The Top 2 Restaurants in Albany
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Rank 1. Juanita & Maude
Seasonal New American
Scott Eastman's debut in downtown Albany mixes sculptural charm and craft cocktails with a deliberately unfussy communal spirit, the room itself as welcoming as the seasonal cooking. Veal Bolognese carries the weight of his Corso years, while summer squash and halibut sing without pretension, trailing into creamy banana custard that tastes like restraint finally rewarded.
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Rank 2. China Village
Sichuan Chinese
A bright, modernized dining room with contemporary art and a sleek bar sets the stage for incendiary Sichuan cooking. The dry-fried chicken arrives crackling with chilies and numbing peppercorns; the five-spice pork shoulder, a house specialty, sits fork-tender in fiery chili oil alongside bok choy and scallions. A casual neighborhood favorite that takes its heat seriously.