9 Best Restaurants in The Catskills, New York

Phoenicia Diner

$ Fodor's choice
With its classic diner decor—swivel stools at the counter, cozy booths, and signs with little plastic letters announcing the specials—and gussied-up comfort food favorites, this popular diner always ends up on visitors' (and locals') best-of lists. Popular dishes include the duck and grits skillet, the trout with scrambled eggs, the house-cured corned beef hash, and the fried chicken and waffle sandwich. Get here early, as tables are hard to come by and it closes just before dinner.

The Heron

$$$ Fodor's choice
Brunch is a revelation at this storefront eatery: think scrambled eggs with cream cheese and chives or crispy eggs on jalapeño-cheddar grits, all washed down with a mimosa or a Bloody Heron—the local version of a bloody mary garnished with olives and served in a mason jar. Dinner is just as tasty, with locally sourced ingredients used for comfort-food favorites like fried chicken. The interior is cozy, with rough-hewn wood tables, schoolhouse lights, and a pressed tin ceiling. Locals belly up to the bar in back or linger out on the back deck which overlooks the river.

Bread Alone

$

Freshly baked breads and pastries beckon from the window of this centrally located café where Woodstockers go to wake up. You can get all the local gossip while waiting in line for a latte, or grab a table and enjoy a feta and leek quiche or a chicken sausage and kale sandwich. If you're pressed for time, this is the place to duck in, grab the fixings for a picnic lunch, and keep going.

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Cucina

$$$
In a rambling farmhouse painted a lovely shade of yellow, Cucina serves up some of the region's best Italian fare. There's a huge communal table if you want to meet other foodies, fireside tables for chilly fall dining, and tables on a wraparound porch that are perfect for romantic summer evenings. The menu includes a surprising array of pizzas and pastas, all reasonably priced, as well as heartier dishes like slow-roasted salmon with corn pudding or seared scallops with vegetable succotash. The meats, cheeses, and produce all come from organic farms in the nearby Hudson Valley. Italy is the inspiration for the long wine list, although there are also selections from France and farther afield.

Dancing Cat Saloon

$$

In a pretty red farmhouse at the entrance to Bethel Woods Center for the Performing Arts, the Dancing Cat Saloon—sister restaurant to the Catskill Distilling Company—is hands-down one of the best eateries in the area and a great place to dine before a concert or after a trip to the museum. The dining room is decorated with musical instruments—appropriate enough, given its location and the fact that the Dancing Cat often has live music. A favorite hangout spot is the deck, where you can sit under umbrellas overlooking the field of “Stray Cat” sculptures in front the of Catskill Distilling Company. The food ranges from expertly put-together burgers to the satisfying main courses, which includes the signature pork chops. Jazz brunch is also popular, especially with locals.

You may want to reserve ahead, as the place is always packed.

Oriole 9

$
With pale wood floors, original art on the walls, and chalkboards crowded with menu options, Oriole 9 is a local favorite known for its breakfast all day—be that the traditional eggs and bacon or something more special, like poached artichoke, curried coconut tofu hash, or bread and butter pudding served with bacon and maple syrup. There are several different soups and salads if you're not feeling breakfast for lunch, as well as heartier fare like sandwiches made with slow-braised pork or brisket with spicy mayo. The bittersweet chocolate mousse is a perfect dessert to share.

Roscoe Diner

$
This quintessential diner and local landmark has been owned by the same family since 1969 and it holds a fond place in the hearts of regulars who stop by for a belly-busting breakfast on weekends. (Get here on the early side, as it gets packed closer to noon.) Grab a booth by the window and peruse the pages-long menu. There's a little bit of everything, but the homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches are always reliably good.

Shindig

$
A casual eatery in the heart of Woodstock, this popular local hotspot delivers comfort food "just like mom used to make," if she used organic ingredients sourced from local farms and dairies. The soups and salads are tasty, but the burgers and sandwiches—like the farmhouse burger (with cheddar, bacon, and sriracha aioli) and the veggie-friendly grilled cheese (three types of cheese with date preserves)—are what keep people coming back. Mac and cheese or hush puppies are the perfect sides. Wash it all down with craft beer or cider, or a selection from the surprisingly varied wine list.

Sweet Sue's

$

French doors open into a bright, airy space filled with white wooden booths, marble-top café tables, and a stainless-steel counter where trays of fresh muffins cool. You'll see why it's a local favorite when you tuck into the Blue Monkey, a stack of blueberry-banana buttermilk pancakes, or the savory huevos rancheros and experience the efficient, friendly service. Take a note from the locals—who come armed with newspapers and books—and grab a seat outside under the colorful umbrellas. Note that Sweet Sue's is a cash-only eatery.

American Breakfast Lunch Brunch $
33 Main St., Phoenicia, New York, 12464, USA
845-688–7852
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed., No credit cards