Hudson River Valley: Beech Tree Grill (May 2010)

My spouse and I dined at the Beech Tree Grill for lunch in late May 2010. The Beech Tree Grill, located directly across from the Vassar campus, offers an intimate, but pricier, dining experience. Open for dinner every night and for brunch Tuesday through Sunday, the restaurant has emerged as the classiest establishment in walking distance from Vassar. Upon entering the restaurant, the pub-like atmosphere is they first thing you’ll notice. Brewing paraphernalia, English tavern signs and elaborate mirrors adorn exposed red brick and hunter green walls, while small candles provide muted lighting. A large bar with a 10-beer tap is situated at the right of the restaurant and small tables fill up the rest of the small rectangular space. The restaurant is usually filled with Poughkeepsie locals and verbose academics on the weekends, so the volume of the cozy space can become quite overwhelming. This inviting restaurant has recently been taken over by Aaron Foglietta, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, who has designed a constantly changing and consistently strong menu. The choices range from steak to mussels to pasta, all inventively prepared. Decadent sautéed tiger shrimp, Roma tomatoes and fresh mozzarella tossed with pesto and pasta, priced at $17.75, is just one of the many sense-tickling items on the dinner menu. For brunch, poached eggs, smoked Norwegian salmon and fresh hollandaise served on an English muffin, priced at $11.75, is the perfect meal to start a weekend. A large selection of home-made desserts and an extensive wine and beer lists complement the innovative menu. With friendly and knowledgeable waiters, a warm atmosphere and stellar food, the Beech Tree Grill is a little gem worthy of celebratory dinners and family brunches.