Mid-Hudson Valley Celebratory Dinner help needed!

[jillphilly]

Every year, my husband and I visit New Paltz for a weekend getaway. We usually have a nice dinner out to celebrate our birthdays.

For years we went to Beso but last year we had a bad experienience and do NOT want to return. So, here are some of the places I am thinking and I would like your opinion. We are willing to drive from the New Paltz area.

Can you tell me your opinion on the following? Are these really good? We want excellent food, nice atmosphere, not too fancy, but nice.

Madalin's Table: They have a new chef since the spring, anyone been there lately?

Red Onion in Woodstock

The Red Devon

Rhinecliff Hotel (chef from Madalin's Table is now cooking there)

36 Main in New Paltz

Swoon Kitchen Bar

Thanks!

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Rhinecliff Hotel
4 Grinnell, Rhinecliff, NY 12574

Swoon Kitchenbar
340 Warren St, Hudson, NY 12534

Red Onion
1654 Route 212, Saugerties, NY 12477

Beso
46 Main St, New Paltz, NY 12561

Red Devon Restaurant
108 Hunns Lake Rd, Stanfordville, NY 12581

Madalin's Table
53 Broadway, Tivoli, NY 12583

[JHW]

The service at the Red Devon is AWFUL! We still can not believe it! It set a new standard for lack of service! Madalin's Table has never let us down. How about Mercado in Redhook? Great food.

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Red Devon Restaurant
108 Hunns Lake Rd, Stanfordville, NY 12581

Madalin's Table
53 Broadway, Tivoli, NY 12583

[MisterBill2]

We had great service when we ate at Red Devon during restaurant week, the server was a student at the CIA. Was this one time that you had bad service or on multiple visits?

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Red Devon Restaurant
108 Hunns Lake Rd, Stanfordville, NY 12581

[bob gaj]

we had poor service when we were at red devon as well. we arrived as one of the first 3 or so tables in the room around 6 pm, waiter started awesome - going through the menu, describing the dishes and where they were from. i started out quite excited.

first problem - we ordered 2 different appetizers, and someone from the kitchen brings out 2 of the same appetizer. i say this (that we ordered 2 different appetizers), and the person says "oh, it's split in half". i didn't think it was, and 5 minutes later, saw another table get the same app, it wasn't split in half. "my" original appetizer never shows, fortunately.

i'm going to tell the waiter about it, brings our dinner over, and leaves. about 7/8 through the entree, asks how it was, we answer, and he disappears. finally decide it's not worth it, we order dessert and my wife orders tea.

15 minutes later, the dessert arrives. an additional 5 minutes later, the waiter comes back to let her know the tea will be coming shortly. we're virtually done dessert, so we say to forget about the tea.

got the check, i don't remember if there were 2 distinct or 2 identical apps on it, but there were 2 apps priced in. we really barely saw our waiter throughout the entire meal.

oh, the dinner was NOT jam packed or anything and it wasn't a holiday weekend / didn't look understaffed / etc.

we had MUCH worse service at another place recently, which i'll be posting about soon. it's just hard for me to get the energy to post and knock a place down.

and i've found that as i go out, i don't need (or want) exceptional or french-style service. i just want what to get what i order and for our table to get periodically looked at (to make sure we're ok).

[jillphilly]

Thank you for all of your suggestions.

We did end up at the Red Devon and it was lovely. Service was solid and the food was so fresh, My favorite part of the meal was dessert--a pumpkin tart with hazelnut crust.

Also had great fish tacos at Gypsy Wolf in Woodstock. All in all, a great weekend for food.

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Red Devon Restaurant
108 Hunns Lake Rd, Stanfordville, NY 12581

[MisterBill2]

That's great news. Now I need to get back there myself!

[cocoagirl]

My husband and I spent a few days at the Rhinecliff Hotel- we did not have dinner due to other committments- but the breakfasts there were perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. The poached eggs perfect and the greek yogurt parfait with pistachios and clover honey was a dream. They have a very nice cozy room with fireplace. It is semi- casual thought from what I could see.

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Rhinecliff Hotel
4 Grinnell, Rhinecliff, NY 12574

[jillphilly]

Can someone help me out with my questions, we are leaving next week and have not decided where to go! Thanks!

[moosesocks]

I haven't been to 36 Main and Swoon Kitchen Bar, but among the rest I'd pick Red Devon. I like their food, service and atmosphere. I personally would not go to the Rhinecliff Hotel for any celebratory dinner. The last two visits I had were not very good; the first time the stove was broken and the second time they were short on staff.

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Rhinecliff Hotel
4 Grinnell, Rhinecliff, NY 12574

Swoon Kitchenbar
340 Warren St, Hudson, NY 12534

Red Devon Restaurant
108 Hunns Lake Rd, Stanfordville, NY 12581

[MisterBill2]

I agree with Red Devon. We ate there for HVRW and had a great meal. We need to get back to try their regular menu.

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Red Devon Restaurant
108 Hunns Lake Rd, Stanfordville, NY 12581