If you are looking for a good place to have corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's Day in the Hudson Valley, go to Hickory Smokouse BBQ on Route 28 in Kingston. We have been going here for take-out since we moved here in 2003. We ate here on St. Patrick's Day last year. It was delicious!
The comfort food is really tasty, and there are way too many temptations on the menu--pulled pork, ribs, beef brisket, sourdough onion rings, quesadilla, and it goes on. Even though the barbecue meat is their specialty, the salads are the freshest salads I've tasted around here. We split a chopped salad with goat cheese to start. No limp lettuce here! My husband ordered the Corned Beef and Cabbage, and I had the grilled vegetable wrap with gouda cheese and a baked sweet potato with maple butter, and kale as sides.
The kids grilled cheese sandwich is made with thick slices of white bread, and I managed to resist stealing a bite! We got there before the St. Patrick's Day revelers did so it wasn't crowded, but I'm sure it gets crowded later on. The Hickory Smokehouse BBQ also does catering. Take-out is available too. Not sure if celebrities dine here, but the owner looks like Ashton Kutcher. Hickory BBQ and Smokehouse, 743 Route 28, Kingston, NY. (845) 338-2424.
