For a city of just fifty-thousand people, Albany has long boasted an impressive restaurant scene, particularly around First and Second Avenues, drawing visitors from around Oregon. From James Beard Award winning chef Matt Bennett’s fine-dining Sybaris to local classics like First Burger and Taqueria Alonzo, the diversity and caliber of Downtown’s culinary institutions is hard to beat. The Whirlwind recently visited three lower-profile restaurants Downtown to try them out, and was impressed by all three.

The newcomer: Gamberetti’s Italian

A new branch of a Salem Restaurant now occupies the space once filled by Cellar Cat on First Avenue Downtown. It serves high-quality (but distinctly Americanized) Italian food, ranging from pastas to seafood dishes. The meat was cooked well, the pasta was fresh, and the sauce was flavorful. Nonetheless, the most impressive parts of the meal were the soups and salads, which made the (somewhat long) wait for food completely worthwhile. It’s worth returning, but there are better places in town.

The updated: Tone Thai

Tong Thai refreshes Tup Tim Thai, a branch of a Salem restaurant which had been serving up delicious plates of pad thai, yellow curry, and more for several years. Under new ownership, Tone has become easily one of the best Asian restaurants in the Mid-Valley. From classics like salad rolls and perfectly seasoned pad thai to their incredible eggplant basil stir fry, this First Avenue restaurant is sure to impress. It’s best to go with a group, so you can all share a variety of the dished they have.

The Albany classic: First Burger

A downtown mainstay, First Burger continues to impress crowds of visitors in it’s small Downtown restaurant. With incredible burgers like the iron woman (pepper jack, cheddar, cilantro, avocado, and bacon) and the California burger (grilled onions, mushrooms, bacon, avocado, and Ranch dressing), there is something for everyone, but the best part about the restaurant is simply its quality. The meat is high grade and cooked to perfection, the fries are crispy and addictive, and the shakes are creamy and well-flavored. With such a focus, it’s no wonder this establishment has been drawing repeat visitors for years.