a bit cheated. One star. Not very good at all, would not recommend.

This seems to be out of business. The phone is disconnected its not there!!! What a…read moredisappointment. Also, the food gallery is open and drafty

I resisted the urge to rush in to First To Review because the initial tagine I had was so deucedly…read morebland and chewy, and the staff were kind of fighting with one another so I figured, hey, break in problems, I'll wait. And then I waited until after my second trip because things hadn't really settled down front of the house and I think they forgot my order, because it was cold. But you know, three data points is sufficient now (cous cous again the third time) to declare this pretty bland. Not a hint of harissa or ras al hanout, not a pore opening, kind of very thin broth. The vegetables on the cous cous were "authentic" cuts and mix and the tagine was very much in line with the basic style I've had abroad, but...just nothing to write home about. I'll call it OK if you're in the mood for north African and are in the Galleria, but it's not a replacement for the kind of transportive food you can get for just a little more cash at Tara. I'll likely give the rest of the menu a try, just not anytime soon with other good options available.

Came by this place by accident. Was in town to move my daughter back into school at Union and we…read morewere looking for a new place nearby to eat. The first couple of places we had in mind was already closed and we drove by Jollof Kitchen. We've never had African food before and we're a pretty adventurous family when it comes to food, so when we saw that they were still open... why not? First of all, very friendly staff! Took time to explain the dishes as we weren't familiar with the cuisine. You order and pay at the counter, and they bring your food to your table. It's a very casual dining room with plenty of tables for a decent crowd. We ordered the chicken curry, a peanut stew with meat (I forget what it's called), then a lamb dish with jollof rice. WOW! All dishes were amazing!! And huge portions! We had a lot left over and my daughter asked for us to leave it all with her so she can have the leftovers all to herself! LOL Accidental find, but we'll definitely be back again. Great food, great service!

Great oxtail, chicken, goat. Great rice and peas. Fresh jerk daily, and they are friendly. Great…read moreselection of juices and drinks, and a nice cozy vibe.

The food is authentic, prepared in-house, and delicious! The portions are very generous. The owner…read moreis awesome.

I have experienced Tara's food in a variety of contexts: ala carte at the original Schenectady…read morerestaurant, on the generous lunch buffet, and now in the prepared food incarnation at the repurposed Guilderland restaurant which is now primarily for takeout though you can dine in if you like. It's very approachable Mediterranean food: an overused word but the best way to describe it. Tara uses a lot of spices that will be new to many diners, but the results are well balanced and will not turn off people who are afraid of heat or funky smells. I've dined at this location when it was a sit down restaurant and now it is a "Mediterranean market". You can order a/combination meal with an entree and two sides, to eat in or take out b/a variety of specialty prepared dishes which were designed in collaboration with former New World chef Ric Orlando c/snacks such as dolmas, baclava etc d/jarred spices and sauces, made by Tara (they are great) and others. There's also a nice assortment of dishes, famines and coffee urns for sale. I ordered a chicken and spinach taigine with chickpeas and orange plus seasoned rice for my sides and it was a very good and filling meal with generous portions. Also took home several jarred items and a tub of dolmas (great) and baklava (too dry) at $4.95 each. Not a five star meal because the combo order was not heated thoroughly with some cold sections, and the baklava needed some honey syrup or other moisturizer. But very good food and a great resource if you are in the area.

I might be the odd one out but I was a little under whelmed by my experience at Tara Kitchen. The…read morefood was great, but I wanted more. Literally. This was my first time here so I guess we didn't know what to expect as" Upon entering, it is a nice space, smelled great, comfy seating and nice decor. Our service was great and everything came out quick and fresh. We started out with drinks, wine for me and a Moroccan beer for my date. We were also served hot tea, which tasted exactly like sleepy time tea and honestly I felt really tired by the time I left. We wanted to order the cigars, the restaurant was empty and had just opened for dinner about 30 minutes before we arrived. They were sold out ... okay. We decided to order the Casablanca platter of hummus, olives and pickled vegetables. This large serving of hummus came with 4 small triangles of pita. Not even enough to eat half the hummus, and when we asked for more we were charged. The hummus was delicious and fresh, the olives were an excellent pairing with the hummus and the veggies offered a bright bite as well. It was a great balanced plate to share for a starter. We have been trying to eat lighter so we decided to split the Lamb Tangina, this was not ideal. While there was enough for us both to feel satisfied, the portion for $30 left some to be desired. There were about 5 small pieces of lamb, a few potatoes, and the vessel was mostly filled with (delicious) broth. This was also served with less than 1/4 cup of basmati rice, I am not even joking. It was like a 2oz cup of rice for this brothy dish. We thought it was comical. After saying that, it was so freaking delicious. The lamb melted under the weight of your spoon, the broth flavor was deep with complexity from the smen (fermented butter) and preserved lemon. It was kind of like a soup, I was just eating spoon fulls of the broth. I would definitely come back, and at least we know what to expect as far as serving sizes. It's just pricy for what you actually get, but I suppose the flavors were worth it and I'm glad to have experienced it.