"The Point--it's on point."
My fellow diners suggested that I start my review off with that clever phrase. Â (thanks, guys!) There were four of us dining that evening, and it gives you an idea of how all of us felt about the whole experience.
The Point is an impressive restaurant, and you instantly feel as though you are robed in swank-ness when you walk in the door. Â The steakhouse vibe and candle-stick lighting on the tables of the main dining room also make for great pictures when celebrating a friend's birthday or anniversary. Â
The servers, dressed all in black, do seem almost intimidatingly hip to engage in conversation with--yet, they provide attentive service and prove to be not only friendly, but incredibly knowledgeable on the menu. Â I leaned on them for all of my choices, and ended up ordering the pasta special: a ravioli dish with spinach, goat cheese, garlic, and artichoke. Â You have the option of a half or full portion of the pasta special. Take advice from wise old Mel B.--just order the full portion. Â Let me explain:
The dinner opens with fresh bread and apple-cinnamon butter. Â I ate a lot of it, and did not remember politeness or consideration for my friends once I noticed that there were real granny smith apple slivers in the butter. Â After ordering lemon-pepper frites for the table and stuffing myself with bread and that glorious butter, I thought the half-portion would be enough. Â It came with probably five large raviolis, but it was really light and delicious. Â I wanted so much more. Â
It was my friend's birthday, but she was so full from her Plum Tomato pizza (this girl stole a piece of that too: I was a food monster that evening, but I had to write this review: mmm so good!), that she didn't think she could fit a piece of their legendary "slice of cake." (apparently, the portion consists of half of an entire cake). Â The Point didn't care. They brought her over a "tiny" piece of their drizzled Sweet Potato Cake (the flavor of the day, and what amounted to, eh, probably one-third of an entire cake). Â All four of us took a fork to that "slice," and we could barely finish it. Â However, it was awesome and terribly pretty. We asked for coffee to cap off the dinner, and it came in glass mugs that captured the candlelight of the table and added to the magic of the meal.
I'm going to (lightly) poke at The Point. I typically require that if a restaurant is having multiple dining room identity crises, that there is at least one, overarching theme tying them altogether. I guess the theme weaving the four dining areas at The Point is that you can eat in them, and they are all well-decorated.
The main dining area gives off that steakhouse feel I mentioned above, with brick walls, iron decor, and nice windows to the far side of the room and that humongous candlestick in the middle of the table. Love!
There are also three more private rooms for dining. My favorite was past the main dining area and to the right--The Madison Mirror Room. Â A long narrow room, in tones of spring-moss green and putty, there are many various mirrors whimsically placed on the ceiling. Three different Moroccan-inspired light pendants hung in a row between them. Very Alice in Wonderland.
But then-THEN!-There is a third room, and it does pull in the putty and moss colors and the candlesticks from the other two, but it looks like a formal dining room. I could imagine a nice work dinner or anniversary meal with family in that space. Â
The fourth room threw me for a loop. Walking in, you see tables set into what look like alcoves in the wall. Â Stacked up in the center of the wall of the room, on shelves, are five old TVs playing snow or blurry pictures. Â By the time I saw that room, I didn't know where I was anymore. Â
What I do know is that The Point is a great restaurant for a magical dinner--I'm sure in any of their rooms.
In town for business, The Point was recommended as a place where I could get a good cocktail and a great dinner. Â I'd also heard it was a little on the trendy side, and while I go out of my way to avoid hipster locales, it seems a good cocktail is hard to come by in Albany, so I decided to suck it up. Â Came in around 6:15 on Monday and was surprised how empty the place was. Â I read a few reviews online and was under the impression this was a great spot for the young professional crowd - there were two seats at the bar taken by twenty-somethings and two 4 top tables were occupied by the geriatric crowd. Â Otherwise, the place was empty, so I sat at the bar. Â Some prior reviews mentioned jazz music, but there was nothing playing today.
Bartender was a young man who answered in the affirmative that they carried Woodford Reserve, so I asked for an Old Fashioned, and a dinner menu. Â I watched the bartender make my drink, because if you ask ten bartenders how to make an Old Fashioned, you'll get ten different answers, and being particularly picky over this cocktail, I wanted to see what he would do. Â Bartender muddled bitters, cherry, and orange in the glass, added ice, a 2 ounce pour of bourbon, and filled the remainder of the glass with club soda. Â The ratio of bourbon to soda was about 65:35. Â You shouldn't muddle the fruit, and he completely forgot to include sugar or a simple syrup - the drink was lacking any sweetness outside the bourbon. Â Ideally, no club soda should be used, but if it has to be, then a mere splash is all that is required. Â Way too much club soda in this drink. Â I'd give it a C+ because while a lot of things weren't done right, it was (sadly) better than many places I've encountered in recent memory.
Reviewed the dinner menu and was thoroughly unimpressed with the offerings, and the specials sounded uninspired. Â Most of the dishes were heavy on sauces (especially the steaks) which seems counter intuitive to me. Â I passed on dinner and settled on the one cocktail. Â $12 ($9 for the drink, $3 for the tip) and fifteen minutes later I left, still looking for dinner. Â The place added two more people to a high top in the bar area before I left, but otherwise it was pretty much empty.
Final score is 2 stars. "Wait a minute, you gave the Old Fashioned a C+, which surely merits three stars, and probably 3.5 - so how do you give this place two?" Â While the cocktail might get a C+, I came in looking for dinner and left with a still-empty stomach. Â The dishes also appeared a bit on the pricey side, so the two star description, "Meh, I've experienced better" fits this excursion like a glove. Â The website touts The Point as, "Albany's newest upscale restaurant and lounge." Â A description like that conjures up images of a classic interior, with emphasis on fresh food that stars on its own, and bartenders mixing classic cocktails properly. Â That's not what I saw on my visit.
I was a very young lad back in the 1849 San Francisco gold rush, but The Point really takes me back. Â The Atmosphere is just like someone built a tavern into a gold mine. Â It's got a rustic feel, it's very dark, and it's also very loud. Â They did a marvelous job with their 49er's themed restaurant.
Now the ideal clients of The Point are giants. Â It's a bold move, I know, as there are very few giants in Albany, New York. Â Since there weren't any giants when my wife and I showed up, they sat us in their spot. Â The tables are very high, and I started getting self-conscious about how high I had to lift my elbows, as if letting my armpits dry out. Â I'm self-conscious around my wife because she is a very classy lady and if I don't keep impressing her, she'll realize that she's way too good for me and she'll leave me for a giant who can sit at this table without looking like he forgot deodorant.
The place is rather noisy. Â I don't hear that well because when I was young, I worked in the mines during the San Francisco gold rush, and we didn't protect our hearing while setting off dynamite. Â Man, we thought we were immortal back in those days. Â But now my hearing isn't so good, and I had trouble hearing what my wife had to say. Â So instead of listening, I based all of my responses off of her body-language. Â We've been married for 6 years, so I'm kind of a pro at this.
The food is kind of a let-down. Â When I order a $25 plate, I expect it to meet a certain expectation of taste, or a certain expectation of quantity. Â The food is good, but it's not $25 good. Â I also like to think that if I'm paying a lot of money, that I shouldn't be able to go home and cook the very same dish for about a third of the cost. Â I want pzazz. Â I want art. Â I want a dish that takes me back to the roaring 1920's where a steak would put hair on your chest, dreams in your heart, and a
whistle on your tongue.
The service is attentive, almost overly so. Â I drink a lot of water, and they were there. Â Always. Â It was like an omnipresent drink refiller at my beck-and-call. Â Except I wasn't calling, she was just there, pouring an endless stream of water. Â Our main waiter was also around a lot, making sure everything was ship shape. Â I appreciate it, but it made it hard to make facial reactions with what I imagined my wife was saying when I had to keep dividing my attention between her, the ever-present waterfall, and the waiter guy.
This is the place that I generally bring people from out of town when they come to visit. Â Perfect combination of a nice place to have a sit down dinner but still feel like you are out at the bar. Â Out of the many times I have been here I have only had one bad meal and it was an item that was eventually discontinued. Â
If you want steak...get the Hanger Steak
Also you should try the curried mussels, huge portion and they are amazing.
Rawhide Ravioli and a Minor Flesh Wound.
I dined recently with faithful companion and occasional companion at The Point Restaurant. 6 thumbs down.
How to describe how I got the minor flesh wound? It's a burn that has blistered. We speculate that the metal edge of the menu was placed by the server on hot glass candle holder on the table, and when I put my arm on table over edge of menu , YOUCH!. When 2 servers were told about the injury (one was a lovely young woman who got me a bag of ice from the bar) they both said, "THE MENUS CATCH ON FIRE ALL THE TIME". Really? LOL And they moved on. It seems that reports of injury by diners are common place, and not worth bringing to the attention of management. I had no idea.
Other than that, the meal was fine until the food was served. My ravioli had the texture of leather. Seriously, I couldn't even gnaw. It would have made a terrific dog chew toy. Who needs rawhide when you have The Point ravioli? I briefly considered hurling into the bar area like a Frisbee, but quelled that impulse when I realized that could have hurt another patron. Like the Red Ryder BB gun in "A Christmas Story", it could have put someone's eye out.
Perhaps orange cones should be placed at the entrance to The Point to warn diners of the hazards inside.
Let me start by saying ... If you are staying to eat ..this place is AWESOME ! I like the vibe, the location, the staff ... all of it . The menu is great .. I love the eggplant appetizer and pollo tortellini, Which I always get the small portion and have plenty !
The drink menu is stellar ! I love the Black Magic Martini !
So why the three stars you ask ?
Simply because of the sub-par take out experience.
First off my eggplant appetizer ( I think about 7 or 9 dollars) only came two pieces of eggplant (normally a little tower of four pieces ) so that's disappointing . and the duck appetizer while still yummy was falling apart, and looked like it was thrown into the container.
Secondly, No bread ... which I might understand if we hadn't just ordered three apps and two entrees but yeah no bread !
And lastly, The packaging is awful ... everything leaked ... and is in flimsy metal containers and then put into little white bakery type paper bags. The food is too saucey and heavy for this type of packaging .
now I guess I coulda dealt with this, if maybe take out was some how cheaper ..but with the price tag of of over 60 dollars ... I expect the food to hold up to the three block drive to my house . Â Just sayin'
In short ... The Point is .... To eat at The Point ... Dont bother with take out . you will be let down :(
Had dinner here on a Tuesday night and there weren't many people there at all. Â I sat at the bar and was greeted promptly by the bartender. Â He was very friendly, informed me of the special for the evening (1/2 off bottles of wine $35 & over; would bag any leftover). Â I opted to go with a single glass and see what looked good on the menu.
I started out with the Bang Bang Lobster and Shrimp. Â There were 3 lobster pieces and 6 shrimp, served with a spicy siracha aioli. Â I've never had deep fried lobster before and it wasn't that bad. Â I liked pairing it with the aioli and would certainly eat it again.
For my entree, I had the Bolognese (one of my pasta weaknesses). Â I like the fact that they offer smaller portions in addition to the standard size, in case you don't feel like stuffing yourself (or have trouble stopping!). Â The pasta was cooked perfectly, the sauce had good flavor and the portion size was just right.
All in all, it was a good meal and I would certainly go back if I am ever in the area again.
I came here with a friend about a week ago. I was kind of skeptical at first because I thought it would be outrageously expensive and too hipper-than-thou for me (and really, it does look like a cesspool of hipster), but I was pleasantly surprised. Well, by the menu, at least.
Everything on the front of the menu looked delicious. I didn't bother looking at the pastas and entrees on the back of the menu. Nothing on the back was less than $23 (I'm poor, so sue me!). However, I was very happy to see that they will substitute gluten-free pasta in any pasta dish.
We decided to share the calamari appetizer and the Mediterranean flatbread pizza. They even substituted gluten-free dough for the pizza! Though the restaurant was quite busy, our food came out really quickly, which was great because we didn't have much time before our movie at the Madison started. The gluten-free pizza dough was light, airy and tasty, not hard or cardboard-tasting like a lot of the dough you find in stores. The calamari was every so slightly rubbery, but there was so much flavor in the herb coating they used. It came with a "zesty red sauce" (which seemed like it was mostly just roasted red peppers) which was good, but it was very difficult to get the calamari and the sauce on your fork at the same time, so I pretty much just skipped the sauce.
The service at our table was good. Our waitress was super sweet and attentive and was great about splitting the check between two credit cards after we forgot to ask for separate checks. I wasn't too crazy about how we were treated by the hostess when we arrived, however. She acted kind of indifferent to our presence or like she just wanted us away from her.
I would definitely come here again, but I think I'd rather come during the day when it isn't so busy. There were quite a few people at the bar and it was rather noisy. We weren't seated near the bar, but we could still hear everyone whooping it up over there. Also, it's way too dark! Candlelight may be cool or whatever, but I'd like to see what I'm eating!
Under normal circumstances I probably wouldn't have come here on my own. It seems like more of a place to get some cocktails and appetizers. But I went for a friends birthday.
The entrees are on the pricey side and I was afraid that they were putting off the vibe of being fancy without backing it up. On the contrary. The place is decorated nicely with an assorted selection of mirrors on the ceiling and candle lit tables. Our table actually had full taper candles, not just those little tealites at most places. It really set a nice mood in the otherwise dimly lit restaurant.
I wasn't overly impressed with the menu initially. Nothing really stood out and made me say "I want that!" There were actually only a few things that I even considered. In the end I went with the Chicken Marsala, and the dish was fantastic. One of the best Marsala sauces I have ever had. The mashed potatoes were excellent, and the green beans were cooked perfectly al dente. I was astounded with the food quality.
For dessert my gf and I split the "big cake". The special cake that night was an apple caramel carrot cake. The slice was easily big enough for four people. By the time dinner was over I had eaten so much food I literally felt sick.
My husband & I had dinner there on a Friday evening while visiting my brother (we're from Buffalo, he & his wife live in Delmar.) Â This place is a bit too hipster-trendy for my taste, the food is expensive & not as good as it should be, for the most part. Â
The hostess asked if we had a reservation when we arrived; when we told her no she quite obviously looked us up & down, as if considering whether to let us in or not. Â It was actually kind of funny - we are all in our 30's & were dressed well. Â She conferred with another staff member & came back a few minutes later. Â Informed us they did have a table but we would have to vacate it by 8:30pm for a reservation coming in. Â It was 6:40pm so we decided we could manage.
We laughed again when she took us to the room in back - well-lit, sage green walls, and a table with a baby in a high chair. Â The rest of the place is dark, candle-lit & trying oh-so-hard to be sexy cool. Â LOL! Â Even without our kids we'd been scorned! Â Â Wine list & martinit list, but no beer list - the waiter had to rattle off the 10 beers on tap. Â It's fine for us, as we know our beers but not great for someone who's unsure what to order. Â Kona Porter on tap - YAY!
Appetizer we chose were the duck confit jalepeno poppers stuffed into a bell pepper & wrapped in bacon. Â OK, this was f*cking great. Â Best thing I had that night. Â I had the black & blue pizza for my entree, which was supposed to be slices of filet, onion, mushrooms & gorgonzola gnocchi. Â It was bland & the filet was overcooked. Â I didn't taste ANY gorgonzola & saw no onion or mushroom. Â The gnocchi made it too bready. Â Eh. Â It wasn't bad, but it was a disappointment. Â Service was decent, nothing spectacular. Â Oh, and we made it out by 8:25pm! ;)
So this place was OK, but I would not need to go back if we're ever back in town.
Solid 4 stars despite the college area that it is in.
Loses a star because of the crappy lack of parking and the fact I had to risk getting jumped walking 3 blocks to the restaurant from my car and because it is waaaaay too noisy, but alas I can overlook at least the noise
Service--excellent, personal, and they take care of you
Prices---Definitely, more your fancy night out, not your Saturday go to place. MOst dishes are $20+ although you can get sammies and burgers as well at lower fare, but if you're looking for impress a date night, expect to pull out your wallet.
Food--all of it was a knock out of the park delicious! Breast and butter to start came out on the right note with choice of butter, olive oil, and olive caponata which was great! For apps my sister and boyfriend shared the short rib nachos which they loved. I had the butternut squash bisque with maple creme fraiche and candided pecans which was so decadent, lush, light, and well balanced. Then for entrees, I had the pork which was delish and a side of lemon pepper frites which now I think the only way I can truly enjoy fries is with lemon and pepper! Boyfriend had hangar steak with gorgonzola gnocchi and he said these were the best gnocchi he ever had. My sister had the filet mignon with cherry sauce and she too was delighted by the twist on sauces. Also, for a side we had fried green beans which were YUM YUm YUM!
Warning, desserts easily feed 2-4 people so be ready to share--but they are soooooo good!
Can't wait to come back! But please please please for the safety of your clients look into valet or other parking closer.
I would give this a 4.5 but since that does not exist I rounded up to a 5. I went here for the first time a few weeks ago with my sister and her boyfriend and it was fantastic. Now when you go here, a few things to keep in mind - there is not a ton of parking for the busy nightlife of the few bars and restaurants right in this little strip - we had to park a few blocks away, also it is a currently trendy hot spot - it will be busy, and you would be wise to make a reservation and avoid the wait - we made a reservation but the wait was at least 90 minutes when we arrived for people just walking in.
Our waiter started out phenomenal, but towards the end with the busy service hours he started to be more scarce and relied more on another gentleman - I do not know if busboy is a correct term for him as he did help quite a bit with serving but he was not dressed in the typical waiter wardrobe so I do not think he held the same title. In any event, either person who helped us was always attentive and answered our questions promptly and thoroughly, and of course turned on an appropriate level of charm.
I had debated between a hibiscus infused cocktail and a old fashioned that they had on special that night and per the waiters recommendation I got the old fashioned which was quite good and I do not normally drink whisky type drinks.
We ordered the short rib nachos for appetizer which was quite good, but in all honesty I could have done without the short rib itself - it did not do much for me, but their sauce on the nachos was quite good.
For dinner, I ordered a steak by the name of the "French Kiss" which was a filet mignon with a rose infused butter on top, which was incredible. It came with scalloped sweet potatoes, and they blew my mind. Normally I do not care for sweet potato, but these were so amazing.
My sister's boyfriends meal though took the cake - he ordered the hanger steak with gorgonzola gnocchi - holy crap was that one of the best bites of food I have had in a while!! Seriously - order this!!!! I hesitated to get this because I am so big on having potato with my steak, but gnocchi is potato, and its kind of a pasta too - so its like having the best of both worlds with your steak and its smothered in cheese....what is not to love!!!!
Desserts were also fantastic - we had 3 different ones, all fantastic, so safe to say - I would try just about any of them!
This was a last minute decision on a Saturday night, which can be difficult. Instead, they worked hard to accommodate us, and I'm glad they did. The menu is varied and interesting, sophisticated but not pretentious. The food was well prepared and well presented. The staff was outstanding! There was great value for the money. Drinks were well prepared. The only area which does not rate a superlative was the wine list, which is adequate but not spectacular. It is a very noisy place, but it is the noise one associates with people having a wonderful time, so go, enjoy, and make some noise.
Review Source:The first time I went to The Point, it was probably a weeknight and I sat away from the bar. The food was excellent, our server was friendly and attentive, and the decor was nice. I was really pleased.
Being so pleased, I was happy to head back a week or so later on a Friday night. This time, I was disappointed. I was seated by the bar, so I was bumped multiple times by people getting drinks and it was really loud. The real problem, however, was that my food was bad. I ordered a burger - I feel like that should be simple enough to get right. For half the price, I could have gone to Five Guys and gotten something much tastier. My fries were also not good - I had been so excited by them on my first visit, too. The food, although it didn't come out quickly, just felt slopped together.
I would probably go back, but I would be careful about when.
So it's day 4 of eating out alone because of my business trip to Albany. Â Yelp has a perfect score so far of recommending great restaurants so I decided to go to The Point over New World Bistro. Â Hindsight is always 20/20 and well, Yelp, I have to disagree with you on this particular restaurant.
I was really excited to head over to the Point seeing how it had amazing reviews. Â When I arrived, it was clear that it is really popular. Â The jazz music was loud and there was a lot of people just everywhere inside. Â I walked in and was promptly greeted. Â I was quickly directed to an alcove where it was ridiculously dark. Â I asked the hostess for a better table so I can at least see my finger tips. Â She found me another table but it was barely any better and I soon found out that it was beside a special reserved table for 2. Â They had first class service all around and it made a stark contrast to what I received.
Service in general was slow and casual to the point of sloppy and indifferent. Â I wouldn't say they were careless but there was no effort made at all to provide good or even great service. Â In comparison to other restaurants, The Point makes Mr Fuji servers look too friendly (and they were far from it). Â
I ordered the Frutti de Mare and this was really similar to my dinner yesterday at Blue Spice except with an European flavour. Â Comparing both restaurants, Blue Spice was the better dinner. Â The Point's presentation seemed sloppier. Â The shrimp and scallops pieces were smaller. Â The shrimp was a definitely more on the rubbery side compared to Blue Spice. Â The scallops werent bad but they had so much missing pieces that none of The Point's scallops were intact. Â It makes me believe they were either frozen in a solid bunch and haphazardly defrosted and pulled apart or the chef was careless in the cooking. Â The spices of the Frutti de Mare wasn't bad but the occasional super strong anise flavouring was overpowering and didn't blend well with the overall taste. Â I also got a side of sauteed swiss chard. Â It was so oily. Â I would hold up pieces of swiss chard over the bowl and let the oil drip for nearly 20 seconds at a time. Â
Considering the price of this meal was 50% more than my meal at Blue Spice, I would definitely say it was not worth it. Â I wouldn't really return here since it's so expensive and the level of service and food quality is worse than other restaurants I've tried all week. Â Perhaps if I was dragged here in a group, I would come back but only if someone else paid for my bill.
After going to The Point, I now have a new reason to enjoy going to Albany. Prepare to get hungry reading on as my mouth is watering just recalling my recent meal.........
My husband and I recently went to The Point this past Sunday for a belated birthday dinner. We started with the Bang Bang Lobster and Shrimp for our appetizer, which I must admit was more his choice as I have had at other restaurants in the past and it hasn't always been my achilles' heel for calories. After taking my 1st bite, I didn't want to share the rest (he's lucky it was his birthday so I had........)
Next we both decided on the pizza's for our entree. Hubby had the Shrimp Scampi while I had the Black and Blue.
As soon as the plate was placed in front of me, I was so glad I ordered what I did.
Filet Mignon, Gorgonzola Gnoochi, Carmelized Onions OH MY! This is the 1st time a pizza has been placed in front of me when I literally saw the clouds part in the sky and heaven's rays shined brightly on the plate in front of me. I took a bite....wait! Was that a harp from the food angels playing in the background?? Yes it was!!
Every bite was amazing throughout the meal and the service was great to match.
Point Restaurant, you've given me a new reason to like Albany!
A wonderful place. Go there now. If you wait til 2013 you won't get in. Food was marvelous. Use your Yelp app and you'll get a free hors d'oeuvre from the chef. Ours was great. We ordered a variety of things from the menu and loved every single thing that we got (we shared at least tastes of all of them). Really, don't miss it. This used to be Vixen (previously the Pilgrim House). Nothing like the previous. Go there. Really. Seriously. Great food!!!
Review Source:A ton of space, nice decor and great food!
I had "The Italian"- a filet topped with Gorgonzola and prosciutto in a demi glaze. I am super picky about steak when I order them out, and usually end up mad at myself for trying it as it ends up being disappointing. So I wasn't expecting it was going to be as  good as it was. It was cooked well, tender and had great flavor.
Side of garlic mashed and veggies.
No salad with the entree but they give you a decent amount of bread with olive tapenade and butter.
They had a decent wine selection with reasonable prices.
I will definitely return and would probably even order the same thing!
We went to The Pointe with a group of friends and had an absolutely great time. Â We spent a to of time talking between courses and were never rushed or felt as if we were being prodded out the door. Â It was a very busy Friday night, so that was a refreshing experience relative to a lot of places we go.
We ordered cheese and meat boards, about half the appetizer menu and entrees. Â There was not a clunker in the house. Â Everything was excellent, from presentation on through preparation.
In addition to our gluttony, we were ordering a lot of drinks and were very happy with those as well.
Our server did an excellent job handling our group and allowing us to enjoy our meal and friends.
The last surprise we had was the bill. Â Well below what we all guessed based our bill would be. Actually shockingly low.
There's no doubt we will be back.
Again- I was stuck in Albany with no place to go. After my family went to sleep my fiance and I wanted to hit the town! Paint it red! We were on vacation after all. But then I realized all I ever did here was get someone to buy my friends and I gross, cheap beer and drink it in someone's basement. I've since evolved and grown to enjoy the finer things, so I took to Yelp and looked for a place to check out.
We were going to drive to Lark St. because I figured we'd find something there, but then on Madison I saw this spot and remembered I read great things on Yelp. So we came here and ditched the efforts to head to Lark. The place was bumpin', lots of trendy young professionals were packed in here enjoying drinks and some tasty looking 'za.
We both ordered cocktails- I got a special, some redheaded something. (not a redheaded slut... I told you I have evolved!) It had ginger vodka (I think), raspberries and lemonade. It was so refreshing, although a bit sweet. My fiance got an old fashioned because he is boring. He enjoyed it, they ask you what kind of whiskey you'd like in it which is a neat touch. My next drink looked and tasted like a refreshing forest. This is a positive thing! It had pimms, cucumber, hendrick's gin and pickled thyme. It was delightful. I'm such a gin-lover so I am smitten when places use a nice gin like hendrick's. Again, a very refreshing drink but with more complex flavors. No memory of what my man ordered next- clearly refreshing paired with strong! Haha.
The patio is lovely, a fair amount of seating and tables for everyone. If I find myself lost in Albany once again I'll certainly make a point to stop here. (hardy har)
The Point is a really trendy, delicious, and cool restaurant near the site I'm working at in Albany. We usually go out every night we are on site, and on our last visit this was one of our top picks of the week.
To start out with we got wine & the nachos. The wine list was very good (we had had some trouble at other places because they just don't have very extensive wine menus anywhere we'd been). They also had awesome looking old school cocktails, but I just opted for the wine! The nachos were surprising - they were made with potato chips & had pulled pork on them. Overall very good - but not exactly what we expected.
For dinner our group had a variety of dishes. I had the Halibut special with veggies - it was awesome. It was stuffed with a Parmesan/garlic/bread crumb stuffing and topped with a delicious and creamy sauce. Others in my group got the Filet, and the Salmon, as well as the wedge. All were very very good!!
Their dessert menu also looked superb, but unfortunately we didn't get to try any on this trip! Hopefully when we go back next time we will though!!
My fiance and I were celebrating my first day at a new job and we went to The Point. We got a nice table in the back of the front dining room. There is a huge parking lot in the back so that was a breeze.
Our server, Vincent, was SO NICE. He gave us great recommendations on food and drinks. The seafood cakes that he recommended were SO good. Huge pieces of fresh seafood and perfectly cooked veggies on the side. The risotto that came on the side was so good. I could have eaten a plate of it all by itself!
I had the strip steak and my favorite part was probably the garlic butter slathered all over it. It was perfectly cooked - very pink but not too red. The crispy onions and potatoes were slightly charred on the edges and added great flavor and crunch.
We shared the ice cream sundae and it was the perfect end to our meal. Vincent was the best server I've had in ages - always around when I needed him without hovering, full of knowledge and recommendations, and very kind and charming.
No complaints at all! I can't wait to go back when it's warm and sit outside and try some of their tasty looking cocktails - Crushed Velvet sangria?!?!
Went here to celebrate my boyfriends birthday. I made reservations a few days before. (we are both early 20's mind you).
I walked into the restaurant, originally confused on where to find the hostess. Then, when i saw what I believed to be her she was completely enthralled by a side conversation that took over 5 full minutes for her to even acknowledge me. This is not an exaggeration there were 3 other full parties behind me waiting.
Finally she makes eye contact, and then addresses me. I tell her I have a reservation, she can't find it. She says, she'll try to put us on the top of the list but we have around a 35 minute wait. Whatever, we'll go sit at the bar. I'm partially annoyed, my date is like "get over it."
So, we wait at the bar area, which is pretty dang crowded with at least 3 people deep in some spots, which isn't a big deal. It's Albany after all. It isn't until we are seated at our "table" that we become annoyed with the crowd. Our seats turn out to be located on bar seating tables that people have their arms and coats draped over, right behind where we were standing.
My date is sitting with his back towards the bar, wondering if some dude is going to move so he doesn't have to keep getting hit in his upper body by other patrons. We get our menus, we can't hear each other talk.
I have enough time to select a cocktail and a meal. Knowing me this means we could have been sitting at least 5 to 7 minutes without one person walking by. A buser eventually came to clear off the drinks from the people that were sitting before us but other than that no one came to the table. (Was the table still dirty from bar patrons? definitely. )
Annoyed, we got up and left. Maybe because it didn't look like we were about to drop 100 dollars on one meal people refuse to give us good service. Which is stupid and wrong. And everyone working there looked younger than both of us so... yeah.
Sorry, I probably wouldn't go there again.
I've only been here once but it's a wonderful place! The ambiance and decor is classy, but there's certainly no air of pretentiousness. The Madison Mojito is perfect - their bartender is excellent and I like that they actually muddle the ingredients. I had the BLT Wedge, Pasta with Clams, and Pollo Sicilano. I'm sure you can't really go wrong with a wedge, but somehow it was lacking flavor and it was really wet (probably just washed). The only good thing about the wedge are the bacon pieces. As for the pasta, it was delicious! Lacking a bit of flavor, but nothing a dash of salt couldn't fix. Lastly, the chicken was amazing! It was juicy on the inside and has lots of of flavor. I will definitely return to The Point as there are a lot of dishes I still want to try.
Review Source:First off, I love this place.
The different cocktails available are all very fanciful, my favorites being the True Blood and the Cilinger. If you have a serious sweet tooth, the Italian Wedding Cake is great too. I don't recommend the About Thyme if you're looking for sweetness, you won't find it.
The Trio Sampler is delicious, especially the crab cakes and the eggplant Napoleon.
I've usually gone with a pasta dish, as part of the dinner deal that's is (if they still have it) Sun-Tuesday.
It has it's faults. One of the times I was there, the bartender wasn't very friendly, and another time I got the Beef Short Ribs - the meat itself was great, but the dish could be improved by serving it with some vegetable accompaniment besides papas fritas (aka fancy potato chips). The ratio of meat to chips needs adjusting at the least, after eating half of them the saltiness was just too much for me.
Based on the Yelp reviews, we decided to try this place. Â Overall, the ambiance was great, as was the wait staff, but the food was below average for the price.
Ambiance: *****
Service: *****
BLT Wedge: *** (good salad, and the dressing tasted home made)
Old Town Chicken: *** (tasty, nothing spectacular)
Butternut Squash Soup: ** (sweet tasting)
Bang Bang Lobster and Shrimp: * (sauce was fine but the meat was chewy and not fresh)
Never has there been a better blend of manhattan style with comfortable at home ( Albany ) atmosphere. Â
The service is great, everyone literally knows your name.
I have ordered most of the menu and shared the rest with friends. Â I have never been disappointed with a plate of food.
I recommend one of their homemade artisan pizzas ( cherry chicken , black & blue gnocchi) or their Asian seafood fan favorite "bang bang shrimp lobster".
The point has a daily ever changing cheese and fruit board made fresh by chef Jen herself. Their other homemade specialties include homemade pasta, both regular and gluten free, sausage and daily ravioli.
The atmosphere is inviting comfortable and only experience you can discover is person.
Make your first visit on a Thursday night for live jazz to ensure your enjoy your experience.
Enough blabbing I think I got to the point.
Pun intended.
I was hesitant to tag along with five others who chose to go here on a Friday night after a few celebratory drinks at another establishment. Â I was recalling reading some negative comments, mostly about the service (see the filtered reviews on Yelp). Â
However, I was quite surprised when we entered what appeared to be a full house and were told that they could seat us as soon as they cleared a table. Â This was 9:05 p.m. Â We were seated after only five minutes in a back room by the rear entrance . Â This seemed to work to our advantage since the music level was VERY loud in the rest of the restaurant.
Staff quickly provided us with water, menus and a waiter was ready to take our drink orders and describe the evening specials in full detail. Â While we reviewed the menu our drinks were promptly served and our waiter inquired if we needed more time to study the menu or if we had any questions. Â We said yes to both questions, received informative answers and were told to take our time making up our minds.
Just as our meals were being served, a seventh person arrived to join us. Â A place setting was quickly placed at our table and her drink and food order taken.
I mention all this because we were very impressed with the professional level of service we received from our waiter and the other staff.
The food was excellent. Â Some of what was ordered were the Hanger Steak ($19) - lightly marinated and grilled steak in a robust mushroom sauce served over gnocchi prepared with fresh spinach and gorgonzola; Beef Short Ribs ($24) - slow braised ribs in a rioja wine with sofrito, chorizo, peppers and onions, served with papas fritas; a special of the evening, Ahi Tuna Steak ($?) - grilled to your liking with a side of vegetables that I don't recall; another special of the evening, Cheese Ravioli ($?) - in a pale, light cream, tomato sauce.
I was able to taste all the entrees and was very impressed with the high quality and flavors. Â A manger?/chef? even stopped by our table to see if everything was to our liking. Â I won't hesitate to return after this pleasurable experience.
The Point still has a lot going for it.
I probably wouldn't have known this, as I wasn't planning on coming back anytime soon. Â However, I was graciously invited back by the owner.
This shows that the management at the Point values their customer's opinions - always a good sign.
However, the Point still needed to prove itself after my last visit.
Things started off shaky. Â We came for Happy Hour hearing that they had good prices on drinks. Â The plan was to get a few cocktails/beers and order off the bar menu (appetizers to share rather than full individual meals). Â This seemed like the trendy thing to do at such a place. Â And after reading the reviews it seemed like the cocktails and appetizers were getting the most praise.
The bar was almost full, but the seating areas were deserted. As we were a party of 4, and could not all fit at the bar stools, we decided to get a table next to the bar as recommended by our hostess.
We waited awhile before our waiter came and told us that they we could not get happy hour prices as we were not sitting "at the bar". Â Fair enough I suppose, but nowhere is this mentioned in the happy hour advertisements on each table "not at the bar". He probably saw a look of disapproval and came back shortly after telling us that we in fact could receive happy hour prices for the next 10 minutes (The special is over at 6). Â We asked for what was on tap, and the waiter struggled but was able to list them off. Â After we asked about the Goose Island, he gave us a warning that it was quite bitter which was surprising seeing that it was a wheat beer, but we were happy to hear his opinion.
2 of us ordered the Goose Island anyway, my other friend got a Scotch Ale and another ordered the Black Orchid cocktail. Â The beers were nice and our friend raved about her Orchid- Stoli blueberry and raspberry vodka, blue curacao, cranberries, and sour splash. Â She said it was strong yet refreshing.
For appetizers we decided to start with "The Board". Â The menu advertises this as "Carefully selected artisan cheeses accompanied by seasonal fruits, olives, pates and charcuterie meats to create a perfect balance and excite your taste buds. Your server will inform you of today's presentation".
I guess at 16 dollars for the small portion which we ordered (It was 24 dollars for the large which the waiter recommended), I was expecting something a little more exciting. Â We were presented with a few sage infused white cheese (forgot the name) served in cubes, and two types of standard shredded cheddar cheeses (one sharp, one not sharp). Â There were not many crackers (Pepperidge Farm butterfly ones), a few strips of thinly cut prosciutto, some small olives, a few strawberries, and tiny grapes. Â They must have left the pate off the board. Â Maybe this was to punish us for not going with the "Big Board".
After we started eating, the waiter forgot to explain the presentation and rushed back to explain- "Cheddar Cheese"- yes we knew. Â He also told us the name of the other cheese but for whatever reason it didn't stick in my mind.
The board was tasty, but definitely nothing as fancy as the description makes it out to be.
As for the other appetizers, we ordered the Trio Sampler (French Fries with a variety of sauces, crab cakes, and eggplant napoleon), Short Rib Nachos (using potato chips instead of nacho chips), and Plum Tomato Pizza (served stacked in a mound rather than a pie).
All of the above were tasty but none of them stick out in my mind as anything exceptional. Â
The Trio Sampler was small considering the price (15 dollars). Â The fries took up much of the plate. Â The 2 crab cakes of ample size were meatier and less bready than the ones I had previously. Â The Eggplant Napoleon was flavorful, but we were only served 3 mini ravioli-sized pieces, good for one bite each.
As for the nachos- The short ribs were very tender and had a nice chili seasoning (rioja), but I wasn't a fan of substituting the nacho chips as the potato chips got soggy very fast., especially as the homemade cheese sauce was very gooey and runny but thickened quickly once the chips absorbed all the grease.
The Plum Tomato pizza was stuffed with yummy ricotta and covered with mozzarella, but was inconsistent with the plum tomatoes. Â One wedge had no tomatoes while another wedge was practically a slice of tomato covered in cheese.
All of the above items were promptly served with warm and fresh bread (always appreciated).
I am very happy that the Point is around. Â I think they have improved the service and consistency. Â It is a nice restaurant whose product can't/doesn't stand up to its grand ambitions and costly menu.
At the end of the day, the Point is a great place to meet up after work, have some strong flavorful cocktails and martinis, and sample some of the diverse options on its eclectic menu. Â I will probably be back again.
3 1/2 stars this visit
3 stars overall
The cocktails are fresh and inspired. My favorite is the About Thyme made with Hendrick's gin, Pimm's #1, muddled lime and fresh thyme sprigs. The cheese board is always a go-to as the cheeses selected are complimented by fruit, crackers, and spreads that never disappoint. The point also has a solid wine list.
I highly recommend the crab cake appetizer, the puttanesca and the Hanger.
In addition to quality food and drink the staff are spectacular. Dez is an attentive, helpful, and informed server. And the ambiance cannot be beat. A truly class establishment in a city that needs it desperately. A+
Two words: Blueberry Basiltini.
I've only been here for drinks, and both times all I got was the blueberry basiltini, so I don't have much to say other than that it was THE best mixed drink I can recall having in recent history. Freshly muddled fruits and veggies in martinis seems to be the specialty of the bartender and of the cocktail menu. Â I look forward to trying some of the other drinks soon. At $8-$12 each it could quickly turn into an expensive night out; however they are worth every dime.
I look forward to many more great nights sipping on these delicious concoctions both indoors in the great room or outdoors on the patio.
This review is for the All Over Albany 3rd birthday party held here on Wednesday the 23rd of March.
A Yelp friend had mentioned <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Falloveralbany.com&s=2c33842e056c7ed374ba6d96e61b48297e65bb36ba79858b8d3356e4ff0f211e" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://alloveralbany.com</a> and if you have not been on the site before it is a great local resource. It's kind of a mixture of Yelp and Facebook and all about our fair city.
Yelpers may notice many familiar faces at AOA and going solo to the party I was happy to see several people I knew.
There was a legitimate showing local celebrities from radio, music and a who's who of internet personalities.
Will Farrell stared in a movie called Anchorman and he talks about his place in terms of "rich mahogany and leather". The Point hearkens to that decor with dark and textured wood, warm lighting and interesting ceiling tiles.
AOA put out a nice spread of paiyaa, cheese and meat and had pass arounds of sliders and these tomato and cheese melts that I felt were the best item of the evening.
My overall experience at the Point was very positive and I'll definitely try it for dinner sometime.
Happy birthday AOA, keep up the good work!
3.5 stars. Came here with some work friends for happy hour on Friday. When we first got here, it was pretty empty but the bar filled up by the time we left. Pretty good mixed drinks at a reasonable price for an upscaley location, especially during happy hour when some mixed drinks are $5. We also got some appetizers to snack on while at the bar and they were pretty good.
Atmosphere is upscaley, yuppy-type bar. I was expecting more college or dive bar like Mahars (which is next door) based on location in student ghetto, but I was pleasantly surprised in terms of upscale-ness.
The people at The Point know the difference between good customer service and GREAT customer service. Â Whether it's because they just opened, or they truly plan on setting the bar higher, eating at The Point is an absolute pleasure from start to finish. Â Other reviews paint a pretty accurate picture of the decor (see Seneca S's review). Â To me, it had a very eclectic lodge feel to it. Â I appreciate that they have so much space, and yet have not jammed every inch of it with tables. Â
There's something about The Point that reminds me of "Twin Peaks," and if anybody can help me figure out what that is, I'd greatly appreciate it!
We started with the fiery meatball. Â It came with a small stack of polenta frites. Â Wonderful, with a kick that doesn't hit you all at once. Â
After enjoying a nice house salad (kudos for putting on just the right amount of dressing!) I enjoyed the seasonal ravioli, with ricotta and pumpkin, which was very satisfying for a small plate. Â The sauce was creamy and infused with a great balance of spices. Â I also shared (i.e. devoured most of) my friend's black truffle frites. Â Wasn't the best pairing with my ravioli, but complimented her bolognese superbly. Â
And I know I've already mentioned the great service, but it deserves another mention. Â Let's face it, there is good food to be found in Albany. Â To me, what sets an establishment apart is the feeling that I've had great food AND great customer service. Â That is how I felt leaving The Point, and it's made me want to come back for more.
Oh, and I hugged our waiter. Â Just sayin.
Had a wonderful dinner here last night. We were seated in the nook, and found it intriguing that the decor was part mountain lodge (wood plank ceilings) part retro (with dance musicals from the 50's playing on an assortment of 10" screens), part upscale steak house (tall candelabras with real lit candles), plus a side room that was like a cafe bistro. A lot going on in this very large space!
Faced with a well considered menu, we asked our server for all sorts of recommendations. Too many interesting things were calling out to us. He reasoned out some really complementary pairings, like the Bolognese with Black Truffle Frites. Turned out he was also the manager ;) and he let us know they have an agreement with the bank so you can park in that lot when visiting The Point!
When my dining companion mentioned that Cafe Madison had said they were going to expand into this space, I wondered if their restaurant group decided for an addition to the family, instead of expanding the cafe. Well welcome to the family, and good on you!
We had a delightful time, and, I kid you not, we even hugged our server at the end of the meal. We will be back, and if they keep it up, all of the servers should expect hugs.
A new restaurant on Madison, owned by the same folks who own Spinners, Juniors and Cafe Madison. We ordered a few appetizers and a little boozy goodness, feeling a little empathetic for the enthusiastic staff who traverse this very expansive and well designed space. When the alcohol kicked in we didn't care so much. Decor is a little schizo, though, mood swinging from a fifties googie style bar to a techno nook in the corner. One app that stood out was a shrimp and flash-fried lobster combo. Shrimp was fantastic, fried lobster left a lot to be desired. No online menu yet. Seems promising, and we'll be back.
Review Source:
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