Featured Restaurant

DeJohn's Restaurant & Pub
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Valentines Day is right around the corner. The time of year when you get to show your loved ones just how much they mean to you. What better way to show that person than a dinner at DeJohn’s Restaurant & Pub located at 288 Lark Street Albany NY 12208. Not only is the food delicious but the restaurant is cleverly separated into three floors giving you a romantic, relaxing, and party type dining.- experience. The first floor (“The Pub”) contains a full twenty-seven foot bar reaching the entire length of the restaurant. Complete with flat screen televisions makes “The Pub” perfect for watching sporting events. While the lighting was a bit dim in some places it definitely felt warm and cozy. The way a pub should feel.

The second floor (“The Madison Room”) is more for the romantic dining experience. For ones looking to impress their valentine’s date, this room (seating 26) is perfect. Two large mirrors and a window overlooking lark street add to the overall ambiance of the room. Each table is elegantly decorated with table cloths matching the wall, giving it a romantic ambiance making for a memorable meal.
For those looking to book a party or an exclusive meal, the third floor (“The Hamilton Room”) is ideal. Comfortably seating 38, this room comes with a full bar along with an outdoor balcony for those warm summer nights. As I scanned the beautifully decorated room I spotted a projector above perfect for private screenings. For those looking to book a private party can visit their website (http://www.dejohns.com) or simply call at (518) 598-7665 to make reservations.

Once seated in the Pub I was kindly greeted by the server who brought complementary bread (with Honey Cinnamon Pecan Butter) while I read the menu. This made the perfect starter to warm my taste pallets. To start off I ordered the Hazelnut Chicken Fingers (A twist on a classic, chicken encrusted with hazelnuts, fried and served with a Frangelico citrus cream sauce). This unique combination of flavors made the perfect starter. The portion size was good and it came with julienne-style cut carrots and mixed greens adding some pleasant color to the meal.

For the first entrée I ordered the Smoked Chicken Carbonara ( Smoked chicken and bacon sautéed, then tossed with penne pasta and finished with a sherry cream sauce). The sauce was rich and extremely sweet making it a nice dip for the complimentary bread. The Chicken along with the sun dried tomatoes provided a nice texture for the meal as well.

For the second entrée I thought I’d tackle the Chicken Roulade (A breast of chicken stuffed with spinach, roasted red peppers, smoked gouda and ham and served with a Thai green cream cause and gingered rice). I could definitely taste the ginger in the rice (cooked al dente) complete with the right amount of salt & pepper to give it a kick. The chicken was extremely tender and had just a hint of garlic.

Lastly I tried an entrée that sounded as good as it tasted. Seafood Fra Diavolo (Littleneck clams, shrimp and scallops in a roasted garlic marinara sauce with capers and fresh basil over linguini). The first thing I noticed was the thick and chunky sauce had a strong spice to it, yet not overwhelming. The basil and capers added a nice color to the meal. Every dish was presented in a professional and appetizing way.

In conclusion I highly recommend DeJohn’s Restaurant & Pub. In the heart of historic Albany New York, Dejohn’s provided one of the better dining experiences for me as I know it will for you. For those who want a romantic meal with the one they love or if you just want to relax with your friends, DeJohns Restaurant & Pub will make sure you leave satisfied and with an extra notch in your belt.

Review by Michael Weissman (Chief Culinary Consultant)

Photography by Christopher Case

Q. What are your hours of operation?

A. Bar Hours:
Weekdays 3:00pm - 2:00am
Weekends 11:30am - 2:00am

Restaurant Hours:
Monday through Thursday
Dinner — 4:00pm - 11:00pm
Friday
Dinner — 4:00pm - 12:00pm
Weekends
Lunch — 11:30am - 4:00pm
Dinner — 4:00pm - 12:00pm

Q. Why should people dine here?

A. Great food! Our menu has something for everybody's taste. We also have outstanding customer service.

Q. What kind of influences do you contribute to your food?

A. We incorporate a wide array of cultural influences to our food. Our dishes are very diverse.

Q. What makes your restaurant unique?

A. Dejohn's is an extension on my home. That is why I put my name on it.

Q. Why did you get into the restaurant business?

A. I love to be around people. I'm good at what I do.

Q. How long have you been in business?

A. August 2003

Q. What are some of your best selling dishes

A. Our best sellers are stuffed salmon with crab stuffing and veal & sausage marsala.

Q. If you had one word to describe your food, what word would it be?

A. Different

Q. Do you cater to special events?

A. Yes, we cater to sit down parties/dinners, cocktail parties etc. We can accommodate around 30 - 70 people.

Q. How do you want people to feel after leaving your establishment?

A. Satisfied!