HudsonValleyGoodStuff

Reginato Ristorante in Lake Katrine: Old-school Italian restaurant where everything is delicious!

Reginato Ristorante is an Italian restaurant in Lake Katrine that is off the beaten path. I've never had any reason to go down Leggs Mill Road, off of Route 9W in Lake Katrine before. When we arrived at 6:30 on Friday night, the restaurant was packed.  I didn't make a reservation so we had to wait 10 minutes or so for a table. Reginato's is an elegant restaurant, but it is not glamorous or pretentious.  I felt like I was eating in my aunt's fancy dining room.

Our server seemed a bit distracted by the chaos, but turns out he was paying attention. He was just on auto-pilot. For our appetizer, we shared the antipasto caldo for two, a delicious sampler which was  included Clam Casino, Clam Oregano, Mussels Oregano, Eggplant Rollatini, Stuffed Mushroom and Shrimp Fradiavolo. Tom had a craving for Caesar salad so we ordered Caesar salad for two. I had the filet of sole almondine for my entree, and Tom had the chicken parmigiana.  I was really impressed with the food here! The hot antipasto was perfect. Everything was very juicy, buttery, and moist. The Caesar salad was out of this world! It was probably one of the best Caesar salads I ever had.

The service was very friendly, but not all that speedy, which was fine because I needed the time to rest my stomach between dishes. By the time my entree came, I knew I was not going to have room for dessert. (I'm sure the desserts are good though!) Everyone gets a small serving of watermelon at the end of their meal. That's a nice touch! I would whole heartedly recommend Reginato if you are looking for a romantic Italian dinner, or just a get together with friends. I'm adding Reginato Ristorante to my "Restaurants I Love" category. What a memorable date night! Reginato Ristorante, 34 Leggs Mill Road, Lake Katrine (845) 336-6968.

 

Stella's Italian Restaurant in Kingston is the Real Deal: Warm, friendly, huge portions & delicious!

Sometimes we are so excited about date night that we don't make plans, and we just decide where we are going to eat the night of. (Since starting the blog, I have to confess that I usually try and steer the night towards a restaurant we haven't tried yet, one that we haven't been to in a long time). Last Friday, we thought we'd go to Boitson's, but since we didn't have a reservation we were told we could come back and eat at 8:30pm or squeeze in at the bar and eat. (This brought back memories of our Manhattan dating days, but it's great to see restaurants in uptown Kingston packed on Friday night!)

I looked across the street and remembered how a few people have told me to check out Stella's and for some reason, I have never  been there. The exterior never attracted me. Stella's was also very crowded, but they found room for us at a tiny table in the back. It was a tight squeeze, but romantic.

The ambiance is very warm and friendly, and it kind of reminded me of an Italian restaurant we used to go to in Brooklyn when we were dating. It was the only Italian restaurant I liked in Brooklyn. Adam our server had a great sense of humor, and was over-the-top friendly and helpful. I started with a stuffed artichoke, which was soaked with buttery bread crumbs. Tom really enjoyed the antipasto plate with meat. I tried the cheese on the plate, which was divine! Our entrees came with a family style salad--very fresh romaine lettuce tossed with oil, vinegar, and gorgonzola cheese. I'm not a blue cheese lover, but I still loved the salad.

For our entrees, Tom had the chicken francese, and I had the grilled salmon. I couldn't believe the size of the salmon. (This was the first time I ever had to take a salmon dish home with me because I couldn't finish it). For dessert we shared a yummy flour-less chocolate cake. The cappuccino was so good I forgot to take a photo of it. I would definitely recommend Stella's if you are looking for a really good Italian restaurant in the Hudson Valley to go to with friends or family. A few readers have suggested the stuffed green peppers and the lasagna at Stella's too. I can't wait to go back and try a pasta dish. Stella's Italian Restaurant, 44 North Front Street, Kingston, NY (845) 331-2210

 

Hudson Valley Good Stuff video of The Monday Night Groaning Table: Fish & Chips theme

May 2013 Update: The Groaning Table is only served ONE Monday a month now. Most likely it will be the last Monday of the month, but stay tuned!

My new favorite weekly ritual is the Monday Night Groaning Table at Duo Bistro. The theme for Monday Night Groaning Table last night was Fish & Chips. We started by nibbling on local Old Chatham cheese and housemade sausage.

When we all sat down, we had fish and chips, carrots, boiled potatoes with lamb ragout, housemade sourdough bread, salad. For dessert we had apple cobbler and real whipped cream. It was delicious as usual. I met nice folks visiting from Arizona, and two women from Ancram, NY too.  Follow Duo Bistro's Facebook Page to find out the theme of the week. The cuisine changes every week. So far, they have had French, Moroccan, and New Orleans theme. Thank you for inviting me to this weekly feast, Duo Bistro. I look forward to many more. There is only one seating at 6:30pm and cost is $20 per person (does not include drinks). Duo Bistro, 50 John Street, Kingston, NY (845) 383-1198.