Bleecker Cafe

A lovely restaurant. I just moved to Albany and it's now one of my new faves for sure. The buttermilk chicken sandwich, french fries, and my drink were all amazing. I devoured my meal before I could get a picture, but I highly recommend that sandwich 👌🏾. My waitresses was also a joy.

A Great “Meet, Drinks & Bites” Bar As their website proclaims, the Dove and Deer is a restored bar in downtown Albany. They offer a cozy atmosphere for friends to gather, enjoy a date night, or stop in for a drink. Our first visit was a date night – our anniversary – so our expectation wasn’t quite on the mark. During our visit, the bar and restaurant were filled with a younger crowd meeting up for drinks and small bites creating an environment full of chatter and laughter after a day’s work. If that’s what you’ve got in mind, the Dove and Deer is the establishment to visit. They’ve got great cocktails, good service, and a lively atmosphere that is popping with energy. ATMOSPHERE (4): Based on the website description, we were expecting a quieter, cozy space. They should invest in acoustic panels for the dining room. DRINKS (5): We ordered The Grocer and Dewitt. Both were excellent cocktails and apparently quite popular as we saw others order them throughout the dining room. FOOD (4): We ordered the Beet Hummus appetizer which was large enough for us to share. Four slices of grilled baguette were placed atop beet hummus alongside a salad of mixed greens, olives, roasted beets and topped with feta cheese. It has a great combination of flavors, and we thoroughly enjoyed the dish. My partner ordered the Crispy Chicken sandwich which came with a heaping serving of fries. While the chicken was cooked well, there wasn’t anything that sets this chicken sandwich apart from others. They offer bacon with an upcharge but should consider adding it at no cost to kick it up a notch. The shoestring fries (my favorite kind) were perfectly crisp but had a heavy hand of salt – making them a good choice to pair with a draft beer. I ordered the Pork Osso Buco. My guess is the shanks were baked and then seared over a flame grill giving them a deliciously crisp exterior; the pork itself was moist and cooked to perfection. I found the demi-glaze added a nice depth of flavor to the cheesy grits. The kale was cooked well and had a tangy hint to it – perhaps some vinegar. All-in-all, it was a good, solid dish. SERVICE (4): Our server was quick to greet us and guide us through drink and menu options. Our drinks came out quickly as did our appetizer. I was worried that our main courses might come out too early – given how quickly our drinks and appetizers came out – but the meals were timed perfectly. Our server checked on us midway through our meal to ensure all was going well. QUANTITY (5): The serving sizes were plentiful; you won’t walk away hungry. VALUE (4): We felt the craft cocktails and appetizers were well priced. We had mixed feelings about the cost of our entrees. If you’re looking for a cozy, romantic date night, this probably isn’t the right place; for that, go across the street to their sister restaurant, Rosanna’s. That said, we will go to the Dove and Deer again, but with different expectations in mind: for cocktails and beers and to break some bread with friends.

Our reliable neighborhood favorite! Between the food, drinks, staff and atmosphere it's a winner every time. The brussels sprouts, chicken sandwich and burger are the best, always paired with a Grocer (or 3). The new menu items are just as delicious, love the pesto pasta and whipped ricotta. Couldn't recommend it enough!! So thankful to have such a great place right in center square

I can't say enough about how much I love coming here! The staff is always friendly and welcoming and the cocktails are the perfect compliment to an evening out with friends. Dove + Deer is always my go-to when I have someone in town visiting because the food is amazing every time!