Blake Ericson

Superb service and excellent experience. This was an interesting take on Italian dining. Each course was unique and very well done. They are accommodating to food allergies. Recommend having the menu be a surprise when you dine in.

s e s h a

My wife and I dined here for the first time with another couple on a Saturday in November. There is a $20 fee per person to make a reservation. They have two seatings for dinner on Saturday, one at 6pm and one at 8pm, we selected the 8pm slot. There is no menu and they serve a five course meal, which sounded really interesting to all of us and was one of the reasons we selected this place. Someone from the restaurant called us on the Friday before our reservation and mentioned they are fully booked for the 6pm seating and there is a place they own next door named Vino Lab where we could go and have some drinks and they will come get us when ready to be seated. We arrived 30 minutes early and hung out in the Vino lab which was nice, it’s sort of an Italian market kind of place with a modern wine bar. All the wine they serve are Italian, we really liked it and the staff are friendly and helpful when selecting wine. As stated, they came and got us when it was time to be seated for dinner. The restaurant staff are all super friendly and welcoming. They asked us if anyone had any allergies or couldn’t eat certain food. The bartender came over and asked what we wanted to drink. Since there is no menu, they explained what each course was when they placed it in front of us. Every course we had was delicious and we enjoyed all of them. We must have interacted with about 6 people while dining here and every one of them had pleasant personalities and seemed to really like working there. The chef came to our table when we were about to leave and asked how everything was. I highly recommend this place for a special occasion or just a great evening with friends. None of us had any complaints about this place and we will definitely go back again.

+3

R Y

Loved the vibes here! The restaurant is family owned and operated. Everyone there is super sweet and friendly. The food was so good! I can't wait to go back and try it again. I missed the call from them to go over the menu the day before. I would advise future guests to make sure to discuss with them in case the protein isn't something you prefer! One of our guests don't prefer turkey and would have wanted chicken but it was my fault for not calling the restaurant back. Overall, loved our experience and will be back soon!

+1

DOM

I took my wife here for her birthday and I have to say, this place exceeded my expectations. If you’re looking for the most authentic Italian food - this is the spot. The atmosphere was almost like we were sitting in someone’s kitchen right in Italy. We sat at the chef’s table, which if you can get a spot there you should! But the entire space is elegant and clean. They serve the meals in courses and we were able to watch as they prepared all of our courses. In total we had 5 courses and each was better than the last. We even got offered seconds on the pasta. My one recommendation - COME HUNGRY and you will leave full and happy. Also —Great Italian red wines We were able to interact with the owners and their family (who are all running the place) during our entire dining experience and by the time we left they felt like family. I cannot say enough good things about this place. It checks all of the boxes you want for a great night out. Go check this place out - you wont be disappointed.

+1

Nancy Wesoloski

Cucina Lab Torino was Amazing!! We loved the variation and flexibility of the table set up. We sat at the "chef's table" and watched the staff preparing every dish...loved that! There were tables for 2, 4 and one huge table they arranged for 12. The food was so authentic and wonderful!! From the bruschetta to the aperitivo, pasta (of course) , meat course and oh the desserts were so delicious! The staff/family were ALL fantastic! They were knowledgeable and sooooo friendly. Wine and cocktails were delicious too. We will definitely return. MOLTO BENE! (i missed taking a picture of pasta...which was yummy, with muscles and clams...basil of course)

Jessica Brideau

Everything was amazing! Such a neat and authentic Italian experience. We’ve been to Italy and the food tasted like it was straight out of Italy - fresh, flavorful and a beautiful presentation. The staff was so friendly and attentive. It was my Husband’s birthday and they made him a beautiful mini cake. Definitely recommend and we will be back!

+1

Patricia O

Best Italian restaurant in Troy, if not THE best restaurant, period. Every course had me saying "wow", although the hand-made Agnolotti pasta filled with Branzino was spectacular. The service was top-notch. The chef, pastry chef, and servers made us feel very welcome, and it was clear that they're very proud of this place. Before dessert they offered us limoncello, which they make in-house, and I ended up buying a bottle to take home. To top it all off, they surprised me with a cake for my birthday, which they made it themselves. I cannot recommend this place enough. It's more than worth it.

+2

Farrah F

Had a fabulous 5 coursed dinner last night! We were a group of 9, 2 of us with dietary restrictions which were both greatly accommodated. The ambiance and food were great, but the thing that was the best was the hospitality! It felt as if we were at a family members home having dinner in Italy. All of us live in the area and you will not find a dinner experience anywhere near by like this one. All of us throughly enjoyed the meal and will definitely be back! If you are looking for a nice, one of a kind authentic experience you should definitely give this place a try we all highly recommend. Thank you to all of the staff for a nice memorable dinner.

Jayshri Jaykumar

Fantastic dining experience at Cucina, food was outstanding, authentic and so fresh. Good service and they made my birthday dinner very special. Note - the ravioli was something I ve never had before . The taste of tomato’s and Parmesan cheese was to die for All the desserts were something for everyone to experience I also have to mention that the chef customized a vegetarian meal for me

+3

Elisa Doll

It was pricey but worth every penny. Each course (6 for us) was packed with flavor & a feast for the eyes. No inedible garnishes. I have severe health issues & an elderly parent & no one batted an eye at our masks; likewise, the seating was comfortable with back support and spread out enough to social distance. The atmosphere is modern & clean. No one rushed us out the door afterward. The staff was friendly, capable & just the right amount of attentiveness. At each course they explained what we were eating. I truly enjoyed myself.

+4

Kathy D

The vibe is inviting & cozy. Staff is knowledgeable, attentive & friendly. I wish I could remember our servers name because she was fabulous, went above & beyond. I was disappointed with my meal. It didn’t have much flavor. What was being served was not clear. We found out what we were having when it was put in front of us. I’m not a fan of seafood but when I asked for a substitution I was quickly accommodated. I appreciated that. It would have been nice to know the menu ahead of time. The wine varietals were perfectly paired. I’m not a fan of alcohol with my meal & was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the wines with my meal. Our group left happy & we will certainly go back.

Debbie Richardson

The food and service were outstanding! True authentic Italian. Each course was presented and the staff described each item on the plate with its Italian name and American name. The decor wasn't to my liking. One wall was covered in kit hen items that were completely painted with white paint. This would have probably been okay but some of the chosen items were less than desirable, like egg cartons, solo cups etc. It detracted from the upscale atmosphere. Overall it was a fantastic experience and I would definitely go again!

LESLIE ACCARDO

We attended the Italian spring cooking demonstration and had a great time watching and tasting. We also visited the Vino Lab next door for a glass of wine and tasting. Fun experience! This was not a hands on class, which I would have enjoyed

The ambience was great so was the service but unfortunately the execution of the dishes was poor. You cannot charge a certain amount for dishes that are mini palate teasers and the main is also a small plate.for example, slithers of pork with few potatoes and greens. The flavors were there but I would consider portion size and price. The sommelier was great, but only if they could pair the wines on time with the meals.

I hate to leave bad reviews, especially for a family-operated restaurant where the staff were all very nice, but it feels warranted in this case. Value & Pricing The food is just not good, and definitely not good enough to justify their absurd $90-per-person tasting menu price. I would gladly pay $90 or even more if the dining experience matched the cost, but this was not the case unfortunately. Food Quality & Presentation The best of the five dishes served was just okay, and others were downright bad. Two of the five courses were aesthetically unappetizing, you would think that a restaurant that only offers dinner service twice a week would have the sense to think about their plating and the look of the food they are serving. A small piece of bread with cheese spread and steamed vegetables being one of the courses on a $90 tasting menu is beyond pathetic. I genuinely hope ownership reads this review, evaluates the value proposition they are currently offering, and takes steps to fix it. If they don't see any issue, then frankly this place should not remain open. Atmosphere The setup of the restaurant is also somewhat strange, it felt more like a fast-casual vibe than a fancy restaurant offering an expensive tasting menu. A Note for Non-Italian Diners If you are a non-Italian and are considering booking a reservation here, please take note: THIS IS NOT THE TYPE OF ITALIAN CUISINE THAT MOST PEOPLE ENVISION IN THEIR HEAD, and I mean that in a bad way unfortunately. Why I Wrote This I wrote this review for two reasons: (1) to warn people considering booking a reservation here for a special occasion that they are most likely going to be disappointed if they've ever eaten good food in their lives, and (2) genuinely in the hopes that ownership/management reads this and takes it to heart, not as an attack, but as constructive feedback. If you continue operating as you currently are, first time customers have no reason to return.

I really wanted to enjoy this experience, but unfortunately it fell far short of what the price and concept promise. At $90 per person for a five-course meal, I expected a refined, high-end dining experience. Instead, every course arrived cold, and the food overall was very bland, lacking depth, seasoning, or any memorable flavors. Nothing felt elevated or thoughtfully executed in a way that justified the cost. The pacing was another major issue. Keep in mind it takes 30mins to wait for the next dish which arrived cold. A long, drawn-out service can work when the food and atmosphere are exceptional—but in this case, it only amplified the disappointment. This restaurant clearly aims to offer a curated, upscale dining experience, but execution is critical at this price point. Temperature, flavor, and timing are fundamentals, and missing on all three makes it hard to recommend. I hope the owners take this feedback seriously, because the concept has potential. That said, while some people may come once to try the experience, I can’t see many guests returning unless significant improvements are made

Keirya Langkamp

I really hate to leave a bad review on a local establishment but I have to be honest-- not worth your money nor your time. My husband and I went out for a really special occasion and splurged on La Cucina and Vino Lab. I commend these owners for putting themselves out there. Some food was too salty, some lacked any taste, pasta was overworked, crackers were stale, and gelato was runny. This is not quite what we had in mind. The decor was trendy and tasteful - it's a shame the food wasn’t. We even got significantly up charged for a bottle of wine in La Cucina and laughed that they evidently only paid $29 for it and forgot to take their sticker off. Overall, staff and chefs were nice, not a 7, certainly not a 9, course meal as promised. The chefs did stop by and ask how our dinner was - we were honest. If you want to give it a try - maybe it's worth your $XX per plate. In my book, neither the Vino Lab nor La Cucino Lab are worth it. Over priced and meh food.