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    The Governess Bar & Restaurant

    3.6 (41 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

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    THE GOVERNESS BAR & RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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    Ana. L.

    So I decided to grab a quick bite and check this place out--when I arrived, the view and vibe were absolutely amazing. Beautiful outdoor setup with a scenic view of the water and the bridge. I immediately asked myself, "Why haven't I heard about this spot before?" Started off with a blueberry margarita--sounds fun, right? Sadly, it was super underwhelming. Weak, barely any kick, and definitely didn't taste authentic. If you know me, you know I like my drinks STRONG, which is why I always ask for a side shot... thank goodness I did. For food, I asked the waitress for a salad recommendation and went with what she suggested--added chicken. I forgot the name, but honestly... it was a miss. The salad tasted like something straight out of a supermarket grab-and-go fridge. The chicken? Frozen, bland, and dry. Highlight of the experience? The view and outdoor ambiance... oh, and the bathroom had a full-on Frozen (yes, the Disney movie) theme playing "Let It Go"--which actually made me chuckle because, after that salad, I really did want to let it go... and leave.

    Cocktail at the Governess
    Kat B.

    We had a good dinner at the Governess. Despite being a Saturday night, it wasn't packed. Although it was busy. Location right along the water is dreamy and I could see it being a destination for outdoor seating. Too cold tonight, so we were seated inside. We had a reservation and the host initially attempted to seat us right next to the bathroom, but we requested another table by the window and were accommodated. We had impeccable service. Brooke was friendly and attentive with great recommendations. Cocktail menu changes seasonly and had lots of interesting choices. Both cocktails I ordered were good. Major downfall of the food was the tomato soup. We were warned that some people find it spicy, and it had a bit of a kick but was not overly spice. The flavor however, was something else. It was really dark red and had the consistency of marinara sauce and did not taste very tomato-y at all. We could not finish it, even after adding some sour cream. Our entrees were much better. The smashburger truly was a smash burger and was quite tasty as was the side salad. La Trempete Francaise (basically a French dip) was advertised having horseradish sauce but there was precious little on the bun. Much better after I requested more sauce. Served with sweet potato fries that were coated in sugar, so I didn't care for that. Music was quite loud. Not so loud you couldn't have a conversation, but a persistent pulsing beat at all times. And I could definitely see that as a turn off for some. All it all, we'd go back.

    Enxhi B.

    We came here for my sister's birthday because a lot of places were booked for the holiday week . We had been to this location before when there were other restaurants here . We figured we'd try The Governess out . The decor was cute but that was probably the best thing about the place . The food was ok but overpriced . It was not busy that night which should have been a sign . The service was really slow despite it not being a busy night . They also charge a credit card fee as well as automatic gratuity . Overall was a disappointing experience for a birthday celebration so we would not return .

    Soggy salad
    Kay F.

    Found Governess by chance. Pull was that its right by the water. Beautiful day so it's perfect for eating outside. I started off with a coconut margarita. It was ok. There was some.confusion about sitting outside. When we found it in Yelp, We made a reservation online but the host could not see it. We were seated outside when a table opened. Party if 3. Order 1 shrimp po'boy sandwich which comes with fries, and ginger ale, order 2 salad with fried chicken chunks and a lemonade, order 3 chili churri wings, baked potato, and Pepsi. There was a very long wait for the food. We waited longer than 30 mins for the food. At the 30 min mark we had to ask him to go check on thw order as we saw a table that was seated after us get an order of wings. Our food arrived close to 40 mins and it was very clear that the food had been sitting as it was piping hot. Order 1- very basic. Fries had started to get cold, the bread was way too much, nothing special. Order 2- very basic. Salad did not look vibrant and fresh, plus was over dressed. Order 3 - the wings lacked salt. The chimi churri sauce only coated the outside. The baked potato was served only with sour cream despite telling our server that I wanted both. I asked fpr bbq sauce which helped a bit. I also had to ask for butter which turned out to be what everything needed as it had noticable salt in it. I ordered a to go meal at the same time I ordered my meal only to have to wait an additional 30 mins after we finished eating g to get that meal and to have the server bring it to me without a bag just the way he picked it up from. The kitchen. The server was absolutely horrible. He did not print the check out for us but rather just wanted is to pay without seeing the bill. Also he included the to go order in the regular tab despite me repeating several times that it was to be separate. Between the horrible service and the long wait this was a one and done. Pity as this was a beautiful location.

    Mary T.

    The ambiance is great. Right on the water sipping drinks under a tree was heaven. Our waitress was fantastic. Very attentive and very helpful and friendly. Drinks were good and lots of choices of beers and cider. BUT if you are going to ask your customers to order from a QR code, then have FREE WIFI AVAILABLE when the service is not great AND GET someone to develop a mobile friendly website to order from. Keep in mind your customers who cannot see well from the tiny website font to not having service. You better thank your waitress that I was able to use her phone to access the menu because I would've walked out otherwise. If you want to last in this spot (which has been cycling through restaurants since the old icehouse)...you gotta fix this. The waitstaff can't even tell us what's on the menu because you change the variety of drinks so often. We couldn't even order by name...had to order by number. All I'm saying is that it shouldn't feel so hard to order.

    Grilled chicken sandwich with side salad

    I had a great experience at The Governess! We went around 2pm and there was barely anyone there. They had the place decorated for Halloween which was super cute. Our waitress, Brooke, was great and our food came out quickly. I got the grilled chicken sandwich which was very tasty. We got fries for the table which were well seasoned. We liked the burger as well as the buffalo chicken wings. Definitely recommend!

    Empanada
    Mars A.

    Everything I ordered was great besides the empanada, which had no flavor. The drinks are amazing. Seafood is always fresh. The service is warm and friendly. The space is warm with great music. The views of the Hudson are amazing. Anytime I'm in town I stop in.

    Burger!
    Nick H.

    Simply Amazing Food! Great Beer Selection too... better than almost every place in Poughkeepsie!

    Outdoor seating

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    1 month ago

    The wait staff if very rude. The drink and food prices are insanely high, and most of the time I go its empt.

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    1 year ago

    Melanie was such a kind hostess and made our stay here a time to remember. Will be coming back again

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    2 years ago

    Delish! Drinks hit the spot! Atmosphere is spot on! The view is too die for! The specials are perfect!

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    Page 1 of 2

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    Tasty Crab House

    Tasty Crab House

    3.7
    (104 reviews)
    2.8 mi
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    I just want to take a moment and apologize...TO ABSOLUTELY NOBODY*flips table* *wet seafood noises*…read moregod I've been thinking about this place since I went. It was my first time ever doing anything like this. Normally I'm very picky with seafood and complicated ways to eat food usually sends me. But this was sooooo good. None of the food was "fishy" all of it tasted amazing. Definitely suggest getting the option with all of the spices. The flavor was crazy. Really had such a fun time. Highly suggest going with a group of friends because it makes it that much more entertaining. Loved how the wall was covered in signatures. Super affordable for the type and amount of food you're getting. A decent amount of other options too if someone in your party isn't a seafood person. 10/10 I want to go back so bad

    I'd been craving a solid seafood boil--especially crab legs--for over a month. My husband, who's…read morenot a fan, finally got tired of hearing the same answer every time he asked what I wanted to eat. So off we went to Tasty Crab House. We were seated immediately, which was a great start. They serve Pepsi products, beer, and wine--no cocktails or hard liquor, so just a heads-up if that's your thing. The place has a casual seaside harbor vibe, with wood plank walls covered in sharpie graffiti. Nothing's off-limits; guests are encouraged to leave their mark. Our server, Kristy, was fantastic--patient, friendly, and really knowledgeable. She walked us through the menu and made sure all of our modifications (no corn or potatoes) were taken care of without any issue. I went with two snow crab clusters and half a pound of shrimp, tossed in a mix of all their house flavors. My husband chose the lobster tail and shrimp in butter garlic sauce. We both got a side of coleslaw. Our food came out fast--maybe in under ten minutes--and it was exactly what I was hoping for. Everything was cooked just right. The crab legs cracked open easily, the shrimp were tender, and the sauce? A buttery, garlicky Cajun dream--I could've honestly sipped it. This place definitely satisfied the craving, and I'll be back the next time it hits. Honestly, I might not even wait for my husband to tag along next time.

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    Corn $0 Comes with the LETS SHAKE IT order
    Corn $0 Comes with the LETS SHAKE IT order
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    Captain Jake's

    Captain Jake's

    3.7
    (383 reviews)
    14.5 mi
    $$

    Great place. Good drinks. Good food. Good crowd. Oysters are the bomb. Outdoor seating is great.read more

    I have read many past reviews. I think this is a place that few areas have. It's a unique place,…read morethat serves thoughtfully crafted dishes. The main theme seems to be fresh fish, seafood, and it seems fresh everything else. (Confirmed that they get fresh shipments daily). With reservations for 9 at 6:30 on a Monday, where many places are closed, we walked into a fully booked restaurant. Our giant table stood out amongst all the other full tables that were in various stages of dining. So, we took up a decent amount of the restaurant space. A reunion with family and so were happy to talk and have some bread, and drinks while they were wrapping up their other patrons also enjoying themselves. The main purpose seemed to be to time taking our orders in a way that they would come out properly. As the food came out, it was one wonderful dish after another. I could name and describe eschar one, but fresh and flavorful is the best way. I can imagine that at the time when we arrived that the kitchen was hopping. The chefs seemed to focus very well on each individual order, so of course it took some, but not excessive time. As it took a little while to start we also were not rushed out. Perhaps if we had gotten there at 5 then I suppose we might have been moved along some, since restaurants need to get some turnover at the peak hours, we were happy to offer some well rewarded patience, which was reciprocated with polite, warm, service and great food. This is a regular place for locals who know what they like. It is well worth putting some effort in to explore the various foods and drinks offered, as they were all exceptional. So, I must give it 5 stars. The food is fantastic, the atmosphere is unique and actually stunning, especially during daylight where you are overlooking the Hudson and into the mountains across the river. Thus, it is a great landmark establishment of the Newburgh area.

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    The Governess Bar & Restaurant - seafood - Updated June 2026

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