Schenectady, New York might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of deeply soulful Southern cooking, but The Nest on State Street has been flipping that script since 2020 — and the Capital Region has never eaten better. 🍗
Brought to life by the husband-and-wife team behind Ziemann Hospitality, this downtown Schenectady gem serves up the Southern comfort food classics you crave, always with a creative, chef-driven twist that keeps every visit feeling fresh and exciting.
It’s bold, it’s warm, and it’s exactly what upstate New York didn’t know it was missing. 🌿
How The Nest Won Schenectady’s Hearts
The Nest is the heart of Ziemann Hospitality, the restaurant group founded by chef Devin Ziemann and his wife, Kaytrin, a Schenectady native who has poured her roots into every corner of the business. 🤝
The two first met while working in a local restaurant, and it didn’t take long before their shared passion for hospitality turned into something much bigger.
Their journey began in 2015 with Crave Burgers in Albany, followed by The Cuckoo’s Nest in 2017, before they set their sights on their most ambitious vision yet — a full-blown Southern comfort food restaurant right in the heart of downtown Schenectady.
The road to opening wasn’t easy. Just weeks before their planned March 2020 launch, the pandemic brought everything to a halt.
But Devin and Kaytrin didn’t give up — they refocused, regrouped, and pushed through, finally opening The Nest’s doors in October 2020 and cutting the ceremonial ribbon in June 2021 with the full Schenectady community cheering them on. 🎉
The Nest’s reputation for award-winning Southern cuisine spread quickly across the Capital Region, earning Devin accolades including Best Southern Cuisine, with glowing features in the Times Union that put The Nest firmly on the map as a must-visit Schenectady restaurant. 🏆
The community didn’t just embrace The Nest — they made it their own, packing the dining room week after week and turning it into the kind of downtown Schenectady dining destination that people drive from across the Capital Region to experience. 🌟
Food Highlights 🍽️
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Fried Chicken: A 24-hour brined, bone-in half chicken, fried golden and crispy — the undisputed star of the menu, served with your choice of two sides.🍗🔥
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Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich: Crispy fried chicken slathered in fiery Nashville hot sauce, piled high, and a must for heat lovers. 🌶️
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Shrimp & Grits: Gulf shrimp in a rich NOLA-style BBQ sauce over creamy pecorino grits, finished with pickled peppers. 🍤
- Jambalaya: A hearty, spice-forward Southern rice dish packed with bold Cajun flavor — warming, satisfying, and a genuine crowd-pleaser. 🌶️🍲
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Short Rib: Red wine braised short rib served over silky garlic whipped potato with smoked carrots — slow-cooked and fall-off-the-bone tender. 🥩
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Pork Belly Eggs Benedict: Rich, crispy pork belly layered over a classic Benedict with hollandaise. 🍳
- Hot Chicken Soul Bowl: Spicy hot chicken served over a soulful base of Southern sides — a comfort food powerhouse in bowl form. 🔥🍗
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Pecan Salmon: Pan-seared salmon with a pecan crust, soy molasses brussels sprouts, candied yams, and bourbon brown butter. 🐟🍠
Atmosphere
The Nest brings the warmth and soul of the South straight into the heart of downtown Schenectady, wrapping guests in a dining room that feels both lively and genuinely inviting from the moment they walk in. 🌿
The space carries a polished yet unpretentious energy — refined enough for a special occasion but relaxed enough for a casual weeknight dinner, with an outdoor patio that adds a breezy, laid-back dimension to the experience in warmer months.
You’ll often find the owners themselves on the floor, creating an “above and beyond” hospitality experience that elevates every visit from a simple meal into something you genuinely look forward to repeating.
It’s the rare restaurant that manages to feel like a neighborhood gathering place and a destination dining experience all at once — and that balance is exactly what keeps Schenectady locals coming back. 🏡😄
Bottom Line
The Nest is the Capital Region’s definitive Southern dining experience — award-winning, chef-driven, and rooted in genuine community love. Come for the legendary brined fried chicken, stay for the creative twists, soulful atmosphere, and owners who still personally make sure every guest leaves happy. 🍗🏆✨
Address:
512 State St, Schenectady, NY 12305
📞 (518) 672-3018
🕔 Open Tue–Fri 11:30 AM–9:30 PM | Sat 10:30 AM–2:00 PM & 5:00 PM–9:30 PM | Sun 10:30 AM–3:00 PM (closed Mon)