According to The Nerd Stash, a Reddit post in r/Albany shared screenshots of an Instagram catering announcement from Dove + Deer, an Albany restaurant that posts as doveanddeeralbany. The post showed a Fall / Winter 2026 catering menu graphic that appeared to be AI generated. The restaurant account promoted the menu for corporate events, holiday parties, weddings, and other occasions.
The original poster wrote that people said they were disappointed and did not support the use of AI. According to that account, the restaurant page then replied to individual comments. One comment on the post simply said “Ew.”
Screenshots shared in the thread show a private account named fathermedici later posting an edited version of that commenter’s profile picture, making the person look like Shrek. The reply with the edited image read, “this you?” The original poster said the restaurant later deleted the first Instagram post and reuploaded the menu graphic with comments turned off.
Screenshots of Instagram replies shared after the catering menu post
The original poster said the official restaurant account answered critics with polished replies. In one exchange, a commenter asked if the food was also AI generated and said they were not going to eat at a “fake restaurant.”
The doveanddeeralbany account replied, “Thank you for your thoughtful question! We can confirm that our food is prepared by real, carbon-based culinary professionals utilizing physical ingredients in a commercially licensed kitchen. At this time, artificial intelligence is unable to sauté Brussels sprouts. We appreciate your vigilance!”
Another commenter wrote, “Please don’t use AI.” The restaurant account answered, “Thank you for your valuable feedback! Your perspective has been received, processed, analyzed, categorized, and incorporated into our ongoing commitment to authentic community engagement. We truly value human connection!”
A commenter called the graphic disappointing and said there were many other places to eat in Albany and Troy. Others described the replies as a “masterclass in how not to respond to comments” and called the flyer “Lazy.” The restaurant account told one critic that creativity means different things to different people and that the comment had been “forwarded to the appropriate” team.
The original poster wrote that fathermedici appeared to be the owner, saying that account replied almost instantly and that the restaurant page stopped commenting once the personal account started. The poster also claimed the restaurant has a new owner who works for the Albany school district as the online learning coordinator.
In another screenshot, a commenter said they would not return. The official account replied, “We’re sorry to hear that our promotional graphic has impacted your future dining decisions. At Dove + Deer, we remain committed to providing delicious food, thoughtful cocktails, warm hospitality, and apparently deeply controversial JPEGs. We wish you all the best on your future dining journey.”
The fathermedici account then answered other users in the same comment threads. One reply told a critic, “girl. nothing in your profile photo is remotely local or supports local artisans. stand down, babe.” Another told a commenter, “So listen, cat lady. You live an hour away in a village with 11 residents, 14 cats, and a municipal government run out of a converted shed. Please return to whatever extremely important village business you were doing.”
A later exchange included a comment asking if fathermedici had “the restaurant owners meat in your mouth or something?” That account replied, “no. I live in the neighborhood, b–ch. It’s a restaurant tucked between people’s homes. Stop trashing my community and go back to your village.” Such online clashes over restaurant service can escalate, as when a manager asked a customer to leave after complaints piled up, and she posted a 1-star review while still dining.
When the other user said they were criticizing AI, fathermedici wrote, “Do it. Anyone who’d actually listen to an out-of-town troll like you trying to destroy a local neighborhood institution probably wasn’t a customer in the first place. Go back to your village, goblin.”
The Reddit thread also included older claims about the restaurant. One user wrote that the place used to be among the best in Albany before the original owners sold. Another said they once applied to work there, sent a photo, received no interview, and were told they did not fit the “aesthetic.”
Commenters on the Reddit post discussed the Instagram replies and the ownership claims. One commenter asked whether the fathermedici account belonged to the owner. The original poster replied, “It’s definitely the owner. He was replying to everyone very fast (almost instantly after they commented) and the restaurant itself only stopped commenting when this account started.”
Another user wrote, “If it’s still the owners that established it with the current name, they are super pompus douchbags. I think the wife had money from a family business of mail marketing spam, physical junk mail. The restaurant probably doesn’t need to be profitable.”
The original poster answered that it was a new owner “some guy who funnily enough also works for the Albany school district as the online learning coordinator! I wonder if they know about his online habits.”
One commenter said, “This place used to be the best in Albany, then the original owners sold and now it’s like two dogs in a trench coat masquerading as a high quality restaurant.”
Another wrote, “With the cost of eating out I don’t understand why anyone would ever patronize any establishment that acts straight up childish. Let em all fail, F–k em.”
A user posting as HudsonDove wrote, “I worked with a bartender who also worked at D&D year 1. They needed a new server so my coworker suggested me. My application you ask? I picture of myself. The interview you ask? None, the owner replied I didn’t fit their aesthetic.”
Published: Sep 15, 2026 09:15 am