A very nice little place tucked in on a side street in old Poughkeepsie. Good food, but a bit pricey and portions were small. The menu is eclectic and is divided into appetizers, small plates and entrees. We walked in on a Thursday night with a party of 6 at 7:30 and were seated right away. Four of us ordered two small plates and two ordered entrees. The small plates were very good but indeed small. It wasn't enough for a meal. The entrees, chicken pot pies were small and looked more like the small plates. While they were good, neither of the diners in our party that ordered them were full. I had the black bean soup and grilled octopus. The soup was excellent. The one very small Octopus leg for $17 was a bit over cooked. $37 for a $10 bottle of Malbec... we were disappointed. Service was good. We selected Essie's based on Yelp reviews, but in my opinion, this place is overrated. read more

Excellent little place. Cozy atmosphere, tasty food, insanely good home made Bloody Mary.

Eating Happy Birthday dinner with my guys. This has to be the best meal I have ever had. My guys concur. We will definitely be back!

First, congratulations to the Walker Family. Essie's is an absolute hit. The food, drinks and ambiance are fantastic. My family and I enjoyed several dishes: Monkfish, Chicken & Dumplings to name but a few are simply delicious!! The hospitality is second to none, Chef Walker will personally come out and talk with the customer to make sure their experience is good!! I highly recommend Essie's to people that truly enjoy satisfying their taste buds!! read more

Essie's Restaurant - New American Near Me - Poughkeepsie, New York

3 of us had dinner last night. Every dish was excellent. Entree portions a little small so share apps. I had the whole fish dish (special) and had to work through some bones, but so good. Steak dish also great. Side veggie grill with entree was delicious. Lot of flavor in these dishes. I recommend trying something you wouldn't normally order, you will prob be surprised. read more

Essie's Restaurant - Whole fish with side veggie grill - New American Near Me - Poughkeepsie, New York

What a wonderful surprise! We wandered by this adorable little place and had an amazing lunch. Cocktails were superb and the food was so interesting. You can tell the owner puts a lot of love into this place! read more

Experienced a Sunday brunch. Cozy environment except for the draft when the front door opens. Food was exceptional though you may wait for it a little. Believe me it's worth the wait. I would definitely recommend giving this place a try. read more

In town from Michigan, relatives brought us. Fantastic waitress,Destiny. Perhaps the best flavor I've ever had in a restaurant!! I had the chicken, OMG!! The squash soup was wonderful Deserts were superb Highly recommend read more

I'm not sure how this place is only 2 $$. My wife came here last weekend- average dinner per person is $30-$35. Given the neighborhood, this seemed pretty high. 1 salad, 2 entrees and 1 bottle of sparkling water came out to $85. The food was very average and extra salty. Salad was salty!! Fish of the day Cod was salty. Service was very good though. The decor was nice, but I would not recommend coming here given the average food and above average price. read more

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The food was tasty but overpriced for what it was. We had an order of the regular waffle and an order of the red velvet waffle and they tasted the same despite looking different. The look alone wasn't worth the additional cost. For a two person brunch we were in the restaurant for two hours, most of the time was spent waiting for our food. Considering there were only 3-4 other tables this seemed ridiculous. I don't intend on going back or recommending them to others. read more

Just enjoyed a taste of Chef Brandon Walker's salad at the Putnam County wine and food fest where he made a delicious salad. I have not been to his restaurant yet but I am definitely going after sampling his dish. Loved it. read more

Essie's Restaurant - Chef Brandon Walker cooking at the Putnam County wine and food fest - New American Near Me - Poughkeepsie, New York

A solid 3.5 for presentation and a warm staff. Stopped into Essies on the way back to NYC and was greeted by a friendly staff. I especially appreciate a venue that asks their guests about allergy restrictions before ordering items off the menu. We were seated right away and placed our orders for brunch which we were excited to try given that our favorite kind of food is comfort food. The food took quite a while to be served after placing our orders and although the menu was comfort food such as chicken and waffles, steak and eggs, shrimp and grits etc.. One order was the chicken and waffles. The waffles came out with a sort of canned peach-like topping with enough moisture to make the waffles soggy along with the smallest serving of syrup I've ever experienced in my entire life. There is no exaggeration when I say it was about a serving the size of a quarter for 2 waffles. And while I truly appreciated that they asked about allergy restrictions and while I am not allergic to peaches, I hate peaches and it did not state on the menu that peaches came with the chicken and waffles. Add a now soggy peach flavored waffle to the mix and it makes for less than appetizing. My suggestion is to display the fruits off to the side. We also ordered the steak and eggs to which we are asked how we'd like our steak but not the eggs. Please note that the steak are thin and already sliced and the eggs are served sunny side up. Again, not listed on the menu that the eggs were to be served half raw as not everyone can stomach runny eggs. read more

Everything was on point. Octopus was the highlight - delicious! Steak was perfectly cooked. Winelist was solid. And epic dessert with a nice cognac topped it off. Friendly staff, with a personal greeting from the chef- can hardly complain! Five stars from me! read more

Over the top...Chef Walker hits it out of the park with his authentic offerings of Pork Lardons, Flatiron Steak, and Clams & Mussels. The herbs and spices rocket great food to the outer limits of your sensory abilities. Only a fool skips this place. read more

This restaurant is a hidden gem of Poughkeepsie. The atmosphere is warm and cozy and the server very friendly and accommodating. The plantains were very spicy with excellent flavor. The red snapper was seasoned and cooked to perfection! I like the fact they ask if you have any food allergies before you order. You don't want to miss this wonderful restaurant! read more

First time, I heard that a refill of regular coffee is extra charge. First time and last time. The food did not wow me for the prices either. Customer service needs to be more friendly. read more

Stopped in on a whim, one word EXCELLENT !!! Ok maybe two words DELICiOUS !!! Had the flat iron steak and a striped bass special would highly recommend this restaurant nice place !! read more

Essie's Restaurant - The flat iron steak and the striped bass special a lot of love put into the food will definitely be back ! - New American Near Me - Poughkeepsie, New York

A new favorite in the city of Poughkeepsie! Our waiter, Carlos, was wonderful and answered any and all questions we possibly could have had. He was very knowledgable and gave good recommendations. I had the Grit Croquettes to start, which combined with the the garlic aioli, were the tastiest small, crunchy starter. For my main course I had the West African Pork Shoulder, which had a little smoky kick to it. Very flavorful and I would definitely order it again. My aunts split the local aged ribeye and the toast of the day which I tried a few bites of and the steak was cooked perfectly, and the flavor combo of the cheeses, tomatoes, and radishes on the toast was divine. The only thing that didn't totally send us was the dessert. I split the cheesecake, which was more of an Italian style cheesecake that was deconstructed. The flavor just wasn't there for me. If I was going to do dessert again I'd probably just get the sorbet (otherwise go next door to La Deliziosa for Italian ice!) read more

HH (Handsome Hubby) and I went out on 2/15 for a late Valentine's dinner at Essie's and we are SO glad we did. Not only was the food wonderful, but Chef Brandon came out to talk to us after and we had a wonderful conversation about the food, the restaurant and why there are no great steakhouses in the Mid-Hudson valley. But let's get detailed here: I have to say, the best dish of the night was the first - the rib appetizer! I could have eaten a whole plate of these tender, mouth watering beauties. Crisp crust, sweet, with a bit of heat and meat falling off the bones. DO NOT MISS THIS DISH! Second, HH had a Ceasar salad, but asked for chef to eliminate the kale (he is not a fan of kale). Chef accomodated and sent a nice big salad with enough for two. I had the pumpkin soup which I enjoyed, but was not bowled over by. It was a little bland. Main dish was the special, duck breast, for me. It was masterfully done with a crispy skin and tender meat placed on a bed of (I think) sweet potato puree with red cabbage on a wonderful sauce. The veggies under the duck were just as great as the meat. HH had the goat bolognese which was a wonderful surprise of curry flavors, heat and the surprising sweet of dried apricots every couple of bites. He LOVED it. For dessert, we shared the chocolate ganache, because I have to have chocolate on valentine's day. It was creamy and chocolaty and delicious. Our server did a great job explaining the menu and making recommendations (the ribs!). She even helped my hubby find a beer he liked (something from Sloop) by bringing him several tastes to try. We will definitely be back! read more

We were looking for a restaurant in yelp and Essie's jumped out . We read the reviews and were sure that we would enjoy our dining experience . We were not disappointed . From the service to our meal perfect. A local small place but a wonderful dinner. read more

Fabulous! My husband and I checked Essie's out for our 20th anniversary. They have a limited menu due to Covid but we had a great meal nonetheless. The cocktails were great, too! And the chef and staff were very friendly and helpful. We'll be back. read more

When the staff treats you well from start to finish, it is an experience you can't express but just let the moment happen. Visiting this area and you wonder what to do. Gems like this restaurant are hard to come by and it's definitely worth the experience. Chef Brandon Walker offers a menu with unique a flavors from start to finish. It was great to meet him and express the happiness his meal had an impact on my weekend here. The grits are worth trying. read more

Perfect ambiance: small, cozy, intimate, modern with old architecture details. Service: detail oriented front of house service, still room for improvement but very welcoming, helpful and attentive. Food: Flavors are just so perfectly on point. The "nibbles" section of their menu are teasing appetizers that make you want to order another round. Pork lardons & crispy creamy grits.. I'll be dreaming of you tonight. Nothing but raving reviews from my party of six. Three of us had the grouper that was the market fish for the evening and we all licked our plates clean. Just stop reading all of these amazing reviews and go support a chef who deserves nothing but success! read more

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Hands down my favorite spot in Poughkeepsie. Chef Brandon puts so much love and care into every dish. Everything on the menu is made from scratch and delicious. This place has the best flavors beating so many popular places in Poughkeepsie like Crew and Millhouse. The vibe is personal and respectful. There is clearly a family history behind every dish. Hailing from Brooklyn, this is my go to dining experience in Poughkeepsie. Brunch is incredible. Dinner is superb. Don't overlook this place. Everything served is handled with care and spot on delicious. read more

My wife and I ate here on the night of their grand opening. We didn't know this beforehand, otherwise we would have waited to try it out. Ordinarily I would expect some kinks in food and service on a grand opening night. Instead we enjoyed one of the best meals we've had in the Hudson Valley. Appetizers, main courses and desserts were all superb. Highly recommend the flat iron and chicken & dumplings. Service wasn't perfect but the atmosphere and food were good enough to make it 5 stars. read more

Had a wonderful meal here. We ordered the duck and scallops from the Chef's special menu. Thank God I suggested to my husband that we share the two plates because the food was amazing. The chef adds a subtle but nice Caribbean touch to his dishes. The cocktails were also wonderful. Will be back as a regular... read more

We had to wait one and a half hours for our food. Even then they forgot my side dish (but added it to the bill!). The food was good - which is why I didn't give it one star. If you have all day to spare then visit. read more

I have to say that the food was innovative; however, the service was not good and I felt a huge inconvenience the entire time. Our waitress, was unfriendly and uninviting. We left feeling uncomfortable. Unfortunately, I can not recommend this establishment to visiting colleagues and friends. Customer service really needs to be revamped in order to succeed - people want to feel a connection to the establishment. I was hoping this could be a place that would change the city and our dining reputation. Hope things change! read more

I had really high hopes for this place. My friend who's a native of the area suggested going to a different place for brunch but I suggested going to this because of the reviews. I was really disappointed. Upon arrival for our reservation, we were seated promptly. We had our menus and decided what to order, took about 20ish minutes for the waiter to take down our orders, which was fine, as we typically take a longer time anyway. The appetizer, the croquette was not bad. It had an interesting texture and the sauce was decent. The wait time for that was over another 20 mins though. Having finished the appetizer, we sat around chatting for a long time. We were confused as to why our food was taking so long, as customers whom have come after us were already done with their entrees and getting ready to leave. This was not just one or two tables, but multiple of them. As you can tell, I was already getting impatient and it made me more upset that our waiter was starting small talk with basically every other table but hours. Sure, we may have looked like a bunch of young adults, but we, like everyone else in that restaurant were paying guests. Maybe he didn't realize how much time has ticked by, but he never once, stop by our table to ask how we were doing nor did he apologize for the long wait. We waited almost an hour for the meal. We had the right to the service we were paying for. I was hungry and irritated that our waiter ignored us and didn't bother to apologize for the food. When the food came, I was really sad, not only was there no apology offered, the food was a total disappointment. The steak I ordered was supposed to be "medium rare". I had four pieces of slice skirt steak, cooked beyond well done and was burnt. I would've sent it back but god knows how long another plate would have took? My friend and boyfriend ordered the pork shoulder hash, and it was a confusion of flavors and barely any pork shoulder meat. We were disappointed and finished the small meal in about 5 minutes. Again, we were trying to be patient for our waiter to see that we had our fork and knife set the side and were sitting there waiting for the bill. Took him about 5 or 10 minutes until we actually waved him down and asked for the check. Dessert was not even offered. Overall, besides the atmosphere giving it the one star, I would not recommend this place. The design and decor of the restaurant was up to class, like others said, clean, classy but casual feeling. But the food and service makes me not want to recommend this ever. read more

We always enjoy ourselves at Essie's! The relaxing ambiance takes you out of poughkeepsie the moment you walk through the door and Brandon, the Chef, never disappoints! Whether it comes from land or sea, kale creations or luscious desserts, we always want more! The cocktails are balanced to perfection and I love that Brandon will come out to greet his guests if he has time! Businesses like this one are hard to find anymore, the type that produces a great experience AND shows appreciation for their guests... and it shows! If you're looking to amp up your dining experience, head straight to Essie's, because whenever we have a babysitter, we are there too! read more

The food here is fantastic. Its not your average menu so be prepared to be delighted. Trust the Chef...everything I've tried so far has been outstanding. Service is great! All in all a great dining experience. read more

Visited the area with my friends and this restaurant came up with good reviews and photos, so we decided to try it! They have outdoor seating and touchless menus and payment during covid. We were able to sit at a table outside, scan a QR code, order our food, and pay online. A waiter brought out our food in to-go containers and plastic to-go cups of water. I had the chicken and waffles and tried a bite of the plantain nachos. Both were so flavorful! I loved the apple butter and syrup on the super soft waffles. The fried chicken was savory and crisp. Perfect combo. I would definitely keeping going here if I lived in this area! read more

Staying in Hyde Park for the weekend. CIA is still closed and was looking for a good foodie experience. Essie's was very good. They seem to be trying to survive CoVID like many other restaurants so do make the trip and have a meal here. They had outdoor and indoor seating well spaced. Indoors is nicely decorated and comfortable and outdoors has overhangs. We had the jerk rib appetizer, which was very tasty. For dinner, we had the steak and the chicken and a side of grits, which pleased my Southern husband. There was a ton of perfectly done seasoned steak with yummy crispy potatoes and yucca. The chicken was moist and the button mushroom and vegetables very good. We were quite full and had to skip dessert. The waitress was very friendly and helpful. She wore gloves and mask and helped us figure out the online ordering which they are doing to reduce touching menus and cash due to CoVID. All in all, nice restaurant. Go support them. I would add some roast tomatoes or greens to the steak dinner just to lighten and brighten the plate as I couldn't finish all the potatoes and steak. read more

Made a reservation for Sunday brunch...we enjoyed everything from the grit couchettes (a must....creamy cheesy on inside, crunchy outside , aioli sauce), most delicious salad, frittata and chicken sandwich...clearly Chef Walker has a passion for whatever he creates. Ivan was a most attentive server. Will be back! read more

Had a really amazing time here on NYE with my husband. We picked it based on Yelp reviews and last-minute desperation and were so so happy with our luck. We started with delicious cocktails despite the cold and they were a lovely start to a lovely meal. The portions of the large plates are (maybe too) generous but everything was delicious, especially the olive tapenade on toast and a sweet pumpkin soup. We ordered the cheesecake for dessert and I had to eat it all, even though I was full, because it would have been a travesty to leave it behind. The chef came out to say hello and the service was perfect. We live pretty far away so might not be back soon, but wish we could! read more

I was happy to try this place out because when I'm visiting my family in poughkeepsie its great to know there's a cool brunch spot and I came across Essie restaurant. When approaching the restaurant they had outside seating but we opt in to seat inside once inside there was a group of people waiting to be seated, it didn't seem like there was a hostess greeting and sitting people so we were just standing with the other people who was before us.Then the bartender came over and greeted everyone and seated everyone, once seated I noticed that they seem to be under staff just the bartender, 1 waitress so on that note food and drinks took a while, the place was full but not over the top, music selection was tasty full and not too loud so it was easy to have a conversation. The Food took a while and once it did came I was a little disappointed I order chicken and waffles my favorite brunch item. The chicken was fried so hard that it was burnt in some spots I just didn't enjoy the chicken, the waffles was pretty good soft and fluffy, they also have a vanilla butter that's pretty good. Overall I really wanted to love this place but I might give it another chance because everyone else that was dining seem to enjoy there food. read more

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Portions are small for the price you pay, but the food is awesome. I took my boyfriend here for V-Day, we had the fried grit balls for appetizer, and they were amazing. read more

I was to meet a friend at 5:30. The restaurant opens at 5:30. I got to the restaurant at 5:23. I said I'd just sit out of the way until 5:30. But, no. I was told by an employee to leave and wait outside in the cold for 7 minutes. I was amazed at the attitude, and if my friend had been there, we would have just kept going. At exactly 5:30, someone came out and said I could then enter. Food was decent, but the reception horrible.Staff needs some lessons. read more

It must be so hard running a restaurant during COVID. We ate at Essie's yesterday and the chef was out front moving tables around (there are about 6 tables of various sizes out front) as well as back in the kitchen creating delish food. The GRITS CROQUETTES. I'm speechless--they are little packets of deliciousness. Also got the MGG, which consists of a takeout container-- now--of creamy, cheesy grits with sauteed mushrooms, and a sprinkling of collards and bacon. (BTW, the collards are some of the best I've had--a bit smoky and silky.) That is on the "shareable" portion of the menu and it was scooped up to bare plastic. Two people got the roasted beet nachos (one with shrimp and one w/ chicken)... one of them (meant to be entree) came out way early, which waiter apologized for... but both nachos were not warm. Hard to tell if it was cuz we were sitting outside in an October breeze or cuz the dish is not meant to be warm. The nachos were super tasty (beets!? who knew?) but I can see how some hot melty cheese might have improved things. I had the chicken and waffles--yummy fried chicken. Another one of us had the steak and eggs and root vegs and said it was terrific. Overall, I feel that running a restaurant these days is a heroic endeavor and no doubt frustrating as heck. But the food this chef is turning out is worth coming out for--safely. All wore masks, the water/coffee is single serving... and there's a nice view down the street to the river and the Walkway Over the Hudson. I can't wait to go back. I had the chef's amazingly delish food when Essie's did a Glynwood Farm Dinner--a very different setting--and it was as good this time. Oh, and there was a yum-sounding cheesecake on the menu but we opted to walk next door to La Deliziosa Italian pastry shop and get some cookies--it was open on a Sunday and people kept coming out with intriguing bakery boxes full of cream puffs, etc. A great combo stop--especially if you are hoofing it up to the Walkway before to work up an appetitie. read more

We had the shrimp and grits and the plantain appetizer, for brunch, and both were great. We were taking our daughter to the Children's Museum, really close by, and found this place by surprise. We'll be back to try more.. read more