It’s a well-known fact that some of the world’s best food and drink comes from France. But if a trip to Paris or Provence isn’t currently in the budget, you can enjoy the country’s staples a little closer to home in the Hudson Valley.
At the likes of Le Gamin Country, for instance, you can just pop in for a coffee and a croissant. For full-blown foodies in search of a little slice of heaven, look to The Bocuse Restaurant, where you’ll scarf down a three-course meal prepared by chefs-in-training at The Culinary Institute of America.
With that said, who’s ready to nosh on some escargot?
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Les Baux
Millbrook
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Whatever your appetite calls for, Les Baux will deliver with French classics as imagined by Chef Herve Bochard. After traveling the world and earning international recognition for his cooking in France, Bochard decided to share his gift for food with the Hudson Valley. Whether you come for a small plate or les plats—that’s Baux-speak for entrees—you’ll rave about your meal. Note: Les Baux will reopen on October 19.
The Bocuse Restaurant
Hyde Park
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The Bocuse is one of The Culinary Institute of America’s student-run, faculty-led restaurants. Its name comes from the legendary French chef Paul Bocuse, who is recognized as the father of modern French cuisine for his simple dishes that focus on high-quality ingredients and presentation. Dine in for lunch or dinner and enjoy three courses of the Valley’s finest French fare.
Brasserie 292
Poughkeepsie
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Poughkeepsie is a central hub for foodies in Dutchess County, so it’s no surprise to find this stellar French bistro in the city’s historic Main Street district. Start off your meal with the macaroni and cheese appetizer, which features butter poached Maine lobster as part of the gooey, cheesy goodness. As for entrees, you’ll have a tough time deciding between a seafood dish—think pan-seared scallops, pan-roasted salmon, and grilled brook trout—and land-sourced fare like dry-aged strip steak and wild boar ragu.
Brasserie Le Bouchon
Cold Spring
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You will find this charming bistro tucked in the heart of Cold Spring. Serving French classics like cassoulet and escargot with a dash of beer garden fare, it has remained a popular staple for over 20 years. You won’t want to miss the five unique takes on the classic moules frites, with toppings like apple, tomato relish, chorizo, and bacon. Savor your food indoors in the cozy, red-painted dining room or take your meal outside to the quaint garden patio.
Brigitte Bistro
Red Hook
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Housed in the former Mercato space, Brigitte is an honest-to-goodness French bistro on a charming corner of Red Hook. Starting with the appetizers, diners can savor everything from escargot en persillade, a.k.a. snails in herb garlic butter, to classique tartare de boeuf, a beef tartare served with old-fashioned mustard, cornichons, capers, and grilled baguette. Entrees are all about slow preparation and full flavors, with a focus on pairing protein with vegetables and starches. If you’re looking for something new, try the magret de canard a l’orange, a delectable duck breast served on a carrot purée and dressed in a mandarine Grand Marnier sauce.
Le Canard Enchaine
Kingston
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To be transported to France—if only for the duration of an exceptional meal—head to this restaurant in Ulster County. The New York Times suggests that you “lift your fork and imagine you’re in France” as you savor the stylings of Chef Jean-Jacques. The eatery’s specialties include garlic snails, duck confit, and onion soup, as if that makes choosing from the robust, yet succinct menu any easier.
Champêtre
Pine Plains
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Chef Michel Jean couldn’t simply retire from his rich history with French cuisine. Instead, he downsized from the number of seats in his previous restaurant, 120, to just 23 in order to continue to serve delicious and authentic French cuisine. This Pine Plains eatery offers a quaint and simple French dining experience.
Le Gamin Country
Hudson
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In our opinion, every town should have a little French café where patrons can order a beer and a latte at the same time. If that—sadly—isn’t the case in your hometown, make a voyage to Le Gamin Country in Hudson, where you’ll find small plates and a great atmosphere. The eatery has everything from croissants to ratatouille to escargot, but it absolutely does not have Wi-Fi. Instead, it urges Gamin-goers to “pretend it’s 1995 and talk to the person next to you.”
Le Perche
Hudson
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Live out your Parisian fantasy by sipping espresso with a croissant at Le Perche, or come in the evening and order from the dinner menu. The nighttime offerings include summer squash soup, duck confit hash, Manila clam toast, and a local roast beef sandwich. As for wine, the restaurant has a sizable list, with over 20 from which to choose.
Le Petit Bistro
Rhinebeck
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This Rhinebeck restaurant is a local go-to for fine French food, oysters, and cocktails. Whether you’re just looking for some solid grub or you’re a full-blown Francophile, Le Petit Bistro has something for you. Dinner menu highlights include steak tartare, pork schnitzel, roasted duck, and seared scallops. On Sundays, however, it’s a great choice for brunch, with a selection of coffees, pancakes, eggs Benedict, crepes, and more.
Rūna Bistro
New Paltz
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Although this eatery first opened as a “French-ish” bistro, owner Clare Hussain has evolved her restaurant with the influence of Bengali-Indo culture as she was born in Bangladesh and her father is Bengali. Hussain also varies her menu with North African, Basque, and Vietnamese dishes on top of her traditional French fare. Open just for dinner, the bistro offers a quiet corner of New Paltz’s busy village the chance to enjoy fresh air, delicious food, and one-of-a-kind wines.
Saint George Bistro
Hastings-on-Hudson
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This new-French bistro puts a modern spin on French classics using seafood, fine meats, and seasonal vegetables. Of course, we would be remiss not to mention the wine selection, for which you’ll pay between $12 for a glass of the Blanc de Blanc and $105 for a bottle of Gevrey Chambertin (doesn’t that just sound fancy?). Speaking of fancy, adventurous eaters simply must order a plate of escargot.
Sidewalk Bistro
Piermont
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This French fare is conveniently located in one of Rockland County’s loveliest little towns: Piermont. While it may be an odd choice for a French restaurant, we can’t get enough of the Kobe beef burger, piled high with the usual lettuce, tomato, and onion with a side of fries. The pasta and seafood offerings are equally delectable, with two varieties of mussels, a crab cake appetizer, scallops, and shrimp, just to name a few. And yes—there’s escargot. Be sure to budget your trip so you can stroll around the town after your meal!
Related: 8 Eateries to Check out This Hudson Valley Restaurant Week
