Villa di Como Ristorante

Delicious, fantastic, magnificent! The very best Italian restaurant I’ve very experienced. The true Italian food I can say because I have 12 years of working experience in Europe before! What we ordered today, there’s no disappointment. Each one turns out to be surprisingly delicious!

Food is authentic, it’s as though you’re eating Italian food in Italy! Very delicious and ingredients are superb. Staff is amazing and very attentive.

We had a reservation for 15 that turned into 17. The staff quickly accommodated us in a private dining space upstairs. We did the fixed course menu which was well portioned and delicious. Entrees were too big and everyone had food to take home! Very good value and service was attentive and professional. Highly recommend!

My boyfriend and I had a wonderful dining experience at Villa di Como. We started with the calamari which is the best we have had in the area, it came with marinara sauce which was also wonderful. We also had the garlic bread and hot crispy oil for dipping. Both were flavorful and delicious. We were able to take the jar of oil, which was made in house, home and will definitely use it with bread at home. I enjoyed the melanzane parmigiana and my boyfriend had the pollo parmigiana both of which were generous portions and delicious as well! We bought a bottle of limoncello and orangecello to take home and enjoy as they were both made at Villa di Como. On top of serving delicious food, the staff was welcoming, efficient, and knowledgeable about the food and drinks they were serving. It was a lovely experience and we will be back soon. I would highly recommend Villa di Como to anyone looking for an authentic delicious Italian meal in the Albany area.

I recently hosted an event at Villa di Como Ristorante through my job, and everything was absolute perfection -- the food, the drinks, their team, the atmosphere. Our guests complimented it all throughout the night. The staff was warm, welcoming, flexible, and collaborative. It was a memorable and enjoyable evening. Highly recommended!

First timers definitely will return. Chef Ali personally came out and went through the menu with me to help with allergies was extremely welcoming and attentive throughout our entire dining experience. Everything we had was delicious, including the suggested wine. Started with garlic bread, calamari, and a meatball appetizer that we shared, and everything was served nicely and extremely tasty.
Lovely bright fresh citrus dressed greens and 4 different meals had splendid flavoring served piping hot and yummy yummy sauces, which are also available to purchase.
We shared dessert of tiramisu and cheesecake, which was so light, I’m sure there were no calories in it. It all was a wonderful meal and it definitely felt like we were in Chef‘s home. He was so welcoming. The staff was super attentive and kind. We can’t wait to go back!

Beautiful slice of Italy right in Albany!
Gorgeous interior, excellent food and the friendliest staff. Wonderful experience! Also, have a glass of wine on the patio of 288 first. A delicious memory!!

We dined at Villa di Como Ristorante last night, it met and exceeded our expectations. Our group wanted to try as many items as possible so we shared everything. Margherita pie for app was nicely cooked. Quality cheese and the sauce was fresh and delicious. Arancini were 5 to an order, small but flavorful. Would def order again. We tried the meatballs at the waitress’s suggestion, they were great. Caesar salad was perfectly dressed, a nice balance and crisp greens. The star of the meal was the pasta vodka. Don’t miss this if you done here, it was pretty incredible.

Overall, the prices skew slightly higher than I think they could be, especially for the area. My advice to diners, don’t get hooked on this. You’re paying for thoughtful, fresh food, done right.

Service was great and we will 100% be back whenever in the area. The restaurant is 5 minutes from The Egg, so if you’re catching a show, as we were, this location can’t be beat.

Grazie mille Chef Ali, and VdCR , we had a lovely evening and great memories.

A work colleague and I literally stumbled on this restaurant, without knowing what to expect, after heading to the neighborhood for a different restaurant that didn't look to be our taste upon arrival. Even though the sign on the door clearly states Reservations Only, we asked the gentleman who greeted us if it was possible for two of us to come eat. It was only 5:30 on a Tuesday, but sure enough the place was BOOKED and could not give us a table. We were offered accommodation at the bar (fine with us) and were delighted by the experience. I grew up a NYC foodie and admittedly - right or wrong - I have lower expectations for quality when I'm smaller / second tier cities like Albany. I could tell, however, just from how things started - intimate, reservations only... small restaurant with personal interaction with the owner the whole time... and from the not so cheap prices for a menu that has so many standard Italian food staples like the Chicken Parm or Linguine with Clam Sauce... that this place was special.

Every step of the meal for us and what I saw with each and every table in the restaurant was tended to by Ali the owner. It was a perfect mix of a desire for things to be just right and a true professionalism. This restaurant is clearly a love for him.

We ordered the octopus carpaccio on his recommendation. It was the one thing we MUST get, he said. He was right. It was fantastic, as were everything else we ordered - a salad to share, garlic bread like none I've ever had before, and such quality renditions of the previously mentioned Chicken Parm and Linguine with White Clam Sauce.

Dessert was an Affogato (vanilla gelato with cold espresso). My wife was so jealous.

If I'm ever heading to Albany again, I will certainly try to get a reservation at Villa di Como.

Visiting Albany for the first time for work and this place was such a great find. The food was all excellent 10/10, our server Adam was great and knowledgable, and the ambiance of the small dining room was just lovely. Cant wait to come back

Delicious food, cozy atmosphere, and welcoming staff. When a reservation snafu came up, the owner was understanding and more than accommodating to our large party. The limoncello is top notch- highly recommend.

Been here for date night w/reservation and by myself without (sat at the bar). The staff and atmosphere are very pleasant, and the food was very VERY good. Definitely a tier above your semi-fancy chain-restaurants.

$79 all by myself/$140 date night. Everything made to perfection. Expensive, but damn good.

$14 per glass of wine
$30-$35 per main course
$14 per dessert

I never know where to park when going out…street parking would probably be easy enough—I usually find the closest spot in Washington Park.

Villa di Como was incredible. Our waiter Jordan, was very friendly and attentive. Everything we had was fantastic. From the garlic bread, the pasta vodka, to the pollo parmigiana, it was all next level. The food and service is not comparable to other local Resturaunts. The atmosphere is clean, quaint, and perfect for a date night. We loved both the limoncello and orangecello spritz. Chef Ali and his team did a fantastic job, the best around. Hands down !

Hands down the best pizzas on Lark Street, and certainly worth any wait. They're only open Thursday through the weekend, but I was happy to give them a try as soon as I could. Honestly, the best pizza that I've had in the Capital Region.

Firstly, the staff I met was super friendly, and genuinely nice. I texted my order in, got a text right before it was ready, and I swung by and picked it up. Super easy, and everything was fresh. Nothing reheated in an oven here.

Everything tasted amazing, and I've got a great portion of food. This restaurant will definitely be where I go where I need a great pie.

Delightful Italian restaurant in the heart of downtown Albany. After a long drive from Massachusetts, eating at this small yet bountiful ristorante truly made for a pleasant dinner following a busy day. Garlic pizza bread slices made for a tasty appetizer to munch on, reminded me of pizza al taglio eaten in Rome. Margherita and pepperoni pizzas were our entrees, also cooked to perfection. Tomato sauce on margherita pizza was incredibly fresh tasting, blended in beautifully with the Italian mozzarella and basil. Service was also incredibly friendly and attentive. Will surely return to this restaurant if in the area again!

First time i walked in here, i was expecting 3-star quality food to be honest. I was also a little disappointed that it was reservations only. However after visiting 5 times now, it is my favorite place to go dine out! Every time my girlfriend visits, the name of this restaurant is always a topic of conversation! MY RECOMMENDATION IS THE PASTA VODKA !! It is sooo delicious, definitely the star of the show along with their lemon cello spritz!!! 10/10 for sure! Try it out!

I am actually speechless on how amazing the dishes my lovely lady and I we able to enjoy! It is way beyond 5 stars!!! Absolutely the best filet migon I have ever been able to enjoy in my life!Truly💯 The pasta was so delicious and the sauce was so fresh and tasty! The waiter was so professional and polite never experienced such a waiter that was such a gentleman!!!I promise u if u go to this amazing restaurant u will be just as amazed as I was truly the best I have ever experienced in upstate NY. THANK YOU (VILLA DI RISTORANTE)

We've had neighbors rave about this spot and it lives up to the hype. Delicious thin, crispy crust pizza. The vegan pizza was surprisingly creamy and the partenopea (arugula & prosciutto) was light and refreshing. A bit pricey but worth it for the fresh ingredients, flavors and service. I texted my order, paid via venmo and was texted when it was ready for pick up - the future is here! They have a nice dining room and would love to dine in next time.

I'm in love with the food!!!! I've gone on my birthday, my son's birthday, my mom's birthday, I plan on finding as many birthdays as possible, and going, to share my passionwith others. Everyone I've taken has agreed with me, no exceptions.

I've also gone by myself for no reason other than I had to have the food!!! The wait staff are so friendly I had great conversations. The smoked salmon pasta dish is to die for. The steak is perfect every time. The bean dish with broccoli Rabe is sooo good. The waiter from Italy told me it was the best cheesecake ever or he'd pay for it. Damn him for being right! lol.
Best food in the capital region, hands down. ❤

A great experience! A modern dining space and take on Italian. The espresso martini was made exactly as they’re suppose to be. The pasta was also phenomenal. Vodka sauce was rich and creamy and the olive oil sauce has just the right amount of spice. The pizza was great too, although slightly soggy on the bottom from the thick cut mozzarella. I can’t really complain about that though because who doesn’t love cheese. Highly recommend