All Over Albany

Francescas Cafe, definitely. Follow them on twitter and you'll get the special menu items each day (@FrancescasCafe). It's hard to beat. Great fresh sandwiches and wraps, and even though the cold days are waning, they'll be back-- and it's best place for soup.

Shalimar has a location downtown. Oddly, I live in Troy and I've never been, though I've been to their Clifton Park location quite a bit.

The Greek House is a great little place.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Greek-House/120567701369895

Spill 'N the Beans (great breakfast, too)

Brown's has great burgers and wraps.

DeFazio's Pizza in Little Italy. Must do.

... said James on Mar 27, 2012 at 10:50 AM | link

As both a food lover and a caffeine enthusiast, I like Spill'n the Beans (Spillin' the Beans? Spilling the Beanz? You crazy kids with your wacky spelling...). Their food is cheap and delicious, and their coffee is great.

... said SiobhanGK on Mar 27, 2012 at 11:00 AM | link

Ali Baba... try the chicken duram great lunch time meal!!

... said Ryan on Mar 27, 2012 at 11:02 AM | link

Francesca's and Illium Cafe (both on Broadway but different ends) both have great food. On Fulton Street, First Choice and Shalimar are pretty good ethnic choices.

... said derryX on Mar 27, 2012 at 11:04 AM | link

Illium Cafe! Illium Cafe! Illium Cafe! It's on Broadway, down near River St. Can't go wrong. Seriously.

As a side note - Spillin' the Beans, cheap? Are we talking about the same place? Their coffee's great, but the food is WAY overpriced.

... said s on Mar 27, 2012 at 11:07 AM | link

As you say, there are plenty of options. My personal best experiences have been at Placid Baker, 250 Broadway. Great sandwiches and cookies.

... said pjm on Mar 27, 2012 at 11:08 AM | link

in reference to placid bakers sandwiches, "great" is a serious understatement. we drive from glenville to troy nearly every saturday, in no small part to visit placid baker. wish i still lived in troy.

... said Ed on Mar 27, 2012 at 11:18 AM | link

Famous Lunch - mini hot dogs!
I Love - Pizza slices
Manory's - Diner
The Ruck
Beruit - Lebanese
Illium Cafe
Bacchus - Wood Fired Pizza
Spillin' the Beans
Holmes and Watson (Closing soon, reopening with new owners)
Francesca's
Uncle Ricky's Bagels
Shalimar - Indian Buffet
First Choice Carribean - I think they also do a buffet lunch...
Dinosaur BBQ
Brown's Brewing
Ali Baba - Turkish
Musza - Polish
DeFazios - Pizza
(Once they re-open) Flavours Cafe

... said Jessica R on Mar 27, 2012 at 11:25 AM | link

Got to do First Choice Caribbean and their lunchtime buffet. I love the jerk chicken. DeFazio's Pizza is hands down the best pizza in the world.

The breakfast an Manory's is amazing and will most likely be the thing I miss most when I graduate

... said Paul on Mar 27, 2012 at 11:55 AM | link

All of those places, and Selena's on Third.

... said Carl on Mar 27, 2012 at 12:08 PM | link

SHALIMAR! So many happy memories of good meals shared at that place... :)

Famous Lunch is good, if a bit dive-y. We tried Ilium Cafe the other day and thought it was alright. And Dinosaur's a bit of a walk but good.

On the other hand, Manory's is only good if you like greasy food. Placid Baker is probably not open whenever you'll want to go (keep wanting to try there, but their hours suck). And DeFazio's, while good, is not downtown -- it's a bit of a hike down to Little Italy.

... said KB @ Home-Baked Happiness on Mar 27, 2012 at 12:32 PM | link

By the way, if you're willing to lose your parking spot and drive 5 minutes, you get to add Plum Blossom (great lunch time prices, food, and decor), and, while not in Troy itself, Pig Pit. Mmm Pig Pit.

... said James on Mar 27, 2012 at 12:53 PM | link

The Ale House. Albeit the fact it's not 'downtown'.

... said -R. on Mar 27, 2012 at 12:56 PM | link

Placid Baker wins for me, hands down. Their soups and sandwiches are always awesome, and always so different from what other places have to offer. And the smell when you walk in the joint can't be beat.

As for other spots, I have to echo many of the above suggestions (though as a side note to Jessica R., Uncle Ricky's closed a while ago). Francesca's is reliably great -- egg salad sandwiches on Wednesdays are my not-so-guilty pleasure -- and a Record staffers favorite. (We're simple folk: if you build it across the street, we will come.) The relatively new Selena's on Third Street is also good -- her soups are delicious, the prices are low, and the homemade potato chips are out of this world.

Also, I have to get this off my chest: it's a downright tragedy that DeFazio's has lost the Tournament of Pizza crown two years in a row. I don't care what the judges say; it's the best in my book.

... said Katie on Mar 27, 2012 at 2:12 PM | link

I really miss working in downtown Troy in a lot of ways. Troy has its downfalls, but at lunchtime, it's very vibrant. I loved Placid Bakers, and Uncle Ricky's, but my favorite lunchtime stop was the summer weekday farmers' market, particularly when Katie the above commenter was my cohort.

... said jess on Mar 27, 2012 at 2:51 PM | link

X's to O's makes lunch!

... said AJP on Mar 27, 2012 at 4:57 PM | link

X's to O's bakery serves lunch in addition to their delicious baked goods. Also, the staff is friendly!

... said Hans C. Leibold on Mar 27, 2012 at 4:58 PM | link

x's to o's! if you haven't been there or haven't heard of it, YOU MUST GO. not only do they provide delicious vegan and gluten free baked goods (their version of the vegan twinkie will make you squeal), they also have healthy and affordable vegan and gluten free sandwiches, salads and soups! go for tea and a sweet treat or grab lunch and an izze! the staff is friendly and super cool. i've been going for years and they still always have something new for me to try. for a cool place to hang out and perhaps to try something new if the word vegan has scared you in the past, please give them a try. it's delicious, and what's so scary about plants, anyways? : D they are HANDS DOWN my favorite place to eat, snack and hang out in troy. go eat something delicious and feel good about it after!!

... said bridgette on Mar 27, 2012 at 5:00 PM | link

I love going to X's To O's for lunch! They usually have hot and cold items for sale, coffee, tea, and many other drinks. It's not too expensive and it's 100% vegan. They're also a really green company, as well, so if that aspect is important to your decision, consider X's To O's. They have different items available on different days so check their Facebook wall for an updated menu. You can also grab some baked goods while you're there (I recommend the canoe boats).

... said Abbe on Mar 27, 2012 at 5:04 PM | link

The Ruck.

What? A lot of people eat buffalo wings and beer for lunch

... said ike on Mar 27, 2012 at 5:07 PM | link

I'd also add Patricelli's Deli (near Washington Park on 2nd St). The people have always been friendly, I love their chicken salad sandwiches, and they have daily specials posted on their facebook page. I think they deliver if you don't want to walk or risk losing a parking spot.

... said ndkelly29 on Mar 27, 2012 at 5:58 PM | link

X's to O's has an awesome selection of baked goodies. Cookies, brownies, cupcakes, etc. They also have an awesome lunch menu that changes just enough to make it interesting and exciting for your tastebuds! They also do an awesome brunch on the weekends. Low profile, easy atmosphere! And friendly ta boot!

... said the Incredible Larry on Mar 27, 2012 at 8:52 PM | link

I always go to X's to O's. They change their selection up and it's always reasonably priced for great food. The baked goods are amazing and you can order whole cakes and stuff ahead of time. Everyone that works there is always really friendly as well. They also have a large selection of gluten free items.

... said Kevin Stephenson on Mar 27, 2012 at 9:58 PM | link

I would suggest anyplace mentioned thus far, except Illium Cafe. Sorry - the decor is tacky and it smells bad. You then smell bad when you leave. The food is weird - and not the kinda of fun-new-horizon weird but uninventive weird. People feel they have to like it because their friends rave about it and via peer pressure or the feeling of missing out, people say it's good.

It's not.

... said Brian on Mar 27, 2012 at 10:18 PM | link

Hm. Am I the only one who thinks that X's to O's may have asked folks to promote them here? Am I the only one that cynical?

... said B on Mar 28, 2012 at 12:36 AM | link

Selena's on 3rd st for the best salad bar in town. And awesome soups.

... said M on Mar 28, 2012 at 12:41 AM | link

Placid Bakers has the best soft pretzels evah! With a shmear, it's lunch!

... said Rhea on Mar 28, 2012 at 8:40 AM | link

Ha, B, I thought the same thing. Having worked in downtown Troy for two years now, I've never been there for lunch, nor would I have ever considered it. It's a cute vegan bakery but certainly wouldn't naturally pull those back-to-back comments.

A lot of great places have been mentioned but I have to back Francescas's. The quality is top notch, it's pretty cheap (especially compared to other downtown places like Spill N Beans or Illium), and it won't take more than 2-3 visits for Francesca to remember your name and greet you with a smile. I wish Troy had more places like this. It's definitely our gem.

... said Lisa on Mar 28, 2012 at 8:42 AM | link

Ali Baba's. It's up on 15th, but it worth the hike. Shalimar is amazing value and taste, and First Choice Caribbean's lunch buffet is worth a shot. DeFazio's features both gluten and vegan pizza and Francesca's Cafe is perfect for the townie and the hipster alike. Troy Pub & Brewery is always worth a shot. If you're traveling to Lansingburgh/North Troy, Testo's is a neighborhood staple and where the locals eat when they want Italian. Famous Lunch IS Famous Lunch and, if you need Irish, travel down to South Troy and the South Troy Tavern. Make sure you go in the Ladies Entrance.

... said Leah the Nosher on Mar 28, 2012 at 8:44 AM | link

So many.. my favorites are the Ruck and Brown's.

... said Jessica on Mar 28, 2012 at 9:01 AM | link

I love Spill'n the Beans, but also love having lunch on Saturday at the Farmers Market.

... said Bonfire on Mar 28, 2012 at 9:06 AM | link

Lunch?
LUNCH?!

famous lunch.

... said Dan Palmer on Mar 28, 2012 at 9:28 AM | link

There is a hotdog cart that shows up with the warm weather. Generally on River Street and near Hedley Park Place. I do not not what is done to these dogs to make them special, but they are delicious.

If you want to head to the 'Burgh (is that a slur? should I be saying something else?), I contend that Mustang Smoked BBQ and Fried Chicken is some of the best in the area.

... said ned on Mar 28, 2012 at 9:40 AM | link

Carmen's Cafe. http://www.yelp.com/biz/carmens-cafe-troy

... said Jamie on Mar 28, 2012 at 10:42 AM | link

Brown's
Francesca's
Shalimar

... said Angelos Tzelepis on Mar 28, 2012 at 10:57 AM | link

I live and work in Troy and I also have wheat, egg and dairy allergies. I hardly eat out except at a few places because most of the time I can get french fries and a salad. I also have to worry about cross contamination or whether or not someone got creative and threw butter in the vegetables when no one else was looking.

I eat a lot at X's to O's and the food is good (last week they had a cold ginger, peach, and cashew cream soup when it was very warm out). I love the fact the place exists because I can get a sandwich, soup and a brownie for lunch (which most people take for granted) and enjoy my food.

So, lets spread the love, like the gluten free chocolate chips pancakes with peanutbutter sauce they had for brunch the other week with roasted sweet potatoes. Whats not to love?

... said Carolyn on Mar 28, 2012 at 12:10 PM | link

ILLIUM! Carmen's Cafe as well, but only on Sat/Sun. Placid Baker is another favorite. I won't slag off any of the many places around here, though, so as long as you're eating at a Troy establishment I'm happy.

... said Chris on Mar 28, 2012 at 12:46 PM | link

Placid Baker has the best soups and sandwiches!

... said ES3791 on Mar 29, 2012 at 12:18 PM | link

I don't see Daily Grind here. They also have delicious lunch. Thunder Mountain Curry, too. Either ar the Saturday market or up on the RPI campus. I'm a big fan of almost all of these places (big thumbs up to the Placid Baker's pretzels!) and I agree, as long as you're patronizing downtown Troy businesses, that's a good thing. However, I want to mention that I had my first sandwich (to go) from on X's & O's two weeks ago and it rocked my world. It did everything I needed it to do within minutes: perked me up, gave me energy for the next hours and was delicious and vegetarian. I'm not sure how that can be accomplished with one sandwich, but I look forward to exploring their menu at more length in the upcoming months. I haven't felt that way about lunch since Shake Shake Mamas closed.

... said junxuj on Mar 29, 2012 at 2:20 PM | link

I miss Marmora on River Street a lot, great falafel and gyros. They were the best Mediterranean in the area, in my opinion. I hope they re-appear somewhere.

Spillin' the Beans has a pretty good burger though.

... said Yohanne on Mar 29, 2012 at 2:37 PM | link

huh wha?! who knew Troy knew lunch so well.

however, being that this isn't "All Over Troy" I think it's only fair and right that AOA rebuts with "good places for lunch in downtown ALBANY"!!

... said Rebecca on Mar 29, 2012 at 3:24 PM | link

After working in Troy for years and then not, I finally got to Troy Ale House. One of the specials was a Cuban sandwich, and it was the best I've had north of Florida. If they cleaned up -- but why would they -- it'd be the nearest thing to a gastropub. It's very good. Ali Baba - very good, but getting pricey. Shalimar offers a great buffet for the price.

... said Lori on Mar 29, 2012 at 4:00 PM | link

Cafe Deli-cious, a couple of doors down from the Brew Pub/Brown's. Get the Pilgrim.

... said Pat on Mar 29, 2012 at 7:35 PM | link

Carmens? They OPEN at 5pm.

... said andrew on Apr 2, 2012 at 12:26 PM | link

Great Saturday/Sunday brunch at Carmen's though.

... said B on Apr 2, 2012 at 1:22 PM | link