This will come as no surprise to denizens of the Tech Park, but the Alexis Diner is probably the best diner in the area.
The building is fairly nice—it has some of the chrome and neon that are the hallmarks of the archetypical diner, but not so much that it’s absolutely hideous. (Unlike some other diners I could mention ...)
The diner has a counter, another mark of a classic diner, and well-divided smoking and non-smoking sections. While the latter is somewhat atypical of most diners, it was a welcome sight, especially given the allergies of my dining companion.
The place was moderately occupied on Sunday afternoon. From prior experience it can get quite crowded on Friday nights, although there was no wait even then. There are also special events on some Monday and Tuesday nights, and they may draw a crowd as well—be forewarned.
We were seated promptly and started perusing the menu. The selection was solid, with a good number of options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There was also an extensive variety of alcohol available, and everything was reasonably priced.
Coffee arrived in a hurry. It was good coffee, it came in a large mug, and refills were always prompt—exactly what one should expect, in fact.
Our food came in a reasonable amount of time, and it was really quite good. My companion ordered a veggie omelette that she was very pleased with. The hash browns were also impressive—well-cooked but not greasy at all.
I ordered a buffalo burger—it was fairly tasty, and it was also less greasy than most burgers (even buffalo burgers) at similar establishments in the area. I also liked their fries quite a bit, but they have some kind of seasoning similar to Burger King fries, so if you don’t care for them, you won’t like the fries at the Alexis either.
From past experience, their grilled sandwiches are also quite tasty. (I specifically have ordered a reuben and a tuna melt previously, and both were good-to-excellent.)
The portion size was also right on the money—a little bit more than I wanted, which means that most people will be satisfied with their meal.
In short, the food is quite good and I have had no problems there. I heartily recommend you drop by and try them out.
There are several ways to get to the Alexis Diner. The simplest way to pick up Congress St. just south of campus. Go down the hill into downtown Troy, turn left on Third Street, which is U.S. Route 4. Continue on Route 4 south for a few miles, until you pass a tavern with a "Ladies’ Entrance" sign out front. Make a left at the next light; this will keep you on Route 4.
You’ll soon pass by Hudson Valley Community College. Keep going for a few more miles, and the Alexis Diner will be right on Route 4 on the right.
