Ship Lantern Inn

A true dining experience. This is what I would imagine 5 star service in the 1950’s to be. Try the Caesar salad and chateaubriand; both prepared table side. The filet mignon has not disappointed I my 30years of dining here. The waiters have been employed there for over 50yrs. Truly a treat.

Amazing. Unique. Charming. Terrific.
Just a few of the adjectives we threw around during and after our mid-​week lunch visit.
We were in the area for a short stay at a nearby inn & spa, and we were hungry — we figured we would give this old world spot a try. So glad we did.
We called ahead, as we were dressed tres casual, and were assured by George we would be OK.
There is plenty of parking and we quickly realized we were the only guests. The interior is a welcome step back in time — starting with George in his tuxedo!
Shiplap, warm woods, stone floors and a distinct nautical theme — classy and tasteful with abundant views. What a great start!
This lunch turned into an incredible experience as we chatted with George about the history of the restaurant, the family (Chef Boyardee started here) and viewed the various menus (lunch, early bird twilight, prix fixe and formal dinner) and wine list (expansive, reasonably priced and globally diversified). Something for everyone!
The old world charm extends to table-​side prep stations — your Caesar salad from scratch, sizzling steak or bananas foster flambé — add to the incredible ambience.
Ok — on to lunch — as this place is clearly classic — we both started with French Onion Soup. We need to steal the family recipe as this was simply outstanding — hot, bubbly and deep under the cheese was a heavenly broth great flavors.
For mains, a fork tender veal marsala in a well flavored mushroom sauce, served with two veggies (spinach and baby asparagus) and creamy smooth mashed potatoes. My wife loved her chicken breast — just cannot remember the preparation… see pics.
After finishing off our food and drinks, George led us on a tour of the bar, décor, kitchen, courtyard and dining areas — the history here is amazing.
Come early, soak in the atmosphere, and get treated to a special lunch or dinner.
Wow.

It’s a reliably decent places they try at the bar and the dining room. Food is simple, on the heavy side. Meet quality is not the best but reasonable for the price. I find that they are consistently average in food quality and service is above average.

We stayed at buttermilk falls, which was cool. Went here because we were in the mood for filet mignon. Wish we could go back in time and go to Henry’s.
The service was just off. We wanted a salad. The waiter advised that a small side salad came with the entrée. We were glad to know. Wish he, or the menu, would have mentioned that the food also came with spinach and mashed potato when we ordered a side of spinach (which went to waste)
I told the waiters thinking we might not need to pay for it, but no such luck. Also confusing about whether to check coats. Seems like a place strictly for regulars.
The food was ok. Filet was average. Veggie strudel app was kind of greasy. Apple fritter dessert was very good.
If you go, which I wouldn’t recommend, expect your clothes to reek of smoke from the fireplace, forevermore.

My wife and I ate here over a month ago, and although I forgot to write a review up until now, we can’t get this wonderful restaurant out of our minds. I’ve recommended it to several friends and colleagues since then. Eating here is like going back to the 50’s. I mean this in the kindest of ways. The waiters all wear tuxes, the décor is wood paneling and deep carpeting, and the staff takes you into their care and never let you go. They know this menu and can guide you to the dinner that you need and want! At one point, a very nice man came over to help bus the table, and after a small conversation, we discovered he was the owner. Very old world. The food is well prepared and is a revelation. I had the ossabuco, which is a specialty of the house. I’ve never been that fond of ossobuco until now. It’s ingredients literally melted and formed a wonderful dish that was way beyond the sum of its ingredients. Don’t walk, run to this little gem in Milton.

My wife and I ate here Friday night. Although we live in the area it has probably been 30 years since we have dined here. No reason why except that we never really think of it. However it was a special occasion and we decided to make a night of it. While it was restaurant week I was amazed how crowded it was. Since we had a reservation we were seated immediately. Looking around I don’t think the place has changed at all since we were last here. The waitstaff were in tuxedos and that set the tone for the evening. We started with appetizers. My wife had a vegetable stuffed puff pastry… she said it was delicious. I had clams on the half shell. Loved that I could make my own sauce. We had the cesar salad for two. Loved watching them make it. My wife had Chilean sea bass for dinner and I had the chef’s duck of the evening. The flambé presentation was good, the duck delicious. I had apple fritters and cinnamon ice cream for dessert. It was
wife’s dessert was a cinnamon ice cream Carmel pastry. It was good. A few missteps:
1. The cold bread basket was disappointing.
2. The side dishes for each meal were uninspired.
But the service was professional and very attentive. It was a pricey evening but we’ll worth it for our special occasion. I wouldn’t make this a regular dinning out experience but will be back before another 30 years.

Though I’ve heard about and driven by this restaurant a million times over the last 30+ years, this past Friday night was the first time I had ever actually eaten there. It our 7^th wedding anniversary, so we wanted to go somewhere different, and special. It was a great choice-​food was great, service very attentive, and, despite the noise (more on that later), the ambience was excellent. The wine was spectacular, probably the best pinot noir I’ve every had, and the warm bread with garlicky roasted pepper tapenade, was a great starter. We had oysters on the half shell (delicious) and a crab/​tuna/​avocado tower as appetizers, and for entrée my wife chose the scallops and I had the seafood medley over angel air. Both great selections, very fresh and flavorful. The desserts? Oh man… as good as the meal was, the desserts were the highlights. We shared a butter rum cheesecake (off the charts good!) and a warm apple pie crumble with vanilla ice cream… also fantastic. Now, let me just say that if you are considering Ship Lantern Inn, be prepared to dip heavily into your wallet. Dinner for 2, with tip, cost us $ 190.00, which is pretty pricey for the Hudson Valley, but, it’s an experience well worth at least once or twice a year, and this was a special occasion. Great menu, lots to choose from, and healthy portions. We unfortunately went on a night were it was pretty noisy-​they do a price fix menu during the week from 4 – 6 and it draws a large senior citizen crowd, and we had a large table next to us who seemed to be oblivious to their surroundings, and were all talking and shouting to each other the entire time we were there. And, they weren’t the only loud table. So, just keep that in mind if you go early… I got the impression that many of them eat there regularly. Otherwise, this is a fantastic place that we will surely be going to again.

I have lived in this area for 40+ years and each time I’ve planned to go, something would come up. Time would pass…
Well I finally got there tonight and why or why did I not get here sooner. Great, and I do mean great, service. That service and the food made for a wonderful night out. Although we ate off a special Saturday menu we did add one additional item. To begin with we had clams casino, a shrimp dish with a tomato, garlic and lemon sauce and gnocchi with butternut squash, all of which were oh so so good. Scrumptious would be the correct word. A salad followed and we had their veal Ossobuco and a delicious steak. The profiteroles and chocolate pecan tart were perfect to end the meal.
This was clearly one of the best dining experiences we’ve had… We will be back.

Wonderful restaurant, delicious food and great ambiance. Wait staff is excellent. We will be back soon!

I’ll preface my review by saying that I was here for a drug rep dinner with a group of fellow physicians, therefore this was a different dining experience than you may be having.
Prior to coming to Ship Lantern’s, is heard quite a bit about this restaurant and was eager to learn for myself if it lived up to the hype. I can say that it absolutely did. From the starter (oysters) to my main course (porkchops) everything was prepared well and did not leave me questioning my choices.
The staff was extremely helpful and were quick to bring drinks and other items when asked. Having eaten at many restaurants in this large group setting, many are slow with response times and can be frustrating at times. I was thankful that this was not the case here
There is sufficient parking in the back, conveniently located directly off of 9w and only minutes away from. The Mid Hudson Bridge. Absolutely will be back for a regular dinner here with my wife in the near future

Nothing like this place in the Hudson Valley! The food and service are amazing. The best steak I have ever had!

Great food and atmosphere!

Classic favorite. Never a bad meal and if you get one then either the chef is off OR you are. One of the best the HV had to offer with a classic ambiance and clean menu of great choices. Value for the money. Not a cheap place but here you get what you pay for. It’s a nice treat of NYC in upstate.

The entire staff was polite and attentive; there is always someone checking in to see if you need anything. The menu offered a lot of options and there was also a long list of specials. My husband and I ordered appetizers and entrees from the specials menu; everything was delicious. The price was reasonable compared to the quality and amount of food you receive. There was a guitarist playing and singing which positively contributed to the elegant atmosphere. I would definitely return!

Amazing. Elegant. Great service.

Very cool old school dining experience. Get the escargot!

Concur with most other reviews
Old school feel — tuxes, dessert carts, bananas foster and Caesar salad prepared tableside
Ambiance was unique; had my grandmothers livingroom feel (but oddly in a good way
Waitstaff was attentive, knowledgable and interacted like seasoned bartenders with clientel
Food didnt diappoint; a rare find, and worth the look

I am so having one of those Unilocal dilemma moments about Ship Lantern. 3 stars? 4 stars? I can’t possibly say 5, can I?
This place is a total time warp. It is as old school a restaurant as you will find — right down to the octogenarian waitstaff in their penguin suits. The newest material the guitar player performed was Elvis (and not Costello.) Still, these dudes are totally pro (which stands to reason, given all the experience they have!)
The food is actually quite good. The experience is, um, well… unique. You should go though. Have an extra drink and just marvel at your surroundings a bit. Have fun with it. A completely different kind of «fine dining» experience from what most of us have become accustomed to – but still, worth the trip.

I have NEVER given any business a 5 star rating… until NOW!
The Ship Lantern Inn is the definition of EXTRAORDINARY service. I am talking about the service first because I have not experienced this level of service in ANY restaurant, ever. (I have dined in amazing 4 star restaurants, and although I have experienced WONDERFUL service, this place was by far the best.)
This restaurant should write the book on restaurant service.
Of course the food deserves 5 stars as well!
I have been there three times over the last 2 years, most recently this past Saturday evening.
This was the first time we have come specifically for the early bird special. It’s a prix-​fix dinner from 4−6PM on Saturday evening. We arrived at 5:30 (with a reservation — which is definitely necessary for Saturday night), and were shown to our table immediately, as always. The fireplace was crackling, and there was live music in the form of a guitarist singing old classics. The volume was perfect for this restaurant, and he was pretty darn amazing as well.
We were given both menus as well as the wine list.
Let me stop for a moment and say that tables are set beautifully — with candles and fresh flowers. My favorite part of the table setting, however, is the small bowl of sun-​dried tomato tapenade to go with wonderful crusty bread. I finally asked for the recipe, and it sounds so simple, yet it is so sublime!!!
Anyway, on to the actual food…
The prix-​fix dinner (which is $ 27.50) starts with either a flute of champagne or a Kir Royal. I had the Kir Royale, and it was a lovely way to start the evening.
We chose our appetizers and entrees, and then ordered a bottle of wine for dinner.
The wine list has some very reasonable (about $ 30-​$ 35) bottles which are very respectable and wonderfully drinkable.
Although there is a limited menu for the prix-​fix, we still lamented over which items to try — they ALL sounded amazing.
I ordered the shrimp with tomato and basil appetizer, and it was delicious. I was a bit concerned about the possibility of getting less-​than-​good tomatoes, but I was clearly wrong to worry about that. It was delicious.
Salad with raspberry vinaigrette was also good; however the two apple slices probably should have just been left off the plate. Hudson Valley Apples are definitely long past their prime, and that is the only even slightly negative thing I have to say. The salad itself was delicious.
I ordered the Pork Osso Buco and was pleasantly surprised by it. I have only had Veal Osso Buso in the past, so I was wondering if this would even come close.
It was absolutely wonderfully, falling-​off-​the-​bone succulent, with an incredible risotto Milanese to accompany it. (It was even delicious for leftovers the next day!)
Dessert choices included chocolate pecan tart and profiteroles (among other things), and both of those were (once again) incredible. Coffee was good, and a perfect end to the evening.
Service throughout was attentive and pleasant, and we were never without a full glass of water or wine. They know how to be attentive without hovering, and I absolutely love that.
We will definitely be back — again and again!

Wow, really? Everyone else here must have gone to a different Ship Lantern Inn than I did because they just blew it on every level. I give it 2 stars because the décor was really nice. A beautiful place really, but everything else was just sub par.
First off, we ordered what was described to us as an heirloom tomato caprese salad… what arrived was a regular tomato caprese salad. Despite my appearance, I can assure you I know the difference between the two. What came next was the saddest old lettuce salad I’ve ever eaten, followed by the Cioppino which we ordered as the main. It was very over cooked, to the point where the lobster meat was just tough. The servers also didnt seem to care much for us either. This great service that everyone is talking about was missing.
This was a very expensive waste of a meal. Oh the bread was good… I’ll give them that.