My friend and I went out for dinner tonight and decided to try Cornells. So very thankful we did. We didn't know but on Thursday they have a Date Night - 6-course dinner special and their regular menu options. We decided to get the special. We started with a glass of Prosecco and bread service - which was awesome. Next, we shared the oven-roasted mushroom risotto and Spedini ala Romana which was amazing. For a salad we both chose the Arugula Strawberry salad - it was light and airy and delicious. We both chose the Seafood Stuffed sole which was cooked to perfection with a side of the house-made Cavatelli - again DELICIOUS. For dessert, we shared the warm Zeppoles covered with caramel. It was a ton of food and we both went home with leftovers! The staff were friendly and attentive. They really couldn't have been nicer! This was our first time there, but it will not be our last.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lisa Schafer
2 of us were there for restaurant week so we each ordered an appetizer, a meat/fish, a side and a dessert. Per person, it was $40.Not bad at all. Not far from Rivers Casino.The food was delicious. The waitress was friendly. It was the atmosphere that kind of paled a tad. We arrived there and it was cold. I kept my sweater coat on. Someone must have requested the heat get turned up. Thats when it started smelling like diesel in the restaurant. At first, we thought it was our waitress but we think her walking over to us just fanned the smell more in our direction. The second thing here is that the heat control was above where I was seating. So during our table time, a man came over to adjust the heat and it was ackward as he stood with his waist equal heighth to my field of vision. Was it a big deal? No.But it did effect the ambiance if you will. Restaurant operations should be "separate" from the customer experience. I dont want to feel like Im home in my living room. I want to feel like where I am: Getting a good meal cooked and served to me. After all, that is why we choose to dine out, right?All was great aside. For a family atmosphere, its a good place to chat and have a few laughs while consuming some great italian fare. Enjoy!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Dmm M.
We went on Wednesday during Schenectady Restaurant Week. We had early reservations and there were two of us. We were seated promptly and the staff was friendly and professional. The food was really not great. We ordered Greens and Beans (disappointing) and Seafood Risotto that had good flavor. Dinner was Chicken Parm with Olive Oil & Roasted garlic Spaghetti (good) and Coho Salmon with blood orange beurre blanc and penne ala Vodka (Both were OK, wouldn't order again, but not bad). We were surprised when I asked for fresh grated parm, it was powder like and not grated at the table. None of the food was bad, I was just expecting so much more and feel it was average. It was our first time there and won't rush back for sure! The staff was great
Dave B.
We had a nice dinner here after a hockey game. Pareccas was full so we went here instead. Food was delicious and yummy. The server was good and we felt welcomed. They didn't rush us out of the restaurant after we were done, allowing us to relax and chat. Thanks!
Robert Fernandez
We went for the flaming cheese wheel meal. Frankly, I was disappointed. I expected more of a show.The shrimp appetizer was excellent.The bread "course" was ice cold, with 3 slices of bread for 2 people with a couple of pats of butter.The unlimited pasta course was a mixed bag. The portions were generous but inconsistent. My wife's pasta was very dry, but mine was soupy. The flavor was good and made with high quality ingredients.The dessert course of two chocolate chip canollis was very good.I do want to give Cornell's another shot. The restaurant is beautiful, the service was outstanding and except for the pasta dish and bread, the food was great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Joyce J.
I have a gift card for $150 that was issued apparently prior to the sale of this restaurant. When I called to make reservations and informed that the manager that I had this gift card, I was told I was unable to use it as they have changed ownership. The name of the restaurant has not changed, and for all intended purposes, it appears to be the same restaurant, certainly a strategy to maintain the legacy of the previous owner. Standard business practice would be to reconcile any outstanding debts such as gift cards, prior to the closing. When I was denied the right to use this gift, I requested to speak to the owner. I left messages twice and still have not received a return call. To note, interestingly, enough, I had a similar situation with Caffè Calabria on Western Avenue. They were gracious and respectful enough to honor the gift card provided by the previous owner.
Emme McCullen
My wife and I planned a Valentine’s Day evening at Cornell’s and were thoroughly disappointed by the entire experience. The first disappointment was the prix fixe menu that was the only option for dinner. We had never been to Cornell’s before and we made the reservation based on the promise of quality Italian food. This menu was not it. Of the items on the menu the risotto appetizer and the zeppole were the only things that remotely qualified. Zero pasta. Other tables were offered and received a complementary glass of Prosecco. Our server did not offer this to us at any time. Items on the menu were not as described. My wife’s salad mentioned it contained black currants. They were raisins and boy were they generous with the raisins. My Caesar salad was terrible - Carabba’s makes a better one. The next course was no better. My wife’s risotto was nothing special and my lamb chops were poorly presented (four chops lined up on a plate with brown sauce) and overcooked. Entrees were awful. My wife’s duck entree had a sliced dry duck breast and the description promised asparagus and what was given was broccoli that was clearly frozen from a bag and steamed. My braised short rib, while falling apart was dry and barely edible. I was promised fingerling potatoes and received mediocre and overcooked russet potatoes. They were borderline inedible. I also received the same thawed broccoli instead of asparagus. When it came to dessert we’d heard another server in the room offering items that were not listed on the menu - panna cotta and a pistachio cake. They were never offered to us. My zeppole were fine and my wife’s cheesecake was acceptable. I’ve had better meals at chain restaurants with better service for a fraction of the price. Charging $80/pp for mediocre buffet food entirely because it is Valentine’s Day is insulting. The point of a prix fixe menu is to limit the amount of work the kitchen needs to do to prepare quality food for a large number of covers - Cornell’s failed at this. Miserably. While our server wasn’t outwardly rude to us, she was not friendly or welcoming at any time. If this is the effort that Cornell’s is willing to put out on the busiest night of the year to eat out, I have zero interest in returning to try again. I feel like a sucker.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Kim
I tried the baked brie, Italian bread with olive tapenade, a delicious Tuscan salad, Chinook salmon, penne alla vodka, and dessert was zeppoleI. Waitresses were so nice such a great experience.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Eggplant Parmigiana
Valerie Polak
A great ladies night out, for the 4 of us. Everything from the appetizers to desserts were delicious! You left full and with a lot of yummy leftovers for another meal! The waitress was very attentive and was funny as heck. The atmosphere was great. It wasn't noisy, so we could actually relax and converse without having to ask "huh? Or what?" LOL. Great experience!Vegetarian options: There are Many Vegetarian options at Cornell's! I'm very picky and look at all Ingredients on most everything I eat. I had plenty of options to order app, dinner, and dessert. No effort at all.Dietary restrictions: There are GF dishes that are available.
Highly recommend Cornells. We haven't been in years and so happy we came back. The staff is so warm and welcoming and the food is delicious. Pasta Bolognese is the best I've had anywhere, and I had a taste of dining companion's cacio e pepe and that had an outstanding flavor profile as well. The atmosphere is upscale and relaxing -- white tablecloths, attentive and knowledgeable service staff, decent wine selection.
I have been craving Cacio e Pepe so Hubby and I headed to Cornells for a lovely dinner. As soon as you enter the restaurant you are guaranteed a good meal, as their sign says, Carbs Don't Count. Our dinner was delicious and complimented with exceptional service thanks to our sweet and attentive server, Abby. We had the option of the wonderfully curated "Date Night" menu, available on Thursdays but chose to order a la carte since I've been craving cacio e Pepe. Chef Ryan and his team nailed it. Every dish we ordered was well prepared and presented beautifully. The atmosphere is very cozy and inviting and the cheerful staff make you feel comfortable as you dine.
Cheryl K.
Our new favorite restaurant! We've been here twice in 2 weeks. It's always packed, but the place is big and there doesn't ever seem to be a wait. The staff is so hospitable and the food is delicious. I was craving steak and my filet was cooked perfectly. I paired it with the homemade cavatelli and some crispy Brussel sprouts and the experience was a 10/10. I don't drink alcohol so I was really happy to see a thoughtfully curated mocktail menu. I forgot the name of the drink I ordered...but it was pink and it was pretty and it was delicious! And for what it's worth, my husband, who DOES drink alcohol, was impressed with their whiskey selection. We love it here
Mike A.
Went last Thursday after the Monet Immersion. We both ordered off the main menu. We each started with a generous glass of wine with my favorite Perreca's bread. No appetizer but I had the red pepper tomato bisque soup and it was delicious. We each ordered the house salad which was excellent. We both ordered the House Made Cavatelli with meatballs and brought most of it home. We were stuffed so we ordered a Canolli to go (which turned out to be two large ones). The waite staff seemed to be new and did a great job.
Sue Brown O'Neil
We had the best dinner last night and Ross our waiter was the best! We had the salmon special and veal raphael. Both were excellent along with our drinks. Great atmosphere and staff is wonderful! We’ll be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Veal Raphael
Azalea M B.
Service was wonderful. Food was as great as ever. The bartender was very cordial. The new owners deserve a chance!
My friend and I went out for dinner tonight and decided to try Cornells. So very thankful we did. We didn't know but on Thursday they have a Date Night - 6-course dinner special and their regular menu options. We decided to get the special. We started with a glass of Prosecco and bread service - which was awesome. Next, we shared the oven-roasted mushroom risotto and Spedini ala Romana which was amazing. For a salad we both chose the Arugula Strawberry salad - it was light and airy and delicious. We both chose the Seafood Stuffed sole which was cooked to perfection with a side of the house-made Cavatelli - again DELICIOUS. For dessert, we shared the warm Zeppoles covered with caramel. It was a ton of food and we both went home with leftovers! The staff were friendly and attentive. They really couldn't have been nicer! This was our first time there, but it will not be our last.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
2 of us were there for restaurant week so we each ordered an appetizer, a meat/fish, a side and a dessert. Per person, it was $40.Not bad at all. Not far from Rivers Casino.The food was delicious. The waitress was friendly. It was the atmosphere that kind of paled a tad. We arrived there and it was cold. I kept my sweater coat on. Someone must have requested the heat get turned up. Thats when it started smelling like diesel in the restaurant. At first, we thought it was our waitress but we think her walking over to us just fanned the smell more in our direction. The second thing here is that the heat control was above where I was seating. So during our table time, a man came over to adjust the heat and it was ackward as he stood with his waist equal heighth to my field of vision. Was it a big deal? No.But it did effect the ambiance if you will. Restaurant operations should be "separate" from the customer experience. I dont want to feel like Im home in my living room. I want to feel like where I am: Getting a good meal cooked and served to me. After all, that is why we choose to dine out, right?All was great aside. For a family atmosphere, its a good place to chat and have a few laughs while consuming some great italian fare. Enjoy!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
We went on Wednesday during Schenectady Restaurant Week. We had early reservations and there were two of us. We were seated promptly and the staff was friendly and professional. The food was really not great. We ordered Greens and Beans (disappointing) and Seafood Risotto that had good flavor. Dinner was Chicken Parm with Olive Oil & Roasted garlic Spaghetti (good) and Coho Salmon with blood orange beurre blanc and penne ala Vodka (Both were OK, wouldn't order again, but not bad). We were surprised when I asked for fresh grated parm, it was powder like and not grated at the table. None of the food was bad, I was just expecting so much more and feel it was average. It was our first time there and won't rush back for sure! The staff was great
We had a nice dinner here after a hockey game. Pareccas was full so we went here instead. Food was delicious and yummy. The server was good and we felt welcomed. They didn't rush us out of the restaurant after we were done, allowing us to relax and chat. Thanks!
We went for the flaming cheese wheel meal. Frankly, I was disappointed. I expected more of a show.The shrimp appetizer was excellent.The bread "course" was ice cold, with 3 slices of bread for 2 people with a couple of pats of butter.The unlimited pasta course was a mixed bag. The portions were generous but inconsistent. My wife's pasta was very dry, but mine was soupy. The flavor was good and made with high quality ingredients.The dessert course of two chocolate chip canollis was very good.I do want to give Cornell's another shot. The restaurant is beautiful, the service was outstanding and except for the pasta dish and bread, the food was great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
I have a gift card for $150 that was issued apparently prior to the sale of this restaurant. When I called to make reservations and informed that the manager that I had this gift card, I was told I was unable to use it as they have changed ownership. The name of the restaurant has not changed, and for all intended purposes, it appears to be the same restaurant, certainly a strategy to maintain the legacy of the previous owner. Standard business practice would be to reconcile any outstanding debts such as gift cards, prior to the closing. When I was denied the right to use this gift, I requested to speak to the owner. I left messages twice and still have not received a return call. To note, interestingly, enough, I had a similar situation with Caffè Calabria on Western Avenue. They were gracious and respectful enough to honor the gift card provided by the previous owner.
My wife and I planned a Valentine’s Day evening at Cornell’s and were thoroughly disappointed by the entire experience. The first disappointment was the prix fixe menu that was the only option for dinner. We had never been to Cornell’s before and we made the reservation based on the promise of quality Italian food. This menu was not it. Of the items on the menu the risotto appetizer and the zeppole were the only things that remotely qualified. Zero pasta. Other tables were offered and received a complementary glass of Prosecco. Our server did not offer this to us at any time. Items on the menu were not as described. My wife’s salad mentioned it contained black currants. They were raisins and boy were they generous with the raisins. My Caesar salad was terrible - Carabba’s makes a better one. The next course was no better. My wife’s risotto was nothing special and my lamb chops were poorly presented (four chops lined up on a plate with brown sauce) and overcooked. Entrees were awful. My wife’s duck entree had a sliced dry duck breast and the description promised asparagus and what was given was broccoli that was clearly frozen from a bag and steamed. My braised short rib, while falling apart was dry and barely edible. I was promised fingerling potatoes and received mediocre and overcooked russet potatoes. They were borderline inedible. I also received the same thawed broccoli instead of asparagus. When it came to dessert we’d heard another server in the room offering items that were not listed on the menu - panna cotta and a pistachio cake. They were never offered to us. My zeppole were fine and my wife’s cheesecake was acceptable. I’ve had better meals at chain restaurants with better service for a fraction of the price. Charging $80/pp for mediocre buffet food entirely because it is Valentine’s Day is insulting. The point of a prix fixe menu is to limit the amount of work the kitchen needs to do to prepare quality food for a large number of covers - Cornell’s failed at this. Miserably. While our server wasn’t outwardly rude to us, she was not friendly or welcoming at any time. If this is the effort that Cornell’s is willing to put out on the busiest night of the year to eat out, I have zero interest in returning to try again. I feel like a sucker.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
I tried the baked brie, Italian bread with olive tapenade, a delicious Tuscan salad, Chinook salmon, penne alla vodka, and dessert was zeppoleI. Waitresses were so nice such a great experience.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Eggplant Parmigiana
A great ladies night out, for the 4 of us. Everything from the appetizers to desserts were delicious! You left full and with a lot of yummy leftovers for another meal! The waitress was very attentive and was funny as heck. The atmosphere was great. It wasn't noisy, so we could actually relax and converse without having to ask "huh? Or what?" LOL. Great experience!Vegetarian options: There are Many Vegetarian options at Cornell's! I'm very picky and look at all Ingredients on most everything I eat. I had plenty of options to order app, dinner, and dessert. No effort at all.Dietary restrictions: There are GF dishes that are available.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Milanese, Francaise, Bruschetta, Cannoli, Chicken Parmigiana
Highly recommend Cornells. We haven't been in years and so happy we came back. The staff is so warm and welcoming and the food is delicious. Pasta Bolognese is the best I've had anywhere, and I had a taste of dining companion's cacio e pepe and that had an outstanding flavor profile as well. The atmosphere is upscale and relaxing -- white tablecloths, attentive and knowledgeable service staff, decent wine selection.
Restaurantji Recommends
I have been craving Cacio e Pepe so Hubby and I headed to Cornells for a lovely dinner. As soon as you enter the restaurant you are guaranteed a good meal, as their sign says, Carbs Don't Count. Our dinner was delicious and complimented with exceptional service thanks to our sweet and attentive server, Abby. We had the option of the wonderfully curated "Date Night" menu, available on Thursdays but chose to order a la carte since I've been craving cacio e Pepe. Chef Ryan and his team nailed it. Every dish we ordered was well prepared and presented beautifully. The atmosphere is very cozy and inviting and the cheerful staff make you feel comfortable as you dine.
Our new favorite restaurant! We've been here twice in 2 weeks. It's always packed, but the place is big and there doesn't ever seem to be a wait. The staff is so hospitable and the food is delicious. I was craving steak and my filet was cooked perfectly. I paired it with the homemade cavatelli and some crispy Brussel sprouts and the experience was a 10/10. I don't drink alcohol so I was really happy to see a thoughtfully curated mocktail menu. I forgot the name of the drink I ordered...but it was pink and it was pretty and it was delicious! And for what it's worth, my husband, who DOES drink alcohol, was impressed with their whiskey selection. We love it here
Went last Thursday after the Monet Immersion. We both ordered off the main menu. We each started with a generous glass of wine with my favorite Perreca's bread. No appetizer but I had the red pepper tomato bisque soup and it was delicious. We each ordered the house salad which was excellent. We both ordered the House Made Cavatelli with meatballs and brought most of it home. We were stuffed so we ordered a Canolli to go (which turned out to be two large ones). The waite staff seemed to be new and did a great job.
We had the best dinner last night and Ross our waiter was the best! We had the salmon special and veal raphael. Both were excellent along with our drinks. Great atmosphere and staff is wonderful! We’ll be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Veal Raphael
Service was wonderful. Food was as great as ever. The bartender was very cordial. The new owners deserve a chance!