The Hollow Bar & Kitchen

Nestled in the heart of Albany, promises a magical dining experience. While the ambiance and service are undeniably enchanting, the food, unfortunately, is a bit of a mixed bag. The appetizers were a modest start. The pretzels, though a classic comfort food, were paired with a runny beer cheese that fell short of expectations. The chicken tenders, while predictable, were reliable, offering a safe and satisfying option. The main courses presented a stark contrast. The daily beef stew was a delightful surprise, brimming with flavor and warmth. However, the salmon and risotto was a letdown. The salmon itself was tasty, and the accompanying salsa added a nice touch, but the risotto was more reminiscent of a polenta, detracting from the overall dish. While the Hallow’s staff is attentive and the atmosphere is inviting, it's clear that the kitchen needs to conjure up more consistent magic in their dishes.

I had been here last almost 8 years ago (yes I’m old!) until last week. I don’t get to downtown Albany much anymore but I was in the area on a Saturday night. My husband and I got a seat at the bar right away. They had some really interesting cocktails! Our drinks were served quickly and were delicious. I will absolutely return to try their food and another bevy!

Awesome place for food and drinks. They have a great food menu with lots of tasty options. The venue is friendly, warm, and with a chill vibe. I notice that there were a lot of locals, which is always a good sign. Jill, the cute bar tender recommend the Brisket sandwich. It was delicious. I got sweet potatoe fries instead of regular fries. Their wine and drink selection is great, and they also had fresh made sangria. I also ordered the bread pudding, but it was ok. Inwould get something else. I'll definitely come back again next time I'm back in Albany for work or pleasure and tryother ies in theor menu.

Absolutely LOVED my experience here! So it was a Saturday summer night (around 9pm), and all the eateries in the area had closed their kitchen for the night. This was one of the only two (the other one being McGeary) that had their kitchens open! Given how hungry we were, this place just instantly lifted our mood with their welcome! Once seated, we were delighted by the decor and the warm lighting. The place was aesthetically very pleasing with golden lights (in mason jars) and candles. The food was an absolute delight as well. The chicken pesto sandwich, with sweet potato fries on the side was a real hearty meal! Also, enjoyed their german wheat ale and cider on tap! PS: shoutout to their nice and friendly staff!

Had my bridal shower here 9/7/24. Food was great! Our server was amazing and sweet. Mike and Dora were very accommodating. I loved the vegan options and the gluten free availability. Do recommend!!

When you first enter, it seems like another upscale restaurant/pub. You might not expect much but bar that serves some food on the side. That is not what the Hollow is. After you enter the bar and see the main restaurant area, you can follow the place further back into more restaurant seating and then a live band/ extra bar area. The place is nicely decorated, perfectly lit and you don't need to use your phones flashlight just to view the menu. When we entered, we informed the hostess that we had reservations for about an hour ahead and we'd just grab a drink first. The bartender was nice, friendly, and efficient. They had an extensive drink and beer menu with a good amount of local and others on tap. There was a show at the TU center so the place was a bit full. We didn't expect to be seated for a while but they sat us probably a half hour before our reservation which was really nice, especially for a show night. The tables were close but you didn't feel like you were on each other's laps. The noise level was fine for a full house. We ordered apps including muscles, soup, beer & cheddar dip, and a cheese board. It was all delicious. Our waiter gave good suggestions & he was very personable and attentive. They had a great menu, including several Veg & Vegan options which you don't find most places. After the apps, our meals didn't take long at all. They spaced it out like we requested which was nice because it can be a bit annoying when you aren't even finished with the first few bites of your app and they bring out the entree. We ordered burgers, sandwiches and mac and cheese but I will definitely be back for the other selections like the ahi tuna, salmon, other cheese boards and scallops. If you like sweet potato fries, you must order them. I wish I hadn't waited so long to go here.

This is my type of place. The food is amazing, but let me start with the laid back, comfortable atmosphere. The wait staff is super knowledgeable and friendly, and our waitress’ beer recommendations were spot on. After that, we listened to everything else she recommended. The beer selection is pretty substantial with hit after hit. There’s def something for everyone. I had the Hollow burger, which is fresh, locally sourced, juicy and delicious beef with habanero ketchup, cheese, and an egg on top. I ordered mine medium and it was cooked perfectly. The gnocchi my girlfriend ordered melts in the mouth, and was to die for. Best pasta we’ve had in a long time, we both agreed. When we asked about dessert, our waitress recommended the bread pudding, which didn’t disappoint. I’m a bread pudding fan, and if you’re like me, it’ll def hit the spot. It’s simple, and classic, and we were both happy we had made room for dessert. I’m pleasantly surprised by how good the food is here in Albany, and this is a must try for anyone visiting. Anyone who’s a fan of good food, beer, and a comfortable local pub setting with no pretense or gimmicks. 5 stars all day.

We ended up at The Hollow 2x in one day Once for dinner and back for drinks with friends. Our waiter Curtis was absolutely amazing. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was eclectic and all the staff were friendly. The Brisket sandwich was out of this world. If in the area again would definitely go back.

I love this place! I had a great dining experience. The Hollow Burger, cooked perfectly medium rare, was amazing. The shoestring fries were perfectly crisp. I really enjoyed the jalapeno ketchup had the perfect kick. My beer was ice cold. The service was fast and attentive. I highly recommend The Hollow Bar! Update 10/23/2021: These wings are a 10 out of 10! I got the Hollow burger again and it was perfect with cheese and bacon. A big shout out to our server Xandra AAA+++ and thank you Phil!

The Vegan steak was delicious, this place is amazing, great inside decor and the outside looks phenomenal, besides the service is always beyond. Definitely coming back

Was there for a bridal shower and it was wonderful. The food was amazing and waitress was awesome. What a fabulous meal and time!!!!

Food was amazing! There were so many vegan options as well! The food was fresh and innovative!

Wonderful! My husband and I could not have asked for a better place to get married! The food, drinks, service were absolutely amazing and the owners were extremely accommodating for our wedding day. Get the Chili-ginger Brisket! Everything was delicious and we can't wait to go back for lunch/dinner. During COVID it can be stressful to get together with your loved ones in a public space, but we felt so safe the entire time. They went above and beyond to make sure our guests felt safe getting food, drinks, and just spending time together. Thank you so much! Mitchell & Dan

Got this place recommended by the Hotel staff. We arrived early and was seated immediately. Good assortment of beer on tap. The menu was diverse, very vegan friendly if that's for you. They had higher end entree foods along with typical pub food. A bit on the pricier side but not over priced. There was a covid surcharge if you paid with card. It was noted on the menu and the receipt. Beer cheese app and my brisket sandwhich was excellent. I'd go back.

Loved, loved, loved The Hollow Bar + Kitchen! I'm not sure why it took us so long to stop in!?! The service was awesome and the food was fab. Lots of gluten-free and vegan options too!

I had a great time at the Hallow. My salad was really good and the staff were super friendly! If you're in Albany, I'd definitely recommend stopping here!

Great place for lunch and drinks after work. The cheese board is fabulous especially if you have wine with friends and the vegan dishes and sandwiches are flavorful and fine for non vegans as well.

I loved the Hollow! This place had a very inventive menu, with some bold options. I loved the “Riggies” a blackened chicken/chorizo pasta with jalapeño. It was cooked to perfection with a great kick to it! The Hollow has an interesting vibe to it, like the menu it is a comfortable setting for both a younger hipper crowd (complete with some servers with impressive body art) to the more traditional working professional. Service here is friendly and prompt. The menu is not to be missed! I highly recommend this place for anyone visiting Albany!

I ordered catering from this restaurant for my father's "shiva" (Jewish mourning tradition) I was under duress, had to pull everything together so fast. Michael, the owner, took total control of the food and service. He shopped for special foods for this, including drinks. He delivered it all and set it up in our Air B and B. Everything was perfect and delicious! He then returned and packed up the leftovers for us. He is a lovely man. The food is EXCELLENT and reasonably priced. We will dine in his place, whenever we visit Albany. Thank you !!!

Absolutely love this restaurant/bar, between the bar, food and private event space you really have it all here. Great vibe, and they even have a lot of vegan options so if you’re with a group everyone can find something :) the vegan pesto chi’ckn sandwich is to die for!

Great place to unwind after work or grab a drink and bite to eat before a show at the Palace Theater. The brisket sandwich was excellent!

This is a lovely spot with great and inventive food. Some dishes are more spins on classics while some are more straight pub food. All of it is well made. Portions are large though so go hungry.

We went here today and it was absolutely amazing. I don’t say that lightly. My mother has ciliacs and I am dairy free. Our servicer was amazing from the moment we expressed our allergies she told us we were in the right place. She gave us time to order, answered all our questions, refilled our drinks quickly and even went back to get my mom some GF bread to go with her meal like she wanted. She gave her GF naan which she said was their best and my mom said it was amazing. She got the primavera risotto (flavor of the day) with chicken which she said was perfect. Specifically she liked that the vegies were El Dante. She also got a side salad which was beautiful and fresh. I got a paella which was amazing! Most places sea scallops are overcooked but not here. Every piece of seafood was perfectly cooked. Now the boys make it hard some times because a place that serves GF and Vegan options doesn’t normally satisfy our husbands who want steaks and burgers. The ribeye my father got was great, his mashed potatoes were so fresh and had skins on them which is the best way. My husband got the shrimp and grits to try something new which he enjoyed. Did I mention we got a bunch of amazing appetizers too?? I got the muscles which my husband and I loved! Also the vegan mozzarella sticks were sooo good the boys even didn’t hate them. They did prefer the regular mozzarella sticks though, but as someone who has found very few vegan cheeses I liked, they were amazing. My husband says the regular mozzarella sticks were very good, better than most. Finally the Beer Cheese pretzels were soft, salty and yummy! Overall I give 5 stars - because this please deserves it. I don’t even normally make reviews but wow! Impressed and can’t wait to go back. All that and we only spent 250$ / 4 people who all got apps, drinks (coffee, beer, mocktail and cocktail) plus tip. So reasonably priced for food mom and I actually felt safe eating. The only thing I’d point out is their wings say gluten free but are fried in the same fryer as everything else, so not safe for mom, but the server was kind and honest when we asked.

Fantastic catering services! When the "other" place in town ghosted me, The Hollow came through in a pinch. I spoke to Dora on a Monday afternoon and had 50 very happy guests on the coming Saturday. The front bar and dining area provided the perfect amount of space for my guests to mingle during a buffet lunch. The glass corner storefront was bright and created a great feel within the city. The food was amazing (get the chili ginger brisket!). My guests repeatedly complimented me for putting on such a great event. I'm very happy my other venue didn't work out.

While in Albany for a conference, I came here for dinner. I had the vegan filet au poivre with a lavender haze mocktail. Both were good but the filet au poivre was magnifique! They gave a healthy portion. I thought I would only eat half, but it was so good that I had to eat the entire thing. The atmosphere was a typical bar scene. I like that they had tables for dining in a separate area from the bar section. My server was friendly and attentive. I don’t remember his name, but he’s server 201. If I am ever in Albany again, I will certainly stop by.

In town for an Umphrey's show, stopped in on a whim after other place was closed. Our waitress, Xandra, stood out with a smile and energy that paved the way for surprisingly great meal. Was expecting boring pub fare. The clam chowder was homemade. Clams done perfectly, not rubbery! Brisket sandwich had right texture, sweet and heat. Fresh cut sweet potato fries. Amazing! Gladly spend my money here.

We took our entire team of consultants to the Hollow Bar and Kitchen for our annual work holiday party and White Elephant gift exchange. Everyone loved their meals as the food there has always been very good and this was true even for such a large group. The service was fantastic and the staff managed to keep us all well fed and with drinks even during the gift exchange chaos. Their attention to detail on 27 orders was amazing.They also have great vegetarian and vegan options. Highly recommend The Hollow for your team event!

We went for a special family dinner. I really wasn't expecting much. Boy was I wrong. The service was great, cocktails were great. However, our dinners were all outstanding. I would definitely recommend this place to family and friends. I'll be back!

Hollow Restaurant offers a great dining experience with a few minor notes. The highlight for me was their paella – it was flavorful, but the tomato base leaned a bit too sour for my liking. That said, the quality of the ingredients and the presentation were spot-on. The service was excellent! The staff was attentive, friendly, and made sure we felt well taken care of throughout the evening. Another standout was the beer selection – absolutely awesome! They have an impressive variety that caters to all tastes, from craft brews to classic favorites. Overall, Hollow Restaurant is definitely worth visiting. With a slight tweak to the paella’s seasoning, it could easily become a 5-star experience. I'll definitely be back to explore more of their menu!

We arrived at 4:30 because we were going to a show at 7 pm. They had opened at 4, and we were not their first customers. Therefore, this is a very popular place, so I recommend you make a reservation. I ordered the Fungi Burger, and my dinner partner had the Nachos. With the burger, I was given the choice of fries or sweet potato fries. There was another choice, but sweet potato fries are the way to go. The burger was perfectly cooked, and the cheese was melty and oozy. Yum. The Nachos were vegetarian. Loaded with cheese, beans, and tomatoes and served with salsa and sour cream. Both dishes were excellent. The service was great, quick, attentive, and worthy of mention. If you are going to be in the area, I recommend you make a stop.

Went to the hollow for dinner at the bar. Ordered the hallow burger, brussel sprouts, kale aesar salad, and a beer. Total came to about $50. Not terrible. The food was excellent. The burger was perfectly cooked. The kale caesar I definitely recommend, it was big and tasted great. The sprouts were ok. A bit spicy for my liking but good. The burger does come with a spicy ketchup too so be aware. The service was pretty good, very friendly. But was doing many things at once like stocking and chatting with customers more than they should. Was hard to get another drink or to ask for anything. Other than that I would definitely go back again.

The staff was very helpful in seating us before the Weezer concert last night as we did not have any reservations. The menu is diverse and the portions are generous. I had the Hollow Burger which was cooked as desired and the sweet potato fries. They have an extensive beer, wine and cocktail menu. Everyone was satisfied with the meal and the prices were spot on.

Food was flawless, I actually went two days in a row for their vegetarian Ruben. Seitan Wings were also excellent. I couldn't recommend either enough. Staff was pleasant and the overall atmosphere was good. Overall a positive experience. Worth giving a try for sure.

Really great selection of local beers, staff was fun and attentive, pints of good craft stuff were like seven bucks. Very comfortable spot with a really interesting space inside. Would definitely go back.

Hostess was very nice and had our table ready quickly as we arrived early for our reservation. Waitress was barely around and not aware of that we wanted to order more drinks or anything. Salmon and risotto were too charred (salmon) and risotto has FAR too much lemon. Paella, bbq pork burger and Reuben were good. Had our waitress been around and checking in, rating would have been higher than 3 stars.

The fries and quesadilla was so oily it was inedible. The Moscato sangria was absolutely delightful and sweet. The only reason this review is 3 stars is because of the brussel starter. It was delicious and one of my favorite foods. The vegan Tennessee hot chicken was ok not spicy or flavorful at all so I was disappointed.

Not suggested. I ordered the Eggplant parm sub it was grey and not fresh at all. Most likely sitting out for days. The nachos were extremely burnt, cheese only on the bottom of the dish, and filled with way too many beans . In the orange bowl is the eggplant… doesn’t even look like eggplant. The mussels appetizer was horrible. Has cinnamon in it?? The broth was grey , mussels over cooked , very chewy, and not completely heated with the mussels on the bottom being cold….. Not tasty and wouldnt recommend to anyone. The workers were clearly at odds being rude to one another … The waiter with the black dress was very rude rolling her eyes , didn’t greet not even in the bathroom, and she clearly was upset last night. The restaurant is very beautiful but with so many people in and out of the kitchen for whatever reasons , it felt very chaotic and not a peaceful place for dinner. Let’s hope I don’t get sick !

Got the hollow burger with an egg. Dry. Couldn't taste the egg. Salad was very bitter, I tried it without dressing and with dressing, the dressing didn't help and just blended in with the salad.

This place went from bad to worse! The only thing they had that was edible was the Paella. They took it off the menu. I ordered the $40 Scallops well done. They only cooked 1 side. It was absolutely disgusting! No flavor. No spice. Not even salt and pepper. Half mushy scallops. Extremely mushy rice! And literally nothing else. The citrus salad was pickled red cabbage 🥴🤢 They had sweet Thai chili bottled sauce. Overpriced and underwhelming. The food is a drastic fail! Staff is not warn nor friendly towards brown skin people. Never wasting another penny here!

We went to the hollow to watch the Albany High Jazz ensembles perform. The staff were rude, insulting and completely unhelpful. It really soured what was to be a great evening. The space is wonderful for the ensemble to perform but not sure I can bring myself to go there again given how rude the staff were when me and my party were nothing but polite and kind.