7 Best Restaurants in The Catskills, New York

Bistro Brie & Bordeaux

$$$ Fodor's choice
A red-and-white striped awning shades the entrance to this charming French eatery housed in an 1875 building which was once home to the town's daily newspaper, and has been restored according to old photos to bring back the gabled roof and other details. With buttery yellow walls, wood beams, and butcher paper on the tables, the dining room is a subtle and warm nod to the old country. Chef Stéphane Desgaches' traditional but sophisticated menu includes mussels in a white wine and cream broth, veal scaloppini with prosciutto and mozzarella, and rack of lamb with roasted fingerling potatoes. Two- and three-course tasting menus are a great way to sample it all.

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.

Bear Cafe

$$$
Travelers, locals, and a mix of local and traveling hippies and aging rockstars cozy up to the fireplace or chill out by the stream at this lively, rustic bar and restaurant perched on the bank of Sawkill Creek, about 3 miles west of Woodstock. Sit on the west side of the restaurant for an unfettered view of the trickling waters of the Saw Kill; the patio is about as close to the water as you can get without falling in. The kitchen prepares American fare, such as its signature filet mignon dressed with port-garlic sauce and Stilton butter. The well-curated wine list has helped this place win awards every year.

295A Tinker St., Bearsville, New York, 12498, USA
845-679–5555
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No lunch, Credit cards accepted

Recommended Fodor's Video

Catskill Rose

$$$

Organic gardens line the restaurant's perimeter, hinting at the fresh ingredients Peter and Rose DiSclafani incorporate into their mostly new American, seasonally driven menu. Dishes may include such favorites as smoked duck with an apricot-apple cider sauce or trout with green-olive pesto. The 26-seat dining room is cozy, calling to mind a diner with its metal-framed chairs and huge windows.

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.

Joshua's

$$$

In business for more than four decades, this venerable eatery's unassuming interior gives no hint of the wonders coming out of the kitchen. The inventive Middle Eastern menu includes zucchini flat cakes with yogurt and apricot jam and red beet risotto with seared scallops and asparagus. Joshua's smorgasbord brings together hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, dolmas, and warm pita bread. A popular spot for vegans, vegetarians, and those on a gluten-free diet.

The Red Onion

$$$
The menu changes daily at the Red Onion, meaning that chef Kevin Katz is always looking for creative ways to use fresh, local ingredients. Recurring favorites include out-of-the-ordinary Faroe Island salmon with a citrus beurre blanc and seafood risotto with Mexican jumbo shrimp. Appetizers may range from traditional guacamole to black truffle pierogies—all made on the premises, of course. The place is known for its generous cocktails, but there's also a smart wine list. The dining room is in an atmospheric old farmhouse, and there's a porch perfect for drinks in summer.