Antipasto’s

Last night was my third (or fourth?) visit here over the last several years. Somehow, I have never posted a Unilocal review.
Every visit has been exceptional. I love that there is something for everyone without being weird… and there are a TON of choices for those that don’t eat/​like meat. In fact, one of my friends was slightly overwhelmed last night and said, «I’m not used to having so many choices…». (She’s not exactly a vegetarian but almost…). So, if you’re a crew of vegans, vegetarians and meat-eaters…you can all find something on this menu.
Here’s what we ordered last night:
Starters:
–Warm bread served with olive oil: crispy crust with a warm. soft middle. Olive oil dipping sauce seasoned perfectly with spices and balsamic vinegar
–Cheese and olive platter — 3 different kinds of cheese with several varieties of olives; along with marinated mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, white beans and garlic bread. YUM.
Main courses:
–Gluten free pasta with marinara sauce and meatballs — solid review there — even though the consistency of the pasta is different when it’s rice based (to be expected) — she really liked the marinara sauce.
–Veggie ravioli — again — good review
-«Albert Einstein» which is baked eggplant parmigiana topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese with a side of pasta — no complaints here, either!
–I had the Portobello Puttanesca served over cavatelli. I love the puttanesca sauce here… I keep getting the same thing every time. Lots of olives, capers, artichokes and portobello mushrooms… absolutely delicious. The portion was so gigantic that I have leftovers for at least one more meal (maybe 2!).
Service was friendly; our waiter was smiley, pleasant and efficient.
The prices here are a little bit on the high side (for pasta), but the ingredients are fresh and everything is served piping hot. They don’t take credit cards, so bring cash or a check. If you forget… there’s literally an ATM across the parking lot.
It’s a small, intimate place. Great for a date or a small group of people that you enjoy spending time with.
I’ll certainly be back. I think I’ll try one of the pizzas next time… they looked delicious.

I have eaten at the restaurant many times. What the restaurant lacks is consistency.
The prices are too high. My last meal was a 1 ½. Salad was wet, and pasta mushy. However the Pizzas are the best but lack gluten free options. They do have gluten free pasta. There pizzas are a 5.

This restaurant is a hidden gem! I have been passing through the area for years on tour and finally checked it out. I found out they have an entire vegetarian menu which was perfect for me, because Italian restaurants usually don’t offer one. They give you fresh baked Italian bread and an olive oil/​balsamic dipping sauce which was very tasty. Then I ordered the George Harrison which was a mushroom lover’s dish. «Assorted, mixed fresh mushrooms sauteed in porcini mushroom demi-​glaze & marsala wine, over wild mushroom ravioli». It was amazing! Next time I’m in town I will be back! Highly recommend!

The perfect meal: a vegetarian place with the best meatballs ever! I know… but All Vegetarians have non-​vegetarian friends, right? I asked, and they make their meat balls off-​premises and keep them separate in the kitchen!
I had the sautéed mixed vegetables with the meatballs on the side with fresh grated Parmesan, and three 3 ounce tastes of red wine that were each delicious! Simple, but it’s the way it’s all cooked and the quality of the ingredients that make this special.
The staff are knowledgable and attentive (Layla and Brian today)
It’s very important to note that this tasty little place does not take credit cards. Cash, or personal check only.

I give this place 2 stars. First of all, the staff isn’t very friendly and I barely received a greeting when I entered. About the meal– My bread was borderline stale. I ordered a spinach salad off the specials menu– beware of their «specials» as they aren’t priced and will be surprised when you receive the check, so make sure you ask the price. My small salad was delicious, but was not worth the $ 11.75 I was charged. I wish I had stopped there. I ordered the pasta primavera ($ 18.95) and was happy with the portion but the food was bland. I asked for some soy parm to give it some flavor (which didn’t help) and was shocked to see a charge on my bill for $ 2! I barely touched my entrée and asked my waiter to wrap it up. He didn’t even ask me how I liked the food. My bill came to approx $ 42 including a $ 2.75 bottle of Saratoga water and a side of house made vegan sausage that was also bland. To sum it up, they are overpriced and neither the food nor the service was anything to write home about. I would recommend to avoid this place, but if you like to gamble on having a good experience here, make sure you bring plenty of cash because that’s all they take.

I am not a vegetarian but my daughter is. I like this place because they have something on the menu for both of us and the quality of the food is very good.
Great atmosphere. Nice bar and great service.
Cash only so be prepared.

Excellent wine selection and food, friendly and knowledgable staff in a pleasant atmosphere. The vegetarian options are plentiful but they do have real meatballs on the menu. Can’t wait to go back and try something new.

Hard to believe the Daily Gazette ran a review of a vegetarian restaurant in which the reviewer ordered the only meat dish on the menu. Aren’t critics compensated for their meals? What would it have cost her to be adventurous and try the «chicken» parm?
The mock chicken here at Antipasto’s is the same one that has people lined up out the door for at a vegan restaurant in Phoenix. It’s addictive. Plus, at Antipasto’s, they have vegan cheese and gluten-​free pasta.
My mom had the pumpkin ravioli, which was a little on the sweet side. My father had something that looked like chicken marsala but he gobbled it up so quickly I didn’t get to try it. I had the «chicken» parm and it was as good as ever. Portions run large so you will probably take home a doggie bag.
The Gazette’s review was positive, and that’s where we agree: Antipasto’s is highly recommended.

We are not from the immediate area but stopped here for dinner on our way to a football playoff game at Shenendehowah High School. Service was polite (not friendly or prompt — just polite)… atmosphere was pleasant… and there were good vegetarian selections. Those were the highlights. We had one cup and one bowl of soup and an «eight cut» pizza with two items (it’s about a 16″ pizza.) Soup was yellow split pea and very good. Oddly, it took about 25 minutes for our soup to arrive (we had no appetizers or drinks.) It was about 25 minutes later when we finally got the pizza. It was pan baked on a metal pan with a fairly non-​descript crust that was reminiscent of Pizza Hut crust but not oily like PH’s is. The sauce was bland and there was very little of it. The cheese was good but there was far too much of it. The cheese overpowered the sauce as well as the mushrooms and black olives we had chosen as toppings. I won’t go so far as to call it seriously mediocre but it was definitely below average pizza.
Overall it took one hour and ten minutes from start to finish to get two soups and a pizza — of which we only ate half (at that point we were late for the game.) Prices are high. $ 21.95 for lasagna and $ 17.95 for past and meatballs? Seriously? Our dinner was $ 28 with tax — a price I wouldn’t quibble with of the quality were better and service was more prompt and a bit friendlier. There were some interesting, albeit pricey, choices on the menu, and they appear to have a loyal local clientele. But I wouldn’t return based on overall performance during our visit.

–Delicious vegetarian food.
–Great bar.
–Nice wine selection.
–Knowledgeable staff.

Who knew vegetarian cuisine could be this tasty? Great atmosphere, food, and beer selection. They still don’t accept credit cards, which is a shame.
Quantity: ⁸⁄₁₀
Quality: ¹⁰⁄₁₀

This place is a hidden gem! From the outside you may wonder what all the fuss is, but get out of your boring comfort zone and walk through the front door… the experience will be worth it!
You will be greeted by a friendly, knowledgable staff. They know their vino here and will offer expert advise should you ask. With a huge selection of wines, updated on a regular basis, they have something for everyone including a lengthy list of wines-​by-​the-​glass. If you prefer a cold beer, Antipasto’s offering is among the best in the Capital District. The choices are extensive and always interesting and run the gamut from light, crisp ales to dark, creamy stouts. The bar area has a comfortable, inviting ambiance to test some of the libations and enjoy some appetizers or, for that matter, a full meal.
As for the food… hands down the best gourmet pizza I have ever tasted. You can choose from something off the menu or concoct your own pie from a large selection of items. The vegetarian meatballs are superb!
The appetizers and entrees are prepared fresh and made to order. Always interesting specials will make you think twice about ordering off the menu. Simply stated, Antipasto’s does vegetarian right!

Had pizza, menu looked promising, but it was just not very good. The ingredients are fresh, but the crust is terrible, and the cheese consistency was all wrong.
If you want spectacular pizza go to Mama Mia’s on Rt 50 in Saratoga instead.

Holy cow! What a great little unknown spot. Great vegetarian Italian food! And not just Eggplant parm and all the pasta you can eat, either. I had the «George Harrison,» which was sauteed porcini mushrooms over cheese ravioli, and it was fantastic. Also, the vegetable soup: who knew you could make a vegetable soup with FLAVOR! If you’re in the Albany area, weather you’re vegetarian or not, go check it out. Just make sure you call ahead: seating is limited.

ok i went here the other night with a couple pals and it was good. before i got my food they brought out some bread with balsamic vinaigrette, olive oil and basil (?)…i was a likin’. i ordered the «chicken» parm but without the parm. i guess they didn’t have vegan soy cheese. i was a little disappointed that they didn’t have it but the food was still good.
The atmosphere here is small so i wouldn’t recommend large groups. The place is more of a candle lit atmosphere with locals sipping wine at the bar. i liked the overall feel of the restaurant but i wasn’t prepared for how small it was. i would come here again if i was in the area.
p. s. they don’t take credit cards.

I sincerely wish I could give this establishment 0 stars. The food wasn’t bad but the service was absolutely horrible. The kitchen is supposed to close at 9:45 PM. A couple of us arrived here at 9:20 and even before the waiter says hi and seats us on our table he curtly reminded that we have to order in 2min. Then he barely gave us time to order food, visited out table twice to make sure we eat quickly and then even took our plates before my friend finished eating. He proceeded to clean the table as we were waiting for our check and the bits and pieces of our food ended up being in our laps. The best part was that they don’t accept debit or credit cards. So the waiter promptly guided me to an ATM across the street. Thankfully my friend had a check and I didnt have to go out looking for cash in that cold. Never seen a place which offers 25 $ entrée but doesnt take cards. We are definitely not going back there again.

If you are a vegetarian, this is a MUST VISIT.
It’s a little pricey so it only gets 4 stars because I think it should be a better value. They have a big menu of pizza, pasta, and fake meat entrees. We went for the fake meat in order to sample it. It’s like gourmet vegetarian food and really good.
The salads were the highlight. The ingredients and dressing combos were outstandingly creative and delicious. To my mind, worth a drive for the salads. Lots of different brews to choose from too.
We were so amazed with the meal that we had to try dessert too, which was also very good.
I agree that it’s not just «good for Albany.» However, I’m not so sure a non-​vegetarian would be as delighted with the place as we were. We’re not used to having so many menu choices so we were VERY VERY EXCITED.

As an Albany Native living in Los Angeles I don’t feel overly compelled to write many Albany reviews. However, Antipasto’s is food that I still dream of even 3,000 miles West. Antipasto’s is so good that when extolling its virtues to others, it need be mentioned that not only is Antipasto’s good but it’s not JUST «Good for Albany.»
From fresh ingredients, to a super creative menu… Antipasto’s is a stop for any foodie. And no… you don’t miss the meat at all.
_​C$