Changes to Rare Craft Steak & Cocktail House, Schenectady

EDIT: Rare Craft Steak & Cocktail House is closed.

Rare Craft Steak & Cocktail House in Schenectady announced last week changes to their menu, changes to their prices, and a whole new head of kitchen with a chef change as well.

What used to be Marotta’s, Rare has made a new name for itself after being sold to new owners as well as a name change but it seemed as if Marotta’s leftovers were still lingering. I saw in the Times Union that those lingering dishes will soon change.

The first major change is with the new chef Neil Massaro. Chef Massaro most recently is from Johnny’s (Schenectady) but also has worked at Osteria Danny (Saratoga), East Village Bistro (Manhattan), Chihuly Garden & Glass (Seattle), as well as Shelter Cove Lodge (Alaska).

When Chef came in, he noticed that Rare wasn’t having a bit of an identity crisis. The Italian centered dishes, paired with the menu of a steakhouse, they feel they’ve finally found the balance with the new unveiling. 18 of the leftover Italian entrees from Marotta’s have been eliminated so that the focus can be toward the steaks and burgers that you expect at a steakhouse. You can view the new menu here, again, thanks to the Times Union.

I’m excited about the new feel. It seemed in that past that Rare was a tad sporadic but with these new focused changes, I can’t wait to see how that changes the entire experience.