645569 Tue Aug 18 10:31:38 -0700 2009 38 20 Tristate Region 0 4956124 I went to Schenectady's Little Italy on Jay Street today. What a difference from my last visit many years ago! Cornell's has moved from Van Vranken (where it was when I last ate there many years ago) to Jay. There is ample parking and outdoor seating. Jay Street (Schenectady), Lark Street (Albany), Broadway (Saratoga) - these are Capital Region gems and remind me of NYC's neighborhoods. Now on to the food. I stopped by Perreca's. There are a few cafe tables outside. Looked around bought a slice of pizza and some peppery taralle. Pizza was square and thick with a flavorful sauce. I have only found pizza like this in Rotterdam. Still need to venture to Troy. Peaked in Cornell's window. Must go back for dinner. Went to Civitello's. Like Perreca's their cannolis were pre-filled. Too humid for canoli anyhow. Had a hazlenut gelato. Delicious. I liked their gelato better than Eugene's and Villa Italia's. I've been craving fig gelato and no one seems to make it. Must go back and try Civitello's pignolia cookies. Wish Cappiello Dairy and Capri were on Jay. I guess folks from Rotterdam might not want to go downtown and it could hurt their businesses. Perreca's and Civitello's might have more competition. Though all four stores have slightly different products. Tried to find a restaurant near Union College I went to with an old BF years ago. Thought it was on Barrett. Maybe it was Luigi's? It was small, had no ambiance, excellent Italian food, value priced. Schenectady's Italian Festival on September 12th: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=85200087030 An article about Schenectady's Little Italy, restaurants and plans for the future: http://www.rotterdamny.info/b-General1/m-1192959962/ Tue Aug 18 10:31:38 -0700 2009 73159 financialdistrictresident 1 4957311 Great report; I drooled over my laptop. At Perreca's, besides, of course, the bread and pizza, you might want to try their mini sandwiches/panini sometime. Civitello's-agree about the gelato; also try their lemon ice on a hot summer day. I was in school in Schenectady in the late 1960's. The places you might be thinking of on Barrett Street were either: Mother Ferro's; Luigi's or (not exactly sure) Villa Bianca. You might want to walk around to N. Center St. and check out Garofolo's Market. Also up on Van Vranken in La Gioia Deli. Both worth looking over. Mangia bene! Tue Aug 18 16:16:34 -0700 2009 4956124 46008 markabauman 2 4957356 Thanks; I ate a slice of Perreca's pizza over mine :) I believe it was Mother Ferro's. Gone? Need to start eating at the little Italian restaurants in Schenectady. Been to Castelo's. Did a quick search of this Board. Where should I go next? Cornell's, Ferrari's, Petta's, Canali's, someplace else? Cornells www.cornellsrestaurant.com (closed Mondays, dinner only) Ferrari's www.ferrarisristorante.com (closed Sundays) Petta's www.pettasrestaurant.com (dinner only) Canali's www.canalisrestaurant.com (no hours on web site) Tue Aug 18 16:33:10 -0700 2009 4957311 73159 financialdistrictresident 3 4958294 Sadly, Mother Ferro's is gone, but not forgotten. You might want to try the similar pizza at Cappiello's sometime. They also have at lunch time baked stuffed bread rolls- eggplant, sausage, broccoli, etc. Not sure what they call them-think some places call them "stromboli". Sorry- I know all the names of the restaurants mentioned, but am not personally familiar. Do a lot of shopping at the market places mentioned, as well as the ever-growing Schenectady farmers market, but then usually just cook at home rather than dine out. I'm sure there are plenty others on this board who know these places firsthand. Have been to Cornell's for a few group dinners and I enjoyed it there. Wed Aug 19 04:25:39 -0700 2009 4957356 46008 markabauman 4 4958787 Thanks, markabauman. Got the eggplant to go from Cappiello's (it was mislabelled and I had a surprise pasta dinner instead.) Cornell's and Canali's are the easiest locations for me. Ferrari's is open for lunch and that is a big plus. Need to contact Canali's to see if they are open for lunch. Has anyone been to Scotti's on Union Street? What was your experience? Wed Aug 19 07:57:35 -0700 2009 4958294 73159 financialdistrictresident 5 4959010 Haven't been to Scotti's. A friend who lives/works nearby loves the place. Another place to consider is Peter Pause on lower Nott Street. Hole in the wall-great breakfasts, lunch specials, change all the time. Down home kind of place; go early. Wed Aug 19 08:58:55 -0700 2009 4958787 46008 markabauman 6 4960146 Thanks, markabauman. I think Peter Pause came up in one of my searches. Dolce Vita Ristorante? http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/640674 Wed Aug 19 14:09:29 -0700 2009 4959010 73159 financialdistrictresident 7 4960223 It's funny you should mention La Dolce Vita. I saw the wife of the bartender today and they were going to bring me a menu, but they forgot. It's largely the staff of the old Brandon's Ritz that has moved over to the new location. The owner, Randy Loren is supposed to be a very good entertainer and he sings there. Don't really know much about the menu yet; was planning to try to go sometime just because of the person I know who works there and am curious. Wed Aug 19 14:33:57 -0700 2009 4960146 46008 markabauman 8 4960511 Thanks, markabauman. Please report back. Wed Aug 19 16:21:26 -0700 2009 4960223 73159 financialdistrictresident 6 4963865 Peter Pause has a website: www. peterpause.com Thu Aug 20 16:13:59 -0700 2009 4959010 73159 financialdistrictresident 6 5006856 I accidentally found Peter Pause after going into the deli nearby looking for a corn muffin. Peter Pause had good looking corn muffins and I also got a cinnamon bun (server suggested it was best warm) to go. A lot of old world charm inside those walls, diner-ish atmosphere. Sat Sep 05 05:15:40 -0700 2009 4959010 73159 financialdistrictresident 3 4963754 Canali's hours: TUES, WED, THURS, 4 PM TO 9 30 PM SAT,4 PM TO 10 PM & SUN, 4 PM TO 9 PM I guess this means no lunch and closed Mondays. Not sure about Fridays? Thu Aug 20 15:41:05 -0700 2009 4957356 73159 financialdistrictresident 4 5151361 Going to Canali's later this month. Any dishes not to miss? Or to avoid? Tue Nov 03 04:40:42 -0800 2009 4963754 73159 financialdistrictresident 5 5207122 Went to Canali's with a group last night. Wrote a detailed report, lost it somewhere in chowhound.com space . . . maybe this is a sign that I should spend less time on chowhound obsessing about food :) Wed Nov 25 05:30:31 -0800 2009 5151361 73159 financialdistrictresident 2 5034243 markabauman, tried a Perreca's sandwich today. The roasted pepper and cheese one. It was very good. I didn't see any paninis . . . Also noticed More Perreca's is starting to look like a restaurant. Looks like it might have an open kitchen. Can't wait until they open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and pizzas. Civitello's now has a little red sign with white lettering on the fence near their outdoor seating area that says "our tables are for eating only." I wonder how their tables taste? :) Wed Sep 16 10:13:21 -0700 2009 4957311 73159 financialdistrictresident 3 5036780 There's a restaurant in Clifton Park that has some chairs outside the restaurant with a sign that says "For our smoking customers". I could picture that. Thu Sep 17 08:53:47 -0700 2009 5034243 46008 markabauman 1 4988439 Went to Ferrari's for lunch yesterday. Spa Brauhaus and Ferrari's in one month, can you say RETRO? Some things should just never change. I was warmly welcomed by my friendly host. I sat in the dining room next to a "Ferrari" wall hanging and close to the kitchen so I could enjoy watching the food go out. There is also another room with a waiters' station and what looked like a family table. I got there at just the right time before the dining room filled up. My server was new but a more experienced server and Mr. Ferrari kept a watchful eye on everything. The bread was really good and in little baskets covered with a napkin to ensure it stayed fresh. I had the calamari appetizer which was cooked perfectly and could have fed 4 as an app. It came with marinara sauce. The marinara sauce was so good. Sauce like this is not easy to find. Delicious. I watched some pasta and meatballs go by as I waited for my eggplant entree. The eggplant parmesan was very good. Thinly sliced like it should be. Sadly, I've had more of the thick, overbreaded slices with something that barely resembles fresh mozzarella. Ferrari's and Cafe Capriccio are an exception to this. I wished the eggplant was a little sweeter, but the kitchen can't predict the sweetness of an eggplant . . . A delicious lunch with lots of leftovers. I drove by the Mt. Pleasant bakery where my grandmother used to buy poppyseed roll as I headed toward Crane Street. The bakery is another neighborhood gem gone but not forgotten. Sat Aug 29 10:17:08 -0700 2009 4956124 73159 financialdistrictresident 2 4988461 Oh, I loved your report! My Mom grew up about four houses from Ferrari's, so we went there quite a bit with Grandma. I haven't lived in the area for 15-20 years, but when I go back to visit, I can still go to Ferrari's on a Saturday night and see some of my second and third cousins, friends of my Mom's, and plenty of others. Like you, I usually go for the eggplant. Thanks for the report (and the memories!). Sat Aug 29 10:26:43 -0700 2009 4988439 186923 Cachetes 3 4988478 You might want to check out the Little Italy Italian Festival on Saturday, September 12, centered around Perrecca's & Civitello's. Usually around from noon until 9 PM. Will coincide with the opening of a cafe in the other half of the building occupied by the bakery. There's usually a lot going on that weekend- the annual Greek festival at nearby St. George's, usually an art festival in the Stockade. Ferrari's- a real classic fixture in Schenectady. Glad you enjoyed it. Speaking of Ferrari's (the exotic automobile, not the restaurant), that weekend is also when the Saratoga Performing Arts Center's Food & Wine Festival is held on SPAC grounds- a great event. There will be an associated display of many Ferrari autos as well. Went to Bomber's Burritos last night for the first time. Food was decent, not great. Reasonably priced. Good bar specials. What was great was to see so many people in Schenectady's downtown and not just for a Proctor's show. Union students not even back yet. Sat Aug 29 10:39:59 -0700 2009 4988461 46008 markabauman 4 4988556 Thanks, markabauman. There is a link to the Little Italy Italian Festival on September 12th in my OP. A lot going on that weekend is an understatement. If we're in town we will check it out. This is the link to the SPAC's Food & Wine Festival: http://www.spac.org/ Sat Aug 29 11:21:24 -0700 2009 4988478 73159 financialdistrictresident 3 4988563 Cachetes, thanks for your kind words. You might want to check out the August 27, 2009 issue of Metroland which has a cover story by former Metroland writers who tell what they miss and still love about the area they left behind (including food & restaurants . . .). Sat Aug 29 11:24:47 -0700 2009 4988461 73159 financialdistrictresident 4 4988904 Great - I'll definitely check it out! Sat Aug 29 14:19:44 -0700 2009 4988563 186923 Cachetes 2 4988727 Edit: The "old" Mt. Pleasant Bakery is on Crane Street. I meant to say as I headed "down" Crane Street. PS Has anyone been to the New Mount Pleasant Bakery? Is there any relation to the "old" Mt. Pleasant Bakery I remember as a kid? Sat Aug 29 12:49:56 -0700 2009 4988439 73159 financialdistrictresident 3 4989856 Edit to the edit: I think it was the White Eagle Bakery NOT the Mt. Pleasant Bakery . . .Apologies for any confusion. Sun Aug 30 04:55:24 -0700 2009 4988727 73159 financialdistrictresident 1 4989883 We went to Cornell's for dinner last night. The last time I went to Cornell's it was still on Van Vranken and I was a kid or maybe on a date. We got one of the last parking spots in the lot behind the restaurant. We didn't have a reservation and 7 PM on a Saturday night is prime time (Cella Bistro was our "plan B"). We were greeted warmly and our hostess/owner advised us it would be 30-45 minutes. We went to the bar to have a cocktail. The bar was standing room only and most people at the bar were having dinner so it wasn't too loud. Before we knew it and in less than 30 minutes they came and took us to our table. We had a nice large table (it could have sat 4) in the middle of the room, just before the archway that leads to the kitchen on one side and the server's station on the other. We could watch the food go by as we decided what to order. No one asked us if we wanted bottled water and we had to ask for the wine list. Otherwise service was very good and owner/hostess stopped by our table and greeted us as we left. Now on to the food: Perreca's bread and butter. APPETIZERS *Chicken livers with mushrooms and onions (sauteed and finished with a touch of sherry) - very good *Shrimp oreganato (they couldn't leave the bacon off the clams casino or we would have had that) - 4 large shrimp, good, probably wouldn't order again ENTREES Entrees came with a small green salad. *Haddock Livornese - very good, similar to a puttanesca but no capers. Fish was cooked perfectly. *Veal - SO had veal and I can't rmember if it was francaise or milanese. He also had marinara sauce on his pasta so I got a chance to try Cornell's marinara sauce. I liked the sauce at Ferrari's better. Cornell's was a little lighter. We had espresso and took leftovers home (portions were large). No room for dessert. Cornell's has been around since 1943 for a reason. The menu says "In loving remembrance of Nicholas and Pasqualina Cornell." Sun Aug 30 05:22:58 -0700 2009 4956124 73159 financialdistrictresident 2 4991212 Likewise, we had frequented Cornell's back in the late '60's as college students and had befriended the Cornell's. We also went to the Ritz for pizza- which eventually became Brandon's, which recently closed and will re-open with new owners. A number of the staff migrated over to La Dolce Vita on upper State St. in what was most recently a Chinese restaurant. Know the bartender well and he has recommended it, but haven't been yet. A few years back we went to a cooking demo at a now-closed restaurant supply company near the back of Cappiello's Dairy. The demo (marinara sauce, etc.) was done by the grandson of the Cornell's, who I believe is one of the current chef/owners. When I told him I remembered his grandparents and their cooking, tears came to his eyes. You're right about why it's been around so long. Drove past Perreca's today to check out the construction on the new cafe-very excited about that. Not sure how I'll spend September 12-as it is my birthday and their anticipated opening- but visiting the new cafe and the festival might be high on the list. Sun Aug 30 17:36:34 -0700 2009 4989883 46008 markabauman 3 4992561 I felt like Nicholas and Pasqualina were there in spirit. Such nice people running the place. Good food too. PS SO also liked Ferrari's sauce better . . . Mon Aug 31 08:59:42 -0700 2009 4991212 73159 financialdistrictresident 4 4992739 I agree with both of you about the respective sauces. Cornell's has a nice room in the back that is good for meetings, parties, etc. Have been to a number of events in the back room and the food and service for a group is as good as for a small party of diners. Mon Aug 31 09:45:34 -0700 2009 4992561 46008 markabauman 5 4993861 Thanks, markabauman. Good to know. Mon Aug 31 14:42:32 -0700 2009 4992739 73159 financialdistrictresident 6 5021625 Just drove by Perreca's and it looks like the cafe is quite a ways from completion. I believe that they had hoped to have it done by tomorrow's festival. Still should be a great time. May drop down late after the SPAC Food & Wine festival which has some Italian Trade Commission sponsorship. Should be a great day for Italophiles. Fri Sep 11 06:33:33 -0700 2009 4993861 46008 markabauman 7 5194461 Perreca's and More is now open. They were giving 50% off. Pizzas not available yet. Menu is posted on the blackboard. Monday looks like my favorite menu day :) Nice cafe space with open kitchen. No table service - place your order and they bring it to you. I had the eggs in Purgatory. Very good. Can't wait to go back. Did some shopping at Perreca's and had gelato and espresso at Civitello's. Doesn't get much better. Thu Nov 19 11:35:43 -0800 2009 5021625 73159 financialdistrictresident 8 5198387 Sitting in More Perreca's having lunch: eggplant, zuppa di peace, escarole, Perreca's bread, of course. Everything else that goes by looks great. Service great; beautiful airy light space. Can't wait for the pizza! Sat Nov 21 09:47:58 -0800 2009 5194461 46008 markabauman 9 5201788 markabauman, thanks for the report. Any ETA on the pizza? Mon Nov 23 06:12:30 -0800 2009 5198387 73159 financialdistrictresident 10 5203839 Hi FDR; liked it so much on Saturday for lunch before heading to Cappiello's, etc. went back again on Sunday for breakfast prior to the Farmers Market. Was disappointed that a dish we saw on Saturday that someone had for breakfast-the eggs in purgatory- would not be served on Sundays (breakfast only, but they don't consider that dish part of the regular breakfast menu). To answer your question-they questimate next week. Apparently the pizza will be totally different from what they sell next door- a thin crust pizza. Anxiously awaiting! Mon Nov 23 17:39:49 -0800 2009 5201788 46008 markabauman 11 5207128 Thick or thin, right next door to each other, and gelato across the street. Does it get any better? Wed Nov 25 05:35:29 -0800 2009 5203839 73159 financialdistrictresident 12 5208693 Only if we were in Italy. Buona festa di tacchino a tutti! Wed Nov 25 16:52:14 -0800 2009 5207128 46008 markabauman 1 5209480 Sounds like this side of Schenectady is bouncing back nicely! Hooray! They probably should've started the LIttle Italy there long ago and by now it'd be bustling. A bakery moved there from Rotterdam, no? I forget the name now. Thu Nov 26 06:22:53 -0800 2009 4956124 14634 netmover 2 5209703 You're probably thinking of Villa Italia which has been a big hit in downtown Schenectady. It's on Broadway, across from the back entrance of Proctor's theater. The bakery, which, of course, has it's cakes and Italian pastries also has panini at lunch, gelato and good coffee/espresso/capuccino in a beautiful cafe setting. Great before, after (or both!) going to Proctor's. It's also on the way to Cappiello's Dairy, as well as heading up Broadway to the Bellevue area, where Capri Imports is located. It's been difficult to actually create (or re-create) a true Little Italy there in the same sense as Arthur Avenue, the old days of NYC's Little Italy or even Boston's North End, since the Italian presence is so decentralized in Schenectady- there are some great little restaurants and markets in various locations of the city, but it's great that there is now a bit of a concentration in the long-hoped for Little Italy conception of what Jay St. is becoming. Apparently, a number of buildings were bought up when the plan was first conceived (or just held on to) for real estate speculation, which might make further development of businesses a little more difficult. Thu Nov 26 09:22:55 -0800 2009 5209480 46008 markabauman 3 5210850 Sitting in More Perreca's. Asked about when pizza will be available. Got a shrug ofthe shoulders. Asked possibly next week. Got a "maybe". Still good. Fri Nov 27 08:09:11 -0800 2009 5209703 46008 markabauman