Chez Mike in East Greenbush
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East Greenbush, Rensselaer County, New York, US
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Site: http://www.chezmikerestaurant.com/
- Monday:Closed
- Tuesday:5–9PM
- Wednesday:5–9PM
- Thursday:5–9PM
- Friday:5–9PM
- Saturday:5–9PM
- Sunday:Closed
Picked Chez Mike off the map and decided to give it a try. The staff was as awesome as the food. The brussel sprout and squash appetizer was delicious. Mains consisted of the Sheppards pie and the brick roasted chicken, both were thoroughly enjoyed. Dessert was the warm apple crumble and the pumpkin tart which were both equally good. The web page says quality food and neighborhood atmosphere and that sums it up perfectly.
When I went it was awful. This is supposed to be a fancy restaurant but its not even close. First off how can you make a fancy restaurant in a plaza!? The seats were not clean. They had crumbs all over and no one seemed to think to brush them off. The bathrooms had sticky floors. Does the bathroom not get cleaned!? I had gotten a grilled cheese which was way overpriced. My familys food was burnt around the edges and my grilled cheese was burnt. Black. How do you burn grilled cheese!!?? This place will never be a fancy restaurant. Ever. Too awful of quality.
Delicious! Had the octopus, asparagus with fried egg, and fall off the bone short ribs! For dessert.. strawberry rhubarb crumble. All excellent. Everyone else at the table enjoyed their meals as well. Also enjoyed the kalamata olive butter and bread. Nice atmosphere. Wonderful surprise tucked away in a strip mall. Highly recommend Chez Mikes.
Simply the best restaurant in the area. If you were to take out a map and draw a 25 mile circle, with Chez Mike in the middle, this restaurant would stand alone offering the very best food, service, and value. Creative menu, perfect cocktails, professional service, and all of that in a friendly atmosphere. Perfection, every time.
My wife and I went to Chez Mikes the other nite ,was a pleasant surprise to the upgrades the the restaurant, especially the bar area.We both had drinks and appetizers the drinks were made very well and the bartender was friendly and knowledge on our drink order,and of course the apps were fantastic
Second Visit Update: After returning to Chez Mike, Ive given it full accolades. The food we had tonight was truly gourmet. By sticking themselves in such an odd little location, they can bring dishes to the table that would normally run twice the price. I had the short ribs, and they were easily the best short ribs Ive ever had. Ill definitely be back for a third visit, and I wont wait a year this time.This place was very nice. The atmosphere was low key and warm, no music playing so conversation went very nicely. All of the food was clearly made with special care, and delicious. The cocktails were also excellent and made properly with attention to detail. There wasnt anything particularly special about the restaurant, but everything was tasty, fresh, and clearly made with an experts eye.
Once again my husband and I went to Chez Mikes. Once again Mike and his crew in the kitchen out did themselves. From presentation of each course to the mouth watering taste he nails it every time. Katie is the bartender on Friday evenings and her knowledge of each dish offered is wonderful. She is attentive, funny, and a great front person for the restaurant. We have never eaten at one of Mikes tables,but non the less each of the wait staff greet us with a welcoming smile and a hello. The staff has been there for years which I think is a great testament to how Mike runs his business.
Always a great meal! Generous portions and just yummy! I had the short ribs on my last visit and the meat was falling off the bone, super tender and had a rich gravy that matched perfectly. Shame on me for not making the trip to East Greenbush more often to enjoy these meals. In 10 or so visits I have never been disappointed.
I was really looking forward to trying this restaurant, as I had heard great things about it.It was ok, at best. The dining room was very crowded and we even changed tables due to being uncomfortably cold. My app and entree were fair, nothing special. Our waitress really didn’t seem to know what she was doing.I doubt I’ll be back.
Good decorum, relaxed environment. Attentive waitresses. Food, especially the beef short ribs, was devine. It is located in a shopping center that one may easily miss this gem of a restaurant. The only negative I can think of may be the price, but it isnt outrageous for the quality of the food. They also offered a slew of different kinds of beer, some of which must be local brews since Ive never heard of them. Will definitely visit again in the future.
Excellent experience, great food, and a friendly wait staff. Three of us ate, and none of us were disappointed. Our choices included seafood, short ribs and a hamburger. My sea bass was delicious with a complex pilaf side dish, my wife enjoyed excellent short ribs, prepared with a special reduction. Her mother stuck to a simple hamburger, which she said ranked with the best shes ever eaten. This was a very pleasant surprise in a very unlikely setting... a strip mall. We almost discounted it, but were happy we found it decided to give it a try. (some nice beer and drink selections, too!)
I can’t say enough good things about this restaurant. I’ve been going regularly for about 5 years now and EVERY meal has been amazing - I can’t think of a single time that I left unimpressed. The menu changes frequently enough to keep things interesting. Everything is made so thoughtfully (for example, bread with delicious olive butter and the fantastic little cookies that come with the check during every meal) and the attention to detail is immaculate.The staff is SO hospitable and once even got to meet Mike himself, who has also incredibly kind.We are so lucky to have a place like this in East Greenbush!
What more is there to be said about one of the best kept secrets in the Capital Region? CM has been at the top of our list for years now. Who knew, that tucked away in a little suburban strip-mall, would be this culinary gem of gems. The menu is superb, with a perfect balance of items for those with more adventurous palates, as well as for those who prefer something more familiar. All too often, weve taken the advice of others to try this place or try that place, the result nearly always being a plate of Sysco swill dressed up to look a little more adventurous. All of that mediocrity makes it all the sweeter to return to our home-base, Chez Mike. As has been stated in other reviews, it speaks volumes that front of house staff is not only knowledgeable about every dish on the menu, but there is very little turnover as well. I even e-mailed Mike once to see if he would give up one of his recipés as cooking is one of my passions at home. He got right back to me with all the details! Being as ardent a home cook as I am, I suppose my standards are high. Thats why when we do choose to dine out, we nearly always choose Chez Mike. It never fails.
This is an upscale restaurant hidden in a strip mall. Do not let the location deceive you this is a 5 star place hidden in a 2 star setting. The food is to die for. I had the chicken which was moist and flavorful. Will have to go back and try the duck. The atmosphere is also great for date night since it is cozy and upscale.
Although I have heard good things about this restaurant and the atmosphere was very nice, the service was extremely slow. I went for lunch and ordered the scallop salad. I was very disappointed. It should have been considered a side salad, not a meal for lunch. It had barely any lettuce, and had only three medium sized scallops. I was still very hungry after my earing my salad. I probably wouldnt go back based on this experience.
East Greenbush lacks quality food at affordable price with good service (the Holy Trinity of food service, so to speak). Chez Mike delivers.In the area, they are 5/5 food (excellent), 5/5 service (excellent), 4/5 price (expensive).However, if my understanding of Michelin stars is correct, they would be 3/5 food, 5/5 service, 2/5 price. So what Im saying is overall they deliver quality food excellent service and modest price.June, youre the best, love you sweetie. Mike, you know what youre doing. Id love to shake your hand but please stay back cooking.
The only real restaurant in Rensselaer/E Greenbush. Excellent food, great wait staff, intimate dining. Plenty of daily specials. 3-course special costs around $22, highly recommended. Separate bar area if you just want a drink and/or high-top eats. We come here often and are never disappointed.
Hyperbole is far too common today in descriptions, and it tends to muddy the waters when trying to convince people of the quality of a certain place or item. However, when it comes to describing Chez Mike, it is not a hyperbole to say that this is one of the best restaurants in the Capital Region based upon the food, service, and atmosphere. The staff is professional, funny, personable, and very attentive.I enjoy badgering the wait staff so they can educate me as to any items Im not familiar with, and this happens quite often. One of my favorite things about CM is how unique and impressive the dishes are. Most are relatable, such as the burger or cut of steak, but then there is a certain mushroom or cheese incorporated that was new to me. Every time we visit I get some more tasty tidbits of trivia regarding elevated eating. Everything is good, and we would go everyday if we could.
The atmosphere and waitstaff were nice. Our particular waitress was both friendly and knowledgeable.Overall the food was disappointing especially for the price. I still give it 3 stars hoping that maybe it was just an off night although it was my first time so I can’t confirm that.I had 3 things (beer, app, and entree) and none of them were memorable or particularly good. The beer is one I have often at other places and it tasted close to being flat, perhaps it had been sitting around awhile. Each person at our table tried the calamari and agreed something was wrong. Sorry for the detail, I’m not exaggerating - I was chewing for over a minute before a had to spit it out. They were nice enough to take it off the bill and acknowledged it wasn’t right. I’m not sure if it was frozen too long or just cooked poorly. As for the entree, I had the salmon and it was fine. It wasn’t very memorable, but based on the taste, portion size, and the cost, it was subpar as an entire dish (the salmon was cooked well). Everyone’s portions were on the small side, which is fine if that’s the vibe the place gives but I didn’t expect it to be that small at a “neighborhood” type restaurant. That might be on me though with expectation. I did go home and have dinner afterwards.Again, I hope it was just an off night but I would only go back in the hopes that it would prove me wrong.
Weve eaten here three times in the last two months and every time has been excellent. The staff are extremely personable, attentive and knowledgeable. Highly professional. And as for the food? Well, Chez Mike says it all. Big city dining in suburban Albany. We cant wait to eat here again.
Chez Mike is a gem in a strip mall setting. His menu is imaginative, sophisticated, and always provides a wonderful variety of standard and trendy offerings. His burger is the BEST I’ve had anywhere. I love the addition of smaller plate appetizers that can easily become a dinner entree. I am someone who appreciates this as I prefer consuming smaller portions. In my opinion, he is one of the top chefs in the area. My husband and I dine out often and frequent higher end restaurants from Troy to Saratoga. Mike ranks among the best. I would highly recommend trying this venue!!
Stopped in for lunch today and the place was pretty quiet. Staff was friendly enough. The skirt steak sandwich was pretty damn good. If I had to come up with a complaint...maybe too much salt on the fries? Nothing a little ketchup didnt fix. Ill probably go back to try some other things...or more of the same.
We have been to Chez Mike before and were impressed. Today, 6/24, we showed up without a reservation. I knew there was going to be a wait since we didnt have one. The hostess looked at us and said she had to seat the reservations first. She said we could sit at the bar until she could tell us how long the wait would be. We got a few drinks and she never came by and checked on us. Didnt even take our name down for a spot eventually. We asked the bartender to see how long the wait would be. She told us 20 minutes. We waited. The hostess still never came around to seat us, and others that were there without reservation were seated before us. Not impressed about how this was handled. We walked out and the hostess said nothing on our departure. Hopefully a good experience next time since we have a coupon, but definitely deterring from coming back to be honest.
Food is a great value. Quality is top notch at a reasonable price. I almost always get the liver!! If they can do li ed so it us edible, they can cook anything to perfection. Try the tuesday/Wednesday 3 course prix fix for around $25.what makes theirs different is the choices are something you really want to eat!
An absolute hidden gem! Dont let its strip mall location fool you. Chez Mike is by far one of the best fine dining establishments in the Capital Region. The food, service, and atmosphere are excellent. The menu changes seasonally, and everything is made with locally sourced ingredients. They even have their bread shipped up fresh from Tribeca (New York City) every day.The food is clearly gourmet, but its so accessible and reasonably priced. If you want a gastronomic experience youre not soon to forget in a chic and unpretentious setting be sure to try Chez Mike. You will not leave disappointed.
Ate here, had a guy named Tim as my server. Food was great, but I couldn’t enjoy it properly as my server really made our table uncomfortable. He seemed super pushy, kept touching our table and interrupted when we were talking. I also noticed that when he brought our food to the table that some of our dishes were brushing up against his shirt. Ew! I’ve been a server at a high end restaurant for many years and feel that this guy doesn’t know what he’s doing. Hats off to the chef, consider getting better wait staff.
Hidden Gem. Chilled corn soup with crab and pepper sauce was a perfect summer appetizer. The halibut, short ribs, and pressed chicken were all fabulous. The chick pea fries were a big hit at our table. And then there was the bread with olive butter...to die for. Just a great find.
Disappointing. This place looks like a simple diner, its overpriced. Got Brick Roasted Chicken for $20 and it took them 40 minutes to cook it, it was brought with two tablespoons of mashed potatoes and a full plate of spinach. For $20? Really? Chicken was ok, but nothing earth-shaking and definitely shouldnt be $20 in such place. Wont be back.
Chez Mikes, located in Hannaford Plaza, is quite possibly one of the best restaurants in the Capital District. Its small and cozy (reservations highly recommended) and the dining experience, from the quality of the service to the selections on each of Mikes seasonal menus, is sure to please. Hint: the short ribs are to die for. East Greenbush needs more higher-end restaurants but while were waiting for that to happen, thank goodness for Chez Mikes 👏
From outside, you would just keep walking! Once inside, it is a cute small place with nice calm atmosphere. Perfect for relaxing! I ordered the fall salad and grilled filet mignon. The salad was just the right size with smoky Gouda and crisp apples to add a wonderful flavor and texture. The filet mignon came with Swiss chard, sweet potatoes, and an ancho butter. The filet was tender and flavorful. The Swiss chard(I usually hate it) was a great accompaniment and the sweet potatoes just right. This isn’t a five star chevron restaurant, BUT for local fare, it deserves top billing!! Great service as well!
We stopped in for lunch on the way to the Times Union center, and the reviews looked good. The entrance doesnt sem that inviting, and it was quiet for lunch. However, the food was five star all of the way. We had a burger, oyster po boy and a filet mignon. All of them were perfectly cooked with complimentary flavors. The oysters were fresh and hand breaded, and the burger was very juicy and cooked to order.
Total reviews rating 4.7
199 Reviews for Chez Mike 2023:
Review №1
2022-02-26WOW! Amazing service, food, and drinks!!! The blood orange margarita was INCREDIBLE. Food was DELECTABLE. and Tina, the bartender was attentive and friendly and made my experience joyful and lovely. I will definitely be back. The setting is romantic, intimate, and classy, yet approachable… and the staff feels like family even though it was the first time I’ve visited. Can’t wait to take my hubby out for date night!
Review №2
2021-08-14Chez Mike never disappoints! We tried their seasonal blackberry gin drink which was delightful. I got the New England chowder, which was quite generous and tasted so fresh! My friend got the ribs which were so tender they practically melted in your mouth! Well be back again soon!
Review №3
2022-06-10I am SO impressed with Chez Mike! Service is great, and they really take the time to make you feel welcome. The little cookies that came with the check were so good, and the little chef-signed note that came with the boxed leftovers was such a nice touch.
Review №4
2022-06-17First time eating here. Got take out. Will definitely be back. The little cookies that came with the meal were excellent. Wish they had those on the menu to buy. Fish was best I had ever had.
Review №5
2022-06-17My wife and I were in the area and looking for a nice dinner. We absolutely found it with Chez Mike! Excellent food and wonderful service. We very highly recommend and we will be back when in the area again!
Review №6
2022-06-14Had a wonderful dinner with my family here. I had the short ribs and my dad had the caves levers, both dishes exceeded expectation.
Review №7
2021-11-24This is the place we go for dinner out when I visit my sister and brother-in-law. The food is wonderful, seasonal and locally sourced. The staff is sweet and efficient (especially Cameron). The ambiance is happy and relaxed. My family always looks forward to dinner at Chez Mike, and were never disappointed.
Review №8
2022-06-29Great calamari. Boutique type eclectic dining with very limited menu.
Review №9
2022-03-09We celebrated my moms 70th bday last night and words cannot express the whole experience-The food was amazing-Natasha our waitress was top notch so pleasant and friendly constantly checking on our party-They allowed us to bring our own special birthday dessert and Mike himself plated it beautifully Thank you so much for making my moms bday super special❤
Review №10
2022-04-28The food is always interesting and excellent! The service is consistently excellent! I love this place.