50 Best American Restaurants near Rensselaer

“So, this PR girl asked where I could get a good Reuben. 5 people recommended Illusive. You'd never know it was there unless you looked for it. Boy, was I not disappointed. The best Reuben I've ever had. Bought 3 to share with building managers. I'm sure they will also start going too.“

“Best hot dogs I’ve had in my life. Seriously. Kevin cares about what he does and it shows!“

“Fun place to hang out, whether you play golf or not, it's so much more than that. Great food, great vibes!“

“Surprisingly great haven't been to an applebees in about 20 years. I typically go to more locally owned places but my experience was very pleasant the food was good as well as extremely affordable. The server was also very kind and attentive.“

“I just have to give a huge shout-out to our server Chris! He wasn’t just attentive he made the whole experience fun. He had that perfect mix of charm and professionalism; our drinks were always full, our food came out hot, and he somehow remembered every little detail we asked for.
Chris has a smile that could make even waiting for appetizers feel like the main event 😏. He checked on us at just the right times and had the kind of easy conversation that made the night feel special. If you’re lucky enough to get Chris as your server, you’re in for more than great food you’re in for great vibes, too!”“

“Friendly service and good Happy Hour specials! 👍“

“My husband is a breakfast connoisseur and said this is the best breakfast he has had ANYWHERE! The Rocky Mountain Benedict’s was delicious and the Cherry Amaretto pancakes were to die for!! The home is gorgeous and SAM was the best server, hostess all around amazing l person ever! This is a must go and eat when in Albany! 5+++++ stars!“

“Delicious meal and top notch service by Tabatha and her crew.“

“My son and I visited there this evening as we have done a few times in the past and the food was excellent as always, and the service was great our waitress Rhianna was very attentive and very friendly and she made awesome suggestions. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys great homemade food and desserts, and a warm and friendly atmosphere.“

“Had a great time, went out with my roommate to grab a bite, and Fatima was our waitress, and she was genuinely such a kind soul and made us laugh till our stomach’s hurt, never once was our drinks empty, and maintained a calm consistent pace of the table. 10/10 will be asking for her again.“

“Great food from beginning to end for both parents and kids! The service was so nice, our waitress was really friendly and knowledgeable.“

“Love Babe’s. I’ve always put it at the top of my breakfast places to eat. Great small town atmosphere that is very rare these days as far as I can see. Paula and Patti have a real winning place to get a great breakfast with big portions for a very fair price. Check it out.“

“Probably the best chicken over rice I’ve had... I’m even putting this above halal guys in NYC. Not to mention great customer service, was given fried chicken while waiting for our food to come out 🙌🏻 seriously delicious. Great food and people! Will be coming back.“

“Greg and his entire staff did an amazing job on my husband's party! Everything was great! The food was phenomenal and the service couldn't have been better! Please contact Greg for parties or catering! You will not be disappointed!“

“We came to Innovo Kitchen to give a restaurant Review under Phantom Gourmet Travel and I had the North Shore roast beef sandwich with garlic parm tater tots have to say WOW hands down delicious and my business partner had The Monte Cristo Burger with chopped salad WOW delicious Hands down 💯 on both dishes. The service from Lia M. is absolutely incredible, The Atmosphere is amazing, customer's seem to enjoy it because it's almost a full house! We spoke with some customer's in the parking lot and we got awesome feedback! We recently experienced their Food Truck Also! The Homemade Dark Chocolate Bark with Cranberries and Almonds that they make in House they give you when they give you your bill is absolutely delicious and they should sell that for customer's to purchase!“

“The best cocktails in Albany! (Get the Capital City Renewal!) I had the best birthday dinner there tonight. Thanks to the team for making it special. The appetizers were incredible!“

“Great vibe! Delicious breakfast & terrific bloody Mary’s and other cocktails..!“

“This is by far my favorite coffee shop in Telkwa and Smithers. I probably spend far too much money then I should here, but I absolutely love it. The staff are always friendly and welcoming, the atmosphere is great, and don't even get me started on the coffee and the food. I don't know if I've had anything that I didn't like from here. I've tried pretty much everything from the pies, meat pies, the freshly made sourdough bread that is just delicious, and the burgers on Fridays. You also have things like the cookies, the brownies and so much more. On top of all of that there's even a lot that I have yet to try, the ice cream being one of them. She even went on vacation for a couple of weeks and that was probably the longest couple of weeks without a good coffee. Oh yeah and I almost forgot, the breakfast wraps are absolutely delicious. You got to try them. Try anything try everything try it all, I'm sure you'll love it.“

“Instead of recommending the restaurant or not I wish I could rate it with stars. I would give a 3.75 the food was the good. The service was good. The atmosphere was good. Nothing was stand out amazing. For the price I would think the entrees would come with a salad or bread for the table but they do not. Drinks of course were expensive as anywhere but I got the smallest pour of wine I’ve probably ever received. We went for a special occasion and I wish we would have went somewhere else. Maybe I’ll try again with friends again for lunch and hope for a better experience.“

“My family and I had the most amazing dining experience here at Normanside. The staff is extremely friendly, the food was exceptional, and the atmosphere is perfect. Great job team Normanside. Highly recommend anyone to come in and experience it for yourself!!!“

“Always excellent food, service and friendly too. Highly recommend you trying as it will become a fast favorite.“

“First time at Bourbon Street, and the food was amazing, the staff was really friendly and very attentive… A really nice neighborhood bar!“

“Some of my co-workers brought me out to The Copper Crow for my birthday! It was a wonderful experience. • Nice host, prompt seating. • Attentive and knowledgeable server. • Extensive draft, cocktail & mocktail list. • Great food, good portions, cooked well. • Excellent desserts. I look forward to going back.“

“As we were staying at the hotel next to it, we ate there twice. The first time night, we were looking for something in the lighter side and chose French Onion Soup and small Caesar salads. The soup was delicious, with great depth; the salad was nicely done and included a perfect number of (requested) anchovies. The second night, we were ready for something more hearty. Hubby chose lobster Mac and cheese which was creamy and packed with lobster and deep flavor. I had the prime rib, also delicious. The mashed potatoes, veggies (carrots and green beans) and popover were just ok. Service was pretty slow; but in fairness, the main room was very busy and the ballroom was hosting a wedding reception. It was extremely noisy; but the historic building was warm and inviting.“

“My son and his family were visiting from Alaska. I wanted to find a nice place for brunch that wasn't a diner and I'm glad that I chose this restaurant. It was very clean and well designed. Food choices were plentiful. The waitress was excellent. I only had a few concerns and I had ordered this ham and cheese appetizer and it basically was just cooked bread. with minimal ham and cheese on the top. A bit disappointing. Also, that was served lukewarm. I had eggs, Benedict and that was delicious, but also did arrive not as hot as I had anticipated. My family said that everything that they ordered was fine and they truly enjoyed it.“

“I tried their seitan wings. Super yummy!“

“We performed there last night and had a wonderful experience! The staff is cool and the food is great! Special shout out to the sound tech, Kate, who was exceptional!“

“We (six of us) loved our dinners at Smiths earlier this month and our waiter, Jeff, did a superb job for a busy night after a Cohoes Music Hall show. Appetizers were also excellent and we enjoyed them at that fantastic bar!!“

“Came in tonight for the first time I had the hot turkey. My boyfriend had the meatloaf dinner The food was absolutely amazing. The service was just as good Julie was awesome. We can’t wait to come back.“

“Always enjoy Martel’s! Miss them at the Teletheater!“

“We've returned to this charming diner over and over, and it never fails to impress! It has that classic coffee shop vibe we cherished back in the day. The homemade cooking truly shines here—it’s comfort food at its finest. You can’t help but love the welcoming neighborhood atmosphere.

Katie, one of our favorite servers, is a true gem! She remembers all her regulars by name and always greets them with a warm smile. And the desserts? Absolutely divine—you can’t leave without trying one!

Everything about this place is on point: the cleanliness, the delicious food, and the attentive waitstaff who treated us with kindness and speed. Our meals arrived quickly and at a fantastic price. With such friendly service and mouthwatering dishes, we can’t wait to come back for another visit!“

“We had dinner tonight dinner was delicious and tour server Gilberto was outstanding we did not need to ask him for anything he was one of the best servers we have seen in a long time the food was cooked to perfection“

“***2024 Update***Under new ownership Crossroads has completely turned around food quality is very good and the service has been great. Highly recommend checking them out!“

“Lovr Dobys! Our family has enjoyed their subs for many years. My husband and I have also liked their southern friend chicken wings. Great service and will order out to my car. We always do take-out so can't speak to the inside dining experience. I do not understand the negative reviews!“

“A great day today with a dear friend who has finally moved back to the Albany area.🥰 We have been friends for decades, and I even visited her when she lived in Denver, Colorado. We had a great lunch at Cafe Madison on Northern Boulevard in Albany. She had a yogurt parfait with granola, and fresh fruit, all topped off with enough whipped cream to blanket this group. 🤣 I had a salad of mixed baby greens, walnuts, dried cranberries,poached pears, goat cheese, and a delicious apple cider vinaigrette. Our waitress, Ashley, was a delight. The food was great, but she's the reason I'll be back. Great customer service skills. She loves her job, and it's reflected in her positive attitude.“

“My great go to place when in Latham.“

“A friendly and intimate tavern with great staff, except when a guy named Mark Maurer comes in a threatens the entire bar with a gun.“

“As a Diner Enthusiast, it's not often that I come by and appreciate the New Era of Diners. This is the kind of diner that will be a leader in the diner culture. It's aesthetic, cool, modern, and has some REALLY good food. I don't say that lightly. They have a coffee bar to grab a coffee while you wait for your table. Menu was quite unique. Check out the video online-AnotherDayAnotherDiner“

“The naga chicken sandwich was AMAZING and my partner really enjoyed her crispy chicken sandwich. Love having a halal spot nearby. The prices are super reasonable- think McDonald’s prices for HIGH quality food. Staff is so friendly and quick, and it’s a cute little spot. We live nearby and will be back!

Dietary restrictions: Really great pork-free and vegetarian options!“

“My husband and I had such a great dining experience last night. The appetizers were amazing. The halibut was delicious and my husband loved the tuna special. We thoroughly enjoyed the staff and wish I had been able to try the pear flambé but I was just too full. Looks like we need to come back next Saturday!“

“Great food and service. They had no problem changing a menu item to leave out the garlic. [allergy]“

“The meat sauce imo is the best in the cap region“

“Nice place....Good service and good food“

“I like this new hot dog establishment alot.I became its first customer when it had a grand opening last Saturday (December 10) just after it opened, which is located at the food court at Colonie Center, that took over Mr.Subb's former spot. Here is a photo of it and what its menu looks like.“

“We came in after seeing a video on TikTok, because we love Asian brunch places and this one might be a new favorite!

The views from the restaurant are incredible. You can see part of the golf course that they are turning into botanical gardens, and it's high enough that it feels like you can see rolling hills for miles, with so many trees! Great way to experience the remnants of fall colors.

The food was so good. Best radish kimchi I've had in a long time. I also loved the japchae, it was so flavorful. And the ham fried rice was very hearty. I also really enjoyed the jun, it's been so long since I had it, and it was perfect.

Princess is so sweet, and the service was great, with everyone working together to make such a wonderfully welcoming atmosphere. We'll definitely be bringing more people to this little gem!“

“The food was delicious and the atmosphere was so welcoming! I will absolutely be returning.“

“Great service by Jack! Great burgers and cheesesteak sandwiches! Definitely recommend!“

“Love the food and service at 110 Latham. I've gotten the calamari several times and it never disappoints. After many visits getting my normal go to menu items like shrimp scampi that I love I decided at last weeks visit to ask the waitress for recommendations. At her recommendation I get the Apricot Shrimp Risotto for the first time. WOW, so happy I did. it was amazing and I have a new favorite. Thanks 110 and staff. See you again soon.“

“Its date night , so we stopped for dinner before the STYX concert and our waiter Shawn ( Sean?) was superb ! Ordered a Peach Bellini that was dynamite ! Like a frozen dessert ! Hubby had a pineapple mule that was stupendous also . The fish tacos were very good ...texture and taste were spot on . The fish and chips were excellent . The fried fish was delightfully light , not heavy . The coleslaw was bland but everything else was yummy . And finally, we had to get dessert . Decided on pineapple upside down cheesecake . Absolutely fabulously delicious!“

“My parents started taking me here since I was only enough to remember. Now as an adult I use it to catch up with good friends and eat my favorite foods with such good prices! prices! I even introduced a few to this classic spot and they always ask when we're going back. Food that always hit the spot-5 Stars every time.“