11 Dutchess, Hudson Valley options for outdoor dining in summer 2022

Journal staff reports
·5 min read

Memorial Day Weekend signals a return to shorts and flip flops, sunscreen and beach umbrellas and of course the desire to eat outdoors, preferably with a view. Here are a few options from a rooftop to a riverfront and everything in between:

Farmers & Chefs, Poughkeepsie

Farmers & Chefs offers outdoor dining for about 100 at its two outdoor decks.
Farmers & Chefs offers outdoor dining for about 100 at its two outdoor decks.

Practically under the Walkway Over The Hudson is this breezy, casual eatery run by John Lekic and his wife, Sara. One of the best features of its dining room is the two-way bar that swings open to outside diners and drinkers in warm weather. The outside diners find comfortable seating for about 100 at tables on two decks.

Watermelon salad with mint and feta. Farmers & Chefs' John Lekic grows some of his own greens and herbs in a vertical container garden system.
Watermelon salad with mint and feta. Farmers & Chefs' John Lekic grows some of his own greens and herbs in a vertical container garden system.

The menu leans slightly French with mussels, steak au poivre and beef bourguignon. Other entrees include pan seared salmon and a pan roasted chicken or duck breast. Vegan or vegetarian options include a vegetable tagine, charred cabbage, a veggie burger, butternut squash pate and poached pear and burrata crostini. Shareable menu items include a cheese and charcuterie platter, Brussels sprouts salad, and a mezze platter. 40 Albany St., Poughkeepsie, 845-337-4949, farmersandchefs.com

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Outdoor seating at Flores Taquería at the Ice House in the City of Poughkeepsie.
Outdoor seating at Flores Taquería at the Ice House in the City of Poughkeepsie.

Flores Taquería at the Ice House, Poughkeepsie

This riverside restaurant boasts a menu  filled with a variety of tacos alongside seafood dishes and classics from Poughkeepsie Ice House. The restaurant serves numerous tacos, with many featuring seafood characteristic of a waterfront restaurant. Options include a pork belly taco, mahi taco and shrimp taco. Guests can also enjoy surf and turf, as well as a fresh take of the former Poughkeepsie Ice House's Bridge Burger. 1 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, florestaqueria.com, 845-243-0479

Patrons enjoy a meal on the rooftop bar at Zeus Brewing in the City of Poughkeepsie on June 10, 2021.
Patrons enjoy a meal on the rooftop bar at Zeus Brewing in the City of Poughkeepsie on June 10, 2021.

Zeus Brewing Co., Poughkeepsie

With a rooftop bar that boasts wide-angle Hudson River views, Zeus Brewing Co. joined the busy Hudson Valley craft beer scene in January 2020. The menu is big and ambitious. It leans Italian, with lots of 12-inch pizza offerings. Sandwiches are big here, too, with Crispy Boi being the No. 1 seller. It features a fried chicken thigh,  hot honey, lettuce, tomato and cheddar on a brioche roll. There are always a dozen house-made beers on tap, along with specialty cocktails  and wines by the glass. 178 Main St., Poughkeepsie, 845-320-4560, zeusbrewingco.com.

Seafood is a focus of the menu at Primo Waterfront in Newburgh.
Seafood is a focus of the menu at Primo Waterfront in Newburgh.

Primo, Newburgh

The Newburgh eatery, which was a year-plus in the making, is from the folks behind Heritage Food and Drink in Wappingers Falls. Located in the former Cena 2000 space, it's been remodeled to include an open kitchen, exposed walnut beams, and a wall of windows with expansive Hudson River views. There is also a private dining room that accommodates up to 30, and of course, seating for 170 outside. 50 Front St., Newburgh, 845-570-5656, primowaterfront.com.

Billy Joe’s Ribworks, Newburgh

Grab a waterfront seat on this huge and popular restaurant's equally huge and popular outdoor deck and dig into a menu of barbecue faves such as nachos, ribs, wings, chicken, “cheezy mac works,” steaks, smoked brisket, cheese fries, salads, specialty sandwiches, sides and more. Full bar outside plus live music. Open 7 days. 26 Front St. 845-565-1560; ribworks.com

Drowned Lands in Warwick opened during the pandemic. Its two acre beer garden backs up to a 700-acre park and boasting views of the Appalachian Mountains, Wickham Lake, and Wawayanda Creek.
Drowned Lands in Warwick opened during the pandemic. Its two acre beer garden backs up to a 700-acre park and boasting views of the Appalachian Mountains, Wickham Lake, and Wawayanda Creek.

Drowned Lands, Warwick

This craft brewery offers a stylish interior tap room and a spacious 2-acre beer garden backing up to a 700-acre park that boasts views of the Appalachian Mountains, Wickham Lake, and Wawayanda Creek. People often picnic in the beer garden, and on Saturdays and Sundays, there is usually a food truck on site. Drowned Lands is dog-friendly. 251 State School Road, Warwick; 845-986-2337; drownedlands.beer.

Dolly's, Garrison

You can't get much closer to the water than a patio table at this charming Hudson Riverfront gem, which features a menu of simple but beautifully prepared foods composed of locally sourced ingredients, from a spring salad with carrots, beets, and pickled  rhubarb, to delish wings and a crackling crispy fish sandwich. Enjoy your glass of wine (or beer or cocktail; the list is interesting and extensive) with that sammie and savor the moment. 7 Garrison's Landing, Garrison, 845-424-6511; dollysrestaurant.com

Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery, Warwick

The winery and distillery has two patios as well as picnic tables and a large lawn, all  the better for enjoying the winery's Doc’s Cider, Black Dirt Bourbon, and of course, a glass of wine. The food menu is fairly simple and straightforward, with burgers, pizzas, a lobster roll, sandwiches and snacks. There is usually live music from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 114 Little York Road, Warwick, 845-258-4858, wvwinery.com

A view of City Winery Hudson Valley, a project which revitalized an old industrial site in Montgomery.
A view of City Winery Hudson Valley, a project which revitalized an old industrial site in Montgomery.

City Winery, Montgomery

Two outdoor patios overlook the historic Montgomery Mills property and the scenic Wallkill River. This restaurant and wine bar (also known for locations in NYC, Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Boston, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia) features cuisine that borrows from Mediterranean history – Italian, French, Spanish and Middle Eastern cultures. Award-winning wines produced in-house. Open 7 days. 23 Factory St., Montgomery, 845-424-0222; citywinery.com/hudsonvalley

The Breezy, Greenwood Lake

Outdoor tables overlook Greenwood Lake at this restaurant that features German and American fare. Seafood, sirloin, sandwiches, schnitzel, salads and more. One popular pick you that many diners find irresistible: The Giant Skillet Cookie topped with ice cream and caramel. The Breezy (formerly The Breezy Point Inn), 620 Jersey Ave., 845-477-8100; thebreezyny.com

Westwind Orchard, Accord

This 32-acre apple orchard is a fun place to visit: There's live music, events (salsa dancing classes!) along with outstanding pizzas , top-shelf homemade cider, beer, wine and spirits. A large central lawn has lots of tables and there also two covered areas for outdoor dining. The menu changes weekly, but there are usually seven or so pizzas available along with pastas, sweets, and small plates and snacks.  A lot of their homemade and homegrown provisions, including jams, honeys, vinegars, frozen pizza dough and maple syrups, are available for sale .Live music on the weekends. 215 Lower Whitfield Road, Accord, westwindorchard.com.

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: 11 Hudson Valley restaurants, wineries that offer outdoor dining