Pearl Street Pub

In Albany a lot on business.  By the time I get done with work and back to the hotel it's after 8:00 PM. Of the collection of places open late within walking distance of the hotel, Pearl Street Pub is my choice.  It's my choice because of the food and the staff.  Friendly efficient staff, know what I typically order and have it at the table when I sit down.  Nice diverse menu of fresh foods.  For me the Buffalo wings are the stand-out item.  And in terms of price it's a real value

In town for business, and with some time to kill before getting dinner, I decided to stop in for a beer after the end of the work day.  The first place I went to was cash only because the credit card machine was down (might go there tomorrow if it works), so I have no issue admitting that this was my second choice.  From the outside it looked like a typical dive bar in the middle of a downtown environment, so that's why I was going to pass on it the first time.  When I walked in to Pearl Street Pub I did a double take and thought that surely they were closed.  There was one guy sitting at the bar nursing a beer, an attractive girl behind the bar cleaning, and a guy who I think was the cook (but who I think is now the owner from reading other reviews) chatting in the corner of the bar.  Otherwise, empty.  I made the fourth, and saddled up to a stool and asked for a Sam Summer.  $3.50 for a draft beer was a nice change of pace from $5.50 for the same beer in Boston.

The only real problem with this place was the atmosphere.  It was dead.  I mean, there was nobody but me and the two employees (the barfly left about five minutes in) for about an hour.  I chatted with the bartender for a few minutes, mostly on the subject of, "Is Albany one of those dead towns downtown after 5 PM?"  I was assured this was an anomaly, and that it would be packed by 5:30.  Well, from arrival at 5 PM to departure at 6 PM, I was the only person in the bar.  On a normal day, this is probably a three star establishment.  But for me it gets two, because my experience was such that, "Meh, I've experienced better."  I don't recall any televisions on in the bar, but if there were any they were turned off.  The girl behind the bar had a radio playing when I walked in, but abruptly turned it off after about ten minutes and left us with silence.  After chatting with the bartender for a few minutes, she went off to finish whatever bar chores she had, leaving me at the bar with a beer and my thoughts.  My thoughts kept drifting between, "this is ridiculously boring," and, "Maybe everyone is staying away from this bar for a reason no one bothered to share with out of town visitors."  I really hope it's not the latter, but it was definitely the former.

Not a fancy place, just a local hole in the wall. Girl bartender was friendly.