84 Best Restaurants in Hudson Valley, New York

This outpost of Dan Barber's famed Blue Hill restaurant in Manhattan occupies a barn on the grounds of Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. The seasonal menu features the center's own produce and meats as well as the bounty of other local farms. The space is beautiful and elegant in its restraint, with high picture windows and the barn rafters. Banquettes are dressed in brown and set off against cream walls. There are no set or print menus here; diners have their choice of a Grazing, Pecking, and Rooting menu for $280 a person, or a Farmer's Feast menu at $148 per person. Both feature several courses that are based on the day's harvest, and also offer delectable wine pairings for an additional cost.

This popular food stand sets up in a tiny trailer on the grounds of Hardeman Orchards between late April and late September. The owner (known by her childhood nickname Bubby) serves vegetarian burritos (with or without guacamole) and quesadillas. The heated tortillas are almost bursting at the sides with black beans, salsa, lettuce, cheese, and sour cream. There are two flavorful salsas that can be added; the green tomatillo one is spicier. Soft drinks and Mexican aguas frescas can be picked out of a cooler.

There's more to this storefront patisserie than meets the eye. Exquisite cakes, tarts, and baked goods fill the pastry case. The lunch and dinner fare always includes a vegetarian option or two, such as penne tossed with wild mushrooms, baby spinach, and roasted red peppers. Calico is known for its roasted garlic soup garnished with crème fraiche that chef Tony Balassone, a Hudson Valley native, once served at the James Beard House. The chef also prepares a flavorful Marseillaise bouillabaisse, brimming with shellfish in lobster broth.

Hot dogs are the specialty at this narrow spot with a counter and a handful of tables. "One with everything" means a steamed dog on a steamed bun topped with slightly spicy chili sauce, a dab of mustard, and a sprinkling of chopped onions. The sauce livens up fries, too; temper it with ketchup if it's too spicy for you.

You never know which eclectic special you'll see on the menu at this cozy bistro and bar in uptown Kingston. So take a seat in one of the red leather chairs and admire the paintings from local artists on the wall while you peruse the exciting menu. If you sit at the bar, you can watch the chef in action. Don't be surprised to see roasted tomato and Brie frittata for breakfast, a North African spiced pork stew for lunch, and a roasted leg of lamb for dinner. Just be sure to save room for the goat cheese custard dessert with fruit compote.

Named for the Manhattan neighborhood where the owners (chef Craig Stafford and his wife Jessica Stingo) met, this sophisticated steak house wouldn't be out of place in its namesake neighborhood. Three cuts of steak (hanger steak, filet mignon, and a 16-ounce rib eye) are served with your choice of sauces including chimichurri, housemade steak sauce, and au poivre. There are plenty of options for non-carnivores, including oysters, littleneck clams, fish, pastas, and a terrific veggie burger made with roasted eggplant and brown rice. The shoestring fries alone are worth the drive.

This bright and cozy café wins over Cold Spring locals and visitors with its "breakfast until 4 pm" menu that includes chocolate babka French toast, biscuits and gravy, and a grilled Gouda cheese sandwich with Granny Smith apples. Their Bloody Marys are extra spicy. The lunch menu offers lighter fare such as Cobb salads and salmon BLTs. Make sure you leave room for a slice of homemade sky-high carrot cake or flourless chocolate cake.

Save room for the sticky toffee pudding cake or one of the other amazing desserts at this American restaurant in the former village hall. The wine is stored behind bars in the old jail, and other historic accents make for a charming dining room. Entrée favorites include shrimp and pappardelle puttanesca with anchovies, black olives, and capers, as well as Asian barbecue duck breast with whipped potato, baby bok choy, and apple-orange chutney. Brunch is a show-stopper.

Vaulted rustic beams and cozy fireplaces warm this sophisticated restaurant overlooking picturesque duck ponds and landscaped gardens. The menu changes seasonally and may include tartare of Japanese hamachi, grilled swordfish in a bouillabaisse broth, or the chef's famous cowboy ribeye for two. If you're not up for a full dinner, try small plates and great cocktails at the bar. The restaurant is in Congers, 4 miles north of Nyack.

This 1825 church contains two dining options: a casual bistro and a more-formal dining room. The bistro menu lists soups, stews, and a make-your-own sandwich board, as well as traditional entrées. Expect a lively crowd at the bar, especially on weekends. With white-cloth-draped tables, the main dining area is quieter. The food veers from creative to comforting. A popular starter is baby-arugula salad with goat-cheese wontons. For entrees, try the horseradish-crusted ahi tuna with miso aioli or the grilled, dry-aged T-bone served with Roquefort blue cheese butter.

Chefs Charles and Megan Fells started a dining renaissance on Poughkeepsie's once destitute Main Street when they opened this New American bistro and wine bar in a chic spot that wouldn't be out of place in New York City's Flatiron district. Fish is flown in fresh, and if it's available (the menu changes every two weeks), pork lovers shouldn't miss the Three Little Pigs: pork tenderloin stuffed with housemade pork sausage topped with a horseradish-bacon glaze. For dessert, Megan's daily cheesecake special is always divine.

Using modern techniques pioneered by the great Lyons chef Paul Bocuse, this contemporary successor to the Culinary Institute of America's Escoffier, serves classic French cuisine in a casual yet sophisticated beige and white room designed by famed restaurant designer Adam Tihany. In addition to such iconic dishes like black truffle soup, torchon of goie gras, and rack of lamb, there's an informative and reasonable wine list (presented on an iPad). There's also a dessert cart that serves specialty cocktails and hand-cranked ice cream prepared tableside with liquid nitrogen in two minutes.

Impeccable service, elegant decor, and extraordinary food by chef and owner Peter X. Kelly make this 40-seat restaurant a not-to-be-missed special-occasion place. Dinner is a relative bargain: $70 gets you a four-course, prix-fixe meal with an amuse-bouche (bite-size appetizer) and petits fours. The menu, which changes seasonally, might include roasted breast of squab served with Hudson Valley foie gras, lobster with vanilla beurre blanc and parsnip puree, and a tasting of raw fish. The wine cellar stores more than 600 bottles. Lunch, served Friday and Sunday, is $35 prix fixe.

The locally-sourced menu here changes daily, but the bistro-style dishes always have a Mediterranean accent. You'll find lots of fresh seafood, like yellowfin carpaccio, fresh shucked oysters, baby shrimp crudo and P.E.I. mussels. There's also plenty for the vegetarian set too, like feta-stuffed ravioli and chickpea sliders with cumin yogurt. On the weekends, there's a lively bar scene.

Regional fare is the specialty at this student-staffed restaurant at the Culinary Institute, and local and seasonal ingredients are emphasized. Local beef is bathed in roasted bone marrow garlic butter and there's a daily preparation of cage-free Hudson Valley foie gras. The restaurant is in Roth Hall, once a Jesuit seminary.

The Culinary Institute's most casual dining option showcases luscious desserts and breads made daily. The light lunch menu lists soups, sandwiches, pizza, and salads. The atmosphere is relaxed, and prices are reasonable. The line can get quite long around noon on weekdays, but moves fairly quickly.

You can unwind at this popular bistro with brick walls and a bar along one wall. The wide-ranging menu includes dishes such as Cajun-cornmeal fried calamari, slow-roasted pulled pork with Carolina BBQ, and sesame-dressed soba noodle salad. There are also several vegetarian options and a long list of beers.

Ben Gable was known for his savory pies and quiches in Brooklyn before he and his partner moved upstate to open this welcoming café serving his signature savories made with local milk, cream, cheese, and eggs. The café also sells sandwiches, soups, salads, and sweets.

What looks like a kitschy old diner on the outside might as well be a trattoria in Capri on the inside: photos of the island adorn the walls and the food is authentic Italian. That's why locals wait in long lines to get in. Its pastas—veal-stuffed ravioli, baked pasta with eggplant and loads of cheese—are renowned. Vegetables such as wilted broccoli rabe are also a specialty.

The paper tablecloths and the crayons displayed in water glasses reflect the relaxed nature of this eatery. From seared monkfish to burgers made from grass-fed local beef, everything here is just right. The kitchen makes the most of local produce. Vegetarian entrées change nightly, drawing aficionados from miles around.

This classic French bistro is famed for its raw bar, which it stocks with frequent seafood deliveries. Fresh briny oysters (only $1 each at Sunday brunch) are perfectly complemented by the mignonette and spicy cocktail sauce. Mussels are prepared with tasso ham, leeks, and cream; duck confit is cured in a mixture of salt, sugar, and spices. The menu changes every three weeks but the popular steak tartare is always on the menu as are the impeccable french fries.

The European-style bakery receives daily deliveries from its main facility in nearby Boiceville. The loaves, shaped by hand and baked in wood-fired ovens, come in such varieties as hearty whole grain and baguettes—and can be found at many local farmers' markets throughout the Hudson Valley. The café, with six tables and a window bar, is a comfortable place for a cappuccino. There's also a dining room in the back that serves breakfast and lunch. Wine and beer are available.

This clean and classic restaurant serves northern Italian fare. A mahogany ceiling and cherrywood floor in the dining room give way to a lighter, more elegant, birch-maple motif in the main dining room. The homemade pastas and raviolis are local favorites; the ravioli with beef or veal ragout is sublime. During warm weather, enjoy a romantic candlelight dinner in the tiered garden. The owners also run an inn housed in three impeccably restored houses close by.

This elegant and rustic boulangerie/bistro features handmade artisanal breads and sophisticated pastries and fruit tarts. The dining room serves classic French dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Standouts include housemade sausages and pâtés, crostini topped with artichoke and feta or roasted garlic rosemary hummus, and moules frites. The brick patio is a welcome oasis in warm weather while the zinc bar is an intimate spot for a rendevous with wine, craft beer, or cocktails.

The jolly sunburst graphic on the café sign and the banks of colorful flowers on the front steps are très French. Warm terra-cotta–tone walls and vine-motif sconces continue the theme inside. The food is authentic French bistro fare, well prepared and presented. What a delight to find a really good croque- monsieur and moules (mussels) or steak frites. Tarte tatin, baked by the chef and served with a scoop of crème fraîche, is not to be missed.

Riverfront tables under a mandarin-orange canopy make for a relaxed meal at this small eatery, perfect for lunch, dinner, or just dessert in warm weather. When the air is nippy, head inside to the slightly cramped but warm space. The chairs are rickety and the service can be slow, but all is forgiven upon the arrival of the authentic Italian fare. Try a warm panini with Brie, arugula, and truffle oil, or a thin-crusted, prosciutto-topped pizzetta from the wood-burning oven. Tiramisu and cappuccino cake pair well with a selection of dessert wines and ports.

Swaths of sheer fabric and vibrant murals romance the interior of this rustic trattoria—a paean to northern Italian food. Transplanted New Yorkers sip reds and whites from an extensive wine list. Sage-browned butter laces silky calves' liver, and an espresso demi-glace enlivens grilled hanger steak. The gnocchi pairs well with the lamb ragu. Vegetarians can choose from pasta dishes such as whole-wheat fusilli primavera.

Chef Chaminda Widyarathna and his wife Shiwanti hail from Sri Lanka and serve specialties from their home country alongside some of the best Indian food in the Hudson Valley. To start, try the chicken tenders topped with peppers, onions, tomatoes, and Sri Lankan spices. The chef's divine fish curry cooked in tangy tamarind sauce with spicy chiles is wonderful. The couple also have an outpost in Poughkeepsie.

Gardens surround this elegant colonial-style restaurant, 8 miles south of Katonah. Crabtree's is known for such creative dishes as grilled foie gras with toasted brioche, candied orange, and Bordeaux syrup. Portobello mushrooms, served as a main course, are roasted and given the Wellington treatment—encased in puff pastry and served with wild mushroom sauce.

A grand experience awaits at this lavishly appointed restaurant at the Castle on the Hudson. Choose from three formal dining rooms: the Oak Room, with ornately carved built-ins from France; the Tapestry Room; and the Garden Room, which has breathtaking Hudson River views. French influences make their way into the Auberge-style fare and inventive dishes, which the chef creates using naturally sourced ingredients.