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I second Ichiban, if you like sushi/Japanese/Chinese food. There's the original, small location on Central Ave (you may have to park on another nearby street) and the newer location on Western Ave. almost across from Crossgates Mall.

I second Capital Q Smokehouse. Fantastic BBQ. I always hear great things about Bros. Tacos. Tried going there once on a Sunday, and they were closed, which is how we discovered Capital Q (it's 1/2 block down the street).

Pump Station is great for a beer and burger. The jerk pork burrito at Bombers is killer.

My first recommendation would be Pump Station. They brew six different kinds of their own beer, and the food is great as well. It's right in downtown Albany.

Some other good choices:

1. Bros Tacos. Some of the best Mexican food i've ever eaten. There is seating in the restaurant, but it's sparse. It's really a take-out joint.

2. CCK (Chinese): Truly authentic chinese, to the point where they have some menu items that they don't bother translating. I asked the waitress about it, and her response was basically "we assumed white people don't like these kinds of things".

3. Van's (Vietnamese): just down the street from CCK, and very good.

4. Koto: kind of benihana vibe, but they have good sushi.

5. Ichiban- also good japanese and sushi.

6. Bombers- decent burritos and tex-mex, but the inside reminds me of a student union.

Princess Torte - white cake with some raspberry filling halfway through and a white creaming filling and marzipan over it all. YUM!

carrot cake. yes on the raisins, no on the nuts, lots of classic, tangy, cream cheese frosting, and just a hint of nostalgia.

red velvet with roux icing. yum.

i love white cake with chocolate frosting...plain and simple : )

Chocolate-raspberry cake with chocolate frosting.

Blackout Cake with a cup of coffee.

It's always been chocolate.

layer cake with buttercream icing. Pretty much any flavor of either.

a nice tart lemon cake with buttercream frosting!