Columbia County is in the Hudson River Valley approximately 30 miles south of Albany and 120 miles north of New York City. The county covers 636 square miles of land and serves as home to the communities of Hudson, West Ghent and Chatham. For tourists, Columbia County has attractions like the FASNY Museum of Firefighting and Bash Bish Falls. Visitors to Columbia County have numerous dining options to choose from, including some highly-rated casual and upscale restaurants.
Swoon Kitchenbar is in Hudson and opened for business in May 2004. The restaurant held Zagat dining guide ratings of "very good to excellent" for its food, decor and service as of September 2010. The restaurant features organic and local ingredients purchased from farms personally selected by the owners. The menu changes daily to incorporate the freshest items available. Past entrees have included skirt steak with potato puree and Vidalia onions, ratatouille with fresh mozzarella, grilled pork loin with spaetzle noodles and kale and linguine with littleneck clams and chorizo sausage. The wine list features 200 selections, featuring primarily wines from throughout France. Swoon Kitchenbar serves lunch and dinner Thursdays through Mondays and closes every Tuesday and Wednesday. Reservations are highly recommended. Casual attire is acceptable.
Swoon Kitchenbar
340 Warren St.
Hudson, NY 12534
518-822-8938
swoonkitchenbar.com
Blue Plate Restaurant is in Chatham and has served the area since January 1997. The restaurant held Zagat ratings of "very good to excellent" for its food and "good to very good" for its decor and service as of September 2010. The menu begins with five appetizers, such as the fried artichokes and the steamed Prince Edward Island mussels in white wine sauce. The signature dinner is the meatloaf, topped with bacon and accompanied by mashed potatoes and gravy. The restaurant serves wine and beer. Blue Plate Restaurant serves dinner Tuesdays through Sundays and closes every Monday. Reservations are not taken. Casual attire is appropriate. A children's menu is available. The restaurant features live entertainment regularly.
Blue Plate Restaurant
1 Kinderhook St.
Chatham, NY 12037
518-392-7711
chathamblueplate.net
Located in West Ghent, The Red Barn opened in May 2001 as a revamped version of the Red Barn Luncheonette, which served the community since 1957. The restaurant had Zagat dining guide ratings of "good to very good" for its food and service and "fair to good" for its decor as of September 2010. Many of the ingredients at the restaurant are organic and harvested from the owners' personal farm. Six appetizers lead the menu, such as the pastrami sliders, the chopped chicken livers and the hot garlic potato chips. Signature entrees include the lobster roll and the home-fried chicken. Another popular option is the Hudson Valley duck confit with fried potatoes and bitter greens. Hours and days of operation vary. Reservations are recommended. Casual attire is the norm. The restaurant has a children's menu and offers outdoor seating on its patio.
The Red Barn
47 Old Post Road
West Ghent, NY 12075
518-828-6677
redbarnfood.com
