excellent food, soups to sandwiches and salads. Just be prepared for the style of service. You order at the counter when you walk in, you find your table on your own, and they call your name when your food is ready. can be very busy, but worth the wait. read more

Great selection of fresh food that caters to the farm-to-table set. Always something different to try, nice service. Not so great: they tend to run out of things and can be a little on the expensive side. We like having lunch here, would recommend this place to anyone not interested in a heavy calorie-coma inducing meal before driving back home. read more

We used main course for our wedding. Emily, Amanda and Bruce exceeded all expectations of food and service. They know what they're doing. They were on point in every aspect of our wedding leaving no worries or stress. They went above and beyond what our expectations were in a wedding caterer. We got several compliments on it being the best food people have ever had. We also asked main course to cater our brunch the following morning at our home. They set everything up, made it look amazing, and they cleaned everything up. We didn't have to do one thing for a brunch of 40. Just enjoy the delicious food. Amazingly friendly staff, amazing experience. We would recommend them to anyone! read more

Main Course is a fun little place and would probably be even more fun in warmer weather than the previous weekend. Nice selection of farm-to-table options; I had the roasted turkey sandwich and chicken noodle soup and was impressed by each. Definitely a worthwhile stop if you care about the makeup of your food. After another handful of visits, I decided to drop the rating to four stars. As good as the food is, and it's exceptional, I've noticed a distinct lack of friendliness during my last several visits. It's definitely something that can be noticed. read more

I went here with my girlfriend for lunch. It was a quaint place with a walk and order style dining experience. I had the chicken and waffles and I really enjoyed it. It was served with homemade peach syrup that I thoroughly enjoyed. My girlfriend got the meatloaf sandwich which was very tasty as well. The pricing is pretty moderate. In my opinion, it is a better place for lunch because the portion size is not astronomical. Do not come here with a insatiable hunger. Overall, our experience was very good and we will be returning in the future. read more

On a recent weekend in New Paltz we found Main Course and ended up eating a brunch, a lunch, and a dinner there. The menu changes daily, and the food is always fresh, delicious, and reasonably priced. (You order at the counter but there are tables to eat in the restaurant.) read more

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The food here has a wonderful flavor and the ambience was quaint and relaxing. We will return soon.

Stopped here on trip through upstate. Had the lobster and salmon-bacon sandwich and it was good. Potato salad was just OK. But seemed like they had a bunch of nice items here. read more

The best salads! While I do also enjoy their sandwiches and pastries you cannot go wrong with a custom salad from here. It's a great portion size, and no matter what you put in it it's bound to be delicious, especially with their blackened chicken or roasted seitan. read more

Arrived in New Paltz to attend student theater production and searched for vegetarian food. This was our first choice! Great food, interesting experience. Order from the menu, sit at any available table and when your food is ready, your name is called. Food is excellent and unique; and service is quick, easy and attentive! read more

We had a delicious meal here! The veggie burger is soooo good! Several tables for outdoor seating available as well as indoor tables.

We live about 45 minutes away and have been to Main Course several times. On our previous visit, we enjoyed the most amazing Beef Wellington...literally mouth-watering. The beef was cooked to perfection, the pastry was light and crisp, and the sides were absolutely delicious...sauteed veggies and unreal mashed potatoes. Now that was a year ago. How did I remember that? Because it was SO GOOD and the price was SO REASONABLE, we were hoping for the same option when we returned. This past Sunday, we decided to trek Mohonk Mountain. Not a little trek, a brisk walk or a stroll. No, we parked at the bottom of the mountain and hiked straight up, literally. When we finally made it back to the car, we opted to try for another perfect Beef Wellington. We were momentarily disappointed that the menu was missing our dinner option, but we were quickly rerouted, and again, thoroughly thrilled. There were four of us and we enjoyed a variety of dishes...truly remarkable chicken soup, stuffed eggplant (wow...SO fresh and crisp and delish), roasted chicken, which my son and husband split (with fresh roasted veggies and amazing smashed potatoes) and my older son opted for a gourmet panini (loaded with chicken and fresh garden fare). Dinner was, again, wonderful. Dessert was another story. One son enjoyed amazingly rich, yet surprisingly light chocolate pudding. One son enjoyed a stupendous chocolate layer cheesecake...and I admit I stole a bite,,,yum. My husband had a gluten free chocolate cake which was rich and satisfying. The organic tea was wonderful and we definitely topped our day off on a high note. The service was exceptional.. Answering every question, making changes in our dishes without complaint, the chefs and service staff were warm and welcoming. The restaurant was clean and comfortable, as always. The prices are great...nowhere in this area can you get such a truly fresh meal, organic and vegan options abound, at such affordable pricing. Farm to table at its FINEST!! We will continue to choose Main Course whenever we are even close to the New Palz area, as we KNOW we will have not only a myriad of choices, but we will not break the bank by going out to eat. read more

Absolutely delicious every time I go there. Great prices and everything is super fresh. Highly recommend if you want something that taste good, but don't necessarily want to eat out. We pick up food from them all the time and never regret it. On a side note, they also consistently have one of the best tents at the Taste of New Paltz in fall. Be sure to check it if you have a chance. read more

Food is locally sourced, organic, tastey and fairly priced- what?! Casual atmosphere with an outdoor deck. I love this place!

Neither my wife nor I were from the Hudson Valley area, where we chose to have our wedding (because it's so beautiful and many of our friends live there or nearby). We were truly flying blind. Our venue (Glynwood Farm) recommended Main Course, and it was one of the best decisions we've ever made. Amanda, our contact person, and Bruce, the chef, were a delight to work with -- easy-going but professional, creative but responsive -- and their menu was imaginative, true to the season, varied (with something for everyone), and most importantly -- delicious. The pre-ceremony refreshers were popular all around, and the bar service was perfect -- superb wine and champagne offerings and a full bar. People almost stuffed themselves on the delicious appetizers -- the tomato tartlet, spanakopita, lobster roll, mushroom tart, duck mini-BLT, and goat-cheese lollipop were particular hits -- but when it came time to sit down and have dinner, believe me, no one said, "I'm full." We had short ribs and monkfish for our entrees, and they were both perfect, plus the barley-stuffed butternut squash and spoon bread were big crowd favorites. The dessert table was another joy -- chocolate truffle lollipops and apple cider donuts and cookies and more -- and the cake (vanilla custard, chocolate ganache and yellow cake) was simply delicious (and beautiful). Even more importantly, the staff responded brilliantly when the weather turned everything upside down. Rain and cold made impossible our original plan to have the ceremony outside. Bruce quickly conferred with his staff and the DJ and within a half an hour everything was arranged so the ceremony could be held just outside the tent (the rain had stopped by then), with heaters warming everyone in their seats and the Hudson Valley hills as a backdrop to the ceremony itself. It ended up perfectly and beautifully. We've had so many people tell us that if this was one of the best weddings they ever attended, and Main Course had a huge role in that. We're exceedingly grateful and feel very, very fortunate to have had them for our caterer. Highly, unequivocally recommended. read more

First time coming here and never have I been more disappointed. The place has a nice ambiance and the interior feels cozy, especially on a cold, snowy winter day but the quality of food and service are relatively sub par. My friends and I ordered salads which were not only exorbitantly priced but contained bafflingly minute quantity of both Salmon and greens. $14 for an untossed nonexistent salad prepped with the efficiency and speed of a dying snail, never again. But the large glass windows were nice. read more

Living on its past reputation, uninspired menu , lackluster food. A real disappointment :/

Have had several good meals here. I am currently particularly fond of their green machine juice. The only thing I've had so far that I would never get again was the fruit cobbler in the cooler case. While the tables can be a bit wobbly, sitting outside is nice. Even when busy they seem to serve in a reasonable amount of time. read more

Came here for round 2 after a hike. This is due to the fact some of the fellow hikers were vegetarian and are organic loving craze. I got the curry chickpea soup and lamb ragout; both were excellent. The price for both items were fair as well. read more

Main Course were really the stars of our wedding. We had an unprecedented number of compliments from our guests saying that it was the best wedding food they'd ever had. I, personally, was really impressed by how fresh and flavorful all of the ingredients were. The presentation, not just on the plate, but also of the cocktails, appetizers, and desserts, were all stellar. Main Course is truly farm-to-table and has been since the 80s. It shows. They know what they're doing. Bruce, the owner and chef, is creative, inventive, and sophisticated, and we loved that he challenged our palate in a delightful and elegant manner. Our coordinator was Amanda, and I can't say enough good things about her. She was professional to a T, really just a perfect contact throughout the whole process. Our wedding was perfect and I really think that it was because of Main Course's excellent cuisine and guidance in the planning process. This is actually the only review that I'm writing for my wedding (well, I might review the venue as well), and I'm doing it because we were so pleased with the meal, the presentation, and the process. Thank you, Main Course!! read more

This is a review for our wedding catering which took place October 12th in Rhinebeck NY. Let me just say that my wife is totally amazing! And this was the best party I've ever been to, the best day of our lives. We had an outdoor ceremony on a sunny day with rolling hills of fall foliage for a backdrop surrounded by 144 happy family and friends. Our designer, wedding site, rental agency, dj, and band were some of our many awesome vendor experiences. Main Course, was, unfortunately, a dud. Bruce, the head chef, is a very talented cook who has decades of experience and uses an elaborate network of local producers and local fresh ingredients. Bruce was pleasant to talk to in the first meeting and promptly disappeared from involvement after that. The organization of this catering business was very poor in our experience. Over the final several months leading up to our big day, it was very difficult get quality time on the phone or in person with Main Course Staff. When lobbying for our business, a Main Course selling point had been that Bruce said he would be there for our whole event, he was conspicuously absent on wedding day. Later when confronted on this point, Bruce said he was there for the setup. At the wedding, Main Course provided good appetizers and a nice harvest table but the main entrees and soup had much diminished flavor when compared to our wedding tasting date. The butternut squash soup was not thick and richly flavored, the mother of the bride thought it was celery soup it was so watery. The serving sizes of the entrees and the family style vegetables were very small compared to what was discussed at the tasting. Heather, one of the Main Course staff, had asked Kathleen if she wanted flowers on the cake, we had answered yes. Kathleen ended up using her bouquet to decorate a flower-less cake just before the cake cutting. Later Bruce said it was our responsibility to plan any flowers for the cake with a florist. Moreover, many dozens of rental units of our dinner rental, including more than 100 dessert forks went missing at our event. Main Course was very difficult to work with after the event; it took them 14 days to respond to my email and a full month to set up a phone meeting. Main Course added many required rental charges one week before the wedding including an expensive stove and a caterer tent. They up-charged staffing for the event and up-charged vendor meals. Main Course ice/mixers are priced at $10pp, our friends who were married in August in upstate NY paid $4 for ice/mixers pp. The wedding was the best day of my life, but, for you, I would recommend recruiting one of the many other talented Hudson Valley Caterers who seem eager to work with you. You should be able to find this at or below $71 meal pp we paid! Good Luck:) read more

Great selection of food, specials are always delicious and superb service. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a bite to eat in a great atmosphere. read more

Gourmet to Go! We were avid Main Course fans when they were a sit down restaurant in the "Blockbuster Plaza." When they first opened in their amazing new space down the road I was a bit put-off by the new menu and its lack of all my old favorite MC dishes. It didn't take but one take-out order to convince me how wrong I was! The food is outstanding! Always fresh and local items available. Sometimes we sit down to eat there, but most often we order take-out. I have never been disappointed in anything I've ordered (except their whoopie pies...mediocre at best. My mom still makes the best). They've even made environmentally sound choices in their take out containers - they're paper cardboard and can be recycled. Even their take-out cups and utensils are made of corn and are biodegradable. If you're looking for table service, go elsewhere. If you're looking for stellar, fresh, environmentally conscious, gourmet take-out, try the Main Course! read more

I've been a regular at Main Course for well over a year. Most times I go, the service makes me say never again (rude, awful attitude cashiers, especially the lunchtime staff, awful dessert that LOOK decadent and taste dry and gross) and alas, I'll have the amazing food that drew me into this place for DAILY lunches for months until I'd had enough of the stank glares, the crap service, messed up orders and could-care-less attitudes from (I assume) college students? It's a mixed bag of phenomenal entrée items and well-prepared sandwiches and salads mixed with a cluster f of mishaps that are enough to make you say, "ENOUGH!" a place of this caliber of food could easily charge whatever it wanted and still have clientele because the food is that great but alas, everything else ruins it. Examples? Eating delicious prime rib with a butter knife because the lady could not find the steak knives and then the other guy went to get them...had me waiting for the steak knife only to never return nor even say that the steak knife is not coming. So I hacked at one of the best prepared prime rib with a butter knife and find paper at the bottom of the plated dinner entree. Another? The pastry chef forgetting to put SUGAR in a delightfully decorated brownie that looked gorgeous for the 4th of July with blueberries and strawberries atop and tasted like tar. Inedible, pulled all the brownies after I brought it to their attention. You forgot the SUGAR in your brownie? Picture me confused. It's mishaps like this that just leave me confused with Main Course. How does such an amazing place allow such things to occur? I feel like they've changed pastry chefs or executive chefs or something. I dunno. Concept is amazing and most times food is excelente. The oatmeal cranberry cookie is delicious as is the strawberry cherry rhubarb crisp they'd made a few months ago that was like crack. All of the cakes I'd tried were dry and I didn't finish. The brownie was the worst dessert I've ever had in my lifetime, and aside from one young lady it's as if you are pulling teeth as the customer to get them to act concerned at their huge mistakes. I got my dessert switched and she was so kind as was the manager chef this evening who was so swamped but still took time to chat with me briefly and comped the ticket. I appreciate it. It's not lack of food artistry for the savory chefs. The dessert, as someone else said best, look way better than they taste. I'd pass on their desserts bc they're way too expensive to taste mostly poor. For the high quality of food and pricing given that it's not a table service place, I'd expect the perfect attention given to cooking the food in the staff and details. The savory food isn't what brings this place down, nor is the concept, it's everything else. Would definitely dine here, I'm sure the catering is AMAZING. I'd pass on dessert except the oatmeal cookies and that crisp which they hadn't had in months. I'd also pass on the smoothies. Don't dare ask for the leftover in the blender. That'll get you a side eye and stink face at the wrong time of day. All in all, it's hard to love food that tastes like your mom made it, when the ambience is cold and the homemade warmth is severely lacking. read more

Wow! What a great experience. This is a really cool place that serves a wide variety of dishes and treats. The atmosphere is hip and inviting. The decor features scenes from around the local area and much of the food is locally sourced. I had a seafood curry dish that was outstanding! Everyone at our table was very happy with their food. Ingredients seem fresh and prepared with great attention to detail. I highly recommend Main Course! read more

Extremely unsatisfied today at Main Course. First the kids menu mac & cheese was so awful there was no cheese and it was all dried up. My 3 and 4 year old would not even eat it. Secondly, a special of the day was a crab cake with some veggies on the side. I was told when I ordered I could just purchase the crab cake to go on top of my custom salad. The cashier put in and charged me for the entire crab cake special and told me then I wouldn't be allowed to get the crab cake with the salad. Something so simple as picking up the crab cake and putting it on my salad they couldn't accommodate. "We don't do that here" she responded. Very poor customer service. Disappointed. read more

I come up to New Paltz frequently and would pass main course and was intrigued. The other day I finally went in and I'm mad that I didn't try it sooner! The food was EXCELLENT- fresh, tasty and a great atmosphere. If you have a sweet tooth try the chocolate chip cookies. You won't regret it! read more

Really sweet place to stop for a quick and casual meal. So much great vegetarian friendly food. Also have a little market/gift shop. Delicious desserts. read more

Maybe this place is good for people who just want to pretend they eat healthy. I really care what I put in my mouth. Wherever I order an omelette, I have small requirements: no salt, no butter, very light on oil. While placing the order I mentioned all that, and when I received my omelette, I was completely disappointed how much salt they could add and oil that dropped off the omelette. Really? After mentioning my preferences and getting from the girl who placed the order "OK" without putting my preferences in my order. Is that hard to respect customers' food preferences? read more

The staff was so rude and uninterested in answering the most basic questions. They were cold and not helpful. I will not come back here because of the two women behind the counter- just not nice The food is very good. The owner has taken a lot of care in creating a great menu in a beautiful restaurant. I can't imagine why he/she doesn't hire nicer people I looked at other reviews and saw that many others have had the same experience with the staff. read more

This restaurant is definitely a diamond in the rough! The food is healthy and always fresh. Great service, ambiance, and a large variety of options. Farm to table food without breaking a budget. My only recommendation is to eat in the restaurant because the portion sizes varies with takeout. read more

Great food. Interesting menu. Generous portions. Good value.

Came to the Main Course for breakfast. There were several choices for Sunday brunch. We had the brooch bread french toast, huevous ranchero and spinach & salmon eggs benedict...all fresh and tasty. The indoor dining room was clean with nice seating and small outdoor deck offered a great mountain view. read more

Main course is always a go to place to eat in town. They use the freshest ingredients with locally grown fruits and vegetables. I have had some of their usual meals, blackened chicken panini, as well as their specials and I have never been disappointed. I had the vegetable Asian soup today and it was a delicious, just a little salty. I highly recommend visiting this place and don't forget dessert ;) read more

A group of friends and myself went to Main Course tonight to celebrate two birthdays. It was our first time going there, so we weren't exactly sure what to expect. The food was delicious and the prices were very reasonable. It was a unique environment and the "do-it-yourself" approach for ordering and picking up food made it all the more interesting. The place seemed sort of classy, so I expected a snobby wait-staff, but the chef seemed nice and our hostess (Hannah, I think) was really friendly. We'll definitely go there again. read more

I love Main Course's food. I'm a huge fan of their salads. However, sometimes the people working the counter are less than friendly. There is a particular young lady who I often am helped by who barely says hello or you're welcome. I've never seen her smile which is unfortunate. I'm happy to pay for really good food, even though you're not coming to the table with food, please smile when serving customers, it goes a long way. read more

Love the food here. It's light, fresh and (mostly) healthy. You might wait a while for your food if you stop in during the busier hours. The only thing I noticed is the people that work there aren't that friendly. No one seems to want to be there and it's a little off putting. I'm not just talking about one day. It seems like every time I've stopped in everyone is having a bad day. read more

The food is good but expensive. That's usually ok, except for after paying $25 for your meal (food and drink) you have to go get your order from the counter and bus your own table. I ordered a lamb dish which I thought was very tasty. I was given the wrong sides but when I pointed out the error they were quick to fix the problem. Not sure why the cashier could remember what sides came with the dish and the cooks couldn't, but that's neither here nor there. read more

The new location is 175 Main Street, the new space is bright and airy. Main Course has some of the most interesting food in New Paltz., which isn't very hard. We would consistently stop for lunch after a drive up from NYC. The new space oddly doesn't have table service (some dispute with the town government) you order at the counter and they call your name you then you pick up your meal. The wife got back on line for desert. Personally, if I go out to eat I want to be served. I don't want to bus my table. I had a shredded pork tazinga, shredded pork in a large egg roll shell over sweet fried black beans, it was a special and very tasty. The wife had seafood mofungo, she said it was good but light on the seafood. We washed it down with hibiscus-strawberry tea, essentially pink water. The bill was $25, we tipped ourselves. read more

We love coming here on weekends for their delicious brunch menus! You order at the counter and sit wherever you'd like. The restaurant itself is very open and airy, and lets in a lot of light. It's a great vibe, and really fresh, good food. read more