Bombers Burrito Bar

Avryle

New York

2.68/5  rDev -22.5%
vibe: 3 | quality: 2 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | food: 1.5 | $

Bombers has won the popular vote for, "Best Mexican Restauant in Albany." This speaks volumes about how bad of a selection of Mexican restaurants is available here. Its bad, though I will admit that you get incredibly large portions of really bad Tex-Mex for a pretty good price. Their one redeeming menu item: sweet potato fries.

On with the beer selection for which this review is truly about... There's nothing phenomenal here in comparision with a couple of other locations in town, but they usually do have Brooklyn, Magic Hat & something else moderately saucy, along with all the usual macro crap.

The atmosphere is nothing to get overly excited about. Located on Lark St., its smack dab in the middle of party-land and attracts a lot of the college kiddies considering the inexpensive/big portions combo. Its a great place to listen in on other tables loud conversations about 1. How drunk they were the other night and the stupid things they did. 2. How He's such an a-hole & She hopes she's not pregnant. 3. The going rates of illicit substances, or 4. All of the above.

03-28-2008 13:44:17 | More by Avryle

jDulcinea

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -0.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $

Fun place, but small. There is a takeout area downstairs and I got the impression that the burritos served in the dining area were pre-made for takeout.

Beer selection was fairly limited (Guinness, Smithwicks, Yuengling, Magic Hat, Sam Adams, etc.) but boasts 2 guest keg selections as a regular treat. Perhaps their specialty are Margaritas, they have some interesting concoctions listed, including a Prickly Pear margarita.

Was there on a Friday afternoon (shortly after lunch at the Schenectady location.) Staff was limited and service was a bit slow.

Overall: I would eat here again, but would try something other than the burritos... fish tacos could be a fun option. And be ready to wait for a table and spend an hour+ after being seated.

Do try: The sweet potato fries (yum!) and/or the Rasta Fries (loads of Rosemary!)

03-25-2011 22:54:46 | More by jDulcinea

kehustler14

New York

3.18/5  rDev -8.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$

As a college student in Albany, this is one of the more popular places to go. The beer selection is above average for a place like this - but not great. The main reason to go here is probably the free (with $20 purchase) huge birthday margarita. Combined with the biergarten, it definitly makes for a good birthday. Prices are OK, nothing great but nothing to avoid. Food is pretty good, good size portions, and the place has an overall "cool" atmosphere to be in. A place to visit for sure.

01-02-2010 03:47:15 | More by kehustler14

fl0w

New York

3.3/5  rDev -4.6%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5 | $

Went on a recent trip to Albany, and was recommended Bombers by a friend as a great cheap place to get a bite.
Can't say anything about the beer, because I didn't even know there was a bar upstairs till I left, and I know that most of the stuff on the menu is OK at best, but the pulled pork burrito was fantastic. Wouldn't call it Mexican, if thats what your looking for, but it really was great pulled pork, and cheap! Going back up to Albany soon, and I'll be back for it.

Oh, and if you don't like loud annoying college kids, take your food to go. Trust me

04-02-2008 08:12:18 | More by fl0w

aerozeppl

New York

2.75/5  rDev -20.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 3 | food: 2 | $

Let me just say bombers was much better when the LionHeart was above it. Now it is it's own bar with food downstairs. The food is cheap and the portions are a representative example of why Americans are fat. Basically if you want their stuff go to price chopper get some black beans rice and cheese and mix. The beers used to be better as well. They would have some saucy stuff. Now it is all Brooklyn and Magic Hat which is fine I guess. Better off going to El Marachi for Mexican around the corner on Washington and Lark.

02-07-2008 21:52:05 | More by aerozeppl

drseamus

New York

3.13/5  rDev -9.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 2 | selection: 2.5 | food: 4 | $$$

I love the downstairs of Bombers. The food is pretty cheap for the amount and it's good tex-mex with no frills. All the people that work downstairs are cool. The upstairs is a different story. The bartenders are usually pretty cool, but the waitresses tend to be pretty bitchy and I always feel like I asking a lot to get some service. Their beer selection used to be good for the area, but other places around have improved their selection while Bomber's hasn't. It's usually wicked busy and it's standing room only upstairs and it's really not worth it.

01-03-2008 05:44:24 | More by drseamus

togasports

New York

3.55/5  rDev +2.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 5 | $$

Bombers is a great place for food and beer. Located on Lark Street, it is in a great location. The food there is amazing. They take traditional foods such as Burritos and Chicken Wings, and make interesting changes to them.

For the beer, the selection is very good, having many beers that you wont find on tap on Lark Street. They usually carry a couple of beers from harpoon, one or two from brooklyn, and a couple of other interesting beers. They also have a very interesting bottle selection, including Framboise, Red Stripe, and Utica Club.

Every night during the week they have specials, or something fun going on. Wednesday night is always fun for Karaoke.

06-15-2007 15:33:23 | More by togasports

Atron67

Wisconsin

3.3/5  rDev -4.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 4 | $$

This is place is great for the fact that they give you a free margarita on your b-day, although they have cut down on it recently, not as big, alcoholic, or tastey, food is great, get a great burrito that is huge for 8 or so dollars, the mixed drinks are expensive however. The beer isnt waht you would go for, ive been there maybe times and already 2ce ive had bad beers maybe from a bad keg, but the beers were definitely skunked. bad keg lines? idk food is really good, margaritas, the drink they push the most, are good but a lil pricey,

05-27-2007 02:18:05 | More by Atron67

slander

New York

3.83/5  rDev +10.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $

Yes, with my coming and going on no specific schedule and me being tucked away in the conference room, I suppose that it could be difficult to remember that I'm there when I'm there. But every day, having them say, "Oh, we ordered lunch without you, we forgot that you were here". I mean, I'm getting like zero love here, not to mention I'm now loopy and lightheaded. That's about the time I start getting a hankerin' for a burrito, and then I think about it a lot, and I go and read the reviews again, and sing quietly the song of the pepper and rice (I whistle the high parts), and try to be productive best I can...

Not terribly far from the district. I got me a parking spot just up the road there. You can enter up or down, me being new here, I ventured downwards into the belly where the burritos happen. While mulling the menu counterside, I was quickly given the rules.
"You can't bring downstairs food upstairs, you can't bring upstairs food or drink downstairs".
Hmmmn.

"Where's the bar?"
"Upstairs".
"I can order food up there?"
"Yes".

Chuckled lightly at the sign reading "Please don't stare at us while we roll burritos. It's creepy", and ventured through the lower side room seating areas to upstairs. A dozen tables and booths with views of my car through the large front windows bordered with strung colored bulb holiday lighting. Through the cut in the wall to the bar area, smallish and kind of tight, a staircase up to I don't know where there. An "L" shaped wood bar with alternating lighter colored strips on the far wall seats a dozen and a few tables scattered about. Brick wall behind the bar with a shelf of wines on one side over the taps, a bunch of shelves of booze on the other side; Vodkas on one but tequilas running the long shelf (sadly, no Cuervo Family Reserva). Painted walls with a large Bombers logo, ceiling fans, recessed spot lighting and small candles on the bar and wall hooks. A single TV mounted above and a Margarita machine on the end of the bar. They do enormous 60 ounce margaritas in a large metal vessel with sparklers; thankfully it ain't my birthday.

20 taps on two towers of 10 each behind the bar. About 1/2 of them decent craft beers, nothing crazy (Brooklyn Brown, Harpoon UFO, Boulder Hazed & Infused, Sam Adams Winter & Cherry Wheat, Magic Hat #9, Saranac Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Blue Moon,) and then standard imports (Paulaner, Guinness, Bass, Smithwicks, Newcastle, Stella, Strongbow, Dos Equis) and macro noise. Cooler of bottles in the corner holds nothing of mention 'cept the Brooklyn Lager. I had the Brooklyn Brown, tasty, fresh, so much so that I gone had another.

My chicken burrito arrived timely, it was phat and very tasty, but luke warm. Woulda been very nice if the bitch were hot. Could have sent it back but I was loopy and lightheaded and terribly of the famished.

The place filled in nicely behind me so I know to get here in the early and not later if I want to sit. Food was absolutely solid and I was down with the Brown. Survived another day in Albany.

04-06-2007 22:17:22 | More by slander

shuriyukum

Maryland

4.15/5  rDev +19.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

I have been going to Bomber's for several years now and it seems to get better with age. When it was born, it focused solely on food. With the Lionheart above it, time would eventually run out where they got the boot so Bomber's could put in their tequila bar. Since then, it has changed little by little to create a chic atmosphere for some nightlife.

I popped in last Friday to grab a big lunch before the Extreme Beer Fest. My tab ran me $14 and including two large soft, BBQ chicken tacos, two pints, and a $2 tip.

First, there's the food. It can be reasonable, with a decent sized taco running 3 bucks or so, to burritos that run you $7. The nachos are huge and overflowing and can feed 2 people very easily. I have sampled several items from the menu, including beef, regular chicken, pulled pork, and even the quesadillas. I have met all with a resounding success. The BBQ chicken has a sweet, mesquite and tangy BBQ sauce. It's not so spicy, but they do have hot sauce if you are in the mood. The BBQ chicken was grilled, comes in large chunks, and was not over cooked. Overall, good.

The beer was delicious. I had a 'Mojo' and found that it tasted just right. The beer did not have any off flavor, indicating that the product was in good shape, including the equipment that was serving it. Tasting a nice refreshing beer @ lunch in the middle of the work day is a wonderful thing, and can be had here. Happy Hour specials run brews for $3 a pop.

Overall, it was a pleasant experience. I highly recommend it. Happy Hour runs until 8pm, and the tacos are a cheaper alternative to burritos.

02-13-2007 03:55:29 | More by shuriyukum