If you trudge back and forth to an office (or equally demanding workplace) everyday, you know that pre-planning your lunch can be a hassle. And if you’re at home — and love a real midday meal as much as we do — lunchtime can easily mean getting overwhelmed (What can I make? How long will that take? Yes, that’d be good, but then what am I having for dinner?).
We feel you. While eating out isn’t always an option, sometimes (when the clock’s well-past noon and you’re well-past hungry) grabbing some at-the-ready afternoon grub is the way to go.
Here are three relatively cheap, relatively healthy, and definitely delicious options around Poughkeepsie that you should add to your list of places to check out:
The Crooked Rooster
Centrally situated on Rt. 55 (also known as Manchester Road), this CIA grad-run restaurant serves up super fresh, seasonal food — fast. Their menu is saturated with all sorts of sandwiches (choose between more basic “stacked” offerings, like burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches, or “smothered” setups like a fantastic pulled-pork situation) and includes a couple updates on fried favorites; but the best part about this place is the considerable amount of customizable options: create a salad or bowl by selecting between various bases, proteins, and sauces. AND all options start under ten dollars.
399 Manchester Rd.
845.204.9900
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Lola’s Cafe and Catering
Made-to-order sandwiches, creative chopped salads, and a few choice soups characterize the menu at this small — but insanely popular — cafe found right under the Walkway. The ingredients are locally sourced whenever possible, and inventive specials are created (and posted on their website) daily. An Editor’s Pick winner for Best of the Hudson Valley in 2016, we highly recommend the Turkey & Brie panini, composed of roasted turkey breast, melted Brie, blackberry compote, baby greens on a whole grain Ciabatta, and the Beet & Carrot Salad, with grilled chicken, beet and carrot slaw, cucumber, red onions, goat cheese, almonds, and a sweet chili vinaigrette.
131 Washington St.
845.471.8555
Twisted Soul Food Concepts
Recently reopened on Raymond Avenue, Twisted Soul is cranking out creative lunch “concepts” that trump a lot of more traditional midday options. Check out their housemade dumplings (with a whopping six served up in a single order), Colombian-style arepas, or funky takes on mac n’ cheese (like BBQ grilled tofu with arugula). Still not satisfied? Design your own specialty salad. Whatever you do, don’t miss the Yuca Fries with Tamarind and Medjool date chutney.
47 Raymond Ave.
845.454.2770
Have a restaurant, bar, bakeshop, or other foodie-find worth writing about? Tell me in the comments below, connect with me on Instagram — @little_honey_dee — or email me at sdaniels@hvmag.com. I wanna know!
