BITE-SIZED
Changes at Jack's Oyster House; wine dinners, classes at Cafe Capriccio./
With a new managing partner now in charge and new head chef in the kitchen, the 107-year-old Jack’s Oyster House in Albany this past weekend introduced brunch service with a tryout on Sunday. It officially starts this weekend.
The menu is by Elliott Vogel, who took over the kitchen at Jack’s last month after stints as executive chef at Savoy Taproom in Albany, Mezzanotte Ristorante in Guilderland and founding chef of Daley ’s on Yates in Schenectady. Jack’s is now being run for third-generation owner Brad Rosenstein by Joshua White, who moved up to managing partner after nearly three years as general manager.
Brunch is served 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Jack’s is open for dinner 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday. Call 518-465-8854.
Among Vogel’s new dinner dishes are wasabi- and sesame-crusted tuna with shishito peppers and caviar-topped seared scallops with parsnip puree, toasted-almond butter and blood orange.
Saying he’s been given a “license for creativity ” by White, Vogel said he’s excited to refocus the restaurant toward seafood. The menu evolves with new dishes every few days, and Vogel and White tell me a full fall menu will be launched later this month.
MORE PERRECA'S SWITCHES TO ALL-TAKEOUT FORMAT
More Perreca’s Italian Kitchen, the 11-year-old Schenectady restaurant sibling of Perreca’s Bakery, founded in 1914, has adopted an all-takeout format that includes expanded drive-through pickup, delivery and regional drop-offs. Its dining room and outside tables are closed for the foreseeable future.
The change was made for “public and employee safety and to focus on an efficient customer experience,” according to Monday’s announcement from owner Maria Perreca Papa, who added that “none of our team members have tested positive for COVID -19 and we would like to keep it that way.”
More Perreca’s is open for drivethrough takeout and delivery from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, closed Monday. The regular menu and familystyle options are available. Remote food drop-offs are announced at the beginning of each week on social media. Food may be ordered online at perrecas.com or by calling 518-377-9800.
The next-door Perreca’s Bakery retains it regular hours, 5 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
More Perreca’s is at 31 N. Jay St., in Schenectady ’s Little Italy neighborhood.