Julia's Local — Restaurant in Town of Cairo

Well I can’t recommend this place enough-First off I called to make a reservation and Julia herself answered the phone and said I got a table for you come on over!

The Food was what my favorite farm to table experience probably ever- why? Probably because it is so intimate and to have most of the produce grown by the owners is something that doesn’t happen often and then to have them tell you where each item in the menu is grown or sourced is something larger restaurants just can’t do— Julia was explaining in detail what on the menu was grown where -most of it was grown in their restaurant garden and all of the other ingredients were locally sourcing from Catskills micro businesses and individuals. Seeing this business model is something very unique and hope to see it flourish! It was next level food quality. It just feels the way food should be.

The service was down to earth and not pretentious which I absolutely loved. I felt like I was in their home and over for dinner, very intimate experience.

The food was a perfect fusion between Nordic & Catskills cuisine. The chef is Norwegian I believe — their creativity and skills really shines with the unique sauce reductions, combinations of local ingredients mixed with traditional Norwegian dishes fused with New York Americana— we had 2 amazing entrees- Fried Beaverkill Rainbow Trout Cakes and Duck leg Confit — both mouth watering dishes that we will both be thinking about for awhile- we also had the Chicken Liver Pate and seared Collards.

I have been wanting to come here since a friend recommended them last June. We were seated at their more casual Sunday seating which was just a pinch me experience—

First off I am obsessed with cook books and this place is decorated with them stacked up on tables and shelves in each room- Julia showed me the collection and what inspiration is housed here!

The atmosphere was perfect —white walls well lit- natural sun light- it was minimalist vibe in the dining rooms mixed with thoughtfully hung eclectic artwork— oh and there is an original Keith Haring sketch— little details like this make it extra special. There are stories hidden everywhere here and if you are lucky Julia will share some of them with you.

Thank you Julia and team for your incredible hospitality- we will...

My boyfriend and I visited Julia’s Local during a weekend getaway, really excited to try their garden-to-table food. We’re both big foodies, and this was supposed to be the highlight of our trip — especially since it was a special occasion for us.

Our server (brown hair, glasses) was great — super friendly, engaging, and attentive. We ordered generously: Nordic shots, cocktails, Faroe Island salmon tartare, Caesar salad, trout, and pork belly. The food was amazing, and you could tell a lot of care went into the preparation. Honestly, we would’ve loved to come back just for the flavors alone.

But then, while I was eating my Caesar salad, a live rolly polly fell out of my mouth and onto the plate. I was startled. Our server apologized and said they’d take care of it, which we appreciated. The health code issues weren’t what bothered us — we understand that garden-fresh food can sometimes have bugs. What really mattered was how the situation was handled.

A few minutes later, Julia (the owner) leaned through a small window near our table and said, “You found a bug? It’s from our garden, picked fresh at 4 p.m.; that’s why,” followed by, “Just eat it,” before walking away. We were stunned by her dismissive and unprofessional response. No apology, no attempt to address it directly — just a “deal with it” attitude.

Later, Julia briefly spoke to my boyfriend about our trip and her nearby farm but didn’t mention the incident at all. And, to our surprise, the salad stayed on the bill — no acknowledgment of what had happened. Julia’s flippant attitude and lack of accountability were really disrespectful, especially on such a special night. I’m pretty sure a white customer wouldn’t have been told to “just eat it.”

We stayed respectful and didn’t make a scene (most would have), but the whole experience was disappointing. It’s a shame because the food and our server were fantastic, but the way Julia handled the situation was unacceptable. We won’t be coming back or reccomending this restaurant to our friends. I really hope Julia’s Local takes customer care and sensitivity more seriously going forward, as this is no way to act in the...

We're locals who've had the immense pleasure of dining at Julia's Local on many occasions: Relaxing date nights on the patio; cocktails and "snack stands" in the moody bar room; themed dinner parties celebrating the Catskills' seasonal abundance; private birthday parties for friends; and, most memorably, our wedding rehearsal dinner. Our family and friends (many of whom live in super restaurant towns including NYC, LA, Philly) were blown away by Julia's Local—not just by the creativity, freshness, and gorgeous presentation of the food, but by the joyful hospitality of the staff and easy flow of the evening.

Chef Henning's food is as local as it gets, and the style is somehow both casual and elegant: comfort food with impeccable technique, the richness always balanced by brightness, the standbys always elevated by surprises. Think slow-cooked meats with tender greens, pickled garnishes and spiky sauces. My go-to cocktail is the Not Corn and Oil, made with an intensely flavorful homemade orgeat. Julia, a wonderwoman with a magnetic presence, has an ultra-clear vision for the restaurant, and it shows: The vibe is welcoming, the decor is warm minimalism, and nothing about the place is trying to be hip or trendy, which makes it ineffably cool. The ceramic dishware (cast from plants!) is a delight unto itself, and if you're into art, you'll find surprising treasures on the walls from Julia's personal collection. This is the kind of restaurant I pined for back when I lived in Brooklyn—a delicious, dynamic home-away-from-home. Long live this glorious gem!

Hot tip: When you visit, take home some of their frozen meals and pantry items—the perfect midweek dinner solution when you don't want to cook but still want nourishing food at a totally reasonable price. We especially love the chicken soups and spreads. You can also order them online and pick up at your...