Fernwood — Restaurant in Town of Catskill

First impressions. The location is a bit isolated, but pretty darn cool nonetheless. It is located next to a big stream and there is an awesome, massive-size deck with tables overlooking the water - would be a super-cool place to stop by with a large group for drinks. As we walked towards the door, the porch had outdoor seating and is roomy and welcoming. The customers appeared to be a mix of tourists and locals, all of whom were very friendly and happy to be there.

On the inside, the character of the circa 1800's building is most charming. Gorgeous mirrors, antique furniture, and pictures that transport you back to the hey-day of the building. The inside bar area is full of character, well equipped and quite extensive.

On to the food. I ordered a tortellini soup as an appetizer and a cheese and spinach filled ravioli for the main course. Culinary explosion!!!! The pasta is hand made in this place. The ingredients are sourced from local farms and the taste is incredible. Tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, cheese, on and on. The dressing was a homemade recipe the complimented the freshness of the salad. The soup was creamy and the homemade pasta was amazing. The ravioli came out and it was the best i've ever had. Smothered in a rich, creamy sauce, homemade pasta and locally sourced cheese. Dayumn!

The portion sizes were perfect too. You are able to enjoy all your food and avoid the hangover afterwards. The prices were very reasonable and if they were in a larger city, could easily charge more and get away with it.

We came back two nights later and had seafood. Ditto on the seafood review. Too much to say.

ps Get the pie! Fresh, locally sourced, berries give the dessert a truly...

The restaurant looks old (not in a warm way), with filthy, chipped paint, an unfinished deck, and mis-matched, dated, dusty garage-sale-type furnishings. The times that I did visit, on weeknights - and especially weekends, the entire place was completely empty, with just a couple of sweaty, tattooed drunks playing darts, and that interminable dross (70’s/80’s classic rock) blaring in the background. Not exactly inviting. The food can be compared - at best, with sub-par to mediocre diner food. Nothing memorable or special. The Fernwood definitely charges WAY too much for what little they’re offering. $22 to $24 for a small entree, containing mostly sides, should only be charged by a (very brave and inexperienced) Zagat rated, or popular four star restaurant, not this dingy, dark, tacky, back-woods dump. The elderly owners must be spending the rest of their retirement to stay open, judging from the small staff, and even smaller window of weekly hours that they’re offering. They haven’t yet gotten wind of the fact that they’re mostly forgotten, with the worst possible location: down a dead-end street, in a tiny, mostly unknown town, in the middle of nowhere. They’re trying very hard to be something that they’re not, while alienating everyone. They should stick to more affordable, comfort diner food, or pizza (and lower their prices dramatically). At least they’d be true to their obvious appearances. If you’re going to go out of your way, and are craving good food, Rhinebeck, Kingston, and even Woodstock have far better well-known, and well-liked...

If you're looking for traditional fayre with a rustic touch, then The Fernwood Restaurant is your place. Situated in Palenville, it is a little off the beaten track, but well worth the visit. You will experience a wonderful overall experience. We will definitely be back. Ambience is outstanding, perfect for a romantic meal. The starter and main menu is varied and the dessert menu is to die for, Jenny's fruit pies are a real culinary experience. So much choice that we will definitely be going back. Beautiful scenery and lovely friendly staff. The regular customers are warm, friendly and after a couple of hours in their company, you will feel like you have lived there all your life. My wife and I had dined in various restaurants throughout our 3 week stay in New York State and always, we were drawn back to the Fernwood. Thank you so much.

Isaac & Avril...