Came here for a networking event after work which was hosted in the upstairs room. Their sushi was amazing and a small bar was set up in the room so that attendees could order drinks in the meeting space. It got a little loud and warm with so many people in the room and when they opened the windows is was obvious that they were near a cigar bar (which i can see being more of a concern in the warmer weather than in March). In general its a cozy space with good sushi and I would come back again!

The sushi was out of this world and the service was spot on. Our server, Molly, was wonderful and made our dining experience even better than we had hoped. Looking forward to dining there again soon!

Off the top rope in every regard! Robert Webb I am not a bot. I absolutely loved this tavern. They did the best they could serving a a party 40 when they only had one chef. The War Room is awesome and I strongly recommend them for anybody wanting to have a great time and plenty of great laughs, food, and drinks. The staff are the best!

Dang this place rocks. Sushi and other good eats. Everything I tried was great

Great food, great atmosphere. Can either be really quiet (like uncomfortably quiet, play some music in the dining room!), or very loud and busy. Be prepared to wait for your food, as there is only one chef in the kitchen and one sushi chef. But to me that's kind cool that the chefs are the ones doing the cooking. I don't know if everyone fully understands the significance of that, but, to put it in perspective, most chefs don't cook, let alone rock out solo on a busy night. All in all, an amazing experience, a fun time and guarenteed good food. Bring your wallet if you plan to drink, as you will find nothing for less than $12! not even well drinks lol. Don't let that discourage you though! Try it out, if only for the food.

Litterly the best Sushi within 100 miles. The fried chicken is also amazing. The customer service is fantastic. Litterly eat at the War Room weekly. Fantastic political themed atmosphere and Owner is just what the Albany area needs. If your around try there Lunch Special. This is the best dining experience in Albany.

Restaurant was fully booked because of several conferences going on in the area - but the manager Timothy found us space and we had the best dinner. Thankful for the hospitality and considerations for our order preferences. Highly recommend.

I am an avid sushi eater and the sushi was superb...it was extremely fresh, generously sized and not overly expensive. Wait staff was attentive but not overly so...never felt rushed. Food presentation was nicely done. I highly recommend.

War Room is a cramped little bar that will make people from Manhattan comfortable. Bar is on ground floor and has a fantastic happy hour. Dining room with sushi bar is on parlor floor. Its dark and decorated with political photographs. Sushi was the best I've had in Albany. There is more to the place. I've only dipped in my toe and had one sushi dinner. Definitely going back.

Best sushi in the capital district. Exceptional chef. The atmosphere is awesome. Lots of Albany and NY big wigs hang out here.

Love this place. A bit pricey, but always worth it! Make reservations because it can get very busy. Sushi is always phenomenal, so is the hot food. Try the zucchini fritters or the cornbeef sandwich (cornbeef could easily be named best sandwich in Albany). Striped Bass Sashimi is delish, and the rainbow roll. While a lot of people come for the sushi, almost everyone I have talked to has tried and loved food from the kitchen. Like everybody. Who is cooking the food back there? Everybody knows Saso, we all love him. Show the kitchen chef some love too. His name is Rich Lyman, and he is an amazing, young(ish), up-and-coming chef. People in the local industry know him, it's time everyone else did too! Keep killing it #cheflyman !!!

I simply can't say enough great things about this restaurant, between the delicious food, professional and friendly staff, I look forward to going back. Even the owner made a point of walking around the restaurant to ensure that all of the patrons were happy with the food and service. I strongly recommend this restaurant.

If you love sushi, this is a must try. I thought i had the best sushi in the area until we tried here. It was so fresh, I was truly amazed. It was a slight wait while chef fresh prepared all the sushi but i didn’t mind at all because the quality was amazing. I will definitely be going back!

I was staying across the street and happened in here. Jay made my steak and I can say was better than some very expensive steakhouses I’ve eaten at. I know his name was Jay because it was so good I asked to shake the hand of whoever made it.. And Candace the bartender not only made a great old fashioned but she was a joy to talk to! If you’re in Albany you should check it out!!

Had a wonderful dinner there last night. The food was incredible, we got a mix of sushi and the vegan chicken parm. Everything was delicious! Our server Oliver was knowledgeable and friendly, and he gave us a few recommendations for sushi rolls that we really enjoyed. Looking forward to going back.

I came in with my boyfriend on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving as the DJ just started. I didn’t expect the place to look the way it did, but we caught the vibe from the DJ, and ate at the bar. Kimberly was the bartender, and I watched that girl help the DJ set up, help the other bartender with questions that she had upstairs, make my drinks, put my order in, and not even miss a water refill while she was dealing with plenty of other people. She even asked me if I wanted a side of mayo with my burger, and I thought that was incredible, that’s going above and beyond for a customer without them having to ask. Then, I came in again today, and had Kimberly again, but this time we came in for drinks, and asked for the cigar lounge. Kimberly was on top of our drinks, but she wasn’t too sure how to get into the cigar lounge but once again, she went above and beyond to figure it out for us, unlocked it for us and sold us our cigars! I know a few things about restaurants myself, but the way that girl works is incredible. I do think you should simplify the lunch menu a little, so it’s quicker for people like the 3 of us, which is why we didn’t order food today! I’ll be back during the weekend. This place rocks!

Very interesting restaurant for Albany! I took ten of my friends out for my birthday and all of them were happy with the food. The sushi was unbelievable and I got the filet steak that was cooked to perfection. The waitstaff was kind, but not too pushy which can be very annoying at some fine dining places. All in all, The War Room is an amazing place that really seemed to go above and beyond for our group. We appreciate it guys.

Excellent dinner! Amazing sushi, steak tacos, and brisket sandwiches, and top notch service and atmosphere. This is a much needed addition to downtown Albany. Can’t wait to go back—I hear the grilled cheese is to die for! Great cocktails, too!!

We are about 5 1/2 hours away and came here to eat simply by searching “places to eat near me”. This is one of the best restaurants/bars I’ve ever stepped in to. Also the only restaurant I’ve ever felt the need to make a review for. Tyrell made me the best drink I’ve ever had, not kidding (the strawberry Ginsberg). The service was top notch, the restaurant itself was so nicely decorated. It has such a nice atmosphere, I really can’t recommend this place enough. I ordered the lobster roll (best I’ve ever had) and my boyfriend ordered the swordfish (also extremely delicious). I told one of the bartenders how I so wish we lived closer!! We came again the next day and they were absolutely slammed due to the state championship wrestling tournament going on at MVP arena. Even though it was packed, the service was still some of the best ever, and the bartenders made sure to create some of the best drinks I’ve ever had. I highly recommend this place to anyone local or traveling. One of my favorite aspects of the restaurant besides the food and drinks was the amazing Barrack Obama portrait hanging on the wall up the stairs! 5/5 stars by far!!

Delicious food and amazing service make this place a must visit. Try the omakase, you won't regret it.

+6

Took a woman here on a first dinner date.. the food was fabulous. We of course ordered a sushi platter.. fantastic.. so fresh and just immaculate tasting. It left a great impression on her and I appreciate that 😊 we really enjoyed our experience here.

Came in for a date night and everything was awesome! Jeff was our server/bartender and everything for the evening and checked with us in a timely manner and made sure everything was perfect. The owner also stopped by to check in which was really thoughtful. The lobster Mac was awesome and the sushi fresh and flavorful! Impressed my out of town boyfriend visiting from Texas. Awesome job to everyone tonight!

Best SERVICE and food the crab fritters are unbelievable along with the lobster roll I had fantastic. Food was hot and plentiful had leftovers for 2 dinners next day. The service was fantastic my server was. Polite courteous and pleasant the price was well worth it and the atmosphere of all the antique pictures is wonderful to remember the people.

My friends and I stopped in for lunch today and The War Room did not disappoint! Our server Tarrell was so personable, knowledgeable, and attentive. I ordered the Buffalo Burger and it was one of the best burgers I have had in a long time!! The atmosphere is super cool, we had a lovely window seat. I recommend for business lunches, lunch with friends, and dates. Super glad we stopped in.

Atmosphere set the tone for the evening. Great, old school, city vibe. Music and decor were amazing. Service was excellent and friendly. Knowledgeable about the sushi which made ordering a lot easier. Food was perfect. Unique. Drinks were great. All around great experience and highly recommend.

So disappointed with this place. As small business owners in the area my wife and I like to treat our clients who are also small business owners to local places in the area to support the restaurant scene. What did we get at this place? Some quality sushi but probably the worst restaurant service we have ever had to date since doing these traditional business celebratory outings. Want a drink? You had to wait 45 mins to an hour just to get it AND in order to get it you would have to remind your waiter several times that you still haven’t received the drink you ordered. Need your food you ordered also? Make sure to let the restaurant manager know that you haven’t received it after waiting for two hours and finally it will magically appear. Knowledge of the drinks you have at your restaurant? Non existent. It’s unfortunate because honestly the sushi was excellent and the other items were pretty good but the horrible service our table of 6 had to endure out shadowed every good piece of positive we could possibly share about this place. You would think a table spending close to $800 at your establishment for a business outing would be treated at the highest level tier of service but instead we almost felt like our presence was unwanted. We were there for three hours total and it wasn’t because we weren’t enjoying the atmosphere but rather how long we had to wait for our entire orders to be finalized I regret not talking to the restaurant manager last night while we were there but honestly we just didn’t want to take away from having a good time with our people and it became a running joke with our group with how putrid the service was. Safe to say for future business get togethers this place is crossed off with a big red marker that says *BEWARE* and for people that run this location I’d re evaluate your staff if you really would like to be a location people will go out of their way to entertain their guests. Sad and unfortunate. EDIT; After this review was posted and replied to from the owner we reached out to him and he made everything right and then some. I was able to get the same ownership group out from the original dinner and they were beyond impressed. One of the most impressive turnarounds I’ve ever seen from our original experience. Great job to ownership, management, and staff in making this whole messy situation right. This place cares about your experience even if it was the worst case scenario like ours and they will do everything in their power to make sure your experience is top quality as nothing short of excellent is the bar. Kudos to you albany war room tavern you won us over.

This place is an absolute gem! The food was wonderful. We had the steak & sushi. Heavenly. The cheesecake! Off the charts! Molly, our server was the best part! She was soo good & a reason to recommend & come back !⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I will definitely return! Excellent 1st experience! The best burger… the pork belly on top of dry agreed beef was a 10+. Only left wishing for a another pork belly strip on the side! Plus the Rainbow roll was as fresh as they come! Chris the bartender and Todd the owner were top notch!

Went to the War Room for the first time last night. It was a great meal in a cool little spot downtown. The dining room is small and appointed with local and state-wide political memorabilia. Drinks bar downstairs, if you wanted to drop in for a quick cocktail. Dinner was with my wife and three kids. We were greeted warmly by the host, and a table was ready for us by the sushi bar where we could watch Saso work. Our server came by shortly and we ordered our drinks as she explained a couple specials. The menu is simple with a few American staples like a burger or grilled cheese, steaks, fried chicken. The descriptions of each dish were pretty fancy. The sushi menu is incredible. We ordered several different kinds of sushi, and my son had the vegetarian sushi platter. It was served with miso, a salad, and an incredible array or vegetarian sushi. He loved it. My other son loved the California roll; best he's ever had. The sushi was served beautifully. I had a burger and fries as well. Perfectly done, flavorful, and the fries were crisp and seasoned well. Daughter also had the chicken and waffles with a peach compote sauce. She said it was tasty. Dessert included cheesecake, red velvet cheesecake, and banana pudding. All were excellent. Our server was attentive and present, but not overbearing. She did an excellent job. Five of us ate; dinner, sushi, and 4 desserts plus one bar beverage brought the total bill to about $208.00 with the tip. And yes, there is a slight surcharge for using a credit card, which is weird. Also, the men's room had no paper towels to dry my hands. (I informed the bartender, and he apologized profusely and took care of it right away.) But everything was soooo delicious and the dining room is comfy and pretty cool in an old Albany building by the convention center. Head to the Albany War Room, eat some sushi and some tasty food, and enjoy your evening. You won't be disappointed. One regret: I didn't get my picture with Saso, the legend. I'll have to go back!

I didn’t know what to expect when coming here but I’m so glad I did! The decor is neat and the place has a really funky vibe! I’ve been to a lot of Albany restaurants but this one is very unique. Molly, server/bartender, was so sweet and knowledgeable, she’s great!!!! She suggested one of the tastiest red wines I’ve had! The sushi was very great quality too, you can tell the chef has a lot of experience and the food is very authentic, fresh, and beautifully made. 10/10 would recommend this neat spot to anyone :)

Ate at the bar downstairs and had some of the best chicken parm one can have. Delicious red sauce, cooked tenderly and topped with pesto sauce. I'd come again just for this but staff were also friendly and accommodating. The owners wife was kind enough to spend 10 minutes setting up her own personal phone to stream the Yankees game so we could watch, she went above and beyond. Depending on night, it could get busy so if you want to sit at the bar come early but can also eat on the second floor.

Best sushi in Albany, great atmosphere. The owner is super nice and friendly, Jimmy is an amazing sushi chef, Ava is very nice

Great food. The last time I was in that building was 1988 and it was a college dive bar named Slap Shots! A thousand times better!

We used to eat at Japanese Chef Saso’s sushi restaurant about 17 years ago and always thought it was the best sushi 🍣. We were excited to hear that Chef Saso was back at the War Room. We shared some beautiful sushi and my scallop sushi was served with shiso (a mint/basil herb) which added unique flavor. If you love sushi then treat yourself to Chef Saso’s new restaurant. Gluten free options available.

+1

Mac was very attentive and friendly! We sat at the bar, and ordered a few drinks, including the blueberry mint cosmo. Once we were served the cosmo, my friends immediately ordered their own because it was so good! After a bit of chatting, we decided to order from the kitchen as we were informed of vegan chicken parm on the menu (alongside vegan black bean tacos). This vegan chicken parm has to be one of the best in the area—it didn’t stand a chance. My boyfriend was really amused by the keg-turned-urinal. Pretty funny! All in all, definitely a great place to check out after a convention at the Albany Capital Center, a show at the Egg, or just a nice day at the Plaza.

Great food and strong drinks. Decor is interesting with many politicians on the walls and some interesting fun photos. Sushi and Sashimi was super fresh, Wagu Burger, was good, but temp was off (not medium rare as requested), Lobster Mac was good with large pieces of Lobster but lacked some flavor (Old Bay could help :)). Give it a try, you wont be disappointed.

Food was amazing and the service is great. They make you feel so comfortable and welcomed. First time being here and I would definitely go back

Great restaurant in downtown Albany! Food was amazing with great flavor combinations. Karen (our waitress) was so attentive and really made the experience very enjoyable. I had the glazed salmon and it was perfectly cooked with a slightly spice sauce that was extremely delicious

The War Room Tavern has some of the best quality sushi around. 🍣🥢 I had the opportunity to go there this past weekend and enjoyed chef Saso's Omakase. Would highly recommend to anyone. The black cod was probably the best piece of cooked fish I've ever had. Amazing flavor, perfect texture. The striped bass tataki was bright and fresh. Each piece of nigiri was carefully garnished with elements to elevate each bite. The negitoro roll was buttery and the plum roll was perfectly tangy. On my prior visit, Jimmy was behind the sushi bar and showered us with delicious nigiri and more toro than I've even seen on one plate. Can't wait to go back on my next trip through.

Went on a whim from Google maps. Unassuming storefront, beautiful upstairs dining room. We ordered one of the sushi courses and the fish was fresh, tender, and delectable. The rice was cooked to perfection and served its role perfectly as a pedestal or cushion to the nigiri. The flavors of the individual nigiri were augmented by unique ingredients like wasabi, shiso leaf, and caviar. The restaurant's atmosphere was relaxing and made more than enjoyable by our kind hostess/waitress. Now designated as our go to sushi place in Albany we can't wait to go back! ごちそうさまでした！

Loved this place! Some of the best sushi I’ve ever had. The staff was incredibly friendly, and the upstairs atmosphere was warm, calm, and relaxing. I was in Albany on business and ended up eating here two of the three nights — it was that good!

First time customer following Siena's opening night win at the the MVP center. Lobster roll and accompanying salad were both fantastic! Also had a nice fruity, hoppy and bitter but delightfully creamy and smooth Nor'easter IPA from Chatham, NY

Best sushi by far. Love the historic photos and displays of politicians and NY notables. Convenient to hotels and points of interest.

It was a long day for my wife and I, so we were looking for some Sushi. We found this place on Google and are glad we went. Jimmy did a fantastic job as our Sushi chef. Presentation was terrific and food was very fresh. Our server was always there in case we needed something. The memorabilia throughout is quite astonishing. We even got a picture in front of Teddy Roosevelt's moose! Lisa showed us around and talked to us a little about the history and business. It is a really nice nook to dine at, and there is a nice bar downstairs that was packed with people on a Tuesday night. Todd really has something special happening here!

The Albany War Room Tavern is a hidden gem in the heart of Albany that effortlessly combines historical charm with a modern, welcoming atmosphere. From the moment you walk in, you’re surrounded by unique decor that pays homage to the city’s political and cultural past—making it a destination as much as a dining experience. The food is outstanding, with a menu that feels thoughtfully curated. Every dish I’ve tried has been flavorful and well-executed, with fresh ingredients and great attention to detail. The cocktails are also worth mentioning—creative, balanced, and served with style by bartenders who clearly know their craft. What really sets the War Room apart is the service. The staff are warm, attentive, and genuinely passionate about making your visit special. Whether you’re stopping in for a casual drink or planning a night out, this spot delivers a memorable experience every time. Highly recommend for anyone visiting Albany or locals looking for a place with character, quality, and a story to tell.

Jimmy made me the best toro I have ever had. The rolls were just as wonderful. Make a reservation to get the best snacks around.

My buddy and I arrived, the kitchen had just closed. The kitchen is closed between 2 and 4 PM. However, the manager and the head chef agreed to let us put our order through anyway because we were here just after 2 pm. We both ordered the dry edge New York strip, it was fantastic. For everybody bitching that the drinks are overpriced and not strong, I beg to differ. The drinks were perfectly made and definitely worth the money. This is probably one of the best steaks I’ve had and the Capital district. Everything was cooked, absolutely perfectly. The bartender Shelly is fantastic :).

A rare treat! Hands down best and freshest sushi in Albany/Capital District. We came in early on a Saturday, Todd greeted us and we had the place ourselves. The ambiance is amazing, classic photos of NY politics. We also sampled some of the pasta offerings, fantastic sauce, like Moms sunday gravy. Check it out!

Staying at the Marriott across the street and stumbled into the downstairs bar area while looking for the sushi restaurant I’d found on Google. Was in for an adventure! Bartender Frank was super friendly and full of fun facts about Albany. Tried the Sashimi dinner and was very impressed by the sushi quality and the mochi dessert. Accidentally stumbled upon trivia night (political theme… it was tough!) and had a good time through that as well. Not at all how I pictured my Monday night going, but glad I took a chance on this place!

Ava, our server was outstanding. Even though the tavern was a tad busy she was able to check on us multiple times making us feel welcomed and noticed, Todd the owner was incredibly nice and welcoming, definitely recommend the war room.

Adam Jusino

The War Room Tavern has some of the best quality sushi around. 🍣🥢 I had the opportunity to go there this past weekend and enjoyed chef Saso's Omakase. Would highly recommend to anyone. The black cod was probably the best piece of cooked fish I've ever had. Amazing flavor, perfect texture. The striped bass tataki was bright and fresh. Each piece of nigiri was carefully garnished with elements to elevate each bite. The negitoro roll was buttery and the plum roll was perfectly tangy. On my prior visit, Jimmy was behind the sushi bar and showered us with delicious nigiri and more toro than I've even seen on one plate. Can't wait to go back on my next trip through.

Quentin

Went on a whim from Google maps. Unassuming storefront, beautiful upstairs dining room. We ordered one of the sushi courses and the fish was fresh, tender, and delectable. The rice was cooked to perfection and served its role perfectly as a pedestal or cushion to the nigiri. The flavors of the individual nigiri were augmented by unique ingredients like wasabi, shiso leaf, and caviar. The restaurant's atmosphere was relaxing and made more than enjoyable by our kind hostess/waitress. Now designated as our go to sushi place in Albany we can't wait to go back! ごちそうさまでした！

Eric Petersen

Loved this place! Some of the best sushi I’ve ever had. The staff was incredibly friendly, and the upstairs atmosphere was warm, calm, and relaxing. I was in Albany on business and ended up eating here two of the three nights — it was that good!

Thomas Fris

First time customer following Siena's opening night win at the the MVP center. Lobster roll and accompanying salad were both fantastic! Also had a nice fruity, hoppy and bitter but delightfully creamy and smooth Nor'easter IPA from Chatham, NY

Kevin Thomson

It was a long day for my wife and I, so we were looking for some Sushi. We found this place on Google and are glad we went. Jimmy did a fantastic job as our Sushi chef. Presentation was terrific and food was very fresh. Our server was always there in case we needed something. The memorabilia throughout is quite astonishing. We even got a picture in front of Teddy Roosevelt's moose! Lisa showed us around and talked to us a little about the history and business. It is a really nice nook to dine at, and there is a nice bar downstairs that was packed with people on a Tuesday night. Todd really has something special happening here!

Renat Akhmetshin

The Albany War Room Tavern is a hidden gem in the heart of Albany that effortlessly combines historical charm with a modern, welcoming atmosphere. From the moment you walk in, you’re surrounded by unique decor that pays homage to the city’s political and cultural past—making it a destination as much as a dining experience. The food is outstanding, with a menu that feels thoughtfully curated. Every dish I’ve tried has been flavorful and well-executed, with fresh ingredients and great attention to detail. The cocktails are also worth mentioning—creative, balanced, and served with style by bartenders who clearly know their craft. What really sets the War Room apart is the service. The staff are warm, attentive, and genuinely passionate about making your visit special. Whether you’re stopping in for a casual drink or planning a night out, this spot delivers a memorable experience every time. Highly recommend for anyone visiting Albany or locals looking for a place with character, quality, and a story to tell.

Andy Kuhn

Jimmy made me the best toro I have ever had. The rolls were just as wonderful. Make a reservation to get the best snacks around.

Patrick Cooney

A rare treat! Hands down best and freshest sushi in Albany/Capital District. We came in early on a Saturday, Todd greeted us and we had the place ourselves. The ambiance is amazing, classic photos of NY politics. We also sampled some of the pasta offerings, fantastic sauce, like Moms sunday gravy. Check it out!

Jeremy Gibbs

My buddy and I arrived, the kitchen had just closed. The kitchen is closed between 2 and 4 PM. However, the manager and the head chef agreed to let us put our order through anyway because we were here just after 2 pm. We both ordered the dry edge New York strip, it was fantastic. For everybody bitching that the drinks are overpriced and not strong, I beg to differ. The drinks were perfectly made and definitely worth the money. This is probably one of the best steaks I’ve had and the Capital district. Everything was cooked, absolutely perfectly. The bartender Shelly is fantastic :).

Kate McKay

Staying at the Marriott across the street and stumbled into the downstairs bar area while looking for the sushi restaurant I’d found on Google. Was in for an adventure! Bartender Frank was super friendly and full of fun facts about Albany. Tried the Sashimi dinner and was very impressed by the sushi quality and the mochi dessert. Accidentally stumbled upon trivia night (political theme… it was tough!) and had a good time through that as well. Not at all how I pictured my Monday night going, but glad I took a chance on this place!

Sam Stothart

Ava, our server was outstanding. Even though the tavern was a tad busy she was able to check on us multiple times making us feel welcomed and noticed, Todd the owner was incredibly nice and welcoming, definitely recommend the war room.

Brett Sears

Went to the War Room for the first time last night. It was a great meal in a cool little spot downtown. The dining room is small and appointed with local and state-wide political memorabilia. Drinks bar downstairs, if you wanted to drop in for a quick cocktail. Dinner was with my wife and three kids. We were greeted warmly by the host, and a table was ready for us by the sushi bar where we could watch Saso work. Our server came by shortly and we ordered our drinks as she explained a couple specials. The menu is simple with a few American staples like a burger or grilled cheese, steaks, fried chicken. The descriptions of each dish were pretty fancy. The sushi menu is incredible. We ordered several different kinds of sushi, and my son had the vegetarian sushi platter. It was served with miso, a salad, and an incredible array or vegetarian sushi. He loved it. My other son loved the California roll; best he's ever had. The sushi was served beautifully. I had a burger and fries as well. Perfectly done, flavorful, and the fries were crisp and seasoned well. Daughter also had the chicken and waffles with a peach compote sauce. She said it was tasty. Dessert included cheesecake, red velvet cheesecake, and banana pudding. All were excellent. Our server was attentive and present, but not overbearing. She did an excellent job. Five of us ate; dinner, sushi, and 4 desserts plus one bar beverage brought the total bill to about $208.00 with the tip. And yes, there is a slight surcharge for using a credit card, which is weird. Also, the men's room had no paper towels to dry my hands. (I informed the bartender, and he apologized profusely and took care of it right away.) But everything was soooo delicious and the dining room is comfy and pretty cool in an old Albany building by the convention center. Head to the Albany War Room, eat some sushi and some tasty food, and enjoy your evening. You won't be disappointed. One regret: I didn't get my picture with Saso, the legend. I'll have to go back!

Antonia Larson

I didn’t know what to expect when coming here but I’m so glad I did! The decor is neat and the place has a really funky vibe! I’ve been to a lot of Albany restaurants but this one is very unique. Molly, server/bartender, was so sweet and knowledgeable, she’s great!!!! She suggested one of the tastiest red wines I’ve had! The sushi was very great quality too, you can tell the chef has a lot of experience and the food is very authentic, fresh, and beautifully made. 10/10 would recommend this neat spot to anyone :)

We celebrated my college graduation at the Albany War Room Tavern, and it could not have been a more perfect choice! The food was AMAZING—every dish was packed with flavor, beautifully presented, and honestly some of the best I’ve had in a long time. The menu has so many great options, and everything we ordered was absolutely DELICIOUS. The service was just as impressive. Karyn was fantastic—warm, attentive, and so much fun—and the host (we kept calling him Bob, although I’m pretty sure that wasn’t his name!) was equally SUPERB. They both made the evening memorable and definitely seemed entertained by our group in the best way. The atmosphere was great too—comfortable, lively, but not overwhelming. We didn’t have to wait at all thanks to making a reservation ahead of time, which made the whole evening smooth and stress-free, especially for a Friday night. From start to finish, everything was wonderful. I’d highly recommend the Albany War Room Tavern for a celebration, date night, or just an amazing meal. We will definitely be back!

This review is really only for the bar, but I love this place. I go to the bar downstairs for a drink and some fantastic sushi. Sometimes, when it's slow, the bartender will disappear upstairs for a while, but that's never bothered me- I'm never here when in a hurry. I come here to have a beer or whiskey with some sushi and just chill out. I always enjoy it.

Joanna Succi

We celebrated my college graduation at the Albany War Room Tavern, and it could not have been a more perfect choice! The food was AMAZING—every dish was packed with flavor, beautifully presented, and honestly some of the best I’ve had in a long time. The menu has so many great options, and everything we ordered was absolutely DELICIOUS. The service was just as impressive. Karyn was fantastic—warm, attentive, and so much fun—and the host (we kept calling him Bob, although I’m pretty sure that wasn’t his name!) was equally SUPERB. They both made the evening memorable and definitely seemed entertained by our group in the best way. The atmosphere was great too—comfortable, lively, but not overwhelming. We didn’t have to wait at all thanks to making a reservation ahead of time, which made the whole evening smooth and stress-free, especially for a Friday night. From start to finish, everything was wonderful. I’d highly recommend the Albany War Room Tavern for a celebration, date night, or just an amazing meal. We will definitely be back!

Brooke G.

This review is really only for the bar, but I love this place. I go to the bar downstairs for a drink and some fantastic sushi. Sometimes, when it's slow, the bartender will disappear upstairs for a while, but that's never bothered me- I'm never here when in a hurry. I come here to have a beer or whiskey with some sushi and just chill out. I always enjoy it.

A great little place with good food and great atmosphere. It is open later on Sunday which makes it a good options for travelers that Don Qantas to sit in a hotel bar. We were able to meet the owner and have some good conversation. This place will not be a hidden gem for long.

Great happy hour deals with super fresh sushi options including vegan. Dinner upstairs was cozy. Burgers were perfectly cooked. Good coffee and dessert to round out the meal. Nice spot and will come back when in town.

Saso-sushi again! Whoopie!! Sushi was off the charts. Thinnest slices of lemon mellowing out the mackerel in the Omega-3 Roll! Toro tuna. Yum. Other guests were very pleased but called it a 4-4.5. Lobster roll was tasty but a little dry. No point nitpicking, War Room is great. Desert was sticky toffee cake which was warm and delicious. Our server Olivier was, as my guest put it - "..attentive without being annoying." He took really great care of us. Thanks, Olivier, Saso, and team. We'll be back for sure.

Stopped by for brunch on a Sunday. It is a nice little pub. The food is good but not outstanding. I was seated in the bar area. It was quiet (just what I was looking for). However, there was some sort of party happening on the 2nd floor and it sounded like everyone was having a great time.

Tuesday night with a group of about 20 people with a reservation. We were the only ones having dinner upstairs and only two gents at the bar downstairs. The table only had 1 server, possibly the manager. They did a fine job overall, but little things like keeping the water glasses full and taking additional drink order needed a bit more attention.

Pretty nice place to go. Staff is friendly and helpful. They have a wide variety of food fair for everyone to enjoy. There is also a cigar lounge upstairs, which is very cozy and nice. The atmosphere was vibrant and fun a must try when in the area.

Don’t let the name fool you - this is one excellent spot. We were staying in town for a conference and had Sunday and Monday nights to discover dining options. We attended here on Sunday night - not busy at all. We shared all four appetizers- the wagyu sliders stole the show. When we discovered that their sushi was highly rated, we went back for it on Monday night and we were not disappointed!

The food here was absolutely amazing — fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. However, the service was disappointing. When we arrived, no one greeted us, but a kind sushi chef told us to sit wherever we liked. After we sat down, the server emerged from the back and immediately began interrogating us about whether we had a reservation — even though we were the only ones there. Strangely, she didn’t ask the same of other guests who arrived later. One of our sushi rolls came out incorrectly, and instead of calmly resolving the issue, the server argued with us about it, which was both uncomfortable and embarrassing in front of the other tables. I also had a 15% hotel guest discount, but I accidentally left my coupon in the room. My colleague had hers, and I showed my hotel room key to confirm I was also a guest. At first, the server said she wouldn’t honor the discount without the physical coupon, but then said she would just combine our checks and apply the discount to the total. The only reason I’m giving this place 4 stars is because the food truly was exceptional. I’d consider returning — but I’d definitely ask for a different server next time. Unfortunately I didn’t get her name.

Sushi is excellent and one of the best in the area. However their prices are pretty extreme, so I would say not worth the price unless it's a special occasion. Bartenders are super good too. Remember patrons and are always checking in and topping you off.

First time visit to the War Room Tavern. Atmosphere is fascinating if you're a history buff. We enjoyed trying to identify the public figures in the pictures on the wall. Menu had variety to satisfy all 3 in our party. None of us tried the sushi, but stuck with the traditional fare. Small beer selection but it had something for everyone. I ordered the Eric Adams Vegan Black Bean Tacos, and they were were very large, filling, and good. My BIL ordered a War Room Burger and he raved about how good it was. Wife had the grilled cheese and said it was over the top on cheese & taste. A gentleman appeared at our table and introduced himself as the owner but I was confused as I thought I had read on their website the executive chef was the owner - my bad. Owner was a very nice gentleman, who greeted other tables, too. I heard him give a family free desserts. I ordered the tiramisu, which was tasty but not as light as I like at other places. Prices are indeed on the expensive side, so I don't see us making this place a regular stop, but I'd gladly visit again. On the weird side, for some reason there was painting being done on the entrance and hallways, and despite my best efforts, I still got paint on my hand when opening the door to leave. I know I wasn't the only one to get paint on my hands.

EJ Smith

First time visit to the War Room Tavern. Atmosphere is fascinating if you're a history buff. We enjoyed trying to identify the public figures in the pictures on the wall. Menu had variety to satisfy all 3 in our party. None of us tried the sushi, but stuck with the traditional fare. Small beer selection but it had something for everyone. I ordered the Eric Adams Vegan Black Bean Tacos, and they were were very large, filling, and good. My BIL ordered a War Room Burger and he raved about how good it was. Wife had the grilled cheese and said it was over the top on cheese & taste. A gentleman appeared at our table and introduced himself as the owner but I was confused as I thought I had read on their website the executive chef was the owner - my bad. Owner was a very nice gentleman, who greeted other tables, too. I heard him give a family free desserts. I ordered the tiramisu, which was tasty but not as light as I like at other places. Prices are indeed on the expensive side, so I don't see us making this place a regular stop, but I'd gladly visit again. On the weird side, for some reason there was painting being done on the entrance and hallways, and despite my best efforts, I still got paint on my hand when opening the door to leave. I know I wasn't the only one to get paint on my hands.

Erielle Scott

The food here was absolutely amazing — fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. However, the service was disappointing. When we arrived, no one greeted us, but a kind sushi chef told us to sit wherever we liked. After we sat down, the server emerged from the back and immediately began interrogating us about whether we had a reservation — even though we were the only ones there. Strangely, she didn’t ask the same of other guests who arrived later. One of our sushi rolls came out incorrectly, and instead of calmly resolving the issue, the server argued with us about it, which was both uncomfortable and embarrassing in front of the other tables. I also had a 15% hotel guest discount, but I accidentally left my coupon in the room. My colleague had hers, and I showed my hotel room key to confirm I was also a guest. At first, the server said she wouldn’t honor the discount without the physical coupon, but then said she would just combine our checks and apply the discount to the total. The only reason I’m giving this place 4 stars is because the food truly was exceptional. I’d consider returning — but I’d definitely ask for a different server next time. Unfortunately I didn’t get her name.

Food was good. Glad we had 2 hours to burn. 30 min for first drink. Food in an hour. An hour and half later and we were finishing up.

Disappointed in the quality of service. Substitutions made without any notice, severely reduced drink menu, and items missing from the order. Tiny portions. Items cooked incorrectly. Do not recommend.

Tried and failed! Made reservations came in, we’re seated and provided with water by the server. Then waited for close to an hour with no one coming back to us. We were a party of six in the front of the restaurant! Finally visiting by the owner who got the attention of the service crew but it was too late as several of our part were totally discouraged.

The price for the food here is genuinely shocking. $15 for a tuna avocado roll. $25 for a roll with more than 2 ingredients. Over $20 for a burger. For that price, the quality needs to be much, much higher. Service was great, though. But they doesn't make up for the price to quality ratio. I will not return here, and I cannot in good conscience recommend it to anyone.

Sushi is phenomenal... If you're willing to wait at least an hour to be served. My group waited almost 2 hours for our food - which of course, doesn't need to be cooked. We had the sushi or sashimi, or sushi/sashimi dinners. The meso soup and side salads were never served. It took over 20 minutes to get a second glass of wine. That's also about how often we saw our waitress (if that), who knew nothing about sushi. They may be short staffed, but this was a Monday night with 3 total tables occupied. Probably the worst service I've ever experienced. I wrote them a message letting them know about the issues we had, in leu of a poor review, but the restaurant never responded. The higher-than-NYC prices reflects both excellent sushi and service. You only get one of those.

I'm very sad to give this review. I waited over a year to visit Albany War room for the Sushi. We got here around 2 pm, bartender was very nice, took our orders, beer, sushi, Mac and cheese. All of a sudden Olivier came out from the back swearing. He came to us to say the sushi chef left until 4pm. ???? I was so crestfallen. We remained calm, ordered something else which was good. But I can't go back.

Disappointment - The political theme of the place, the pictures, mementos, huge bull moose stuffed head on the wall was fun as a curiosity… but as far an eating experience, it’s a mess. There seemed to be plenty of staff but little service. Food was ok at best. (We did not order any sushi, which others said was very good). If you go, go only once for the memorabilia and maybe a drink. Don’t expect to be taken care of. The waitstaff were nice enough but didn’t seem to know the first thing about waiting tables. It was baffling. High expectations unmet.

The best sushi I've ever had in the Capital Region, possibly anywhere! This is a really cool space that works with high-end sushi (and plenty of other things on the menu I'd like to try) and lots of interesting political memorabilia. The staff are very efficient with the attention to detail you expect from a place like this. Definitely a spot to visit again and again. Update: Tried it again for a birthday party three months later, and the service has taken a massive nose dive. Despite having a reservation, we were disposed of in the barely lit, barely heated third floor where we waited for 45 minutes to be served only half full glasses of water. Management clearly did not staff the restaurant to handle any tables let alone an overflow crowd, so we left after confirming our order had not even been submitted to not waste the rest of our evening there. Went home and ordered sushi instead. It's a shame that a good restaurant can't keep its act together more than a few months.

Overall pretty bad experience. Had a reservation for 2 arrived on time (5 min early) Waited over 15 minutes to get seated... (the upstairs dining area was less than a 1/4 full) things happen and that is understandable. The tables were too close together and sloppily aligned and my table and the table next to me had empty soy sauce jars... We ended up taking a soy sauce bottle from the sushi bar table... Once seated it was almost 30 minutes before orders were taken. Drinks (beer) were brought around 20 minutes after the order... 45 minutes later food comes out. Ordered a salmon avocado roll. It was not bad but was not good, the salmon did not taste fresh and the avocado was hard. Also ordered the war room burger medium rare. Came out well done... and the chef forgot to put the smoked pork belly on the burger... which is the signature ingredient in this burger. The waiter went back to the kitchen and gave me the pork belly on the side. The pork belly was tough and overdone. The roasted red pepper mac was good. We then had a 30 min wait for our bill... I would not recommend this place to anyone. It is below average to average food. The service is very slow. It was a Sunday afternoon and the dining area was not packed.

Has a pretty nice aesthetic and the bartender was attentive. However, our party of five waited 40 minutes for a table (it is Friday night so I get it). We waited and got our table. There was only one waiter working the entire restaurant and thus it took a very long time to get our order in. Once our order was in, the restaurant had cleared to half capacity, but it took about 70 minutes to get the food. The food was not anything complicated, a burger, a couple of lobster rolls, and two chicken parmesans. One of the lobster rolls had some shell in it and tasted like it was starting to go bad. Would not recommend. The chicken parmesans were also incredibly salty. After our meal, I couldn't find the waiter to get our check. Waited about 10 minutes and finally ended up going downstairs to the bar where I found the bartender and the waiter. After they handed me the bills for two other tables, we finally got the right one and I was able to cash out. I don't know if this was an incredibly off night for this place or what but I won't be going back there until they hire help or figure themselves out.

Ok let's start with the good: Sushi is excellent. Fish is very fresh and I appreciate the Chef Saso's take on a rainbow roll (I forget, but it was either yellow tail or striped bass instead of crab stick.) Fried zucchini fritters were delicious and tasty. $18 - a little pricey but appropriate for the rest of the menu's pricing. That is where the good ended. The bad: We ordered the fried chicken poutine and lobster roll. The fried chicken poutine was good - the white gravy sauce is excellent. However, it was supposed to come with cheese curds, and it did not. It came with small chunked cheese instead. It also did not come with the "hindquarter" as described on the menu. For $30, we were served a very small amount of chicken breast (see photo.) For this price point, we expected to have a little bit more chicken, appropriately described cheese curds and chicken type, and not a plateful of (what seemed to be) frozen fries - not even fresh cut fries. Same with the lobster roll – as you can see in the picture, it was a very small amount of lobster that didn't even fill the small bun that it was in. For $34 this is overpriced and not worth ordering. The lobster meat was good and seemed fresh, but I mostly paid for frozen fries and a basic bun. I realize this isn't Maine, where lobster rolls are overflowing for $25, but I also expect that a restaurant charging $34 for a lobster roll would appropriately fill the bun they are using for their roll. And have fresh cut fries. Otherwise I would suggest to the restaurant to use a smaller bun that fills with the amount of lobster meat they are using, or fill the current bun with more lobster meat. Service was subpar. The waiter we had was kind and nice, but did not check on us at all between serving us food. He also kept forgetting things. I had to ask 3 times for a lemon for my green tea, and he forgot our containers for leftovers when he brought the bill. Then when he brought a container it was the wrong lid that didn't fit the base. Again - guy was nice. But just not a great waiter. A couple things I didn't bring to the restaurant or servers attention at the time: my napkin (cloth) has crusty food residue/stains on the backside after unrolling. And the soy sauce on the table was empty - we had to grab it off another table for our sushi; I would've told the waiter but he never came by the table again and/or I wasn't able to get his attention until our main meal came. All in all, If I was going to go back, I'd only go back for the sushi. And that's a maybe, because of the price point. I expect much better quality and accurate menu descriptions for the price point of this restaurant.

The war room has a confusing vibe to it. It’s a tavern downstairs but they also have a dining area and the food ranges from burgers, to expensive steaks, to sushi. The sushi was fresh but the lobster Mac and cheese was not good; it was really oily and didn’t come out looking anything like the pictures I saw from other posts. The drinks are about $20 each and they are also poorly made. The place seems overpriced for the quality of what you’re getting. The extra star is for the nice hostess and fresh sushi, but everything else was a bust in my opinion. I won’t be back.

Update: I'm not sure what happened to this restaurant in the three months since I last ate here, but damn the results are shocking. I made 6:45pm reservations for my husband's birthday for a party of 7 through the Open Table app in March of this year. We arrived early to get a drink in the bar before dinner. The drinks were not consistent and definitely not as good as the first time. I will note that bar staff was training, so likely this is the cause. When it came time to be seated, the dining room was full and the host seemed surprised at our group and wasn't aware of our reservation. We were led up to a third floor which initially seemed kind of neat. Until we realized that it was not heated and the lighting was so dark we couldn't see the menus even seated right next to the windows. When our drink orders were placed, they were taken by the same staffer that was being trained behind the bar when we arrived. She returned with the host to take our dinner orders and it became clear these staffers didn't understand what was on the menu. A couple members of my party tried to order the Sushi & Sashimi meal which is listed on the menu. The staff thought they were ordering two meals each and trying to explain to the staff that no they weren't each ordering the individual sushi and sashimi meals (which would have cost an additional $37 each!) was a joke. 45mins after the order was 'placed' we looked around and realized that none of the drinks had arrived, nor did the appetizers. Another party seated shortly after us was making similar comments about how it was taking. At this point, it was nearing 8pm, everyone was starving and it became clear we would not be eating anytime soon. I consulted with the wait staff and she said the drinks were 'almost ready' and I asked if our food order had even been started. She didn't know. I told her, please tell the kitchen not to bother because we're leaving. On the way out, we ran into the host and another man I think was the owner and again explained we would try back another night but please cancel our order. They offered to comp our drinks, but frankly that was not going to solve the issue at that point. We needed to eat and so we wound up going home and ordering take out sushi. This is especially frustrating when contrasted with our first experience at the War Room. I just don't understand how the quality and experience here tanked so quickly. Dropping my review to two stars as a result and really hoping whatever issues there are get figured out because it was amazing when it was working. Original Review: I had dinner with two others here on a Friday night and it was delicious. I had the Lobster roll and my other party members had the sushi dinner. Everything was amazing. The service was great and the space felt very cozy. Will definitely return.

M K (coopersmom820)

Ok let's start with the good: Sushi is excellent. Fish is very fresh and I appreciate the Chef Saso's take on a rainbow roll (I forget, but it was either yellow tail or striped bass instead of crab stick.) Fried zucchini fritters were delicious and tasty. $18 - a little pricey but appropriate for the rest of the menu's pricing. That is where the good ended. The bad: We ordered the fried chicken poutine and lobster roll. The fried chicken poutine was good - the white gravy sauce is excellent. However, it was supposed to come with cheese curds, and it did not. It came with small chunked cheese instead. It also did not come with the "hindquarter" as described on the menu. For $30, we were served a very small amount of chicken breast (see photo.) For this price point, we expected to have a little bit more chicken, appropriately described cheese curds and chicken type, and not a plateful of (what seemed to be) frozen fries - not even fresh cut fries. Same with the lobster roll – as you can see in the picture, it was a very small amount of lobster that didn't even fill the small bun that it was in. For $34 this is overpriced and not worth ordering. The lobster meat was good and seemed fresh, but I mostly paid for frozen fries and a basic bun. I realize this isn't Maine, where lobster rolls are overflowing for $25, but I also expect that a restaurant charging $34 for a lobster roll would appropriately fill the bun they are using for their roll. And have fresh cut fries. Otherwise I would suggest to the restaurant to use a smaller bun that fills with the amount of lobster meat they are using, or fill the current bun with more lobster meat. Service was subpar. The waiter we had was kind and nice, but did not check on us at all between serving us food. He also kept forgetting things. I had to ask 3 times for a lemon for my green tea, and he forgot our containers for leftovers when he brought the bill. Then when he brought a container it was the wrong lid that didn't fit the base. Again - guy was nice. But just not a great waiter. A couple things I didn't bring to the restaurant or servers attention at the time: my napkin (cloth) has crusty food residue/stains on the backside after unrolling. And the soy sauce on the table was empty - we had to grab it off another table for our sushi; I would've told the waiter but he never came by the table again and/or I wasn't able to get his attention until our main meal came. All in all, If I was going to go back, I'd only go back for the sushi. And that's a maybe, because of the price point. I expect much better quality and accurate menu descriptions for the price point of this restaurant.

Kate Villaseñor

The war room has a confusing vibe to it. It’s a tavern downstairs but they also have a dining area and the food ranges from burgers, to expensive steaks, to sushi. The sushi was fresh but the lobster Mac and cheese was not good; it was really oily and didn’t come out looking anything like the pictures I saw from other posts. The drinks are about $20 each and they are also poorly made. The place seems overpriced for the quality of what you’re getting. The extra star is for the nice hostess and fresh sushi, but everything else was a bust in my opinion. I won’t be back.

Kate Fitzpatrick

Update: I'm not sure what happened to this restaurant in the three months since I last ate here, but damn the results are shocking. I made 6:45pm reservations for my husband's birthday for a party of 7 through the Open Table app in March of this year. We arrived early to get a drink in the bar before dinner. The drinks were not consistent and definitely not as good as the first time. I will note that bar staff was training, so likely this is the cause. When it came time to be seated, the dining room was full and the host seemed surprised at our group and wasn't aware of our reservation. We were led up to a third floor which initially seemed kind of neat. Until we realized that it was not heated and the lighting was so dark we couldn't see the menus even seated right next to the windows. When our drink orders were placed, they were taken by the same staffer that was being trained behind the bar when we arrived. She returned with the host to take our dinner orders and it became clear these staffers didn't understand what was on the menu. A couple members of my party tried to order the Sushi & Sashimi meal which is listed on the menu. The staff thought they were ordering two meals each and trying to explain to the staff that no they weren't each ordering the individual sushi and sashimi meals (which would have cost an additional $37 each!) was a joke. 45mins after the order was 'placed' we looked around and realized that none of the drinks had arrived, nor did the appetizers. Another party seated shortly after us was making similar comments about how it was taking. At this point, it was nearing 8pm, everyone was starving and it became clear we would not be eating anytime soon. I consulted with the wait staff and she said the drinks were 'almost ready' and I asked if our food order had even been started. She didn't know. I told her, please tell the kitchen not to bother because we're leaving. On the way out, we ran into the host and another man I think was the owner and again explained we would try back another night but please cancel our order. They offered to comp our drinks, but frankly that was not going to solve the issue at that point. We needed to eat and so we wound up going home and ordering take out sushi. This is especially frustrating when contrasted with our first experience at the War Room. I just don't understand how the quality and experience here tanked so quickly. Dropping my review to two stars as a result and really hoping whatever issues there are get figured out because it was amazing when it was working. Original Review: I had dinner with two others here on a Friday night and it was delicious. I had the Lobster roll and my other party members had the sushi dinner. Everything was amazing. The service was great and the space felt very cozy. Will definitely return.

Not recommended, can't speak for the sushi which did look to be high quality and made with care. Server was friendly but untrained for food service. Started with Edemame dumplings which were good, only problem was there was only one edemame bean in 6 dumplings... Entrees are overpriced bar food. Could have gotten better at a random dive bar for 1/3 of the price. Chicken Parm was cooked perfectly but the sauce was skimpy and subpar, did not include advertised broccoli rabe. I didn't bother asking for it. Black bean tacos had quality ingredients but was not made with the level of care you expect for a $30+ entree. Brisket sandwich was okay but forgettable, teenage boy was unimpressed. French fries were good. Cocktail was okay, stingy on the booze. Decor is unique and interesting.

Unless you like to sit on the sidelines of a staff fight, I wouldn’t come here. Walked in to get a quick bite to witness sushi chef and waiter yelling at each other on the restaurant floor. That sums up the atmosphere here, super weird vibe and staff yelling at each other in front of customers.

You advertised as open on Sunday until 12 midnight. You were closed.

Fruit flies in our soy sauce, service was subpar, service forgot to put in one of our orders which added 45 min onto our dinner. Not attentive, didn’t offer to comp one of the dishes they forgot. Didn’t show us much attention until I found the flies in our soy sauce

The worse place for family dinner. The place was less than busy. They were swatting flies(figuratively)when we showed up for dinner. The waiter greeted us with "do you have a reservation". The place was empty and they should be happy we showed up. Two other small groups showed up after us and they never asked the same question. Is it the way we look, dress, ...? We order from the menu. Nothing special. 1 grill cheese sandwich and 3 chopped salads and one appetizer. The appetizer came first as normal. Then we waited for about an hour and nothing. The next table walked in, order sushi and more expensive items on the menu. They wer served their order within minutes. I can attest that The sushi chef was very good at his craft and he made the order quickly. He is the featured chef and there was only one order. In comparison, what was the kitchen doin with our salad and grill cheese? The apparent owner explained that the salads were special order. The explanation is the bacon. The bacon was not hot when we ate the salad and there was nothing special about the salad, other than it makes me and my family sick at the feeling of disrespect in a state that is supposed to be tolerant. All the picture on the walls were political and does not really imply inclusiveness. All in all, when I got upset and ask for the check, that is when the food came out. What a coincidence! Never will I ever step foot in this place. The atmosphere and the people are reminiscence of other parts of this country. I am a native New Yorker! I have never been so disrespected in a NY restaurant. The name should have been a dead give away. Lesson learned.

Would love the opportunity to submit a real review, however, I can’t do that since we ended up walking out. My husband and I had 5:30pm reservations prior to a 7:30 show at MVP Arena and unfortunately we had to leave at 6:15pm after being seated for nearly 45 minutes and not met with service. Ultimately we decided to leave because we didn’t want to risk missing the concert if we didn’t order until after 6:30pm. Very disappointed. A restaurant of this caliber I would expect MUCH better customer service. We will not try again.

Food came out 75 minutes after we ordered.

Worst service I’ve ever experienced. Had to ask three times for a drink menu. They only have three beers on draft. Food took an hour and a half to arrive, then we didn’t receive everything we ordered. They were out of burgers. After the bill/card was picked up it took 45 minutes to get it back. Will not be coming back. We had a reservation for 6:00, with the show at mvp starting at 7:30. Did not leave the restaurant until 8:30.

Avoid this place at all costs. Absolute joke, after you get passed the political nonsense all over the wall (I’m independent, don’t care either way but this was overkill) they took over 50 minutes just to get us water and bring us wine in dirty glasses (literally soap scum floating at the top of the glass). They acted like we didn’t even exist in the corner and made us get up multiple times just to get their attention. As someone who dines all over the capital region, I’ll tell you right now I will not be back and I will warn anyone that will listen. Oh, last thought. Ever seen a “sushi and steakhouse” that didn’t have a single steak on the menu? Me neither, but here we are.

I had a terrible experience at Albany War Room Tavern. The wait was ridiculously long, even though there were plenty of open seats. They only seated one party before my group, then proceeded to seat two parties after us and serve them first. The waitress Jessica was incredibly condescending and sarcastic, making the whole experience worse. When the food finally came out, it was cold—my burger and fries were practically inedible. It’s not a place that’s welcoming, and definitely not quick enough to enjoy before a nearby event at MVP Arena. You’d think they’d be prepared for large crowds, but the restaurant never got too crowded, and everything was still slow. I really wish I’d just DoorDashed my meal and left before I was even served. Avoid this place if you’re looking for decent service or a hot meal.

We had an early dinner reservation. After being seated we waited up to 10 minutes or so for water glasses. Then someone came to fill them and filled mine halfway and my wife's just a quarter cup and the carafe was empty. He never came back with more and that was emblematic of the entire visit. We ordered a glass of wine and a soda which never came in the hour and 20 minutes we were there. We ordered an app at the same time that never came either. After 45+ minutes of no meal items we bagged any thought of an entree and asked to split a piece of cake. Our poor waitress was apologizing the whole night saying the bar and kitchen were extremely busy. She nicely brought out two pieces of cakes complimentary, probably because she could grab them herself. It's small place with close tables and we could hear that the other diners were experiencing the same excruciating waits for food, plates and other items. Example; one table of 6 got an order of sushi as a shared app. But they received no plates. They finally flagged the owner and he brought over one plate. One plate. They politely indicated that they each wanted a plate. The manager/owner was walking by and we stopped him to inform him of all the problems. Yet he seemed to blame it on the staff. Wrong answer. They need someone who knows how to manage a restaurant. He stood around the whole evening just watching the whole flustercluck that was happening and did not help out or do anything. Extremely disappointing visit.

Spent 30 minutes sitting at the bar getting sober before anyone looked at us. Once our 2 drink order was taken it was another 10 minute wait before the bartender came back and asked what we wanted again. All that for $35. Stay out of here.

Came here in April. Had drinks downstairs and it was amazing. Bartender was super attentive and friendly. Went here tonight (on a show night) for dinner. Service was terrible (and I am very aware everyone is short staffed). However being 2 blocks from the arena, you should staff accordingly. The server took our drink orders and we never saw him again. Whomever took our dinner order did not ask how the burger should be cooked, if there were any dietary restrictions etc. Burger was super salty (with no water refills) no dressing on the salad. We threw money in the table and left because no one came to check on us the entire meal. If the plate is barely touched, that should be a clue to check in. The couple next to us left after 30 minutes with only being greeted and given water. Again, I know everyone is short staffed but this was beyond that level. Again, food was very salty, dressing not gluten free but was never asked if there were restrictions. Sorry but will not return (and neither with the local couple next to us)

Rude, overtly liberal atmosphere. Fish was not fresh (even for an upstate restaurant) We actually walked out.

We went on my birthday, i was very excited to try this place. The menu online had so many things i wanted to try. It started out good, walked in gave our name to the host for our reservation & was seated right away. We had 2 people serving, who didn't seem to know what other was doing. Our drinks were ordered & came in a timely manner. We then ordered, we had a combination or kitchen & sushi items. We ordered truffle fries as an appetizer, they came out timely, this is when things went wrong. My son & i ordered sushi as our mains while my husband,mother & father had kitchen entrees (chicken parm, lobster roll & fried chicken poutine). The sushi came out, and the server told us our kitchen items will be out in a few minutes, 30 minutes later, 40 minutes our other entrees are still not out. The server seemed to be avoiding us and when she did speak to us she was rude. We were told there was nothing they could do & she doesn't work in the kitchen. My husband got up about at the 50 min mark & told the server to cancel his order. The server eventually said she would comp our meal, but then told us she canceled everything, misunderstood that my husband was the only one who canceled his meal. The manager came by & was equally as rude. Mind you ask other tables got their food, this all could have been avoided if they were honest & told us they were sorry & they forgot to put the order in or that they didn't fire it yet, instead they kept saying it was coming. I worked in hospitality & this was not done right! We ended up leaving out meal was comped but only 2 of us had eaten & they were hungry. Lets just say it was a memorable birthday but not in a good way. I will say the sushi was delicious.