The Palmer House Cafe

Outrageously delicious brunch. I now know they only serve brunch 3 times a year (St. Patrick’s Day, Easter & Mothers’ Day) and I will arrange my schedule accordingly!
The orange raisin scones were served hot out of the oven and melted in your mouth. The food was crafted with care and creativity.
The desserts were so fresh and deftly made. Clearly the chef and pastry chef are gifted. And Rochelle made us feel so warmly welcome; even though it was our first time, we felt like regulars.
We are so excited to have found a place that is so special and close by! Cannot wait to return for dinner!

Charming restaurant with attentive staff and amazing good cooking. I had the meatloaf and the sauce that accompany it was so yummy. Many vegetarian choices to choose from as well.

Great place to have a dinner in a historic old home turned into a café. The staff is very friendly and social with their customers and regulars. And the food is always fresh and organic. They get their meats and produce from the local farms which is a plus!

We recently went back the PHC after veiwing the online menu. It should be noted that the menu changes weekly indicating that the food in fresh and based upon what is currently available. We had perfectly seared scallops and a beef roulade that was a great twist on your typical beef dishes. The food and service here can be trusted. We have been here many times. It is a special place but it is impossible to go for only special occasions! It’s just too good. The unique menu is created with a goal in mind and they deliver on that.

The best food in the Capital Region! With great people and staff. The menu is always local with whatever’s fresh in season so it changes frequently. When available
— we recommend the tomato bisque soup /​Savoy Cabbage Salad /​Fried Green Tomatoes /​Eggplant Napoleon /​Short Ribs /​Salmon Charmoula /​and you have to get the Cajeta Tort for desset!
Enjoy!

This is one of my favorite places to be. I recommend it to any of my friends or acquaintances who appreciate a great meal, a lovely town, a feeling of history and coziness, and an attentive and warm staff. I even enjoy the ride out there with friends. I can’t say enough good things about Palmer House. Go! You won’t regret it!

From your farm fresh dishes, to your adorable servers, to the inventive specials, to your out-​of-​this-​world burger, Palmer House, how I love thee! I heard you have a pizza night! I’m dying to try. One request, put more pictures of your gorgeous place on FB and on your website. It’s too much of a tease when I refer you to my friends. Snapshots of your original tavern and sweeter then pie dining room would make them fall for you as hard as we have!

All local beers, local ingredients whenever possible. The best deserts I’ve ever had. Wonderful and interesting crowd. I go here almost every week. It’s a special place.

By far the best kept secret in the capital region a must try absolutely best every time

2010 – 2011, the most miserable WINTER in SMALLBANY! 5 stars, I am sure you’d all agree… however…
The Palmer House Café?
Four stars… Five Stars… Four Stars… Five Stars… Five Stars really?
(really Four, but I’ll explain)
My boo…” I mean I wish we had something like this in Albany!!!“
Me…” Oh c’mon ! Have this in the culinary waste land of Smallbany?“
After a long drive from Woodstock through the western Catskills into the Helderbergs, this place hit the spot. Located in the sleepy town of Rensselaerville, it’s the only place there to eat! But is it five stars?
Oh disclaimer… I spent years in the kitchen, front of the house, behind the bar… too me five stars is having my tounge molested by Foie de Canard paired with a white Burgundy followed by smoked lagoustines with some herb infused sauce.
So why 5 stars for 3 ¾ to 4 ½ star food? I’ll pay 12 bucks for meatloaf, 25 for an entrée, just make daddy feel good and give him and happy ending!
So what makes 5? Because it is the experience baby… it’s food, the ambience, the feel, the décor, the smile from the waitress, the YES YOU CAN HAVE A PITCHER OF MOTHERS MILK FOR 15 BUCKS! That’s a start.
What it is and what it isn’t. A gastronomic temple. no…A drive to the country for good tasty food, beer, wine (yeah good priced list) in a warm, cultured atmosphere? F&*K YEA!
A Chile Rellenos with a good sauce… a very good meat loaf with excellent mashed potatoes (yes meatloaf with grass fed beef) …and great risotto with preserved lemon that could feed (and well it did) two (and we took some home) and nice raspberry trifle for dessert! All this for 64 bucks??? WHAT!!!
A small menu (but larger that Wine Bar on Lark), but it changes weekly (and the menu works together)…only four nights a week, but they are open at 5… sometimes music too… So is it five stars???
To me it isn’t …that would be like the New York Times calling Peter Lugers steakhouse «extraordinary…»
But I know food, I know service, I know liquor, and I know pricing… I know how hard the work is, and can I differentiate from restaurants that strive to make people happy, and ones that just go through the motions…(like in Albany)…
Dining is about a complete experience… and when you get a complete experience… you get a review like this!
Be forewarned Albany Area Chefs and Restauranteurs .I am coming to your restaurant, and after this past winter… your work is even more cut out for you…, because I have been in a particularly Foul Mood!