Foodies in Poughkeepsie have it so good right now. Over the past few months, the last stop on the Metro-North line has welcomed not one, but three new eateries, with a fourth soon to come. So the next time you want to go out to lunch or plan a day trip to the riverside town, bookmark these new-in spots on your list of Google Maps favorites. Happy eating!
Jerk chicken with rice and peas / Photo by Ingrid Hernandez
Café Sweet Spot
296 Main St, Poughkeepsie
Opened: March 2019
The Lowdown: Situated in the Queen City’s Main Street district, Café Sweet Spot offers scrumptious breakfast and lunch fare with a subtle Caribbean twist. Head on over in the morning, when you can pick and choose between baked apple oatmeal, challah French toast, or ricotta pancakes. If you crave a savory start, the eatery also does a delectable plate of breakfast tacos (slow-roasted orange-glazed pork, anyone?). For the lunch crowd, the jerk chicken or the Chimi Burger with the secret sauce will leave you in a very happy food coma. As for décor, the space walks the line between cozy, minimalistic, and slightly industrial, making it an ideal place to bring friends for brunch (it’s on Saturdays and Sundays, in case you’re wondering). Stay tuned in the next few weeks, when the café rolls out its new dinner menu, too.
Soup at Thailicious / Photo by Jeffre Boisvert
Thailicious
138 South Ave, Poughkeepsie
Opened: March 2019
The Lowdown: Once a food truck parked off Route 52 in Fishkill, Thailicious made the move to a dedicated storefront in March after just over a year in business. Located a short distance from Vassar Brothers Hospital, the eatery specializes in the same Thai specialties for which the truck was known. Sample Thai dumplings, made with thin skin that pockets chicken and delicate mushrooms and bamboo slices, or develop a mild addiction to the curry puffs, pastries stuffed with ground chicken, onions, potatoes, and secret spices that are primed for dipping in the refreshing cucumber sauce. Notably, many of the specials at Thailicious are gluten-free, which means that no-wheat eaters can happily indulge on ginger chicken, pineapple fried rice, and, yes, pad Thai. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily during the week.
Laura’s Family Restaurant
2585 South Rd, Poughkeepsie
Opened: February 2019
The Lowdown: If you grew up in or around the Poughkeepsie area, chances are you remember Southside Café. Hidden in a strip plaza on Route 9, Southside was a family-owned eatery that served down-home comfort food. Although it closed in 2017 following the deaths of its original owners, it recently reopened under a new name. Led by Nikki Kaelber, who left her career as a paralegal to take over the family business, Laura’s pays tribute to Kaelber’s mother and Southside’s former owner. On the menu, Laura’s stays true to its cozy food roots, featuring American classics like tuna melts and grilled cheeses alongside heartier mains like hot open turkey with stuffing and honey-dipped fried chicken. As for drinks, the beer lineup is surprisingly extensive for such a hole-in-the-wall location and even showcases local sips from Blue Collar in Poughkeepsie and Sloop in Fishkill.
Coming Soon:
Baka Americana
264 North Rd, Poughkeepsie
Opens: Late May 2019
The Lowdown: Located across the street from Marist College, Baka Americana may very well become the new spot for ridiculously good ramen in Dutchess County. Keep an eye out for opening announcements on Facebook, then get hungry for a bowl of hot, slurpable noodles that pair wonderfully with bubble tea, Baka’s other specialty.
