The Maker Restaurant
It’s hard not to feel enveloped in love when you’re dining in a glass conservatory lined with lush greenery, eating homemade pasta or whipped ricotta with focaccia. (You read that right: The Maker’s restaurant is housed inside a greenhouse with brightly upholstered loveseats, antique lamps, and dreamy furniture.) If you’re not a pasta person, order the local trout or the pan-roasted heritage chicken, and then cap it off with the dark chocolate budino or brown butter cake with poached figs, shiso, and house-made ice cream. And be sure to stop into their spectacular lounge on the way in or out, which has a sultry Parisian vibe and aptly named cocktails like Le Rouge et Le Noir and Paradiso. Hudson; themaker.com
Bia
An Irish pub isn’t usually the first place you’d think of for a romantic dinner, but the exception to this rule is Bia, whose name means food and sustenance in Irish Gaelic. The moody lighting, cozy dining room, and live music from local Irish bands is only the beginning of a fantastic experience. Start with the Irish stout and treacle brown bread (served with cultured Irish butter, naturally), then move on to the cured Irish salmon tartare before tucking into the crispy confit duck leg or the trio of Berkshire pork. For purists, they do serve fish and chips, but Bia’s is tempura battered and served with togarashi aioli and pea-mint purée. Finish the meal with the rich chocolate pot de crème or the warm date and toffee pudding with goat’s milk caramel. And if you’re partial to martinis, be sure to order theirs, which is made with Irish gin and a gorgeous emerald tincture of pea shoots, verbena, and herbs. Rhinebeck; bia-rbk.com
Blackbarn
The on-site restaurant of the Diamond Mills Hotel, Blackbarn—the sister restaurant of Blackbarn in NYC—is textbook farm to table. Most of their ingredients are sourced from farms in New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut, and are transformed into delicious mains such as pan-seared diver scallops with butternut squash risotto and ginger crumbs, vegan wild mushroom ragout with kale pesto, and crispy-skinned chicken with Parmesan Reggiano thyme polenta. The chai cheesecake and the mocha mousse are an excellent finale, and if you’re imbibing don’t miss their seasonal sangria. Try to get a table next to the floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning views of the Esopus Creek and Falls. Saugerties; diamondmillshotel.com
Blackbarn is textbook farm to table. Sit by the floor-to-ceiling windows for stunning views of the Esopus Creek.
Good Night
Here, Southeast Asian cuisine is served family style which is a great perk if you and your date like to sample and share. Think lamb rendang bao buns, fried oyster mushrooms with rice panko and seaweed, or grilled pork chop with nuoc cham, a Vietnamese condiment made with fish sauce and citrus—all of which can be consumed in a cozy banquette, dreamily lit by crystal chandeliers. Finish the evening (or begin it) at the bar with an Arrowood mule (local vodka, Suze, ginger, and lime) or a Bourbon Buck, crafted with house-made ginger beer. Save room for the five-spice cake with maple squash ice cream. Woodstock; goodnightwoodstock.com
Micheline
It’s only a few months old but this French bistro—characterized by its sunken, darkly painted ceiling, antique wall sconces, traditional zinc bartop, and an all-French wine list—is already a date night favorite. (The gin is French, too. Sample it in their Jeune martini.) The menu emulates old-world Paris: diners can expect the usuals like steak au poivre and moules marinières or more modern meals like honey-brined pork loin with whole grain mustard and sweet potato purée. The desserts run the gamut, from crème brûlée to the baba au rum, with coconut cream, Chantilly, and spiced rum syrup. Scarsdale; michelinerestaurant.com
Il Figlio Enoteca
Known as one of the best Italian restaurants in the Hudson Valley (they have multiple awards to prove it), Il Figlio is the place to go for homemade pasta such as gnocchi with duck Bolognese or ravioli with porcini mushrooms. But the wrought-iron and marble bar area (if you’re lucky, you might get to try the special truffled negroni made with truffle-washed gin), statement mirrors lining the walls, and rows of drum lampshades overhead, set the scene for romance. Consider sharing a pasta dish, then go for an entrée like the branzino with fregola and haricots verts or the pan-roasted Long Island duck breast. The gianduja (a chocolate hazelnut spread) tiramisu and limoncello cheesecake can’t be missed. Fishkill; ilfiglioenoteca.com
Roost Restaurant
Not only is the décor bright and beautiful (lots of sparkle and candles) but Roost’s American- and Mediterranean-inspired menu is completely customizable: you choose your main (everything from seafood to strip steak to venison), a side (such as patatas bravas or Sicilian roasted cauliflower), and a sauce (au poivre, chimichurri, and cherry mostarda to name a few). Nyack’s DPNB fresh spaghetti with large chunks of lobster is a fan favorite entrée. Finish the meal with their cinnamon donuts (trust us). To make it a true date night, order one of their delightful cocktails, such as the Smoked Rooster (tequila, smoked salt, lemon juice, and limoncello) and head upstairs to the Union Arts Center, a concert hall where local dance troupes and musicians often perform (tickets are required for most events, check their website for the schedule). Sparkill; roostinsparkill.com
Related: Blackbarn Hudson Valley Is a Foodie Hotspot in Saugerties
