The Orchard Tavern & Restaurant

the place for good pub grub… tap selection is way above average– love the orchard it is worth seeking out!

The Orchard is great because it’s a simple, unassuming place with good pizza, crispy wings, and super friendly service. Plus it’s a local landmark. You don’t come here looking for modern décor or fancy presentation; you come because the food is good and the staff makes you feel like family.
If you asked me to describe my favorite type of pizza, it would in no way resemble the pizza served at The Orchard. But the pizza here is special and different and GOOD. Trust me. If you’re a pizza snob and are hung-​up on one particular style, you need to leave that nonsense at the door. (Yeah, I’m talking to you, downstater!) Just order one; ask for it extra crispy, and don’t plan on sharing because you’ll want the leftovers. When it arrives, don’t call it «pizza». Pretend it’s a delightfully crisp and buttery piece of french bread perfectly baked with tasty toppings. Shut up about your definition of «pizza» and just enjoy it. I have no doubt you will.

We placed an order for pick up so I can’t comment on the establishment itself so this is based purely on the food.
We ordered the Mozzarella Sticks (with raspberry sauce), Mac & Cheese Bites and a pizza. The Mozzarella Sticks were good, the cheese wasn’t gooey but I like it better this way. The Mac & Cheese Bites were delicious.
The pizza got screwed up a bit (which irritated my fiancé because this is something we experience often since I’m a vegetarian) — anyway we ordered a white pizza with broccoli on the whole thing and chicken on half. When we opened the box it was a white pizza with broccoli on one half and chicken on the other half. Like I said not a big deal, just annoying when this happens all too often almost everywhere we go. The pizza itself was actually disappointing, maybe it’s because I’m used to white pies with some kind of white sauce, here they just use oil as a base.
Overall I’d recommend the appetizers, the pizza didn’t do anything for me. Doubt we’ll be ordering from them again.

Went on a Tuesday night around 7:30. Bar was full of what seemed to be the «regulars», harmless older crowd. Bartender greeted us and suggested we check out the back room to dine. There was only one other table (out of about 12) that was occupied while we were there. Wing special .50 a wing, so I got the garlic parm. Very crunchy crispy, just the way I LOVE them! I got the turkey Reuben, which was giant and made my lunch today. Mine came with chips. He got the mushroom burger, almost finished it. His fries were excellent, large cut and very hot. Our server Natalie was very nice. Will go back for their famous pizza, and more WINGS!

I risked my life driving through the ghetto to get to this restaurant because they advertise a six dollar pizza and dollar off drafts. What they don’t advertise anywhere is that the special starts at 7 PM. I arrived at 6:30 PM a half an hour after happy hour. The bartender was in a bad mood and refused to give me either special. I don’t know what he was so upset about but he was bitching up a storm and was very slow.
Lastly the pizza really sucked. It was a small rectangular pizza with greasy crust. It was exactly like the crust they use at Pizza Hut. I left feeling still hungry. Only reason I even give it two stars was because I like the beer that was on tap.

I’ve been wanting to check out this historic tavern but it didn’t occur to me again until a friend recently brought it up in conversation. Our party of 4 had never stepped foot in this establishment and were curious about this traditional tavern dated 1903! Not knowing exactly what to expect, we came in hungry, left stuffed, and leftovers boxed in hand.
The parking lot on both sides of the tavern were crowded but luckily we managed to find a spot. As we entered it’s front door, we agreed that the bar scene and the atmosphere was sort of dive-​y and the crowd was mature. It wasn’t clear to us where the host/​hostess stood but as we entered into what seems to be the actual dining area, we were greeted and sat at a table located down a long hallway, past the kitchen, and into a large room with many other diners. I’m estimating the tavern was at 80% capacity, a relatively busy night. Our server was friendly and was able to help one of the diners in our party figure out what menu items could be prepared gluten free. She informed us that they do not have a gluten free menu or gluten free specified items listed. We were also told there is no drink menu but she could tell us what beers/​ciders were available.
Since the pizzas are iconic, we decided to order the buffalo style chicken pizza (medium), chicken parm, and a buffalo chicken salad. We were also encouraged to order one more pizza due to its size… which our server claimed to be small if split between two people. We weren’t sure either, so we ended up ordering the shrimp scampi pizza additionally. I was glad to try the 2 different pizzas to compare the red sauce vs white sauce. Minutes later, we received a basket of bread (room temperature) and packaged butter (hard to spread)…not quite worth the calories. 30 minutes later we received our entrees… quite a wait I’d say, but luckily we were carrying great conversation and didn’t notice time had passed so fast. The rectangular French bread like pizzas were piping hot when they arrived. My friend’s salad and chicken parm were on the larger side, and seemed to be good, not great. I was able to split the 2 pizzas with another friend and as I initially liked the buffalo style chicken pizza more due to the spice level and the crispy oily crust, I ended up loving the shrimp scampi pizza. The scampi sauce and bites of whole shrimp was very appetizing (sorry, those who don’t do seafood pizzas). The best part of the pizzas were the crust… good crisp and while oily, it didn’t overwhelm me. We quickly found that two pizzas shared between two persons was too much food. We decided to take the rest home.
While I can’t say the service was particularly attentive (waters were not refilled), we were given extra napkins for our messy pizza hands. Check splitting was not a problem, we were out of there in an expected time. I’m not in a rush to go back, but would be open to trying other pizzas on the menu.

We went to the Orchard for the first time in a decade and had freshly prepared great food in big portions. It’s a totally Albany place in business for 112 years. If you are looking for a hip place in a cool neighborhood, this is NOT it. If you want a perfectly cooked burger or pizza with a good selection of beers on tap, this is it.

I’ve loved this place for years, but never went enough because they didn’t offer vegan cheese for their iconic pizzas. One of the owner’s sons moved in down the street and after a few introductory conversations, I asked if he’d make me a pizza with Daiya cheese that I’d bring in. Between asking and getting there, he said some of his vegan relatives had recently done the same. Today I went with Daiya in hand and shortly thereafter a pizza appeared. It was terrific. It is clearly of a style, thicker crust, rectangle, toppings on top of the cheese, and you can count me as a fan of their style.
I ordered the vegetarian pizza which includes lots of various veggies. More than I typically want but an easy order and all the veggies were fresh and delicious. The crust was light and crisp with just the right amount of fat to be pleasing. Being able to enjoy that pizza in a space that has been open since 1903 really makes it special for me. That, and the fact that my neighbor’s brother, who was behind the bar, knew I was coming and was a delight to get to know.
Pizza without beer is sad. You won’t suffer that fate at The Orchard. They offer a good variety of craft beer, running the gamut from hoppy ales to milder lagers and a few seasonal offerings to boot. I enjoyed a Southern Tier Pumking with my inaugural pizza. My first but not my last.
Unofficial word is a vegan should be able to walk into The Orchard and order a vegan pie by 2016. Until then, bring in a bag of Daiya and blame your behavior on me. I do not think they will blink. I’ve paved the way. You are welcome.

Eat here once in awhile, only have the pizza. Good service for the most part, once in awhile slow. Good pizza Guinness on tap which is good. Family place, nice outside decent prices

Absolutely excellent food! We used a Living Social deal online, and it was definitely worth it!
Their pizza is a longtime favorite of ours, and they have some good happy hour deals. Ordered 3 pizzas, it was about $ 35 with drinks. The pizzas are small rectangles; serves 1 – 2 people. Absolutely delicious. :)

Stopped into the Orchard for the first time a few weeks ago. Now i’m hooked.
There were a surprising amount of beer options on draft that covered all the bases well working in German, Irish and English choices among your standard domestics. There were a couple hop choices too for you hopheads.
I had planned to make it to the Unilocal event, but ended up missing out. When I was reading up on it I heard about how tasty the wings and pizza were. Dove into classic hot and garlic parm wings here. Both were great, but the garlic parm were the best i’ve had in the area. We got loaded tater tots that could feed a small army and a mushroom pizza that didn’t disappoint.
After you eat take some time to walk around the bar. There’s a ton of old pictures and articles on the walls. Pictures from the railroad, tobins and other Albany classics. Really neat.
We sat near the bar in a booth and were taken care of really well by the bar tender and server. They were both really kind and very cheerful which was contagious and we had a really great time. Can’t wait to make it back.

Super hard to find, but if you can find it, it’s delicious. I should have ordered the pizza since that’s their ‘thing’ but I had eaten pizza for lunch so I went with a burger. I was not disappointed. My coworker got the wings and she said they were awesome.

First time here, on a Friday night. Service was prompt and courteous, food came in a timely span. Bottled beers were $ 4.00 & $ 5.00 each. Reasonable, we thought the antipasta was fresh & the meats were not grossly fatty as they can be. The pizza is unique, with a thicker crispy crust, nice tangy sauce and cheese that tastes like the cheese from my mothers Mac & cheese. Yum!
I didn’t love the apple pie, should have asked for it to he warmed up.
Yes, this restaurant is in an old Albany neighborhood & has a unique atmosphere, which I find charming! If you like chains, better stick to Wolf Road.
Note: there are coupons in the Clipper magazine!

Needed to see what the fuss here on Unilocal about this place is all about!
The service is the bottom of the barrel worst!
Bad pizza tasted so over processed, seems like they use a cheap imitation cheese on the pizza, under cooked, the green peppers had a ting taste to it gross, when we question it we were told it was probably the after taste of the dark beers we were drinking? REALLY!
If I had a choice I would prefer a Celeste microwavable pizza over this Assisted Living style pizzeria ! Never again

There aren’t many restaurants around us that have been serving food for as long as The Orchard has, and you feel that history the moment you walk in the door. I’ve come in and seen three generations of family all drinking at the bar together. Whenever I eat in the dining room it’s a mix of octogenarians and parents with young kids, who you have to assume came to The Orchard when they were kids. Old pictures adorn the wall, and it feels a little bit like a step back in time.
On my most recent visit I got a cup of New England clam chowder, which was amongst the best I’ve ever had. Delicious pieces of clam that weren’t gummy and tasteless, as is so often what you get. It wasn’t too briny or fishy, and the slight sweet of clam came through in every bite. It was rich and hearty and so savory and perfect. I immediately regretted ordering just a cup of it. I could have had a gallon, and called it my entrée.
Although I almost always get pizza, on my last visit I did not. I kept it going with the clams and I got a clam basket. Man what a thing. Outside of some sleepy seaport town, I’ve never had clams as tasty and fresh and GIGANTIC as what was offered here. Unbelievably good. And they didn’t skimp on the horseradish in their cocktail sauce either, which is outstanding. The serving size was hilarious; it was a veritable mountain of clam strips. I ate to the point of exhaustion, and still had a massive pile for lunch the next day. All for 11 bucks. Crazy.
Try the pizza. It’s not for everyone, but you can’t go here and not try it. In a city with a glut of pizza options their unique square pizza is some of my favorite. Allegedly, the recipe for the dough is kept in a safe in the basement and has been unchanged for 70 something years; same with the pizza trays. I always order them crispy or well done, as that buttery dough really deserves to be a rich golden brown with some burnt edges. I think I’ve tried all of their pizzas, and always come back to the buffalo chicken or just the standard. They have a shrimp scampi pizza, which does not sound like it would work, but really, really does. So does the BLT pizza, replete with lettuce and all. Again, should it work? Probably not. Does it? Yup…
There are some dishes that seem expensive, and some that seem like a hell of a bargain. The place can get PACKED, especially on Sunday. Their hours used to be a little bit weird, and it almost always seems like there is a party of 30 that closes half the place down. So it might be worth giving the place a call to make sure you can get a seat. They have a back patio which seems to have pretty frequent live music, although I’ve never managed to make it. They now carry a pretty awesome selection of craft beer, which only makes the place better.
TL;DR because I can talk about The Orchard forever? Go get some pizza and beers and sit in a place surrounded by people who have been going there for longer than you’ve been alive.

Great beer on tap. I ordered the special a burger: Beef & Pork Belly Burger w/​Potato Pancakes. I ordered the burger medium but it came out medium well (no pink) and it was very juicy but lacking flavor even with the spicy pepper jack cheese and grilled onions on it. The potato pancakes were potato nuggets that were shaped like coins and they were very greasy. The waitress was very accommodating; when we walked in she said it would be a 25 minute wait but she came and got us before I was even able to taste my Kingston dark beer at the bar.

What a difference seven years makes.
My first trip to The Orchard Tavern left me thoroughly unimpressed. The Orchard hasn’t changed. The Orchard hopefully will never change. So what’s the deal with the bump in stars?
Well, I’ve come to realize a few thing.
First, the pizza at The Orchard does not have to be soggy in the middle. It’s an easy fix of asking for the pies to be «well done» or «extra crispy.» Whatever you tell them, they’ll understand. There are plenty of people who think the standard doughy crust is improved with a little more time in the oven. Still, I start eating the pieces from the center and work my way out to the crispier corners.
Second, I’ve really come to better appreciate the tavern culture of the region and the role that The Orchard plays in the history of Albany’s culinary landscape. In many ways The Orchard Tavern is Albany. And the pans that are used to bake this unique style of pizza have been in service for over seventy years. It’s a recipe that has not changed, nor will it change. The dough and sauce are made from scratch. The cheese is sliced by hand. And there is even a special little dungeon where the dough is made.
Third, I’ve discovered their Buffalo chicken pizza. It’s really the best of both worlds. I can’t finish a whole pizza and eat an order of wings. Really, these pizzas are deceptively filling. It looks like any large adult should be able to polish one off. But I think there is more oil in that crust than anyone realizes. It’s what makes the edges so delightfully crisp. Anyhow, pizza and wings is a great combo. And with these pies, I can have them both in every bite.
There’s also the improved beer selection and the commitment to craft beer. I’ve discovered there’s a back patio, which is huge.
If you can take the pizza on its own terms, not compare it to other more familiar styles, and order it extra crispy, this is 4* food. The bonus star comes from the link to the past that this place provides, and the important role the tavern serves as Albany looks towards the future.
It feels maybe a bit more expensive than it should be. But when you come to realize that each of those pies is really best split between two people, it becomes a whole lot more reasonable.

Good food but they need to improve on their service and prices.
I’ve been to this establishment before and enjoyed the food quite a bit so my friend and I found it worthy enough to visit again with my mom. This place is half bar and half restaurant, so when we went on a Sunday night we expected their to be a little bit of a crowd. The thing is the restaurant portion is essentially one room with maybe a dozen tables within it. Upon arriving around 6pm, there was a slight wait but nothing bad considering. My mother was the only one to order a soda while my friend and I just ordered water (this does pertain to the review and I will come back to the subject in a bit). We did take a little while to figure out what we were ordering and had to ask the waitress to come back twice while we decided. Once we did finally make a decision, it seemed like our waitress just disappeared for ten minutes. Sort of annoying, but we let it slide.
My friend any I ended up each ordering one of their buffalo chicken pizza with garlic hot sauce and extra hot sauce to the side, while my mom ordered their steak sandwich with onion rings. The food took some time to come out, but that was expected since the pizza was probably made to order. Their pizza is what I remember the most about my first visit. It isn’t very big, just a rectangle cut into 10 slices, but it’s more than enough to fill one person, maybe even two. Their crust was okay, nothing outstanding, and the toppings and crispiness of the pizza were pretty good. I like my pizza cheesy and they did not skimp. The flavor was decent but the extra hot sauce and blue cheese were necessary to make it worth the visit. My mother enjoyed her steak sandwich but it was nothing to write home about. If anything, she liked her beer battered onion rings more. We also ordered a side of fries which were thick, crispy and quite tasty. During the middle of our meal the waitress came over to see how we were doing and asked my mother if she wanted more soda. Being a bar and a modern restaurant we didn’t think twice that it would cost extra so we were surprised when we notices a $ 5 charge on the bill for just soda.
After we were finished eating our waitress once again disappeared somewhere. It took forever for her to pop out of the kitchen and at that point we couldn’t even get her attention. We waited probably 15 – 20 minutes after we were done eating for her to come over. She wasn’t the only server there either, there were two or three others. Quite a few for such a small establishment. Finally when she did arrive, she gave us our check and take home boxes, and, once again, it took her forever to come over to take the cash. My group was already a little restless at this point so we just wanted to leave. When she came back with our change we were sort of confused why it was just dollar bills when our total came to $ 47.49. Not that 51 cents really made a difference in hindsight but she gave us the dollar bills and took the change… Um, okay. That’s a little rude considering. It’s not like we weren’t going to give her a tip, but it just came off inconsiderate and snooty.
Overall, I like the food. I haven’t been to many other bars in the Albany area to determine if their pub food is better than others, but their pizza definitely is good. The pricing is a little ridiculous: No free refills on soda in a bar? Charge a dollar for a side of hot sauce? $ 12 for an individual pizza? The pricing could be better, but what they really need to work on is their service and manners.

I finally made it back to the Orchard after sampling at the Unilocal event. Great old-​school place where a bunch of happy retired guys were shooting the breeze waiting for a private room to open up at lunchtime which it finally did. Faded group photos on the wall, no frills bare floors, wooden banquettes and general ambiance makes me feel like I’m maybe an ice truck driver in Albany circa 1915.
The food’s not quite as good as the atmosphere, but above OK and well priced for what you get. My brother in law from Pennsylvania Dutch country had the sliced beef sandwich with peppers and cheese (which was melted on the outside of the bun) and was in carb heaven. Sister had the square pizza with some frou-​frou topping but still good; very thick, bready crust however. I had the Chicken Parm sandwich whiich was fine but with undistinguished red sauce. Then we discovered that wings were half price at lunchtime and had those too; solid except for some rather mayo-​y blue cheese dressing.
It took a LONG time to get our food, 30 minutes plus. We were having a good time so didn’t really mind, but don’t come here if you plan to do something productive after.

That awkward moment when you realize you drove past this place dozens of times several chapters earlier in your life — that was me in college, when I took the back way from Siena to St. Rose to visit my sister… that same sister who just a few days ago told me this was one of her favorite places for pizza in Albany. That second awkward moment when you realize she was right and that I should have stopped here for pizza and a drink on some of those trips in years past.
I don’t believe I’ve ever used the term «unassuming yet delicious» for pizza. It fits here. I wouldn’t expect to say «ooh, ah» to the pizza just looking at it; I did after sampling it, especially the pepperoni pizza. The crust also has a rich taste. I do agree with comments about larger cuts/​slices, though I can easily rationalize I’m getting more slices. I was equally impressed and drawn to the boneless chicken, with its smoky taste, and the wings in general. I had to remind myself frequently to go after the carrot sticks to rationalize I was having a balanced meal.
Their layout offers you lots of dining options from tavern to family to group to outdoors in good weather… something for everybody.