Terra

My boyfriend and I visited Terra last week. We were super excited about it because we’re vegan and knew they had a lot of options for us. There were two tables seated when we walked in, the waitress said we could sit wherever we wanted. We took a seat and ordered the fried pickles as an appetizer. The waitress didn’t return to take our order for nearly another 20 minutes, at which time we still hadn’t gotten our appetizers. She took our food order and only came back a few times in the next half hour to periodically show us a plate of food and ask if it was ours. She was clearly new and wasn’t properly trained to be the only server on at a time. After being there 45 minutes my boyfriend asked her if our appetizer was on its way and what was going on. She looked very confused and rushed off to the kitchen. We could hear her arguing with the kitchen staff from the restaurant floor. She then returned and told us the kitchen had lost some orders due to a larger order being placed earlier. We realized our food hadn’t even been started so we left. I notified the restaurant of my experience and received a very rude and condescending response from them. I will never return to this restaurant. They clearly don’t put in the effort to properly train their staff and they don’t seem to value customer service in the least.

Hey we went here for lunch when we were in Albany. Even Albany is way better than Vermont. Anyway, we ordered this giant pizza and went to pick it up. We had trouble finding the restaurant because we never really went to Albany before and I was like I can find the restaurant without GPS and then by the time we started the GPS we were somewhere weird and the restaurant was trying to call us to see where we were but we gave them our computer phone number instead of the phone phone number because we were in Canada where my cell phone doesn’t work so we weren’t used to using the cell phone and we didn’t want my mom to know we were in the USA. If she knew we were in the USA she would tell my dad and then we would be in big trouble like the time we said we would have an abortion in LA and flew out there and then when we got there we were like never mind we don’t want to have an abortion. My dad was pissed! I was stuck in a hotel in Arcadia until Chase Bank gave me a credit card and I could take a plane back to the east coast. We really weren’t sure about the abortion until we got to LA though, we weren’t trying to trick them or anything but we are glad we didn’t do the abortion because now we have a beautiful baby who looks like a cucumber because he was born upside down and then if you have a breech baby their forehead is kind of long. Anyway, when we got to the restaurant it had beautiful pictures on the wall and a nice soothing atmosphere. Our pizza was still warm somehow. We took it back to the hotel and it was super good! Five Stars!

After seeing their beautiful ad in the paper, my husband and I decided to this restaurant a try! We were the only patrons in the restaurant and we felt as if we were their first customers ever. They advertised a «full bar» but had an extremely limited selection. The bartender was inexperienced and did not have glasses to make our drinks. We order greens and beans as an appetizer and the bartender did not know what it was, nor did the cook. We also ordered gluten free buns for sandwiches and after waiting 20 minutes, we were told they did not have them. We paid for our drinks and left.

Constant turn over in staff which wouldn’t be bad if the chefs and waitstaff were all competent. Unfortunately that’s not the case. I travel for a living & was thrilled to find a vegetarian, kosher place to eat in Albany. I was so excited by my first visit, i dined there a few more times. Then I invited my family to eat there on our way to Montréal. Again, the vegetarian & kosher claim might not be true… which is a fact I find abhorrent. My husband & father in law were quite upset when the waiter informed us of the true origins of our meal. Whether he was a disgruntled employee (he had no problem telling us the background of owners, turn over, unpaid employees, spoiled ingredients, etc) or was simply being honest, I have no idea. I do know however that it didn’t bode well for returning which is a shame. We pass Albany on our way up from NJ often. Whether it’s vegan, kosher, even gluten free, I implore anyone to check closely.

Recently, my family contracted with Terra to cater a kosher luncheon buffet following my mother’s funeral in Troy. It was the week of the Jewish high holy days and of course, our event was arranged on short notice. The staff delivered our luncheon items on time and beautifully presented. The food was much better than the usual catered kosher fare… hand cut smoked salmon rolls arrayed like a sunflower with capers, onions, tomatoes and lettuce on a platter. The kugel was truly delicious, as were the colorful marinated vegetables, fresh green salad, fruit salad and many other dishes. Traditional, but also contemporary. And the portions were bountiful. Best of all was Terra’s Howard Katz, who was so kind and accommodating at such a difficult time for our family, and managed to get us a quote just before the sun was setting on Rosh Hashana. Above and beyond, but he knew it would give us peace knowing things were arranged before the holiday.
We look forward to stopping in for dinner next time we are in Albany.
Lisa B.

While traveling through NY, we decided to walk around downtown Albany and were essentially invited to try this restaurant by the owner as we read his menu. His passion for healthy eating was truly inspiring.
The décor featured local artists’ paintings and was stylish and welcoming. Throughout our meal, a gentleman played a selection of classical folk tunes on a twelve string guitar. We enjoyed it thoroughly and it was perfectly suited for the space — neither too soft or too loud and was a perfect complement to the evening. I don’t know if that’s a regular thing, but we were there on a Friday evening and enjoyed it a lot.
Our kids (9 & 5) loved the wood fired pizza which came in about a standard medium size — easily shareable for the kids or even for two adults who wanted a lighter meal. We also had a hummus and pita appetizer which had a delightful, lemony character. My wife had a cold plate — smoked salmon and accouterments. The plate featured a yogurt to complement the salmon which worked wonderfully. The menu features seafood, vegan, and vegetarian dishes so there are many options and the owner provided a few samples of other dishes which were lovely.
As other reviewers have noted, service and timing of the meal were spotty. Our waitress was brand new and judging from the help wanted signs and the rebuilding nature of the part of Albany where the restaurant is located, I imagine staffing a niche market restaurant is considerably difficult. In spite of her inexperience, the waitress was helpful, attentive, and was earnestly trying to deliver a great experience. Hopefully, she’ll continue to gain experience and will match the service to the concept.
Overall, we had a great time, enjoyed chatting with the owners, and found dishes that every member of our party enjoyed thoroughly.

Went in on a Wednesday evening (7pm) and had some of the worst service imaginable. We stood for 5 minutes until bar tender, who was sitting at the bar, fetched the waiter. The waiter waved us back to meet him at the table, didn’t great us or introduce himself. He was in such a rush he didn’t mention any specials. When I asked as he was walking away he stopped, sighed and recited the two specials: «Pea Risotto and Asian noodle soup» then turn his back and walked away.
When we went to order about half the menu wasn’t available. The waiter also said he wouldn’t recommend several other dishes on the menu.
There was a 10 top and 2 other tables of two that night. Our food took 1hr 40 mins from when we sat down. They screw up my Gluten Free Pizza and had to remake it. There was a very brief apology from the owner. I couldn’t help but feel like we had inconvenience this restaurant but coming in and trying their food.
Over all the food was good, but nothing special. Decent flavors and seasoned okay but nothing inventive or interesting. I make meals 100 times better in my own kitchen.
When dinner was over, it too another 20 mins after asking to get the bill. There was NO adjustment for the service or the mistake in my meal. No apology for forgetting to bring our bill. Nothing!
Finally got very sick from gluten from this meal. This restaurant is NOT for Ceilic’s or anyone with sensitivity to gluten.

Had a wonderful lunch at Terra! Salad was fresh and dressed well. Vegan burger was homemade. Colorful interior, pleasant staff. Yum!

I travel every week for work and I have never been anywhere as friendly as this place. Sonny the owner was amazing as was the food. If you’re in the city you have to visit. There are no strangers here just friends they haven’t met yet. Great’

Really cool place. I was stoked about the vegan mozzerella cheese! My boyfriend is a big fan of carrot cake he gets one everywhere we go. He says Terra had the best carrot cake he’s ever tried!!! The carrot cake was served warm and very nutty. The owner and the baker of the place are very nice and friendly. Overall a really cool place to eat! I suggest you go try for yourself.

This was our second visit to Terra since they opened in late 2014. Our first visit there was during the soft opening and we were pretty disappointed. The decorum in the dining room wasn’t so nice (it is beautifully decorated but there was pop radio music being piped in through the speakers, the noise from the kitchen was pretty loud) and the service wasn’t quite polished (the waiter didn’t know the menu, he didn’t bring us bread, the food didn’t come all at the same time, etc.). When our food did arrive, it was presented well and most of it tasted pretty good. On the whole we weren’t impressed, though and the main attraction is that it’s kosher. After talking to a friend who had a similar reaction, we decided to give Terra another chance.
Fast forward a couple of months and they are no longer «brand new» and they’ve had a chance to work out some of the kinks in the restaurant. The menu is new. There are lots of offerings, from salads and soups to vegetarian burgers and fish and we were pleased to see all the choices. We chose the vegetable pakoras for an appetizer and for our meal, paneer bhuna, eggplant parmesan, portobello mushroom parmesan and a strawberry salad to share.
I’m sorry to say we were disappointed all over again. Our server didn’t know what pakoras were so we didn’t know what we’d be getting. She said she was new and was still learning. The vegetables inside the breading were flavorless. The breading was uneven and though it was fried well, it wasn’t tasty. Also, the plate seemed far bigger than the portion and the green sauce blobbed on the plate was spicy and not a nice compliment to the dish.
As for the meals, the rice that came with the paneer was cold. Since the paneer part was warm and tasty, it wasn’t awful that the rice was cold. The portobello mushroom was drowning in marinara sauce under a thick layer of melted cheese. it wasn’t especially tasty, either. It was served on a bed of ziti which was, well, just ziti. Our third meal was the eggplant and that also came on a bed of regular ziti but the eggplant was actually very tasty. It was breaded and fried well and it was crunchy. Finally, the strawberry salad was far less tasty than it could have been. It had only a symbolic amount of dressing, the tomatoes clashed with the strawberries, the julienned carrots weren’t and the candied walnuts weren’t either.
Aside from the food, the service was still not special and the décor wasn’t improved either. There is still pop music coming through the speakers of what is otherwise a very sophisticated space. The server didn’t know the menu and couldn’t answer our questions about the food. A server should learn the menu before waiting on customers. The dining room was cold and in fairness, we were offered a table in the front room which was a lot warmer. We opted for the dining room so we wouldn’t be distracted by the tv at the bar. We waited far too long for rolls (which seemed to come straight from the supermarket), for water refills and for the check. At one point, the owner’s cellphone rang as he was standing near our table and it was a loud and disturbing ring. He answered it right there.
It seems a real shame that a restaurant with so much potential is so incredibly lacking. We were very pleased to have a kosher restaurant in the neighborhood but after our second visit, it’s like we’re back where we were before Terra opened.

I tried Terra for the first time this week — I went with a friend who had recommended their fish dishes and I was intrigued. I didn’t have much of an appetite so I just ordered the soup of the day (black bean and lentil, $ 5) and the pakora appetizer ($ 8). The pakora came first — kale chips, mushrooms, green peppers, and a couple of potato slices, with a side of mush that tasted like old mint and cilantro. The fried veggies were good, a bit greasy (not unexpected), but it was a strange medly, especially the peppers. I was then informed that they had started cooking the soup late so the the lentils weren’t soft and offered me the tomato soup instead. It tasted a bit herby but nothing exceptional, and so thick it bordered on being sauce. I can’t recommend either dish. My friend ordered the eggplant parm ($ 13) — freshly prepared with a light red sauce on top of an overly large pile of ziti that were just a tad underdone. Her Greek salad to start was the best part of the meal. I’m happy to see them try their hand at a Kosher restaurant that isn’t just serving «classic» Jewish fare. Lovely space, good service, but maybe they need to spend a bit more time thinking about what they are serving. The web site is NOTHING like the real menu, FYI.

I’ve written two reviews for this restaurant, under its name listing as just Terra. After having eaten there three times I am definitely a fan. Each meal has been delicious, fresh and beautifully presented and my friends who’ve dined with me agree. The chana masala was the best I’ve had anywhere and their Mediterranean pizza, right out of the beautiful brick wood fired oven, is outstanding. Terra is the only vegan-​vegetarian– pescetarian kosher (and fine dining) restaurant in the Capital District and certainly deserving of a chance to succeed. I read a previous review by an unhappy diner and hope that person gives Terra a second chance. Every new restaurant with a unique concept will no doubt have a breaking in period. I think Terra is on the road to success. It’s beautiful, the food is delicious and service keeps improving!

I was at Terra for the soft opening. First, the décor and atmosphere are stunning; apparently the staff all pitched in their own stuff. They have a beautiful and clearly visible wood-​fired oven in the kitchen and excellent artwork.
I tried a salmon dish, the eggplant parmesan, the hummus and baba ganoush, and a rigatoni pasta dish, and was duly impressed, especially by the salmon, which was cooked to perfection, and the baba ganoush, which I thought was phenomenal even though I don’t usually like baba ganoush. They also appear to have an excellent taste in kosher wines (no, really, it’s real wine). I will definitely be coming back.
The eggplant parm was the only dish that did not strongly impress (although they may have improved it), which I attribute to the fact that they have to use chalav yisrael cheese. I imagine the mozzarella should be fine, and I look forward to trying the pizza, but good parmesan is not going to be easy to find for them.