Itameshi

Jesse Cimino

Celebrated my birthday here and tried it out for the first time. We had a party of 8 and tried about half of the appetizers they offer and everyone tried a different entree. We all were very impressed with the freshness, flavors, and presentation of the main dishes. However, the appetizers still stole the show somehow (only got pictures of the appetizers because we were all too excited to eat the entrees). The octopus and calimari in particular were some of the best we have ever had. All the flavors are thoughtful and well executed, and some are quite innovative. Excellent drink selection, and the service was top notch. My entree was the NY strip, and as outstanding as the steak itself was, the side of wasabi mashed potatoes managed to steal the show. One of the better sides I've ever had the pleasure of eating. It's a smaller menu, but there is still good variety, and we can't wait to go back to try what we didn't get to the first time (but certainly getting seconds of the octopus).

Billie Boucher

We had an amazing experience at Itameshi. Atmosphere is impeccable. Service warm, friendly and on point. Cocktails are top notch! And the food! OMG. Flavorful and perfectly prepared. Highly recommend!

S Diane

Wow! Since opening I’ve eaten here 6 times!!! Had my 1st solo dining experience on a Friday night - went to pick up my takeout order (Fried Calamari 😋😋😋😋😋) and ended up having a fabulous drink at the bar. Met a beautiful couple also eating at the Bar. Stayed longer as we struck up conversation. Bar Service never disappoints..William is passionate and creative & it shows up in his work! The level of flavors in the food… all i can say is wait for it!! The first bite is delicious and it elevates from there! Can’t say enough about the Chef’s and this kitchen staff. The servers are delightful and learning the menu just like us but we appreciate them sharing what they’ve experienced so far on the menu. They’re eager to go ask on things that aren’t sure of. Their is bread service now to “sop up” the amazing sauces coming from this kitchen!!! Can’t miss items: Calamari; Grilled Prime NY Strip Steak; Waygu Meatballs; Cacio e Pepe; gyoza, cherry-pepper; clams and last night 8 of us shared items family style and tried the ramen… I’ll be back for that! Oh and the salmon… chef’s 💋.

Kyle Gibson

A Perfect Italian-Japanese Fusion You Didn’t Know You Needed If you hesitated when you heard “Japanese-Italian fusion,” don’t. Itameshi nails it — creative, balanced, and absolutely delicious from start to finish. Every dish had both comfort and surprise, with attention to texture and flavor it honestly ranks this as one of the best meals I've ever had. Our server Drew deserves special mention — friendly, attentive, and completely unfazed by our multiple rounds of appetizers and a late entrée addition. His recommendations (including how to enjoy the cocktail with the Kumbachi plum) were spot on. The pacing was perfect, the vibe warm but modern, and the food… unforgettable. If you’re skeptical about Italian-Japanese fusion, Itameshi will change your mind. Each dish celebrates both cuisines instead of compromising either. It’s creative, comforting, and genuinely exciting dining. Easily one of the most interesting and best meals I’ve had in years. Top 3 all time in Albany. Don’t hesitate. Go. Now. The Food we had: Italian Sushi Roll (Prosciutto, Tomato Aioli, Basil, Mozzarella, Balsamic Glaze) A “Caprese roll” in spirit — paper-thin prosciutto melts as it meets creamy mozzarella and fragrant basil, while the tomato aioli adds richness. The balsamic glaze is both sweet and pungent, tying the flavors together beautifully. Calamari (Crispy, Spicy Miso Crema, Agrodolce) Light, crisp breading around perfectly tender calamari. The spicy miso crema brings depth and heat, while the agrodolce drizzle adds that balanced tang and sweetness. I used my spoon to scrape the plate — not exaggerating. One of the best calamari dishes I’ve ever had. Gyoza (Cacio e Pepe, Cherry Pepper Sugo) This is where fusion magic happens. Italian cacio e pepe flavors tucked into Japanese gyoza, served over a bold, tangy cherry-pepper tomato sugo. It’s spicy enough to clear your sinuses, yet addictively flavorful. Shrimp Crispy Rice (Roast Tomato, Calabrian Chili Cream Sauce) Arguably the dish of the night. Perfectly cooked shrimp over a golden fried sticky rice cake — crispy on the outside, chewy inside — sitting in a luscious tomato-Calabrian chili cream sauce. It has just enough heat to keep things interesting without overwhelming the shrimp’s sweetness. Udon Noodle Bolognese (Whipped Miso Ricotta) A brilliant fusion of East and West. The chewy udon noodles are the perfect canvas for a rich, slow-cooked Bolognese — hearty, savory, and layered with flavor. The whipped miso ricotta on top adds a creamy, slightly sweet umami finish that ties everything together. Then there’s the crispy, fatty beef — little golden bits of texture that pop through every bite, giving the dish contrast and depth. The combination of silky noodles, creamy ricotta, and crisp beef creates a mouthfeel that’s honestly out of this world. Comfort food reborn through creativity. PS if you're still reading - $50-100 per person is accurate if you are going out, ordering multiple courses, and drinking. However, their menu is very reasonably priced for the amount and quality. Apps $14-20. Pasta $25 ish. Protein entrees $20-30. If youre just getting an entree or splitting an app and getting an entree you could easily be under $50 a person. It's well worth it!

Carmeisha Huckleby

This place has great food and customer service! I dined with a couple friends, and we shared some apps, entrees and desserts. The kabocha squash soup, squid ink pasta, and the pistachio tort were my faves!

Sarah Trop

Such a beautiful new spot in downtown Albany! Walking distance to Palace Theater and Capital Rep. We had a fun girls night out here an enjoyed all the food, service, and atmosphere.

Nelson Felix

Great concept and execution! Cucumber salad is a must have 😎. The whole staff is friendly and inviting.

Jade

AMAZING food, great atmosphere even got a chance to meet the man who made these incredible meals his name Is Hez. Definitely worth every penny and can’t wait to come back soon.

Art Lee

Very nice setting, delicious food, and outstanding service. The prosciutto wrapped shrimp was particularly delicious. My server was extremely welcoming, friendly, and attentive. I look forward to coming back soon.

myself and four of my friends eat there last night and it was amazing. One thing was better than next. The staff couldn’t have been any nicer. The chef and the sous chef came out to make sure we enjoyed everything. The big clams were ridiculous. The meatballs were the best I’ve ever had. There wasn’t a bad thing we we all shared it. We had the pork chop special. We had the steak with the Bolognese, the shrimp, rice cakes a few other things everything was phenomenal. The place is beautiful and a perfect location for downtown Albany.

We had a fantastic dinner at Itameshi last night. There were 4 of us—each with very different tastes—it was a treat to find a menu that truly delivered for everyone. Every dish was a hit, from the appetizers and salad to the mains. The meatballs? Possibly the best I’ve ever had! What really elevated the experience was the service. Our server was warm, knowledgeable, and made spot-on recommendations that helped each of us find something we were genuinely excited about. No one felt like they were compromising. We left full, happy, and already talking about what we’ll try next time.

We wanted to try something new. Dinner seating starts at 5, but the bar opens at 4. The bar is a small area but well stocked. Seasonal cocktails, as well as a few draft beers, (that aren't run of the mill) & whiskeys/bourbon to pick from. There are Happy Hour specials as well. We had a drink at the bar then went to our table for dinner. We ordered the calamari & the Italian Sushi. They were absolutely fantastic!! The calamari was perfectly done, just enough sauce on the plate that was tasty. The Italian Sushi had just the right amount of balsamic glaze with the fresh mozzarella & prosciutto. There were 4 of us & we cleaned those plates up. I got the chicken that had mushrooms & gravy, I requested the wasabi mashed potatoes which were just wasabi enough, didn't overwhelm the dish. Hubby got the shorts ribs on noodles & needed to take some home, filling & satisfying. Our companions got salads with proteins added, the tuna on one, the other got the cucumber salad with the meatballs appetizer. No room for dessert. The waitstaff were phenomenal as well. They answered all questions, we're attentive without hovering & we were not rushed. The dining room was filling up as we left. We will be back!

my partner and i were a walk in on a saturday night around 7 pm. service was great and hospitable, with well timed check ins. the menu is incredible!! we ordered 4 appetizers, 1 entree to share, 2 drinks each, and 2 desserts to share! there was too much we wanted to try lol. all of the food was seriously incredible! personal highlights: the calamari and the NY strip steak. WOW! calamari was crispy, perfect portion, and came with amazing sauce. the strip steak came with wasabi potatoes (has a hint of the flavor without the spice), and was cooked perfectly with an amazing charred crust, and miso dijon mustard sauce. the drinks were good (and strong) and has a diverse cocktail menu (as well as wine/beer). the dessert menu is given by the servers (and from what i assume, seems to cycle out different options often!) – they had limoncello layer cake, pistachio mousse, and tiramisu. my partner and i shared both the pistachio mousse and tiramisu – both INCREDIBLE. one the of the best meals i’ve had, definitely coming back again!

True fusion cuisine combines the best of two styles into cohesive, delicious dishes. And that's exactly what you get at Itameshi, a new-ish restaurant on Broadway in downtown Albany, and it was one of the best dinners we'd had in town in a while. "Itameshi" refers to the Japanese style of fusion cuisine that blends Japanese and Italian cuisines (which isn't as crazy as it sounds, it's been popular in Japan for decades - one of the original Iron Chefs specialized in Italian food), and this restaurant holds true to that in every sense, from the wide variety of cocktails to the small plates and the main courses, and it's all incredibly delicious. We started with a couple of cocktails, the menu for which was thoughtfully segmented into three sections: lighter, bubbly offerings; citrus-forward selections; and ones that are stronger and boldly flavored. A pear Cosmo that was on special did the trick for one of our guests, and the Yokai Heat featuring spicy tequila, yuzu, and lime was spicy and refreshing. There is also a hefty wine list and several beers to choose from. We ordered seven small plates and two mains: the calamari was tender and juicy and lightly fried, served with spicy miso crema and agrodolce (Italian sweet and sour sauce) - it was outstanding, and very thoughtful to put the sauce on the side so the squid stayed crispy. Next was the cacio e pepe gyoza - fried dumplings stuffed with cheese and black pepper and served with a cherry pepper tomato sauce...the dumplings were crispy on the edges and the filling was creamy and flavorful, and the sauce was good, but for me, unnecessary as it slightly masked the flavor of the filling, but still a very good dish. The Italian sushi roll was the only item we had that really didn't have any Japanese elements in it, other than being called a sushi roll. But the tomato, basil, and mozzarella wrapped with prosciutto and drizzled with a balsamic glaze tasted wonderful. The shrimp crispy rice featured a plump, juicy shrimp on top of a lightly fried rice ball with roasted tomato and a Calabrian chili cream sauce, and it was as good as it sounds, full of flavor and balance. The grilled octopus with edamame and eel sauce was very tasty - I would have liked larger pieces of octopus but it was cooked perfectly, and the edamame was the best I've ever had, just the right amount of tenderness without being mushy, and the eel sauce complimented both elements harmoniously. The two stars of the small plates were, first, the tuna carpaccio - the most visually stunning dish we had, thin slices of vibrant pink/purple tuna draped across the plate, with a bump in the middle from an uni butter crouton, with a little lemon oil and agrodolce drizzled on top. That crouton was divine, the fresh tuna perfectly matched with the light dressing. Beautiful dish. Then the homerun - the kombucha squash soup with stracciatella and crispy garlic, drizzled with chili oil. Just an incredible amount of flavor, creaminess from the cheese, texture contrast from the fried garlic bits, and depth from the squash and chili oil. One of the best soups we'd ever had anywhere. On to the mains - first was the Wagyu Bolognese with thick Udon noodles and a whipped miso ricotta. That miso ricotta was unbelievable - what a wonderful meshing of the two ingredients into something we'd never tasted anything like before. The dish as a whole was bit too salty, but overall it was great, with big chunks of ground Wagyu beef in the thick, flavorful sauce. Last was the miso salmon, served with forbidden rice (black rice), baby bok choy, and miso butter. The perfectly cooked salmon (slightly undercooked, as requested) paired well with the miso butter, which also coated the bok choy and got under the rice, making each bite delicious and flavorful. The staff was knowledgeable and friendly, the atmosphere had just the right amount of brightness and the music wasn't too loud. We can't wait to come back!

Calamari is excellent. Octopus is divine but heavy on the edamame. The fried dumplings revelatory. Tuna Carpaccio delicious. The pistachio and lemon tortes we had for dessert exceptional--airy and not too sweet or heavy. Only ordered appetizers and desserts before a show at the Palace for a light meal on my birthday. Go here now.

This new restaurant was wonderful. Ambiance was very comfortable. Food was absolutely delicious; the grilled octopus was our favorite. Entrees were also phenomenal we had the steak and the chicken. Our server Lauren was also knowledgeable and ensured us that we made good menu decisions.

Had an absolutely fantastic meal here. The food is as unique as it sounds. Salmon was delicious. The gyoza was for sure a standout as well! Also special shout out to the bar. The drinks are great with a good selection! Weird thing to note but I'm also a fan of how the drink menu is organized.

Tried several apps and a salad for the table. All were tasty. We all tried each others dishes and happy with everything. The Spaghetti Western drink! So good. The only bummer is that it was pretty empty. Which worked in our favor for service and the speed of it. Try it!

Amazing fusion of Italian and Japanese foods and cocktails. The dishes are innovative and unique unlike anything in the area. Every person in our party of six thoroughly enjoyed their meals. The Udon Bolognese is wonderful and is the Miso Salmon. The special veal chop was wonderfully prepared. The cocktails were also unique and well done. I highly recommend and try something you've never had before!

Jeffrey Martino

Really bummed I didn’t take any photos last night because that meal/experience was one of the best in recent memory. I had the veal special with tiramisu for desert. Can’t wait to go back. This will be where I go for my birthday.

Stephen Pivonka

Amazing fusion of Italian and Japanese foods and cocktails. The dishes are innovative and unique unlike anything in the area. Every person in our party of six thoroughly enjoyed their meals. The Udon Bolognese is wonderful and is the Miso Salmon. The special veal chop was wonderfully prepared. The cocktails were also unique and well done. I highly recommend and try something you've never had before!

Christopher Kelly

myself and four of my friends eat there last night and it was amazing. One thing was better than next. The staff couldn’t have been any nicer. The chef and the sous chef came out to make sure we enjoyed everything. The big clams were ridiculous. The meatballs were the best I’ve ever had. There wasn’t a bad thing we we all shared it. We had the pork chop special. We had the steak with the Bolognese, the shrimp, rice cakes a few other things everything was phenomenal. The place is beautiful and a perfect location for downtown Albany.

Gary Menia

Great addition to Albany's food adventures. Great salad with interesting levels of flavors. The combination of Italian and Japanese ingredients was tastefully blended to make the best of both traditions.

Joanne Leibert

We wanted to try something new. Dinner seating starts at 5, but the bar opens at 4. The bar is a small area but well stocked. Seasonal cocktails, as well as a few draft beers, (that aren't run of the mill) & whiskeys/bourbon to pick from. There are Happy Hour specials as well. We had a drink at the bar then went to our table for dinner. We ordered the calamari & the Italian Sushi. They were absolutely fantastic!! The calamari was perfectly done, just enough sauce on the plate that was tasty. The Italian Sushi had just the right amount of balsamic glaze with the fresh mozzarella & prosciutto. There were 4 of us & we cleaned those plates up. I got the chicken that had mushrooms & gravy, I requested the wasabi mashed potatoes which were just wasabi enough, didn't overwhelm the dish. Hubby got the shorts ribs on noodles & needed to take some home, filling & satisfying. Our companions got salads with proteins added, the tuna on one, the other got the cucumber salad with the meatballs appetizer. No room for dessert. The waitstaff were phenomenal as well. They answered all questions, we're attentive without hovering & we were not rushed. The dining room was filling up as we left. We will be back!

Denise Corbett

We had a fantastic dinner at Itameshi last night. There were 4 of us—each with very different tastes—it was a treat to find a menu that truly delivered for everyone. Every dish was a hit, from the appetizers and salad to the mains. The meatballs? Possibly the best I’ve ever had! What really elevated the experience was the service. Our server was warm, knowledgeable, and made spot-on recommendations that helped each of us find something we were genuinely excited about. No one felt like they were compromising. We left full, happy, and already talking about what we’ll try next time.

eric straus

True fusion cuisine combines the best of two styles into cohesive, delicious dishes. And that's exactly what you get at Itameshi, a new-ish restaurant on Broadway in downtown Albany, and it was one of the best dinners we'd had in town in a while. "Itameshi" refers to the Japanese style of fusion cuisine that blends Japanese and Italian cuisines (which isn't as crazy as it sounds, it's been popular in Japan for decades - one of the original Iron Chefs specialized in Italian food), and this restaurant holds true to that in every sense, from the wide variety of cocktails to the small plates and the main courses, and it's all incredibly delicious. We started with a couple of cocktails, the menu for which was thoughtfully segmented into three sections: lighter, bubbly offerings; citrus-forward selections; and ones that are stronger and boldly flavored. A pear Cosmo that was on special did the trick for one of our guests, and the Yokai Heat featuring spicy tequila, yuzu, and lime was spicy and refreshing. There is also a hefty wine list and several beers to choose from. We ordered seven small plates and two mains: the calamari was tender and juicy and lightly fried, served with spicy miso crema and agrodolce (Italian sweet and sour sauce) - it was outstanding, and very thoughtful to put the sauce on the side so the squid stayed crispy. Next was the cacio e pepe gyoza - fried dumplings stuffed with cheese and black pepper and served with a cherry pepper tomato sauce...the dumplings were crispy on the edges and the filling was creamy and flavorful, and the sauce was good, but for me, unnecessary as it slightly masked the flavor of the filling, but still a very good dish. The Italian sushi roll was the only item we had that really didn't have any Japanese elements in it, other than being called a sushi roll. But the tomato, basil, and mozzarella wrapped with prosciutto and drizzled with a balsamic glaze tasted wonderful. The shrimp crispy rice featured a plump, juicy shrimp on top of a lightly fried rice ball with roasted tomato and a Calabrian chili cream sauce, and it was as good as it sounds, full of flavor and balance. The grilled octopus with edamame and eel sauce was very tasty - I would have liked larger pieces of octopus but it was cooked perfectly, and the edamame was the best I've ever had, just the right amount of tenderness without being mushy, and the eel sauce complimented both elements harmoniously. The two stars of the small plates were, first, the tuna carpaccio - the most visually stunning dish we had, thin slices of vibrant pink/purple tuna draped across the plate, with a bump in the middle from an uni butter crouton, with a little lemon oil and agrodolce drizzled on top. That crouton was divine, the fresh tuna perfectly matched with the light dressing. Beautiful dish. Then the homerun - the kombucha squash soup with stracciatella and crispy garlic, drizzled with chili oil. Just an incredible amount of flavor, creaminess from the cheese, texture contrast from the fried garlic bits, and depth from the squash and chili oil. One of the best soups we'd ever had anywhere. On to the mains - first was the Wagyu Bolognese with thick Udon noodles and a whipped miso ricotta. That miso ricotta was unbelievable - what a wonderful meshing of the two ingredients into something we'd never tasted anything like before. The dish as a whole was bit too salty, but overall it was great, with big chunks of ground Wagyu beef in the thick, flavorful sauce. Last was the miso salmon, served with forbidden rice (black rice), baby bok choy, and miso butter. The perfectly cooked salmon (slightly undercooked, as requested) paired well with the miso butter, which also coated the bok choy and got under the rice, making each bite delicious and flavorful. The staff was knowledgeable and friendly, the atmosphere had just the right amount of brightness and the music wasn't too loud. We can't wait to come back!

Troy DeGroff

Calamari is excellent. Octopus is divine but heavy on the edamame. The fried dumplings revelatory. Tuna Carpaccio delicious. The pistachio and lemon tortes we had for dessert exceptional--airy and not too sweet or heavy. Only ordered appetizers and desserts before a show at the Palace for a light meal on my birthday. Go here now.

Colin Leath

Had an absolutely fantastic meal here. The food is as unique as it sounds. Salmon was delicious. The gyoza was for sure a standout as well! Also special shout out to the bar. The drinks are great with a good selection! Weird thing to note but I'm also a fan of how the drink menu is organized.

Samantha Rossi

This new restaurant was wonderful. Ambiance was very comfortable. Food was absolutely delicious; the grilled octopus was our favorite. Entrees were also phenomenal we had the steak and the chicken. Our server Lauren was also knowledgeable and ensured us that we made good menu decisions.

Alayna C

my partner and i were a walk in on a saturday night around 7 pm. service was great and hospitable, with well timed check ins. the menu is incredible!! we ordered 4 appetizers, 1 entree to share, 2 drinks each, and 2 desserts to share! there was too much we wanted to try lol. all of the food was seriously incredible! personal highlights: the calamari and the NY strip steak. WOW! calamari was crispy, perfect portion, and came with amazing sauce. the strip steak came with wasabi potatoes (has a hint of the flavor without the spice), and was cooked perfectly with an amazing charred crust, and miso dijon mustard sauce. the drinks were good (and strong) and has a diverse cocktail menu (as well as wine/beer). the dessert menu is given by the servers (and from what i assume, seems to cycle out different options often!) – they had limoncello layer cake, pistachio mousse, and tiramisu. my partner and i shared both the pistachio mousse and tiramisu – both INCREDIBLE. one the of the best meals i’ve had, definitely coming back again!