The Orchard

Review: The Orchard Tavern and Restaurant, Albany, NY

Here is a link to my review of The Orchard in the Albany Times Union.

And here is a link to the, um, discussion of the review on Table Hopping.

posted April 29, 2009 | link | comments (10)

filed under: Reviews

AllOverAlbany.com

Comments

Celina,
Don't let the um comments get to you...I have had only an okay as well as bad experiences at the Orchard....and it is no longer a destination restaurant. I can get better pizza closer at the Mousetrap IMHO. People like to complain/comment...and if they didn't, then where would any of these blogs be

- by llcwine on Apr 29, 2009 at 9:54 AM | link

Anyone for The New World Bistro Bar or are we all trying to keep it a secret?

- by Michael Marston on Apr 29, 2009 at 10:44 AM | link

Wow, I had no idea the comments on Steve’s blog got so lengthy. Way to stir things up, girlie! This is part of the fun of sharing ideas – get folks talking, sharing what they think so there are more opinions to choose from.

I think it’s hard to remain objective about things close to heart some times, and things lose their nuances when they are printed/typed. Maybe some folks took things a bit too much and typed the first things they could think/feel, which is how I tend to be. I feel like printed/typed word tends to veer more towards a harshly interpreted tone, when it could merely be an exasperated or blasé tone. One time I emailed B.A. Nilson after he reviewed a dish he didn’t like at Ocean Palace and was like “seriously, B.A.? awww!” (to paraphrase) since I loved ‘em and was bummed he didn’t enjoy it to the nth degree like I did. Hopefully I didn’t come off as aggressive.

See; this is why I’m not on twitter. Length limits in writing have never really been a strong suit of mine. Good gravy.

- by Albany Jane on Apr 29, 2009 at 11:45 AM | link

I'm still trying to figure out when we reached a point where people were no longer allowed to dislike something. Ugh. Sometimes I hate the Internet.

- by jess on Apr 29, 2009 at 11:56 AM | link

Michael NWBB is far from a secret...night I was there...we were seated around 5:15 it was partially full...and packed by 6:30

- by llcwine on Apr 29, 2009 at 1:01 PM | link

Celina can handle it. Takes huevos grandes to say someone's kid is not "above average". I'll buy her a beer at the next "Secret Foodies Drink-n-Think" if she needs a bracer.

- by Sandor on Apr 29, 2009 at 3:18 PM | link

I'm just a misanthrope. I think I need more Secret Drink n' Thinks in my life.

- by jess on Apr 29, 2009 at 3:40 PM | link

I'll buy Celina a beer too.

I do believe the Orchard falls into a very specific category of restaurants. One where people eat the food, because, well, because it's the food they have eaten for 100 years. Not, mind you, because the food is all that good.

But it's certainly a minefield as Celina just discovered. Because food isn't all about how it tastes. But also about how it makes you feel. And I know she knows this.

At the risk of being cliche, madeline cookies do nothing for me, but for some people, well... it really brings them back.

Also, for some unknown and irrational reason I get a little crabby when I read things in the Times Union. I am all for the restaurants around this town getting taken down a peg or two. But IMHO the restaurants that need it the most are the ones that are passing themselves off as fine dining (with the support of TU) and taking their patrons for the proverbial ride.

- by Daniel B on Apr 30, 2009 at 12:09 AM | link

I've never eaten at the Orchard just because it's just not the kind of place I would go. I generally eat out to have food I wouldn't or couldn't make myself.

Having grown up in San Francisco in the restaurant biz and lived in Brooklyn for many years, I'm more than a little spoiled for good food.

My main point is that Albany is just beginning to experience the interest in good food that has been going on in much of the country for years now.

When I first moved to the area I was amazed at what some people felt were great places. The only one I'll mention is Jack's just because I was stunned by how bad the food was at this local landmark. Cafe Capriccio was one of the only places I felt was reliably good.

In the five years I’ve been here I feel we are just now seeing a few new places that are really good.

The high end restaurant biz is brutal so let's all get out there and support them when we can.

- by Michael Marston on Apr 30, 2009 at 10:14 AM | link

Ms. 'Bean, I dig your style! And I'm pretty sure my love for The Orchard has more to do with memories than the actual food. But I'm ok with that :)

- by kerosena on May 1, 2009 at 12:35 PM | link

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