I was pleasantly surprised by my experience at Gigi's during a family trip to the Hudson Valley…read more The aggregated 3.5 star rating (at the time we visited) had me thinking "it's probably fine" but didn't expect much more. I got more! We were in the back room with a large 2 family party and everyone had a good experience. The staff was attentive and took great care of us. The star of the show for me was the Bianca "Skizza" - Skizzas are what they call their pizza-like experience....super thin dough, not quite NYC style in its taste and texture, but at least as thin with a unique overall texture and flavor to it. The kind of taste that sticks with you and makes you wonder "when can I have that again." I tend to get margherita or a basic tomato cheese situation to suss out any place offering pizza of any kind, but strayed from my comfort level and went for the Bianca which was truly a delicious experience. Gigi Rosemary Fig Jam, Pear, Arugula, Goat Cheese, Mozzarella, Truffle Oil created a super delicious and crave worthy experience. I finished the whole pie by myself with no issues. (Okay, maybe my wife had a slice, it's hard to remember...I just remember every bite being delicious.) There are other vegetarian options including pastas and a lentil soup. Plus a delicious looking "Barbina" salad, and the menu is helpfully labeled with which items are vegetarian. There was something for everyone at Gigi's and everyone in our 16 member+ party was happy to have eaten there.

My husband and I stopped by on a whim. It was beautiful out so we dined outside. I had the…read moreminestrone soup and we shared a margarita skizza. My husband had a shrimp dish and loved it! For dessert I had the lemon cake and he had the almond cake. All dishes were made with high quality ingredients and we could definitely tell. Our waiter was great and we look forward to returning very soon!

VEGAN CHILI was good, reasonable price. Nice place, quiet when I was there, good service, no…read morestress. Easy street parking.

Whether Stone Soup is inspired by the well-known children's book or not, this small, super local…read morerestaurant+café on Broadway in Kingston, NY uses the best produce+ingredients+even salmon around. Country-chic style, cozy+dim feel and the black and white in-your-face white checkerboard floor make up the inside design. The only thing missing on an unseasonably cool August summer was a crackling log fire. Their menu, is the main catch here. The menu changes often(?) depending on what's in season. Go for the prepped veggies+proteins or order from the menu like I did. Their 'Specials' menu lists items you can tweak and their regular menu offers fixed items. I ordered from both. Hubs enjoyed the grilled chicken panini with Swiss+raw onions and mayo I picked for him. My mixed green salad with feta+walnuts+apples+cranberries was great on its own- but I added a grilled salmon piece for added protein. Purely wholesome. I hesitated using their provided balsamic 'dressing' for fear it might include any kind of mustard- but that sucker was a silky balsamic emulsion that made my entire salad come together- even drizzled it on my salmon. And the soup in all this? Hubs liked the meat chili and I thoroughly enjoyed my Vegan Chili. If you're having your meal here, be ready for the laid-back mood and pleasant service from Deb.

Stopping by early on a Sunday evening, I was a little wary that there was no one else inside. But…read morethe reviews seemed strong enough that I thought it should be all right, and it was absolutely the right call. We had a cucumber-melon gazpacho and salmon with grilled vegetables, and everything was absolutely delectable. The space was airy and inviting, with a nod to the prewar architecture and a contemporary feel. The server was pleasant and attentive, which is always appreciated. By the time we left, the restaurant was plenty busy, and I can see why! Can't wait to stop by again!

Delicious food, quick service, and beautiful spot for a satiating but not too heavy feeling lunch!…read moreWe stopped in while walking around Kingston and had no expectations other than to grab a quick bite and continue exploring. We were met with a lovely server that managed to both bartend and take care of 3-4 tables while we were there, all friendly and helpful and with a smile! Our food was tasty and even the fries (something I rarely order and only like beer-battered typically) were perfectly crispy and clearly cooked in fresh oil. Our server also indulged us with making an iced coffee with syrup despite it not being a menu choice and having to go on a treasure hunt for caramel syrup. Great experience and a reliable spot to grab a good meal.

This place is terrible and you shouldn't go here. The ambience is lame and food is under seasoned…read more Service is laughable at best. OK the truth is it's a small diner and if word gets out how awesome it is getting a table will be difficult. Send the city folks to Phoenicia diner and let the locals keep holding this gem close to the chest.

I had the corn beef hash. The hash was so mushy couldn't taste the potatoes or corned beef. Eggs…read morewere overcooked. Others said their pancakes were real good. No real syrup available to purchase. Very nice staff and it was very clean.

Friends and I have had numerous meals here and each one has been delightful. The mezze platter is…read moreto die for, as is the bread and butter--fabulous small loaves and European style butter--to start. Every pasta dish, and we have tried them all as there are six of us, has been perfectly prepared and sauced. The steak and the chicken dishes are always delicious and the discussion every time is "do I order what I got last time--it was SO good--or do I branch out?" The desserts are sublime, by the way. We usually get four and share. Great service, beautiful surroundings, best in Rhinebeck!

Little Goat How do you cap off a magical month of Mozart at…read moreBard College at Annandale-on-Hudson? By heading to the charming Little Goat at 6380 Mill Street in Rhinebeck, NY! We have been meaning to try it since our neighbors raved about their Thanksgiving meal there last year. We entered and were immediately greeted by a basket of baguettes from Sparrowbush of Hudson at the counter. The browned crust reminded of us of our holy grail of bread from Balthazar that a guest had brought to our home 30 years ago. We've been unable to find a comparable baguette until we found one at the recently shuttered Fletcher & Lu's. We'd make monthly pilgrimages to stock up, and were saddened when our bread fix was no longer available. We snapped one up to test it out (had it for breakfast and it's glorious!) The interior is painted a warm butter yellow, the shelves house white ironstone pitchers, and baskets of wildflowers abound. Simple, but homey, yet at the same time elegant. The table settings are understated, and much like those I grew up with my grandmere from the southwest of France, who settled in the Napa Valley. My cousin Thérèse runs a restaurant in Beauregard in the Lot department that reminds me greatly of the Little Goat. We were in good hands with our server, Lennon (yes, named after THAT Lennon!) She was attentive, animated and very charming. We started with a Churchtown Dairy (Hudson) Copperwaite, local honeycomb with spelt bread appetizer that was on point. For our wine we had 4 glasses of Gamay, Coeur de la Reine, Loire, France 2023 (nice and plummy, but recommend getting a bottle rather than by the glass for a better value!) I had the Roasted Petite Filet, with Smoked Pepper Butter, Tallow-Fried Onions and Bernaise on the side. Tender, flavorful, and a generous portion that was enough for another meal. With that I had the barbecue-spiced crispy potatoes, a perfect combination. My husband had the Rigatoni Pork Ragu, Sourdough Soffrito dusted with Parmigiano. (Disclaimer: after 50 years together, if this dish is on the menu, I know he will order it. He did...and loved it, ranking it among the best he's ever had ), pairing it with Braised Romano Beans, Sofrito, and Smoked Pecorino. For dessert, we "shared" (ok, he had one bite and I devoured the rest) the Chocolate Budino,* Creme Fraiche, Oats dusted with Fleur and topped with a crisp Tuile. * A budino is what you get if a pot de crème hooked up with crème brûlée for a steamy night and had a baby! What is so charming about this restaurant is that it is so family-friendly. Several tables had babies and toddlers galore and it gave the room a welcome liveliness. Definitely not stuffy, and a welcome relief from snooty dining establishments. Kudos to Erin Winters and Taavo Somer for bringing such an extraordinary dining experience to my beloved Hudson Valley. You excel at what you do. And Five Toques to Chef Paragas...you slay!

Had a lovely Saturday night dinner here! The food was spectacular - truly fresh ingredients and…read morehigh quality, worth every cent. We had the squash bread with apple jam and the bone marrow + steak tartare as starters. Both were so good, especially the steak tartare that just tasted so clean and fresh, pairing nicely with the richness of the bone marrow. It came with these little potato slices that were scooped out to provide a perfect vehicle for the marrow/tartare. My partner had the carrot tart tartin, which he loved, and my scallops with morel mushrooms were perfectly cooked, with the hazelnuts providing such a nice texture. He enjoyed his phony negroni (they also had other NA options, including other mocktails, an NA beer, and an NA Riesling) and I really liked my Good Shepherd cocktail, their unique take on a dirty martini. We were too full for dessert, unfortunately. The service was great - attentive and friendly, but it felt like we were able to take our time and enjoy ourselves without feeling rushed, even though the place was busy. It is definitely on the pricier side and I would recommend reservations as the place was pretty full, but I would absolutely recommend this spot for a delicious, quality meal in Rhinebeck!

I love this place! It's entirely gluten free with surprisingly good food! I'm obsessed with their…read moresquash bread and the duck for 2!

b.overly_delicious @provisionscatskills Boiceville, NY:…read moreSandwiches from Provisions are totally underrated. Served on house made focaccia, with all the ingredients made from scratch in house. They aren't talked about enough and fly under the radar. House roast beef with horseradish roasted beet cream or house roasted chicken with home made buffalo sauce and homemade blue cheese. My favorite name of any sandwich ever- Brie Balling (Brie, Apple, cran). Also Emily and Anthony are great people who do so much for the community. 10% off with VIP Card www.ulstereateriesunfiltered.com @above_weddings #boiceville #provisions #sandwiches #brie #roastbeef #buffalo #focassiabread #hveats #hvfoodies #eater #nyfoodie #hudsonvalley #catskills #onteora #ulstereateriesunfiltered

Some of the best sandwiches I have ever had. Holy Macaroni, I can't wait to go back. I plan on…read moretrying every sandwich on the menu.

Ciao Bella -- A Special Occasion Worth the Occasion…read more We came for our wedding anniversary, arriving early on a Friday around 5pm. Ciao Bella is New Paltz's upscale Italian, and at that hour the restaurant was quiet and sun-drenched, light streaming through generous windows into a space that manages to feel both airy and elegant. I imagine it transforms into something darker and more intimate as evening settles in, but the brightness suited us just fine. Service was attentive and friendly throughout. No complaints, just not the kind of thing you leave talking about. The food, though, is worth talking about. A smoked salmon burrata appetizer was a genuinely lovely combination, and the golden beet salad was bright and well-composed. Entrees showed real care, seasoned and portioned thoughtfully rather than the aggressive abundance that passes for generosity at lesser places. The pistachio ricotta cake for dessert was the highlight: creative, not too sweet, and exactly the right size to split. Good value for what it is. Ciao Bella is the right answer for a special dinner in New Paltz, elevated without being stiff about it. Not an everyday spot, but exactly the right one when the occasion calls for it.

Perfect, that's all there is to say. The restaurant is an old train station which by itself is…read morepretty cool. They cleaned it up beautifully and the place is light and pretty. The food was ah-mazing! Every dish on the table was spectacular. Waitstaff was attentive and knowledgeable. Music was at the perfect volume, just enough to hear without interfering with conversation. Meal wasn't as pricey as some of the other places we tried on this trip to New Paltz, definitely worth the money.