The next stop on your Ziemann Hospitality tour is open and if you haven’t been yet, you’re missing out on something delicious.
Devin & Katrin Ziemann are the names behind The Nest, The Cuckoo’s Nest, and Crave Burger and now, their newest venture, Milas (500 State St, Schenectady), is open. On their website, they describe Milas as “Gracious dining. Mediterranean style.” and that’s a pretty perfect explanation of the vibes. The restaurant is in a recently refurbished Bank of America and they left just enough notes that you can tell it used to be a bank but not enough that it takes you out of the restaurant experience.
“At Milas Restaurant & Bar by Ziemann Hospitality, our mission is to exceed our guests’ expectations by offering an innovative dining experience. What will distinguish Milas from other restaurants is our menu, which draws inspiration from a rich blend of Mediterranean cuisines, shared plates, and craft cocktails.” But, of course, with upscale experiences comes a higher check at the end of the night.
The food is delicious, as to be expected based on previous Ziemann experiences, but this is more expensive than their other venues. Based on the menu and ingredients, the higher price point is to be expected, but it makes for a fantastic romantic date night as well as a special night out with friends.
I may have tried a few of their whiskey cocktails (for research purposes, of course) but the one that caught my eye is the Tropical Tzatziki ($16). It’s a gin cocktail with ouzo, cucumber, Greek yogurt and dill. I may be curious at heart but that wasn’t the night for experimentation. A bunch of my friends tried the Garden in Padua an aperol cocktail with fresh strawberries and mint ($14). Another favorite at my table was the Macchu Pisco ($15) with strawberry pisco, elderflower and pineapple. I went for the three whiskey cocktails: In Plane View ($15), Left Hook ($16) and Queen of Sheba ($16). They were all delicious but I think In Plane View was my favorite. Take a look at the full drink menu on their website.
For dinner, I loved seeing the twists on classic Mediterranean flavors. We started by sharing the Whipped Herb Ricotta ($15), the touch of honey was honestly everything, and some pita and focaccia (both incredible). One of these days I want to go and order one of each of the small plates for dinner because each and every one of them sounded amazing. I knew I was getting a heavier dinner so I held back.
For dinner, I ordered the Za’atar Lamb Chops ($48) which also had fire-roasted eggplant and garlic puree, falafel, Moroccan carrots, pomegranate and zhug. The lamb chops were cooked brilliantly and paired well with everything else on the plate. The falafel was a little dry but I prefer a lot of sauce with mine. I didn’t have any leftovers to bring home because I wasn’t leaving any on my plate. They have a great selection of food and many are appropriately marked as vegetarian and/or gluten free. Take a look at the full menu on their website.
I didn’t have room for dessert – but that doesn’t mean I didn’t order any. The minute I saw Vanilla Panna Cotta ($10), I was ordering it. It was light, fluffy, the white chocolate was a nice added sweetness without being too sweet. I’ll continue to have dreams about that. A few of my friends ordered the upscale Ice Cream Sandwich ($14) and really enjoyed it. Take a look at the full dessert and after-dinner menu on their website.
If you haven’t gone, the food is delicious and definitely worth the trip. Just, take a look at the menu beforehand because once you see plates walking by for other tables, you’ll change your mind 100 times because of how great everything looks.
Photos and videos are a mix from a pre-opening invited event and a dinner with friends.