Susie Davidson Powell

2 weeks ago | timesunion.com | Susie Davidson Powell

Familiar Creature, a new wine bar on Phila Street in Saratoga Springs, is exactly that: familiar, because it’s inspired by Montreal’s French bistros like Vin Papillon, Pichai and Chez Simone, and by Québécois cuisine. And familiar for its European tiled floor, windows open to the street, wine-red stools studding a wooden bar, wines by the glass written on a mirrored back bar and the wine stock stored in open shelves on a far wall.

3 weeks ago | timesunion.com | Susie Davidson Powell

Latham has a new Mexican cantina. Las Margaritas is the fifth restaurant from Roy Rojas, who co-owns La Fiesta in Clifton Park, Margarita City in Colonie, La Polleria on Albany’s Lark Street and Las Margaritas in Slingerlands. The Slingerlands spot opened in a suburban strip mall last year to great excitement.

1 month ago | timesunion.com | Susie Davidson Powell

I recently checked out two quick-serve places in Albany serving international fare. La Polleria Peruvian Rotisserie & TaqueriaArticle continues below this adAddress: 216 Lark St., Albany; 518-451-9281 and lapolleriarestaurant.com      Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily This location is a familiar spot, having been Hot Dog Heaven for years, followed by the original location of soul-food restaurant Kitchen 216, which later moved to Crossgates Commons.

1 month ago | timesunion.com | Susie Davidson Powell

Hudson has had a second wind with the openings of Via Cassia, Manor Rock, Saint Florian and Banque. The latter, at 554 Warren St., is in a renovated 1927 Farmers National Bank building with tall, arched windows over high-ceilinged marble rivaling the New York Cafe in Budapest or Cafe de la Paix in gay Paris. Banque is an appropriate name; the former bank vault is both focal point and wine storage.

1 month ago | timesunion.com | Susie Davidson Powell

In this dining series, I put the spotlight on restaurants reviewed over the years. Some have stayed the course; others reinvented menus or their entire identity after the pandemic lockdown. Some might have slipped off your radar — or never been on it — and are worth a look. Coray Kitchen, 360 Delaware Ave., Delmar; coraykitchen.comArticle continues below this adHours: 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Oyster and drink specials at the bar, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday.