NORTHERN
ITALIAN
Café
Capriccio
49 Grand St., Albany, 465-0439, cafecapriccio.com. Metroland’s
Best Restaurant 2007 has been serving gourmet regional Italian
cuisine for 25 years. New menu features gnocchi Sorrento,
free-range chicken grilled under brick, braised beef Piedmontese,
and the usual favorites including calamari neri, ravioli
della sera and eggplant with four cheeses. Serving 5:30-10
Mon-Thu, 5:30-11 Fri-Sat, 5:30-9 Sun. Reservations strongly
suggested. AE, D, MC, V. $$$$
Café Lucia
80 Church St., Lenox, Mass., (413) 637-2640. Enjoy the cuisine
of chef-owner Jim Lucie, who takes loving care with his
ingredients to turn out variations on Italian and continental
favorites. Full bar and award-winning wine list. Private
parties. Reservations recommended. Serving dinner 5:30-9:30
Tue-Sat; closed Sun-Mon. AE, D, MC, V. $$$$
Cella Bistro
2015 Rosa Road, Schenectady, 381-2080. Enjoy tapas at the
bar and full meals in the dining room. Creative menu includes
spring rolls with artichoke hearts and goat cheese, homemade
pappardelle in a Bolognese sauce, and classic bistro-style
steak frites. Full bar. Serving dinner 5-9 Tue-Thu, 5-10
Fri-Sat. AE, MC, V. $$$
Chianti il Ristorante
208 S. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 580-0025, chiantiristorante.com.
Start with antipasto del Chianti and discover how delectable
such simple ingredients can be. Innovative Northern Italian
fare (with a good presence of garlic) including osso buco
and fresh seafood, served in a rustic Italian dining room.
Full bar. No reservations. Serving 5:30-9:30 Sun-Thu, 5:30-10
Fri-Sat. AE, MC, V. $$$
Elda’s
203-207 Lark St., Albany, 449-3532, eldasonlark.com. In
a handsome dining room looking out on Lark and State streets,
enjoy classic Italian dishes including veal, seafood, chicken,
beef and pasta. Fresh pasta and bread made on premises.
Gourmet desserts. Full bar. Catering and takeout available.
Delivery available for orders for 10 or more people. Serving
lunch 11-3 Mon-Fri, dinner 4-11 Mon-Sat. AE, CB, D, DC,
MC, V. $$$
Lo Porto Ristorante
85 4th St., Troy, 273-8546. Martin Scorsese’s favorite Capital
Region restaurant is still going strong, serving Italian
specialties with a Sicilian flavor. Full bar. Off-premises
catering (465-7313, loportocatering.com). Space available
for private parties. Takeout available. Serving lunch 11-3
Mon-Fri, dinner 5-10 Mon-Sat. Closed Sunday. Reservations
strongly suggested for dinner. AE, D, MC, V. $$$
Luisa’s Italian Bistro
Exit 17, Route 9, Saratoga Road, S. Glens Falls, 745-5055,
luisasitalian bistro.com. Serving Northern Italian dishes
from the restaurateur’s home in the Emilia-Romagna region
of Bologna, the restaurant specializes in veal, chicken,
seafood and pasta in an intimate setting. Updated menu includes
extensive appetizers, light bar menu and more, with dinner
specialties daily. Takeout available. Reservations recommended
for parties of six or more. Serving 4:30-9 Sun-Thu; 4:30-10
Fri-Sat. AE, D, MC, V. $$$
Mallozzi’s
1930 Curry Road, Schenectady, 355-0340, mallozzis.com. A
banquet house offering custom-designed menus for special
occasions. Serving a Wednesday night Grand Italian Buffet
offering myriad Italian specialty dishes and chef’s specials
in an elegant setting. Full bar, banquet facilities. Now
offering off-premises catering. Serving dinner 5-9 Wed.
Reservations suggested. AE, MC, V. $$$
Mangino’s
Route 9P, Saratoga Lake, 584-5599, manginos.com. Serving
Northern and traditional Italian specialties for more than
50 years at the same location at the south end of Saratoga
Lake. Specials include lobster, shrimp, veal, certified
angus steak, prime rib and fresh seafood. Serving 4-10 Tue-Thu,
4-11 Fri-Sat, 1-9 Sun. Closed Monday. Reservations suggested.
AE, D, MC, V. $$$
Mezza Notte
2026 Western Ave., Guilderland, 689-4433, mezzanottealbany.com.
Serving classic Italian dishes with a modern flair. House
specialties include their signature osso buco, and fettucine
arragosta (lobster) in a vanilla cream sauce; for appetizers,
try the vension carpaccio or patate (homemade potato chips)
con gorgonzola. Most desserts are house-made. Full bar,
extensive wine list. Serving 5-9:30 Mon-Wed, 5-10:30 Thu-Sat.
AE, MC, V. $$$$
Milano
Newton Plaza, 594 New Loudon Road, Latham, 783-3334, uniquecatering.com.
Northern Italian cuisine featuring homemade pasta, gourmet
pizza, grilled meats and seafood. Selection of gourmet foods
and baked goods for takeout. Full bar, off-premises catering
by Unique Catering. Winner of the Wine Spectator Award
of Excellence. Serving lunch 11:30-3 Mon-Sat; dinner 5-10
daily. Reservations suggested. AE, D, DC, MC, V. $$$$
Nicole’s Italia
20 Mall, 2080 Western Ave., Guilderland, 456-8242, nicolesitalia.com.
Southern and Northern Italian specialties served in an intimate
atmosphere. Full bar, banquet facilities, on- and off-premises
catering. Takeout available. Serving lunch buffet 11:30-1:30
Mon-Fri, dinner 4-9 Sun-Thu, 4-10 Fri-Sat. Reservations
suggested. AE, D, MC, V. $$$
Nicole’s Restaurant
556 Delaware Ave., Albany, 436-4952, nicolesrestaurant.com.
The menu offers Southern and Northern Italian specialties
in an intimate dining room with a metropolitan feel. Full
bar, banquet facilities, on- and off-premises catering.
Takeout available. Private luncheons by reservation any
day. Serving lunch 11:30-2:30 Tue-Fri, dinner 5-10 Tue-Sun.
Reservations suggested for dinner. AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V.
$$$
Pagliacci’s Ristorante
44 S. Pearl St., Albany, 465-1001. An unassuming restaurant
across the street from the Times Union Center. Here you
will find fine dining that reflects Northern Italian culinary
traditions, with daily specials. Full bar, banquet facilities
and a rooftop patio. On- and off-premises catering. Gift
certificates available. Serving lunch 11-3 Mon-Sat; dinner
4-10 Mon-Sat; closed Sunday. On Times Union Center event
nights, kitchen stays open after the event lets out. AE,
MC, V. $$$
Panza’s
510 Route 9P, Saratoga Springs, 584-6882, panzasrestaurant.com.
Distinctive Italian cuisine with a continental flair. Full
bar, banquets for all occasions, on/off-premises catering.
Serving dinner 5-close Wed-Sun. Closed Mon-Tue. Reservations
suggested. AE, MC, V. $$$$
V & R Restaurant
136 Madison Ave., Albany, 626-0001 or 626-0700. Northern
Italian cuisine featuring pasta, chicken, veal and seafood.
Soups and desserts made from scratch. Full bar, catering,
two rooms for private parties up to 150. Takeout available.
Reservations suggested. Serving 11-10 Mon-Fri, 3-11 Sat-Sun.
AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $$$
Vico Restaurant & Bar
136 Warren St., Hudson, 828-6529. Tuscan-inspired dining,
the legacy of chef-owner Mark Ganem’s time in Italy. The
result: items like fettuccine Botticelli, topped with a
cream sauce, porcini mushrooms, asparagus and edible flowers,
so it really does look like a work of art. Other items in
the changing menu could include grilled rosemary-crusted
lamb and preparations of tuna, chicken and duck. Warm ambiance,
excellent pasta and a killer bistecca Fiorentina.
Full bar. Serving lunch noon-2 Mon, Wed-Thu, noon-5 Fri-Sun;
dinner 5-9:30 Mon, Wed-Thu, Sun, 5-10 Fri-Sat. Sunday brunch
11-2. AE, MC, V. $$$
The Wheat Fields
440 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 587-0534. wheatfields.com.
Serving fresh pasta and fine wine since 1988, along with
veal, fish and chicken specials daily. Full bar; space for
semi-private parties available. Reservations accepted. Serving
11:30-10 Mon-Thu, 11:30-11 Fri, noon-11 Sat, noon-9 Sun.
AE, D, MC, V. $$$
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