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.“

“It was my first time at this particular Chilli's. I stopped and had a quick drink and lunch before heading back on the highway hom. The food was great. Fresh and hot. My drink was delicious. The atmosphere was relaxing and enjoyable. My waitress Fiona was stellar. Very sweet. Very attentive. Definitely will be going back if ever I'm back in that area.“

“Friendly service and good Happy Hour specials! 👍“

“delicious food and amazing atmosphere. I love this oasis, it is a lively place with elegance and still peaceful for business meetings“

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

“I love Metro 7 Diner! Always a great meal, fantastic service & super friendly. Thank you!“

“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.“

“Very lovely owners. Husband and I stopped in for a bite to eat. It was our first time in as we try local spots and very glad we did! Small clean little cafe and the service was exceptional. Very friendly service and I even had to ask a patron what she had ordered because it looked so good! Good portions and prices. We will have to give lunch a try next time.“

“lovely atmosphere with delicious gourmet American cuisine. it was a lovely new year dinner. staff very friendly“

“The food was sooo good! excellent service by our waiter. Will return!“

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

“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!“

“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!“

“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.“

“Very Good Spot Eat, the entire bourbon crew is great. Sara stuck out to me, I asked her the special and she made sure the Caesar Salad had no tomatoes which is great because I dislike them. Overall I’d give Sarah a 10/10 for service and making sure my order was correct. Thank you to the entire Bourbon Crew 💯“

“We had a lovely table on the left-hand side as you enter the restaurant. The food was excellent. The server was pleasant. The only thing that could have been better was that we never received bread with our salads and appetizers as we were told that the bread was being baked in the oven. The portions were good and the presentation very nice We would come back again“

“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!!“

“beautiful venue with great food“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“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“

“I tried their seitan wings. Super yummy!“

“***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!“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“Right from the start, I believe this place is run by a passionate group of people. It’s welcoming, and the service is incredible. The Subway sandwich was massive and, most importantly, flavorful. I highly recommend this place to anyone and would definitely add it to my list of go-tos.“

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

“My great go to place when in Latham.“

“First time here in a very cold evening, it’s like on the back of a building, there’s a park in front of the store, and across the street from it is a huge building with a clock on top that could be an old train terminal.
The chef was really friendly and the chicken sandwich meal was delicious, my daughter was a picky eater, and she just killed that sandwich, the chicken was crispy and tender inside, it was so food, since it’s a cold day we didn’t bother to order ice cream pops, we will definitely come back with friends and visit this eatery again.“

“great food and I had a turkey wrap“

“We first visited Troy Botanical Garden for the KPop Demon Hunters event and completely fell in love—with the food, the atmosphere, and the people. Since then, we’ve been coming back often, excited to try new dishes while still enjoying our favorites. One of our favorite parts is taking a peaceful walk on the garden trails after lunch—such a perfect way to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. The interior space feels warm, welcoming, and full of good energy every time we visit. Princess is truly a ray of light—her kindness and positivity always bring a smile to our faces and make each visit even more special. This place has quickly become a favorite, and we’re always happy to return.“

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

“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.“

“Nighthawks is THE BEST spot in Troy. My husband and I adore this place. They make the best omelette I’ve ever had and my husband is in love with their burgers. 100000/10 recommend. Staff are amazing and overall experience is magical!! Wow wow wow.“

“Thanks for the pickle pizza!! You made this pregnant lady very happy 🥰🥒🍕“

“Tonight was mine and my fiancé first night going here. The staff was nothing short of amazing. The food was phenomenal. Everyone was so polite and very attentive. Thanks for a great dinner. Most importantly thanks to your amazing staff.“

“Definitely stands out at the food court. Very unique flavors for a traditional corn dog. Got the spicy Cheeto and the churro. Both were surprisingly delicious. Want to try the ramen flavor for next time we go. Didn’t use the express order section, but wish I tried it to see if it was a more convenient way of ordering. Definitely recommend for anyone that loves trying something new, and who obviously loves corn dogs.“