Shrimp and Wild Hive grits at Mama Roux. Photo courtesy of Mama Roux
With poached eggs, stacked pancakes, and bottomless bubbly, these Hudson River restaurants make the most of morning meals.
Mama Roux
Featuring upmarket takes on Creole comfort food, this Newburgh spot is the place to spend your weekend cheat day. Share a plate of apple beignets or waffle-fries poutine draped in gravy and cheese curds, then indulge in Southern classics like biscuits and sausage gravy, blackened shrimp and Wild Hive grits with cider-braised collards and tasso ham, chicken and cornmeal waffles, or a savory shaved rib-eye sandwich with bright kale-almond pesto. Prefer to start your day with something sweet? Don’t sleep on the peach-and-pecan French toast.
Newburgh — 96 Broadway; 845.561.5363
Cafe Madison
With an extensive menu — banana bread French toast, raspberry-oatmeal pancakes, breakfast burgers, omelets, and more — it’s no wonder this award-winning brunch spot has two Albany locations. The AM Cocktails menu is the lengthiest day-drinking list we’ve seen in the Valley, with multiple types of mimosas, bloody marys, and coffee-infused libations. Even vegans will find something to love, with selections like crispy Buffalo seitan sandwiches, tofu scrambles, and vegan French toast.
Albany — 1108 Madison Ave; 518.935.1094; 359 Northern Blvd; 518.898.9630
Heritage Food + Drink
The perfect spot to brunch with your bubble, Heritage’s menu goes big on shareable plates, like honey-butter biscuit sliders with ham and beer cheese, smoked salmon deviled eggs, and cheddar-scallion polenta nuggets. Adding to the lazy weekend vibes are $19 bottomless mimosas with the purchase of any brunch entrée — an easy sell when choices include crème brûlée French toast, country gravy-smothered eggs Benedict (add a side of honey-glazed bacon), steak and eggs au poivre, and a hot chicken sandwich.
Wappingers Falls — 1379 U.S. 9; 845.298.1555
Rivertown Lodge
Not-your-all-American brunch spot, this hip Hudson hotel gives the meal a modern, global spin. Poached eggs trade hollandaise for aji amarillo-spiked tzatziki. Yogurt is scented with cardamom and served alongside seasonal preserves. Grapefruit halves boast a crackly brûléed top and sprinkle of Aleppo pepper. And in place of the ubiquitous omelet is kuku sabzi, an herb-packed Persian frittata. For the traditionalists, there’s also plenty to love, including a classic two-egg plate, spent grain biscuits with cultured butter and jam, and a puffy Dutch baby with ricotta and maple.
Hudson — 731 Warren St, Hudson; 518.512.0954
Restaurant X
For a special occasion splurge, you can’t beat Chef Peter Kelly’s formal brunch. The $45 prix-fixe includes a choice of three courses, such as black truffle risotto, poached eggs with crab-meat hollandaise, and lemon-shortbread tart with fresh strawberries. What elevates the experience are the extras: unlimited prosecco, mimosas, and kir royale (with generous pours and frequent refills) and passed items, including Kelly’s signature coconut shrimp, baby lamb chops, and wild mushroom ravioli.
Congers — 117 N Rte 303; 845.268.6555
The Whitlock
For their laid-back brunch, Christina and Matt Safarowic take a playful approach. Start with the everything bagel-spiced deviled eggs or tater tots with crème fraîche and caviar. Follow with eggs Benedict served on crispy potato latkes or one of the three burgers — a house-made veggie patty, a local CM Meats beef blend, or the restaurant’s popular chorizo-shrimp burger with Oaxaca cheese, avocado, and lemon aioli. Can’t get in without a wait? Head around the corner to Jay Street Café, the pair’s modern luncheonette, for more playful breakfast fare and old-school fountain drinks, like egg creams and chocolate-cherry Pepsi floats.
Katonah — 17 Katonah Ave; 914.232.8030