After more than 14 years in the Hudson Valley, many locals were disheartened to hear the news of Gunk Haus closing earlier this year. A beloved German institution in Highland, the now-closed culinary destination has paved the way for a new restaurant to fill its space. From the co-owners of Poughkeepsie’s Mill House Brewing Company comes The Ridge by Mill House, a new restaurant that is slated to open this winter.
Since 2013, executive chef and co-owner Daniel Crocco and brewmaster and co-owner Jamie Bishop have been serving up rave reviews in Dutchess County at Mill House Brewing Company. Centered on Mill Street in Poughkeepsie, the restaurant and brewery has thrived on the east bank of the Hudson and is ready to expand across the river to Highland with this new business endeavor.
“After perfecting our menu, service, and overall guest experience for the last decade, opening a new restaurant felt like the natural next step,” says Crocco, who’s no stranger to restaurant revitalizations, having turned the former Mill House Panda space into Mill House Brewing Company back in 2013. “We’re proud of what we’ve created here in Dutchess County, and we’re eager to bring that same passion and experience, with a twist, of course, to a new community.”
While Mill House specializes in elevated American-style cuisine and craft beer, The Ridge will not offer the same dishes as its Poughkeepsie counterpart, but it will provide customers with the same level of quality and service. The new restaurant’s rotating menu will highlight a variety of unique, thoughtfully prepared options that will soon become fan favorites.
The Ridge invites locals and visitors alike to stop in and sample the elevated and playful American cuisine, along with Mill House Brewery’s wide variety of craft brews, in the property’s welcoming, cozy, cabin-style atmosphere that boasts both indoor and outdoor seating with a backdrop of the Shawangunk Mountains.
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“The only thing better than Mill House-level food, craft beer, and cocktails is enjoying them with an incredible view of the Gunks,” says Bishop. “We’ve been brewing ideas — pun intended — and can’t wait to bring a one-of-a-kind dining experience to Ulster County.”
Now Crocco’s third venture in the restaurant industry, he, along with Bishop, intends to continue Mill House Brewing Company’s reputation of excellence in Highland. The executive chef-brewmaster pair go together like Mill House’s comfort foods and house-brewed beer, after all. With multiple Best of Hudson Valley awards, as well as award-winning beers at both the national and state level, Mill House Brewing Company is sure to make The Ridge a new legacy destination in the Hudson Valley.
The Ridge by Mill House is planned to open this winter, but you can follow along on Facebook and Instagram for more updates.
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