Photo by Beny Huckaby
For food lovers in Dutchess County, the live-work-play destination is a must-visit for everything from bagels and coffee to wood-fired pizza.
By Greta Stuckey and Raphael Beretta
Have you stopped by Eastdale Village in Poughkeepsie yet? The live-work-play community has often been buzzed about since it first broke ground in August 2018. Today, the destination features more than 120,000 sq ft of commercial real estate including restaurant, medical, retail, office space, along with over 400 luxury residential apartments.
While the Dutchess County hotspot is popular for its one-stop lifestyle attractions and housing options, it’s also a must-visit for foodies throughout the Hudson Valley. Don’t believe us? Take a browse through this guide to Eastdale’s assorted dining establishments and see if your mouth doesn’t water along the way.
Eastdale Ave Bagels
Eastdale Ave Bagels opened in November 2021. Owner Alex Maravegia has long dreamt of running a bagel shop of his own.
“Well, when I was in high school and throughout college, I worked in a bagel store,” Maravegia says. “My father was always in the food industry. It’s in my blood.”
His family runs the ever-popular Mediterranean joint Athena Gyro, which has locations in Fishkill and Lagrangeville. At the delightful Eastdale location, Maravegia and his team make around 1,000 bagels fresh each weekend. In fact, he arrives at 4 a.m. each morning to keep up with demand.
After turning on the ovens and the kettle (where the bagels are boiled), Maravegia gets to work on pastries. He makes croissants, muffins, scones, and other morning treats out of a separate convection oven. A few of the most popular varieties are corn, blueberry, oat bran raisin, and, of course, chocolate chip.
After that, he gets to work on the bagels.
“Typically, we like to do a couple dozen of each bagel, just to last us the first couple hours. And then, around 9:30 a.m. or so, I’ll try to bake again.” Maravegia shifts how much of each variety he produces depending on that day’s stock in order to keep waste at a bare minimum. At the end of each day, he preps the dough for the following morning. It proofs overnight in a walk-in box.
These perfectly chewy bagels are made fresh every single day, making them the perfect base for a morning meal. More than a dozen styles offer something for every palate. Go sweet with blueberry, French toast, or cinnamon raisin. Alternatively, whole wheat, pumpernickel, egg, onion, and sesame, to name a few, are perfect savory picks.
As if that wasn’t enough, Eastdale Ave Bagels also makes its own cream cheeses and salads. Cream cheese lovers can choose between jalapeno, veggie, scallion, lox spread, honey walnut raisin, olive pimento, sundried tomato, and strawberry. On the other hand, chicken, egg, whitefish, and tuna salads are delicious for heartier spreads.
One of the most popular sandwiches is The New Yorker, which is a sausage, egg, and cheese elevated by hash browns and avocado. The Garden State features the New Jersey specialty Taylor Ham (or Pork Roll, depending on who you ask).
The Crafted Kup
Always looking to expand his business and connect with the community, the owner of The Crafted Kup, Tanner Townsend, opened his third location at Eastdale Village. With three different locations in Poughkeepsie, Townsend hopes to satisfy customers’ caffeine cravings.
In addition to the Crafted Kup drink menu, the café also makes a variety of fresh baked goods. With their coffee or tea, customers can enjoy bagels, danishes, muffins, scones, croissants, cookies, and more.
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Some of the café specialties include a matcha latte, cafe cubano, cafe miel, and RPG, the latter which contains espresso, brown sugar, caramel, and vanilla. Hot and cold drinks are available all day, and customers can buy their own freshly ground coffee in-store.
In the summer months, customers come in for their cold drink options which include iced coffees, lattes, cold brew, coffee shakes, iced tea, iced chais, iced mochas, and smoothies. The Eastdale Village location is a perfect spot to run in and grab some cafe fare on the go. If customers are looking for a cozy environment to relax or get some work done, sitting in the new Crafted Kup location may be the perfect option for a laidback day.
Sweetbakes Cafe
Jenny Jordan moved her ever-popular Wappingers Falls bakery to Eastdale Village in December 2021. This live-work-play development was a perfect fit for Jordan, who values a strong community atmosphere.
“The move allowed us to do more and expand our menu somewhat….For instance, we were able to add real fried chicken and waffles to the menu, which is something we always wanted for the cafe end,” Jordan says.
Berry Magic, which consists of strawberries, blueberries, and marshmallows topped with Nutella and whipped cream, is by far the most popular waffle. On the other hand, fans of savory waffles need to try the Buffalo Souljah. This feast combines a house waffle with buffalo chicken and pickled red onions.
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In a similar vein, Sweetbakes debuted a line of savory crepes (that are also gluten-free).
In addition, Jordan was able to increase the amount of mixers. In turn, this enables Sweetbakes Cafe to enhance its specialty and custom cake offerings. After all, in Jordan’s own words, cakes are the reason Sweetbakes exists.
“We want to direct our fans, followers, and new customers to our beautiful website where viewers can get an idea of our specialty cakes and lead time to order,” Jordan says. Those looking to tie the knot in the Hudson Valley can fill out a form detailing their dream wedding cake. In addition, Sweetbakes Cafe provides a line of pre-designed specialty cakes for other celebrations. Extremely Instagrammable confections include Seaside, Caramel Latte, Oreo Drip, and more.
Speaking of Instagram, Sweetbakes Cafe’s account is the best way to get the latest updates on specials and limited-edition drinks. Of course, the s’mores-inspired campfire latte and bright Fruity Pebbles latte are bonafide staples. The change in locale means more customers can enjoy the creativity of this wholesome baking operation.
“We have seating for about 25 comfortably. During COVID at our old location, we had to completely shut down seating and only offer takeout, which was very difficult,” Jordan recalls. “Now, we are happy to add new seating with plans for outdoor tables during the warmer seasons.”
Rossi and Sons Rosticceria
Rosticceria Rossi & Sons has been located on South Clover Street in Little Italy for decades. At their small corner deli, they provide customers with delicious sandwiches, salads, pastas, and everything Italian.
With customers filling up their corner store, the four brothers decided they were ready to expand when local developer Joseph Kirchhoff approached them at the deli one day. After a long renovation process and setup, Rossi & Sons Alimentari is now open in Eastdale Village.
“Opening a second location was simply the right next step for the business, which continues to grow year after year,” Roberto Rossi says. “We’re thrilled to open an additional brick-and-mortar deli from the ground up, and doing so at Eastdale Village is the perfect collaboration.”
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“Alimentari,” loosely translated to “market” in English, is Rossi’s idea of an old-school Italian food hall. The destination will have a phased opening with the initial phase featuring a salumi and mozzarella antipasto bar including meat sliced to order, custom antipasto plates, and fresh mozzarella with a variety of garnishes.
The new location will also feature a bakery section complete with homemade delicacies such as wild yeast fermented artisan loaves, pastries, and more. All of the desserts are crafted from house-milled local heritage grain. If you are looking for something light to top off your lunch or dinner, the eatery will be serving fresh-roasted Intelligentsia Coffee and other drink options at the in-house espresso bar.
“Eastdale will be a true destination location, not only an eat-work-play community, but a place that people will travel to see and enjoy,” adds Fabio Rossi.
The Eastdale Village space is separated into a bakery, deli, pasta station, and sandwich counter. Eventually, customers will be able to order custom-made sandwiches and even scale back the size of the sandwich. The restaurant will continue offering its most famous items and will also expand to include new artisanal sandwiches, salads, and desserts.
Pizzeria Posto
Patrick Amadeo is skilled in making wood-fired pizza and opened up Pizzeria Posto in 2012 to prove it. With an original location in Rhinebeck, Amadeo decided his business was ready to expand when Eastdale Village was constructed.
“Eastdale Village will be a great second location for us,” says Pizzeria Posto owner Patrick Amadeo. “With a main street, residences, and a host of other retailers coming onsite, there is no community like this in New York State.”
At Pizzeria Posto, customers can choose from a selection of delicious wood-fired pizzas such as Margherita, Mama Mia, Morandi, and Marina. All of the pizzas are made with fresh ingredients and often feature Italian favorites like fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomato.
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In addition to pizza, the eatery also has a featured list of hearty salads with options such as Caesar, Mediterranean, spinach, and arugula. Not only can customers enjoy the food at Pizzeria Posto, but they can also try a beer or wine off the drink menu.
The restaurant’s wine selection features a variety from Italy to perfectly pair with the pizza for the night. Customers can order by the glass or select a bottle to share with the table. The new location in Eastdale offers sit-down dining as well as takeout so customers can enjoy their food in any setting.
Spoons Ice Cream & More
Sisters Alyssa and Kellie Fasano are native to the Hudson Valley and have worked in a number of restaurants and food service establishments over the years. After hearing about the Eastdale Village project, the sisters knew that they wanted to start a local, family-owned business. And what better way to start than with an ice cream shop?
The sisters’ boutique ice cream store specializes in gourmet sundaes and over-the-top milkshakes. At Spoons Ice Cream & More, customers can choose from 24-plus flavors of hard ice cream including gluten-free, vegan, NSA, and dairy-free options as well as soft-serve ice cream.
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They prioritize local businesses and get their ice cream from Gillette Creamery in Gardiner. Gillette Creamery provides them with Perry’s ice cream as well as its own line of handcrafted premium ice cream. In addition, Spoons Ice Cream & More sources its soft-serve ice cream mix and milk from Sinon Farms in Poughkeepsie.
“Whenever we can, we establish relationships with local vendors to use their products in our sundaes and on our shakes,” says Alyssa. “For example, we use the mini cinnamon sugar donuts from the Donuts for Days food truck for our Glazed and Confused freakshake.”
Known for their elaborate ice cream confections, the sisters offer regular ice cream, ice cream sundaes, freakshakes, homemade ice cream bars, and sandwiches, as well as ice cream cakes.
“One of our staple menu items is our S’mores freakshake, lovingly referred to as the OG,” Alyssa says. “It is a 20oz chocolate shake topped with a roasted double decker s’more, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce drizzle.”
The sisters share a goal to please customers and provide them with an unforgettable experience. They take pride in the community and work on hiring young adults with no prior experience to give them opportunities.
Recognizing that some people may want something other than a frozen treat, the shop also offers a variety of hot-pressed panini sandwiches. They also have a rotating soup menu that customers can choose from for lunch or dinner before they get their ice cream fix.
Amanda’s Macaron Shoppe
After starting online in 2019, Amanda’s Macaroon Shoppe was ready to expand when the opportunity presented itself in Eastdale Village. After opening its physical location, the shop also expanded its menu with bubble teas and other creative drinks. The shop specializes as a gluten-free bakery with uniquely flavored French macarons.
“We ended up taking a meeting with the Eastdale team, who were super passionate about their vision for the project and really helped us truly believe in our business and how it would fit into the overall concept of the Village,” says Vin Roth, one of the brand’s partner.
As a Hudson Valley resident, Amanda Giacalone attended the Culinary Institute of America and had a love for baking. After experimenting with macarons and making a special Italian rainbow cookie flavor, Amanda and her partner Vin knew they had something special.
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“Our most popular flavor is our Italian rainbow cookie macaron, which is the first flavor we ever made and the reason for starting Amanda’s Macaron Shoppe,” Roth says. “It is based off of the classic tri-color cake, and has a raspberry jam filling.”
The shop offers a variety of macaron flavors such as pistachio, hot honey, birthday cake, strawberry kiwi, chipwich, and carrot cake, to name a few. If those flavors sound a little too crazy, the hotspot also makes more traditional flavors such as chocolate, vanilla, and salted caramel.
After working with macaron flavors and perfecting the craft, the shop also created its own dessert called macarownies. Yes, they are exactly what they sound like: a macaroon inside of a brownie. The popular item currently comes in four different flavors, including chocolate fluffernutter, chocolate cherry cordial, cookie dough blondie, and chocolate Nutella.
“The Macarownie came from my random brain and Amanda’s talent of being able to create anything that I think of,” says Roth. “We wanted to create another product that was gluten-free and macaron-related, and brownies were the first thing that came to mind.”
In addition to the sweet macaron treats, customers can choose from a wide selection of drinks in the Eastdale shop. The in-store menu has 12 different bubble tea options ranging from Thai tea to milk and cookies. The shop’s most popular bubble tea flavor is the brown sugar milk tea, and it also offers hot drinks such as tea and specialty hot chocolates, as well as cold milkshakes with a dairy-free option for the hot summer months.
“The outpouring of support from the community really amazes us every single day,” Roth adds. “Something that surprised us from the beginning was the positive feedback on our bubble tea. When we opened we had one small sign for our drinks and now we have two full LCD screens.”
While the Eastdale location is bustling, Amanda’s Macaroon Shoppe also continues to accept online orders. Online or in store, customers can request custom-made macarons to make any event a special day to remember.
Upcoming Additions:
Eastdale Village continues to grow as more community members enter the area. Currently, two new restaurants, Chakra Bowls and Reconnect Foods, will be moving into Eastdale Village. Reconnect Foods will be opening in the spring of 2022, while Chakra Bowls will be opening in the fall of 2022.
Reconnect Foods
Reconnect Foods currently operates as a food truck and at pop-up locations. Soon enough, founder and chef David Cruz will have a permanent location at Eastdale Village to call his own. Cruz was raised in Poughkeepsie and attended The Culinary Institute of America, where his passion for cooking grew.
At Reconnect Foods, Cruz focuses on creating innovative interpretations of farm-to-table fare. All of his dishes center around fresh and local ingredients and his goal is to connect with customers on a deeper level.
“We truly are what we eat, and there is no better feeling than knowing where your food comes from,” Cruz says on his website.
Reconnect Foods will carry street food concepts including ramen noodles, steamed buns, tacos, tamales, grain bowls, and more.
Chakra Bowls
Chakra Bowls currently has two locations: one in Poughkeepsie and one in Fishkill. In the fall of 2022, Chakra Bowls will open its second Poughkeepsie location at Eastdale Village. The new restaurant will feature its healthy smoothie bowls, salads, avocado toast, smoothies, and more.
Using locally sourced ingredients that are in season, Chakra Bowls prides itself on creating healthy and clean food. In addition to traditional smoothie flavors, it also carries specific bowls with health benefits such as the instant immunity bowl, the detox bowl, and the matcha energy bowl.
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“We refuse to compromise on quality in our restaurant,” says the Chakra Bowls website. “That’s why we source our fresh ingredients from local farmers’ markets.”
Other popular bowls available include the breakfast bowl, the green goddess bowl, and the coffee nut bowl. The banana bread bowl contains banana, cinnamon, almond milk, and cacao, and is topped with dark chocolate chips, banana, coconut, granola, and peanut butter drizzle.
For salads, the eatery currently offers options such as a Thai bowl, nourish bowl, caprese bowl, senorita bowl, and earth bowl, all of which include a variety of fresh vegetables. On toast, the restaurant offers both sweet and savory options such as avocado toast or Nutella and banana toast.
