Dolan's, Central Avenue’s newest restaurant, is the Avenue’s answer to traditional pub fare--all served with the style and experience of a veteran tavern owner. The new restaurant and tavern held its ribbon-cutting and grand opening celebration on November 5, 2015.
Peter Hitchcock, who also owns Rock's, says the new venture just next door is going well, and the work to get to this point was extensive. The space, which had been home to a string of restaurants in recent years, had to be completely overhauled, he says.
Hitchcock says he’s always wanted to open a restaurant like this. The idea came from the warm and inviting atmosphere his grandmother’s home always had, with the smell of food cooking, games on the TV, and plenty of laughter and smiles.
The restaurant serves traditional pub fare, including; burgers with a flair, chicken wings, homemade soups daily and a Friday fish fry, in addition to Irish staples like corned beef and cabbage and Colcannon in a cozy atmosphere.
It’s a bar that Hitchcock took very personally, and a lot of hours went into getting the design just right. "Everything in here is new," Hitchcock says, pointing out the new bar and woodwork surround. "We lowered the floors, to create a little more space inside," he says. He also added a brand-new kitchen at the rear of the restaurant, and finished the dining room with new high-top tables and lighting. The restaurant has a natural light flooding into the space from the picture window at the front, but still feels cozy, probably due to the polished brick and wood details.
Dolan is Hitchcock's mother's maiden name, and the restaurant will, as the name would suggest, offer Irish fare like shepherd's pie and corned beef and cabbage. However, they will also serve burgers, sandwiches, and more traditional pub fare, which is currently missing from Central Avenue's line-up. Hitchcock says his grandmother was a great cook who put her love of family and friends into every dish. “I think she would be very proud of the food we are providing and would feel at home in this space,” Hitchcock says.
The restaurant will also keep local brews such as Nine Pin Cider and Schmaltz Brewing Co. on tap. “The Capital District, Hudson Valley and the entire Northeast is a melting pot of some of the best beer and ciders on Earth and we want to showcase and support our local business partners and help them to grow!” he says.
Dolan's is located at 75 Central Avenue in Albany. For more information about Dolan’s, please visit their website at www.dolansontheave.com
