Villa di Como Ristorante — Restaurant in City of Albany

Very delicious food!! Amazing restaurant.

Update August 18, 2025: Called the phone number on a different phone and the owner answered. The owner said he didn’t know I was looking for a response. There is a lot that is being balanced as a busy business owner. Regarding the inquiry, he said there is nothing they could do about what happened, which I completely understand. He offered a small, friendly way to make up for the issue. I have changed my review after having a good conversation.

Initial review prior to August 18, 2025: My fiancé and I had a truly memorable dinner at Villa Di Como on June 29, 2025. This restaurant held particular significance for us as we recently got engaged in Lake Como, and our experience resonated with that special memory. We were so delighted that we decided to purchase 6 bottles of their delicious orangecello and limoncello to take home for family.

Our positive experience took an unfortunate turn when we realized the packaging for these bottles was simply thin plastic bags. Four bottles were placed in one bag, and the remaining two in another. On our drive home, a sudden traffic situation caused the two bottles in the bag of four to collide and shatter in our car, resulting in an $88 loss and a significant mess.

Upon returning to the restaurant immediately after the incident, we were informed that the owner was not present, and therefore, no action could be taken at that time. Understanding this, we left our contact information and hoped for a follow-up. I subsequently attempted to reach out to the restaurant through two different phone numbers – one from a previous text correspondence from their website (where I had received timely responses regarding bottle pricing), and another number provided by a staff member on the owner's business card. On the day of the accident, June 29, 2025, I sent a polite and professional text message with photos of the damage, apologizing for the inconvenience, and inquiring if anything could be done about the broken bottles. I also mentioned my willingness to bring a padded box for future purchases if better packaging isn't available.

Despite these efforts, I have received absolutely no response. I followed up with additional texts and calls on June 30, July 20, July 22, and July 29, 2025. It is incredibly disappointing and frankly, very rude, to receive no communication whatsoever for about a month from a business after such an incident, especially when I've made every effort to be understanding and respectful.

While we initially loved the restaurant for its atmosphere and the connection to our special occasion, the lack of adequate packaging for high-value items and, more critically, the complete disregard for a customer's inquiry regarding a legitimate issue, has left us feeling unheard and incredibly sad. Any response, even just an acknowledgement, would have been appreciated...

I own Grapes & Grains Wine and Spirits in Rensselaer, and I have been checking out Chef Ali Celik's Villa di Como for a long time. With Covid, it took us a long time to get there, but we finally did tonight and my wife and I had an absolutely delightful, welcoming, delicious meal at his top notch restaurant on Lark Street.

I don't get to downtown Albany or Lark Street as much as I used to, and I was amazed at a lot of the changing storefronts since the last time I spent any time there, and the makeover that Ali has done to 288 Lark and it's neighboring property, is truly phenomenal. Both spaces are delightful. Tonight the 288 Lark Wine &Tap wasn't open, but the restaurant next door surely was.

To put it succinctly, we had one of the best meals we've had in a capital region restaurant in a long time, and one of the best Italian meals I've had in this area in almost 40 years.

It's all about the sauces. I'm assuming that the marinara recipe is a family recipe because it is one of the freshest, best balanced marinara sauces I have ever had. And he bottles it and sells it right there. We could not resist taking home a bottle of that and a bottle of his delicious fragrant Italian hot oil.

We started with one Limoncello spritzer and one Orangecello spritzer made from his homemade recipe. He sells the Limoncello and Orangecello right there, as do I at my store. I've tasted a lot of Limoncello and Orangecello at my wine and spirits store in 20+ years, and I am happy to offer Ali's super-fresh and flavorful versions. We enjoyed an Orangecello and Limoncello spritzers, each made with Prosecco and a little bit of sparkling water. We swaped them back and forth and couldn't decide which we liked more. We did decide to make sure that we make them and enjoy them on our porch this summer on a regular basis.

We ordered the arancini and the meatballs to start. The arancini was lovely, delicate and delicious; moist and savory on the inside and crispy but still delicate on the outside.

The meatballs were as delicate and well balanced as I've had in a very very very long time. Absolutely wonderful, especially served with that delicious marinara sauce.

For our main dish we had the fun of cacio e pepe made tableside. It was everything it was supposed to be and it was fun seeing Ali make it. We had a couple of glasses of the house Chianti from their very well curated wine list.

Anthony kept everything going and we enjoyed talking to him on and off throughout our meal. Going to miss him the next time we visit but we hope to see him here again after he helps at his family's place in Calabria.

We left smiling. We will return soon.

By the way, If you can't make it to the restaurant soon but want to try the Limoncello and Orangecello:

grapesandgrainswine.com...

UPDATE: Owner/chef did reach out to us and apologized which was very nice. He did offer to make things right, but I did turn down his offer politely. Thought it was relevant to add this. --------‐------------------------- So I normally do not write reviews, and we have and had heard nothing but great things about Villa Di Como, and I am sure they are normally a great experience. Hence the great reviews posted, and one of the main reasons I decided to try them out for my wifes Birthday on the 11th of February.

We sat down upstairs, for our 530 dinner reservations. Two other couples were seated after us, and were greeted by the owner, and discussed dinner options etc... Both tables then had their orders taken, as we waited - which seemed odd as they came in well after we had been seated. As there appetizers came out we finally had our order taken, which was 40 minutes after we sat. Ok fine, no rush.

Our food came out shortly later by a food runner, so we enjoyed dinner with our water. The food was great, but my wifes order was not correct and was missing the chicken from from her pasta dish. No worries, she enjoyed it regardless. We were done eating by about 640ish. The entire time we ate, we were never offered drinks, or maybe another glass of wine or just to see how things were going.... Though once we were finished our dinner our water was replenished.

We then sat at our table for just over an hour, without a single check in from our waiter. Never were we offered a drink, desert or anything. We had to raise our hand to flag him down finally just so we could get our check and just end the night. As did the table over from us - least they had a bottle of wine to hold them over. We don't have many opportunities to go out with three little kids at home, and this was a birthday dinner. We were looking forward to a Limoncello and desert to end the night. We unfortunately never had the opportunity to do so.

That being said, the service was literally non existent for us on this night, and my wife watched as the owner walked around and greeted each table other than our own. We felt neglected and out of place, I know it was a Saturday night, but that should be of no excuse. Food was great, but it was a disappointment on a special night. We unfortunately will not return, wish them all the best but that was no way to...