Peace, love, and neo-rusticism
GETAWAYS • Upstate
A dining update on Woodstock, NY, from a special Upstate FOUND correspondent:
So, the rolling third-acre on a hill in the middle of Woodstock, which housed bagel joint Mud Club and woodbarn-chic cocktail bar Early Terrible (since relocated to Nolita), has been taken over by folks involved with Sylvia and Good Night for a new venture, Gemela, slated to open in May.
Are we excited? Sure! Silvia is a go-to for date night or out-of-town guests — relaxed vibe, consistently delicious. I usually order the steelhead trout or wood-smoked pork chop, and the savoy cabbage entree inspires raves from friends, but all signs indicate “you can’t go wrong.” (I’ve never had a meal there where everyone wasn’t thrilled with their entree). At Southeast Asian-inspired Good Night down the road, I’m more likely to have appetizers and a drink at the bar. The crispy wild shrimp and shishito are so good, it’s hard for the entrees to get a look in. Both spots have friendly service, excellent drinks, and a very pleasant atmosphere (and in warmer months, both have outdoor seating options which welcome canine companions).
But is Gemela one too many upscale dining ventures for ’60s counterculture-inspiring Woodstock? It’ll replace two spots with a similar approach that never quite lived up to their promise or setting, so here’s hoping it’ll be an upgrade rather than an oversaturation.
Other Woodstock early spring dining notes:
Can’t talk about upscale dining in Woodstock without mentioning undersung sushi joint Medo. It may be on the edge of town in the back of an organic grocery store parking lot, but serves some of the best fish I’ve had upstate or down. Friends who dined there on my recommendation last weekend agreed. I like the balcony best, though for entertaining and educational sake service, sit at the bar, and let the bartender guide you through one or two of the tastings from the extensive list.
Sharkie’s Meatballs is expanding even further, now taking up three storefronts in a prime location near The Golden Notebook bookstore. Garden Cafe remains a popular casual option for vegan and outdoor seating, and Oriole 9 is still a solid brunch choice. Relative newcomer Tinker Taco is my current cold-weather favorite, as they welcome dogs in a separate bar space, make their own tortillas every morning for quality street-style tacos, and offer streamside seating in the warmer months.
On the bar front, when I’m not frequenting Tinker Tavern (five minutes down the road in Bearsville) with the pup, I’m looking forward to trying Small Talk, the tiny new “rustic-moody” cocktail bar right in the center of town which replaced Que Lo Que (missed it) which replaced Shindig (enjoyed it) which replaced The Corner Cupboard (never heard of it, though one reviewer says it offered “all moldy and old food”). –Jonny Porkpie