The Valley Restaurant at The Garrison

Description:

• One of the finest new restaurants in the Hudson Valley -- and very likely New York State -- this serene and sophisticated spot, specializing in seasonal American cuisine, is unexpectedly tucked in among the perfect green lawns of The Garrison, a golf club, and a spa. High on the eastern bank of the Hudson is this smallish restaurant, a handsome contemporary dining room with rustic touches, pale woods, and a striking glass wine wall. The chef, Jeff Raider, makes excellent use of fresh ingredients and organic meats and poultry from nearby Hudson Valley farms. I recently had as fine a meal here as anywhere in New York outside of Manhattan: a deliciously Mediterranean appetizer of baked artichoke-and-tomato casserole, accented with tasty olives and garlic (a signature dish); and a beautifully presented and festive-looking Basque-like black sea bass, swimming in a puddle of bright green foam and topped by a tight rack of clams and piquillo peppers. In warm weather, the outdoor deck is a coveted spot, though I'm still partial to the elegantly understated dining room. For more casual dining, including lunch, check out the bar menu next door at World's End Bar.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Very Highly Recommended 2010