Where to Find Chicken and Waffles in the Hudson Valley

Whether you like ‘em with syrup, barbecue sauce, or both, you’ll find the tastiest twists on the classic brunch food at these local eateries.

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Whether you like ‘em with syrup, barbecue sauce, or both, you’ll find the tastiest twists on the classic brunch food at these local eateries.

What is it about chicken and waffles that tempts us so? Maybe it’s the perfect harmony of sweet and savory that comes when hot, crunchy chicken meets freshly made waffles with golden crevices that practically beg for sticky drizzles of maple syrup. Slightly spicy and just sweet enough, the brunchtime pairing is a match made in foodie heaven. That’s why it’s no surprise that the comfort food trend is front and center on menus across the Hudson Valley.

To help you prepare for your next Hudson River brunch, we rounded up a few of the standout chicken and waffle dishes that are a cluck above your everyday breakfast fare. Ready to dig in yet?

American Glory Restaurant

Hudson, Tannersville

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American Glory is one of the top spots for comfort food in the Hudson Valley, so it comes as no surprise that the eatery’s hearty chicken and waffles riff is a cut above. First things first, American Glory brines its chicken in buttermilk before frying it and adding it as a topper on a Southern-style biscuit waffle. As for add-ons, whipped maple butter and Catskill maple syrup offer a sweet note to the savory center of the meal, while house pickles provide a touch of zest at the end.

The Borland House

Montgomery

Pinkies up! When it comes to chicken and waffles, The Borland House turns the brunch classic into a fine dining experience. The comfort fare takes a gourmet twist as a dainty sandwich with spicy or original fried chicken housed between two sweet little waffles. Uniquely, the whole thing is smothered in white gravy (in an ode to the Southern original) and syrup, then partnered with a light side salad or fries.

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The Cuckoo’s Nest

Albany

The Cuckoo’s Nest might live at the very north of the Hudson Valley, but its soul is most definitely in the south. For the chicken, The Nest fries to golden doneness, then pairs it with waffles, bourbon maple syrup, and honey hot sauce for a dish that is quite literally finger-lickin’ good.

Double O Grill

Wappingers Falls

Double O knows chicken and waffles are beloved by all, which is why it places the dish front and center on its “favorites” menu. Diners can munch on fried boneless chicken breast paired with fluffed and fresh Belgian waffles. The stacked platter comes with both maple syrup and barbecue sauce, so everyone can choose whether they want it sweet, spicy, or a little bit of both.

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The Dutchess Biercafe

Fishkill

The Dutchess Biercafe is home to many Belgian-inspired dishes, so of course a chicken and waffles sandwich is on the menu. The eatery stacks its homemade Louisiana-style fried chicken between two thick Belgian waffles, then throws on a smear of maple bacon jam for good measure. It’s a tasty combination made for any time of day.

Essie’s

Poughkeepsie

Essie’s is the classic American dining experience redesigned. Its brunch-only Chicken N’ Waffle is a new take on a traditional favorite. Crispy chicken sits on top of a waffle coated in local honey, a sweet vanilla butter, and preserved local cherries. If you can’t make it home to see mom this weekend, head to Essie’s instead.

The Helm

Greenwood Lake

As many a chef and home cook will rightfully declare, herbs can make or break a meal. In the case of The Helm’s chicken and waffle dish, herbs are the secret ingredient to success. Carve into the herb-brined chicken, which sits atop a savory buttermilk waffle that’s drizzled with house hot sauce and rosemary-infused cane syrup. It’s the little things, you know?

Mill House Brewing Company

Poughkeepsie

Mill House might be known for its beer and burgers, but its brunch menu is a sleeper hit. Order the chicken and Liege waffles, which pairs pearl sugar waffles with buttermilk fried chicken thighs. For the figurative cherry on top, the eatery smothers the plate with New York State maple syrup, honey butter, and fresh strawberries for a morning meal that’s seriously special.

Pakt

Kingston

If you’ve been to Pakt before, you’ll know that the Kingston eatery is the place to go for down-home food in the heart of the Hudson Valley. For its take on chicken and waffles, Pakt sneaks a massive piece of crispy chicken between two halves of one soft, yet sturdy waffle. The true pièce de résistance here is undoubtedly the hot pepper jelly, which is made even better with a drizzle of one of Pakt’s extensive collection of hot sauces.

The Poughkeepsie Grind

Poughkeepsie

It’s one thing to order chicken and waffles at your go-to Hudson Valley restaurant. It’s quite another to order the dish at a café that specializes in the art of Belgian waffles. At the Grind, batter is made fresh daily and toasted into an amber-hued lattice that’s bigger than your steering wheel. As for the pollo, it comes in three perfectly fried pieces that are equally scrumptious on their own.

The Roost

Stone Ridge

Given its name, it’s hardly a surprise that The Roost excels on the chicken and waffles front. While the Stone Ridge eatery likes to switch up its pollo placement, we love when it sandwiches crispy pieces of fried chicken in a skewered waffle sandwich. The dish is served with a hearty portion of local maple syrup because that’s really the only way to do it in the Hudson Valley.


Related: Upgrade Your Breakfast Game at These 4 Hudson Valley Cafés

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