Restaurants in Schenectady
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Best Restaurants
“Everything about our experience at Mila’s was perfection!! From the moment we walked in we felt welcome and appreciated. The food was divine, the service was top notch and they were amazing with our three year old! Can’t say enough good things. Run, don’t walk, to this incredible spot!!”
“Had dinner last night at Johnny's and it was amazing. The food was delicious. Our waitress, Vanessa made our evening magical.”
“We had our book club here and it was fantastic. The upstairs room is so beautiful and stylish. The food was DELICIOUS and very unique. Highly recommend the biscuit flight and whipped ricotta. Cocktails were fresh takes on old classics. Staff was very gracious. I can’t wait to come back for dinner!”
“Authentic Italian! Reminded me of eating in my Nona’s dining room! The meal was phenomenal starting with the delicious salad dressing, crusty Italian bread & eggplant parmigiana with spaghetti.”
Restaurants by Cuisine
“Great experience, amazing food & wonderful servers! Lunch, or dinner everything has always came out perfect for me! Highly recommend the rolls with their soup, or even a sub! Amazing pasta, chicken parm is always perfect.”
Restaurants with Delivery
“We had our book club here and it was fantastic. The upstairs room is so beautiful and stylish. The food was DELICIOUS and very unique. Highly recommend the biscuit flight and whipped ricotta. Cocktails were fresh takes on old classics. Staff was very gracious. I can’t wait to come back for dinner!”
“This morning myself and my friend came in for breakfast for the first time and had some amazing food . This was my first time in a vegan restaurant and the food was tasty and the coffee was great ! This spot is worth a try and a nice change from a conventional breakfast .”
“Amazing gem in Schenectady! They don’t make places like this anymore and I mean, 103 years in business must mean they are doing something right! Simple no thrill diner food that’s delicious in every aspect and super affordable! It’s the place you go where everyone knows your name and order as you walk in the door. It’s the place you go for a solid meal, at a reasonable price and where your patronage feels valued. Excited for my best meal here in the very near future!”
“We made reservations by leaving a voice message, which we were called right back within an hour to confirm the reservation that we wanted and they were able to accommodate us. When we walked in, we were greeted by a very nice woman who brought us to our very comfortable booth, which we loved. Our server was Montana and I have to say she went above and beyond. Her service was top-notch and she should be recognized for that. She had a very bubbly personality, and she even sang me a birthday song. The food was extraordinary. The servings were absolutely huge. We were able to bring them home and put them in two Pyrex dishes that’s how much food there was. I feel like they gave us half a tray of eggplant. I mean it was a really big serving for everything I feel like that and itself having quality food and such a big quantity is really worth it, some places you pay these prices and you get very small portion where this was a whole next day dinner for our whole family. The only smallest thing we thought the breading for the eggplant and chicken parm was on the salty side but everything that didn’t have the breading was extraordinary. The tomato basil sauce was so good. The cavatelli was really good. Sauce was amazing. The bread was so fresh. I do think this is my favorite Italian restaurant in Rotterdam at this point.”
“Stopped tonight and we enjoyed the whole experience right from the start. Our server, Audrey, was very pleasant, and the service was fantastic. We decided to have appetizers instead of a meal. We ordered bang, bang shrimp, Buffalo chicken egg rolls and Philly steak egg rolls. All three were exceptional. I’m having a hard time deciding which I liked the best. My husband thought the Philly steak egg rolls were the best. The Manager ( or owner, not sure which) stopped by our table at the request of our waitress. I thought that was really nice. We highly recommend Maxon’s and are looking forward to going again.”
“We made reservations by leaving a voice message, which we were called right back within an hour to confirm the reservation that we wanted and they were able to accommodate us. When we walked in, we were greeted by a very nice woman who brought us to our very comfortable booth, which we loved. Our server was Montana and I have to say she went above and beyond. Her service was top-notch and she should be recognized for that. She had a very bubbly personality, and she even sang me a birthday song. The food was extraordinary. The servings were absolutely huge. We were able to bring them home and put them in two Pyrex dishes that’s how much food there was. I feel like they gave us half a tray of eggplant. I mean it was a really big serving for everything I feel like that and itself having quality food and such a big quantity is really worth it, some places you pay these prices and you get very small portion where this was a whole next day dinner for our whole family. The only smallest thing we thought the breading for the eggplant and chicken parm was on the salty side but everything that didn’t have the breading was extraordinary. The tomato basil sauce was so good. The cavatelli was really good. Sauce was amazing. The bread was so fresh. I do think this is my favorite Italian restaurant in Rotterdam at this point.”
“service was spot on and, appetizers were great. two out of 4 dinners were very good. My friend had clams and linguini, The clams still had sand in them so obviously not rinsed well. The person did end up getting sick unfortunately. The atmosphere is wonderful. Hopefully this was a one off and will have to try this place again.”
“Stopped tonight and we enjoyed the whole experience right from the start. Our server, Audrey, was very pleasant, and the service was fantastic. We decided to have appetizers instead of a meal. We ordered bang, bang shrimp, Buffalo chicken egg rolls and Philly steak egg rolls. All three were exceptional. I’m having a hard time deciding which I liked the best. My husband thought the Philly steak egg rolls were the best. The Manager ( or owner, not sure which) stopped by our table at the request of our waitress. I thought that was really nice. We highly recommend Maxon’s and are looking forward to going again.”
Online Reservation Available
“Everything about our experience at Mila’s was perfection!! From the moment we walked in we felt welcome and appreciated. The food was divine, the service was top notch and they were amazing with our three year old! Can’t say enough good things. Run, don’t walk, to this incredible spot!!”
“We had our golf league outing there on 09/21/26. The food was absolutely delicious AND plentiful. The service was outstanding and very attentive. Desert was scrumptious!
There were 19 people, so it got a little noisy, but it was expected as we were granted sole access
Definitely a place we will visit again!!”
“The service was incredible, the food was unforgettable, and the price point was very fair. Despite being overwhelmed with several tables at once, and training a new hire, our server was poised, graceful, and prompt, and was kind enough to offer suggestions for entrees and wine pairings. It was evident that her section was extremely busy, and we were politely notified that the kitchen was short-staffed that Friday evening. But we never would have guessed as the service was outstanding and the food arrived within a reasonable time. Thank you to our beautiful server whose name I regrettably cannot recall (dark hair, crow tattoo, drop-dead gorgeous) and to the kitchen for making our night exceptionally enjoyable.”
“Had dinner tonight with my bride. As always, great welcome from our host, server very pleasant and attentive. Enjoyed the cocktails. Food excellent, and served in a timely manner prior to us going to a show at Proctors. Definitely one of Schenectady’s finest restaurants! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”
“The students and staff of Casola absolutely nailed Italy part 1. The service and food was fantastic. Make sure to bring your wine (a very nominal $5 corkage fee) to enjoy with dinner. Remember everything being done here is practice to make perfection in real world dining, trust in the process, bring attention an issue if needed, and be patient and understanding in the chance something comes up (like a river flooding a parking lot). We've now enjoyed 2 wonderful dinner services here (with Shannon, A+) and look forward to hopefully catching more reservations in the future!”
“I waited in line for only about three minutes and the person who took my order was extremely friendly and helpful when I asked about what sugar-free flavors they had. Once I had ordered my drink, I only waited a few minutes for my drink to come out. The whole experience is insanely positive. The only thing was there were bees around the windows of my car when I was waiting for my drink with my window down. But I know they cannot control that.”
“Tonight I ordered pizza from Pauly's. It was probably close to closing but they took my order for delivery. The pizza came so quickly. It was piping hot and delicious! And a very polite young man made the delivery
I will definitely be ordering again!!
Thank you Pauly's!!”
“My husband and I went there this evening for Valentines dinner. We have been there for her amazing breakfasts and have ordered her take out pot pies and WOW, we were not disappointed with our amazing dinner. I had the Eggplant and my husband had the Filet. Warm and cozy atmosphere- just perfect!!”
“love it here! def recommend eating at Grill Mediterranean in Schenectady.”
“We had our golf league outing there on 09/21/26. The food was absolutely delicious AND plentiful. The service was outstanding and very attentive. Desert was scrumptious!
There were 19 people, so it got a little noisy, but it was expected as we were granted sole access
Definitely a place we will visit again!!”
“This is the place to go for authentic Vietnamese food in the area! Everything we ate was fantastic: the salad, the rolls, and my chicken curry were soooo flavorful. The curry had such depth of flavor, I’m drooling rn hehe
I also think it’s family-owned, and the staff was very helpful and kind. Definitely packed and busy though!”
24 Hour Restaurants
“Apparently I went here, close to my place. It's on Altamont Avenue which is close to Highbridge road which is close to my place. I think I visited this McDonald's location because I was in a hurry because I had a work shift up in Saratoga Springs & didn't have enough time to prepare breakfast that day. I remember the location being pretty decent because I was able to get to roads to get up to the Saratoga region pretty easily.”
“Just went through the drive-through and ordered a number four for my daughter Which shows a picture of a crispy Chicken sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and mayo on it. My daughter does not order sandwiches with pickles on it. Neither do I. We leave the drive-through and She opened her sandwich and there’s nothing on it but pickles! So I go through the drive-through again and Tell them that there’s nothing on my daughter’s sandwich with pickles and she does not eat pickles and they tell me they’re sorry that’s what the sandwich comes with. I explained to them that the picture shows lettuce, tomato mayonnaise and there’s no description whatsoever on the picture so I asked them could they please just add lettuce and mayo I would pay for it. They gave me the biggest problem went and got the manager started getting an attitude and being very condescending and I kept telling them this is for my 10-year-old daughter. She was starving and has been waiting for a while because we just took a very long road trip. All she wanted was mayonnaise and lettuce on her Mc crispy which I just spent $12 on and all they kept telling me was I’m sorry you’ll have to buy another meal! Every other McDonald’s that I’ve ever forgotten something they were perfectly fine with it and would add it to my sandwich or just give it to me on the side. They did not care that it was for a little girl Nor did they care that she was hungry at all and I told them I would go to another McDonald’s and they would add it for me. They did not care that I was about to leave to go to another McDonald’s or that I wouldn’t possibly have to go just buy lettuce and mayo just for her to eat her sandwich. I will never ever go to this McDonald’s again!!!!”
“The food was served cold and the smell in the restaurant was not fresh. The food is like a Chinese buffet style and the attitude of the host is not welcome! 1 ⭐️ out of 10.....not recommended”
“The food was incredible. Great service, so friendly and welcoming. Everything was hot, fresh and delicious. Will definitely be traveling the hour distance to go again!”
“The service was incredible, the food was unforgettable, and the price point was very fair. Despite being overwhelmed with several tables at once, and training a new hire, our server was poised, graceful, and prompt, and was kind enough to offer suggestions for entrees and wine pairings. It was evident that her section was extremely busy, and we were politely notified that the kitchen was short-staffed that Friday evening. But we never would have guessed as the service was outstanding and the food arrived within a reasonable time. Thank you to our beautiful server whose name I regrettably cannot recall (dark hair, crow tattoo, drop-dead gorgeous) and to the kitchen for making our night exceptionally enjoyable.”
Takeout Restaurants
“service was spot on and, appetizers were great. two out of 4 dinners were very good. My friend had clams and linguini, The clams still had sand in them so obviously not rinsed well. The person did end up getting sick unfortunately. The atmosphere is wonderful. Hopefully this was a one off and will have to try this place again.”
“Absolutely delicious, every single bite. The staff were extremely friendly and always ready to serve you, whether it be a coffee refill or asking for a side of mayo. The omeletts are perfectly made with every ingredient you order in each and every bite. The homemade corned beef hash is some of the best corned beef hash I've ever tasted. The physical restaurant itself is extremely clean and very well maintained. I have been to just about every Diner and Cafe in Schenectady and Albany County, as well as other states. This Cafe is definitely one of the best. Do not hesitate to give this Cafe a try!”
“11-14-2025 My mom had a hair appt close by today so I picked her up to have lunch at The Bellvue Cafe. She had chicken soup and a Rueben with fries. She raved about all of it. Some of the best chicken soup around imo. The fries were nice and crispy on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside. I loved seeing her enjoying all of her meal! I had chicken soup and the brisket pot roast. The carrots, onions, celery and taters were all cooked perfectly and not mush. The brisket was so tender I just used my fork. Mom took half her soup and Rueben home as she couldn’t finish it all. She did enjoy the rice pudding with whipped cream for dessert too. What an enjoyable day! 10 outta 10!!!!”
“Broadway lunch has been one of my favorite places for years. Their to go orders are always perfect and always hot and very quickly prepared and ready. They have the best hotdogs and meat sauce, onion rings and coleslaw! That’s my number one order! I should branch out more, I am sure they have many more wonderful things on the menu. Along time ago I used to get their Buffalo chicken wrap which was heaven! With onions, tomatoes and the Buffalo wing sauce. Sooo good!”
“Food is always yummy and fresh. Good portions and great prices! The gentleman that runs the restaurant is always friendly and serves his customer with a smile. He made me a lamb gyro for the first time in my life and it was delicious! And he even stayed open late to make our food. 100% recommend!! 🙂”
“Highly recommend this establishment - which has a cool atmosphere, delicious pastries, smoothies, and bowls, not to mention friendly customer service. I am not a coffee drinker but if I am anywhere near Graham's and have the opportunity to make a stop, it is a must for me. Extra fun when the owner is up front to say hello. Not to mention her social media content has always been awesome! If you haven't made it a point to go, you need to!”
“Indescribable and unbelievable cookies! Hands down that don’t compare with other local Italian bakeries. I purchased a variety of Italian cookies from the case this past Friday…. It’s been YEARS! Go there and pack a box of goodies for the family. You won’t regret tit!”
“Great food, great service. Love the back deck at the Schenectady location!”
“Had dinner tonight with my bride. As always, great welcome from our host, server very pleasant and attentive. Enjoyed the cocktails. Food excellent, and served in a timely manner prior to us going to a show at Proctors. Definitely one of Schenectady’s finest restaurants! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”
Drive-Thru Restaurants
“This is the place to go for authentic Vietnamese food in the area! Everything we ate was fantastic: the salad, the rolls, and my chicken curry were soooo flavorful. The curry had such depth of flavor, I’m drooling rn hehe
I also think it’s family-owned, and the staff was very helpful and kind. Definitely packed and busy though!”
“As someone still returning even 15 years later- I've lived around the capital region and I can say with certainty that no other cafe gets me to leave smiling like Ambition does! Always consistent with their quality for food and drink, they never disappoint! Staff is always friendly and kind - they are very meticulous about their service! Ive gone here for my birthday, my partners birthday, and other celebrations as it's always a treat to dine here. Would definitely recommend this lovely establishment to anyone wanting to try some good food from Schenectady!”
“Wow! What a busy night! These should be nothing but compliments for the staff, in the front of the house, and behind the scenes. It seems the autumn light show down the road has had quite an impact. We went on a whim, disregarded the suggested reservations, but were able take seats right away at the end of the bar. Best of both worlds....A little bit of patio atmosphere and dining room comfort as the temperatures began to drop. And a glimpse at the extra hard work involved this evening. Praises to Jennifer as she greeted us, offered us something to drink, and advised us if we were ordering there would be an extended wait, (a large number of parties, and parties with a large number of people, seem to have arrived all at once). She said she would rather be up front with people than to have them disappointed with a wait. The expected delay was explained to every party that entered following us It was amazing to watch the coordinated efforts of the three waitresses working as a team. There was no time for idle chit chat while disregarding the needs of customers, but there was still time for smiles and laughter. Work behind the counter was fast, deliberate, efficient and the customers had no sense of stress or overwhelm. Each interaction I overheard was friendly and attentive. Another thing that I was impressed with, especially sitting at a bar, is that with an extended wait, those who were drinking, alcoholic beverages , were not pushed or encouraged to purchase more than usual to fill the time. Therefore the environment around us remained the same. Our meals came in the time projected, (mine a crock of french onion soup and my husband, a Roadhouse burger with onion rings.) Each item as tasty as we have come to expect. I just wanted to take a minute and thank everyone for an enjoyable evening.”
“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 💯”
“Absolutely amazing, huge portions, amazing homemade pasta, great service!”
Cheap Eats
“The store is aptly named and was indeed a 'Joy' to visit. After losing the Italian deli in Saratoga that I've patronized for many years to a buyer from Albany that doesn't even answer the phone, I began a search for a true Italian deli. When I walked into La Gioia I knew I had found what I was looking for. The aroma of Italy in the air, the hustle bustle of a staff serving with professional knowledge, courtesy, and a neat and clean appearance so rare today, and shelves and cases filled with all the Mediterranean delicacies imaginable, made me realize the true gem I discovered. This was a wonderful epiphany for me; I smiled all the way home 30 miles away.”
“Just a shout out to the wonderful behind the counter ladies who were so kind as to write me instructions to find my way back to Heldeberg Avenue in Rotterdam this morning, as I was totally lost!!! Also, thanks to a super friendly customer at the counter who also provided assistance. I will certainly be eating there in the future, as the food smelled delicious!”
“Awesome hometown feel of a place. Great trivia. They do tons of other events weekly too. Great beer. They do food trucks which is so neat. But make sure to check website to see if they are having food truck when you go or else they only will have beer. Nice area inside but in the summer and fall they have huge outdoor patio with tons of tables, chairs, fire pits etc. Amazing family place.”
“I'm from Scotia and this was my first time here Thursday, 8/28. It will NOT be my last.”
“What a great place to have lunch on a cold winters day, Play by Play is a no jugement zone! hats off the owner and all of there help!”
“The students and staff of Casola absolutely nailed Italy part 1. The service and food was fantastic. Make sure to bring your wine (a very nominal $5 corkage fee) to enjoy with dinner. Remember everything being done here is practice to make perfection in real world dining, trust in the process, bring attention an issue if needed, and be patient and understanding in the chance something comes up (like a river flooding a parking lot). We've now enjoyed 2 wonderful dinner services here (with Shannon, A+) and look forward to hopefully catching more reservations in the future!”
“Got from grub hub on a whim. The rueben was really good. Great presentation even after delivery and it was hot and fresh when it got here and we are in Bellevue. We will definitely order again!”
“Went for dinner with a group of 10 people and had a wonderful evening! Everyone’s food was outstanding and the service was impeccable! I especially loved that the owner came around to all of the tables in the restaurant to see if everyone was happy - SUCH a sweet lady!! Overall, A++ experience!!”
Latest Reviews
“Just a shout out to the wonderful behind the counter ladies who were so kind as to write me instructions to find my way back to Heldeberg Avenue in Rotterdam this morning, as I was totally lost!!! Also, thanks to a super friendly customer at the counter who also provided assistance. I will certainly be eating there in the future, as the food smelled delicious!”
“very good food nice people love this place to eat”
“service was spot on and, appetizers were great. two out of 4 dinners were very good. My friend had clams and linguini, The clams still had sand in them so obviously not rinsed well. The person did end up getting sick unfortunately. The atmosphere is wonderful. Hopefully this was a one off and will have to try this place again.”
Most Popular Restaurants
“My sister and I had a fantastic time at my local Denny's today, we both got the triple combo special and both upgraded our chips and salsa to salads and both got the quarter pound burgers, I got coffee and my sister got soda. Diana our server was great,the food was great, and the atmosphere was fantastic. It only came to $26.10 for two great meals,including our drinks. We will be going back here.”
“My family came for dinner. The food was so delicious. Our service was excellent. I had my baby on my lap and he spilled my entire glass of water everywhere. The waitress immediately cleaned it up and moved his infant seat by the wood fire so it would dry. I was impressed with top notch service!”
“This morning myself and my friend came in for breakfast for the first time and had some amazing food . This was my first time in a vegan restaurant and the food was tasty and the coffee was great ! This spot is worth a try and a nice change from a conventional breakfast .”
“My husband likes this place so we do go here maybe a couple times a month lately. The food has been good and the service has been good, but I have been there when the service has not been good where I paid by credit card and she didn’t see no tip on the credit card and she said to me no tip, which I usually always give a tip in cash. I still gave them a tip, but to tell the truth, I didn’t want to give them anything. After that statement.
Went here again yesterday, and again hovering over us to see if we were leaving a tip.”
“Went here late Friday and it was absolutely wonderful. We did take out and everything was just lovely. My bf was never to Moe's and he was very impressed. He got the Nachos & the Homewrecker, I had a stack (could only eat half but was still scrumptious when I warmed it up the next day!). We will def be back! I'd like to do a shout out for Brandon! What a nice guy. Very helpful. Beautiful smile and very personable all through the entire transaction. Will be calling the manager today to be sure he gets the kudos he deserves! Welcome to Moe's and enjoy your meal!”
New Restaurants
“Very good, table order, made to order rolls, not a buffet style as I was expecting. Higher end atmosphere, a pleasant surprise. Pretty good value for the money even for average appetite.”
“Small business with a BIG heart. The owners not only make the most amazing sauces for their wings-my favorite are the boneless with Honey Wasabi & fried rice but they are genuinely very nice people. Oh , the beef rolls too- these are lighter versions off egg rolls that come with a dipping sauce.”
“I had seen this discussed on the NextDoor website. I had never knew there was chicken in the gas station. I recently saw an article about the chain expanding so decided to give it a try. The chicken was very good but they don't offer white meat. The biscuit was really nice and wish I ordered an additional one. Potatoes with gravy was tasty. Worth a try.”
“I'm staying at Rivers casino where this star bucks is located. Im treated like I'm at a 5 star restaurant in Manhattan. This is my 3rd visit to the Starbucks here and each visit I'm greeted with a smile and a pleasant voice and over the top service
I've never left a review for Starbucks
I just had to”
“just went in here today to pickup a couple things, I was greeted by an extremely polite worker, the store was nice and clean etc. noticed they had a section of the store “Krispy krunchy chicken” and thought I’d give it a shot, EXTREMELY glad I did! Everything was fresh and delicious! They even offer some bundle meal deals which I thought was excellent as well! It also came with a delicious blueberry biscuit and a side (which I got the Mac n cheese for mine) which also was pretty tasty! If local to the area I’d highly recommend you check them out they have a great selection of stuff- they also have fried shrimp, chicken nuggets and a bunch of different sides to choose from as well! I’ll be trying the jambalaya next time for sure! Thank you for the great service!”
“Spicy Safari truly delivered an excellent experience! I’ve seen a negative review about their timing, but in my experience, they were completely transparent they told me up front how long the order would take, and it arrived exactly as promised. If you want your food right away, simply order ahead, but trust me, it’s worth the wait.
The food was fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious — one of the best Nigerian meals I’ve had in the area. The portion size wasn’t huge for the price, but I understand that could be because it’s New York. The taste, quality, and authenticity more than made up for it.
On top of that, they were warm, friendly, and genuinely hospitable. I left feeling like a valued customer. I’d definitely recommend Spicy Safari to anyone craving good, authentic African food.”
“Order through the Slice app only took about 35 minutes for me to get it and it was the best Gyro I’ve had in a long time I got the chicken. My son got the lamb. My daughter got a double cheeseburger and it was one of the best burgers I’ve had in forever! This place is totally underrated and delicious. 100% will definitely go back.”
“I happen to see this restaurant and ai wasn’t sure it was open for business. I google it and found nothing. I decided to go in and try it amd it was a pleasure. Staff was kind and courteous to my questions. The place was clean and the environment was welcoming. Will definitely go back.”
“My husband just came in to pick up our online order. It was ready when he got there about 10 mins after I placed the order; the food was so hot that even after driving, it was still hot when he got home. The food itself was delicious. 10/10 on the hot honey fries 😋”
“K services Was great.. food was amazing we will come back !!!!”