AJ’s Seafood and Oyster bar

A dive bar is a dive bar and I;m as hip as the next guy; but … The bar is separated into two sections — Smoking and Non-​Smoking and the smoking clientele definitely outweigh the non-​smoking — both figuratively and literally. The beer selection is limited and they managed to screw up a vodka soda — don’t have a clue how one does that. The jalapeño poppers tasted like they used Valletta instead of cheese and the rest of the food was way too heavily breaded to taste much of anything. If you’re looking to get your nicotine fix — drop on in, otherwise, I’d suggest looking elsewhere in Albany.

I’ve been here a few times in the past. They generally have some decent seafood and oysters. The servers were okay as well. The establishment is rather small and a little packed. Additionally, there is not much parking so patrons generally create a «makeshift» parking lot on the grass and dirt behind the restaurant.
Although not the best in terms of quality seafood, it is a good alternative to the more popular restaurants in the city.

So I’m a liitle more wary of dive bars than I was before watching Bar Rescue.
The stench when you walk in will run away with your appetite. I ordered wine that was only carried by the bottle. I was brought a plastic «bottle holder» that left me with warm Reisling. My husband’s choice beer was can only.
On my way to the unusually small restroom, I saw ice being scooped out of an ice chest on the non smoking side which made my stomach turn.
I watched employees hanging out and drinking in their uniforms while using foul language.
The menus were marked with sharpies and yet when I ordered, the item was not included with the combo as before. My scallops had grit, hush puppies soft, my husband’s grits cold. The oysters were good.
I could continue with so much more. I advise just not ever going here, the same place my parents drove 45 minutes to when I was a child.
The stomach pains and sweats within 15 of leaving was enough to never warrant a return.

It Stinks… Literally!
I’m a local and I’ve been in the place several times over the years. What can I say? It stinks with a sour rancid smell that hits you in the face as you enter. How this place passes the health inspections is a real mystery. The smoke alone is overwhelming.
I went in around 9:00p on a Saturday and the place was packed. Is Albany so desperate for seafood, or is it one of the few places you can still smoke and eat at the same time? They do have a glass divided space for non-​smoker. But, the bathrooms are in that side, so the door opens between the two areas so often that it is useless.
I sat at the bar and asked for a wheat beer… I could tell on the girls face, she had no idea what I was talking about. If you like your bartenders mixing your drinks with super long ashes dangling off their Marlboros… then this place is for you.
The food; I ordered some hushpuppies and shrimp cocktail. Both were average at best. I use the hush puppy as the benchmark for seafood places. They were not impressive enough to overcome the long list of other negatives.
OVERALL: Don’t do it. You’ll be much better off going across the street to the Red Lobster… as hard as it is for me to recommend it.