50 Best Italian Restaurants near Rensselaer

“Fantastic subs and salads with delightful and friendly guys putting them together. I hope it never changes because the quality of everything they offer is excellent. The price of the food is very fair compared to other shops. I don’t want cold cuts everyday but I only purchase the Boar’s Head brand that is used for their subs.“

“Best Pizza in town! As a certified pizzaholic, I should know!“

“Pollo alla Rusa, perfection, bread and butter, perfection, vegetables, perfection, portion sizes ample. BYOB Chef seasoned my meal expertly! Atmosphere could use a bit of upgrading. Best real Italian meal I have had in Florida.“

“Bacchus has been the best most under-rated pizza in the area…in NY..for years. However something changed recently. I don’t know if it was a one-off but their flour or dough changed. Not in a good way. What happened?!?“

“Went here with my mom, aunt, and both grandmas and we couldn’t have had a better time!! The chef and owner Ali spent so much time talking with us and was so personable, kind, and welcoming. My mom and aunt are visiting Italy in a few weeks and he even spent the time to give them travel ideas. We also spent more time with him doing the table side cacio e pepe. Not only did it taste SO GOOD but it was such a fun experience. Even my grandma said that she absolutely loved the food and had an amazing night (and that’s a HUGE compliment coming from her, she always complains when we go out to eat…). Everything was perfect and there’s nothing I would’ve changed . So grateful for Ali and the time he spent with us. My new favorite restaurant! We will be back soon for sure.“

“We stumbled on the place by chance and were not disappointed. The bartender, Jill was very friendly. Our meals were full of flavor. My husband got the chicken parm and I the barramundi. Finished by a tiramisu martini with a side of tiramisu. Sooooo good. We will definitely go back! Oh! The fresh bread and olive oil topped with tapenade was delish as well!“

“Absolutely wonderful experience! I took 12 employees out to celebrate the holiday season and see a show in Albany. From the time we called for a reservation, right through dinner, the entire staff, and especially our server Casey were so welcoming and accommodating. The drinks, food, and service were all superb! Casey made us feel like we were the only thing that mattered in the restaurant, while the kitchen and bar handled some special requests with ease! In a world where the meaning of hospitality seems to have been forgotten by so many, this restaurant still knows what it means, and executes flawlessly. I highly recommend, and will definitely be back when in the Albany area. (I may even have to make a special trip back just for this restaurant!)“

“My VERY FAVORITE restaurant ❤️❤️❤️“

“I recently hosted my baby/bridal shower at Paolo’s, and the brunch buffet was absolutely fantastic. There was an impressive variety of options that truly had something for everyone, from classic breakfast favorites like eggs, bacon, French toast, and fresh fruit to delicious lunch offerings like pasta primavera, garden salad, and our entrée selections of chicken Milanese and eggplant rollatini. Everything was incredibly flavorful and well-prepared. The two servers assigned to our event were exceptional, going above and beyond to ensure we had everything we needed throughout the celebration. Their attentiveness made the experience even more enjoyable. I highly recommend Paolo’s for any special event! Thank you Linda and team for making my day so special!“

“Anthonys is always amazing! Recently had an 11 person dinner there. Every dish came out delish and the service was great! We gave the owner/chef a round of applause when he came out to check on the table. Love the set up/vibe. My favorite restaurant and when you give it a try, it will be yours too.“

“Best coffee in Albany, flavor and comfort guaranteed!“

“Just this evening, I ordered take out from the wrong location. I called Stuyvesant plaza instead of Slingerlands. When I called Stuyvesant about the mistake the manager said, “ No problem”. What’s your address ? I will drive it out to you. Within a 1/2 hour this awesome guy Justin pulled into my driveway with all our food. Hot food and cold salad !! Thank you. Way to go!!“

“The food, service & ambience were all superb!! 5⭐️“

“Great menu....great food... courteous service....fair pricing...Great people! I've never been disappointed with my meal.“

“BEST ITALIAN FOOD IN THE NORTEAST ,“

“5 stars.Best in Albany. Been coming here since I was a kid,in the 90s.“

“The staff is absolutely awesome. Make sure to get a reservation as the place fills up fast. The place is nice but by the time we were nearing the end of our dinner, the place was packed and conversation was near impossible. They need to install a noise-absorbing ceiling or something to help minimize that.“

“Sat at the bar and was served by Vinnie. Vinnie was super nice and we had great conversations. Gabriella was also very smiley and friendly (she drinks a lot of water lol [inside joke]). I ordered the veal cordon bleu and my adult son had the lasagna. I’ve been to Italy and this meal was just as good, if not better, than some of the food I ate in Rome, Gaeta or Naples. The food was nice and hot, the bread was perfect and the everything was tasty. Great job we will definitely be back!“

“So this was my first time here…we had a birthday celebration for my boss! About 13 people. Reservations were for 6:00pm. I came about 15 minutes late, and some people had drinks already. We waited for our waitress to return and it was almost 1/2hr. She took our second drink order, and seemed annoyed. The restaurant was very busy (which we were told by other servers) another 1/2hr pasted and finally she took our food orders. At this point, we were very hungry and disappointed-I guess our server had another big table.. So our salads were dropped off but another female server (who seemed very professional and much nicer than our original server) After that things seemed better. Food was good! I just thought about the customer service of the first waitress. She seemed like she didn’t want to be there. I work in customer service (which is very important especially for first impressions) would i recommend this restaurant yes, food was good. Service was not so great.“

“custimer service is excellant but most of all their pizza is the best of the of the best keep the good work up you all rock“

“Very large and filling slice. It melts just right and is served hot. It's a bit more than 3$ a slice.

The place being a few minutes walk from the bus terminal makes it very worth it for someone passing through. Great customer service from the owner too.

There are a few seats inside to eat. Very hot inside but most people probably take to go.

Its the best place for a quick and cheap meal in this city.“

“Hands down, the best Italian food in the area as far as I'm concerned. The chicken marsala is second to none and the chicken parm and chicken Sorrento are incredible. A wonderful atmosphere with friendly and extremely knowledgeable waitstaff. Book a reservation, because it is always busy. An absolute favorite of mine!“

“My group stopped in from out of town and had such a great experience! My dad is very particular about his food, especially when it comes to wings, and he was so impressed! Since he lives in Buffalo, he has a hard time eating chicken wings out of town, and he found that the wings here were just as good! He also absolutely loved the pizza. On top of the amazing food, our server Jackie was incredible. She was friendly and provided great service which made the experience even better. If you’re in the area, I would definitely recommend stopping here. We’ll for sure be back next time we’re in town!“

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

“Fast, friendly service. Great food!“

“My son goes to RPI and we discovered Moscatiello's Italian Restaurant two years ago. We love going there for dinner. The food is great, the menu is HUGE and the customer service has always been excellent! It is our go to restaurant in the Troy area.“

“lived in ny for almost 8 years and found this place by chance. its the best. I come here yearly now to celebrate my birthday. everyone is sweet, food is amazing. I will continue to drive from nc to celebrate here as long as they're open 💜🩵“

“Ricardo and his brother are amazing! I walk in and hear how are you Mr Frank everytime. Food is always perfect! I order appetizers, sandwiches, pizzas, dinners always delicious! My favorite is the Blackened Chicken Sandwich! Highly recommend you to try them!“

“My husband and two of our friends went for dinner tonight. The drinks were on point, our calamari was delicious, I had the chicken Milanese which I loved, my husband had the casarecce. Our friends had the bolognese pasta dishes and we were all quite satisfied. Can’t wait to come back and try the pizzas!! Highly recommend!“

“Fast, friendly service. Great food!“

“Fabulous food and friendly people! Lots to look at while you eat or wait. Thanks everyone! ❤️🥰“

“Ordered fettuccine Alfredo with broccoli, server moved extremely fast while handling multiple parties in moderate noise environment. Server had great memory and communicated very well with all age groups at the table and helped provide a pleasant experience to what could have been a more chaotic situation. Time from taking order to receiving order was 15 minutes! Nice to be in Troy Area, Will come again with a group“

“We went for a family dinner with five people getting a wide range of dishes -- from sandwhiches to cocktails to personal pizza. We skipped dessert. The dining room is roomy and a bit loud but we had a great time and great service. Too bad the patio is right off Western Avenue traffic! Otherwise, one of the few places you can order pizza and wine and both are good.“

“I was disappointed in the round pizza. It was basically the same as I Love which is good but nothing great. Where Romos is great is the square Sicilian pizza. It’s a thick box pizza but somehow light and delicious and as perfect as a box pizza can be. Wings are delicious. Mild wings were a 8/10. Round pizza was a 6.5 and Square Sicilian was a 9/10“

“We usually dine in at Olive Garden, but this time we decided to have dinner delivered, and we were very impressed! Everything arrived hot, fresh, and well-packaged.

The spaghetti and giant meatballs were absolutely delicious—the meatballs were tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The Five Cheese Ziti al Forno was rich, cheesy, and full of flavor. The Chicken Alfredo was creamy, the chicken was tender, and the pasta was cooked just right.

It’s not always easy for restaurant food to taste as good after being delivered, but Olive Garden did an excellent job. The quality was just as good as when we eat in the restaurant. We will definitely be ordering delivery again. Great food and a great experience“

“I frequent here often and the food is delicious- reviewing the posts here all I can say is because the food is soooo good I can see them struggling with deliveries occasionally- they're that popular!!“

“amazing food! love the burger and fries. yummy!“

“I visit there about 4-5 times a month to grab a bite to eat, I usually get the lasagna dinner or their hot subs. Hands down the best in the area. The staff is always friendly and helpful. when in the area a must stop it won't disappoint!“

“I thought I found my #1 pizza spot here upstate. This one tops them all, yup give me a nice hot greasy, dripping cheesy slice of pizza with a cold soda. I settled for orange soda since they didn't have Welches grape. 10 out of 10

This is real NEW YORK Style Pizza, even the restaurant setting gave back home.
Highly recommend“

“Our new place to go. We did the family meal takeout. It was delicious, everything was great. We even added meatballs and sausage, plus canoli's for dessert. The price was more than reasonable for the amount of food. Top notch all the way!!!“

“their food is excellent. my favorite is veal parmesan they're Pizza is very good“

“Solid and reliable! Always good food and great portions- easily accommodated our large party and super attentive staff.“

“Excellent service! Great food! Reasonable prices. Morgan was a great waitress! Perfect dinner! Thank you!“

“Great place to stop when passing through Albany for some quick fresh Italian food take-out for the whole family. Seriously, forget the Thruway rest areas. If you have kids whose staple food is boiled noodles and butter, no matter the time nor the day, Bellini's will satisfy, and won't break the bank. Without a Noodles & co around for at least 100 miles, Bellini's has you covered, and is a must-stop for us. I can also recommend the meatballs and sausage.“

“I can’t recommend this place enough! It’s not just a pizza place—it’s a haven for anyone who loves delicious artisan food. Their pizzas are phenomenal, with a variety of creative and flavorful options that cater to all tastes. But it doesn’t stop there! Their Mediterranean bowls and dishes, like the Gyro and meze platters, are equally amazing—fresh, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. I order from them at least four times a month, sometimes even more, and they never disappoint. The food is always delivered on time, piping hot, and exactly how I want it. Their attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction truly set them apart. Nasıl? The quality of their ingredients is exceptional, and everything is so clean and fresh. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick snack or a hearty, healthy meal, this place has it all. I genuinely look forward to every order. Fast, reliable, and absolutely delicious—this restaurant is a gem!“

“I had a great slice of pepperoni and the customer service was excellent, too“

“We recently celebrated our 49th wedding anniversary, which was a good choice. We found the staff to be polite and friendly from when we entered until we left two hours later. The environment was pleasant and easy with a touch of class. The half-chicken "Picata" ordered was "mm-hmm good" served with an exquisitely savory sauce, prepared by Chef Jake, who is a rising star and a compliment to Troy's fine dining experience. My wife and I also appreciated and thought it "cool" that the owner "Vic" took the time to talk with us. Enjoyable evening and location!!!“

“Thank you for everything. I placed a large order a day ahead of time and everything was delivered perfectly. It was on time, hot and delicious. Your antipasto is the best I’ve ever gotten and the wings were huge! Everyone was so happy and full. Great job!“

“Pizza is great here, try and enjoy. Order in advance as it takes time to bake.“

“Moved back to my hometown and was so happy the Zotto’s reopened a new place. The best pizza, and wings around. Brunswick needed this place!!! All the waitresses were amazing and welcoming too!!“