Loafers Station — Restaurant in Albany

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Loafers Station, a charming little gem that I had heard so much about, and my experience was nothing short of extraordinary. While the ambiance and the food were delightful, what truly stood out and left an indelible mark on my taste buds was their watermelon lemonade.

From the moment it was served, I knew I was in for something special. The presentation itself was a feast for the eyes: a large, crystal-clear glass filled to the brim with a vibrant pink elixir that glistened in the sunlight streaming through the windows. Garnished with a slice of fresh watermelon and a sprig of mint, the drink was an Instagram-worthy masterpiece that promised refreshment with every sip.

The first taste was nothing short of a revelation. The watermelon flavor was intensely fresh and sweet, yet perfectly balanced, avoiding the common pitfall of being overly sugary. The lemonade component added a delightful tartness, creating a harmonious blend that was both invigorating and soothing. Each sip was a delightful dance of flavors on my palate, with the natural sweetness of the watermelon beautifully complementing the zesty citrus notes of the lemonade.

What made this watermelon lemonade truly exceptional, however, was the evident quality of the ingredients. The watermelon tasted as if it had been picked at the peak of ripeness, bursting with juiciness and natural sweetness. The lemonade was clearly made from freshly squeezed lemons, offering a brightness and purity that you simply can't get from pre-made mixes. It was obvious that Loafers Station takes great pride in sourcing the finest ingredients and crafting their beverages with care and precision.

The temperature of the drink was another highlight. It was served ice-cold, the kind of cold that refreshes you to your core on a hot summer day. Yet, it wasn't watered down at all, maintaining its robust flavor profile from the first sip to the last. The touch of mint added an extra layer of freshness, making each sip a little burst of summertime in my mouth.

But beyond the drink itself, the service at Loafers Station was impeccable. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable, taking the time to explain how the watermelon lemonade was made and why it stood out from other beverages. Their passion for what they do was palpable, and it enhanced the overall experience. They even offered a little history about the recipe, adding a personal touch that made me appreciate the drink even more.

In summary, the watermelon lemonade at Loafers Station is not just a drink; it's an experience. It is the epitome of what a refreshing summer beverage should be. The perfect balance of flavors, the high-quality ingredients, the beautiful presentation, and the exceptional service all combine to make it the best glass of watermelon lemonade I have ever had. I will undoubtedly be returning to Loafers Station, not just for the food and ambiance, but for that incredible watermelon lemonade that has set a new standard for excellence in my book. If you find yourself nearby, do yourself a favor and try it—you will not be...

I was really looking forward to this based on the reviews but sadly, it was a little less than a mediocre experience. We we're given a table immediately. The restaurant wasn't too busy, just under half full. The waitress came by after a few minutes and took our drink and food order at the same time. I ordered a burger and tots and the Wife ordered two appetizers. She ordered fried pickles and baked jalapeño poppers. The first bad part was for such a simple order, it took over 45 minutes to get our food. Finally once it did get to us, it was obvious it had just been sitting in the back for 10 or 15 minutes. It was barely warm unfortunately. The guy who delivered it from the back gave us a quick "sorry for the wait" and that was it. The Wife's fried pickles were comprised mostly of batter and not much pickle. It wasn't very appetizing since the pickles were cold and the bland crunchy outside/soggy inside batter needed to be cooked for a second time. We let that go. He baked jalapeño poppers were a let down since the menu described them as being wrapped in bacon. However, it was just baked peppers, cream cheese with sprinkled bacon bits over the top. False advertising. A pepper wrapped in bacon is going to be MUCH different than a pepper with a hint of bacon. They didn't taste bad or anything but that's not what she ordered and she hates sending stuff back. I ate most of my low quality unseasoned tots, and to their credit that burger would have went from mediocre to good if they served it to me when it was hot rather than barely warm. Our waitress never came to check on us or refill my drink until we were done and ready to go. She stopped by, and didn't offer anything but a to go box. She dropped off the box and didn't offer the check. She walked away and forgot about us. It kind of pissed us off. We sat there ready to go for several minutes before we decided to just stand up at the table in the middle of the restaurant to give her a hint. She never did. My Wife had to walk up to her while she was chatting behind the bar and ask for it. Rather than coming over and giving us the check (so we could actually look at it and see the charges) she just walked over with the portable payment device and verbally told us it was 38 dollars and just stood there. We both thought that was unprofessional. My Wife handed her 38 dollars in cash and we walked out. We are always big tippers. I think this is the first time we didn't leave someone a tip. We won't be going back. Such a...

My husband, brother-in-law and I ate here on 9/20/19. The place was busy but it only took about 10 minutes to get seated. We sat down, husband ordered a beer and brother-in-law a Pepsi. We ordered our food and then proceeded to wait. And that's about all we did at this restaurant. The drinks came and after 30 minutes our server finally returned and we were told the food would be just a few more moments. The restaurant was starting to clear out at this point and there were quite a few empty tables. Finally after another 20-25 minutes our server informed us that there was a problem in the kitchen and that hopefully our food would be ready in another 10-15 minutes. We had already waited close to an hour at this point and decided it wasn't worth waiting anymore, so we decided to just pay for our drinks and leave. He brought us our check and had added an extra drink to our tab, so we had to wait yet again for him to correct it. After all the waiting you would have thought that he would have offered to just comp our bill, but nope. The total came to $8.25 and my husband left a $1.75 tip. Well it doesn't end there. When I checked the credit card statement it shows a charge from Loafer's Station in the amount of $15 and the transaction detail says the tip amount was $6.75. Wow, really? After the horrible service the server has the audacity to add $5 extra to his tip. Stay away from this place, horrible service and...