Hamilton Street Cafè
Hamilton Street Cafè — photo 2
Hamilton Street Cafè — photo 3
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Hamilton Street Cafè — photo 5

Hamilton Street Cafè

317 Hamilton St, Albany, NY

★★★★★4.5(47 Google reviews)

Crema's Take

Hamilton Street Cafè is a beloved neighborhood spot in Albany where the real magic happens on Friday mornings when their fresh-baked scones come out of the oven—regulars swear by them. The staff strikes that rare balance of genuinely friendly and efficient, making it equally suited for a quick coffee grab or lingering over breakfast sandwiches that locals rave about, though the food quality can be a bit hit-or-miss depending on what you order.

What to expect

Traditional drinksSlow sitLight foodFull breakfastMeetingsFamily friendlyQuick grabPastries

Google Reviews

Dylan Keenan
★★★★2 months ago

Service was fast, everyone was friendly, and my order was correct. The food however was not great. I got the buffalo chicken wrap and it was 75% lettuce and not even remotely spicy. The Mac salad was very wet, and it tasted like the straight celery. A single grain of salt would have gone a long way, that's how bland it was. EDIT: Two years later and my review is being downgraded from 3 to 1. I came today (2/12/26) and got the shrimp jambalaya off the hot menu. After I paid they handed it to me and it was cold. I asked if I could get it hot and they said "it's a cold to go dinner only, but I guess I can heat it up for you if you want". When I asked why it was listed on their hot menu they couldn't answer. As I was leaving they yelled out in a very sarcastic voice "so what can I do to make it better?" I told them nothing and that I won't be coming back and I would tell others not to come. There's no reason to get bent out of shape when someone asks why food advertised as being hot was given to them cold. I wasted half my lunch on this, and then had to still go find food because I wasn't going to be the guy to microwave seafood in the office. On top of that, when I took it out of the bag to put in the fridge in my office, I noticed there were only 2 shrimp. Thanks for my $11.25 bowl of rice. This place is a complete rip off, the staff are rude, and the whole place is dingy and crowded with stacks of cardboard boxes. Plus, don't expect to be able to buy a drink unless you want coffee.

Tara (Tara)
★★★★★4 years ago

The food is delicious, the staff are so friendly and accommodating. The prices are reasonable and it's easy to get to. The parking could be difficult times but they make the best breakfast sandwiches. I definitely recommend!

Brett Murphy
★★★★★4 years ago

Absolutely lovely spot for lunch. We stopped in just looking for a bite after shopping in a nearby bookstore. The food was great and the staff were delightful to talk to for a few minutes. Highly recommended, we'll be going back when in the area.

Colleen Maney
★★★★★5 years ago

Great little neighborhood cafe, such a hidden gem. I’m usually there for the fresh baked scones on Fridays (so delicious), but their sandwiches and lunch specials are fabulous too. Friendly staff, quality food and super reasonable prices.

Jeff Amos
★★★★13 years ago

Called over and they faxed the menu very quickly. The lady on the phone was polite and quick, The menu is your usual cafe fair, though the specials definitely showed off more flair. From order to delivery it took 20 minutes right at the peak of lunch, so that was excellent. The salads were enormous, fresh, and delicious. The sandwich special was also excellent on a great ciabatta roll. I'll definitely be ordering here again. I didn't go to the restaurant, so the decor score is just a guess!

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