End Cut is truly the definition of the word gem. A hidden gem and a precious gem. End Cut doesn't have a website and it doesn't show up on Yelp right away, so I feel quite lucky to have experienced its splendor in my quick trip to New Paltz. What's not to love about this spot? The staff (chef included) is gracious and personable, the food is elegant and wildly tasty, and you really feel like you're getting a special treat when you dine here. When I feel that a place goes above and beyond, five stars is a logical conclusion. And so it was here.
I had a good feeling about End Cut a number of hours before walking through its doors. We were in town for lunch and decided to look at some menus before deciding on a restaurant for dinner. Wandering down Church Street, I found myself face to face with End Cut. With it's unassuming exterior, I wasn't sure what to think. But we had heard from our B&B host that End Cut was worth investigating. Long story short, we ended up briefly meeting the chef (who's a personable and clearly talented dude), who, after hearing that we were sent by our host, promised to save us a table at 8pm. And so it was done (look at that parallel structure!).
Though we were a little late, the chef followed through on his offer. We were seated at the one spacious booth right next to the kitchen and got to soak in all of the splendor of the restaurant. There's nothing particularly about the interior here, but it sure is cozy. We felt right at home immediately, which was partially due to our fantastic server (and the organization of the dining service in general).
This feels like more of a story than a review, but it was just that kind of experience. Now that I have your attention: *cash only*!
Upon sitting down, we were given a small cup of deluxe nuts coated in some sort of sugary goodness. Essentially crack cocaine in food form. After this pleasant surprise, I was ready to conquer a serious meal. But first, drinks! NOTE: wine and beer ONLY here. But they've got a nice selection of wines and a handful of top-notch Belgian beer (which is my favorite, so I wasn't complaining in the slightest). Bottles of wine are $25! Pretty good deal, especially compared to what you'd find in NYC.
When we were ready to order, our waiter asked what order we wanted our dishes in (we were sharing everything). I go out to eat quite a lot and I almost *never* get asked that, which is a shame. A lot of places just bring things out as they come, but adding this personal touch here was really special. It made the experience here feel more like ours to bask in. Speaking of things that are special, don't decide on your order until you here what the special offerings are that night. End Cut essentially has a whole other menu *just* of specials, and though we only ordered one of those, they all sounded phenomenal.
After our little munchies, we were served bread, but with a twist: along with your usual olive oil, you'll receive a pad of ricotta with honey, which was just so dreamy. Go for it. The rest, below:
Wild Mushroom Cakes w/ Avocado Puree and Roasted Red Pepper Coulis: A
I mean, this is my ideal dish. Mushrooms and avocado are two of my favorite things, and this did not disappoint. Cute preparation, hearty flavors but still pretty healthy--especially as far as cakes goes! Perfect for sharing and a nice option if you don't want to overdo it on meat. Oddly enough, last time I ordered a mushroom dish at an Italian restaurant, it featured red pepper coulis. Despite me not being a huge fan of peppers, the earthy flavor profile really works.
Broccoli Rabe and Fresh Mozzarella-stuffed Meatballs: A+
How in the world could these be bad? Stuffing yummy things inside more yummy things is all the rage these days, and for good reason. What could be better than fresh meatballs at an Italian joint? Fresh meatballs that, when broken into, revel extra happiness. A must-order in my book.
Special Salad (Pear/Goat Cheese/Arugula/Macadamia Nuts: A
A winning combination I've seen hundreds of times. Sometimes going for the tried-and-true option is smart, not boring. It was light and fresh, which nicely balanced out the rest of our appetizer selection, which was a bit heavier (relatively).
*Pause for cute amuse bouche: eensy weensy serving of grapefruit sorbet in an eensy weensy cup*
Duck in some heavenly sauce: A++
Impeccable. I don't know what else to say. The duck was cooked perfectly and the sweet, rich sauce was utterly divine. Truly a special dish. Very pleased that we had a palette cleanser between our first three dishes and this baby
And as if our experience here couldn't get any better, our check came with a miniature platter filled with white, milk and dark chocolate. The perfect way to end an evening that was all about hospitality, comfort, quality food, and thoughtful service. 1000000% worth the headache of taking cash out beforehand! read more