Flow From the Garden

We loved it here. An intimate, warm & inviting atmosphere. An epicurean delight! The owner, hostess & her husband, chef, pair Excellant wines with fresher than fresh foods. A delictable palate of farm fresh fancies.

What I thought was going to be a «pleasurable» experience turned out to be a very «condescending» experience. I finished my small portion of the wine that was supposed to be paired with the meal that was late to the table and the owner felt the need to remind me of such.
Upon receiving the check, the owner felt the need to tell me the cost of what the dinner would have been compared to the groupon discounted price and «told» me that I am supposed to tip on the original cost.
Well excuse me sir, I know how to tip and do NOT need a reminder especially from the OWNER. I felt he thought his restaurant was above par however my girlfriend and I had a very sub-​par experience and will not return.

From the Garden has «gone to seed»
An amazing first experience about a year ago followed by a total downer last night. The atmosphere was cold and unfriendly, the food was totally different from what was posted on the web site (and NO vegetarian option offered). Wine was offered in tasting size ONLY no opportunity to purchase a bottle or larger glass. The meal — with the exception of a good salad and lovely glaze on the chicken — was ordinary. No where in sight was the owner who was so cordial and knowledgeable about wines, etc. Christmas music blaring with no thought to people trying to have conversation.
The whole experience was so different from the first time that we left thinking «There MUST be new owners.» We will NOT go back.

Ate here with the husband last night, i love the concept of this restaurant. No choices to make, for people who like food. I thought the staff we’re friendly and every course we had i loved. The size of the wine pairings were perfect. It was perfect for us after working all day the «where do you want to eat» debate was easily solved and if you want to make this a slow dinner experience you can take your time, but if your hungry and are ready to eat you can be in and out in 45 minutes. I can’t wait to see whats on the menu for next week and go back!

Wow… Now that was an experience of delicious flavor. Everything was as the name says… Fresh from the Garden! You can tell how much passion for food Larry, our chef, has in spades… The cold peach soup was delish, the white bean bruschetta was creamy, fresh and wonderful. The steak main dish was cooked perfectly and with passion. The finale… OMG. Flourless chocolate cake was simply sublime. Kokese, our everything else, was the most gracious host and server. Shabby chic invades Lark St. Can’t wait to see what Larry has in store the next time.

Horrible… just NOT good. First of all, I only went there because I had a Groupon & it seemed like a nice place from the pictures. The Groupon was $ 40 for a value of an $ 80 tasting menu with wine (supposedly…& if they are getting that much for what they put out, then I could be charging $ 200 a meal for my home cooking!) We got there & the waitress was nice (also the owner), & seated us promptly. Now, my biggest gripe is that the online menu was wrong. If you are only offering one meal, then you should really have your menu correct online, because if I am going there thinking I am going to have pasta as my main dish & it ends up being pork tenderloin, I am not going to be pleased. I also forgot to mention that I called there & left two messages before this & no one ever called me back. So, anyway, first course (which was supposed to be some root soup or something) was a disgusting watermelon gazpacho. Now, mind you, I can’t remember if I have ever had gazpacho before, but I doubt taking watermelon, throwing it in a blender, & putting it in a bowl qualifies. Nasty! The next courses-​salad & some appetizer were edible, but that’s the best that I can say. The salad dressing was pretty much applesauce, & there was no acidity to it whatsoever. The appetizer was eggplant (which I don’t really care for to begin with… which was supposed to be kalamata olive tapenade or something) over polenta. The main course, which, again, was supposed to be pasta, which was now pork tenderloin, was ok & warm, at best… along with the sides-​sweet potatoes (also cold, but still probably the best part of that course) & some mixed vegetable thing (again with the eggplant?!). Dessert (which was supposed to be a deconstructed cannoli… one of the reasons I was bringing my husband there for his birthday (…oh, did I forget to mentioned that this disastrous meal was for his birthday?!)…was chocolate cake, which was basically chocolate ganache with a strawberry… definitely the best part of the night, but, seriously, how hard is it to mix cream & chocolate?! Also, I have to say, they don’t give you enough food. I was starving when I went in (probably the main reason I actually ate food I didn’t like) & still a little hungry when I left. The wine? Well, they give you about three shots worth… any more than that & it’s $ 9 & up for a glass. Bottom line-don’t waste your money… great concept, poor execution.

Went to FLOW last week with a group of about 15 for a 40^th birthday party. I really wanted to give 4 or 5 stars, but there were a few things that knocked the experience down a notch.
First, the food was very flavorful. The 5 course meal consisted of asparagus soup, a small mixed greens salad, roasted cauliflower with crostini bread, chicken marsala with rice and a piece of vegan cake for dessert. Portions were small but I didn’t leave feeling hungry. Wine pairings were supposed to be part of the experience, but due to having such a large group, the owner/​waiter decided that it would be too difficult to do.
Most of the time when the food was brought out, it was introduced and the sources of the food were explained. I thought that was a nice touch and didn’t think it was «over the top» as some other reviews have stated.
The restaurant is small/​cozy, so reservations are recommended. Plus, the tables don’t turn over very fast… give yourself plenty of time for dinner here.
The weather that night was slightly warm and muggy — the inside of the restaurant was uncomfortably hot. Lots of us were sweating over dinner… I prefer sweating on the treadmill; not while I’m eating.
The cost per person was $ 30 — the person that organized the party took care of the remaining cost (as some had wine — but not the pairings…).
I’ll probably try to go back at some point — see if a smaller party makes a difference in the experience.

I came on a Wednesday for a wine tasting and what was supposed to be a dinner. The wine tasting was great. There was a guest from France who was promoting some of his wines — 6 in all — which were all very good. The tasting was a good time.
Then we got to «dinner.» I had previously been corresponding with the restaurant’s owner via email to make reservations and he assured me that indeed there would be dinner along with the wine tasting. Dinner consisted of a plate with a small amount of salad on one side and a small amount of pasta with red sauce. That was it. I was convinced this was the starter, but this was indeed the dinner.
This restaurant markets itself as farm to table. What we got was boiled pasta from a box with some tomato paste. I will admit that the slice of red beet in our salad was very good. HOWEVER, the wine tasting with dinner cost us «about $ 30» per person. I say «about,» because when the owner came around to collect cash, that is what he said — «dinner and the tasting is about $ 30 per person.» The couple next to me managed to get away with giving the owner $ 20 per person. I think they were regulars. When I overheard someone ask about what the pricing was for, the owner explained that it was $ 20 for the dinner and wine, $ 5 for the cheese platter (I must add that the cheese platter was two VERY small slices of cheese per person, one olive, a tiny piece of toast, and a morsel of a date), and «about $ 5 for tax.» That is a very steep tax, my friend.
On the way home, my dining companion and I stopped at Dragon City for Chinese food, which was totally fine and much needed after spending a lot of money for barely anything to eat.

I had the extreme pleasure of having my 27^th Birthday Party at FLOW From The Garden. For my Birthday the owners and I coordinated a ‘Wine Class Dinner’. We tasted 8 Wines followed by Dinner. Allan, the host/​owner, took time to explain the heritage of each wine that he served us and it was quite obvious how much pride that he takes in his craft. He’s also hilarious… and many of the guests almost spit out the wine from laughing so hard. The management decided on preparing a Beef Brisket from Sandy Gordon Farm. Additionally, the meal included a salad (with greens picked from the Eight Mile Creek Farm, a pear vinaigrette that they made from the pears on their neighbors orchard, their signature rice pilaf dish and an amazing beat relish/​soup. The Vegetarian/​vegan option included Acorn Squash and/​or wild mushrooms. It was an extraordinary experience — both the food and wine were excellent. I would highly recommend booking this very special wine and food extravaganza. My guests and I had wonderful experience!!!

A friend and I have this place a try and I would definitely go back and certainly recommend it to others! The food was very good and we both enjoyed it! I tried a mango moscato prosecco drink and it was delish! We did try it by way of Living Social and I would also recommend doing it that way, because if I were to have to pay full price, it’d be a little to much for me, but that’s just me! I do think it was worth full price though. The cook (I believe she is the owner) I great and you can tell she has fun cooking and takes pride in the food she prepares, which is a great thing to see in a chef!
Thanks for a great dining experience!

The owner was so incredibly informative and helpful for not only each of the courses, but also the wines. I’ve learned so much tonight but without feeling like I was stuck in a lecture hall.
The atmosphere in the place is small but extremely cozy and welcoming. You could easily miss this place if you weren’t looking.
Each dish was so diverse and different but there was a perfect cohesiveness. The wines to taste between courses were delicious and expanded my wine palate greatly.
The week I went was Crete week — it changes every week so keep an eye out for the menu that appeals to you most (or try something new).
I would definitely recommend this place over and over again. I will be back in the future!

What can I say, this restaurant is a fine example of what NOT to do when starting a restaurant.
I had a very similar experience to Annie C and had to express my disappointment.
I enjoy exploring the restaurants of Albany. When I saw that From the Garden was a new establishment, my party and I decided to give it a try.
After we were seated we found out that they only had the soup and salad left for the day. Although disappointed we decided to give it a try. The plates although tasty, were about the size of your fist, leaving you with an emptiness.
One of the ultimate issues was the owner/​server. He forgot out tableware and insisted on talking about himself on and on, rather than letting us enjoy our meals and company. He also tended to be preoccupied with a much larger party ($$$) and at one point told that table «you better tip well because my staff came in on their day off» which I thought was EXTREMELY disrespectful and inappropriate.
All in all, the one good part was the beer, Goose Island’s Sophie. The wine comes with the meal, which I opted out for the beer, comes in a small shot glass looking flute, less than an ounce of liquid which my party only got two of when we decided it was time to leave.
After telling the server we were done, he brought the check, $ 150 for four small soups, four small salads, four flutes of wine and a bottle of Sophie! Ridiculous! He charged us for the whole daily menu and NOT prorating the meal because they were out of the main course. What!!!
I will not, have not, returned and will not recommend. It doesn’t seem to be a fluke. As a new business it should be about the customers not the owners.
Want a quality meal for the same price? Skip this place and go across the street to McGuire’s.

Fresh, creative dishes, paired expertly with hard-​to-​find wines.
Warm, welcoming atmosphere. Coming here feels like eating dinner at a friend’s house, even if it’s your first time visiting. Just don’t fall asleep on the couch, they might draw things on your face (I guess it really IS like going to a friend’s house for dinner!)

I fear it was a few months ago I visited but I’m sure the review is still absolutely necessary!
The owners were more than accommodating when I changed the particulars of my dinner reservation and provided a very friendly, warm, and comfortable experience. They spoke to us, spent time going over the courses and theology behind the restaurant, and brought food with perfect timing. On top of all else, the meal was delicious, fresh, and certainly ‘from the garden.’ Perhaps one of the best meals and gastronomic experiences I have or ever will experience.
With a rotating menu, wine pairings to accent the meal, and vegetarian options, FLOW is an epicurean paradise.

We had a wonderful meal here using a living social coupon. The tasting menu left us sated rather than stuffed, which is quite refreshing. The service was excellent and the little glasses of various wines very enjoyable. Each dish – soup, a couple of interesting salads, main course, and dessert – was delectable. We would definitely go back as paying full price would be worth it. Our only complaint was the noise level, but on the night we went there was an obnoxiously loud group of 6 or 7 seated at a high table. Without their rude behavior the noise would probably have been OK.
You should go!

My girlfriend and I had the tasting menu with wine, and I found the experience outstanding from start to finish. The reservations were very easy to make on their website, at
and we were seated very promptly when we arrived for our dinner. The owner was extremely delightful, all of the wines were unique and pleasant, and the food was great. The serving size was such that I could have eaten twice as much, but it was really the perfect amount. The meal had a nice pace to it, and we had a pleasant time conversing between courses.

Our brunch experience was sadly negative and very similar to that of reviewer Annie C. They ran out of the soup course, but didn’t actually come to tell us (We heard the server/​owner telling other tables). The portions were small, and the wait for food was pretty lengthy for lunch.
Afterward we went to grab egg sandwiches down the street because we were still hungry after our $ 50+ brunch (including food and drinks).
They’re still new and still getting in the groove. I hope that this is just a temporary blip for them. People who have had dinners there have seemed satisfied, so maybe brunch just isn’t their strong suit at the moment. I hope things improve for them in this area in the future. But I don’t think we’ll be back to see.

What an amazing hidden gem! My husband and I got a living social for this restaurant and were blown away by the quality of the food. The menu changes weekly and is incredibly innovative with everything farm to table. We loved the wine pairings and even more so loved having the owner, Allen, come around and tell us about the different wines we were tasting: it was like being at our own tasting dinner. It was such a fantastic experience.
We will definitely be back to FLOW!

It breaks my heart to give this place one star. I think their heart is in the right place but the execution is poor and the experience is worse.
To start, it took my dining companion and I 3 hours (!!) to get through brunch there. Between the server (who was also the owner) forgetting about our table, forgetting to give us utensils when we did receive our food, and then telling us that they «ran out of dessert so I guess you won’t be able to experience that» (and not adjust the check accordingly), it was a waste of a significant amount of time and money.
What’s worse is that they say that they are a farm-​to-​table restaurant but the menu suggests otherwise. When we went, they were doing their Thai-​themed menu. To my knowledge, mangoes are not a local ingredient.
I must admit though, the food is not bad. However, the portions are so small (about 2 – 3 bites per plate) that my companion and I left hungry.
It appeared to us that most of the patrons of the restaurant at the time were their friends. While I appreciate the friendly environment, I found it telling that even their friends noticed the poor service and apologized on their behalf.
For their sake, I hope this was a fluke and that these issues will be fixed but I’m not holding my breath.

My wife and I had the five course vegetarian tasting menu. Each course was beautifully presented, creatively spiced, and very tasty. The wine list is vast, with many very reasonably priced excellent choices.
This restaurant is a great addition to a largely mediocre Lark Street scene. Creative scratch cooking is hard to find in Albany and these people care about locally sourced good food. As trained sommeliers, they also know and care about wine.
We’ll definitely be back.