T.G.I. Friday's (American food)

When one of the lab member's birthday is coming, we have a lunch at outside, such as T.G.I. Friday's (http://www.fridays.com/home/welcome.aspx), Panera(http://www.panerabread.com/) or ICHIBAN(http://www.ichibanalbany.com/). Today we had a lunch at T.G.I.Friday's. The foods of this restaurant is cheap and big volume, and most of students are satisfied with these foods. I ate "half sandwich and soup combination" today. The volume is half but it was enough for me
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T.G.I. Friday's
40A Stuyvesant Boulevard #A
Albany, NY 12203
TEL (518)489-1661
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Lunch Gathring at Hana Japanese Restaurant

I had a JLCC (http://www.freewebs.com/jlccsuny/) lunch gathering at "Hana Japanese Steak house and Sushi bar (http://hanaalbany.com/#/home)". There were 20 members joining this event. Last time I came there, I like the Sashimi (law fish) very much and this time I tried "Sushi Dinner($21)". Law fish was still good!
The gathering was so nice. Many Japanese and Americans who study Japanese talked together and enjoyed Japanese food. Unfortunately, I had a meeting yesterday and could not stay longer. But I enjoyed a happy time in this restaurant.

Professor Java's Coffee Sanctuary (Cafe)

I went to "Professor Java's Coffee Sanctuary(http://professorjavas.com/)" on the Wolf road. I am really interested in the name of this cafe. Inside the cafe is wide and very cheerful. Of course, there are many kinds of coffee but there are some tea and smoothie. Also, they serve sandwiches, cookies, muffins... This cafe makes me little uncomfortable because customers and shop person talks a lot and little noisy. So, I think it is difficult for me to read a book or write a report in this cafe. however, coffee is good. It is Deep-roasted and I love deep-roasted coffee very much.
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Professor Java's Coffee Sanctuary
217 Wolf Road Albany, NY 12205
TEL (518)435-0843
M-Th 7am-11pm
Fri.& Sat. 7am-Midnight
Sun. 8am-10pm
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Ragonese Import (Italian Deli)

This shop "Ragonese Import (http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2009/04/17/tiramisu-at-ragonese-imports)", is near the St.Peter's Hospital. The shop looks old and very small but many customer come there. One of my friends recommended me to try "Tiramisu" in this shop and I went there. I think Tiramisu are not made in this shop and keep in freezer. The price is $3.99 each and it looks little expensive for me. But taste was delicious! Also, it is put in the glass. This glass is pretty and I love it. I will definitely come and buy this Tiramisu again. Also, I bought tuna salad. This salad was mix with celery and very creamy. I put it in my sandwich and it match very good.

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Ragonese Import
409 New Scotland Avenue,
Albany, NY 12208
TEL (518)482-2358
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Cella Bistro (Italian or Frehch)

I had a dinner with my friend at "Cella Bistro (http://cellabistro.com/index.html)" in Schenectady. Inside the restaurant was very elegant and I like these taste. I ate duck and my friend ate mahimahi. The duck was so soft and the combination of source on the duck, which was made by wine, and duck was really amazing. I love duck and ate duck many times but I have a first time to eat such a tasty one. Mahimahi was also nice, especially the texture of side dish (sauteed mushrooms) was excellent! We really enjoyed dinner. Finally, we ate dessert; I ate caramel cheesecake and my friend ate crumble with raspberry. Unfortunately, they were not special (not bad but not good).
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Cella Bistro
2015 Rosa Road, Schenectady,
NY 12309
TEL (518)-381-2081
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The Jonesville Store (Cafe)

I went to get my lunch at "The Jonesville Store(http://www.thejonesvillestore.com/)" because one of my friend recommended to go this cafe. It is the one what I imagine the cafe in small American town. It's so cute. They serves sandwiches, bagels, salad, cake and so on. I bought quiche for lunch, Curry chicken salad for dinner, coffee cake for snack and meat loaf doe dinner. Quiche is kind of spinach, cheese and bacon. The pie part was so crispy and I like this texture. I got 1 piece of quiche but I thought I could eat 1 more piece. They have a lot of seats inside and outside the cafe. The terrace seats looks so nice in such a lovely day. Next time, I will stay longer and enjoy the lovely day.
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The Jonesville Store
989 Main Street, Clifton Park,
NY 12065
TEL (518)877-0507
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Dessert at Barcelona

I went to have a dinner with my friend at "Barcelona(http://www.barcelona-albany.com/)". I went there several times and I like their food. Today, we ate small portion of food because we wanted to eat dessert! We ate "Cheese cake with strawberry" and "Chocolate cake". Cheese cake was delicious but not special. I was little disappointed. However, Chocolate cake was really nice! Inside the cake, there was hot chocolate source and eat it with cold ice cream was really amazing combination and it was fascinated me a lot!

Dinner at Cafe Madison

I went to "Cafe Madison(http://cafe-madison.com/)" several times to eat lunch but I have a first time to eat dinner. The atmosphere is completely different lunch time from dinner time. Lunch time is very casual and livery but dinner time is very posh and calm. I like both of them. We ate "Crab cake", "Vegetable spaghetti" and "Duck Ragu". Crab cake was crispy outside and soft inside. The combination was really good. There were many kinds of vegetables in Vegetable spaghetti and it tastes very soft. Duck ragu's taste was little thick for me. Also, the amount of pasta was too much and I took out to my house. During dinner, we talked a lot about our job and study because we have not met about 3months and we had many topic to talk. This restaurant made us relax and we forgot to time. I love "Cafe Madison"!

Bella Napoli Bakery (Bread & Cake)

I went to buy some cakes at "Bella Napoli Bakery(http://www.bellanapolibakery.com/)". This shop sells many kinds of cakes and breads. I was so surprised! I did not decided which one I will buy. I roamed this side and the other side for several times. Finally, I bought dozen of dinner roll, an Italian cheese cake, 2 Eclairs and 1/2 pound of Chocolate cream puffs. All of them were only $9.00!! Also, this shop has counter seats inside and we can eat pizza and sandwiches. I will try next time. However, why I did not know such a good shop ???
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Bella Napoli Bakery
Corners of Route 9 & 155
Latham, NY
TEL (888) 800-0103
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Dinner at Creo

I had a dinner with my 4 Japanese friends at Creo(http://www.creorestaurant.com/). I like Creo because of their food and atmosphere. Today we shared to eat some plates; Avocado and tuna roll as an entree, Eggplant & five cheeses wood fire roasted as an entree, Risotto of the day, Pasta of the day, Crème brulee, shortcake with 4 berries and chocolate & Mascarpone cake. All of them were delicious, especially, I love Risotto. Today's risotto was shrimp and artichoke on the risotto. These combination were really good. Also, I became big fan of short cake. I came this restaurant 3 times. Every time I came, I am satisfied very much.

The Afghan Grill (Afghan food)

I went to "The Afghan Grill(http://www.theafghangrill.com/)" with my friend. They serve buffet Mon.-Fri. lunch time (About $8). There are salad with Afghan dressing, 2 kinds of basmati rice (White and Brown), Afghan bread, 4 kinds of curry (chicken, vegetable, beef ball and spinach). Every food was mild, not spicy and I love this taste. Unfortunately, there is no dessert. Oh, I wanted to eat afghan dessert (But I do not know what Afghan dessert is...). I need more kinds of food because of buffet, but I was satisfied the food they served.

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The Afghan Grill
952 Troy-Schenectady Rd.,
Latham, NY 12110
TEL (518)783-9200
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Anton's (Greek-American Eatery)

I went to "Anton's(http://www.antonsgreekrestaurant.com/index.php)" today at lunch time. I was so surprised because there were many people there. Inside this shop, there are about 5 tables but most of the people took their food out. I ordered "Pork Souvlaki ($6.75)" and "Today's soup(Gambo, $3.25)". Pork Souvlaki was very big, and many pork, tomatoes and onions were served on a pita. I love tzayziki sauce, which tastes like mayo + onion? The people who work in this shop looked very busy and I could not talk with them. I waned to know the ingredients of Greek sweets which were on the counter, and wanted some of them but I could not do. Next time, I will go there except lunch time and want to try Greek sweets!

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Anton's
577 New Scotland Avenue,
Albany NY, 12208
TEL (518)453-9191
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Dinner with My Friends

I had a dinner with my friend who will return to Japan next month. We went to "Barcelona(http://www.barcelona-albany.com/)". This restaurant is near SUNY uptown campus but many of my friends do not notice it. Today, I ate "Chicken Paella" and my friends ate "Seafood pasta" and "Pork Mediterranean". As for the Paella, the texture of rice were perfect and Chicken was so nice. As for the seafood pasta, we can choose red or white source. There were many seafood on the pasta and it looked difficult to eat. As for the Pork Mediterranean, Basil and olive oil source were put on the pork, and it make me so hungry.
Some of my Japanese friends graduated this semester and they will return to Japan. I am so sad on this summer...

Lunch at Londonberry Cafe

I went to have a lunch with my friends at "Londonderry Cafe (1475 Western Ave # 30, Albany, NY 12203)" in Stuyvesant plaza. Today was lovely day, so many people had a seats in outside. Last time I came this cafe, I ate quiche and it was nice. Today, I ate half size chicken salad sandwiches and pumpkin soup. Sandwich was little plain taste and soup was sweet. I wanted to eat soup more.
After eating lunch, we move to Starbucks coffee and talked for a long time. We sat in a outside and enjoyed beautiful day!

My B-Day #2 "Hana Japanese Steakhouse"

I went to my lab after interview.
My lab-mates celebrated my B-day and we went to have a lunch at
"Hana Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar(http://hanaalbany.com/#/home)". One of our lab-mates really love this restaurant but I have not gone yet. Inside the restaurant was little dark but good decoration and atmosphere. There are many kinds of lunch menu and I ate "Tonkatsu lunch box". Other members ate "Sashimi Lunch", "Sushi Lunch" and ... In my lunch box, there were Tonkatsu (deep fried pork), 2 dumplings, California roll, vegetable tempura and miso soup. It was lot for me. The taste of my Tonkatsu was so-so but Sushi looked so delicious. Fatty tuna was beautiful and fascinated me.
One of the member told "Today is my B-day" to waiter, so they sang a birthday song and gave me ice cream tempura, but they asked me to dance, dance!! Sorry, I could not dance...
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Hana Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
1620 Western Avenue,
Albany,NY 12203
TEL (518)452-4262
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Korean Food

One of my friends will return to Japan next week, so we had a dinner together at "Ta-Ke　Japanese Steakhouse(http://www.timesunion.com/entertainment/restaurants/onerestaurant.asp?name=&cuisine=-1&style=-1&location=-1&price=-1&zipcode=&restaurantID=1203)". This restaurant mentions Japanese steakhouse but I think their Korean foods are better than Japanese. We ate Korean food. Food was so-so and price was so-so...

Capital Q (BBQ)

I went to buy my lunch at "Capital Q (http://eatmypork.com/index2.html)" today. This shop is famous as "The best of BBQ in 2008". The shop in small but there are some chairs to eat there. I bought "Capital Q Pulled Pork ($8)" by the plate, which comes with the choice of 1 side dish, cornbread and coleslaw. I selected Fried Okra as a side dish. I am familiar to eat okra but I have a first time to eat fried okra. It likes a snack and I love it. The pork was with spicy vinegar sauce and this is little spicy for me. The amount of this lunch was too much for me and I could not eat all of them. Other meats, such as chicken, yard birds and beef, also sounds good. I will try later.

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Capital Q
329 Ontario Street,
Albany, NY 12208
TEL (518)438-7675
Mon.-Thur. 11am-9pm
Fri.&Sat. 11am-10pm
Sun. 11am-8pm
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Dinner Club at P.F.Chang

I had a dinner with 2 of my friends at "P.F.Chang(http://www.pfchangs.com/)". We ate "Chang's for 2 ($39.95)" and "VIP Duck". As for the "Chang's for 2", we can select 2 cup of soup, 1 starter, 2 entrees and 2 mini desserts. We selected "Hot and sour soup", "Egg drop soup", "Chang's chicken lettuce wrap", "Pepper steak", "Cantonese shrimp", "Tiramisu" and "Strawberry cheese cake". All of them were so good, especially I really love "Chang's chicken lettuce wrap". As for the "VIP Duck", duck was little oily and tasted Chinese spice.

Finally, we could not eat all of the food and took of them to my home.

Spill'n the Beans (Cafe)

After eating lunch, we went to "Spill'n the Beans(http://www.spillnthebeans.com/)". I really want to go there because one of my friend recommended me to drink their coffee. I drank cafe latte. I selected the size (small or regular or large), a kind of milk (skin or whole or low fat), coffee beans and concentration of coffee (single or double or triple). I am not familiar with coffee beans and I asked them to drink light one. Amazing! This cafe latte is the best I drank in my life. Also, my friend's Mochaccino is sweet and tasty. I am so impressed their coffee. Why they are not near my house...
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Spill'n the Beans
13 3rd Street, Troy,
NY 12180
TEL (518)268-1028
Mon-Fri 7am-5:30pm
Sat 8am-5:30pm
Sun 8am-3pm
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Brown's Brewing (Beer restaurant)

I went to have a lunch with my friends at "Brown's Brewing(http://www.brownsbrewing.com/)". last time I went there was dinner time, so I had a first time to have a lunch. I ate hamburger and my friends ate sandwich. I really wanted to drink beer but did not drink it because I have to drive after eating lunch. Many customers were drinking beer and I was envy them!!!
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Brown's Brewing
417 River street, Troy,
NY 12180
TEL (518)273-2337
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