Where is the Best Romantic Dining in Albany, New York?
Bistro Zilch- How pretentious can one be? How about the “Wipe Your Feet” sign in French on the way in? It didn’t get better after we entered. We were crammed in next to another couple, so close that our conversations were now THEIR conversations, romantic- HA!)- even though the place was half empty. I understand the desire to push everybody up front to make passersby think they are doing well, however, they could have staggered us over to one of the other 5 available 2-seater tables next to us. My wife ordered a steak, medium. It came seared and raw, like tuna. I ordered the beef shortribs, and asked for no pasta, but a green veggie instead. Sorry, no substitutions, $8 for asparagus. I got four 1″x1″ cubes of beef for $32 (8 bucks a cube for you mathletes out there). The food was tasty, but the value/snotty service attitude was far from matching the price. I left hungry and unfulfilled….
I love Carmine’s even more each time I visit. In an area filled with Italian restaurants Carmine’s is a great find. The food is delicious and the service is excellent. I tried the veal cheeks after Carmine himself, heard me discussing the dish with my family and came over and explained the dish then offered to make a special appetizer version for me. It was awesome. Carmine even sent out after dinner drinks for my grandmother’s birthday Each time I’ve returned I’ve felt the same sense of hospitality from each waiter or waitress I’ve had. It’s always great to find a restaurant where the food and service are consistently great but even better when the price is reasonable. Pros + Great Food, Good Parking, Service
The food at Justin’s is GREAT! However, the Savoy dining room is cramped; you cannot get up from your table without practically sitting on your neighbors’ table (and I wear a women’s size 6-8, so I’m not abnormally large). Also when the live band is playing, forget trying to have a conversation; too loud. I suggest sitting on the bar side where there is a little more elbow room. Some reviews suggest the prices are high; I suggest you get what you pay for. The prices are proportional to the quality of the food and the service.Pros + food & service are excellent; charming when its not crowdedCons – noise when the band is playing; lack of personal space
