Reviews and Recommendations For Nearby Restaurants in Schenectady

Reviews+and+Recommendations+For+Nearby+Restaurants+in+Schenectady

Marc Perlman

Luca’s Grill

A hidden gem located right outside AD house on Nott Street, Luca’s Grill offers popping American and Italian comfort food. Luca’s is perfect for a casual lunch or dinner with friends.

Even though everything there is consistently apex, there are several dishes you have to get.

A satisfying blend of a wing and a tender, the wings are some of the best wings out there. There is by no means a scarcity of sauces. The adventurous student may choose to order PB&J wings, while someone looking for a blend of sweet and spicy may order my personal favorite, the Honey Sriracha.

My second favorite dish to get at Luca’s is the calzones. About the size of a football, these pizza pockets will blow you away. A crispy exterior filled with creamy ricotta and accompaniments of your choice, the calzone is guaranteed satisfaction.

If you’re too lazy to walk the 10 feet that Luca’s is off campus, they deliver.

Johnny’s

For a fancy night out with the parents, Johnny’s is the place for you. With homemade pastas and authentic Italian dishes, Johnny’s never fails to wow. My favorite appetizer at Johnny’s is the Italian Nachos. The “chips” are fried pasta crisps. They come with crispy sweet Italian sausage, sliced pepperoncini, tomatoes, garlic, onions and Italian cheese sauce. As for entrees, it is hard to choose, but the Chicken Milanese, Veal Sorrento and Pink Sauce ala Olivia stand out.

Zen

For a nice weekend dinner, Zen is a great option. Named after the Japanese word for “peace,” this restaurant is a go-to.

Zen is a superb Japanese and Asian food eatery. From classics like edamame and ginger salad to more sophisticated eats like lettuce wraps, sushi and hibachi marinades, Zen makes the cut. Save room for dessert, as Zen’s mochi ice cream is incredible. Also, note that Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., they have two-forone mojitos.

Slidin’ Dirty

Slidin’ Dirty is a brand new slider bar on State Street, perfect for a casual night out. They serve all forms of comfort food, including mac and cheeses, tacos, chicken wings, nachos and dozens of slider combinations.

Keep in mind that their mac and cheese is the two-time winner of the Albany Mac and Cheese Bowl. About the size of a baseball, their sliders are not to be ignored either.

My favorite is probably the Dirty Hangover, which comes with cheddar, bacon, a fried egg, arugula and chipotle cream.

La Mexicana

The first four restaurants on this list are all in walking distance. If you have access to transportation and are on a tight budget, I recommend going to La Mexicana. This place dishes out $2 tacos.

These tacos are simple but filling and flavorful. I strongly recommend the spiced pork tacos and the steak tacos.