Where to Eat

This is where we drop the intel. New openings. Reviews. Round ups.
Girls’ Night? Where to find $10 martinis? Wine bars upstate? There’s a spot—or 5—we know.

Featured
COMING UP COFFEE — The return of ‘90s coffee culture
COMING UP COFFEE — The return of ‘90s coffee culture

Nineties coffee culture is back + all the cool kids want to hang. We hit up Kha & Mel’s Coffee + Tea Room (Delaware neighborhood, Albany), Jacob Alejandro (downtown Troy) + Station Six (Center Square, Albany) with a nod to the O.G. Little Peck’s expanded weekend nighttime hours.

INTEL: LONE WOLF LEANS INTO CAMBODIAN ROOTS + LAUNCHES MONTHLY KHMER HOT POT SUNDAYS
INTEL: LONE WOLF LEANS INTO CAMBODIAN ROOTS + LAUNCHES MONTHLY KHMER HOT POT SUNDAYS

INTEL: Lone Wolf embraces its Cambodian identity + launches new Khmer Hot Pot Sundays

AS PANZA’S ITALIAN TURNS 88, NEW EXECUTIVE CHEF ELLIOTT VOGEL RETURNS TO THE SPOTLIGHT
AS PANZA’S ITALIAN TURNS 88, NEW EXECUTIVE CHEF ELLIOTT VOGEL RETURNS TO THE SPOTLIGHT

INTEL: As Panza’s celebrates its 88th year + the arrival of Elliott Vogel as their new Executive Chef, his first spring menu honors the restaurant’s Italian history, while his foraged, seasonal plates take center stage.

THE TACO HIT LIST
THE TACO HIT LIST

You want tacos. We’ve got tacos. This is THE TACO HIT LIST.

ENTER THE “BEERGAL,” A BEER LOVER’S BAGEL
ENTER THE “BEERGAL,” A BEER LOVER’S BAGEL

Award-winning Deep Fried Beers latest creation isn’t a beer. It’s a bagel. We talk to head brewer, Johnny Osborne, about his Deep Fried “Beergals.”

PINHOOK BOURBON’S NEXT SARATOGA BLEND IS COMING THIS SUMMER
PINHOOK BOURBON’S NEXT SARATOGA BLEND IS COMING THIS SUMMER

INTEL: Pinhook Bourbon’s Next Saratoga Blend Is Coming This Summer. The Dishing was invited behind the scenes as industry professionals determined the blend.

LONG LUNCH AT CAFE MUTTON’S NEW MERKIN WINE BAR IN A HUDSON GARAGE
LONG LUNCH AT CAFE MUTTON’S NEW MERKIN WINE BAR IN A HUDSON GARAGE

UPDATE: Linger over a Long Lunch or lazy wines in a garage now officially named Merkin. Cafe Mutton’s chef-owner Shaina Loew-Banayan dishes the details on their new addition + its bushy backstory.

🫒INTEL: NO SLEEP TIL BROOKLYN. BAR DIRECTOR ANDREW PATTERSON DEPARTS MILAS; COLLIN MYERS STEPS UP TO THE PLATE
🫒INTEL: NO SLEEP TIL BROOKLYN. BAR DIRECTOR ANDREW PATTERSON DEPARTS MILAS; COLLIN MYERS STEPS UP TO THE PLATE

As Bar Director Andrew Patterson departs Schenectady for Brooklyn, Collin Myers steps in at Milas.

WHERE TO EAT: LATE NIGHT + ALCOHOL-FREE: YEMENI COFFEE SHOPS + SMOOTHIE BARS, HOT TO GO
WHERE TO EAT: LATE NIGHT + ALCOHOL-FREE: YEMENI COFFEE SHOPS + SMOOTHIE BARS, HOT TO GO

Yemeni coffee shops + smoothie bars are heating up upstate.

INTEL: LAKE GEORGE TO SARATOGA, THE ICE BARS MAKING WINTER FUN AGAIN
INTEL: LAKE GEORGE TO SARATOGA, THE ICE BARS MAKING WINTER FUN AGAIN

Sub-zero temps, snow, ice bars! From Lake George to Saratoga Springs, February is the month to bundle up for hot toddies, fire + ice.

BELOW GROUND: WHERE TO EAT—THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA
BELOW GROUND: WHERE TO EAT—THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA

WHERE TO EAT—Below Ground at the Empire State Plaza.

INTEL: John Wiseman of Curious Elixirs talks about a decade of N/A
INTEL: John Wiseman of Curious Elixirs talks about a decade of N/A

INTEL: Curious Elixirs, booze-free, ready-to-drink adaptogenic cocktails crafted by bartenders and made in the Hudson Valley, was one of the first on the market. We asked founder John “J.W.” Wiseman what’s changed in a decade.

INTEL: 9 Saratoga bartenders helped create this Pinhook Kentucky bourbon blend.
INTEL: 9 Saratoga bartenders helped create this Pinhook Kentucky bourbon blend.

INTEL: What happens when 9 Saratoga bartenders help to create a unique Pinhook Kentucky bourbon whiskey? You get a true Spa City blend. And it’s coming to Saratoga soon.

THE DISHING GIFT LIST 2025
THE DISHING GIFT LIST 2025

The Dishing’s Holiday Gift Guide 2025 is here! Feel festive, feed your friends, shop local. We’ve got you covered!

INTEL: 7 (soon 8) WINE BARS TO ESCAPE THE SNOW
INTEL: 7 (soon 8) WINE BARS TO ESCAPE THE SNOW

Winter’s here, now what? We have 7 cozy wine bars where you can hunker down.

INTEL: Tony! Toni! Toné! TONI’S WINE BAR IS OPEN
INTEL: Tony! Toni! Toné! TONI’S WINE BAR IS OPEN

Inspired by a wine bar in Troy, Schenectady finally has a natural wine bar of its own. We dish the early intel with owner Tina Riggi.

DOES IT TURKEY? Thanksgiving Wines for 2025
DOES IT TURKEY? Thanksgiving Wines for 2025

BOTTLE CRUSH — We ask the experts: Does it turkey? Four wines to get you through Thanksgiving 2025.

WHY ARE SO MANY RESTAURANTS CLOSING?
WHY ARE SO MANY RESTAURANTS CLOSING?

With closures almost daily, we ask industry professionals: What’s going on?

INTEL: WHERE TO EAT IN KINDERHOOK
INTEL: WHERE TO EAT IN KINDERHOOK

Where to eat in Kinderhook: 3 spots to know — The Aviary, Isola Wine Bar + Saisonnier

INTEL: WHO IS THE MEAT STICK CHICK?
INTEL: WHO IS THE MEAT STICK CHICK?

A DJ-ing hotdog cart? In Schenectady? It’s true. But who?

WHERE TO EAT IN POUGHKEEPSIE: 3 PLACES TO KNOW
WHERE TO EAT IN POUGHKEEPSIE: 3 PLACES TO KNOW

Where to eat: 3 spots to know in Poughkeepsie. Downtown investment, the custom-built Eastdale Village + a riverfront revival are reshaping Poughkeepsie for casual dining.

INTEL: Where to eat in Rosendale, N.Y.
INTEL: Where to eat in Rosendale, N.Y.

3 spots you need to know in Rosendale: Bistrot Le Chat Barbu, Well Nice Wine Bar + Montauk Catch Club.

TASTE: PIZZERIA MARI LANDS IN TROY
TASTE: PIZZERIA MARI LANDS IN TROY

INTEL: New ‘za on the block: Pizzeria Mari is officially open in the Collar City with “Tri-state” style pizza + a minimalist vibe.

WHERE TO EAT GERMAN FOOD + DRINK A BIERSTIEFEL
WHERE TO EAT GERMAN FOOD + DRINK A BIERSTIEFEL

Where to eat German food + drink a birthday boot. We’ve got you covered with 7 upstate spots for Bavarian, Alsatian and brauhaus fare.

INTEL: FINGER LAKES NAMED 2025 WINE REGION of the year
INTEL: FINGER LAKES NAMED 2025 WINE REGION of the year

INTEL: New York’s Finger Lakes is the 2025 American Wine Region of the Year. We have 5 New York wines you need to try.

WHERE TO EAT ON A MONDAY NIGHT IN DOWNTOWN ALBANY
WHERE TO EAT ON A MONDAY NIGHT IN DOWNTOWN ALBANY

If Monday is the new Friday, you’ll need this list of 9 downtown Albany restaurants and bars open for dinner or late night menus.

5 RESTAURANTS (+ A BAR) TO KNOW IN GLENS FALLS
5 RESTAURANTS (+ A BAR) TO KNOW IN GLENS FALLS

With a little Euro flair to its historic downtown, Glens Falls is leaning in to a flourishing restaurant scene. We checked out the latest openings for 5 restaurants + a bar you need to know.

INTEL: WHERE TO GO FOR NEGRONI WEEK
INTEL: WHERE TO GO FOR NEGRONI WEEK

We’ve got you covered from Troy to Beacon. Where to go + what to sip.

INTEL: Bless up for our favorite Jamaican spots
INTEL: Bless up for our favorite Jamaican spots

Bless up with inner luv for our favorite Jamaican spots

INTEL: Where to go for (really good) tacos
INTEL: Where to go for (really good) tacos

Where to go for (really good) tacos

Featured
MEET: CHEF MIKE MASTRANTUONO, 15 CHURCH, Saratoga
MEET: CHEF MIKE MASTRANTUONO, 15 CHURCH, Saratoga

Executive Chef Mike Mastrantuono of 15 Church in Saratoga talks hunting, leadership, new owners, unbeatable ingredients + his favorite gangster chef.

MEET: CHEF JONAS OFFENBACH, SERRE at THE MAKER HOTEL
MEET: CHEF JONAS OFFENBACH, SERRE at THE MAKER HOTEL

Executive Chef Jonas Offenbach of Serre at The Maker Hotel on collecting vintage cookbooks, building a team upstate + why Serre feels deeply personal.

MEET: NICK AFRICANO, MIRADOR, KINGSTON
MEET: NICK AFRICANO, MIRADOR, KINGSTON

At Mirador in Kingston, Nick Africano, a musician, certified sherry educator + restaurateur, talks art, hospitality + Andalucía.

In advance of Bar Convent Brooklyn 2026, event VP Jackie Williams + master mixologist Lynnette Marrero share what drinks industry pros can expect this year
In advance of Bar Convent Brooklyn 2026, event VP Jackie Williams + master mixologist Lynnette Marrero share what drinks industry pros can expect this year

With its expanded focus on education wellness, we ask event VP Jackie Williams + master mixologist Lynnette Marrero what drinks industry pros can expect at BAR CONVENT BROOKLYN this year.

MEET: CHEF PRUITT KERDCHOOCHUEN, ELIZA, KINGSTON
MEET: CHEF PRUITT KERDCHOOCHUEN, ELIZA, KINGSTON

At Eliza in Kingston, Chef de Cuisine Pruitt Kerdchoochuen talks travel, third culture flavors, local produce + the politics of food.

MEET: CHEF NICOLE BASSIS, CAFÉ MUTSI, Andes
MEET: CHEF NICOLE BASSIS, CAFÉ MUTSI, Andes

Chef Nicole Bassis on her 30-year old Finnish sourdough starter, Finnish design + running bakery-cafe Cafe Mutsi on her own.