Iron Gate Cafe

Aaron Simpson

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that road-trips require restroom breaks, the occasional gas tank fill-up, and pit stops for lunch. Perhaps not universally acknowledged, but none the less true, is that there are better alternatives than the usual suspects of fast food that litter our highways. On a road-trip from West Connecticut to Lake Champlain, I decided to stop into Albany to quest for some ‘real food’ - and on the recommendation of my brother-in-law, I took my family to the Iron Gate Cafe. He claimed that it was the number one lunch spot in the city, and on that promise I tolerated the 45 minute wait for a table that would inevitably eat away at the arrival time of my final destination. Bobbing and weaving through the outdoor seating area at the front of the building, and through several inside dining rooms, we were seated in an outside dining space that seemed to have once been a rear garden. I ordered a BLT, a simplified version of what was offered on the menu, and an iced coffee. Other members of my family ordered similar items, variations of BLTs and sandwiches, indulging in sourdough breads and multi-grains, except for my father-in-law who had ordered a slice of cornbread with eggs. Upon arrival, I had the rare and pleasantly embarrassing sensation of a mouth watering. Everything had arrived perfectly for all of us, except for a small mix-up of bread types on one sandwich. The flavors were perfectly simple, balanced, and complementary. The finish was light on the stomach, energizing rather than making me feel sluggish and sleepy. The homefries were a highlight of the dish for me, having the perfect saltiness, a crispy texture of the outside, and the much-coveted softness of the inside. The servers were fast, despite being clearly faced with the logistical challenge of navigating the layout of what appeared to be an old home with an almost Victorian layout. One of the only downsides to the restaurant is that there are fewer, and smaller, restrooms than seem to be appropriate for the number of guests and the apparent popularity of the Iron Gate Cafe. Naturally, this is a limitation of the layout of the structure and equally part of the charming character of the place. It seems that the rotation of customers seems to help prevent lines (that would encroach upon other’s dining areas), but when several people in my party tried to use the restroom as we were leaving, it became easily congested. Overall, the Iron Gate Cafe made for a perfect sojourn into the state capital for me and well-deserves it’s number one spot for places to eat in Albany.

Rodrigo Rubio

This is an amazing way to start the day with a classic but Delicious breakfast dishes Extremely WELL DONE at the bar with a very nice guy Bryan he’s very efficient and cool!!! We love the iced Americano. This place is so cute and all the girls with a beautiful smile in theirs faces!

Peng Hsu

This ia very popular brunch place. We called 2 hours before we arrived for reservation and still wait for 30 minutes to be sit in. The waiters are all very friendly and helpful. The services were also prompt... Food portion was also generous and delicious.... If you are willing to wait, this is definitely a good choice for breakfast, lunch, and brunch....

CJ G

Why did it take me so long to come here!?! in search of meatless breakfast options I came across Iron Gates menu, and the amount of options to pick from is very impressive! For my first order I got the Ultimate Vegan Sandwich that came with homefries, corn bread for later, and their iced coffee. The coffee is flavorful and smooth - definitely a nice pick-me-up for the morning. Now, that sandwich....It's going to be difficult for me to try out the rest of their menu because I want to keep ordering it!! From the first bite all the components came together in a way that told me that I was going to enjoy my meal, and since it's a pretty hefty portion I knew I'd be satisfied by the end of it - which was true to the last bite. I'm very happy that I'm exploring the food around me because it brings instant favorites to my attention, like Iron Gates Cafe has just become! I know I'll be back soon!!