Adobe Stock / Alexander Raths
At these local restaurants, Hudson Valley chefs whip up inspired dishes that celebrate the season of autumn and fall flavors.
By Raphael Beretta and Kait Waterman
Newsflash: There’s more fall goodness to savor outside of apple cider donuts in the Hudson Valley. For a truly autumnal dining experience, head to these local eateries with fall menus that celebrate the season in special ways. From harvesttime farm-to-table fare to elevated comfort food, these iconic foodie destinations are best enjoyed during sweater weather.
Brasserie 292
Poughkeepsie
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This French-inspired bistro embraces eating by the season, with a rotating menu from Hudson Valley culinary veteran Charlie Fells. Brasserie’s “farmhouse French” offerings also feature Northern Italian influences. Non-pretentious and approachable, this elevated comfort food showcases a bit of the familiar and a bit of the new, all while highlighting the fall bounty of the region. Oktoberfest fans will adore the Berkshire schnitzel, paired with spaetzle, bacon Brussels sprouts, and warm mushroom-paprika gravy. The charcuterie cheese plate includes house-cured Hudson Valley duck “ham,” and the Maison salad employs local pink lady apples to brighten a plate of Belgian endive, candied walnuts, and charred orange dressing. Plus, when the weather starts to turn chilly, nothing warms the soul like wild boar ragù.
Broadway Bistro
Nyack
This Rockland County staple is a fall classic for a reason. Sample your way through the season with harvest favorites like butternut squash-goat cheese ravioli (in a to-die-for brown butter sage sauce, no less). Of course, the menu includes lighter options like a beet salad with goat cheese fritters, a gorgonzola-stuffed pear salad, and steamed mussels. Seafood fans, come hungry! The mélange of sautéed shrimp and sea scallops, crispy pancetta, wild and shiitake mushrooms, mashed butternut squash, and fresh basil white wine perfectly mirrors the transition from summer to fall. Carnivores can dig into grilled pork chops or veal-mushroom meatloaf, two hearty meals for brisk autumn days.
Hudson Hil’s Café
Cold Spring
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Of course, no fall dining tour around the Hudson Valley would be complete without delicious baked treats. At Hudson Hil’s in Cold Spring, apple and pecan pies celebrate the season expertly. Seeking a country-style breakfast? Opt for a platter of over-easy eggs with fresh figs, prosciutto, green apples, leek hash, and country potatoes. The restaurant serves shirred eggs on a bed of wilted tri-colored Swiss chard and roasted mushrooms, sprinkled with fontina cheese. There’s even a Creole breakfast, featuring poached eggs over grilled cornbread and andouille sausage—the perfect way to brave a cold autumn morning.
Jägerberg Beer Hall
Hunter
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When it comes to fall flavors, we can’t forget about German food. The Hudson Valley’s Bavarian community comes alive during autumn with Oktoberfest celebrations and beer gardens galore. Jägerberg Beer Hall keeps tradition alive in the Catskills with a range of big tent-ready nosh. For a twist on a restaurant classic, order the German burger, which features ground beef and pork with melted alpine cheese on a pretzel roll with a horseradish pickle. The wurst platters, which allow diners to explore the many sausages of the mountains, are another prime choice. But don’t skimp on the sides. Sides like the house-made German potato salad, from-scratch sauerkraut, and hand-crafted spaetzle all rival the entrees in terms of deliciousness.
Lolita’s Pizza
Poughkeepsie
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When cold weather returns to the Valley, we return to the classics. Pizza at Lolita’s builds upon “the traditional” with a fig and capocollo pizza made with a garlic cream, soft taleggio, mozzarella, and salt-and-pepper-rosemary honey. Be adventurous enough to try the mushroom and corn pie, topped with all the truffle pecorino, mushrooms, roasted corn, and scallions you could hope for. Lolita’s also offers a selection of pastas, including a wonderful lumache made with Calabrian chili, spicy pomodoro, and sprinkling of breadcrumbs. For a delicious classic, opt for the homemade macaroni and cheese with homemade shells, a stellar four cheese blend, and chives. It’s flavor-packed Italian food—what’s not to love?
Related: 8 Fall Food Festivals That Add Flavor to the Hudson Valley
Racoon Saloon
Marlboro
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This Hudson Valley staple is ready for the changing leaves. Come join them for a light crock of French onion soup or a warm goat cheese salad with walnuts, corn, and Dijon vinaigrette. For a heartier meal, ask for the grilled portabella mushroom with sautéed baby spinach, balsamic vinegar, and a beautifully veined gorgonzola. Conversely, you could go for the calamari, deep fried and served on a bed of fresh curried greens and marinara sauce.
Millstream
Woodstock
It’s no surprise that the team behind The Dutch would achieve a deeply satisfying slew of comfort food. Pickled gulf shrimp is great for a quick lunch at Millstream, but stick around for the real fall specialties. Does anything sound quite as pleasant on a crisp fall evening as warm burrata? Romano beans, roasted peppers, and fried parsley round out a delectable Chatham cod dish. But the options don’t cease there. Snowdance Farm chicken—served with watercress, corn, basil, and summer-squash risotto del giorno—and Prince Edward Island mussels with saffron-white wine cream are also up for grabs. Pair any one of those dishes with the signature “Take Your Thyme” martini and you’ve got a seasonal supper in a breathtaking setting.
McKinney and Doyle
Pawling
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At McKinney and Doyle, even the cocktails ooze fall flavors. “Homage to Eleven” marries hints of summer fruit with fall seasonings in the way of tangerine, raspberry, lemon, rhubarb, and spices. If you’ve a hankering for a warm drink, order “Don Sint-lay” for notes of guava, dried chili, and lemon in a peanut-infused Mexican corn whiskey. For dinner, this Pawling hotspot serves butternut squash gnocchi, Moroccan spiced lamb, Berkshire pork chops, and a fall harvest cassoulet, to name a few. Round out your experience at McKinney and Doyle with a classic seasonal dessert like old-fashioned carrot cake, caramel flan, or sour cherry tart.
Oak and Reed
Middletown
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Oak and Reed pays homage to Middletown’s role in the Hudson Valley’s foodie renaissance, playing on the mystical allure of the region in its menu. Off the bat, apple butter cornbread and pan roasted octopus whet one’s appetite for fall flavors. Lighter mains include a stacked harvest salad (roasted squash, artisan greens, apples, and pecan and sherry-cider vinaigrette), and broccoli fried in gochujang chili, sesame, and scallions. Main courses are over-the-top autumnal. Order the butternut squash risotto with pumpkin seeds, smoked gouda, and brown butter one visit and then try the duck roasted in parsnips the next.
Terrapin Restaurant
Rhinebeck
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Chef Josh Kroner’s culinary creations at Terrapin warrant some attention from Hudson Valley foodies. Though many fall-esque dishes grace Terrapin’s menu year-round, there’s something special about a visit to Rhinebeck when the leaves change color. The golden nugget squash soup is the ideal prelude to a fall meal. Truffled fig, brie, and shallot quesadillas are perfect for sharing, as is the potato gnocchi with fresh mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes, and pesto. Don’t underestimate the decadence of farmers’ market crepes, stuffed with sautéed local veggies served with a warm raclette cheese mornay sauce. And if you’re looking for a kick, order a sour cherry bourbon Manhattan. Pair dinner with a movie at Upstate Films for the perfect fall date night.
Related: 8 Outstanding Places to Spot Fall Foliage in the Hudson Valley
