Food & Drink

Sushi Exclusive

by B.A. Nilsson May 1, 2014

Yoshi Sushi, 640 New Loudon Road, No. 5, Latham, 783-6100, yoshisushialbany.com. Serving Mon-Thu 11-9, Fri 11-10, Sat noon-10. AE, D, MC, V. Cuisine: sushi Entrée price range: $10 (Yoshi’s Veggie Box) to $64 (64-piece Kamikaze Box); $2-$11 ...

sushi

Taste of Innocence

by B.A. Nilsson April 23, 2014

Lo Porto Ristorante Caffe, 85 4th St., Troy, 273-8546, loportos.com. Serving lunch 11-3 Mon-Fri, dinner 5-10 Mon-Sat. AE, D, MC, V. Cuisine: Sicilian-Italian Entrée price range: $12 (pasta with tomato sauce) to $38 (tournedos Rossini) Ambiance: Mulberry Street I ...

1 comment

It’s the Paprika

by B.A. Nilsson April 17, 2014

It was on his second trip back from the Americas that Columbus carried peppers (not to mention corn and tomatoes) to his royal patrons, opening Spanish cuisine to ingredients from which it soon would become ...

Of Pints, Ploughmen and Personality

by B.A. Nilsson April 10, 2014

Peint O Gwrw Welsh Pub 37 Main St, Chatham, 392-2337. Serving 4-9 Sun, Tue-Thu, 4-10 Fri-Sat. Bar open later. Cash only (ATM on premises). Cuisine: U.K.-slanted pub fare Entrée price range: $4 (mac and cheese) to $14 (fried ...

Peint O Gwrw Welsh Pub

Readers Poll: Food & Drink

by The Staff April 10, 2014

Best American 1. New World Bistro Bar 2. Bootleggers on Broadway 3. The Standard Innovative cuisine and comfortable atmosphere is enough for Ric Orlando’s place to again take top honors this year. Best Italian 1. D’Raymonds 2. Café Capriccio 3. Café Italia In a ...

2 comments

Readers Poll: People & Places

by The Staff April 10, 2014

Best Park 1. Washington Park 2. The Crossings 3. Thacher Park Beautiful Washington Park, with its scenic events and playhouse, swept the ballots, with suburban, recreational The Crossings coming in at a respectable second. Best Playground 1. The Crossings 2. Central Park 3. ...

3 comments

Readers Poll: Etcetera

by The Staff April 10, 2014

Best Use of Public Funds Troy Waterfront Park, education/schools, Alive at Five, fixing roads, CDTA, New York State Museum, snow removal, infrastructure/fixing roads, Central Park, environment, Livingston Avenie Pedestrian Bridge, state employees, Park Playhouse, revitalization of ...

3 comments

Chorizo Real

by B.A. Nilsson April 2, 2014

La Mexicana Grocery and Restaurant, 1759 State St., Schenectady, 346-1700. Serving 10 AM-8 PM daily. D, MC, V. Cuisine: Mexican Entrée price range: $2 (taco) to $15 (fajitas) Ambiance: muy informal It couldn’t be less prepossessing. In my zeal ...

Pub, Unchained

by B.A. Nilsson March 26, 2014

O’Toole’s Restaurant & Pub, 1814 Central Ave. (Kohl’s Plaza), Albany, 464-1200, otoolesalbany.com. Serving Mon-Thu 11:30-11, Fri-Sat 11:30-midnight, Sun noon-11. AE, D, MC, V. Cuisine: pub fare Entrée price range: $8 (fish and chips) to $22 (surf ...

Hip to Be Skewer

by B.A. Nilsson March 20, 2014

Afghan Kabab Express, 305 Central Ave., Albany, 487-4159. Serving daily 11-10. AE, D, MC, V. Cuisine: Afghan Entrée price range: $5.49 (cheeseburger) to $14 (lamb chop) Ambiance: very casual Afghan fare has eased in and out of our region ...

Growing Buzz

by B.A. Nilsson March 13, 2014

Having moved from percolator to drip-brewer to French press, I see I’m still not preparing my coffee correctly. My beans are too old; I don’t have a burr grinder; I’m not preheating my coffee filters—because ...

Serve the Nuts

by Marnie Blount-Gowan March 13, 2014

While we usually purchase nuts from the bulk food aisle, during the holidays, tradition prompts us to extend a little manual effort. Eating nuts the old fashioned way slows down the process, requires focused attention, ...

A Hot Bargain

by B.A. Nilsson March 6, 2014

Jasmine Thai Restaurant, 2717 Broadway, Schenectady, 346-9990, jasminethais.webs.com. Serving lunch Mon-Fri 11-3, Sat 11:30-3, dinner Mon-Sat 4-10. AE, D, MC, V. Cuisine: Thai Entrée price range: $13 (many dishes) to $22 (red snapper) Ambiance: glass-topped casual One of the ...

It’s About Food

by B.A. Nilsson February 27, 2014

The Grocery, 211 Broadway, Troy, 326-3450. Open noon-8 Mon-Sat, noon-4 Sun. AE, D, MC, V. “Farm to table,” that catchiest of current culinary catchphrases, typically refers to a restaurant’s table, although the proliferation of farmer’s markets ...

1 comment

North by Southwest

by B.A. Nilsson February 20, 2014

Sunset Café, 42 Front St., Ballston Spa, 885-8550, sunsetcafe.org. Serving 11:30-9 Mon-Thu, 11:30-10 Fri-Sat, AE, MC, V. Cuisine: Southwestern-inspired Entrée price range: $8 (chicken quesadilla) to $24 (full rack of ribs) Ambiance: neighborhood hangout Has it been that long? ...

Presto

by B.A. Nilsson February 14, 2014

You walk into a restaurant on what’s supposed to be a slow night and spot two eight-tops who have yet to order as well as some scattered deuces and you’re tempted to turn on your ...

4 comments Carmine's Restaurant

Gone to (Hot) Pot

by B.A. Nilsson February 6, 2014

Northeast Chinese II, 900 Central Ave., Albany, 459-0688, northeastchineseii.com. Serving 11 AM-10 PM daily. AE, D, MC, V. Cuisine: Chinese and other Asian Entrée price range: $8 (BBQ chicken bone) to $16 (seaweed with nuts) Ambiance: Chinese buffet It ...

2 comments

Tips on Planning Your Wedding Meal

by B.A. Nilsson January 30, 2014

I always end up at the back of the prime rib line. After heading for the pasta station and realizing that the line pace there is glacial, I ease over to the carving station just ...

North of Ordinary

by B.A. Nilsson January 30, 2014

Main Street Grille, 857 Main St., Clifton Park, 877-8202, mainstreetgrillecliftonpark.com. Serving dinner 5-9:30 Tue-Sat. AE, D, MC, V. Cuisine: continental entrées and pub fare Entrée price range: $10 (roasted turkey sandwich) to $29 (surf and turf tower) Ambiance: ...

1 comment

Incredible, Edible

by B.A. Nilsson January 23, 2014

We think of hen fruit as a breakfast item, and too often meet it atop a fast-food takeout sandwich, reconstituted from a powder. Eggs have a versatility that not only allow them to meet you ...

Family Dinner

by B.A. Nilsson January 15, 2014

The Table at Fort Plain, 70 Canal Street, Fort Plain, 993-8065, thetableatfortplain.com. Serving lunch 11:30-3 Wed-Fri, dinner 5-9 Tue-Sat. AE, D, MC, V. Cuisine: inventive Continental Entrée price range: $16 (baked sole) to $19 (grilled strip steak) Ambiance: ...

1 comment

Tropical Vacation

by B.A. Nilsson January 9, 2014

Casa Domenicana, 260 Central Ave., Albany, 427-1290, CasaDomenicanaRestaurant.com. Serving noon-10 Mon-Fri, 1-10 Sat. MC, V. Cuisine: Domenican Entreé price range: $8.25 (grilled chicken sandwich) to $16 (fried shrimp) Ambiance: small and casual Hector Marmol spent many years running restaurants ...

Smokin’ Good Food

by B.A. Nilsson January 2, 2014

Aladdin’s Restaurant and Hookah Lounge, 4740 State Highway 30, Amsterdam, 212-5615, aladdinshookahlounge.com. Serving 3-11 Mon-Thu, 3-midnight Fri-Sat. AE, D, MC, V. Cuisine: Middle Eastern Entrée price range: $6.50 (soujuk sandwich) to $12 (falafel, moutabal and hummus platter) Ambiance: ...

2 comments

Best Restaurants 2013: B.A. Nilsson

by B.A. Nilsson December 24, 2013

Every restaurant visit I make is built upon a level of expectation I try to fashion from clues that lurk in menu and decor. Which is why a humble diner can receive a rave akin ...

1 comment

Dressing the International Table

by B.A. Nilsson December 19, 2013

We in the United States may be among those who lay out the most excessive Christmas dinners. The British were recently cited as the worst in Europe by health app-maker Lifesum, because they typically consume ...

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