cafe capriccio (albany)

restaurants > albany > cafe / coffee shop > cafe capriccio

" a sensuous treat awaits at cafe capriccio, where the food is lusty and thoroughly satisfying, where dinners are meant to be savored, not rushed. "

website and related links: [ www.cafecapriccio.com ] [ www.citysearch.com ] [ www.timesunion.com ]
cuisines: cafe / coffee shop, continental / european
alcohol: full bar
smoking is not permitted
hours of operation: monday - thursday 5:30pm - 9:30pm; friday and saturday 5:30pm - 11pm; sunday 5:30pm - 9pm
attire: casual
overall ratings based on user reviews:

foodrating:	9.0
servicerating:	9.0
ambiancerating:	9.0
overallrating:	9.0

posted by:  i really did think i was in tuscany on 2003-11-06

foodrating:	8
servicerating:	8
ambiancerating:	8
overallrating:	8

review: i ate at cafe capriccio in october 2003 while visiting albany on a business trip. the fall menu was a tuscan menu. i have been to tuscany and ate at the best restaurants every night. cafe capriccio was as good as those restaurants in siena and florence. first, the bread. freshly baked, light and flavorful. i had a savory ravioli appetizer with a light cream sauce, unlike anything i have had before. wonderful. at many restaurants i find the appetizer is so good that it makes the entree a disappointment, but not here. i ordered a fish (can ' t even remember the name...i had never heard of it) with delicate green beans, a polenta side, with a tomato ragout. the presentation of the dish was stunning. i wish i had a camera. the arrangement of the food on the plate, with all the bright colors, was a work of art, down to the orchid flower for garnish. classy, not showy or frilly. the fish was truly one of the tastiest and most tender i have ever had. lightly seared on the outside but perfectly moist and flavorful on the inside. the subtle polenta, the crisp fine green beans and the rich but not too spicy tomato ragout made for a wondeful and complementary combination. the service was friendly but not too affectingly chummy. i felt like i was dining at someone ' s house. my meal with 2 glasses of a house chianti, appetizer and main course (no dessert) was $57 including generous tip. i told the waiter upon leaving that my wife and i had just been in nyc for our anniversary and we ate at two italian restaurants that were almost twice as expensive but only half as good. northern italian is one of my favorite cuisines, and i have eaten at many good restaurants and cafe capriccio is definitely tied with the best of them. not sure if i ' ll ever make it to albany again, but if i do i guarantee i will make it back to cafe capriccio.
i recommend you order the fish, daily specials

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posted by:  an anonymous user  on 2003-08-21

foodrating:	10
servicerating:	10
ambiancerating:	10
overallrating:	10

review: i always love coming here. i come for every birthday and anniversary this will be three years running. i always have a wonderful time. the staffs attention to detail is superb. from the very minute you walk in the door to the check with the chocolate mints,that you eat the next day because you are so full. i can 't say enough good things about cafe capriccio.
i recommend you order the lamb shank

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