$300 to eat on a plastic tablecloth on Valentine's Day, not even a candle on the table. I'm embarrassed I suggested the spot to my date. The experience felt stingy and rushed. I'm sad because I loved this spot and I'm disappointed the quality has gone down so drastically. Portions were very small and the food didn't taste special or interesting. The octopus came out room temp and had been sitting out. Entres lukewarm. The drinks were by far the best part of the meal and it took half an hour to get them. Service was all over the place but they get a pass because it's Valentine's Day. Do yourself a favor and try Rosanna's instead. read more

RESERVATION ONLY * WOW! What an amazing meal! Best carbonara I've ever had. Husband ate all of his vodka pasta with chicken. High quality ingredients. Lovely glasses of wine. Service was great. You can tell the people working here take care of their space. Someone was always cleaning. Tiramisu was light and flavorful. What a great gem in Albany. read more

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I was able to make a same day reservation and truly enjoyed my dining experience. I tried the polpette and pollo di como and both dishes were excellent, perfectly cooked, good flavors in the sauce, filing, the chef and bartender are both so kind and I look forward to coming back! read more

Villa di Como Ristorante - Meatballs - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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Heads up: place is reservations only Second thing, we come in, it took like 10 mins to get someone to come over and take our order. (No one is here.) Then we order and it takes over 40 minutes to get food. This is ridiculous. It's not fast food, but it's Italian. It shouldn't take that long when we are the only person in the restaurant. Ambiance: mid. Food: overrated. Taste like something I can get from Olive Garden for half the price. My pasta was over cooked after a 40 mins wait... :( Wouldn't recommend to anyone. The pizza looks like something that a kid can make. read more

We met friends for dinner and were excited to try a new Italian restaurant. While everything was satisfactory, I wouldn't say it was up to par with some of the other Italian restaurants in the area. Additionally, we felt it was pretty overpriced for the portion size and plastic table cloths. read more

Villa di Como Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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If you are looking for a date night or a celebratory event, I think this restaurant is the way to go! The entrance might be a little hard to miss, but once you enter and go up the steps, it's a very dim-lighted, small, elegant place that sets the mood. Though they do have a sign that says "reservations only", they were very accommodating for me, who had none, and found me a seat. I noticed that that this for larger parties too, so don't be too perturbed by the sign. The food was amazing! I ordered a prosciutto and arugula pizza, which was very tasty with rich flavor and good portion sizing. It was a little burnt, but most places do that. My only complaint is that the place was a little pricey, so I would recommend coming here for major events and not casual dining. read more

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If you're looking for an amazing dining experience while in Albany, don't miss Villa di Como! Our experience was wonderful from the moment we walked in the door. Matteo was our bartender/server. He made us feel at home and every dish he suggested was outstanding. I had the prosciutto and arugula pizza (delicious!) and my husband had the chicken parmagiana (he loved it!). For appetizers we shared garlic bread, calamari, and a burrito salad. Everything we ate was superb, but please do not skip dessert. I didn't catch his name, but there is a delightful Turkish man who works there and bakes cheesecake for them. It was the lightest and best tasting cheesecake we've ever eaten!!!! Everything about our experience here was outstanding. We will be sending all of our friends your way. read more

Tonight my husband and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary with dinner at Villa di Como Ristorante. The waiter was a very nice young man. The ambiance was very pleasant and romantic. The food was superb. My husband is a great cook so it's hard to find a restaurant that meets or exceeds our expectations. From the drinks to the appetizers all the way through the entrees and desserts nothing was disappointing. I would gladly recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves authentic Italian food, a calm atmosphere, great food and a wonderful waitstaff. Reservations are required. read more

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The food is excellent, as in pretty close to perfection. I often find myself at Grappa 72 because it's close by, and I always enjoyed Beltline 3 but Villa's preparations are head and shoulders above those two comps. We started with the polpette (Wagyu meatballs) and burrata, both notable for the taste and texture. We then moved on to various pasta dishes, all served perfectly al dente with the right amount of sauce. Our server offered up garlic bread for the table, which was presented as a wonderfully seasoned flatbread and a side of marinara. Oh, the marinara is soooooooo great. For dessert, a wonderful, light cheesecake and tiramisu OF COURSE. Service was the right level of helpful and in the background. Plates cleared when everyone was finished (I'm old school). My only regret is that it took so long to get here. Coming back. HEARTS! read more

The atmosphere, the drinks, the service and food were all incredible. I can't recommend this place enough! We started with the garlic bread which was cooked to perfection. We paired this with an espresso martini and a limoncello spritz both were delicious! For dinner I had the chicken carbonara and it was absolutely exquisite! My boyfriend had a dish in which I can't recall the name but it had shrimp, mushrooms, and a creamy pink sauce it was also so good! read more

Villa di Como Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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Very good food and service. Pollo de Como was extremely tasty as was the eggplant Parmesan.

Just tried Villa di Como for the first time while doing an overnight in Albany. It came highly recommended by our Airbnb host so we decided to check it out. Villa di Como is a must try if you ever find yourself in the Albany area. They are known for their house made limoncello/orangecello, and it's the best I've had outside of Italy. The dining experience was truly lovely. We were seated immediately and our server was so sweet and attentive. The drinks and food were absolutely delicious. You can dine here by reservation only. There are only 7 tables in the dining area, and a bar for seating. We were able to snag a table for two only an hour ahead of time on a Friday night, but I'd recommend planning ahead. I'll definitely be planning a trip back to Albany just to dine here! read more

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Anywhere else is better. Service was bad, atmosphere too, food was mid. This place is robbing you and you don't even know it. Save yourself the time and money. Plenty of other excellent Italian restaurants in the area. read more

Thus place is sooo small and sooo tight!!! I went there,Went inside and Walked right back out. They had a few small seating available where no one was sitting and they say you still need a reservation. It wasn't pleasant nor wasn't kind they way they said it. They wasn't busy at all. And if you are African American I wouldn't waste your time going because you will feel out of place,Just a heads up. The main reason I decided to go to this restaurant is because people raving about the food being delicious but me being comfortable is more important. Businesses should think of how they customers will feel in they environment 1st read more

Villa di Como Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

This holds up to the best Italian restaurants in NYC. Genuinely one of the best pastas I've ever eaten. 10/10 recommend

My meal was delicious! The service was amazing too. The entree was huge but a to go was provided. read more

Villa di Como Ristorante - Eggplant Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

Great service and food in this Italian restaurant. A menu filled with authentic dishes that are all extremely well executed. I love that they make their our sauce and lemon and orangecello. All are bottled for sale. I especially enjoyed the cocktail I had that had the orangecello in it. read more

The food was outstanding, the service was attentive and professional yet comfortable and not aggressive and the ambiance was lovely. I would 100% visit again and again! I'm so glad we found this restaurant while traveling the US. read more

Villa di Como Ristorante - Ambiance. - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

Great food! I had the Caprese Salad and the chicken mushroom pasta. The server was SO helpful, and he made the perfect limoncello martini. It was quieter than it should have been! With their food and service, this place should have a line waiting around the corner, but I was able to walk right in and get seated. read more

Reservations only, we had one for a Wednesday early evening while passing through to connect with our cousins over dinner. We were seated at a high table for 4, a fifth chair was tacked on at the end. The bar, where our waiter mostly hung out on his phone, was right behind us which was slightly awkward because we didn't know if he was listening in on the conversation or just doing his own thing. There were only a handful of others dining while we were. We enjoyed above average Italian fare but felt our bill should've been half the price...it was north of $600 for 5 people one of which one was under age. There was a still water glass jug placed in the middle of the table so we were refilling our own glasses which for the price and the small crowd was surprising. The wine was poured initially and then with the bottle left on the the table it was all us from there. The appetizers and entrees were good. The desserts weren't very impressive and the cannolis were so tiny with filling not at all what we're used to in NYC. The coffee liqueur selection is lacking. I'd say be a bit less pretentious and charge more reasonably, that was an astronomical expense for a mid week gathering. Service should also match the price point. read more

Food service and ambiance were wonderful. We expected no less and we were not disappointed!

Wonderful food. Perfectly cooked pastas. Great service and wine selection. Highly recommend

Oily flavorless pasta that was surprisingly expensive. Tables were uncomfortable and a bit grimy. Server was not very welcoming or friendly. Pasta bolognese was greasy and tasted like smoked sausage. Not what we expected. Pasta vongole was oily and flavorless in spite of being served with fresh clams. Portions are huge but the food wasn't delicious. We left a lot on the plate. Didn't try the pizza but we won't be back. read more

Overpriced , flavorless and oily. $35 for a large portion of greasy spaghetti with clams. I struggled to find any flavor although the clams were fresh. The "home made" spaghetti was coated on oil. My partner had the bolognese which was also greasy and had a smoky flavor, not the rich meaty ragù one expects in a bolognese. Green salad was fine and fresh. I do t mind paying for a great pasta dish, but this was just bad. The server was just ok, kind of checked out. And I'd rather not sit at a high top (all the seats were high tops). Never again. read more

Nice ambience and courteous staff. Glad to have this walkable option in the neighborhood we were staying. We felt safe and were thankful for the measures the restaurant took. We ordered the Margherita +add sausage and the spaghetti & meatballs. The pizza ingredients were quality but the dough missed the mark. Perhaps not enough yeast and a missed rising as the crust lacked an airy, chewiness. The bottom was not cooked enough and while it was fine straight out of the oven, it did not age well through the course of the meal. Once the pizza's temperature dropped, the crust was stone hard and the underside pasty. The spaghetti & pomodoro were great, but the meatballs were a big let down. Not only were they lukewarm in the middle, they were tough, chewy, sinewy, and unable to be cut with a fork. The flavor was also off and led me to wonder if they came from the freezer, a little past their prime. read more

Villa di Como Ristorante - Margherita with Sausage - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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Came here for a Valentine's Day pre fixed menu. They served a few small apps (small portions), entrees, and a small dessert. The food was ok, nothing special, and drinks weren't included in the bill. The total came out to $350 for a very mediocre meal and mediocre service. I have paid less in fancy Saratoga restaurants and gotten better food, service, and ambiance. Skip this place read more

Very yummy food. Great red sauce -- a hearty and flavorful pomodoro that you can take home by the jar. Homemade lemoncello and orangecello cocktails are the bomb. And espresso with great crema. The first floor of this restaurant is so cozy and inviting. Second floor, sad and quiet. So, do yourself a favor and be specific on your resy. One other down note, literally, is the tunes. Some kind of contemporary Italian hits. Would be nice to sip a Chianti and hum along to something more classic. read more

My review is over-due as we dined at this restaurant several months ago. Villa di Como Ristorante is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! Our meal was prepared by the passionate Chef Ali, served by the most welcoming staff, in a quaint and unpretentious atmosphere. We are from the San Francisco Bay Area and decided to make a quick visit to Albany during our short stay in Windam, NY. My random search for a dinner venue in Albany led us to this restaurant! We did not expect to have one of our favorite Italian meals in Albany, NY! We ordered the garlic bread, pizza, octopus carpaccio, polpette, pasta al salmone, frutti di mare (prepared with extra heat per my request), and cheesecake for dessert. Lots of food for 2 people and we savored every dish. The pasta was just as exceptional eaten cold the next day! The flavors were rich, bold and authentic. Wines were reasonably priced. If you only have time to dine at one restaurant in Albany, go to Como di Villa - hands down! We regret being so far away, but were thrilled and fortunate to have found this place during our short but memorable visit. Also, if you are out of town, stock up on the olive oil with Calabrian chilies! SOO good!! We wish to come back one day! Thanks Chef Ali and cheers to the entire team! Keep up the phenomenal work! read more

Thank you for finally bringing good pizza to the Capital Region! I usually cringe at the thought of ordering anything around Glenmont when I'm craving pizza. I grew up on Long Island, lived in NYC, Las Vegas and California. I truly am a pizza snob. I'm excited to have found a place that has a nicely charred crust, excellent, fresh ingredients and smells delightful! Don't forget the tiramisu. I'm picky about that too. Full? Have a little limoncello to digest it all. Perfecto! read more

Villa di Como Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Albany, New York

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Best Italian food in the area, hands down! And since I can't get to Italy anytime soon, this is as close as it's going to get. I will definitely be back! PS- the limoncello spritzer is AMAZING - Liz Morse read more

Villa di Como staff was attentive. We ordered three pasta dishes, a personal pizza, garlic bread, and one drink from the bar. The food was well prepared and presented well. As an aside, I feel like the meal was overpriced, measured against the overall experience. The bill was just under $200 (not including tip). read more

Food, ambiance and service was beyond amazing our first visit. We were so excited to have found "our spot". Upon returning that was not the case. The service was awful and the food was subpar. The pasta was not the same as it was and told no longer available? When mentioning this to the Chef/Owner he spoke to us like a pompous ass. Like we were idiots for even noticing. We would have made plans to return BUT our interaction with said Mr Pompous....no thank you. There are PLENTY of other restaurants that I'd rather spend my time and money. read more

Food was very good. We got the broccoli rabe pasta, pepperoni pizza and arancini. Would for sure come back. Kind of expensive but everything was very fresh. Would gladly come back when I'm in Albany again. read more

The atmosphere was pleasant and the service was attentive. The pastas were delicious and authentic as being in Italy itself. The Tiramisu was luxurious! The tables are a bit small. The only minor fault was in the pricing, not having menu pricing on the website should have been the warning. read more

My husband and I recently had an excellent dinner here. The service was impeccable and we liked the ambiance. The octopus carpaccio was very different than any octopus dish we'd ever had and was delicious. My pasta rapini was excellent- the homemade spicy sausage in it was excellent. We will come again! read more

Just experienced one of the most exquisite and authentic Italian meals the Capital Region has to offer at Villa di Como. We started our meal with a delicious limoncello martini. The limoncello is made in house and it's the right balance of sweet and tangy. We then proceeded with the polpette appetizer and hot Italian oil with garlic bread...to die for!! Our main dish was the special of the day, filet mignon accompanied by pasta vodka and fruto di mare. My husband raved about the shrimp and how fresh all the seafood tasted. I absolutely loved the pasta vodka. The pasta was cooked al dente. To finish it off, we tried the cannoli and the homemade cheesecake. Both were very delicious, although I was partial to my cannoli. The service was prompt. It is by reservation only. And chef Ali was very gracious when we spoke to him. We are from Westchester county, and grew up with our fair share of delicious Italian cuisine and trust me Villa di Como is top notch. We will definitely be returning patrons. read more

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My family is pretty new to Albany..., and we've been getting to know the local fare only through takeout... no in-restaurant dining. I've always thought that reviewing takeout wasn't fair... but well, that's all we get these days. Anyway, we ordered a few pizzas from Villa Di Como... the cheese, the Verdure and the Buffalo chicken. My 6-year old loved Chef Ali's cheese pizza. She claims this is the best pizza in Albany. The eggplant on the verdure is tender and perfect, and made for a tantalizing bite. And the Buffalo chicken pizza, according to my husband, was spicy and delicious. Though we only tried the pizzas this time around, we'll be back for more... the smells I encountered while waiting (for my fresh out of the oven food) were absolutely mouthwatering. And also, it's worth noting, this was a place I sighed a big sigh when I walked in, cause it's so cute and cozy.... I can't wait until we can dine out again. read more

The pizza reminds me of the pastries and foodstuffs in the glass case at Starbucks: Looks good, but not so good in the mouth. Maybe I have high expectations? I've eaten at Michelin star restaurants in NYC, San Fran, Tokyo, London, Paris, etc., to street vendors in Singapore and Bangkok. Yes, I have a very wide palate and can enjoy simple to complex foods. But unfortunately, the flavors here are plain boring. I tried two different pizzas, calamari and a dessert. The moment I took a bite of the pizza I wanted to stop but forced myself to continue eating, what a disappointment. Blaze pizza in Stuyvesant tastes better imo. In the Albany metro area Marisa's and DeFazio are still the best for me, which are just OK really. Eat at Lucali or John's on Bleeker street in NYC if you want to sample quality pizza as a starting point to prime your palate. Frankly, most pizza in the Albany metro area is junky and Villa di Como continues that trend. I like to try new places in hopes someone is buying superior ingredients and knows their craft. But this is not it, and I have no plans to order pizza here again. The calamari was OK I suppose, but nothing to write home about. The dessert was lame. I get better desserts at Cardona's market for 1/2 the price/quantity. To be fair I didn't try any of his entrée offerings. Maybe his entrees are where it's at ?!? *baffled* Overall, everything was overpriced for the quality. The pictures on his website look amazing but alas so do the items in the Starbucks glass case -- which I never get. He charges $17 for each 12-inch personal pizza, and only accepts cash or Venmo at the moment. Will this change? Very bizarre he doesn't accept credit card. read more

The chef/owner provides a wonderful experience while presenting the most authentic dishes I've had in the US. I highly recommend Villa di Como and the 288 Wine & Tap for any outing!! read more

Do not understand all the high star reviews. The food was, well not sure, but clearly not worth the $35 per plate. Flavors were off and all dishes were loaded with sauce. The garlic bread was nice, but $9 for a 1/8 (at best) of a loaf? Again, everyone enjoys different things but this is not somewhere I would return, particularly at the price point read more