City Line Bar and Grill

My friend and I arrived near midnight and even though it was nearly empty. It took about 10 minutes for anyone to acknowledge us at the bar. If you see new customers and you walk by us how about «a be right with you» or a smile or something. The patio space is beautiful and my drink was good but with so many places to choose from I prefer to go elsewhere.

Great indoor/​outdoor space. Brunch menu has a bunch of great food. Outdoor bar and TVs

Barely asked if I needed another drink or how things were. The food was ok but large portions. They took my food and threw it out without asking and then BLAMED me… like it was my fault I just paid $ 13 for a crusty burger that I clearly wanted to just throw away.
Girl with the one arm — if you are gonna hate on people leave this industry and stop being a righteous brat to your customers

I’ve been here a number of times and have had enjoyable experiences. The bar area is nice and big, with a solid draft list which seems to be constantly changing. It’s not a place for a quiet dinner, it’s more the sort of place you can come with a large group of friends and not worry that you’re making too much noise. And it is very suitable for large groups, with plenty of large tables and spaces where they will put a party of 10 or so people and you’re out of the way. I’ve really enjoyed their salads and appetizers. I haven’t really explored many of the other areas of the menu, as really I can’t help but get the avocado fries every time I eat here, which then alters what I get for the rest of my meal. The salads are huge and full of fresh ingredients — I’ve also enjoyed their flatbreads, as well as their falafel sandwich. It’s a big menu, so for groups full of people with varied diets, there is something for everyone. The noise and cavernous feel of the place probably keep me from dining there more often.

Stopped for lunch and grabbed a southwestern salad. Service was good, based on the beer selection, I would definitely want to come back and try some. Portions were huge, blackened chicken had some good flavor, next time I’m back in Albany, I will check out some other parts of the menu.

Bar is great… Some bartenders could use some help in the friendly department and are clearly tired of working there
Management needs to do a better job staffing the restaurant.
The hostess informed me that the restaurant does not want to overwhelm the waitstaff and impact the customer service. This was the reason 12 tables remained empty and there was still a 40 min wait.
This has occurred at least 4 of the last 6 times I have been to CityLine– you guys need to get your act together or better manage your customer demand.

This is a nice place for happy hour, whether with friends or entertaining business clients. The drink menu is nice, I love the Mediterranean Fig Mule — a nice twist to the Moscow Mule. Their cocktails are delicious, and their food is good just as well. I’ve been there for lunch and dinner. Great place for both small and large groups. Avacado fries are a must try!

Came here for a late dinner with some friends yesterday. Table of 6 of us at 11pm & we were seated quickly. Loved the interior, a bit too loud with the crowds for my taste though. Most of my friends ordered the Bullini Burger (probably botched the name) & I order the Fiesta Chicken sandwich. Food looked great & everything came out good. What turned a friend of mine off was our waitresses stern attitude while serving (which isn’t necessarily a fault of hers). But then she also forgot my other friend’s last request for water with the bill. So overall good experience but the customer service was lacking. Quick side note, Jalapeños Mango Crush cocktail is amazing!

Went at rush hour but they were very efficient with wait lists, my family and I sat at the bar and got a drink while we waited for a text letting us know the table was ready.
The food was amazing I got a fun salad and had some of my moms zucchini pasta and it was incredible! It was healthy and light but flavorful and my dad had a French dip which was good too.
My only comment was that it was too dark. We had to turn on our phone flashlights to read the menu. The darkness took away from the conversation and overall experience and they put the 3 of us all on the same side of a large arched booth which made it more difficult.
But I recommend overall!

City Line is located right across from the SUNY Albany uptown campus and has replaced the locally known «Sutters Mill and Mining».
Compared to is predecessor City Line is a huge step up from the old wooden tavern that used to be there and is now replaced with a very nice touch of modern it’s place, which a large bar located at the center with a back deck (not open during my visit — winter season) and seating area for dining in.
I’ve been here on a Saturday and on this visit a Tuesday, which from the signs is ladies night from 7 — closed) I arrived shortly after 5 for a drink and food and sat at the bar. Which surprisingly enough was packed. I ordered a «zombie killer» by B. Nekter ($ 6) — a mead (fermented honey and water) similar to a cider taste. And a steak quesadilla ($ 15) — steak prep medium with tomato and pepper jack cheese, with guac, sour cream and pico on the side)
I thought the quesadilla was quiet good, for myself not quiet a dinner size portion but then again I also tend to have large meals so this may be a good size for someone else. The couple next to me ordered fish tacos that looks really good — so I think I’ll have to stop in again to check those out. The service at the bar was very good, quick, nice and helpful.
I haven’t been here to dine in but I think it’s a great place to stop in and grab a drink with co-​workers or friends throughout the week. Definitively a step up from the iconic Sutters mill that once was there and a fun place to check out on the weekend, or during the summer when the back porch will be open and much busier.

After visiting City Line Bar &Grill this week, I was surprise how great it was. Before entering, a plus, notice they’ve a parking lot and no parallel parking needed.
While walking to the bar to join a few people for food/​drinks I noticed the clean/​warming atmosphere. The amount of beers on tap is a great way for any lover to come back to visit but it’s the pub food that really caught my eye.
After ordering the Vino Burger «well done» I was not disappointed when I received it, not pink at all. Sure it was a basic looking burger but the sauce used had a taste of a sweet wine giving the burger a tangy but enjoyable taste.
Overall, City Line is definitely a place to check out if your a beer lover, traveler or UAlbany student.

The City Line Bar & Grill is convenient to Crossgates Shopping Center and my wife had not been there yet, so it was only natural that I suggested it for dinner as we left the mall around 5 pm. It’s still got that new building feeling and is both trendy and new age attractive inside. We were fortunate that we arrived when we did because it was less than half full, but within 30 minutes it was totally filled on a Saturday night.
They have an excellent draft beer selection and an extensive bottle inventory. I was happy to start off with a pint of Founders Breakfast Stout ($ 8) while my wife tried a pint of Rushing Duck Pay to Play IPA ($ 6) for the first time. We were both happy campers.
Burgers sounded really good after having had a big dinner the night before. For starters, we planned on sharing the Avocado Fries ($ 8). We waited and enjoyed our beers over conversation which we noted was not that difficult since we were sitting next to each other at a high-​top for four. But the din of voices once the place was full was very high.
I had said we «planned» on sharing the Avocado Fries because they never arrived before our burgers were brought to the table. Catching our server the next time she passed by our table was not that difficult and she asked if we still wanted them. We answered in the affirmative and I was kind of surprised at how quickly they were then delivered. They came in this cute, mini-​deep-​fryer basket and were supper hot. They were so hot that there was no flavor to the avocado. The panko coating was really crispy and even dipping them in the provided chipotle ranch sauce did not help. BUT… once they cooled enough, the avocado flavor came through and they were delicious, both with and without the sauce.
My wife decided to try the Quinoa Burger ($ 12) which is served open-​faced with a slice of tomato, red onion, avocado, red pepper purée, alfalfa sprouts, and a small salad on the side. It’s understandable why the burger was served open-​faced because there was no way it could have been picked up or expected to stay between two slices of anything. Overall, this was just an OK burger. It did not measure up to the quinoa burger at Garden Bistro 24.
My choice of burger was the Malibu Turkey ($ 12) served on a bun, with arugula, tomato, mango Malibu chutney, and toasted coconut. The turkey had a nice flavor, but seemed a bit dry. The chutney simply did not provide enough moisture. I tried a few bites of it with the chipotle ranch from the avocado fries and that helped some. But I didn’t want to add the ketchup that was provided with my fries. Btw, the fries were decent.
Overall, the CLB&G is a very nice place, neon lights and all. Lots of TVs for the sports fans, and close enough for many SUNY students to hang out. Our server was efficient and friendly. I won’t blame her for the kitchen’s mistake, besides, she was nice enough to remove the avocado fries from our bill.

The BF and I came here on a Thursday night for some drinks, dinner, and to watch the game. Out of so many options in the Albany area, we decided on The City Line because it looked like a nice sports bar/​chill spot.
I was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere. It’s more of an upscale sports bar, a lot of young business people were here around 8pm on a Thursday.
They have a huge bar and an outdoor deck, couches, a fireplace and television above. It looked like a bar/​lounge you would find in NYC.
They have a great menu, full cocktail and drink list with some great options. I had a blueberry lemonade and my boyfriend had a frozen drink. Both of them were OK. For dinner we had the buffalo chicken flatbread– delicious! And I had the pulled pork sandwich with sweet potato fries. My food was delicious, but it had too much flavoring on one plate. The sweet potato fries had brown sugar on them which was really good but too sweet in combination with the pulled pork. The BF had the buffalo and Bleu cheese mac&cheese entrée and it was super delicious. Definitely recommended!!!
Our server was polite, fast, and friendly! Everything was great
Overall I would most definitely come back to this place. I loved the atmosphere and the lounges outside with the fireplace. It’s a pretty chill spot for happy hour or date night!!!

Was going to be two stars but I ran out of stars and left the option on the menu…
See what I did there? They ran out of a bunch of items, 86, I get it, but servers should know their act. Plus, this dude was all up in grills trying to get us out ASAP! Netflix and chill brah.
Also, the manager who was eager to push blame, was armed with a grating voice, this was very noticeable as she was pushing said blame when following up with a whole bunch of issues.
Obviously not too thrilled with my/​our experience so ya, I guess it thumbs down.

The old home of Sutters Mill is the new home of City Line. It was completely demolished and built from the ground up though so no need to draw many more comparisons.
They have lot of outdoor seating, a huge bar inside and a variety of food offerings to meet different dietary needs and tastes. I’ve noticed they sit families with kids all together in one section of the restaurant as to keep the rest of the place more adult friendly. They don’t allow you to get a table for just drinks which is a bummer but understandable. The vibe and crowd here is a little weird to me. It’s like a pearl street club vibe in Guilderland but no dancing (at least the times I’ve been). Hard to put my finger on but personally not my scene. Staff is friendly. I’ve been here twice and would go again if invited by friends.

Well, it’s better than Sutters.
When I was in college, I would have loved City Line. It’s a large space, with a great-​looking back patio; several tempting drink options; and televisions galore. However, in years since I’ve graduated from college, I’ve grown to expect more out of where I go to eat, and what my dinner should taste like if I am spending my hard-​earned money on it (I AM SO OLD).
On a Sunday night, I ventured to City Line with my college-​aged brother and my mother. The parking lot is on the small side, and it is a little hard to tell whether you are parking in a City Line spot or spot for a different business (the website does state that there is overflow partking at the hotel). We were initially seated in the «main» dining area at a large «U”-shaped table facing the TV and bars. However, since we were not really there to see the game, and there were only three of us at this five– to six– seater, we asked to be moved toward the back (really the right) of the restaurant. It was a great atmosphere if you’re really only there to watch the game, but since mom wanted to chat with little bro about how his classes were going, it was just too loud in the main area. The back area is across from the open kitchen and has several booths and tables. It’s much quieter and that’s where you’ll find the slightly (or more than slightly) older crowd.
We ordered the skinny spinach dip ($ 10) to start. Our waitress said she enjoyed it and informed us it was made with yogurt rather than sour cream. I frequently make lighter versions of dips with Greek yogurt, so we decided to try it. Well, all it seemed to be was a bowl of spinach, plain yogurt, a couple of artichokes… and absolutely nothing else. None of the promised mozzarella. There was no detectable salt, garlic, or any seasoning, and it was surprisingly light on the spinach. It was also served with a helping of tri-​color tortilla chips that did not seem in proportion to the amount of dip provided. I am sure we could have asked for more chips, but since nobody ate any of it after the first bite, our sweet waitress kindly took it away and off of the bill.
Mom and bro enjoyed their French onion soups ($ 6). Those looked very cheesy and hearty. Mother ordered the City Line burger (basic tomato, onion lettuce, served with fries — $ 10), and brother got the Tex Mex burger ($ 12 — guacamole, «fried jalapeño skins,» lettuce, tomato, onion), and I chose the Tuscan Chicken Sandwich. Brother really enjoyed his burger, though I noted that he had to almost un-​hinge his jaw to bite into it. The burger is served with chips and pico de gallo, though the pico came in a teeny-​tiny ketchup cup… enough for maybe 6 chips if you use it sparingly. Thankfully, he was given another little cup when asked.
Mother’s burger, however, was served on a very pitiful looking hamburger bun. I felt bad for that bun. You know, the tiny bargain buns that you get from the supermarket? The kind that are so airy and insubstantial that they start to disintegrate when it meets the ketchup and breaks and cracks the second you pick them up? That kind. At these medium price points, I was at least expecting a little bit higher quality bun. I really wonder if they ran out of their regular buns and just ran down the street to the Stewarts to get some back up buns. Mom said the burger itself was «OK». She ate half.
My Tuscan Chicken sandwich ($ 12) was a pecan-​crusted chicken breast, served with goat cheese, balsamic, asparagus, and fire-​roasted tomatoes (though they let me sub for roasted red peppers, because I am weird about tomatoes). It came on a ciabatta bun that was just a little too big for the size of the chicken, but was good-​tasting bread. As for the Tuscan Chicken Sandwich — the whole was better than the sum of its parts. The asparagus was woefully overcooked and was yellow-​green in color and mushy, indicating that someone left it in the pot far too long. Unfortunately, I had to scrape off most of the asparagus (my favorite veg when properly cooked). The chicken itself also had a slight burnt taste to it. It must have been left in the fryer for a little too long. The sandwich truly could be a hit if done right (crisp asparagus, perfectly-​cooked chicken) but I enjoyed it the flavors.
Our waitress brought us our check without asking us about dessert. I was fine with this, as I planned to treat the brother to some Stewart’s ice cream, but I did find it a little odd that it was not offered (especially because I now see on their website that there are dessert options).
Since it was chilly and drizzly, we did not get to enjoy the outdoor patio, but I would like to come back to enjoy that awesome-​looking option. Ultimately, I won’t be in a rush to come back to City Line for dinner, but as a place to watch some football, have some beer and maybe an appetizer? Sure, I’ll try it again.

I guess it was fitting to have the experience we did here, seeing as our party had just experienced what was the first day of the NY bar exam.
Atmosphere: It’s a nice place, the décor is really nice and it’s rather spacious. Came here with a group of 8 around 6pm on a Tuesday night, were told it could be a 30 min-​1 hour wait. We asked if maybe we could cut the time down by seating us in different groups and the girl said no (weird). Anyway, we waited about an hour, which was ridiculous. We saw some empty tables but I guess they didn’t want to overcrowd the place.
Food: Ordered the Fiesta Chicken Sandwich. Idk if it was just late but the food did not taste fresh. Sure, it was a large portion, but honestly there was nothing memorable about this sandwich. My friends had the burgers and they were also surprised that the meat was so dry. The fries also stuck together and were not crispy in the least bit.
Service: Waited about 15 minutes after being seated before we were greeted. She seemed rather busy but for the most part was able to help us when we needed her.
I feel like maybe it was just an off day for the City Line. Either way, not a fan.

The reviews I read beforehand didn’t have my hopes up, but I needed somewhere convienent for others with outdoor seating, so this place won out. When I arrived, I thought that it was really nicely put together. The outdoor space is nice, although you’re only looking at a parking lot.
I thought my food was really good. Nothing so delicious I am chomping at the bit to get back, but definitely tasty and worth returning for. The others I dined with enjoyed their lunches as well. I also appreciate that they have Nine Pin on tap as it is one of my favorite drinks, and local.

Ambiance is key at City Line. It’s a good go to when you want a generic meal and a large space to stand around with friends.
The best feature is their outdoor patio, a small oasis randomly situated on Western Ave. We’ve been to City Line a few times both in summer and winter and summer definitely wins (if you can score a table or booth on the patio that is).
They have a vast selection of cocktails, beer and wine, all much appreciated. CL definitely gets an A for effort in these areas but their food is just standard at best. Like I said, come for the atmosphere and a drink not really for the food.
I’ve tried the turkey burger– wouldn’t recommend it, it sounds delicious but it just doesn’t work. I would recommend the Tuscan chicken sandwich which is probably one of the better choices on the menu (but I admit, I’m a sucker for goat cheese!). It comes with chicken, goat cheese and sun dried tomato.
CL comes in as a solid 3 since its a safe option– mostly for drinks.

I have been to City Line twice, and following both experiences I unfortunately have to give it a solid 2 stars.
Here is what I like about City Line:
–The atmosphere. The interior is very chic, with exposed stone and bright, colorful lighting. There is also outdoor seating that I would be happy to check out when warmer weather finally comes. It looks like a great place to have a bev.
–The drink menu. There is a good selection of wines and they are reasonably priced. My husband thinks there is also a good selection of beer, so we were both happy on that front.
Here is what I dislike about City Line:
–The food. I have tried a couple kinds of sandwiches, a wrap, and a burger (my husband and I split these items to get the best idea of this restaurant’s offerings). They sound good on the menu but aren’t executed very well. The chicken in the buffalo chicken wrap was over-​fried, the slabs of steak in the steak sandwich were of poor quality (lots of gristle, tough — and for $ 15? I don’t think so…), the breaded chicken sandwich was 80% breading, and the burger was ho-​hum. The fries were decent and plentiful, but are ultimately not what you’re paying for.
I might come back for a drink and some guacamole (that was actually pretty tasty) and sit outside on the back deck, but that’s about it.