This was our fourth visit to Eliza, and it continues to improve. The radicchio salad was an impressive starter - more than enough for two to share, with an interesting peanut sauce that had a little zip to it. We also shared the roasted cauliflower, a nice counterpoint to the salad. For mains, my partner had the steelhead trout, over Swiss chard and rice grits - it had a nice pink tone and was very flavorful. I had the short rib massaman, which was fantastic. Delicious shreds of spare rib in a spicy peanut sauce, served over papparadelle - wow, this was great. It reminds me of a ragu I've had at Portale in NYC, but with a strong Thai inflection. It's my favorite dish yet at Eliza. This is a bit of a journey for us, but always worth it. I'm really looking forward to where the Eliza team goes next with their menu. read more

Great food and attentive service! We sat by the side so it was a little cramped but the food made up for it! We got the grilled squid salad, short rib massaman, and steelhead trout. The squid was fine, but there was too much puffed rice which was hard and crunchy in the salad. On the other hand, short rib and trout had great flavor, infusing Thai with European/American staples. Both the short rib and trout were tender, and I'd order them again! read more

Eliza - Grilled squid salad - Bars Near Me - Kingston, New York

See all

Great service! Diverse and interesting menu. Food was executed very well. Definitely one of my new favorites.

My husband and I ate here on a Thursday night and it was a wonderful experience. The bread and butter was phenomenal and so was the grilled squid salad appetizer. I'd say I wasn't as impressed by the half roasted chicken as it wasn't as flavorful as I would've hoped. The garlic jus they paired it with was also lacking in depth of flavor and the portion was super small compared to the size of the chicken. But the service and warm ambience were phenomenal. It's a solid place for a good meal. Looking forward to returning. read more

Eliza - Outside - Bars Near Me - Kingston, New York

We went to the Sunday night dinner and they had a lot of special Thai options. They were delicious. We had the cabbage... That's the one that stood out the most. I'm vegetarian so we had the tofu my friend didn't order meat because we split everything. It was really delicious. The thing that stood out the most to me was the cabbage with a cashew cream sauce. read more

See all

Had a delightful meal here our first night in Kingston. Good selection of seafood and a solid wine list. Sat at the bar and managed to eat without a reservation but it's a tiny spot and got crowded. read more

Eliza's outside look is the perfect mix of retro and colorful sending out a 70s diner feel with the bold dark green plexiglass-type panels, café-style curtains and the Eliza sign in neon lighting you can spot like a block away. The style immediately drew my husband in. The inside design is warm, the dimly lit glow surrounds the space for a romantic dinner or just pure hangout fun. Large L bar greets you, followed by the (open?) kitchen and dining room on right. Our drinks were creative and seriously potent. Our tin can Cantabrian anchovies had the perfect blend of brininess+oil. So much so, we used the crusty bread to sop up the few drops of that brine mixture. The paper-thin fennel and orange wedges without the pith and membrane was a tasty bed for our grilled octopus. Less time on the grill was needed. Hubs thoroughly enjoyed his Mediterranean+ Turkish-spiced 1/2 roast chicken to the point where he told me "I'm sorry- but I'm picking up this chicken'" And I, was digging my steelhead trout. The service is really good in a weird sort of way. What do I mean by that? I mean... it is good and everyone is really pleasant- but they will swiftly pass your table without so much as eye contact or "do you need anything?" But don't get me wrong- it's like a hot date where things just take a moment to warm up. I used to think that laid-back meant slow. But when things are good, I guess they're worth waiting for. read more

See all

A small but eclectic menu. Recommend the short ribs massaman. We were a party of four, and as appetizers, we split two excellent salads: the radicchio and seeds, shoots & leaves. Their homemade bread course was also a hit. The malted chocolate mousse and the Thai tea blondie sundae were both superb (Where else can you find ginger ice cream?). Service was friendly and attentive. This restaurant was a cozy unexpected surprise. read more

Great dinner! We shared the shoots and greens salad and the half chicken. Quality ingredients abound!

One of my favorite restaurants in all of NY, not just Kingston!! Delicious food, kind staff, and a beautiful atmosphere.

Memorably mediocre. Solid ambiance despite the space's air of downtown exclusivity. Service tried their best by seating us at the bar but acted as though they had solved a foreign affairs crisis. Food was pretty underwhelming. The arugula & fennel salad (delish) and grilled octopus (just fine) were a great start but the fish & chips (mid), drunken tagliatelle ("interesting..."), rigatoni (basic), and seared steelhead (actually pretty fab) left us wanting more from the experience. The roasted mushrooms made for a decent if uneventful side. Arranged a birthday surprise dessert with the staff with the moment ruined by a bartender asking the birthday girl when she was ready for her dessert. *heavy sigh* they tried I guess. read more

Eliza - Fish & Chips - Bars Near Me - Kingston, New York

After a reservation error on their part, which they rectified thankfully. The service was lovely and the overall space was nice. Although busy we were not rushed and were able to enjoy our beverages and food. The food was tasty for the most part. Could stand to add some specials to a relatively basic but delicious menu. read more

BF and I had an absolutely delicious and appropriately portioned dinner at Eliza. Proceeded to fall asleep for four hours afterwards. Did they cast a spell on us? Does anyone know if there is magic in the food?? read more

The food was way over seasoned. The server forgot one of the dishes we ordered as well. It was so dark that we had to use our phone flashlights to see. It was also very loud and hard to converse. I did tell our server that I didn't like the food and she took two items off the bill. Overall would not go back or recommend. read more

The best meal I've had all year. Just stellar from every angle -- the food, the drinks, the service, the decor, the vibe -- everything! We had an exceptionally fussy table (don't blame me) but the staff at Eliza did not miss a beat and provided a seamless experience throughout. That alone was impressive. The fresh mackerel was superb. Don't overlook their dessert menu either. The only hiccup was that our steak needed to be cooked more. Medium rare is not a good match for flank steak. (I think it was flank.) Luckily we had an expert at our table who recognized this and sent it back. read more

This place is amazing. Been there now about a half dozen times, maybe more. Had my 50th birthday dinner there. Amazing food, great staff, fantastic vibe. What an awesome addition to the Kingston food scene. Highly recommended. read more

I want to champion a fine dining establishment in midtown Kingston, but I don't recommend this one foodwise. My hubby and I ordered several apps and mains - it was the first time my husband and I dined there. He wasn't thrilled about his pasta with mushrooms, the pasta was overcooked and there were random Thai flavors. When I took a bite, all I could taste was salt and gluey pasta. We sent it back to the kitchen and they were nice enough to comp us after coming to the same conclusion. The service was friendly and the renovation of the space lovely. But that pasta dish lives rent free in my head... :( read more

First time here and it Eliza did not disappoint. Outstanding food & excellent service all around. I loved the retro decor. They clearly maintained the classic early 20th Century vibe of the space. Our server was kind & accommodating. Even the hostess was fantastic. I will definitely be back. read more

A spot I would dream of having in my neighborhood. Makes me feel like coming home where expectations food and service wise are the norm (yes I know how that sounds). The kind of warm, personable and knowledgeable team welcome you into a cozy ambiance, serve you house made fresh bread and cured meats and offer fun and unique drinks. This was also my kind of menu. Cozy, just like the interior and also a bit nostalgic. I had the rigatoni alla vodka - divine. I ordered a nice little green salad with a honey mustard vinaigrette on the side. Delicious. We ate so slowly because not one thing was off. Even the other diners seemed just as relaxed and it was a vibe. I do have a newfound appreciation for those running successful restaurants. My hats off to the staff there for bringing all of the right things together. We can't wait to come back. read more

Went in on a Saturday and sat at the bar. This restaurant is typically booked, so unless you have a reservation, be prepared to sit at the bar. The drinks are reasonably priced and the food is excellent. Great vibe as well. read more

Great drinks and resonable wine list (small but some nice bottles you don't see all the time). Food is solid. Rice cakes were a miss- gloppy and salty. If you sit in the back, you listen to the back door slam all night. Easy to fix I would think. Vibe is excellent and staff professional while informal. Will def go back. Blueberry dessert was yummy. read more

Killer menu, executed super well. Have not had a single forgettable dish yet. Cocktails are also wonderful. But the real star is the service. Warm, kind, and caring. This place is a new gem in the neighborhood. read more

My West Coast visiting family was tired and greens-starved after a long drive from Montreal, where the food is great but heavy. Found Eliza on Yelp and it was awesome - Hudson Valley freshness at its best while still having that casual upstate vibe. An arugula and fennel salad with mackerel was amazing as were grilled pole beans and the savory half chicken. Super friendly and attentive staff. Check em out! read more

Back in July 2024, we were trying restaurants in Kingston to see where we wanted to have our rehearsal dinner in November. After our meal at Eliza, we knew that was the place for us. The meal was phenomenal, as was the service (Shout out Ruby!), and the space was gorgeous. We reached out in August to inquire about having a small rehearsal dinner there, and Heather was phenomenal to work with. We collaborated on a seasonal menu, including a few favorites such as the smoky eggplant dip, stracciatella with lemon, and the spicy rigatoni. Our families still talk about the food months later (especially the homemade seeded crackers). We felt so taken care of before and during our event. They even printed up custom menus for us that we took as a keepsake. Eliza is a Kingston gem! read more

Great ambiance - bustling but friendly and warm. Food and cocktails were lovely - good wine selection. Bar was a great place to hangout. Busy - make a res if you can. read more

Second visit. No reservation. So we got to sit at the bar. Mid week and the place was buzzing. So I would say mostly locals. Great service all around. The food and drinks were a total joy. Love the detail of the place. For sure a much younger crowd, but it's very nice to see this part of the revitalization of Kingston. A must. The kitchen delivers. Looking forward to our next visit. Kingston has some very nice places to get a great meal or drink. read more

Great atmosphere and delicious food at reasonable prices. Everyone was beyond helpful, and the vibe was great. Best of luck, we're sure you'll succeed!! read more

Eliza is such an iconic eating establishment in the downtown Kingston area. When you dine here it is truly an experience, not just a meal. The food is phenomenal, service is personal and exceptional and the ambiance is warm and cozy. Every aspect of this bistro has been carefully and lovingly thought through. You will feel like you have stepped into a time capsule of an era long gone. Prepare to be impressed and to return again and again! read more

Eliza - Eliza Bistro Kingston NY - Bars Near Me - Kingston, New York

My friend told me this was her new favorite place in Kingston so we went to check it out and it did not disappoint. Service was professional and friendly. The atmosphere is thoughtful but not too trendy to be distracting. Good attention to detail (nice forks) but not too fussy (no white table cloths). The bar looked like a lot of fun. We sat in the rear room and there were 3 other tables seated even though we went at 4:30. Unfortunately the music was a notch too loud and just not a good match for the space (never really like a screeching saxophone while eating). There is a great wine and cocktail list. I had the trout without the bacon and while the bacon. The bacon wasn't substituted with anything so the plate looked a bit empty, but the red peas and farro were rich enough to make this a filling meal. The fish and chips were ample, fluffy, and well cooked (maybe a little too well on the chips?). We ordered the pavlova, which was a mistake. Who orders pavlova? The meringue hurt my teeth and the kirsh cream was a bit too strong. While it was our mistake to order this because it was probably perfect for people who like pavlova, our server very kindly took it away and brought us the olive oil cake, which was very nice. I should have ordered a coffee with it. So that might sound like a mixed review but I highly recommend this place and will definitely return. My only regret is that in hindsight I did my math wrong and should have left another dollar to my server. Sorry! Next time. read more