Restaurants in Schenectady

After scouring the United States in pursuit of its finest barbecue, Memphis Smoke House's chefs embraced Tennessee's tangy and sweet flavors as their culinary medium. The barbecue aficionados eschew charcoal in favor of oak, hickory-apple, and cherry hardwoods to slow smoke their briskets, chicken, turkey legs, and ribs each day. They rub meats in specialty spices before smoking them, then douse the tenderized morsels in house-made memphis bourbon barbecue sauce. The staff serves each platter with cornbread and authentic Southern-style sides of Cajun hand-cut fries, hush puppies, or mashed-potato molds of Robert E. Lee. In their dining room, cool air wafts through the wall's colorful signs, and classic music resounds across an outdoor seating area beneath a red-and-white tent. Memphis Smoke House can also cater get-togethers ranging in size from 15 people to large events of 300.

Beneath the ruddy brick walls of Iron Roost, the clatter of forks punctuates conversation drifting from low-slung leather couches. A range of irons close with a sizzle, sculpting batter into golden squares, heart shapes, or silhouettes of the inventor of the waffle, who was perfectly round. The batter is infused with garlic and herbs, cinnamon, or a range of other ingredients, and savory toppings include swiss cheese, pesto, cheddar, and bacon. Sweet waffles are crowned by swirls of whipped cream, fresh blueberries, and tawny splashes of Nutella. The chocolate-and-hazelnut spread matches the dark tables around the lounge-like dining room, where patrons click through free WiFi on laptops.