Rock and Rye Tavern

The creativity that goes into their craft cocktails, and their food is amazing. I always leave feeling fulfilled. A very warm and rustic feel inside. Definitely one of my favorite places in New Paltz.

My wife and I were visiting in New Paltz again and had to go to the Rock and Rye, since we enjoyed it so much when we in the area last year. We brought two other couples and were disappointment in both the food and service. My short ribs, which was highlyrecommended by our waitress, came cold and fatty… and two of our party ordered the duck special which tasted more like streak but we weren’t sure either way. When we mentioned this to our server she first ignored us and when we said something again, she said it was definitely the duck. Either way, it was not good. and being told we didn’t know the difference between duck and streak was not appreciated. I asked to see the manger who never materialized. The next morning I told the owner of our B&B about the experience and he said that the restaurant was going through some changes as he heard rumblings from other guests. Skip it until they get their act together

We’ve been to Rock and Rye multiple times over the years for their delicious food, cocktails, and desirable tap beer selection. I felt inspired to finally leave a review on Unilocal because we were recently married on their property and held the reception in the pavilion out back.
The «grounds» are gorgeous the pavilion is a perfect place to hold a low-​key indoor/​outdoor reception.
Most importantly, the owner, Cassie, and her team were top notch in their service — as they have always proven to be when we come for dinner in the restaurant. Recommended for dinner, recommended for any special occasion.

This is my second visit here. Last year I gave it 4 stars but this year I left uniformly unimpressed. One of the days «specials» was fried bacon and macaroni & cheese balls. My dinner guest, not a foodie like myself, ordered them. Besides the fact that fried Mac balls can be found on an Applebee’s menu and are incredibly passé, there wasn’t a speck of bacon to be found. They were not bad, they were just totally uninspired.
I had the braised pork belly with grilled peaches on arugula. It was ok, but could have been so much more. And it could have been much more with little effort, For $ 13.00 it should have been MUCH more.
My entrée was the tri– tip with chimichuri, fresh tomato salad and mashed potatoes. The tri tip was a bit overdone, though flavorful. The mountain of mashed potatoes, and it was a gargantuan portion, was devoid of flavor. No amount of salt or pepper could inspire that big white blob. My dinner guest had the grilled pork chop with pineapple salsa. She said she liked it, but left it half eaten and declined a box to take the leftovers home.
This restaurant is charming, historic and the cocktails, beers and wines are top rate. I wish the food. $ 120 for 2 diners with no dessert or coffee, and only 1 glass of wine, was worth the price. It wasn’t.

The cocktails are some of the best in the Hudson Valley and the romantic atmosphere is great for date night.

I go here regularly – it is superb. Thoughtful, inventive, and delicious cuisine. A lovely setting, a rustic charm, with a superb and knowledgable staff, and excellent kitchen.
From the burger – moist, succulent – to the weekly and seasonal specials, I have only had terrific meals here. Whether it is a double date or a business dinner, this is the place to bring someone and make a first-​class impression.
The Rock & Rye Manhattan is simply one of the best cocktails I have ever had. If you like whiskey and like a manhattan, you absolutely must try it. $ 10, but totally worth it!

I hate to disagree with the previous reviewer, especially since he’s a friend, and a great food reviewer, but my experience here tonite was completely different than his. Then again, my taste buds are different than his or most everyone’s; I think instead of «sweet, bitter, sour» etc, mine are sweet, sweet, sweet. Still, when hearing of a huge drink menu, a sugar fiend who finds sangria to be too dry hopes to find something palatable, & a bar that would understand & accommodate a large range. Instead, my drink was the worst I’ve ever had — extremely tart & bitter despite the coconut crème in it; the alcohol tasted like what is left over after a flaming dessert burns out: bitter & stringent fuel. They were nice enough to try again with other fruit juices, but not my cup of tea (my actual chocolate-​hazelnut tea there reminded me of a lip gloss I had as a teenager; interesting but not something one would want to gulp). I tried saying that if they had an after-​dinner drink menu, there would be items I’d like, but they did not tell me they indeed had liqueurs and late harvest wine on such a menu, so there was a lack of communication going on as well. I wonder if «real» drinkers — those who like strong drinks like gin and rye etc — don’t really understand that just adding fruit juice to a drink is not the same as a sweet drink (one made preferably with 9 parts ice cream to one part Crème de Cacao or Baileys…)
Unfortunately, the overly intense flavors continued. The salad was too bitter and the mushroom & squash fries were overly breaded (though tasty inside, and admittedly the garlic-​truffle dip did not have strong garlic or oil flavors). The name was more exotic than the food; it was just plain (overly) fried mushrooms and zucchini. My lemon chicken entrée was overly drenched in lemon and the saffron couscous obviously had too MUCH saffron, while my husband’s mushroom risotto was too sour and peppery. However, the mashed potato side was excellent and obviously real.
The desserts, however, were great. My husband worried that his pecan tart would be overly sweet (? que es eso?) but it was not, although he would have liked a warning that his Jane ice cream came drizzled with butterscotch. My dark chocolate puff with a chocolate mousse-​like crème was wonderful and more exotic than a custard puff pastry, both in the crème and the large almost croissant-​like puff. The dessert moves the rating from 1 to 2 stars.
The prices, though, were insane. We were glad we had won a gift certificate; with entrée prices of $ 24 and $ 25, we’re not likely to return to this hometown restaurant.

Why five stars?
1. Location, location, location. Tucked away just outside the popular village, this place has prime view of the ridge, gorgeous dusk skies, easy access (a couple hundred yards) off the famous Wallkill Vally Rail Trail. The step «off the beaten path» of Main Street was the best step we could have made the day we visited New Paltz.
2. The food. The menu isn’t extravagant, but the variety of appetizers and entrees offered is optimal. A kitchen can only do so many things perfectly. How The house-​smoked salmon platter was crafted with inspiration and artistically presented. The oven sea bass was so, so fresh, impeccably prepared, roasted to perfection. My partner had the lemon and herb roasted chicken and he loved it.
3. COCKTAILS. Sure, you can get a great cocktail in a lot of restaurants… and you pay a price, which often involves a long wait. The four cocktails we ordered (between two of us), after a brief chats with a «real-​deal» kind of bartender, were beyond expectations. Chilled to near ice point, the libations were magic… with no noticeable time waiting.
4. The ambiance. It’s an historic old house — unbelievable seating options: fantastic front porch outside (facing green yards leading to woods), a gorgeous back patio facing the ridge line of the Gunks, inside seating in a formal front room or more cozy main open room with fireplace… of seats at the beautiful large antique bar.
5. The staff. Rock and Rye is not the kind of place where you’ll hear anyone say, «hold on and I’ll get your waiter.» We were served by a couple different people, and when my partner asked a busy member of the wait staff who happened to be passing by for an extra glass of ice, the waiter replied, «sure, right up,» and a glass of ice appeared within a minute… brought by yet another server who seemed genuinely happy to be part of the flow. The owner stopped by to ask how we were enjoying everything. This team is easy-​going, on-​spot professional.
We weren’t planning to visit New Paltz again this summer, but Rock and Rye is such a find… I can’t imagine we wouldn’t drive up for an afternoon hike, just to experience another evening at this place.

If you spend all your time in downtown New Paltz, it is easy to overlook the fact that the village has a lot of history. That becomes more evident if you visit places like Huguenot Street and view the historic homes. Rock and Rye Tavern reflects this as well. It’s almost a getaway without actually getting too far away — maybe 1 mile from downtown. The surrounding area is open and serene (near a golf course). The tavern reflects the charm of the nearby historic houses in its décor. And then there’s the food and drink!
For Spinal Tap fans, their drink menu goes to 11 — pages, that is. The cover bills it as «The best libations around,» and I would tend to agree. It was tough to avoid the wine list, the shelf liquors, and the cocktails, but I settled on a beer from one of my favorite breweries, Lake Placid Brewery’s Ubu Nitro ($ 7 for a pint). You can also purchase growlers of some of the beers. Another drink someone ordered, the Smoky Grove, was a gin drink with locally smoked blood oranges, quite unique.
Food choices include small plates, appetizers, and full meals, and we had a few of each. One of the appetizer specials this evening, chicken tacos, were unbelievable. I really wish they offered a larger number of the tacos as an entrée. The other dinner special was a lamb burger with a mint chutney and fried egg — also tempting, but I eventually settled for their regular burger. The burger was cooked to order, and it came with grilled onions and peppers. I opted for the side salad instead of fries, which came in a deep bowl with a house dressing. The other entrée I was considering was the curried fried chicken. I did not order it, but I saw it delivered to another table. It was three huge pieces of fried chicken.
We did not order dessert. Their prices are above average, but based on the descriptions, they appear to be generous portions. I need to borrow someone else’s hand to give the dessert menu 3 thumbs up. It features 2 local favorites of mine, Harney & Sons tea, and Jane’s Ice Cream. It also features my current favorite digestif, which I only discovered about a year ago, Trader Vic’s Macadamia Liqueur.
For me, Rock and Rye Tavern expands on my options for dining in New Paltz. There’s something to be said for the variety of options downtown. There’s also something to be said here… usually «Yum!»

I was excited to try this restaurant and it was pretty disappointing. The cod was bland and the short rib was just ok. The potatoes had no taste and the spinach just tasted like garlic. The ambiance was great and our waitress was accomodating. The drink list is also huge and I enjoyed my drink even though I think they are pretty overpriced. Everything was nice except the food, won’t be going back.

I don’t think I’ve ever written this in hundreds of reviews —
the serving was a little bit too small!
That says something about how much I LOVED the food at Rock and Rye. First of all, it’s mostly locally sourced from New Paltz farms. My duck special was cooked so perfectly. It was incredibly tender, juicy and flavorful. It had just a dollop of mashed sweet potatoes under a bunch of greens, and that tiny dollop was such a tease. I could have eaten an entire dinner plate full of those amazing potatoes.
For dessert I had the special popcorn — spicy cinnamon. It burnt my mouth in the best way. I took some of it in a box for the ride home to Albany.
Service was excellent. I always had a full water glass. And the beer menu! I didn’t realize it was going to be so expensive. The Bell’s Brewery Oarmans sour ale was a perfect complement to my dinner.
We found the neighborhood and the atmosphere a little bit creepy — but in a good way, if you ask me. We had to drive around in the dark for a bit and they only had the bar area open so the rooms behind us were unlit and pitch black even at 6:30 p.m. I liked the old character of the building.
I wish we lived closer to New Paltz so we could go back soon. Maybe next time I’ll get a bit more on my plate and I can change this to 5 stars.

I think this place is one of my favorite places! Everything is fresh and well crafted (food and cocktails). Love the back patio. Service was not the fastest, but hey, that’s fine with me when I purposely get here for an early dinner.

Rock an Rye is a welcome cocktail oasis in a desert filled with average bartenders.
I have only had the opportunity to dine here once but, being the professional that I am, I was able to partake in four different cocktails, each perfectly crafted by the very knowledgable bartender.
The cocktail menu is a mix of old and new recipes from Europe and the U.S. I had a great time working my way through it.
Make sure you get there early for dinner and have a drink at the bar then ask to be seated outside. The outdoor patio is screened in so no bugs!
The food was very good. I had salmon it was excellent. I watched everything coming out of the kitchen, it all looked so good.
I cannot wait to go back, this time by cab, I need to belly up and really dive in this time.

I have been going to Rock and Rye Tavern for quite some time now, and am finally getting around to reviewing. (Upfront: I do have a friend that works here, but as a self-​confessed foodie I am super judgy anywhere!)
95% of the time Rock and Rye is on the mark. Come here especially if you are a fan of cocktails — they are hand-​crafted, and there are always beer rarities on tap. Their food specialties revolve around small/​large plates of American Fare. Their menu changes seasonally as they use local produce and meat — one of my favorites last summer included fried tomatoes from their own garden! Love the specials during the winter revolving around duck, lamb, etc. Currently, their chefs have been serving up weekly cheesecake specials — I am not a cheesecake fan, but I have to say I have been excitedly waiting each week so i can see what the new one is, they are that good!
Prices range from $$-$$$$ depending on what you order, how much, and if you’re drinking. There is something for everyone, and they will cater to vegetarians/​vegans.

Excellent food and excellent service. Between the server memorizing an extensive specials menu, the food and the atmosphere, this place rules. My boyfriend got duck confit, and I a curried lamb burger; both were wonderful. The mussel appetizer was great, as well. We even made room for dessert (barely) but a banana bread pudding with dulce de leche ice cream, how can I say no? I can’t wait to go back, the experience overall was fabulous.

This is a review of the bar; I haven’t tried the food.
if you fancy some craft cocktails or are interested in «historical» cocktails, then drop into the bar at Rock and Rye. On the drink menu are not only new cocktails but also old ones that list the dates of their inception. Some of the combinations are hard to imagine from just reading the ingredient list and, admittedly, one particular drink wasn’t my cup of tea, but it is also an indication of how different the culture of cocktail and spirits is now compared to 50, 60, 70 years ago. Of course, you can always get a gin and tonic, but why not be adventurous and put your trust in the excellent bartenders here?

Synopsis:
ZERO for BAD service and for Neglectful wait staff. Service was ULTRA Slow cuz there were only 2 servers for the night. No bartender or bussers to assist. Probably only ONE person or house elf in the kitchen cooking all the meals.
Long version:
We walked in and the hostess/​wait staff saw us. She proceeded to seat people ahead of us, but never came back for us. Waited for several minutes.
*Waiting*Waiting*Hello? Anybody home?* Finally, a male staff came out to give us a table.
Got menus and drinks. Waited another 20 minutes or so. Sat there *twirl thumbs* felt neglected and forgotten (Sat in the middle of the main dining room. Hard to miss us. Plus, we were the only people w/​out bread basket or food.).
*Waiting*Waiting*Looking around Trying to get waiter’s attention*More Waiting*Trying not to pass out from starvation*
We could see that they were busy. Only 2 wait staff (one of them was the hostess who ignored us) taking orders and making drinks. No bartender or bussers in sight.
*Waiting*Waiting*Eating our fingers*Getting ready to eat the table*
Saw what other ppl ordered and we’re salivating. Read reviews from other Unilocalers about ‘slow service.’ Add ‘forgotten’ and ‘neglected’ to the list. Seriously?! To be forgotten by our server? This is a restaurant not an orphanage.
Couldn’t wait any longer. Didn’t want to order and wait another 3 hrs for food. Paid for our drinks and left. Didn’t even get a chance to try the food. We’re starving!!!
Do not misunderstand. We do not mind the wait, especially for good food. We understand the challenges of accommodating large dinner crowds with just 2 servers. However, we have dined at several popular and busy restaurants where there is a long wait, and staff always checked-​in on us (or at least acknowledged us). No efforts were made here. Poorly run business. Very disappointed.
No hard feelings. We took our starving selves and money elsewhere.

I’ve had the pleasure of dining at the Rock and Rye Tavern several times, and I’ve had a great experience each time.
The food was delicious. The mesclun salad with roasted beets and pumpkin seeds was the perfect salad. The roasted half chicken was succulent-​cooked to perfection, with tasty grilled corn on the cob as a side. I’ve also had the pleasure of trying a T-​Bone special that was so tender — it was probably one of the best steaks I’ve had in a very long time. Most of the ingredients are locally sourced, and it shows.
The service is excellent, the ambiance is charming, and the cocktails are great too.
If you are looking for a great meal in a charming atmosphere, give this place a try. You won’t be disappointed.
Bön Apetit!

I’ve been here twice and loved it. All (or maybe just most of) the meat is locally sourced, grass-​fed & free-​range. It sits on the outskirts of a golf course in an old, cabin-​y sort of building and has a nice patio too – ambiance is great, indoors and out. Great list of cocktails. Great menu. Great service. I want to go here every time I’m in New Paltz.

This used to be the Locust Tree, which, in its prime was worth the hour long trip from our home.
The setting remains terrific, and we dined in the stone terrace courtyard overlooking the practice green of the adjacent golf course.
We were a party of four. The arrival of three $ 10 martinis in old style champagne glasses, did not get us off to a good start.
The brook trout was declared excellent, the steak (ordered medium rare) was undercooked (rare to very rare) but had a well-​done chimichurri, and tasty but over-​salted mac and cheese. The pasta was flavorful but VERY spicy (although not declared so on the menu), and the chicken the star of the table — fresh, tender and juicy.
When faced with cuisine that is hit and miss, particularly on the seasoning, one wonders about the focus and taste buds of the head chef.
Dessert was terrific, with French press coffee, and I really liked my Boylan Cane Cola float.
Service was attentive, although light on the personal side, despite efforts to engage in dialogue.
Overall OK, but not what it used to be…