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. $$$$
Café Lucia
80 Church St., Lenox, Mass., (413) 637-2640. Enjoy the cuisine
of chef-owner Jim Lucie, who takes loving care with his
ingredients to turn out variations on Italian and continental
favorites. Full bar and award-winning wine list. Private
parties. Reservations recommended. Serving dinner 5:30-9:30
(sometimes later) Tue-Sat. Closed Sun-Mon. AE, CB, D, DC,
MC, V. $$$$
Chianti il Ristorante
208 S. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 580-0025, www.chiantiristorante.com.
Start with antipasto del Chianti and discover how delectable
such simple ingredients can be. Innovative Northern Italian
fare (with a good presence of garlic) served in a rustic
Italian, newly expanded dining room. Full bar. No reservations.
Serving 5:30-9:30 Sun-Thu, 5:30-10 (or so) Fri-Sat. AE,
MC, V. $$$
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. 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 for 10
or more people. Serving lunch 11-3 Mon-Fri, dinner 4-11
Mon-Sat. AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $$$
Lenox 218
218 Main St., Lenox, Mass., (413) 637-4218, www.lenox218.com.
It’s Northern Italian, but with an eclectic flair that includes
novel takes on American favorites served in a comfortable,
nicely appointed dining room. Light fare menu also available.
Full bar, banquet facilities. Serving lunch daily 11:30-2:15,
dinner nightly 5-9. AE, D, DC, MC, V. $$$
Lo Porto Ristorante
85 4th 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. $$$
Luigi’s
1125 Barrett St., Schenectady, 382-5429. Luigi’s has been
at the same location for almost 50 years, with a vast menu
of homemade Italian specials. Fresh seafood, sausage and
terrific pasta fagioli. Full bar, catering and banquet facilities.
Takeout available. Serving lunch 11:30-1:30 Wed-Fri; dinner
4:30-9 Wed-Thu, 4:30-10 Fri-Sat, 1-8:30 Sun. Closed Mon-Tue.
AE, D, MC, V. $$
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 an intimate setting. Updated menu includes
extensive appetizers, light bar menu and more, with dinner
specialties daily. Takeout available. Reservations recommended
for parties of six or more. Serving 4:30-9 Sun-Thu; 4:30-10
Fri-Sat. AE, MC, V. $$
Mallozzi’s
1930 Curry Road, Schenectady, 355-0340. www.mallozzis.com.
A banquet house offering custom-designed menus for special
occasions; also serving a Wednesday night Grand Italian
Buffet offering myriad Italian specialty dishes and chef’s
specials in an elegant setting. Full bar, banquet facilities.
Serving dinner 5-9 Wed. Reservations suggested. AE, MC,
V. $$$
Mangino’s
Route 9P, Saratoga Lake, 584-5599, www.manginos.com. 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
4-10 Tue-Thu, 4-11 Fri-Sat, 1-9 Sun. Closed Mon. Reservations
suggested. AE, D, MC, V. $$$
Milano
Newton Plaza, 594 New Loudon Road, Latham, 783-3334, www.uniquecatering.com.
Northern Italian cuisine featuring homemade pasta, gourmet
pizza, grilled meats and seafood. Selection of gourmet foods
and baked goods for takeout. Full bar, off-premises catering
by Unique Catering. Winner of the Wine Spectator Award
of Excellence. Serving lunch 11:30-3 Mon-Fri, noon-3 Sat;
dinner 5-10 Tue-Thu, 5-10:30 Fri-Sat, 5-9 Sun-Mon. Reservations
suggested. AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $$$
Nicole’s Italia
20 Mall, 2080 Western Ave., Guilderland, 456-8242. www.nicolesitalia.com.
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. $$$
Nicole’s Restaurant
556 Delaware Ave., Albany, 436-4952, www.nicolesrestaurant.com.
The menu offers Southern and Northern Italian specialties
in an intimate dining room with a metropolitan feel. Full
bar, banquet facilities, on/off-premises catering. Takeout
available. Private luncheons by reservation any day. Serving
lunch 11:30-2:30 Tue-Fri, dinner 5-10 Tue-Sun. Reservations
suggested. AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V. $$$
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. Gift certificates
also available. Serving lunch 11-3 Mon-Sat; dinner 4-10
Mon-Sat; closed Sun. On Pepsi Arena event nights, kitchen
stays open after the event gets out. AE, MC, V. $$
Panza’s
510 Route 9P, Saratoga Lake, 584-6882, www.panzasrestaurant.com.
Distinctive Italian cuisine is given a continental flair.
Full bar, banquets for all occasions, on/off-premises catering.
Serving dinner 5-close Wed-Sun. Closed Mon-Tue. Reservations
suggested. AE, MC, V. $$$$
V & R Restaurant
136 Madison Ave., Albany, 626-0001 or 626-0700. Northern
Italian cuisine featuring pasta, chicken, veal and seafood.
Soups and desserts made from scratch. Full bar, catering,
private parties up to 70. Takeout available. Reservations
suggested. Serving 11-10 Mon-Fri, 3-11 Sat-Sun. AE, CB,
D, DC, MC, V. $$$
Verdura
44 Railroad St., Great Barrington, Mass., (413) 528-8969,
www.verdura.net. A rustic 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 large parties. Serving dinner 5-10 daily; Sunday
brunch 11-3. MC, V. $$$$
The Wheat Fields
440 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 587-0534. www.wheatfields.com.
Serving fresh pasta and fine wine since 1988, along with
veal, fish and chicken specials daily. Full bar; space for
semi-private parties available. Reservations accepted. Serving
11-10 Mon-Thu, 11-11 Fri-Sat, noon-10 Sun. AE, D, MC, V.
$$$
Columns
& Opinions
