The first time I was ever in this area was almost eight years ago. I was visiting all of the colleges that I had applied to with my family, and we were staying at a motel in Latham for the night before touring RPI the next day. We asked the clerk at the front desk for a dinner recommendation, and he was quick to point out Fannie’s, an Italian place that was just up the road. We went, and I remember the food being OK, but no match for Baiamonte’s (our favorite Italian restaurant back in New Jersey which has since, unfortunately, closed).
I had mostly forgotten about Fannie’s until last week, when a staff member mentioned the place. Never one to pass up an Italian restaurant with a good reputation (and lacking any other ideas for a place to review anyway), I decided to take my fiancée there for dinner.
The entranceway is covered with newspaper clippings—Fannie’s has been around since 1959, and I am decidedly not the first person to review it. The reviews, of course, were all positive, but with so many we were still looking forward to a quality meal.
Our server, Robin, was flawless. She was friendly without the plastic hyper-cheerfulness that is typical of some chain restaurants. Her timing was excellent, our water glasses stayed full, and when business picked up she left us a pitcher of water so that we wouldn’t have to wait for her.
The menu selection was quite solid—there were numerous chicken, steak, veal, and seafood entrees, in addition to the obligatory countless varieties of pasta. Most dietary restictions that I can think of were covered without even needing to make a special request. There were also a few brews on tap and a modest wine list.
Prices were middle of the road, with entrees ranging from $11-$20—think Lo Porto as opposed to Mosciatello’s or Testo’s, a couple of the more inexpensive establishments in the area.
Unfortunately, the food at Fannie’s, in my opinion, didn’t measure up to that of many other restaurants. Our appetizer, sauteed artichoke hearts with red peppers, was fairly bland, as was my entree, broccoli cavatelli (a pasta dish dressed with olive oil, garlic, and parmesan cheese). My fiancée enjoyed her meal much more—she ordered haddock served with a red sauce loaded with olives. I tried a bite of hers, and while the fish was tasty, the sauce was way too salty for me.
Overall, my recommendation ... probably will not make the wall at Fannie’s. The experience was enjoyable but nothing to write home about. If you eat out a lot, consider adding this restaurant as an occasional stop on your rotation. If you only go to a restaurant once in a while, you’ll probably get more bang for your buck elsewhere.
Fannie’s is located on the corner of Rt. 2 and Old Loudon Rd. in Latham. To get there, go south from campus until you hit Congress St., which is Rt. 2. Go down the hill through downtown Troy and cross the bridge into Watervliet.
Continue on Rt. 2 for roughly another four miles; Fannie’s is on the left, caddy-corner from a Mobil station. If you hit Latham Circle, you’ve gone a bit too far—come back and turn into the first driveway after the traffic light.
Fannie's Italian Cuisine is located on Rt. 2 & Old Loudon Rd., Latham.
