Chicken Joe's

Chicken Joe's can best be described as the 'mad scientist' of food establishments. This sub shop in downtown Albany makes some of the strangest yet most delicious sandwiches around. By combining ingredients such as french fries, mozzarella sticks and mac and cheese bites, their subs pack unique flavor and are incredibly filling. On top of that, most of their subs are packed with chicken nuggets, chicken cutlets or turkey. The first sub that I tried their was the Heaven, full of chicken nuggets, french fries, mozzarella sticks, bacon, cheese and ranch dressing. While I can't say too many good things about the calorie count, indulgence is necessary every now and then and this sandwich definitely lived up to its name. And all of their subs are $6.50 so don't worry about burning through your cash. Other popular menu items include their chicken nugget meals that come in a variety of sizes and also include a side and drink, making it quite a value. If you're looking to feed a crowd, look no further because Chicken Joe's also sells large combo meals that are perfect for sporting events, parties or just hanging out. The rest of their menu consists of fired chicken, buffalo wings, breakfast sandwiches, and desserts.

One of the best parts about this store is its hours. Open until 2am Monday through Thursday and until 4am Friday and Saturday, it is a great place to head to when you are out late down town or simply to order from for a late night snack. On top of that, they deliver until 1:30am Monday through Saturday. So next time you get the munchies, keep Chicken Joe's in mind and your decision is sure to be quick and easy.

Lil' Buddha Tea

Lil' Buddha Tea of Albany, NY

Usually when people think of eating out, they want a location that serves a full-course meal with all the bells in whistles. In Albany, you learn to be flexible when defining everything as you are stuck in the grey area of upstate and downstate consumers all congregating in the Capitol Region. One of the first foodie establishments I visited in the region was Lil' Buddha Tea, a small tea market and cafe shop. Lil' Buddha Tea is located in the downtown Albany area at 274 Lark Street. I was in the mood for what people would call the inbetween of being hungry and didn't want to stuff myself with too much food, but didn't want to visit a fast food restaurant and feel like I just played an evil tricked my stomache. I was also in the mood to pick up some new tea. (I love tea!)

Apricot smoothie!

Lil' Buddha Tea is a somewhat new location to Albany, it was the Green Leaf Tea Company, but new management/ownership replaced the name and added a small cafe for shoppers to not only buy tea, but also delight themselves in a cup (or two) and some vegan-terian snacks. While picking up some more roobios tea (I prefer the orginal herb blend with added molasses and agave nectar in my teacup) and coconut cocoa tea pu-erh tea I also helped my self to a large cup of the Apricot Escape smoothie. The Apricot Escape smoothie is made with apricots, strawberries, bananas, and soy milk. It was smoothie and with the "just about" mix of natural fruit sugar. It filled me up, the soft sweet smell of tumble-cup delighted my senses and my bag full of herbal teas kept me excited for my next visit at the quaint shop.

The Curry House

If you are near downtown Albany and have taste for filling ethnic cuisine then head over to the Curry House on 1112 Madison Avenue. The Curry House is a quant Indian-Pakistani restaurant stationed in between local bars and bagel eateries. When I made the decision to eat at the Curry House, my interest was specifically because I know I would eating something well-seasoned, healthy and of course different. Most Indian or Pakistani ethnic based restaurants in the area are either too far away to appeal to local patron, too expensive for quick eat-and-dine, or they just don’t exist. The Capital Region is diverse area, but ethnic eateries that aren’t Chinese-American restaurants are completely outnumbered because of the “easy and recognizable” food interests of most of the consumers. 

The Curry House, 1112 Madison Avenue, Albany, NY.

Deciding to eat at the Curry House over the nearby Subway, I entered the restaurant. The seating locations, although few, are set up in a banquet fashion to encourage a comfortable eat-in experience or in my case wait while you take-out. Upon entering I was greeted by two employees at the Curry House, one whom I presumed to be the waiter and another cashier.  I was given a laminated menu of the specialties dishes, and also told about one of the meals that were a favorite amongst the traditional college student population: the shrimp curry and the salmon curry. Since I don’t eat shrimp, and was not in the mood for fish I graciously declined, and was directed to order food mostly on from the vegetarian specials.

I admit I was tempted to order a dish I was most familiar with, aloo chana. That dish is a curried stew of potatoes (aloo) and chickpeas/garbanzo peas (chana). Growing up in Brooklyn, NY, many of the local ethnic restaurants had their own national spin on the dish and it is the usual recommended go to for people trying Indian cuisine. Living in the moment however, I instead ordered the vegetable biryani because it was simple enough to experiment and would be my introduction to basmati rice.

A typical plate of vegetable biryani, a dish available at the Curry House.

Waiting for my vegetable biryani took about fifteen minutes. While I waited I was offered complimentary naan bread to snack on. The naan was freshly baked and unfortunately for me filled me up too quickly that I ultimately decided to have my main meal to go, I’m a very busy so I try to eat when I can! Although I didn’t get a chance to enjoy my vegetable biryani in the comfortable atmosphere of the Curry House, I did believe I had an eating experience that many foodies can appreciate. The rice was well cooked, not mushy and soft but still not hard and unprepared. The herbs used to season the dish were fresh, included a sprig of thyme on the side (I love thyme). The vegetables included in this variation of the dish were carrots, peas and tomatoes, all which tasted fresh not from can or frozen packaging.

A typical plate of naan. This oven fresh bread was a complimentary side offered to me at the Curry House.

I recommended eating at the Curry House, especially if you want an affordable introduction to ethnic food and especially if you want a variation from the pizza/bagel or Chinese-American restaurants all over downtown Albany. The meal cost around $15, calculating the cost of the vegetable biryani ~$11 and a beverage. The naan was free.

Bombers Burrito Bar

If you are on or near Lark Street in downtown Albany anytime soon Bombers Burrito Bar should be at the top of your must visit foodie stops! With a casual and fun atmoshpere, Bombers is the ideal location for a birthday celebration or a weekly get-together with friends. Its menu, while focusing heavily on mexican inspired dishes, is sure to have something for everyone with a fun variety of flavors that will leave you feeling satisfied with lots left over.

While I myself have never had a bad meal there, there is one dish in perticular that i feel complelled to stick a gold star next to for anyone dining at Bombers... The Piggy Fries. This little basket of happiness is truly gods gift to man. Take a basket of yummy fries and top it with BBQ pulled pork, hot and melted jack and cheddar cheese, chopped jalepenos, and BBQ suace. One order of these bad boys will fill you up and leave you in the perfect food coma. I promise, their worth the calories

And for those of us in the 21 and older crowd, one can not visit Bombers without sampeling one of the many and amazing margarita flavors they offer. While one can never go wrong with their classic margarita (made from tequila, tripple sec, and lime juice) one of my personal favorites is the Rosie Margarita. Made with Sauza Blanco tequila, Patron Citronge, and cranberry juice, this drink is full of sweet flavor for those of us who are sensitive to harsher tasting drinks.

Iron Gate Cafe

Iron Gate Cafe is located at 182 Washington Avenue, Albany NY 12210. If you walk by it quickly you wouldn't even notice it was there, nestled in between concrete state buildings a ivy covered Iron gate is the entrance to the Elvis-themed restaurant. My first time going to the Cafe was for brunch on a weekend, and the line was out the door so we decided to sit outside in the beauitful garden with cast-iron tables. I could hear birds chirping as I sipped my herbal tea and waited for my veggie omelet and homefries to arrive. The waitresses were very pleasant and all of the specials sounded amazing. Prices are beyond reasonable, I got a omlet, homefries, toast, orange juice, and tea for around $6 without tip.

Bountiful Bread

If you are an Albany native, a college student or just passing through, you're likely to end up in Stuyvesant Plaza at one point or another. Located off Western ave and Fuller road, The Plaza offers a wide variety of shops and eateries to enjoy. If you are looking for a classy new lunch spot to try, Bountiful Bread may be the place for you. Bountiful Bread is a cafe that specializes in baked goods and panini sandwiches. While it also includes a vast array of breakfast choices, soups and salads, I was drawn in by the fresh panini's described on the menu. The establishment is very clean and well kept and provides a homey atmosphere. There are also several tables outside where you can enjoy your meal during the warmer months.

 My first experience at the cafe lead me to order the Milan chicken panini, which consisted of herb breaded chicken, prosciutto, fresh mozzarella cheese, spinach, and pesto mayonnaise on fresh baked semolina bread. Not only did the sandwich taste incredible, but was also a hearty portion. The panini's also include pasta salad and a pickle. I have since visited the establishment, bringing along my roommates and friends who all agree that Bountiful Bread is a unique and exceptional restaurant. All of the sandwiches are large and very filling in addition to being creative and delicious so trust me when I say you get your money's worth.

Generally, a lunch here, including a drink, will run a little over $10 with tax. The baked goods are relatively inexpensive and would make a nice post meal treat, although I have yet to try them unfortunately. The cafe has specials on certain items each week so be sure to check their menu board above the register. Bountiful Bread brings a new unique style to the lunch menu. Know that you will leave this place full and satisfied, ready to return for more.



                                                               

Spicy Sukhothai

I find myself sitting on cast iron seats on Lark Street one busy Saturday afternoon. With two locations in Albany, one at 62 Central Ave and the other at 254 Lark Street this restaurant is easily accessible for dine-in or pick-up eating. Sukhothai is the perfect atmosphere for drinks with a friend and there exotic menu doesn't disappoint, I opt for the Saketini.  To starting off the eat-a-thon, I order an appetizer of the thai egg rolls which came out steaming hot with a sweet red sauce to dip them in, garnished with small carrot rings this was a small portioned appetizer that comes highly recommended for two people to share.

My main course was hard to decide between the Pineapple Curry Chicken and Shrimp versus the Pad Thai entree, I go with the Curry Chicken. This dish consists of shrimp, chicken, pineapple, bell pepper, carrots, tomato, basil and coconut milk to create a super-spicy soup like dish with a mound of rice on the side, garnished with a mint leaf. This dish is perfect for a cool fall or winter day, it warms me up inside as I clean my plate.

Overall I paid about $20 plus tax and tip and it was worth every penny! I highly recommend eating at the Lark location if you like people watching, but lines can get long because it only has 5 tables total. If you want a more spacious place to eat or have a large group I recommend making reservations at the Central Ave Location.

Side Note: I didn't have room left in my belly for dessert but the greet tea ice cream would have been my first choice!