One of my favorite restaurants in the Hudson Valley a diamond in the rough beautiful old hotel run…read moreby two amazing sisters, great bartender Tommy amazing food and always a five star review

What a gem! Small restaurant and bar tucked away in a cute hotel. The decor is quirky and fun and…read moresophisticated. The ambiance is upscale but real/local. The staff was wonderful. We were greeted at the hotel entrance and walked to the bar area in a very friendly and welcoming manner. Even though we had used the wrong door, we were not turned away. The cocktails were fantastic. Beautifully made with interesting ingredients. Very small and thoughtful dining menu. Everything we tasted was delicious. We were there for happy hour and the dining room filled up pretty quickly. Can't wait to go back for dinner.

My husband and I stopped here on a whim while driving through the area looking for ice cream. It's…read moreOctober, so naturally we decided on the apple fritter with ice cream. We were expecting an apple fritter donut with ice cream on top, what we got was a huge container of apple slices fried in what was similar to funnel cake batter and a side of ice cream. It was amazing! The apples had brown sugar and cinnamon on top, but it wasn't overly sweet. My husband and I agreed this was probably one if the best things we had on our trip. It was so unique, and so very delicious. Just a warning though - they only take cash!

Always the best place to visit. The girls at the window, Jacky and Jillian are so attentive,…read moreprofessional and polite. We always enjoy our time here and the food. They have several options to choose from. Cold & hot sandwiches, salads, ice cream, milkshakes and more. Prices are cheap, and the quality of the food is GREAT. Will always return! Thanks girls.

The decor reminds you of a German Brauhaus. We had 2pm reservations and were seated promptly. Our…read morewaitress was friendly and attentive. Our drinks came out quickly As for our appetizers they came out promptly and were delicious. As for our main meals, the portions were perfect and the flavors were great. If you're look for authentic german cuisine the Jaeger Haus is the place to go!!! I am looking forward to our next visit.

On our way back from meeting our new grandson for the first time in Rhinebeck ((born early this…read moremorning, 10-4-25, and everyone doing splendidly) , we stopped at one of our favorite local places for authentic tasting German food--Jaeger Haus (5084 NY-9G) in Tivoli, NY.  My one sentence review for card-carrying members of team Cliff Notes: "German beer on tap, a good selection of German wines, and authentic tasting German cuisine at really reasonable prices served up by friendly staff in an environment which just exudes Gemütlichkeit."  Everyone else is invited to continue reading, Bitte. There used to be numerous German restaurants in NYC and throughout upstate NY, but over the years those numbers have dwindled substantially to a handful.  A relatively new addition to the local Hudson Valley dining scene Jaeger Haus was started in 2018 (in a 70 year old restaurant building) and serves up seriously tasty and authentic tasting German beer, wine, and food.  We've dined there a few times over the last two years of visiting this year--the mood is relaxed, the beer is delicious, and food remind us of our travels to Germany and Austria.  The menu is tight and by that I mean it's focused on what they do well--which is traditional German food. While I wish they might add a few classic German appetizers to their menu for variety, their range of entrees provides ample choice and I am slowly making my way through those selections. Lola, one of our servers for the evening, quickly took our drink orders.  I ordered a mug of Hofbrau Original Lager (on tap) and after being given a tasting, my wife ordered a pint of Hofbrau Weissbier (which is similar to the sort of wheat beer she occasionally enjoys).  So refreshing.  A basket of house-made thinly sliced Roggenbrot (rye bread) arrived soon after our drinks with softened butter, lightly sprinkled with sea salt. We passed on the appetizers, knowing that our entrees would be substantial.  My wife ordered the Wienershcnitzel which comes with braised red cabbage and house-made spaetzle lightly sauced with a cream gravy.  These are classic sides which one can find served in restaurants from Vienna or Munich to Heidelberg or Berlin.  I ordered exactly the same thing (having tried other dishes on our prior visits), except I ordered my Wienerschnitzel "a la Holstein" (with a fried local farm egg).  The egg, especially the large yolk, provides an added level of lusciousness to the crispy veal.   Our meals arrived in due course.  They were gorgeous to look at and ate even better than they looked.  The spaetzles were soft and fluffy, the red cabbage was rich and well spiced, and the veal . . . the veal was heavenly.  Crisp on the outside, fork tender on the inside, dipping into a bit of the egg yolk (in my case); goodness what a delightful taste sensation. Just delicious.  We both earned "clean plate" certificates tonight--suitable for framing--felt satiated, but not overly full (which is where we like to end a meal).  We nursed our beers a bit longer, sharing memories from this special day, paid our bill (the bill encouraged customers to tip in cash, which we did), thanked the staff, bid the co-owner "danke schön und Wiedersehen" and we were on our way.

Amazing amazing amazing, loved everything about Miss Lucy's and wish we could've gone back for…read moreanother visit while in town! Definitely make a reservation beforehand as it was busy! Menu had lots of variety and the dessert specials were to die for. Everything was delicious - highly recommend the calamari appetizer and the complimentary bread was fantastic. I just about licked my dinner plate clean (get the duck breast)! Friends loved the fried chicken and the salmon. Wine list was great and service was wonderful.

We were eager to check out Miss Lucy's as one of the more popular spots in Saugerties. Thankfully…read moreit wasn't too annoying to get a reservation and we found the spot to be busy and popular among locals and tourists alike. Walking in we were seated promptly though we immediately noticed that the interior was extremely dark. Not a big deal but worth flagging for older folks who might have a hard time reading. Our server was friendly and relatively attentive and walked us through the menu. We started off with some classics including their bread and butter (which was tasty and delicious) and ordered their P.E.I Mussels ($19) along with their Fried Brussels Sprouts ($15) to share. The portions were quite large for everything (great if you're in a larger party) but we immediately noticed that the mussels they served seemed a bit off. Many of them were not opened all the way (a sign that they might not be the freshest or recently passed) and had a bit of a fishy taste to them. We ended up not finishing them and flagged them to our waiter. The other items, including the 14oz Ribeye ($43) and baby back ribs ($28) were better, though a bit one-note. The bay back ribs in particular were extremely saucy and the corn bread was dry and a bit tough to eat. I had to use a knife to split it apart as it kept crumbling every time I used a fork. Regardless, it seems like a popular spot for a reason and perhaps we just went during more of an off-night. I'd still recommend checking it out but avoiding the mussels if you go.

I was sooo looking forward to our Valentine's Day dinner at Feast & Floret! Planned for an early…read morebird dinner (5pm!) because we had tickets to a jazz show right after. Our table was in the same room as the bar but next to the fireplace. The bar doesn't have actual seating - they have tables in front of it which is nice and keeps the intimate, moody quiet vibe. It definitely had a romantic vibe with the fire, the lighting and lots of flowers throughout hanging from the ceiling. My only complaint is that there was a table with kids who were pretty noisy in the beginning. Not exactly what I was expecting for my Valentine's Day dinner but that's what I get for an early dinner! The food was excellent overall. We had a sense of what we wanted but then the server came over and told us the specials which threw us for a loop! I was dead set on getting pasta because Feast & Floret is known for their homemade pasta but we ended up ordering a few different plates: Quail Special - This was my first time ever having quail. The plate came out with 2 whole birds and to say I wasn't nervous would be a lie. It was a little salty (not sure if maybe it should be) but tender and delicious. It came with creamed Kale and nuts. Chilled Beets with Mint - Weird having with a hot meal but still so good. Butternut Squash Arancini -- A must try. You can taste a hint of butternut squash. It wasn't too overpowering. Affogato - The simplest dessert on the menu but worth it. Regarding drinks, try their Honey Old Fashioned. I'm not a whiskey drinker but always try my girlfriend's drink when we go out. Their Honey Old Fashioned was so good that it made me want to order one for myself! Feast & Floret also sells their own honey. Before we left to get to the show, I had asked about making our own bouquet. Grace, the florist, allowed us to pick what we liked and she arranged our bouquet

Came back and had an amazing lunch! I was so impressed by my tagliatelle bolognese - the fresh…read morepasta was amazing as was the meat, which was super tender. My husband liked his gnocchi but I thought it paled in comparison to the tagliatelle, though still good. Our friend got the pork ribs entree and said they were good but didn't have enough meat in the bones so it wasn't much to eat. Although not advertised, they had an eggless kids pasta that my 15 month old daughter loved. We walked in on a Sunday when they opened at 12pm with no reservation as a party of 4 (3 adults and 1 baby - glad they had a high chair) and got seating outdoors under a shaded covering with a fan, but it was still warm (indoors was fully booked). So suggest a reservation if you can. Can't wait to return!

I am a sucker for a good cocktail bar. The fact they offer bao buns was enough for us to stop in…read more The baos come in mushroom or duck, in a flight of 3. We ordered the duck. All you could taste was the hoisin. So sweet it buried the duck and the pickled vegetables. Why was it garnished with random lettuce? Who knows? The heavy-handed hoisin was bad, but the buns' lack of fluffiness was downright depressing. The cocktails were a blast. The one mocktail was a hit. The tiki-themed Portal, served in a poisoned-apple mug, was fun. The espresso martini was the highlight of the night. I could have used 40oz of it. Recommend the drinks. Skip the bao.

Cocktail bar and restaurant, the interior is quirky and appealing. Everything they brought out…read morelooked creative and tasty, it was hard to resist not going to other tables to sample :). We ordered the mussels, which came with shrimp, in a tomato based broth. Seafood was fresh and tasty. We also ordered a side or grilled veggies, which were similarly tasty. Next time we would love to try the cocktails. Only gripe is sound travels in this restaurant and the table next to us was so loud. Otherwise, a lovely evening.

Wonderful! I came here with my mother after a long day of rock climbing. The pretzel was FANTASTIC,…read moreespecially with the smoked Gouda sauce. My mother ordered an incredible tuna dish and I had the vegetable spaetzle, which was enormous and extremely fresh and delicious. Our server was serious but somehow jovial at the same time. My one qualm was that the butter was a bit hard to spread.

WOW. Such a fun experience with delicious food, drinks, and music! Came here for dinner with a…read moregroup, I recommend making reservations beforehand, and it was awesome! There was live music and a dance floor where people were dancing. The energy was great. All the servers were so kind and although it was busy, our orders came timely. Highly recommend the fried mushrooms and beer pretzel to start, they were delicious! The Oktoberfest beer was amazing, and they import it from Germany as well, definitely do not miss this one. Our favorites were the Wiener schnitzel and the potato salad and sauerkraut were so good. The decor was so fun and it felt like a very immersive and genuine experience.

THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH STARS TO RATE DAMON BAEHREL!!!!! The hubs and I were extremely lucky and…read morefortunate in being able to come here to celebrate my birthday!!! Damon Baehrel, which is named after the chef himself, is probably considered the most exclusive restaurant in the world. It is literally a one-man show, as Chef Baehrel is the one who cooks, serves, and hosts a 5-6+ hour-dining experience for his guests at his beautiful home on his 12-acre property in upstate NY. As most know, this restaurant is booked solid until the year 2026, and they have not been taking any reservations/adding parties onto their waiting list since last year/'14 (this is for an indefinite period of time) - you bet your tootin' bootin' that I felt so victorious for bypassing others on the list by 11+ years!!! (Just note that it really doesn't matter 'who' you are, 'who' you know, and/or if you come equipped with a list of multiple referrals.) Known for his 'Native Harvest Cuisine,' every single item on his menu (besides the seafood that is brought fresh from Nova Scotia from his private supplier) is made/created/raised on the premise - when I mean every item, I mean EVERY item, from the flours, pressed oils, vinegars, breads, to the curing his own meats and aging his own cheeses! This restaurant is the epitome and the prime definition of what 'farm-to-table' should really be! We were welcomed warmly from Chef Baehrel, and I was super excited that we were his only guests for the evening - YES, IT WAS JUST THE 3 OF US, THE HUBS, ME, AND THE CHEF!!! (I think I literally sobbed right on the spot). Our super private dining experience was about 5.5+ hours, but actually flew right on by and was like a total dream - we were given a multi-course menu (about 24-26+ items, including some handful of extras since the Chef was just super excited in having us(!!!)), that featured seasonal, organic plants/fruits/vegetables/trees from his property, in addition to a lovely educational overview of each of the ingredients used for the dish. I just couldn't believe at some of the ingredients that he had used, and how each of them had a distinct flavor (and were all actually edible/okay for human consumption!) - it was amazing to listen to the experimentation, the time spent, the punctuality of harvesting such items throughout the year, and the multiple aging/preserving/curing process that he does. I had a lovely wine pairing with the multi-course dinner (delicious champagne, reds, whites, and dessert wines), while the hubs had homemade juice pairings made from the luscious fruits/tree saps (super delicious and refreshing!). The love, the passion, and the excitement from the chef was just purely an eye-opener, and this literally was the BEST DINING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE!!! BELIEVE THE HYPE (of the very few limited ones there are) - Chef Baehrel will change your life and exceed any and all expectations that you may/will have!!! You have to go there to experience it personally, as there are no words to describe such a unique experience - the overwhelming appreciation that you obtain in tasting the raw essence of the ingredients that are found around you was truly truly truly remarkable - Chef Baehrel is a GENIUS! Just note that there is no photography/video/recording equipment/note-taking allowed inside the restaurant, so PLEASE be respectful to the Chef (and, shame on those 'bloggers' who disregard/circumvent around this request/policy!). I cannot wait to go back! :D +BEST DINING EXPERIENCE EVER!!! +Chef Damon Baehrel :D +Native Harvest Cuisine :D +5.5+ dining experience :D +no photography/video/recording equipment allowed inside the restaurant - please be respectful!

Much has already been written about Damon Baehrel so I will try and be succinct. I put in my…read morereservation request in August 2012 and fully expected a 5-year minimum wait but to my delight I was able to snag a "special seating" on a Sunday at 4pm. It helps to be flexible with your dates and within driving distance. 20 courses (!), 4.5 hours. 5 hour round trip drive. 1 car rental. Completely worth it. Damon Baehrel is the ultimate host, completely charming and engaging. My wife and I were the only guests and it was awesome! Not awkward at all. What I loved about the meal, besides his "Native Harvest" dishes, was that by the end of it you can start to understand his botany heavy food lexicon, as certain themes started to emerge. Stevia and clover as thickening agents, all sap everything, powders galore, nut flours, fermentation trickery, homemade cheese. Homemade everything! (except some salt and the seafood/wine). Hearing his insanely detailed and clever course preparations makes you feel guilty about eating all of these small bites in less than 30 seconds. Damon paces the meal perfectly, always happy to chat and answer your questions at length. He takes great satisfaction in his cooking and sharing his techniques. This meal is about learning the process as much as it is about eating, and both are better for it. There were some items that sounded cooler than they tasted, but overall each dish was solid. The highlights for me were the teal duck and the duck egg "creme brulee". I guess I like duck. If you are fortunate enough to get a reservation here come with an open mind and don't expect a rich fancy-pants food experience or you will be disappointed. PS - Leaving a one-star review for a restaurant you have never eaten at just because you can't get a reservation is pathetic.

Finally made it back to Hudson valley. Stayed in Windham this time, but still made it top priority…read moreto make the quick drive to Piccolo Trattoria. Service was friendly and the food was amazing. The "new" (to us) building was spacious and clean. Perhaps because it wasn't too busy on a Thursday evening, it wasn't overly crowded (three tables were taken when we got there at around 8pm), but you could definitely hear the conversations from tables that were close by. Complimentary rolls were delicious. We got the Calamari Fritta to start and no complaints. Nice, crisp, light breading with a pleasant marinara dipping sauce. My GF got the Gnocchi in a fra diavolo sauce, which she loved (and said would order again) and I got the shrimp scampi with linguine; it came with 7 or 8 decently-sized shrimp that was combined with the silky smooth, lemony, buttery, garlicky scampi sauce. Absolutely would order again. Piccolo Trattoria will always be on my list of go-to places whenever we are in the area.

Tried to order take out tonight... let's just say that never happened. The hostess was extremely…read morerude !

Yo this spot is bougie af but in a good way…read more You can dress somewhat nice in here. Honestly we rolled up in Disneyland day attire. Like shorts, shirt, dad hat backwards, with a baby car seat and we were welcomed in with open arms *cue Journey*. The tiacolo and tetela were good. The smoked pig and pork belly were delicious too. Got couple glasses of white to wash it down. We had homeboy(server) literally describe everything to us and he was super friendly and chill about it. Honestly this spot is a cool date night spot but also could be a good family outing. As a tourist, I'm glad to have spent the extra dime here because gyyyaaawdamn this part of New York lacks flavor. You would think closer to the farms, would be a bit better, but maybe just the areas we visited were ehh. This was the only spot in Leeds we checked out cuz we were more congregated around Saugerties. Idk the area just tryna spell the context. Everything is like 15-30 away from each other so maybe there's other spots just like this with a bit more cost effectiveness.

This is really a 4.5…read more Casa Susanna is located in a cabin-like hotel that is surrounded by quite a few cabins, so it's a casual space. It has low ceilings and feels nice and comfortable. Since it was a Sunday, it was brunch time. I ordered the chilaquiles which had tender, flavorful pork/barbacoa. All components were done well, from the crisp chips to the salsa verde. I would have preferred my eggs a bit more runny, but it didn't detract from all the wonderful flavors. I also ordered the concha with cacao and it was softer than any concha I've ever had - which was great. The cacao is subtle but it was definitely there. Service was friendly and timely. I'm definitely a fan and I'd happily stop by again to try more items.