Shawn H.

Amazing. We loved the somtum caesar, empanada, crispy tofu, tamale, and whole fish. The tamale and caesar are probably musts for me next time, but we loved every bite. I also really appreciated that this felt like an actually unique menu.

Jessica Y.

What a cool place!!! Upon walking in, you're immediately struck with vibrant colors, unique decorations, and art work all around! The dishes are all tapas style which we loved because we were able to try so many items on the menu! Each dish came out individually which allowed us to enjoy and appreciate each dish before moving onto the next. Everything was so fresh from the kitchen and piping hot! There were 6 of us and we ordered 10 plates which was a perfect amount! Everything we had was sooo good but some of my favorites were the llapingacho, shrimp aguachile which was a special, arancini, and empanada! The winter wedge salad was also delicious and the dressing that came with it was soo tasty! The scallop skewer only came out with 3 scallops so we could've used another one but we were able to split them to get a taste. The chicken dish which was also a special came out at the same time as the Plato tropical which was perfect because they complimented each other very well. Drink wise, we ordered a pitcher of the unknown legend cocktail which was good. My friend got the garden orgy cocktail which was essentially a spicy margarita. I personally liked that better than the garden orgy cocktail but enjoyed both. Our waiter was super friendly and really guided us through the menu and constantly checked in on us as each dish came out! Definitely recommend if you're visiting the area!

Malathy A.

Awesomeeeee experience overall!! I love I love I loveee this place! I'd come here every single time I'm in the Hudson area. The menu is small (which honestly works in my favor cuz I can never decide what I want lol), so I was thrilled to basically order everything on the menu. We sat at the bar, and our gorgeous bartender was incredible! We were given a rundown of every single drink on the menu, and each one was next-level delicious. Seriously! So creative, so flavorful, so well-balanced. I wish I could've tried them all! And the food? Just mmmm--mouthwatering doesn't even begin to cover it. I'd eat everything there twice, no hesitation. My absolute favorites were the fried fish and the tamales! They switch up their menu, so they might not always be available. I'm just so glad I got to try them. Every single dish we tasted had its own unique flavor, and it was clear how much thought and love went into each one. And the vibe? SO fun. The whole place was colorful, vibrant, and full of energy. Even the bathroom was a whole vibe, super playful and creative in the best way. Another highlight was that we tried the "Love Advice" that's on the dessert menu, and the person gave my friend such thoughtful, heartfelt advice, it was so sweet and meaningful. Fun note: we ended up at a nearby bar that's also a bookstore (how cool is that?) and randomly found a book featuring Li'l Deb's recipes! This place is iconic, y'all.

Molly T.

The hype is real! Li'l Deb's is the crown jewel of Hudson, written up by all of the blogs, raved about by locals, charming everyone in its path. Now that I've finally dined here after visiting Hudson for years and hearing about it constantly, I can attest to its endearing eccentricity. It is unlike any restaurant I've been to -- in a category all its own. I think it does this purposely: it is loud, it is wild, it is fun, it is flirty, it is not making apologies for just being a funky kid who doesn't fit neatly into any traditional box. The vibes are immaculate, as the kids say. And the food is pretty immaculate, too. Came here at around 8pm on Friday. Li'l Deb's recently began taking reservations, but only for parties of four and up. We checked in with the folks working here beforehand to see how we could best time our arrival in hopes of getting a table, which worked out well for us. We sat indoors, and as you can see from my photos, the lighting is part of the appeal. All of the decor is colorful and quirky -- it all feels quite celebratory. We started with cocktails, which were so-so (the only thing not exceptional about the night). I got the Cel-Ray (forthave gin, celery, chartreuse, pineapple) which was like a celery gimlet and pretty good. My fiancé got the Sexual Healing (cachaça, passionfruit, coconut, lemon), which is more notable in name than it is in flavor. It's apparently a crowd favorite, but we didn't love it. The wines are really where Li'l Deb's stands out, as far as alcohol options go. They actually have a somm on site there, which is surprising given how casual the place is. I think of somms as being more highbrow but that's clearly a misguided assumption on my part. I first tried a rosé that was not to my liking, so our waitress brought us the other featured rosé on the menu which was fantastic (and she comped it, which we greatly appreciated). My fiancé and I then split a glass of the one orange wine on the menu (Lapor Belo, Vina Krapez, Slovenia), which was fantastic. Then, a woman who we had not seen the whole night appeared and asked if I wanted a glass of something off menu, mysterious and intriguing, and of course I said yes. This one was even better -- another skin contact bottle. We later found out that this was the somm, a buried lede but still an exciting one. Because Li'l Deb's is more of a shared plates vibe with relatively smaller portions, we got to sample a good chunk of the menu. Really unlike any other meal we've had. I'd love to know the inspiration behind the menu here, because it is creative, eclectic, whimsical and inspired in such a way that makes the whole meal exciting start to finish. We didn't have a bad bite all night. Eats, below: Silk Road Salad w/ tomato, fried eggplant, feta, coriander-chile vin): A++ This may have been our favorite dish of the night, and this is coming from two people who don't tend to go for tomato. We agreed this was the best tomato salad we had ever eaten. Impossibly fresh, super flavorful. Crispy Potatoes w/ lime pickle aioli, curry leaf, pickled chiles: A Always love a good crispy potatoes dish and the curry leaf and aioli were great ways to spice it up (quite literally). Great if you need your carb fix. Fermented Lentil Dosa w/ wild shiitake + oyster mushrooms, radish, herbs: A Another fun/fresh/flavorful preparation. Loved the mushrooms, lent themselves to the overall earthy flavor profile of the dish. Steamed Cockles w/ tamarind, peanuts, cilantro: A+ I haven't had cockles in ages -- they are like cute little baby clams and I love them. Beautifully seasoned and the peanuts were a nice touch. Beef Skewers w/ garden salsa verde, corn, tomato: A- The beef skewers themselves were solid but not outstanding, but the salsa verde and corn were fantastic. Still a dish worth considering it just didn't blow us away in full the way most of the others did. Finally, just want to reiterate how great the service is here. All gracious, genuine folks.

Tracey A.

Do you ever go to a place then just sit, unable to review it, because you don't know how to apply words to the feelings it inspired in you? Li'l Deb's Oasis is that review, that place. * I had exactly two dinners in Hudson, NY, both of them eaten at Li'l Deb's. When you've so obviously found the best spot in town, why look elsewhere? * "It's the best restaurant I've ever been to": Actual words from the friend I dined with both nights. From its decor to its servers to the ridiculously-inspired-perfectly-executed-100%-delicious plates of food the only comparison I could come up with was San Francisco's original Hamburger Mary's circa 1980's. If you were never at Mary's during this time period you missed it; there's no equivalent today though Li'l Deb's operates in a similar realm: * The coolest, friendliest mix of servers who span the alphabet of descriptors (LGBTQIA++). These folks prepare for work by donning (for instance) a safety vest in neon orange. My life would improve twentyfold if I did the same. * A menu that I can't even follow but I wanted to try EVERYTHING. The Ensalada Del Dia ($13) and Ceviche Del Dia ($16) were the same both nights, raining unbridled joy upon us. The salad contained no lettuce, was held together by a slather of Romeso Sauce, and it wouldn't be finished until we'd wiped the bowl clean. About the ceviche I proclaimed "they don't even need fish in this" (there were scallops) as the sauce was so soupy, limey, and delicious. * They told us that whole fried fish was their specialty but we were never able to get there. On night #2 we'd planned to have the fish but got sidelined by the Salchipapas. And the Sweet Plantains in Yogurt-Cilantro sauce. And the beans. And again that Elote. And also the cocktails (Nipslip, Garden Orgy, Golden Hour). * I don't even know what Salchipapas are but if I were a betting person I'd wager that word translates into "best tasting plateful of food ever, if consumed at Li'l Deb's". Just writing about Li'l Deb's has brought a smile to my face. I'm 100% confident that going there will bring you even greater joy.

Sandy T.

The restaurant had a really nice vibe and the service was great and the people were friendly. We were a little disappointed with the food. The portions were pretty small for the price. The plantains were a tad salty and not as sweet as we would like. The octopus was so sour. The surf and turf was decent. The passionfruit flavor was good and the mussels were nice and plump. However we did not really see much pork belly in the dish. For the price we expect at least chucks of pork belly. The shrimp was our favorite dish. They were cooked perfectly. We also got a side of rice which was so good and coconut flavored and a side of beans that were a tad on the salty side.

Anna G.

After several disappointing meals on our week-long stay in Hudson, we had low expectations coming here tonight and almost cancelled our reservation when we saw what was on the menu (we are heavy meat eaters and only one dish on the menu had meat). But I'm so glad we didn't because the food here is a revelation, the service leaves you feeling cared for, and the ambiance is so unique and fun. With a baby in tow, we were 20 minutes late for our reservation but when we called to let them know we'd be late, they were gracious about letting us keep the reservation even though when we got there we saw people waiting for a table. Thank you, Lil Deb's! We sat in the backyard, which was a good space for the baby. The food! All the flavors were ON POINT. We ordered what seemed like a random and risky assortment of food but everything we ate surprised us in a good way. Now I want to try everything on the menu! The portions were good except for the tamale, which our server warned us about beforehand. Do get the: Fish Consomme - Omg, what? Hands down the best dish of the night. Whole Crispy Fish Crispy Potatoes Lentil Dosa

Alicia C.

Popped in for a dinner before heading back to the city on the train. Love the vibe of this spot. Lots of color and energy pumping through every inch of this place. Definitely such a unique spot that you must go. The food was SUPER flavorful. Wow! Some of the best damn rice and beans ever. Get the lentil dosa and crispy potatoes. Booming with flavor! Then the fried fish was really tasty too. Easy to fillet off the bone. The menu isn't huge, but just dive into what's there any you will be thrilled. Service was really friendly and you can't go wrong with the cocktails.