Hill Street Cafe

3 ½ stars to Hill Street, a good example of simple bar food done right.
Although I’ve long heard about the wonders of Hill street’s pizza and wings from friends who live in the Mansion District, it took me a while to check it out myself. I visited Saturday during a college football game, and the bar had about three patrons at barstools, and about four or five watching football and playing electronic darts in the back. I happily chose an Allegash and ordered medium wings. The heat for the medium wings was on the milder side of medium, and had clear sweet notes to it. It was not my favorite tired and true standard of Frank’s red hot and butter, but it was definitely delicious. I forgot to specify «extra crispy,» but the wings had a decent crunch to them. Only two of the ten were «drumettes,» but I definitely didn’t walk away hungry. Served with celery and carrots, as they should be, the wings also came with a cup of what a friend hinted was homemade blue cheese. I’m not a fan of blue cheese with wings, but for those who are curious, it looked to be of the chunky variety. Although these were not the best wings I’ve tried in Albany, they were toward the top of the list. I’ll be back for these.
I’ll also definitely be back for the pizza. A friend let me swipe a slice of her small cheese pizza. Certainly not New York Style, but the thick crust maintained an awesome crisp, the mozzarella was browned in the best way, and a hint of garlic powder shined through the crust. Major food jealously was then present, as I didn’t have this pizza to myself. Stop in for a bite and a game, you won’t be disappointed. Decent amount of parking to be had on the side streets if you’re driving in.

I used to come here all the time in the early 90’s. I stopped for a long time. Marriage, work, kids, weight gain, whatever.
I was on my own for dinner for Black Friday and just sort of ended up here. Thinking along the lines of «Boy night out»…time for wings and beer! Well, I left the place feeling so happy. I had some great draft beer (Blue Point) and wings that were prepared to perfection. I asked for crispy and I got crispy; Yea! I ordered mild wing sauce and it was tasty with a little bit of zip. The place was on the quiet side so I ate at the bar. The bartender was friendly. (Todd?) I watched some games on the big screen next to me. The jukebox played some enjoyable tunes. I did notice some others (younger generation) sitting alone staring at the smart phones. That is sad. Jeez, look up and talk to somebody. If you don’t like them; then stare at your smart phone… hey. wait a minute…
The point is I came here and enjoyed myself and smiled all the way home. I will come more often for some of the best wings in Albany.

This is my second time here, if you like a neighborhood bar don’t let the name fool you. It’s more bar than café and I would recommend it to any one looking for a good American pub. The staff was at tentative and it has a good atmosphere… I will definitely be back when in town.

The best staff in Albany. The place could be packed on a Sunday yet the bartender never makes you wait and makes you feel like your the only one that matters. A rare quality!
Good pub food! Burgers, wings, wraps, pizza. Can’t loose! Kermit’s in the kitchen.

New to the area, looked up a place to buy wings and Hill Street had good reviews so I went with it.
Ordered a double order of wings for pickup, wings were great and I definitely plan on going back.
Its a nice sized establishment and wasn’t too crowded (despite sunday night football), couple huge TVs and no sketchy patrons.

Hill Street doesn’t look like much on the outside, but it’s a pretty nice stop. The bar has a good selection of beers; for example, on a recent trip I was happy to see Ithaca Flower Power. Their food is also really tasty bar food of the heart attack variety. I’ve only been on more off hours, so I can’t speak to how busy it gets, but it’s a great place to stop and grab a bite and a drink.

First I want to share a tip with you if you’re not already familiar with Hill Street. They have their own parking lot, and it is quite large, across the street and just East of the Café/​pub on Madison Ave.
I’ve been there twice recently, both times for an event. The first was for a Unilocal,Third Thursday Tavern Time event, and most recently for a Remembrance of a former bar owner, friend, fellow beer lover, and overall nice man.
At both gatherings I got to sample a variety of different foods and beer from a good selection of craft brews. The pizza is a medium-​thin variety with a good crust. Even a simple cheese slice however, does not have sufficient crispness on the bottom to prevent it from being limp when picked up. I don’t say this as a criticism, only to describe the characteristics of the pizza. In any event, a single slice of pizza can be very filling. Add some toppings, like sausage and/​or pepperoni, and/​or mushrooms, and you will be stuffed after a couple of slices
The wings are very good also. Their «Hill Street» version has like a garlic-​cream sauce on them. The Medium wings are plenty hot enough. The meat is juicy and the wings are crispy if you eat them while they are hot.
My recollection is that the Mozzarella Sticks were OK, but nothing outstanding, and the choice of raspberry sauce is a good one. The Jalapeño Poppers were also OK and pretty standard.
Overall, this is a solid neighborhood bar. If I lived in the neighborhood, I’d be a regular.

Hill Street is the go-​to spot for those living in the Mansion neighborhood.
The pizza is by far the best item on the menu. Thick crust with a lot of flavor. Trust me, when you reach the end of your slice, you’ll actually want to eat the crust. I usually ask for a side of marinara and enjoy it like garlic bread. The pizza itself come with a generous amount of sauce and cheese. You can add toppings for an additional cost.
If you’re dining for one, the small can be ordered as a personal pie and you’ll have some extra to take home for leftovers.
In additon to the standard pie, the buffalo chicken pizza is excellent. There is also a pesto pizza and a margarita.
The vibe in Hill Street is casual and really friendly. It is a great spot to stop by to have a drink, watch a sporting event or just talk with the bartenders and locals.

*Disclaimer, this place is really a 3.5 star place, I was really on the fence.
So I will admit that I verified my tetanus shot was up to date when we walked up and saw this place from the outside. But once inside it was like you were back in your favorite hometown bar. Was here with a large group so we got to try a lot of the apps on the menu. My personal fav were the onion rings which were crisp. The mozzarella sticks and jalapeño poppers were pretty standard though the blueberry dipping sauce was intriguing. I guess it’s an upstate NY thing?
The wings were, good and as requested extra crispy. The spicy flavor was my favorite, even spice to thrill you but not kill you. The pizza was a surprise. Crust crispy, though heavy and thick for my taste. It was really quite loaded with cheese and toppings making it dense and only allowing me to devour a slice and a half. The sausage pizza was my favorite.
Atmosphere is very laid back, a grittier younger crowd than you’d find at Cheers. No Ted Danza here, but nonetheless worth stopping in if you’re in the neighborhood.

A small quaint neighborhood bar, relaxing atmosphere. Food is decent, just stay away from the pasta salad.

Hill Street is an Albany favorite, certainly my favorite bar in the City. Great food, good beer, generally quick if somewhat spotty service. The place is simply filled with Menschen. You won’t find an ambitious menu here, nor will you encounter trendy décor and snooty attitudes; instead you’ll get a remarkably comfortable atmosphere, and reliably good bar food. it is the kind of bar where everyone is welcome. I’ve seen folks from all walks of life, even people with kids sitting and eating, et cetera. It seems mostly neighborhood people (Mansion neighborhood), but they do have a parking lot across Madison Avenue half a block down the hill for «commuters.» They also have all sports games on many TVs, so you can catch the game you’re looking for while you eat. Hill Street’s kitchen is likely open long after everyone else has closed up for the night.
Especially recommended: Southern Tier draft beers, Spicy Chicken Wrap (or just do Wings for that matter), Burgers (Cajun is great!), and Reuben Sandwich.

Great pub food with a menu that’s a step above a lot of bars in Albany. I go here for lunch way, way too often. A million TVs with every conceivable game on. The back room is great for bigger parties or for dinner, bar is a good spot to hang out and watch the games. Top five wings in Albany, and great pizza too. Thick, with tons of cheese, and an awesome garlicky crust.
They have a lot of good beers on tap that change with the seasons. Good stuff.
The place gets packed frequently, especially with big games on or if the state workers are on one of their many two hour lunches. Sometimes a call in order will take 30 – 45 minutes, so make sure to give yourself some time. It’s worth it.
It’s a great spot to catch a beer or food before or after a hockey game at the TU. They also have a parking lot a little ways down the street which makes going there a lot easier. And if you need to, you can leave your car overnight and come get it the next day. Extremely generous of them to offer it.

Love this place! Best pizza on earth, great wings. Great food, and decent service. Consistently awesome place.

Was very much looking forward to watching football here today. Got there. Southern tier in tap– excellent. As the evening progressed– I just felt that I could not get anyone’s attention. The two bartenders were so busy chatting amongst themselves, it took so much to get their attention. I don’t think I was alone in what I was experiencing– the guy next to me had to wait a long time for his pint. Food was good but I just think the bartenders are in their own world– it’s too bad. May try it again– not sure.

Decent local bar in Albany! Been here twice in the last month or so — had a couple of hockey games at the Times Union Center and walked here for lunch in between.
Lots of TVs — great for watching whatever game you happen to be into. The food is pretty good — I’ve had the sweet potato fries, the soup of the day (it was turkey soup last month) and the spicy (buffalo) chicken pizza. Pizza was really good — it’s a thicker crust, so I could only finish half of it. Really good flavor with a nice kick of buffalo sauce.
If I’m in the area and looking for a good beer and some decent food, I’ll be back. They can accommodate large groups — both times I visited with several people. My friends really like the wings, sandwiches and salads. The regular fries look really good, too. (I have only tried the sweet potato fries). I’d say this is higher quality pub/​bar food than your average place.
The wait staff was great last month — this time was a bit unfriendly and terse (perhaps she was having a bad day). That said… I’ve experienced much worse.

Waitress took sudden dislike to my husband. Not sure why but waiter took over and experience got better. Pizza and bar snacks awesome.

If we could get married here, I think my fiancé would be all over that.
This place is awesome. The atmosphere is your easy, comfortable dive bar and the bartenders have been and are still really nice. We used to go here pretty frequently when we lived in Albany and when we visit, we try to stop in for drinks and/​or food.
The food… yum…if you’ve never tried their pizza, you’ve gotta try it. It is sooo good. The sauce is magical… everything about the pizza is magical. Their wings are also pretty good and their wraps and sandwiches are also on point. Now, let’s talk about their pasta salad. Sometimes, I daydream about their pasta salad. It’s just right and year after year, the food is continuously good.
Hill Street is near the Times Union Center and the Plaza. If you are ever around the area, you should check it out.

When my boyfriend and I moved 2 blocks down from hill street we had no idea we struck gold. I love everything about this bar from their amazing food to the football Sunday bucket deals. They always have great beer on tap that they change seasonally and even started selling growlers! You have got to try the pizza and the cajun burgers and the wings and the raspberry dipping sauce with the mozzarella sticks and the chili and the… I think you get the point ;)

Never had a bad meal here. Staff is always friendly. Great neighborhood bar. Highly recommend it.

Great neighborhood bar to hang out at in Albany! They’ve got a good enough beer selection (and seem to feature Southern Tier, which means they’re winners in my book!), some decent food, and a nice vibe.
I hung out here with my sister and her friend while we were home for the Holidays on a Sunday night (needed to get out of the house for a bit…), and we had a great time while watching football. It wasn’t too busy, and the bartender, Todd, did a great job taking care of us.
I downed a lot of Southern Tier 2XMas (so glad that they had it!), and ordered the Cajun chicken sandwich to eat. The chicken tasted pretty good and the fries were good quality.
The music was a little loud at first for it not being too crowded, but Todd helped out and turned it down for us. However, the autoplay on the Jukebox was doing a great mix of some indie and alternative (Metric, The Colourist, Grouplove, etc), which was an awesome change of pace from typical pop music or classic rock in bars.
I’ll definitely be back in the future when I’m visiting family again!