TALA, An American Bistro

I have been a regular here since its opening. The food here has gone down hill. Instead of taking my «twice over cooked steak» off the bill (34), they gave us a «free Desert» (10 at most). Waiter was fantastic!!! Management was horrible… Whoever she is, she doesn’t seem to know how to be polite or even smile??? She was our waitress once and we weren’t serviced… Had to go to the bar to get drinks and food from the patio!!! Owner was nice and seemed concerned about the fact that the kitchen couldn’t cook a steak correctly!!! Which, was to thin to cook correctly for 34 $, although the medium filet mignon, which was supposed to be medium, was well done as well. So sorry that I have to post this, because I was a tala fan!!! The stars are for service (Eric) not for food!

Just to be clear, Very disappointed about a few things! I would have rated this 2 ½ stars. I had a vision of a very different experience. The décor is beautiful. The tables are cramped and too close to one another. No cozy romantic chit chat. You have such a beautiful place, perfect atmosphere to create a intimate experience but the tables are too close, music too loud, and sports on TV??? Too bad the place is small. It would be great if the bar was out of sight.
I choose this place to check out because I read the menu and reviews and was excited to try many things. The menu was sleek, Korean pork belly, tuna tartar. Fire roasted artichokes, etc.
When we walked in at 8:00 we were seated right away. We ordered our drinks, then looked over the menu. Confused? No Tappas here? Nothing looked familiar. Everything I went in to try wasn’t even on the menu? Where we in the right place??! At this point it’s getting late because I suggested leaving. My husband said it’s getting late, let’s just stay. I found the menu very limited, ordinary. When you looked at the old menu it had such variety. Things you would find in a new cutting edge bistro. Didn’t see that with this menu. For a appetizer we tried the duck confit gnocchi, with mushrooms. Disappointed in the gnocchi. Found it to be dry. Not many choices for the entrée. We both went with a pasta dish. I had the bucatini. Again, ok. Thought it was over priced for the amount of pasta given. (21.00) my husband ordered the pappardelle. He said it was good, much more pasta than my dish at 23.00. Our waitress was nice, but never told us about any specials for the night. We were greeted by another (a manager perhaps) to ask if we were happy after the first bite. That was it. I did however enjoy the bread. Don’t even know if there was a desert menu? After we left, I immediately went on the website again. Yup, there was the menu I wanted to try? Then I went on Trip advisor to see what that showed. The same menu I was interested in. That’s funny, because Tala’s website advertised the same. At this point I called the restaurant. When I explained my confusion I was told they just recently changed their menu last week. Monday. Wow. My first thought was how I wished the Changes were updated to the sites and web page. I think I was excited to go here after careful planning on what we were gonna try. Especially after reading the reviews. It’s like going to a steakhouse and they no longer serve steak. I was told that If I said something they would have tried to make it if they had the ingredients in house. Nice offer. I also was told I would get a phone call from the manager Emily which I did. She explained that the menu was changed on Monday, and Unilocal and Trip advisor changes haven’t been updated. She also explained they do change their menu 4 times a year to flow with the seasonal items that are out. In my opinion the menu is limited. Nothing striking or different. For me American Bistro screams out unique take on classic dishes. Smaller dishes, a play on traditional French or Italian dishes, etc. This «New» menu TO Me is just a straight forward menu.

Vibe is suitable for a middle aged moderately successful business person hoping to come off as a more than moderately successful business person to meet a Tinder date. Just trying if you know what I mean.
Much more importantly, however, the food was decent, albeit pretty expensive for quality, and service was friendly and attentive-​not stuffy at all. They had every single one of my favorite foods in the large plates section so I had quite the time making a decision. I finally landed on the rack of lamb, but was sad that it came out pretty tough and lackluster in flavor. I recently had phenomenal lamb chops at spindles on remsen so it was easy to be disappointed. My husband’s salmon was pretty good but my thoughts on it may be a little unfair cause my stepdad makes the best cedar plank salmon there could ever be, so once again it’s easy to be disappointed. I can’t order it out anymore since nothing can compete. I will have to go back to try more of the menu before I write it off as too pricey for not delicious enough. The Caesar salad and my wine were delightful. Happy hour or the check in deal would be a much better value than our meal was.

Creative menu presents a collection of classic staples alongside some more eclectic dishes. Particularly good menu items include the edamame app and the lobster roll. The wood fired pizzas also serve as great light fare — creative ingredients along with top notch crust. Mixed drinks are good, albeit pricey, but you do get what you pay for. The restaurant was recently renovated in dark woods with purple accent; pretty chic. It’s relatively small and as a result can be a little loud, but not unreasonably slow. Service may be Tala’s strongest attribute. My experiences have all been top rate, especially with Meghan: friendly, knowledgeable, and genuine. Would highly recommend.

The food and drinks were excellent but what set this dining experience apart was the service. Our waitress (Alyce) provided us with outstanding service and her knowledge of the menu was impressive. She was attentive, professional and made excellent recommendations. Overall a great experience at Tala. We will be back soon.

This was the perfect balance of what a brunch should be. We had the breakfast pizza it was amazing. I highly suggest it to share. The coffee was great too.

Since the change in management and chef, I’ve had several disappointing visits to Tala over the past few months. From little things like being overcharged for certain items that were advertised on the happy hour menu, to staff not being quite as friendly as I was used to and food flat out coming out wrong or inedible. Also, why is everything so salty? From the burgers, to the eggs at brunch to the salad dressings… it seems like there is a heavy sodium theme here now.
EXAMPLE:
I ordered a burger the last time I was here on a Monday night (for the burger and a beer $ 10 special) and the middle of the burger was rare to the point that I was unsure if it was safe to eat and the outer part of the paddy was overcooked to the point that it was inedible. To top that off the $ 10 special didn’t ring up as such and I was charge $ 15.00 instead of $ 10.00.
I’ve had numerous experiences over the past few months like this but that last one with the burger was the final straw and I will not be back again for quite some time. I’m not sure what happened but it’s obvious Tala has gone down hill and this used to be one of my favorite places to go for a drink or a quick bite. I hope changes are made soon.

I have to give them one star in order to explain the pain that is eating at this restaurant. I ordered a cheeseburger. Who can fuck up a cheeseburger right? Wrong. They can. It’s a salt patty. After sending It back it took another half hour to get some eggs which were at best, mediocre. My boyfriend ordered mayo which they said that they were going to make from scratch and never came. Fine. After that lets get to the mimosas. DO NOT. I REPEAT. DO NOT order their «bottomless mimosas». They are pure orange juice. For $ 15. All four of my friends who ordered them made a pact to continue drinking them until we felt something. Seven «mimosas» later we are running to the bathroom to throw up blood. Orange juice drinking competition complete.

This place has alright brunch. I had the eggs Benedict and it was a good meal. Their bottomless mimosa are a little too orange juice and not enough champagne. I tried to drink enough to have a buzz but it just made me sick.

The food was WAY tooo salty, barely even edible.
The bottomless orange juice (mimosa) was alright… If aren’t looking for any alcohol in it. Wouldn’t recommend it…
The atmosphere is nice and it’s really well decorated.

Stopped in for a drink after my husband got his Veterans Day haircut at Rumor’s only to be surprised to find out tala was running an amazing Veterans Day special too… A delicious free dessert of the vets choosing AND a $ 10 gift card to enjoy another time. My husband was thrilled. I enjoyed a skinny shape shifter cocktail and he had cocktail as well. We also had the house fries with their «house dipping sauce» which turned out to just be ranch (good but didn’t seem appropriate to call it house sauce), then we enjoyed a brick oven brownie which was served with an amazing home made square marshmallow and ice cream. It was fantastic! We also had a chocolate martini which was good but the brownie was better (really what can beat a brownie though). The service was excellent while we were there. The ambiance was fun and the chairs between the bar and dining area were super comfy high top chairs. We would certainly come back again another time. We had our eye on the buratta dish to try next time.
Thank you tala for the special Veterans Day deal. It was a very nice surprise for my vet!

Food was ok, I ordered the burger because everything else was overpriced. Have not been back because of this…
Too expensive for the menu items.

TALA has been around for over two years now and we still hadn’t been there, in spite of some very nice reviews by others. We weren’t in the mood for a heavy meal since it was already approaching 9 PM, and their menu looked like it might be able to satisfy our need and also offer the opportunity to try some different dishes.
We started with a couple of draft beers ($ 5 each) that were served in pilsner style glasses that were probably slightly less than pint size. I had a Saratoga Pilsner and I don’t recall now what the Guest Tap was that my wife had.
We then shared the Kale and Quinoa salad ($ 9) and the Edamame Dumplings ($ 13). Both were very flavorful and enjoyable. The roasted orange and pumpkin seed oil dressing was especially tasty on the salad. The white truffle, shiitake broth, and scallions might have been better served in a ramekin for dipping instead of at the bottom of the dumpling plate.
Their pizza can be served either as a flat bread or as the thicker Neapolitan ($ 2 up-​charge) style. Since they are not huge pizzas we decided to order one of the Neapolitan versions with the predetermined toppings of prosciutto, arugula, ricotta, San Marzano tomatoes, and basil ($ 16). This was delicious. The dough had a thin, browned bottom, and had an edge crust that had good flavor and a softness that invited you to eat all of the slice. We took two or three slices home and enjoyed them cold the next day.
Our service was friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is very modern and cool looking, reminding us of some places where we’ve dined out of the country. They have a rather unique looking, sound absorbing, ceiling installation. I don’t know how effective it is because there were not too many people there while we dined. But there was a large party of maybe 8 or more at the opposite end of the restaurant and we were totally oblivious to them while we enjoyed our meal — so maybe it really works.

In Swedish Tala means to speak, so it’s time I spoke up and got the word out about this truly fantastic establishment.
I’ve been frequenting Tala with my wife pretty regularly since it opened a few years ago. Many of my most memorable occasions have been spent here birthdays, happy hour get-​togethers, anniversaries and most recently the reception for my wedding!
Every item served on the Tala menu is absolutely delicious and prepared with a certain artistic flair. Offering a range of menu items from upscale bar fare like pizza and burgers to fine dining staples like Filet Mignon, Lobster and Salmon; there’s something on the menu to please everyone. On Sundays the brunch dishes served here are the best in the capital region (bar none)! The menu changes every few months, so even for regulars like me there’s always something new and different to try.
Often times though my wife and I will just stop in for a cocktail, beer or glass of wine after a long week of work. Tala offers happy hour specials from 4−7pm every day (at the bar) and liquid brunch (bloody mary, mimosas, etc.) on Sunday’s 11am-​3pm; check their facebook page and website for up to date specials.
Like the food, the cocktails served here are perfection. There are some signature drinks made at Tala that you just can’t find anywhere else; always made with fresh ingredients muddled in and served with only premium liquors used. If you are a Bloody mary fan, you absolutely must stop in for brunch and try one their monster sized creations crafted with a special house made mix.
The only thing better than the food and drink offerings is the «Tala-​ented» staff at this Mazzone Location! From the management, to the bartenders and wait-​staff you’ll never be disappointed because at Tala guest satisfaction is always ensured. The regular bartenders Mariana and Heather are always charming, funny and willing to chat but each member of the Tala team is as accommodating and friendly as they are professional.
All of this said, I knew Tala was excellent but recently they went above and beyond for me when I asked to have my wedding after party here. The restaurant manager Emily kept everything open for us well after closing… with kitchen, wait staff and the bartender Jeffrey all working to serve our small party of 25 people. When we arrived they had decorated, created signs to commemorate the occasion and offered complimentary champagne to all the guests. Tala provided a perfect ending to what was a perfect (but stressful) day! Special thank you again to Emily and Jeffrey, you guys are the best!!!
If you are planning a private event like an after party or even a work outing, you should definitely consider Tala, they’ll handle every detail so you won’t have to. Beyond holding a party, if you are just looking for a great place to have a memorable meal or even just unwind after a long day… checkout Tala, you won’t be disappointed. There’s truly nowhere else in the area quite like it.

This was a tough review. I’ve been here multiple times: lunch, brunch, dinner and drinks. My last experience was eh. I would give TALA a 3.5 if possible. I think my main qualm is the value for the food and location.
Ambience: nice décor, friendly and professional staff, great to have an outdoor option. It’s perfect for brunch on a sunny Sunday.
Drinks: good, but for the price just decent.
Food: I’ve had their pear Gorgonzola salad (this was a few months back) and it was awesome! Unfortunately the last time I was here was a total flop. I had the chicken brasato which sounded delicious both on the menu and by the waitress’s description! It was great in theory but definitely not well executed. It was supposed to be in a «wine sauce» which you could definitely tell it was (and not in a good way) and it was incredibly salty (don’t forget your diuretic!). The chicken was shredded and the texture was ok but the dish just did not taste good! I’ve had their pizzas in the past which are good but not mind blowing especially given some of the prices.

The restaurant is gorgeous and the service is excellent. I went for dinner with a friend a couple weeks ago and decided to take my husband there for brunch this past weekend.
Dinner: I had the margarita pizza and a few different mixed drinks that were all fantastic. My favorite was the one with sangria in it. For dessert I chose the «cheesecake» which was served in a shot glass and more like a creamed cheesecake without any graham cracker crumbs so it fell flat for me. I was expecting an actual slice of cheesecake when I ordered it and the size and flavor weren’t impressive.
Brunch: I started with blueberry corn muffins that were awesome. A little dry, but I’ve experienced that with corn bread and I didn’t mind at all. I had the buttermilk/​corn meal pancakes for my brunch entrée and they were also excellent. My husband enjoyed his egg dish and also his giant Bloody Mary which for $ 12 was ginormous. My only complaint for brunch would be the champagne drinks. I had a blueberry bellini to start and it was quiet small for the $ 10 price tag. I decided to try a regular mimosa next and same issue (small for $ 10).

Heard of this place a few times and nothing but good reviews. Decided to meet a few friends here to enjoy happy hour food and drinks. We sat at the bar and ordered from the happy hour menu as well as the regular menu. The interior is a gem and outdoor patio seemed classy as well. The bartender was very nice and let us know there were special hooks underneath the bar table facing our chairs to hang purses/​handbags. How convenient! The atmosphere was trendy but comfortable and can be a great location for a date night or girls night out. Our party ordered crab cake sliders (delishhh!), calamari, lobster pizza, red velvet cookie, cheesecake, and a few drinks. Will definitely be back and might try the $ 10 burger and a beer deal or even the brunch!

The interior is trendy and up scale, and patio seating is available in nice weather. In many ways it has a European vibe — tables are small and close and each decorated with a candle and fresh flower (s). Water choices include tap and bottled, and they have a decent wine list. The food is flavorful and unique and the menu is constantly offering something new. It’s appropriately categorized as an American bistro. There are frequent menu changes with unique options for all meal courses, thus making it enjoyable to revisit the restaurant and try your dining companions food.
The daily specials, take-​out tuesday, and beer and Burger” deal seem to indicate an eagerness to increase revenue and establish themselves as more than a special occasion place to visit.
My first visit was for a girls night on a weekend and the service was excellent. When I returned with my husband, the service and food seemed a little more lack-​luster compared to the first visit. So while it seems like it is trying to be a place that caters to ‘every night dinners’, it seems that the service and food is better when one is there for a special occasion.

I will admit I had preconceived notions of Tala being a stuffy, trendy sort of place but boy was I wrong. Tala is a hip, classy gem that is great for a girls night or even a date night. I went here on a Saturday night with some girlfriends. We had a reservation but honestly it wasn’t that busy. Despite us missing one member of our party we were promptly seated and our waitress never made us feel rushed as we waited for the rest of our party to arrive before we ordered food.
The atmosphere was casual, the service excellent. I will give them major kudos for including a non-​alcoholic drink section, which was a fun surprise for my pregnant friend. We ordered the brussel sprouts and watermelon and feta salad for appetizers. The brussel sprouts were served with bacon over a dreamy whipped sour cream sauce with a hint of horseradish. The salad was light, vinaigrette subtly delicious and amazing!
I ordered the lobster pizza on a flatbread which boasted huge chunks of lobster and was delectable. I resisted the urge to eat it all myself so that I could take it home to share the deliciousness with my husband who loved it just as much as I did. My friend ordered the fig and arugula pizza that was drizzled with a slightly sweet vinaigrette dressing, phenomenal! I am coming back with my husband and looking forward to our dining experience.

Latham is horrible town for local business. Its full of chains and diners. So its nice that there is a more upscale type dining establishment. They offer a Sunday brunch, which is what initially drew me in.
Upon walking in I immediately hated their décor. Its full of «modern» furniture which I despise. That being said, the food and service was excellent. I had the special, which was a corned beef omelet. I’m not sure if they make the corned beef In house because the menu said it was «local old world» style rather than «homemade» but if definitely wasn’t any of that canned crap.
I would probably make this a regular spot for brunch but it’s only Sundays and it is pretty pricey.