A Few Recommended Restaurants in Capital District (for ICRES 2018)
Table of Contents
First, Music
When summer arrives, the Capital District (interpreted to include the Berskshires too) becomes home to the best, widest array of classical music in the U.S. — and so lots of eating is combined with a day in which this music is enjoyed. The main venues include Tanglewood (with great stuff happening on the Wed after ICRES 2018), SPAC (with the horses running nearby for the summer season; see below), and (esp for opera fans) Glimmerglass in the remarkable town of Cooperstown, NY. Troy itself is home to two acoustically peerless venues, the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, and RPI’s own stunning EMPAC. (Yes, there are other genres, but the person typing this sentenced is confessedly biased.)
In and Around Troy
- Coffee & Breakfast
- Spill’n the Beans Coffeehouse & Bistro. Plenty of fresh-brewed and some local-roasted coffee, with fresh muffins, great omelettes. Also a great lunch place. https://spillnthebeans.com
- Lunch & Dinner
- Brown’s Brewing Co has become a star in the local brewing game; they were turning out national-level beers before the craze. The food is excellent too. https://brownsbrewing.com
- Among them, Troy Dinosaur Barbecue has the best setting: on the Hudson, with a deck. If you like Texas-style barb, this New York State tradition is hard to beat. Plenty of live music; check the schedule. https://www.dinosaurbarbque.com
- Troy can lay claim to having arguably the greatest wood-fired pizza north of Brooklyn, in DeFazio’s. Selmer has been eating it for well over 25 years, starting at a time long before “wood-fired” became routine. Very few tables to eat in, but straight out and hot, it’s amazing. http://www.defaziospizza.com
- Said by more than a few to be the best seafood bar in New York, Plumb serves up oysters that will compete with anyone, anywhere. And that’s just the start. https://www.plumb.bar
- Sunhee’s Farm and Kitchen serves exceptional Korean food, made and served with a distinctive attention to detail. Atriya highly recommends their Korean stews and teas. https://www.sunhees.com
- Chom’s Cafe, relatively new to Troy’s repertoire, offers quality Asian food in an elegant setting. While primarily a Thai restaurant (try their Thai curries, served with rice), you will also find Indonesian, Chinese, Vietnamese, and related cuisines, and even sushi and sashimi. No website yet!
- Wolff’s Biergarten und wurst haus is Bavaria in Troy. European (and more) beers on tap, wild game wursts, wooden benches, and free soccer and peanuts for all. http://www.wolffsbiergarten.com/troy-new-york/
- Peck’s Arcade https://www.pecksarcade.com connects to wine bar Lucas Confectionery http://www.lucasconfectionery.com, a combo not to be missed. Start at the former and dine full bore at the latter.
In and Around Albany (including Latham)
- Yono’s. Extremely interesting Indonesian-infused cuisine, a world-class wine list. Not to be missed, but wine pairings, while solid, don’t compete with what you can pick from the broader list. If you’re only in the Capital District for a short while, don’t miss it. http://www.yonos.com
- Cafe Capricio. Intimate basement restaurant in Downtown Albany long serving some of the very best Italian around. You want to try some of Jim Rua’s food. https://www.cafecapriccio.com
- Milano. Northern Italian, where the chefs are capable of turning out, from the open-air kitchen, seafood specials that are truly amazing. In Latham, a short drive west from RPI. Can be crowded. Tremendous wine list as well. https://www.milano-restaurant.com
- If you’re looking for the best Indian the Capital District has to offer, with some genuine southern-Indian (try the fish in banana leaves), head to Karavlli. http://www.karavalli.com
In and Around Saratoga Springs
Saratoga becomes a the place to be in August (actually, it’s July 20–Sept 3 for 2018), when the horses run. A great place to watch Polo, too (which if you haven’t done, you should). At the upscaleSaratoga has many restaurants; we could be listing them here for a long, long time. Selmer gives you only two:
- An institution for over half a century, classic French is available at Chez Pierre. http://www.chezpierrerestaurant.com
- Especially if one is a golfer, or even just enjoys the serenity of perfectly manicured landscapes that are part and parcel of first-rate golf facilities, Prime won’t disappoint. https://primeatsaratoganational.com
- In operation since 1938, Hattie’s is a must. Southern and Louisiana cuisine. The fried chicken is provided to many who swear it’s better here than anywhere below the M-D line. http://hattiesrestaurant.com