Diners' Choice: Best Value restaurants in Upstate New York

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best value restaurants in Upstate New York? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Kismet Mediterranean Grill

5.0

5 (180)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Albany

About the restaurant

Discover the Best Mediterranean Flavors in Albany at Kismet Mediterranean Grill!

Located in the heart of Albany, Kismet Mediterranean Grill serves fresh, locally sourced ingredients in every dish. Enjoy our juicy lamb kebabs, creamy hummus, and other Mediterranean favorites, all made with authentic recipes. Whether you dine in our cozy indoor space or relax on our charming outdoor patio, we guarantee a delicious and memorable experience.

Perfect for lunch, dinner, or special celebrations, Kismet is conveniently located on Madison Ave. Stop by today and savor the true taste of the Mediterranean!

Top review

Chris

Dined on Jun 20, 2025

Fantastic experience! Food was excellent, we got the mezze platter, chicken shish kebab, grilled branzino and salmon, and lamb chops. Everyone raved about the food and we appreciated the olives and red peppers with the mezze. Our server was friendly and very helpful. Highly recommend this gem!

Casola Dining Room - Schenectady County Community College

4.8

4.8 (206)

$30 and under

International

Schenectady

About the restaurant

The Casola Dining Room is a student operated dining facility located on the first floor of Elston Hall at Schenectady County Community College. The Casola Dining Room provides our students in the Department of Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism the opportunity to learn the necessary cooking, service, and managerial skills required for a la carte service. The Casola Dining Room is first and foremost an educational experience for our students.

Top review

Ronald

Dined on Apr 22, 2025

Lunches are served Tuesdays and Thursdays at the culinary school t Schenectady Community College. Dinner is served Wednesdays. There are Regional USA menus in the Fall and International ones in the Spring. Today was Asian and it was one of the best experiences of the year. The appetizers were curry udon soup with chicken katsu or Pork belly buns. We both ordered the soup. It was spicy, but not too spicy with slices of crisp chicken cutlet. I wouldn't have thought of putting fried chicken in a soup, but it was delicious. There were three entrees, Beef Bulgogi, Garam Marsala scented red snapper and ginger scallion noodles. I ordered the bulgogi and it was the best I ever tasted. It was extremely tender with wonderful seasoning. It was accompanied by picked vegetables and white rice. My partner ordered the noodle dish which came with crispy fried tofu. He said it was very good. Desserts were stickr rice with mango, Japanese roll cake, Japanese cheese cake and matcha icecream with mocha cookies. We both ordered the cheesecake which was lighter than I am used to but very good. Highly recommend you try this restaurant if you are willing to try new things. We tried it around 12 times in the past year and were rarely disappointed.

Santa Fe Woodstock

4.9

4.9 (59)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Woodstock, New York

About the restaurant

Santa Fe Woodstock is an extension of the Santa Fe family which includes longtime Dutchess county favorite, Santa Fe Restaurant in Tivoli, NY – the Hudson Valley’s original award winning Mexican restaurant, and Santa Fe Uptown, located in the historic Stockade district of Kingston, NY.

For bold foods in a fun and inviting social bar, visit Santa Fe Woodstock in Woodstock, New York. Dine in and takeout flavors include such guest favorites as golden plantains, lobster quesadillas, grilled chicken enchiladas, sweet potato tacos, grilled fish and more. Santa Fe Woodstock provides select vegan and vegetarian dishes, and much of the menu is also gluten free!

The oversized bar provides a long list of imported and local tequila brands to try straight or in a blended cocktail. Santa Fe Classic frozen or rocks margaritas are hand-made, from scratch. Wine by the glass is also available, along with an extensive craft beer selection - draft, cans and bottles.

Top review

AndreaVIP

Dined on Jun 27, 2025

Waitress super good, knowledgable, friendly, fun, other staff were attentive, helpful and friendly. Menu had great choices, everything was really tasty, great flavors, unique combinations, all delicious. We had appetizers, mains, sides and dessert.

The Saratoga Winery

4.8

4.8 (408)

$31 to $50

Winery

Saratoga Springs

About the restaurant

Step off the beaten path and come see why The Saratoga Winery is the place to be! Come and taste our wine made on the property, enjoy our selection of local craft beers or sample a handcrafted cocktail. Our kitchen features wood fired pizza, bar snacks, sandwiches and salads- something for everyone. Every Friday night we have live music with local artists. Saturdays and Sundays we offer an all day brunch with mimosa flights and bloody marys. Our expansive property features cozy indoor dining or a spacious backyard in the summer and fall.

We encourage you to come in and enjoy our rustic digs with great drinks and a friendly environment!

Please note- reservations for parties of 10 and under may be made on open table directly. If you have a party larger than 10 people, please email reservations@thesaratogawinery.com.

Top review

junius

Dined on Jun 27, 2025

We dined outdoors. The seating was great and the service provided by Kristin was outstanding. She did everything to assure our drink and food choices were what we wanted. Kristen even provided little tastes of 2 wines to help us make the better wine selections for our taste. As a result, we bought wine to take home.

Mulberry Italian Ristorante

4.9

4.9 (1453)

$31 to $50

Italian

Buffalo

About the restaurant

Equal parts restaurant and experience, Mulberry Italian Ristorante is a wonderful option for those who want an authentically delicious meal. Explaining that it may look like the Bronx, but that it tastes like Manhattan, this cozy eatery is just south of the center of Buffalo and offers iconic Italian foods.

Visitors to Mulberry Italian Ristorante can enjoy their lunch or dinner menu items and will find that even some of the standards are far more creative than what they usually encounter. Freshness is also a huge part of the experience, and the caprese is hand crafted each day while the pasta is homemade on the premises. Delicious and comprehensive, the Mulberry Italian Ristorante menu is a delight.

Top review

Debbie

Dined on Jun 23, 2025

Delicious and many creative new items on the menu along with the old outstanding options… so good!

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4.9

4.9 (603)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Utica

About the restaurant

Italian for encore, Ancora! is located adjacent to the historic Stanley Theatre and is one of the area’s premier dining establishments.

With its concrete-exposed high ceilings, stage lighting, custom-designed wine tower bar, open kitchen, colorful, local artwork and seasonal outdoor seating, Ancora! is the perfect blend of rustic old-world and urban design.

Featuring Mediterranean-inspired, mouthwatering cuisine, including a signature select tapas menu, Ancora! will have you begging for more.

Shared with friends or cherished alone, Ancora! is the ideal compliment to any evening, conversation or show.

Top review

micheleL

Dined 2 days ago

Good food, service. One of my favorite places to eat!

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Cristo's Wood Fired Pizza and Pasta

4.9

4.9 (537)

$30 and under

Italian

Rochester

About the restaurant

CRISTO'S WOOD FIRED PIZZA and PASTA. Come enjoy our rustic charm and open kitchen. Featuring Appetizers, Salads, Wood Fired Pizza, Pasta, Chicken Dishes and Nightly Features including homemade Desserts. Live Music Wednesdays 5-8.

Top review

Michael

Dined on Jun 21, 2025

Amazing food and service! It’s always a solid option and thanks for using opentable. It makes reservations easy!

Harana Market

4.9

4.9 (19)

$30 and under

Filipino

Accord

About the restaurant

Harana Market is more than just a restaurant; it's a portal to the vibrant flavors of the Philippines and a rich community space. Nestled in the heart of the Hudson Valley, this hidden gem offers a unique dining experience, blending the quality of James Beard-nominated Filipino cuisine with the charm of eating in someone's home.

Step inside and be greeted by the aroma of Filipino food and the friendly smiles of the staff. Browse the little market area while you wait, stocked with a curated selection of Filipino and Asian ingredients.

Please note, Opentable reservations are for our indoor, full-service dining room.
Our outdoor area is first come, first served and served "fast casual" style.

Top review

Michael

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

We have loved enjoyed laughed and just had a great experience every time we go to Harana!!!

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Experience

Kamayan Table Dinner Experience

The Wedge

4.9

4.9 (48)

$31 to $50

Contemporary French / American

DeWitt

About the restaurant

The Wedge
A cheese-centric bar & restaurant in Eastwood in Syracuse! We focus on cheese based dishes and highlighting seasonal produce. We offer a new menu daily to honor seasonality.
We are open for dinner service Wednesday through Saturday and we serve Brunch on Sundays!
The Wedge is brought to you by The Curd Nerd, an award-winning cheese shop, located right next door.
We focus on community & highlight it by offering a community table!
We do not take reservations for parties larger than 6 on OpenTable & the restaurant does not accommodate parties larger than 8 without a private event.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 1 day ago

Delicious food and fun vibe! The cocktails were creative and yummy! Sarah, Siraj and Stella have us attentive service. It feels like community.

Motus

4.9

4.9 (669)

$31 to $50

American

Utica

About the restaurant

mōtus (Latin); movement, progress, passion, revolt

A tradesman's gastropub with an undeniable message of purpose.

Top review

PeterVIP

Dined on Jun 11, 2025

Superb meal for all of our group, lamb shank was amazing with sauce to die for. Beef Tartare was beautifully presented with lovely garnishes , great cocktails that update periodically, impeccable service and thoughtful options for gluten free diners including an amazing focaccia bread option and most items on menu could be adjusted (aside from a few sauces) This is my favorite restaurant in the area

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