5 Best Restaurants in Albany and Central New York, New York

The handsome Greek-revival building, built in the mid-1800s, graces Main Street with its full-facade, two-tier porch. In the restaurant, a coffered ceiling, hardwood floors, painted wood chairs, and cloth-draped tables create a warm atmosphere. The contemporary American and Continental fare relies on its own richness, not gimmicks. The terrace has umbrella-shaded tables for warm-weather dining.

You can watch life on the lake go by from this shipshape casual dockside restaurant that's part of a motel complex. Prime rib is a favorite here, and seafood au gratin—lobster, shrimp, and scallops smothered in a white wine–cream sauce and cheddar cheese—is rich. The food is good, but the view is the real reason diners head here.

Shirt-and-tie wearers mix with jeans-and-sneakers types at this tiny Italian diner across the street from Union College. The best seats are at the counter, where you can watch the soup simmer and smell the tomato sauce. Melt-in-your-mouth eggplant parmigiana sandwiches are the specialty. Daily pasta dishes might include spaghetti, ravioli, or linguine with red or white clam sauce. On a cold day, warm up with a bowl of stracciatelli (a soup made with eggs, semolina, and cheese).

Savory and dessert crepes are the focus at this small eatery furnished with plain wooden tables and chairs. Side orders of Belgian-style frites (fries) come in paper cones sized for an individual or a table of diners, and may include several kinds of dipping sauce. The Mamma Mia crepe wraps up Italian sausage with sweet and spicy peppers—a ubiquitous ingredient in upstate.

Locals craving a Spanish omelet, baked ziti, and other comfort food head for this downtown diner just off Interstate 90. Everything is made from scratch, and seasonal decorations brighten the decor.