NORTHERN
ITALIAN
Café
Capriccio
49 Grand St., Albany, 465-0439. Gourmet Italian dining,
with a menu that includes seasonal specials, homemade pastas
and Mediterranean gourmet fare as well. Try the ravioli
Della Sera and the calamari neri. Serving 5:30-10
Mon-Thu, 5:30-11 Fri-Sat, 5:30-9 Sun. Reservations strongly
suggested. AE, D, DC, MC, V. $$$
Café Lucia
80 Church St., Lenox, Mass., (413) 637-2640. Enjoy the cuisine
of chef-owner Jim Lucie, who takes loving care with his
ingredients to turn out variations on Italian and continental
favorites. Full bar and award-winning wine list. Private
parties. Reservations recommended. Serving dinner 5 to 9:30
(sometimes later) Tue-Sat. Closed Sun-Mon. AE, CB, D, DC,
MC, V. $$$$
Chianti il Ristorante
208 S. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 580-0025. Start with
antipasto del Chianti and discover how delectable such simple
ingredients can be. Innovative Northern Italian fare (with
a good presence of garlic) served in a rustic Italian, newly
expanded dining room. Seasonal outdoor dining available.
Full bar. Serving 5:30-9:30 Sun-Thu, 5:30-10 (or so) Fri-Sat.
AE, MC, V. $$$
Elda’s
203-207 Lark St., Albany, 449-3532. The luxe dining room
has balcony seating at this classy addition to the family
of the original Elda’s (see next entry). The classic Italian
menu includes veal dishes, seafood, chicken and beef dishes.
Fresh pasta and bread made on premises. Gourmet desserts.
Outdoor patio. Full bar and lounge with live entertainment.
Serving lunch 11-3 Mon-Fri, dinner 4-11 Mon-Sun. Free parking
on 208 Washington Ave. after 4. AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $$
Elda’s Trattoria & Café
122 Fourth St., Troy, 274-3532. A lot of Northern and a
little Southern Italian cooking, with daily specials that
include fresh seafood. Full bar, banquet facilities and
on/off-premises catering. Takeout available, delivery until
2 AM daily. Serving dinner 4-10 Mon-Sat. Dining room closed
Sun. Free parking. Reservations suggested. AE, CB, D, DC,
MC, V. $
Fannie’s
472 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham, 785-5404. Serving Northern
(and Southern) Italian cuisine, with seafood, veal and steak
specials. Too many kinds of pasta to count. Full bar. Banquets
and off-premises catering. Takeout and delivery available.
Serving dinner 5-10 Mon-Thu, 5-11 Fri-Sat, 4-9 Sun. Reservations
suggested for large parties. AE, MC, V. $$
Lenox 218
218 Main St., Lenox, Mass., (413) 637-4218. It’s Northern
Italian, but with an eclectic flair that includes novel
takes on American favorites served in a comfortable, nicely
appointed dining room. Full bar, banquet facilities. Serving
lunch daily 11:30-2:15, dinner nightly 5-9. AE, D, DC, MC,
V. $$$
Lo Porto Ristorante
85 Fourth St., Troy, 273-8546. Martin Scorsese’s favorite
Capital Region restaurant is still going strong, serving
Italian specialties with a Sicilian flavor. Full bar, off-premises
catering. Space available for private parties. Takeout available.
Serving dinner 5-10 Tue-Sat. Closed Sun-Mon. Reservations
strongly suggested. AE, D, DC, MC, V. $$$
Lo Porto at the Sign of the Tree
Empire State Plaza, Albany, 465-7313. Easy to get to, great
view and plenty of tables on weeknights. The same great
food as Lo Porto’s Troy restaurant, served in comfy surroundings.
Try pollo con asparci for a great combo of chicken
and asparagus, beans and greens. Full bar. On/off-premises
catering. Serving lunch 11-4 Mon-Fri; dinner 5-10 Mon-Sat.
Closed Sun. AE, D, DC, MC, V. $$$
Luigi’s
1125 Barrett St., Schenectady, 382-5429. Luigi’s has been
at the same location for almost 50 years, with a vast menu
of homemade Italian specials. Fresh seafood, sausage and
terrific pasta fagioli. Full bar, catering and banquet facilities.
Takeout available. Serving lunch 11:30-1:30 Mon, Wed-Fri;
dinner 4:30-9 Mon, Wed-Thu, 4:30-10 Fri-Sat, 12:30-8:30
Sun. Closed Tue. AE, MC, V. $$
Luisa’s Italian Bistro
Exit 17, Route 9, Saratoga Road, Saratoga, 581-0234. 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 a new intimate setting.
Updated menu includes extensive appetizers, light bar menu
and more, with seafood specialties daily. Takeout available.
Reservations recommended for parties of six or more. Serving
4-9 Sun-Thu; 4 -10 Fri-Sat. AE, MC, V. $$$
Mallozzi’s
1930 Curry Road, Schenectady, 355-0340. A banquet house
that offers fine dining in an elegant setting; traditional
Italian fare with many chef’s specials. Full bar, banquet
facilities. Takeout available. Serving 4:30-9 Tue, Thu-Fri;
5-9 Wed, Sat. Closed Sun-Mon. Reservations suggested. AE,
MC, V. $$$
Mangino’s
Route 9P, Saratoga Lake, 584-5599. Serving Northern and
traditional Italian specialties for more than 50 years at
the same beautiful location at the south end of Saratoga
Lake. Specials include lobster, shrimp, veal, certified
Angus steak, prime rib and fresh seafood. Serving 4-9:30
Wed-Thu, 4-11 Fri-Sat, 1-9 Sun. Closed Mon-Tue. Reservations
suggested. AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $$
Milano
Newton Plaza, 594 New Loudon Road, Latham, 783-3334. Northern
Italian cuisine featuring homemade pasta, gourmet pizza,
grilled meats and seafood. Selection of gourmet foods and
baked goods for takeout. Full bar, off-premises catering
by Unique Catering. Serving lunch 11:30-3 Mon-Fri, noon-3
Sat; dinner 5-10 Tue-Thu, 5-10:30 Fri-Sat, 5-9 Sun-Mon.
Reservations suggested. AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $$
Nicole’s Italia
20 Mall, 2080 Western Ave., Guilderland, 456-8242. Southern
and Northern Italian specialties served in an intimate atmosphere.
Full bar, banquet facilities, on/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. $$$
Nicole’s Italia 2
54 Clifton Country Road, Clifton Park, 383-4150. The same
Southern and Northern Italian specialties as the first,
with the addition of an outdoor patio. Full bar, banquet
facilities, on/off-premises catering. Takeout available.
Serving dinner 4-9 Sun-Thu, 4-10 Fri-Sat. Reservations suggested.
AE, D, MC, V. $$$
Nicole’s Restaurant
556 Delaware Ave., Albany, 436-4952. The menu offers Southern
and Northern Italian specialties in an intimate dining room
with a metropolitan feel. Full bar, banquet facilities,
on/off-premises catering. Takeout available. Private luncheons
by reservation any day. Serving lunch 11:30-3 Tue-Fri, dinner
5-10 Mon-Thu, 5-11 Fri-Sat, 5-9:30 Sun. Reservations suggested.
AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $$$
Pagliacci’s Ristorante
44 S. Pearl St., Albany, 465-1001. An unassuming restaurant
across the street from the Pepsi Arena. Here you will find
fine dining that reflects Northern Italian culinary traditions,
with daily specials. Full bar, banquet facilities. On/off-premises
catering. Serving lunch 11-3 Mon-Sat; dinner 4-10 Mon-Sat,
3-9 Sun. On Pepsi Arena event nights, kitchen stays open
after the event gets out. AE, MC, V. $$
Panza’s
510 Route 9P, Saratoga Lake, 584-6882. Distinctive Italian
cuisine is given 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. $$$
V & R Restaurant
136 Madison Ave., Albany, 626-0001 or 626-0700. Northern
Italian cuisine featuring pasta, chicken, veal and seafood.
Soups and desserts made from scratch. Full bar, catering,
private parties up to 70. Takeout available. Reservations
suggested. Serving 11-11 Mon-Fri, 3-11 Sat-Sun. AE, CB,
D, DC, MC, V. $$$
Verdura
44 Railroad St., Great Barrington, Mass., (413) 528-8969.
A rustic Italian trattoria inspired by the food and feel
of Tuscany, featuring a European-style hardwood bar and
an open window to the kitchen. The emphasis is on local
and organic ingredients: organic olive oil, local produce,
locally made Italian sourdough bread, house-made pasta.
Enjoy seafood, meats and game from the wood-fired oven and
grill. All desserts are house-made. Full bar; can accommodate
parties up to 20. Serving dinner 5-10 Sun-Tue, Thu-Sat.
Closed Wed. MC, V. $$$$
The Wheat Fields
440 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 587-0534. Serving fresh
pasta and fine wine since 1988, along with veal, fish and
chicken specials daily. Full bar; limited banquet facilities.
Reservations accepted for parties of five or more. Serving
dinner 4:30-10 daily. AE, D, MC, V. $$
Columns
& Opinions
