Cafe Capriccio   

49 Grand St
Albany, NY 12207
518-465-0439
www.cafecapriccio.com

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Walking down the steps to this slightly below-street-level restaurant is like walking into a neighborhood Italian restaurant circa 1950. Wood-paneled walls surround the intimate dining room, and a wide range of bottles sparkle from behind the mirrored bar. The menu, which is succinct and changes regularly, features simple entrees prepared with the freshest organic ingredients. House specialties include grilled artichokes and sopressata, Catalonian fish stew, Abbachio alla Romano (braised baby lamb cooked with wine, root vegetables and herbs), and puttanesca with fresh tagliatelle. Everything on the menu is a house specialty and probably a local diner's favorite dish. The wines, offered by the glass or by the bottle, are carefully selected and complement the meals nicely. If you can't get enough of this restaurant, you can purchase one of owner Jim Rua's cookbooks or a cooking lesson and try recreating the meal at home. -- Laura Sprague