Does Martha Stewart have mid taste? The renowned homemaker and chef extraordinaire ranks Stissing House as her favorite restaurant, but when my husband and I visited, we thought the food was just ok. While I understand the concept behind their cuisine - traditional American flavors pared down to its truest form - I found the food to be, for a lack of better word, bland. Sure, this boils down to preference (I enjoy complex flavors with lots of seasoning), but it's hard for me to sing its praises when the chicken tasted like chicken with a pinch of salt, the pork tasted like pork with a pinch of salt, and the vegetables tasted like vegetables with, you guessed it, a pinch of salt. That's the point, I suppose, but it's a point my taste buds don't particularly agree with. That's not to say the quality and the craft was not at its best. I'll give it to them: the chicken was juicy, the pork skin crisp, the vegetables cooked to perfection (not overcooked, not too al dente, but just right). The biggest disappointment was the sesame puffs with ice cream. Seeing this on the menu, I thought, "Great, a complex flavor!" but was let down at first bite when I found that, alas, I couldn't taste the sesame at all. It tasted like a regular ol' ice cream puff slathered in too-dark caramel. It would have been better paired with black sesame ice cream, but I fear it wouldn't fit their menu's flavor profile. I'm not discouraging people from coming here. By all means, try it! It's a charming location, the food is well prepared, the ingredients premium. It just didn't wow me, and that's perfectly alright. read more

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We had a wonderful dinner at Stissing House. The entire restaurant is lit by candles, creating a cozy and intimate atmosphere that's perfect for a date night. The service was excellent and the food was outstanding. The winter citrus salad is a must try, and the sticky toffee sundae was the perfect way to end the meal. It's a bit pricey, but you truly get what you pay for. Simple, authentic, and a great example of the Upstate New York dining experience. read more

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Stissing House is now my favorite restaurant! My experience here was beyond amazing. The food was so well seasoned and you can tell there is a lot of care when preparing. We came in as a walk in and had to wait in their lounge. The lounge was so comfy with a fireplace and comfy chairs. There was a complimentary peanuts and you can order small bites and cocktails. I highly recommend sipping on a cup of broth by the fire pit! When we got seated at the bar, the hospitality from the staff really solidified my experience. Daniel M and the other women with glasses (so sorry I didn't get your name!) were cracking jokes, giving us recommendations and really made us feel welcome. As a typically introverted person, they got us chatting and laughing! I would 100% recommend Stissing House and I will be coming back! read more

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Stissing House is a special experience that goes beyond dining. It is the coziest, warmest, most inviting ambiance of any restaurant I've ever visited. The entire restaurant is lit my dim candlelight and fireplaces. Very purposeful, very chic. You're greeted by a waiting room with a fireplace and a huge hearth. You can sit here and enjoy the fire and peanuts while you wait for your table. Our table also had a fireplace right in front, a prime location with a spacious setup. We also had our daughter with us in a highchair and they were very accommodating. This is our second visit. Some highlights are the BREAD, wood fired scallops, artichoke mayo, CHICKEN. They didn't had the bone marrow oysters on the menu this time, but I highly recommend if you see them. Really wanted to shoutout the chicken. I am a roast chicken snob (I've had a lot) and this is probably the best roast chicken I've ever had. So flavorful, so moist, perfectly seasoned fresh, happy, healthy chicken that probably lived a nice life on a pasture in Hudson valley. The chicken is from Snowdance Farm, and it is a very special bird. This is a destination restaurant. Worth the drive from the city and great excuse to spend a couple nights upstate. Make reservations as soon as they open! read more

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Went here for date night with another couple. Ambience right off the bat gets 5 stars from me. Appreciated easy parking, and that there were sort of sections into which people were seated as opposed to just one large dining room. That helped with conversation, as some people have complained in other reviews about noise and not being able to hear people. We did fine. I would rate the starters/small plates as absolutely excellent -- in fact, when we go back (which we definitely will), I'm likely to order a bunch for my meal as opposed to an entree. Get the ham -- I'm not kidding, it's like nothing you've ever had. Small plate of cheese -- again, the type, the accompanying mustard or aioli or anything else that came -- excellent. You HAVE to get an order of the chips. Yes, it's a requirement (ok, I just made that up -- but trust me). Flavorful, not greasy. Basically, any appetizer you see where you're thinking, "I'm really not a _______ person," order that thing, and it'll change your mind. Entrees -- everyone enjoyed theirs (2 steaks, 2 chickens), but I'll be honest, I didn't particularly like the chicken. I was surprised because everyone had raved about it -- one of our friends had had it before and loved it; our server said it was their favorite thing on the menu. Although it was cooked perfectly, the flavor of the sauce didn't do it for me and I ate maybe half of it. Now let's talk about DESSERT. Save room. We shared a sundae -- but our server also overheard us talking about another one of the desserts and just brought us a sample of it, no charge. This is, I think, the difference between a restaurant that is simply transactional: "You ordered this, I'll bring you this" -- and one that's thinking about the overall experience and what would bring you back. And as a result I want to go back. She is an expensive night out, especially if you order drinks, so will need to wait for another special occasion. But if you are looking for a higher end, special date night that doesn't feel stuffy, definitely check out Stisson House. read more

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I am so happy to have finally had the opportunity to dine at the Stissing House. It did not disappoint. The moment you arrived you are greeted by the wonderful staff who clearly understand hospitality. Once seated the knowledgeable staff continued to impress. The food was delicious from beginning to end. Thank you for the amazing meal! read more

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This is my 3rd time dining at Stissing house and to be honest the food was underwhelming and the swordfish a bit salty. We had a lovely time and really appreciated Rachel, our server. She totally was on board with our group, her service was top notch! The ambiance never fails to delight. read more

What an absolutely fabulous outing! Just an hour (give or take) from the city and you're in for a treat. Everything we tried was genuinely top-notch -- I won't even bother "highly highly recommending" individual dishes because... it's all that good. The house bread and butter (beautifully presented, by the way) is a must. Go hungry -- I mean it. The house chips? Don't write them off as "just chips." They are fantastic. I came specifically for the fish pie and the rabbit, and wow did I choose well. Both were hearty, comforting, and packed with flavor -- like fine dining that decided to put on its coziest sweater. The coconut cake was unbelievably light and airy, and that cream? Chef's kiss. We sampled a few cocktails and every single one delivered -- especially the martinis. Please put this place on your list. The service is impeccable, the space nails that "rustic but fancy" vibe, and somehow it manages to feel warm, cozy, elevated, and not the least bit stuffy. You'll love it. read more

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Not sure why the reviews are so low for this historic, beautiful, and charming restaurant, but me and my friends had a lovely time. We walked in a couple minutes before opening on a Sunday night without a reservation, and were told bar seating had just run out. We were welcomed into the sitting room that had comfortable seating and a roaring fire, where we had drinks and the most perfect salt and vinegar chips with pickles. A very kind server also brought us out cups of broth on the house and it was incredibly flavored and comforting. We thoroughly enjoyed waiting and it didn't feel long at all! When we got seated at the bar, we already knew what to order and the food did not disappoint. The bartenders/servers were all so kind and helped us with ordering! Daniel was our exceptional server and even brought out an extra ice cream for us on the house! Please get the artichoke, the trout, and the chicken!! We had an incredible time and will be coming back! read more

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Amazing, worth the 2 hour drive for this any day of the week. Had a bit of a slow start, the staff maybe was overwhelmed, but they made up for it and more by their service and generosity. Started with the chips which were salt and vinegar. Normally I would hate this, but I found myself reaching for them over and over again. Next I had the scallops which were the highlight of the meal. They had a green garlic sauce that was amazing. The fish pie came next and it was enough for two people. I actually split it with a friend and it was the perfect amount. Ended with just about every dessert they offered. Coconut is not an ingredient I eat, but their cake was great. There was not a single bad bite on the table, well done to this restaurant. read more

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We had a great dinner at this classic venue. I guess other dinners that traveled hard to get there may have had inflated expectations. I found the food and their signature Manhattan to be spot on and took me on a journey back 200 years to a quaint a stagecoach stop on the edge of the frontier. read more

Incredible -- very worthy of all the hype, and worth the hike. The bread/butter, scallops, squash/hot peppers, little green salad, chicken, and halibut were all perfect. I'd order all of these again, or sub them all out because there were so many other amazing looking items. They were also very nice and made buttered pasta for our kids, and had vanilla ice cream for them for dessert. read more

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This place has vastly improved since our visit two years ago. The Standouts: Bone marrow oysters that come out theaterically perched on actual bones were delicious. The accompanying cup of bone broth was the perfect savory chaser. The basil-buttered corn paired with coal-roasted potatoes made for a tasty combination. Anything from Sugar Hill Farms is going to be good, but Stissing House delivered a pork chop with wood-roasted peaches that was next-level. What Didn't Quite Land: Our other two entrees were solid but forgettable. The wood-fired mackerel looked stunning on the plate and was cooked flawlessly, but drowning it in a sea of parsley sauce made it one note. The fish pie (basically fish shepherd's pie) had the same issue: great first bite, but then every forkful after was boringly identical. Which considering the restaurant serves a side of basil-buttered corn seemed like a missed opportunity. The Bad: Dessert. Full stop. For a kitchen that clearly knows what it's doing with everything else, the desserts were straight-up Sizzler quality. Skip them entirely. Final Note: Whoever's curating their wine-by-the-glass selection has assembled a very nice assortment. read more

City girl here with high expectations. Absolutely immaculate vibes and incredible food. Came on a Sunday right before doors opened, already was a line out the door. Couldn't get a seat at the bar right away, but got to wait in the lounge, where you can order drinks and snacks. Fantastic! Didn't mind the wait at all, cozy by the fireplace. Finally it was time for dinner and boy did they deliver! Was told the chicken was a classic, on the menu since they opened, so had to try. Best chicken we've ever had. Crispy on the outside, so juicy and tender inside. Artichoke and cup of broth also highly recommend. Seafood stew was lacking salt/flavor. Scallops were solid. Coconut cake is a must! Servers were excellent and all staff were very kind. read more

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The restaurant is beautiful and the atmosphere is lovely. It must look especially good when photographed for, say, a Martha Stewart publication. But like MS, it's form over function at Stissing House. I appreciate letting good ingredients shine with straightforwardly presented food, but our dishes were simply lacking flavor and ambition. Very disappointing for a 450$ meal for 3. read more

Wildly overpriced, noisy .... The most expensive/ single meal I ever had in a restaurant. It was okay but way too much $$$$$ the Caesar salad with sun chokes had none of the ingredients! Was radicchio with potato chips read more

The wait staff was attentive, the ambiance was lively, the restaurant was clean and well appointed. The problem was the food. The mussels were overcooked, not just a little (I think we are all guilty of that). These felt like they were microwaved to reheat them / I say that because the shells were crumbling, I mean in small, frayed pieces. The halibut was unseasoned (halibut needs seasoning) - the artichoke might have helped but there were only 5 or 6 leaves. The Caesar salad was tasty but had no resemblance to Caesar salad and the bavette (flank) steak was tough. As if the meal wasn't already disappointing, they had only drip coffee. Oh well, at least it was just the two of us and we weren't entertaining people. Needless to say we won't be going back. read more

Classy building with exposed original beams and framed original documents give a nice old world feel. The menu selection was wonderful and the food itself was excellent. Staff is top notch. Polite and knowledgeable. read more

Had a lovely evening and thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere. We had the rib eye steak special which wasn't as good as expected. More importantly we did not expect what it cost. The wait staff was very cordial but should have told us that the cost of the special was $175. We expected that the cost would be higher than usual but never expected $175. Both my partner and I reached out to the staff by email but neither of us got a response. Very disappointed. read more

Went on a Monday, sat in an amazing spot. Had some of the best food i've ever eaten in my life. The servers and hosts are extremely polite and knowledgeable. The restaurant was scattered with patrons as it was the off season on a Monday. So the ambiance was all that more cozy and relaxed. Would recommend to everyone read more

Beautiful old restaurant in a former tavern, with lots of different rooms. There is a nice lounge with fireplace, where you can relax while waiting for your table, or maybe even after dinner. The service is very good, friendly and knowledgeable. It's funny but true...get the bread and butter! The butter is amazing. I'd love to take a huge container home with me. I didn't take a picture of the menu, and it changes all the time anyway. We all loved our food. We shared 2 orders of the delicious pate which was served with grilled bread. My trout was absolutely delicious, and my husband's chicken was amazing! Cousin had the scallops, which she orders regularly. And we shared a dessert. The atmosphere is wonderful, and it was the perfect autumn upstate NY dining experience. read more

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Great food . Nice out of the way place worth the drive . You won't be disappointed !!!

Best Fresh Mint Ice Cream I've ever had. And the last time I'd know happiness. [Not bc of Ice Cream - lol] I miss you luv...

A great place with some amazing food. The cozy ambience of the place is warm and welcoming. The heritage building has it's own special charm that adds to the overall experience. Coming to the food, it is modern traditional fare, with flavours that work so well that it leaves you craving for more. We had oysters with bone marrow glaze and Coal roasted scallops with green butter. Both of these were amazing apps that was a perfect way to start the meal. It rightly whets your appetite. Then between my friend and I we shared the mains. A sweet fresh Rainbow trout with a crispy skin over a bed of fava bean and collards. The fish was flaky and delicious. Next was the hanger steak with horseradish potato mash and charred brocolini. It was that warm hearty food which is a hit with all. That mash packed a punch courtesy the horseradish! To finish off the fabulous meal was a sinfully rich dessert of almond pudding with vanilla ice cream with prunes. The pudding was decadent and rich and very tasty. A special shout-out to the amazing staff of the Stissing House. They were equally warm and welcoming as the place. They were attentive and friendly. We were running late and they went out of their way to accommodate us and make sure that our table was kept for us. This was truly a memorable meal and one of my favourite since moving to the US. Loved it !!! read more

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Hubby brought me here to celebrate my 60th birthday... while the food was amazing, the hospitality was A++++. Rachel was a delight... she had command of the menu and her recommendations were on point. Will return... and will be asking for Rachel. read more

My girlfriends and I loved this Hudson Valley food experience! The ambience of candles everywhere, the incredible food and super friendly service made it a perfect fall evening meal. read more

Living in Dutchess County offers many advantages but rarely does that mean fine dining. Sure one has access to the City for just such an experience but I have to stretch my memory to recall such an experience in the last forty years of my life outside of a gift from my daughters one year to have a meal with Lisa at the Culinary Institute in Hyde Park. Last evening was my second such experience, again courtesy of my daughters and a generous gift to dine at Stissing House in Pine Plains, NY, a beautifully restored 18th century coach inn at the intersection of old Route 9 on main street in an extreme northern part of the county just before one enters into Columbia County. Last evening was one of the top five dining events in my life. Rarely have I experienced a magical confluence of atmosphere, professionalism, gastronomy and comfortableness in one location. Stissing House is all of that and it is held together by an understated confidence of execution. Oysters, pickled vegetables, beets with citrus, yogurt and goliath, a soft cheese, leeks vinaigrette with Ardith Mae, a goat cheese, in parchment, fresh hudson valley trout with favas and lemon and chard, skewer-roasted baby artichokes and turnips with yellow eyed beans, chile and fennel topped off with a Coconut cake with an icing that was sweetly delicate and a rich rye brownie sundae. I had a Calvados cocktail topped with egg white that was heaven with my meal. The bread was a dark sourdough served with the sweetest and softest butter that just had to be slathered on each piece. All the food is locally sourced and particular care is taken with the preparation and presentation. It is not ostentatious or over the top. One never feels rushed during the meal and the service staff is efficient as they work the room, never obtrusive and professionally helpful with questions when needed as they will appear at the table as if by magic. A 7:30pm reservation had us leaving at 10:45pm and we never felt a rush to turn a table. Rooms were filled with couples and families dining and celebrating special occasions complete with young babies. The presence of a past time is cultivated and candle light took me back to a different experience of living and dining. It was a magical night and I deeply hope that Chef Clare wins the prestigious James Beard award for a best chef in the country this year. She and her staff have created a special place to experience for diners. read more

The place is set up like an old colonial inn. Nice. But it was so loud that I had trouble hearing conversation from other people at our table. Music blaring and other diners seemingly yelling at each other so as to be heard. This really took away from the experience. Irritating. Service was ok. Our waiter was friendly. Food was average at best and overpriced. Not really impressed with the place. read more

***FYI Stissing House has a new owner and executive chef as of Spring 2022 so this review pertains to the new concept/ownership!*** We stumbled upon Stissing House while driving to Millbrook and promised we'd return at a future date. So glad that we did. Who drives over 80 miles for a unique dining experience? This girl. No stranger to long roadtrips (I once took a 3-week vacation and drove around the USA, 31 states in 21 days), driving from Western Nassau County to Pine Plains, NY was easy-peasy. From their website: "Stissing House dates to the dawn of the American Republic. It was built in 1782 to serve as a watering hole for the swinging country town of Pine Plains, New York. The building accommodated a tavern, beds for travelers, and America's first domed ballroom." I am a sucker for historical places, especially ones who hold true to what the edifice once looked like. Immediately upon entering the restaurant, you will be in a large entryway with creaky floorboards and dim lighting reminiscent of gas lamps from back in the day. We arrived early so they asked us to wait in one of the sitting rooms, which had a roaring fireplace (it was less than 30 degrees this particular evening), beverages available. The room also had armchairs and sofas, flexible seating and plenty of space to stand and warm your hands by the fire. What I ordered/what we shared: We sampled some of their "snacks", including their homemade malt vinegar chips, smoked ham, Gouda cheese. I tacked on 2 oysters, available by the piece. We shared the scallop appetizer and my entree was the smoked hake with caviar and hollandaise sauce. I opted for the sticky toffee sundae, which I had been eyeing for weeks on their website menu. THE GROWS: Their kitchen is exposed, which I love. They had a woodfired oven which roars with flames as you walk by. But it also creates smoke which causes a smell to linger. Lovely to experience, but between that and the fireplaces ablaze in most rooms, you will stink like smoke when you leave. Wear washable clothing and outerwear. The room we were placed in was lovely, but the fireplace wasn't working--they were awaiting a repair. Most of us kept our coats on or at least draped over our shoulders because it was cold and drafty (yes, I love historic venues that are rustic and depicted as they once were, but it is 2023 and I am summer baby so I prefer to not have icy hands while dining). These two "grows" have nothing to do with the quality of the food and service. THE GLOWS: I hate ham. Yes, you read that correctly. But their smoked ham was magical. The oysters were fresh, the chips memorable, and the scallop appetizer bathed in a delectable white wine and garlic sauce deserves to stay on the menu permanently. Their menu changes with the availability of items from local farms, so don't 100% depend on the menu portrayed online. I promise you will be pleasantly surprised. Service is impeccable. Everyone we encountered was friendly, accommodating (we had someone with a wheelchair), and genuinely pleasant. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable of the whole menu. Our table settings were pristine and our water glasses filled regularly. The women's restroom had the BEST clary sage hand soap and I am kicking myself for not taking a pic to help me order it for my home. There is special attention paid to preserving the history of the building, including a wall of letters and candles in the window on your walk to the restrooms. Was this a deal or a deal-breaker? For the budget-conscious, this is a deal-breaker--with only two of the six of us ordering one alcoholic beverage and the rest of us drinking soft drinks or water, the bill came to a hefty $139 per person. I left comfortable, not stuffed, and for that amount of money, you'd think I would have some leftovers or the need to change into yoga pants before leaving. Nope. I am a huge fan of restaurants that step outside the box and Stissing House is definitely on my list of must-visit-again venues. Bring your wallet and sense of culinary adventure, but don't skip a meal that day because you may not leave full otherwise. read more

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Everything . ...came all the way from Laguna Beach Ca. SH will not disappoint from A-Z . Do miss out on a stupendous ambiance, outstanding service , food and drink. read more

Gorgeous interiors, stellar service, and of course the dishes are the star of the show. We came on a wintry night and the smell of open fire was scrumptious. Our favorite dishes were the scallops, the steak and the half chicken. The coconut cake was also a fantastic treat. Can't wait to come back. read more

Had a wonderful birthday dinner here tonight. We had the ham, the gouda, the pickles, my wife had the fish pie I had the chicken, and for dessert we split the rye brownie sundae (and it had a candle...made a wish, natch). This was hands down the platonic ideal of the "just a simple roast chicken" that's on every menu everywhere. Oh, you have a chicken? Should we roast it? Do it simply? HERE the answer is YES and it's INCREDIBLE. Words don't do it justice. I'm sure the fish pie was great - my wife loved it - but I was simple very, very, VERY busy on this chicken, I almost licked the plate. I would return and happily, also, order the rye brownie sundae for an app, the rye brownie sundae for a main, and then a sensible dessert of the rye brownie sundae. It was...absurdly good. Everything was GOOD. The ambiance was splendid. When the seasons and menu change, we'll be back to try new dishes. read more

This is a very special restaurant. Clearly, care is poured into every element of the food and beverage offerings. We appreciated the staff with whom we interacted. Also, the simplicity of the space was a good background for focusing on the food. read more

FABULOUS dining experience!!! Made a rez for my husband & I to celebrate our 15YR Anniversary on a November Friday. It was quite tough but luckily set 'notify' and one opened up. I also noted 'anniversary' so upon arrival the 2 gentlemen that greeted us immediately said "Happy Anniversary!", which was a lovely welcome. We were seated at a lovely table by the windows in the large dining room with the large bar & open kitchen. The restaurant is warm, rustic, chic, & charming with many other rooms and even more upstairs. Our waitress was prompt, professional, & personable. Besides excellent service, the drinks were delicious and the food was exceptional. Every dish was perfection. We ate so much food that we just wanted a little sorbet to share for dessert and our lovely waitress also brought out a large sundae with a candle on top as a sweet (literally) gesture for our celebration. This was a PERFECT evening and I HIGHLY recommend dining here! read more

Wonderful vibes in the restaurant. Service was great. Food was really great, from appetizers to entrees to dessert. Drinks were on point too. read more

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I wanted her 60th to be special. Sometimes that means driving an hour and half each way. When traveling that far for a meal, that will last half the amount of the round trip, puts the onus more on the hospitality than the food. The shoulder-less Taconic Parkway is such a defensive driving experience that you arrive exhausted. The worst would be to find the host meh and a wait staff that neither knows the nuances of the menu or has the courage to steer you away from what doesn't move their own palette. All of the aforementioned apprehensions were nowhere to be found at the @stissinghouse. The welcome was wonderful, the space was pure charm, the Manhattan (made with @stissinghouse vermouth in the cutest coupe) so memorable, and the gift of all gifts was the person who decided to assign us to Rachael, our waitress. She was everything we were hoping for, not to mention a woman who could do stand-up tomorrow and never wait again. Her thorough knowledge of the menu was amazing. And her sense of discernment to know what we were craving was perfection. On the way up to Pine Plains, we wondered where did this restaurant get their ingredients from. Rachael addressed that right at the top, letting us know where everything came from. I loved her words: "Everything is as local as it could be." I was convinced she was a veteran of the wait staff. Her parting words were, "I'm new. I've only been working here a week." . Get to this experience...and demand Rachael. read more

What a wonderful birthday dinner for my cousin! The atmosphere is cozy and appealing. It feels like a ski lodge almost. There's a fire roaring at the fireplace. The place smells great, and the kitchen is wide open. They have a great suite of cocktails. Waiter was great. I had the chicken entrée, and loved it. I ask had the frisse salsad. Also delicious. For dessert we shared a huge apple crumble with vanilla ice-cream and a hot fudge Sundae. It's not cheap but we'll worth it. A really special place read more

Stissing House - Dining hall - Bars Near Me - Pine Plains, New York

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We went there for the first time on Monday evening, the appetizers were just for show, not really about taste or value and the chicken I ordered was under cooked (Not a good thing with poultry) and almost cold, a shame, nice setting though. read more

A small group of friends and I enjoyed a wonderful brunch at Stissing House, I'd highly recommend to anyone visiting the area. The setting is special, an old tavern with beautiful design choices in keeping with the original building but updated. A great stop on a trip upstate. We were seated in a smaller room off the side of the main room, which was very lovely. I'd definitely book one of these smaller rooms for a special occasion with more friends in the future, it's the perfect mix of private and still enjoying the cheer of the whole space. Everything we ordered was excellent (the waffles and the farmer's egg plate were perfect), classic American brunch fare presented simply and done well. Last, the service was fantastic. We were with an infant and everyone from the restaurant went out of their way to make it easy for us. I look forward to visiting again soon! read more

Would give it zero stars if I could. The biggest bag of BS. Rushed appetizers, long time to get cold entrees. Everything either too salty or too sweet. Don't believe the hype. So lame. read more