Bearded Lady
686A Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11238
Bearded Lady Menu
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Cocktails $9
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Cocktails $9
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Address :
686A Washington Ave
Brooklyn, NY, 11238 - Phone (469) 232-7333
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Josh K.
As it combines well-executed Italian American red and white sauce staples with flawless pub food at very reasonable prices, and humungous portions, Ralph's is quickly becoming my favorite Albany tavern. Indulgence was had on our latest gut-bursting dining experience at Ralph's Tavern: Cavatelli in delicious homemade sauce (I could just eat this sauce with a spoon) with hardy meatballs + hand breaded mozzarella sticks with sweet melba = perfection. And order the pepperoni on your pizza - you won't be disappointed.
(5)C B.
You want to know why this place gets high marks? It's simple...because every aspect of being a restaurant they do well. Service - superb, friendly, smiles Food - above average Portions - more than ample Prices - very good value Atmosphere - Homey, non-pretentious, comfortable. Location - Main street convenient, safe It's a great place for you and your family and/or friends to come eat, relax, enjoy. My only regret is that I live too far away to come often.
(5)Rich R.
Based on Yelp reviews, the title of "best wings in the capital district" (and the fact it was the nearest place to eat) I gave Ralph's a try. It was full of people, many on a first name basis with the staff. I had to try the "Best Wings in the Capital District". They are very good! I ordered them Hot and spent the evening trying to hide my running nose and burning lips Service was friendly, welcoming and fast. I approve.
(4)Boris R.
There is noting really bad I can say about this place. The prices are fair, and food is amazing. Even stuff I may not usually order like split pea soup is really worth it here. I really love their meatballs. They are juicy and not full of bread. The decor can use a fresh redo. This place has not changed in the entire time I can remember going here, so at least 10 years. It is always packed lunchtime, and that is a good sign, and the staff is fast. You see the same faces that keep coming year after year. Once you eat here you become a regular, it is very good. The new owners streamlined some stuff, but most of the great reasons to come here are still very good. Meatball torpedo is a must, as are the shells. Additionally this is one of those places that does full meals and bar food like pizza and wings equally good, so come here for either. One room is a bar, one a dining room. Call ahead if there is many people coming and they will have it all set.
(4)T J.
In town for a week for business. There are a lot of cool local places but this one stands out. I walked in the bar area door by mistake, which was packed at the time and the bartender politely led me to a very nice waitress who seated me in the dining area. The service was excellent and the food was great. I had motzerella sticks, shrimp cocktail and half an order of meat lasagna. And when I left my credit card there, both the waitress and another employee went out of their way to find me in my car and return it to me. Will definitely go again before the week is up. Highly recommend checking out this friendly neighborhood joint.
(5)Breanna B.
All the stars go to the mozz sticks. Oh baby! I've never had a more salty, delicious bite of homemade mozzarella stick in my life. Could I survive on this? Quite possibly. The batter is merely non existent, more like a crusting of some light, very fine bread crumbs. And Albany... Melba sauce!? I'm into it -- it's like a slum version of brie en crute. The sweet and salty combo is where it's at! Ralph's itself had a homey vibe. At lunch time, we were the youngest folks there. But the staff and ambience was welcoming! Being from Rochester, it mimics the vibe of our Italian American restaurants. Checked tablecloths, simple decor, wood paneled walls, etc. For my lunch entree, I had the tuna club... but it didn't come with bacon. I thought that was the distinctive factor that made a sandwich "club" so I was bummed I missed out on that. So know to specify if you want. Comes with chips and a pickle. Great for a classic tavern experience in the Capital region.
(4)Grant N.
Up north so I had to try good Italian. Ralph's was awesome. Especially enjoyed listening to the other customers and their colorful conversations. Had the veal parm special. Excellent considering the price. Served super hot with great sauce. No complaints. Will return.
(5)Kate H.
I rarely give 5 stars but my dinner tonight at Ralphs was awesome! We sat in the bar area and the bartender was great with cocktails and service. The food was amazing, so glad we stopped in.
(5)kevin o.
Wings are legit!
(4)Daniel B.
Forgive me, for I have sinned. It has been six years since my last review of this classic Albany tavern. The good news is that I've learned a lot more about this place over time. Most notably, what are the things to get and what are the things to avoid. Fortunately, I think I've only hit one real stinker over the years and that was the fish fry. My advice is to save that for the fish fry places. Unfortunately, I've watched my beloved torpedo sandwiches diminish from their former glory. The kitchen no longer keeps the sandwiches under the broiler long enough to brown the cheese, but only long enough to melt it. So they are missing a critical element of flavor and texture. I suppose I could be fussy and ask them to make it "well done'. However, I have this thing about going to restaurants, that I want to eat the food they make (not the food I wish they would make). It's complicated. That said, their mozzarella sticks with raspberry sauce is off the charts good. They hand cut these rectangles of salty, delicious cheese, bread them, and fry them to a crisp, melty, salty, cheesy glory. Now, if you think raspberry sauce with this sounds disgusting, you are obviously not from around these parts. This is how we do. And I'll take a moment to explain to you why it's so good (and why it's not gross). Don't think mozzarella sticks with raspberry. Think baked brie en croute with a fruit compote. Because this is just a blue collar version of that. In most people's mind, mozzarella sticks come with an herbed crust. And THAT would be truly disgusting with raspberry sauce. I've tried it. It totally clashes. But at Ralph's, they've been doing this long enough to know to leave the herbs out. This is too much talking. Just get them. I've also come around on Ralph's style of tavern pizza. It's rectangular, with a focaccia like crust, and the edges get nice and crisp. The sauce is zesty with black pepper. This is an entirely different animal from NY style or sicilian pizza. So don't try to compare them. If you can take it on its own terms, it's a solid pie, especially if you order it with pepperoni. Listen, I hate pepperoni, but I love the pepperoni at Ralph's. Theirs is the kind that curls up and collects all that glorious flavorful grease into a pocket of joy. Plus the curled edges get all nice and crispy. Man, I love that. Still, the place is without pretension. Even as I get older, I find I'm often the youngest person in the joint. It's a regional treasure, and I hope they keep going just as they are for a hundred years (although I wouldn't mind if they went back to browning the cheese on the torpedo sandwiches).
(4)Joseph D.
Went here on an Sunday with my family for the first time. I had high hopes reading some of the reviews. I have to say that is was good, but not great. My meal started with a cup of their Manhattan clam chowder. I was impressed by the generous size for a cup of soup. The soup is self was decent. it had big chunks of potatoes and carrots in a light tomato broth. There wasn't much clam meat in it, but the pieces that were in it were very chewy. Aside from the clams, the soup itself was hearty and filling. Onto the main course I selected. I ordered the Shrimp Scampi and opted for rice instead of pasta. It came with six shrimp over a trough of rice. It was huge, making the shrimp disappear on the plate. The shrimp were cooked just right, the sauce was good with a nice amount of garlic but a little too much oil that created a slick on the plate. The Scampi was good, I just wish their was less rice and the shrimp were a bit bigger.
(3)Steve N.
I know people who love Ralph's. Sorry, I'm not drinking the kool-aid. There are some good dishes at Ralph's: The wings are excellent. The pizza is decent, with a crispy crust. The house made mozz sticks are great (and you must order them with the melba sauce - it makes for a salty/sweet treat). The beer is cold. That's where the good news ends. I really wanted a salad, but I'll be damned if I'm going to eat Ralph's salads. They're an abomination. My companions said their soups were barely ok. Another's chicken parm was chewy, the accompanying pasta mushy and way overcooked. If you must go to Ralph's, get the pizza, and wings, and mozz sticks. Expect to be disappointed if you dare to stray from those 3 items. Ralph's is a still two star joint, one star added on the strength of the wings.
(3)S B.
With all the recent health news that high blood cholesterol levels is now deemed healthy and might extend one's life, last night I dragged my friend to Ralph's for some heart healthy eats, lol! We sat at the bar and ordered the highly recommended trinity of wings, mozzarella sticks and a pepperoni pizza (with onions and sans canned mushrooms). The pizza crust is puffier then my usual crust preference but it was so good. Crispy on the outside, squishy in a good way on the inside and full of flavor. Perfectly tangy sauce, quality melty cheese and the best pepperoni I've had on a pizza. The wings were just my style cooked perfectly crispy and sloppy with a nice tangy hot sauce. They ask if you want them regular or sloppy and I ordered sloppy, stack of napkins on the side and a happy face with every bite. And finally the shining stars, or logs, of mozzarella heaven. I've never been a fan since most places serve poor quality pre made frozen sticks which taste like rubberized cheese rolled in breadcrumbs with tasteless mystery green bits. Not here. The cheese is fresh and gooey and there's an actual well seasoned breading similar to a cross between a thinner fish-n-chips batter or a slightly thicker tempura batter. However they make these, they have reached cheese stick perfection. We ordered both the Melba sauce and the marinara sauce and both were full of flavor and perfect complements to the cheese sticks. Yay!!!! Another happy Yelp inspired recommendation. We got there before 5pm on a Monday night and the place was already packed. We waited about 20 minutes for a bar table but the bartenders happily poured us drinks while we waited even the actual bar was packed.
(4)Elise S.
Can't wait to come back again one of the most authentic Italian places I've been through amazing food!! Our waitress was excellent !! Being a restaurant employee I can sympathize with the line of work !! Amazing yum can't wait to tell friends and family to come here !!!! A++
(5)Alex S.
Packed on a rainy Tuesday night. Frank, the bar tender was able to multi-task like no other and very polite. I had Salad with blue cheese crumbles yummy. Meatballs - fabulous! Service-spot on. There were couples, singles at the bar, birthday celebration. Highly recommend it
(4)E R.
For me as a wing aficionado this is the place!! Had the pizza tonight,it was good...but for the wings are the things!!
(5)Philip P.
I had to go to Ralphs after reading Lonnie S. Brutal review I haven't been here in 20 years ( no reason just haven't) Food was very good , very fast , I was impressed, even though they were packed waitstaff was on the numbers this night didn't miss a beat! I myself being a U.S. Army Vet , I don't Go into public Places and Demand That everyone Stop what they're doing and Respect me , or Discount my Food, or Buy me a free dinner! I know this owner or staff are the last people that would ever Disrespect a veteran of Our arm forces! It's not a felony if someone was to disrespect a vet or anyone else for any capacity that they have served ! Respect isn't something you force on someone just because you served , You Earn It on a individual basis I know many people who are frequent patrons of this restaurant , This staff bust their behinds to do everything to keep their clustomers coming back and support their family's ! to have someone rip apart a restaurant and try to make everyone think this place is a health risk is just plain wrong!!! Albany county health reports blue code are not health risk! I will be back and feel bad I have been away Soo long, and Ralphs & staff have to put up with this malarkey! Looking at Lonnie s. History reviews looks like this person is never happy with any restaurant And No I Am Not A Employee nor do I know anyone! Cheers!!!
(5)Justin P.
An establishment doesn't stay around as long as Ralphs without doing something right! The food is authentic Italian, and extremely fresh. The staff is great, and personable (but don't rub them the wrong way), and you're always sure to have a conversation struck up with a regular of theirs. Only reason for a 4 star instead of 5 is that I wish there was more seating in the bar area, gets a little tight at times. But, with that being said... The wings are some of the best in the Capital District, as they're crispy but not over-cooked, and just the right amount of sauce. Be aware that their hottest wings are no joke, but I've been told they have great flavor as well by people that enjoy the extra spicy flavor. For a main course I'd recommend the 1-LB Lasagna with meat, some of the best lasagna I've ever had! The staff is extremely attentive to all guests, as I've never seen a main dish arrive as someone is still in the middle of their appetizers (which is a pet peeve of mine), and they're always sure to have your drinks refilled or backed up if you're sitting at the bar as well. They also do catering, so if you're having an office meeting or party be sure to try them out!
(4)Scott V.
Staying in albany for a couple of weeks and so far this is bye far the best place around. Pizza and wings are very good. The other night i had a chicken parm sandwich, and it was excellent. The place is dumpy but always packed and a great value.
(4)Kevin B.
Best wings in my life!!! Really, crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Perfect temperature for hot flavor.
(5)Lonnie S.
A dump and a joke. I would not feed it to a dog. A while back my brother got served the worm salad, and then got threatened by the manager for requesting a partial refund. They insulted a military service member as well , new low. Epic losers pretending to run an Italian place. What a dump. Here's their restaurant inspection record from March 2014 : access.albanycounty.com/…
(1)Ali B.
If you are visiting Albany, make sure you stop at Ralph's and dine in. This tavern has a bar section with tables & booths around to dine in addition to another dinning area, both appear to be busy. The staff are amiable, well aware of their menus and drink selections and provide excellent service on timely manner, the food is rich in flavor, the portions are generous, a complementary freshly baked bread with butter will be served. I ordered the linguini pasta with Alfredo sauce and shrimp it came with complementary manhatan chowder (vs creamy chowder or salad), I am eating my delight but also enjoying the smell of the juicy wings, eggplant Parmesan and burger served around! Yum! The atmosphere is sociable, people here from all age groups, and parking is easy around. Don't miss out the food here! Highly recommended!
(4)Blaire A.
This is a review for take out and the mozzerella sticks. The mozzeralla sticks are delicious!!!!! I went in based off of the other reviews and I wasn't dissapointted, they were so good. I'll definetly be back. I can't attest to service, the hostess was friendly but that's as much as I can vouch for since I ordered take out.
(5)Amanda S.
I've only been here twice, but have had good experiences both times. I lived right around the corner from Ralph's for over a year before I checked it out for the first time. The place smells AMAZING. I've been told that if this joint is along your running route, it's distracting. Even driving by, it just smells fantastic. I have gotten the same thing both times: Pasta with marinara sauce and chicken. The first time I ordered linguine and I was brought angel hair. Not a big deal, really, but it was a bit disappointing. But it tastes exactly the same...so I'm just nitpicking. I rather enjoyed the sauce and I really liked the chicken! It was perfectly cooked and flavorful. Also, I enjoyed that it was mixed into the pasta and not just served on top of it as other restaurants tend to do. The second time I went, my order (the same thing) was served correctly. Yay! Each time my dining companion enjoyed their meals. My friend got scallops the first time I went. They smelled delicious, but I didn't try any. She loved them, and told me that Ralph's clam chowder is amazing. I CANNOT wait to try it- I LOVE clam chowder!! The second time, my fiance ordered some sort of a steak sandwich. It was served on Texas toast and also looked really good. We were served bread before the meal each time. I liked it, but then again I have never met a bread I didn't like. The menu is pretty extensive. And there are a lot of dessert options! I am looking forward to going back and ordering something different - and a dessert! The staff is friendly, service was good and the prices are moderate. I am not understanding some of the negative reviews about this place. It's not the best, but I am really looking forward to going back.
(4)Robo T.
Delicious italian-american food. The tomato sauce is delicious and does not have a from-a-can taste as someone else claimed. The veal cutlet was tender and scrumptious and I would get it again and again and again. The menu is extensive and I have yet to try anything else. Decent selection of bottled beers too. The vibe is casual old school american family dining. This is not fine dining. Not all the chairs at your table are going to match. The bar is on the other side of a wall which is a nice partition and both sides work well to serve both casual and better-dressed patrons. Highly recommended.
(4)Noah S.
An average American-Italian restaurant with decent cooking, old decor, and wonderful waitstaff. The restaurant is a standalone building on the side of Central Avenue, with a semi-large sign outside advertising the place. We came in, expecting exactly what I saw. There is a bar on one end and a restaurant on the other. The decor is old and may need new furniture. We were greeted by the owner (I think) who sat us down. We were waited on by an extremely friendly waitress who made us feel at home. The menu is pretty boring for a place that considers itself part Italian. The menu is mainly tavern food, with a few pasta dishes, sandwiches, and a few meat and seafood options. To start, get their wings. They are fresh, spicy, and absorb the sauce very well. They are served with celery and carrots, which were nice. The pasta entrees come with a soup or salad, so I got the New England Clam Chowder. There weren't many clams in it, but the soup tasted very good with great seasoning. There were a ton of vegetables as well, which wasn't expected, but you can't go wrong with vegetables. For entrees, either get their large pizzas or their sandwiches. They are a great deal and are very filling, along with their burgers. I ordered the make your own pasta option, which I thought would be satisfying. I ordered the equivalent of a baked ziti with a meatball, which was ziti noodles, the marinara sauce, a meatball, and baked mozzarella cheese. The pasta was obviously store bought, which I can't really complain too much about since I never expected the quality of the food to be exemplary. But since it was store bought, the pasta broke easily and it didn't absorb the sauce, so every once in a while I got a bland bite of noodle. The sauce was a bit spicy, which I enjoyed. You should get it baked if ordering, since it is only $1.50 and it elevates the dish. The meatball was a slightly undercooked, but it tasted quite nice. I was going to get the linguini with clam sauce, but the menu specified that it came with 6 clams, so I thought that it wasn't a good deal. The make your own pasta dish is the best option, just don't get it with ziti. Overall, this was a decent place to go, but not the greatest place if visiting the area for a short visit.
(3)Kaushik R.
This has to be the worst restaurant in terms of service I have visited in the capital region, food is not out of the world either. First thing first, the cutlery had a spoon with food on it, the waitress was not even apologetic about it. I ordered Chicken Francaise, chicken was not even defrosted properly before they cooked, when complained they offered to refund half the price as I ate some(After taking it to the manager). I have never seen service levels such low. Never again Ralph's. Will not recommend this place to anyone, there are better Italian places around
(1)Mick V.
Old school cheep Italian. And I say "cheep" in a positive way. Excellent quality for the cost. Sure it's a little cramped and the flatware was probably $2.99 for 50 dz but the food was mighty tasty and expertly prepared. Fresh and perfect. Our server was new and it showed but her attitude was great and the rest of the staff looked out for her and made our experience a positive one. Bravo to all at Ralph's. I'd be a regular if I was local. If you're an out-of-towner and want a friendly neighborhood great Italian meal, go to Ralph's
(4)Sam W.
Cheap food the pizza is good love the wings plain and simple. Can't go wrong with Ralph's buddy
(4)Josh P.
Three Stars, but really would only give 2.5 The good: On a regular basis we grab a cheese pizza and an order of hot wings and it's one of the best in the area. However, I only like their cheese pizza. Once you ad toppings on it (like pepperoni, etc), it goes down hill from there because they use really cheap toppings. But they do have good sauce - and sauce is what makes a really good pizza. My advice: Stick with the plain cheese pizza on this one. Wings are pretty good too. The Bad: Last week we finally decided to venture away from the routine pizza menu. We had read a lot of great reviews here on Yelp for their other Italian dinner items, so we decided to give it a try. We ordered the chicken parm and eggplant parm to go. Both with linguini and sauce on the side. The pasta was pasty and mushy - as if it had been pre cooked hours ago and then reheated to order. The chicken part was mushy and boring. Egg plant was complete mush. Disgusting. Now, I know you may be thinking - maybe it went mushy in the take out containers right? Well, maybe it did. BUT - we have gotten the chicken parm and egplant take out from TJ's Cafe a few times, and it is still crispy - and they manage to get the pasta al dente. Sorry to say that even Bucca Di Beppo has better eggplant (take out) then Ralph's. Good for pizza - but the dinners were a waste of $30. Bland and mushy. We threw most of it out, and were sad that we wasted calories on the portions we ate.
(3)Sheila D.
This place literally had the best Italian food and serves it super late. Kitchen is open until 2am Friday nights. Also the service is outstanding even this late. Worth the wait during a dinner rush.
(5)Griffin B.
Wow! Wings are delicious and crispy. Jalapeño Poppers were heaven, and most of all the service was delightful. Although, my lips do feel like I just made out with Satan after the XX hot wings.
(5)Bill D.
Had the pleasure of eating here last night for the first time. The menu was extensive, and the food was delicious. The prime rib special was unbelievable broccoli with cheese was quite good. Despite being pretty crowded, our waitress, Tammy, was superb and very attentive, We would definitely go back to this restaurant.
(5)Beth H.
Delicious food, reasonable prices, and wonderful service! If you go to Ralph's, you will not be disappointed! I had the new england clam chowder to start, which was delicious. If a restaurant's chowder is good, it's usually a good indication of how the rest of the meal is going to be. Surely enough, the boneless wings that followed were delicious. Perfectly cooked - crispy, but not too dry. The chicken parm was very good as well. If you are in the Albany area, I highly recommend Ralph's.
(4)Lee W.
Great neighborhood eatery with all the charm of historical local landmark and a reputation that warrants a loyal following. Simple pub bar one side with a little more formal lounge type dining the other side. Decor traditional and clean. Menus a mixture of classic casual Italian with all of the usual pasta choices and pizzas, combined with a number of American favorites. In keeping with the bar aspect I sampled the hot wings..... Good. The specials were good and popular. Overall not bad at all.
(3)Bryon M.
Typical Red-Sauce Italian place of yesteryear. My wife and I went here for dinner tonight, and it was simply not good. My wife and I are in our thirties, and my wife is 8 months pregnant, and had a craving for Chicken Alfredo. We sat down and after about 10 minutes a waitress finally came over to take our drink order. I ordered a Bass Ale. She then asked for my ID. I had forgot it at home I realized when I tried to reach for it. I told the waitress I forgot it, and even offered to have my wife order the beer. No dice. I get it, they are only following the rules. Must also be because the median age here was 65. The thing that aggravated me about this was a couple that was even younger than me were served at the next table with no ID requested by the same waitress. But alas, it was my fault for forgetting my ID. We then after a lengthy wait for my water, and wife's soda (No Free Refills, BTW) ordered our dinners, I had the Pizza, my wife ordered Chicken Alfredo over Linguini. After a long while, my wife's salad came out, all it was was tasteless iceburg lettuce with a blah Italian dressing. Exactly what you expect from a place that hasn't evolved in 40 years. After an eternity of waiting, with many other people who ordered after us being served, we finally received our dinner. The Pizza was quite good. On the thin side for pub pizza but a nice crispy crust. Unfortunately my wife's meal came out with Alfredo on Spaghetti, and no Chicken. This was not good for a Pregnant wife who had been craving this. Not wanting to wait another lifetime for them to refire the food, we told the waitress about the mistake, but didn't want to send it back (We just didn't want to be charged the upcharge for the chicken) .My wife said that the Alfredo sauce was too oily, seemed like it came from a can, and had no flavor. Maybe with the chicken on the dish it would help, but doubtful. My wife intends to take it home and add spices and things to it to actually give it flavor for leftovers. After we finished, we were ready for boxes. The waitress came over and I asked for 2 boxes and the check. She then turned to my wife who clearly had finished if she was truly done or if she was still working. That was a bit offensive to me, like she didn't believe that my wife was done so she had to confirm with her, my word wasn't good enough. We then waited another while for the boxes to be returned. In the meantime one of the other staff members asked if we would like it wrapped up, and took our plates, wrapped them up, and returned them before she even came back with the bill. This place is in our neighborhood, and we would like to make it a regular place, but using canned sauces and bad service take out pretty much the entire reason why we go out. Maybe I will get the Pizza to go in the future. That is the only thing that kept me from giving this review 1 star.
(2)Jeff G.
Local Italian American neighborhood restaurant. Wings were not that hot, salad was average and garlic bread came out burnt. The other plates we saw going by looked full and tasty. Staff was friendly. I think we just picked the wrong things to eat that night. I would probably go somewhere else next time but I would think moats people would accept the meal as delivered.
(3)G S.
Delicious food, generous portions. Order pasta and you'll definitely have lunch for tomorrow! In response to the person who complained about the salads- it's not a trendy, gourmet spot- it's American / Italian. I would take their simple veggie salad with their house dressing on the side over Olive Garden's salty bagged salad any day. Pizza is ok, wings are amazing. The traditional Italian dishes please my partner's Italian family, so they must be on track. Minus one star for parking, beer selection, and the carpeted dining room.
(4)Mildred C.
I ordered some trays of food for my mother's 80th birthday party from Ralph's. The food was wonderful and everyone kept asking me where I got it from. We had Baked Ziti, Eggplant Parmesan, Chicken Cacciatore, and the Meat & Cheese Lasagna, and for how much we got the price was really good. I would definitely order catering from there again. I also enjoy dining there.
(4)dane h.
Dined here a few times on a business trip. It's home-cooked Italian in a relaxed atmosphere. Kind of like eating at your friend's house. Some of the dishes his mom makes are good, others are just ok. My favorite dish was a veal parmesan/eggplant combo that was on special one night. I asked for the meat sauce with my side of linguini, and I really liked it. Good meaty, rich sauce. I'd recommend the meat sauce if you do the design-your-own pasta meal. I liked the caesar salad a lot better than the garden salad, which has too much iceberg and was not the freshest either (some brown lettuce). Saw a lot of people getting pizza, but I didn't try it. The meatballs looked good too. My friend got the chicken alfredo, and it looked pretty sad, and the chicken was burned. Try to get here early to beat the dinner rush, as it is very popular with the locals. Feels like this place has been here for a long time, mostly in a good way.
(3)Michael S.
My wife and I love Ralphs, it's a staple at our house! The usual includes a basket of wings, a couple of beers and a pepperoni pizza, which is outstanding and never misses the mark. We've never been disappointed at Ralphs, whether we dine in or take out. We don't dine often enough to be considered regulars, or know any of the staff by name, but that doesn't mean we get treated any differently than the true regulars. Staff is always friendly and fast!
(5)Pickyy E.
One word, three syllables. DIS-GUST-ING! Huge portions of bad quality food. I'm pretty sure they use canned tomato sauce. My chicken parm was awful!!!! No flavor whatsoever! My boyfriend and I both asked for doggy bags and tossed our food in a dumpster right outside the restaurant. Won't be returning.
(1)Derek S.
The service was top notch. I was greeted and seated quickly. It's a bit noisy due to size and it was packed. I started with mushroom app. Sorry to say was disappointed, few places do it right.. Caps were drowning in butter and stuffing just tasted like butter. Salad was good, they do charge you extra for blue cheese. Ordered the chic fracaise which picture looks good. Again they like the butter. I thought sauce would be more of a cream base but was all butter. The portions were huge and the chicken tender. Had the choc cake for dessert which was good.
(3)bit a.
Cheese burgers were made with a quality ground beef and standard fare was good. Staff seemed willing to go the extra mile for us. Kitchen was also open late on a Monday which was a super plus for us. The food is above par but not spectacular. Definitely superior to several other establishments in the area. Will repeat. Pricing is pub appropriate $24 for 2 people. no leftovers.
(4)Sean S.
Ralph's is a great tradition. My family has been coming here for years, and I always enjoy a trip here when I'm visting for a weekend. It's been around since the dawn of time, and has that Buffalo NY vibe, where everyone knows everyone, and there are many many regulars. We usually get a ten cut pizza and my mom & dad will share a basket of wings. I also grab a blue moon or a glass of red wine. Around the holidays there are christmas decorations which gets you into the spirit of the whole thing. Good times!
(4)Amber A.
You have to know what to order and what not to here at Ralph's. It's a tavern, so appetizers, wings and pizza are a sure bet. This is my go to place when I'm craving a cesear salad - I love their cesear salad, their dressing is not cream based. Also love that I can get pasta with Alfredo marinara and then I add veggies to the pasta instead of meat. What I won't order here (from past experience) is anything that has the word parm in it. Prices are very reasonable.
(4)Jian Cai Z.
This place is always packed with people and I can see why, they serve good quality food. Looking for some quality Italian food, not like Olive Garden, I decided to come here. I got the shrimp scampi and it was just simply amazing. The presentation of the meal was nice as well. Definitely would come back again.
(4)Chrissy C.
My family and I love Ralph's. Without fail, we always stop here on the way back from our place in upstate NY. An Italian tavern. Does it make sense? No. Does the food taste good? Absolutely. Huge portions, tiny price. LEGIT Italian food. After 5 hrs in the car, all four of us could care less that we all ordered the same thing: stuffed shells special. This is the comfort food your grandma makes and you pig out until your body is literally incapable of doing anything but falling asleep. Whoever said the sauce tastes canned is a filthy liar, the sauce is phenomenal every time and definitely tastes homemade. Skip the side salad. Obviously bagged and mine was brown. Gross. The ambiance is less than desirable...but on a long ride home, who cares? We love Ralph's.
(3)Dana D.
Excellent food great service. There is a wait on fridays small groups can seat themselves on the bar side!!
(3)Sal G.
a good dependable meal every time, relaxed atmosphere, prices are reasonable, I usually order what I'm in the mood for and I'm always satisfied
(4)Erin M.
Clams casino are awesome for appetizer. Ralphs is a very busy place but.good service. Exceptionally large choices on their menu. Good service and atomosphere. My family dones for dinner but my friends amd I stop in for lunch once or twice a week. Stop in and try Ralphs!
(5)Jen C.
Horrible Service! I have been going to Ralph's for over 15 years. The food has always been great. I was craving their mozzarella sticks so I stopped by yesterday to have lunch with my three kids. I waited over 10 minutes for the hostess to seat me. Mind you, there were only 2 tables seated in the dining room and there were 2 employees in there as we'll. No one even acknowledged I was there, finally I walked over to the bar and asked the waitress if I could get someone to seat me. She came over and spoke with one the employees in the dining room, who then proceeded to greet me. At this time I was told they had no high chairs for my 1 year old daughter...what type of family restaurant does not have high chairs? At which point I walked out, very unhappy. I can not image myself ever entering this restaurant again. I may order take-out and have my husband pick it up for me. Hopefully they realize how down hill their customer service has become and they take the time to fix it. I am a customer who visited Ralph's atleast 10 times a year and have ordered their catering for parties many times.
(1)Mike L.
Love this place. Haven't had a bad meal here. From dishes like Shrimp Scampi, Chicken Parm, Chicken Francaise (my personal fav) to pizza and wings (the best in the capital district) this local tavern makes everything perfectly. Service is always quick and friendly and portions are huge while the prices are low. You have to get the Mozz sticks with rasp sauce. They are homemade and the best you will ever taste. If you think ahead call for reservations because they are kinda small and there is usually a wait.
(5)Kristin M.
Love it! Good food with giant portions. Laid back hole in the wall. The wings and pizza are delicious. They have a huge menu and you can most certainly accommodate everyone. The staff is friendly and efficient.
(5)Alexi A.
Went for lunch with Co-workers. Food- 2.5 Stars. We got wings and pizza. Wings were surprisingly good. Pizza was pretty meh, kinda tasteless flavorless crust, too much cheese. Not my kind of pizza. Service- 5 Stars. Very nice waitress. Atmosphere- 2.5 Stars. Very cozy in a old school kinda way. Value- 2.5 Stars. Decent value, nothing outrageous.
(2)Christine K.
Awesome food! Best pizza around! I get a different pizza every Friday night and its always soooo good. Staff is very friendly, I recommend this place very highly
(5)Leigh Anne B.
Excellent food and good service. You have to try the homemade mozzarella sticks and chicken wings!! They are amazing!!
(4)Maria W.
We loved it so much the first night we went back for seconds the next night! A friend told us we had to try the pizza and they were right. We also had the wings, everything was really good.
(4)Bob P.
Great place for garlic pizza. Got to try the cheesesticks w/ raspberry sauce. Good food for the price.
(4)Bill K.
If you want bang-for-your-buck, go to Ralph's. The bread, mushroom/garlic pizza, chicken parmigiana, and house salad were all great. You definitely get what you pay for and then some.
(4)Michelle B.
I used to enjoy going to Ralph's on a semi-regular basis, but ever since "the soup incident", as we call it, the Husband is very resistant. Rewind eight months or so. We were having dinner at Ralph's and had ordered soup with our meals, as we often do. The waitress brought us our Cream of Mushroom, and I could barely grasp what I saw on the table in front of me. It must have been the bottom of the batch, because the soup had a very, VERY thick layer of separated fat on the top of it. Really, it looked like someone poured 1/4 cup of olive oil in my bowl. Eck! I sat there and stirred it in disbelief. So, of course we didn't eat the soup, and Husband explained our beef to the waitress. Yes, it actually needed explanation. She did not apologize but took it away, and seemed completely unfazed by the incident. I think her reaction annoyed me more than the soup itself. But I still really can't believe she even served it to us looking the way it did. We had sampled several very tasty soups at Ralph's prior to this, and we had even had this same type before. There had never been any problems with the food. I needed a little space from Ralph's after this happened so that I could sort through my feelings and come to terms with it. I'm not the type of person who likes to let one bad experience spoil my favorite spots; however, the Husband is less forgiving than I. So, we haven't been back. What do I miss about Ralph's?? It's sort of a local establishment in Albany. It's been around a long time and has an extensive menu. Large portions, a good value and good quality. I can't recall anything that stood out as blowing me away, but everything I tried was always very good. Downsides - the place is a tad cramped. You will be subjected to other people's conversations whether you like it or not, and you need to be careful backing your chair up into the table behind you. But this is part of the charm, I think. You feel like you're sitting with a bunch of extended family in somebody's dining room, which... well, you are. Staff is often very friendly; other times they are all business, but they are always attentive. So, don't tell my husband, but I'm considering a secret rendezvous with Ralph. Sometimes a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.
(3)Louis M.
I have dined at Ralphs a number of times. They offer very generous portions of acceptable food. Its major appeal is that you don't have to cook it. While i have had decent meals there, i have had a few horrible meals there as well. Once, I was served a soup with a quarter inch, I'm not exaggerating, of grease on the top. When I pointed this out to the waitress, she seemed disinterested but willing to take it away unapologetic. Another instance I can recall involved getting what I can only hope was the last ladle of soup from the vat where everything had settled into an inedible muck. I believe it was supposed to be cream of mushroom, but it resembled a culinary students first attempt at mushroom gravy. Staff can be friendly, or curt, but never rude. The place lacks any real ambiance if your into that kind of thing. If you don't want to cook, maybe want something to take to lunch tomorrow as well and don't feel like cooking - this place will probably do OK.
(2)Howard K.
you've gotta like this place. very good food and great prices. i had veal and peppers - excellent and huge portion! sauted broccoli and salad were good. My buddy had the veal parm and also enjoyed it very much. Service was very good and waitresses were very friendly. not much for atmosphere, but that's not why you go to Ralph's. My bud also loves their prime rib - I haven't tried it, but he's a good judge. Ver good pizza
(4)Brett C.
This place is a dive, and I don't really mean that in a bad way. Although, if it weren't for the absolutely spectacular buffalo wings, I probably would not have appreciated the diveyness (yeah I know that's not a word) of this place. The stop at Ralph's was the beginning of a week long vacation in upstate New York. You see, I now live in New Hampshire, but grew up in upstate. My favorite food on the planet has to be Buffalo Wings. Unfortunately as any Buffalo Wing Connoisseur knows, not all Buffalo Wings are created equal. In fact, some supposed Buffalo Wings are downright disgusting! But, I will always try them, and usually eat them even if they aren't' that good. Anyway, as we began our vacation my 8 year old son and I decided that we would get Buffalo Wings at every opportunity throughout the week. That meant that we would be getting wings nearly every single day and sometimes twice a day .... we never found a place that served them for breakfast, otherwise we probably would have gotten them. In the end, the sloppy wings we had at Ralph's were the absolute best that we found on our entire week long journey. At each place we ate throughout the week, we had to compare the wings to Ralph's. None stood up to Ralph's. The food at the restaurant must be good too given how packed this small dive was the time we were there. We got lucky that 2 spots opened up at the bar when we walked in, or we never would have been able to find this little gem.
(5)Kevin T.
Nancy was are bartender. Extremely friendly and had perfect recommendations on the menu. We had medium hot wings and garlic parm wings. They were incredible and we also had open face meatball parm sandwich and the chicken parm torpedo. Everything was remarkable and I would make it a point to stop again if I was passing through again.
(5)Adam L.
Ralph's is one of the best values in Albany. It won't be the best meal you have in the Capital Region, but it will be perfectly decent and you'll get way more food for your dollars than anywhere else. Seniors know this, which is why it is one of the few restaurants that is busier before 6:30 than after. Waits of a half hour or more are pretty standard, in my experience. From the main entrance, entry is split between the restaurant side through the door on your left and the bar side through the door on the left. If you don't want to hang out at the bar while you're waiting for your table, there isn't much space where you're not in somebody's way. Once seated, however, the rest of the experience has always been very solid. The wait staff is efficient and friendly, and as I mentioned the portions are huge. I don't think I've ever ordered off the menu, because one of the specials always seemed to catch my eye. My last visit I had bread, salad, I believe soup and the prime rib special for under $23 with tip. Was it the best prime rib I've ever had? No. It was just a bit overcooked and a little tough. But not only was it tasty enough, so was everything else, and the price was certainly right. One of the best places in town for when you want a real meal out without hurting your wallet.
(4)Mary C.
Good food every single time!
(4)Thomas M.
Good, old fashioned Italian food at reasonable prices.
(4)Tom H.
well, this is no Italian restaurant. It is a bar that serves Italinan-american like dishes. the portions are huge and they are cheap. I had wings, soup, entree and 3 beers for $30. Atmosphere is a basic NY state bar - not fancy but certainly clean and inviting. The menu is almost too large. They should probably cut down and do better with a more limited menu wings are excellent. The entrees are good, considering the price. I actually dont think that they make most of the sauces - white and red. They taste and look canned
(3)Jeff O.
+1 star for having the kitchen open til midnight. I like the separate dining room from the bar. I am always turned on to bar styling with a restaurant setting. Huge menu. Great prices. Difficult to order yet easy to pay. Primo wings. Smart size, They even
(5)Cole L.
Good attentive server, and a busy place for a Tuesday night. But, the food was not that good. Many people rave about the wings, but mine were overcooked and small. The Caesar salad was large, but did not taste very good. I will not go back.
(3)Rhonda G.
I was told that this is where all the local chefs hang out. I can see why. I love the late night dining vibe. It's a good excuse for not exclusively drinking, or if you don't drink you can still enjoy a good tavern. It's one of the few vintage Italian restaurants still standing. If they survived I hope it's a sign they'll be here forever. I've had the steak and spaghetti and meatballs. I'll be more adventurous someday.
(5)Cynthia C.
It seems a little superfluous to review this institution. Everyone from Albany seems to know about this very family style, Italian home cookin' style place. I'd give it a 5, except I'm reserving the 5's for places where I yearn to go back to again and again. The vibe of Ralph's answers the question, "What would happen if you crossed a family style Italian restaurant with an Irish pub?" The eggplant parm is killer, oh so crispy, light and tasty. The decor is like a neighborhood bar, and there is a general air of real friendliness. it's a total Albany experience. The place is always crowded and there is usually a wait. On weekends there is a long wait. You can get either pizza or pasta with your choice of toppings and sauces. Everything is good, fresh, and dirt cheap because the portions are enormous. You can get half portions, which are just large, rather than enormous.
(4)A A.
Good food. Try the torpedo subs, the wings, the Italian dishes - everything was good. Had a sausage and pepper soup that was also delicious. To top it off, this place is cheap. It was packed on a weekday night - always a good sign. The place is divided into a bar and sit-down restaurant. Bar side has some TVs and a couple tables for no-wait seating. Check this place out. I'll be back.
(5)Mike T.
I work in the area and order here alot .. Pizza is great..the wings are not Amazing but good.. Calzones are very filling and portioned well would def recomend
(4)David M.
One of those (increasingly rare) affordable, family, non-chain, Italian restaurants that make Friday nights fun. Good red sauce. Great wings. Hearty portions. Reasonable prices. Super-friendly staff. Worn interior - but adds to 'local joint' feel. Beware: not free refills and waitress pushed them without warning us. That was weird. But otherwise great experience.
(4)Shannon D.
Mixed feelings about this review...the wings were some of the best I have ever eaten (and I travel to Buffalo!) BUT...the cole slaw that came with my sandwich (meh) had a hair sticking out (good thing I don't eat cole slaw), and the plasticware looked like it had been used before. Granted it was a takeout order, and these things could have been corrected if I was eating there.
(3)Kimberly S.
Another great neighborhood-y place in Albany. It's a small restaurant, cozy yet comfortable. There was a bit of a wait for a table, so we hung out at the bar. Bartenders were very friendly and attentive. The hostess graciously found us at the bar and told us our table was ready instead of yelling our name in a crowded room. The menu was extensive, from meatball sandwiches to pizza to prime rib. The typical pasta dishes were also on the menu, too. And the prices! This place is pretty cheap for the amount of food that they give you. I opted for one of their dinner specials, mussels in marinara sauce over linguine pasta. Out comes a large plate filled with pasta buried under a mound of mussels and marinara sauce. Yummy! If your looking for good, decent Italian food for cheap prices, Ralph's is the place.
(4)Casey H.
Good food ... plain and simple. Love their pizza and wings UGHHHH
(3)Josef W.
This is one of my favorite restaurants, the staff always remember us and the food is always hot fast and cheap. As usual we had The Mozzarella Sticks, which are about the best anywhere the raspberry sauce is very good but order with both sauces. I also ordered a full order of Spaghetti and meatballs, far too much to eat at once. More than enough left for lunch tomorrow. The Mrs had a half order of raviolli which didn't stand a chance. Our son ordered one of the daily specials Veal Parm which was a huge portion. We have never eaten dessert here my guess it's pretty good as well but never enough space left after even eating the usual half portions.
(4)Deirdre P.
Best all-around: servers are fun, efficient and one more beautiful than the next; every dish is fab; fairly priced.
(4)Casey S.
This place has some of the best pizza and chicken wings around. You can place an order to go and pick it up, no delivery. The pizza is square cut and the crust, sauce and cheese is perfect. Wings are cooked perfect too.
(4)Mimi X.
Please don't hate me... I went to this place twice and I didn't like it either time. They pour dressing on the salad like it's a soup, and the food (first time: linguini with white clam sauce, second time: fettucine alfredo) was bland. And I came hungry the second time too!! But everybody loves this place... it's always packed and the line is always out the door on weekends. So it's probably just me. Please don't hate me.
(2)Karen O.
My husband & I love this place--great food for the price. Their chicken sorrento is his fave; I've had other dishes that are just as good--chicken francaise,fried clam platter & chicken parm. Pizza & wings are excellent; the balsamic vinaigrette dressing is wonderful. It's a favorite place for the railroaders from way back.
(5)Michael C.
We stopped in for a couple apps and a few beers - nice bar and the clams casino and stuffed mushrooms were great. We didn't have dinner - but I'd love to stop back again.
(4)Anne C.
I am from Massachusetts, about 2 1/2 hours from Albany, and when I travel there, I make it a point to get in one visit to Ralph's...... FOR THE WINGS. I admit I've only ever had the wings, and some of the appetizers, but oh man, I'm in no hurry to deviate from this routine. Three of us usually sit down to eat, and we order 40 wings. 20 mild, 20 medium- extra crispy, meaning they let those suckers bathe about 5 minutes longer in the fryer, no breading! We have come to anticipate the look of surprise/disgust from whoever is serving us, especially when we order an extra 20 wings to go after devouring the first 40. I might mention the mozzarella bruschetta bread is worth ordering too.
(4)Shawn S.
I finally got to eat at this place and I wasn't disappointed! I think I've been here at least 5 others times only to find that they had a very long wait for a table so we headed elsewhere. So on a Tuesday night in December, the stars aligned, the wait was less than 1/2 hour. My wife and I had an order of wings, an entree each (includes soup or salad), and 2 glasses of wine for under $40, a bargain. I wouldn't say the food is spectacular but when you put it together with the prices and service, I would say this place is hard to beat if you're looking for an Italian meal. Based on how busy this place always is, I think most people have figured that out, so be ready to wait.
(4)Kelly S.
Went to Ralph's Saturday Dinner was excellent accommodations were a little small we had a large party they got us in but it was very "cozy" Excellent Margaritas, excellent food things to try are Stuffed mushrooms, clams casino, wings are not on fire but yummy, Ribs were huge, steak was cook to perfection, mashed potatoes were real and very good, although veggies were frozen (disappointing) would I go there again? you bet !
(5)Uosdwis R J.
Judging by these reviews, this place is very overrated. There is nothing special about any of the food here; it's a very boring mix of pastas, meats, and bar food for the most part - it's quite greasy and has a "mass produced" quality to it. The service has always been slow when I've been there, and the waiters aren't very helpful. You can do much better in Albany for the same price range.
(2)John R.
I love their food. No matter what you get, it most likely is going to be great, whether it be wings, apps, parms, pizza, etc. One of the best pizzas in Albany, but not what you'd expect based on the restaurant's appearance. Why do I give it 4 stars you say? The inside is small, and the "waiting area" is a cramped cattle call. I wish they had a way to expand the restaurant's size and seating, but they don't based on surrounding properties, so that's how it goes. Be careful in the parking lot too! Delicious!
(4)Jennifer K.
This place is always packed when I go. Make sure you go when your not absolutely starving. I like the pastas here, good amount for the price. The pizza is alright, wings are mediocre. Service was a little sloppy, but I would go back again.
(3)