NORTHERN
ITALIAN
Café
Capriccio
49
Grand St., Albany, 465-0439. www.cafe capriccio.com. 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. $$$
Café
Lucia
80
Church St., Lenox, Mass., (413) 637-2640. Enjoy the cuisine
of chef-owner Jim Lucie, who takes loving care with his
ingredients to turn out variations on Italian and continental
favorites. Full bar and award-winning wine list. Private
parties. Reservations recommended. Serving dinner 5 to 9:30
(sometimes later) Tue-Sat. Closed Sun-Mon. AE, CB, D, DC,
MC, V. $$$$
Chianti
il Ristorante
208
S. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 580-0025. www.chiantiristorante.com.
Start with antipasto del Chianti and discover how delectable
such simple ingredients can be. Innovative Northern Italian
fare (with a good presence of garlic) served in a rustic
Italian, newly expanded dining room. Seasonal outdoor dining
available. Full bar. No reservations. Serving 5:30-9:30
Sun-Thu, 5:30-10 (or so) Fri-Sat. AE, MC, V. $$$
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. Catering and
takeout available. Delivery available for orders of 10 or
more. 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. $$
Elda’s
Trattoria & Café
122
Fourth St., Troy, 274-3532. Traditional Italian cooking,
with daily specials and the best pizza in town. Full bar,
banquet facilities and on/off-premises catering. Takeout
available, delivery until 2 AM daily. Serving dinner 4-10
Mon-Sat. Dining room closed Sun. Free parking. Reservations
suggested. AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $$
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. $$
Lenox
218
218
Main St., Lenox, Mass., (413) 637-4218. www.lenox218.com.
It’s Northern Italian, but with an eclectic flair that includes
novel takes on American favorites served in a comfortable,
nicely appointed dining room. Full bar, banquet facilities.
Serving lunch daily 11:30-2:15, dinner nightly 5-9. AE,
D, DC, MC, V. $$$
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. $$
Luisa’s
Italian Bistro
Exit
17, Route 9, Saratoga Road, S. Glens Falls, 745-5055 www.villaluisafood.com.
Serving Northern Italian dishes from the restaurateur’s
home in the Emilia-Romagna region of Bologna, the restaurant
specializes in veal, chicken, seafood and pasta in a new
intimate setting. Updated menu includes extensive appetizers,
light bar menu and more, with seafood specialties daily.
Takeout available. Reservations recommended for parties
of six or more. Serving 4-9 Sun-Thu; 4 -10 Fri-Sat. AE,
MC, V. $$$
Mallozzi’s
1930
Curry Road, Schenectady, 355-0340. http://mallozis.com.
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. $$$
Mangino’s
Route
9P, Saratoga Lake, 584-5599. Serving Northern and traditional
Italian specialties for more than 50 years at the same beautiful
location at the south end of Saratoga Lake. Specials include
lobster, shrimp, veal, certified Angus steak, prime rib
and fresh seafood. Serving 4-9:30 Wed-Thu, 4-11 Fri-Sat,
1-9 Sun. Open 4-9:30 on Mon in July and Aug. Closed Mon-Tue.
Reservations suggested. AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $$
Milano
Newton
Plaza, 594 New Loudon Road, Latham, 783-3334. www.milano-restaurant.com,
www.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. 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. $$$
Nicole’s
Italia
20
Mall, 2080 Western Ave., Guilderland, 456-8242. www.tricityreview.com/nicolesitalia.
Southern and Northern Italian specialties served in an intimate
atmosphere. Full bar, banquet facilities, on/off-premises
catering. Takeout available. Serving lunch buffet 11:30-1:30
Mon-Fri, dinner 4-9 Sun-Thu, 4-10 Fri-Sat. Reservations
suggested. AE, D, MC, V. $$$
Nicole’s
Italia 2
54
Clifton Country Road, Clifton Park, 383-4150. www.tricityreview.com/nicolesitalia.
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. $$$
Nicole’s
Restaurant
556
Delaware Ave., Albany, 436-4952. www.nicolesrestaurant.com.
The menu offers Southern and Northern Italian specialties
in an intimate dining room with a metropolitan feel. Full
bar, banquet facilities, on/off-premises catering. Takeout
available. Private luncheons by reservation any day. Serving
lunch 11:30-3 Tue-Fri, dinner 5-10 Tue-Sun. Reservations
suggested. AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $$$
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 and a
rooftop patio. 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. $$
Panza’s
510
Route 9P, Saratoga Lake, 584-6882. www.panzasrestaurant.com.
Distinctive Italian cuisine is given a continental flair.
Full bar, banquets for all occasions, on/off-premises catering.
Serving dinner 5-close Wed-Sun. Closed Mon-Tue. Reservations
suggested. AE, MC, V. $$$
V
& R Restaurant
136
Madison Ave., Albany, 626-0001 or 626-0700. www.vandrrestaurant.com.
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. $$$
Verdura
44
Railroad St., Great Barrington, Mass., (413) 528-8969. www.verdura.net.
A rustic Italian trattoria inspired by the food and feel
of Tuscany, featuring a European-style hardwood bar and
an open window to the kitchen. The emphasis is on local
and organic ingredients: organic olive oil, local produce,
locally made Italian sourdough bread, house-made pasta.
Enjoy seafood, meats and game from the wood-fired oven and
grill. All desserts are house-made. Full bar; can accommodate
parties up to 20. Serving dinner 5-10 Sun-Thu, Fri-Sat 5-10.
Closed Wed. MC, V. $$$$
The
Wheat Fields
440
Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 587-0534. www.wheatfields.com.
Serving fresh pasta and fine wine since 1988, along with
veal, fish and chicken specials daily. Full bar; space for
semi-private parties available. Reservations accepted for
parties of five or more. Serving dinner 4:30-10 daily. AE,
D, MC, V. $$
Columns
& Opinions
