Essie's Restaurant — Restaurant in City of Poughkeepsie

My girlfriend and I love to travel just to get away for a day or two and up to a week sometimes. Our main focus is to try different restaurants along the way and at our final destinations. I can't even count how many establishments we have been to but one thing I will say is Essie's made its way to the top of our list. We pride ourselves on good food and great atmosphere which Essie's more than delivered.

We were warmly greeted by the owner Brandon who is also the head chef of this amazing restaurant. We were told the story of how Essie's came to be and that alone is very special to me. Daniella was our server and she was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the restaurant and the menu. We had great conversation between both her and Chef Brandon which you don't experience often. As soon as we looked over the menu I knew we were in for a real treat that night. All of the ingredients that were listed let me know the flavors were all going to layer and compliment each other and really pack a punch.

We started off with the fried plantains which were cooked perfectly. Crispy on the outside and soft in the center. The sauce had a very warm and zesty kick to it which I am a huge fan of. Topped with a generous helping of cojita cheese it was the perfect appetizer.

Our entrees consisted of the chicken and dumplings which I had. My girlfriend had the veggie pesto pasta. Both were outstanding and cooked perfectly. I had the most tender and juicy chicken I've ever had in my life. The mixed veggies went perfectly with that and the soft fluffy dumplings which were also perfect. The real star of the dish was the sauce. A natural jus from the cooked chicken was so glossy and rich it was to die for! As for the lady, her pasta and veggies were delicious. The pesto was so creamy but not too heavy. Very tasty mix of veg as well.

Last but not least we had the homemade cheesecake. Best I've ever had in my life! Very light, creamy and a little zesty from the orange slices. The apple preserves and cinnamon crumbles went perfectly with it as well.

In conclusion I give this establishment a 10/10! Amazing food, prices, service and atmosphere. We will be coming back to try everything on the menu. Thank you so much Daniella and Chef Brandon for a wonderful dining experience. We will see you soon! -...

Had brunch (or lunch) with a friend and this was my experience:

Was charged $4 for a 5 oz can of seltzer water... you know something's going on.

They had no bottled Perrier or sparkling water.

I don't drink tap water in a restaurant. Any restaurant.

Since I was driving there was no wine to be had or any alcoholic beverages.

I was thirsty so I had four (4) 5 oz cans of seltzer water which means I had 20 oz of seltzer water and was charged and paid $16. Plus tax of course.

I had an $18 breakfast special (plus tax) which included two eggs a couple of pieces of bacon and one thin slice of toast upon which the eggs and bacon were placed. Oh there was some kind of tomato base (a spoonful or so) surrounding the toast or whatever, also with the eggs. And one tiny croquette. Maybe there was two. You'll see it all on the menu.

At least I think that's what was on the plate.

Ordered a side order of cornbread which was $7 and what was given was two 3x3 in. by 1/2 inch slices of cornbread. I ate one piece in my friend had one piece.

Paid $7 plus or minus for some potato wedgies which was tasty. I'll give them a thumbs up on the potatoes.

The cheesecake dessert at $9.50 was very tasty for sure.

All told it was a disappointing experience.

I've eaten there several times in the past with more pleasant gastronomical experiences.

I have not eaten there in the past year. I doubt if I'll be going back anytime soon.

Those previous experiences were five-star experiences.

This was certainly not one of them.

I get it that because of inflation and the high cost of labor and rent and heat, power and light, prices are exorbitantly high for everything.

I don't think the meal was worth what I was charged plus tax and tip (and paid).

There's a surcharge if you pay by credit card. I paid in cash.

I'm not writing about the ambiance being of The Plaza Hotel restaurant, the Waldorf Astoria or the Carlisle Hotel restaurant. Or the old Palm Restaurant on 2nd Avenue in Manhattan.

Or even the Eveready Diner in Hyde Park, New York.

The ambience was more akin to the Pancake Factory in Pleasant Valley.

I hope you have a better experience than...

My friend and I enjoyed Essie’s so much, we dined there two nights in a row during our May weekend in Poughkeepsie. Part of the draw was the food, but we assigned equal weight in our considerations to the general ambiance and pleasure of eating in a restaurant where we felt comfortable, welcome, and generally at home. If Essie’s was in my neighborhood, I’d be there all the time. The sound levels allowed for conversation and, while it’s not a big space, we did not feel confined or hemmed in by neighboring tables. I couldn’t write a review without acknowledging the stellar wait staff, who took my food allergy perhaps more seriously than I take it myself.

On to the food: I’m not much of a steak eater, but I might be if Essie’s were around the corner. The seasonings were perfect. The portions for the steak and, in fact, all of our dishes were just right, not too little but also not a trough of food, which always strikes me as embarrassing. It was served with delicious fries and a vegetable whose identity I’ve since forgotten, but it was equally delicious. As non-drinkers, we consumed multiple glasses of hibiscus lemonade, which was not overly sweet, as many lemonades are. The second night, I ordered the local lettuces salad (again, I’m not much of a salad person, but I was trying for adventure and wanted to save room for dessert) and it did not disappoint. Elaine’s cheesecake topped off the meal. It was surprisingly a refreshing cheesecake, not heavy at all, due to the kumquats, which added a juiciness with an almost imperceptible touch of tartness, and the light consistency of the cake itself.

Next time, we plan to order the jerk ribs. We almost went back for brunch the following day to sample them.

As a former resident of Poughkeepsie, I sincerely wish Essie’s had been in Little Italy when I lived there. It is a truly wonderful addition to the neighborhood, to the city, and to the...