Garvan's Gastropub — Restaurant in Town of New Paltz

It pains me to write this review, as we've always enjoyed Garvan's. And I hope the owner can take my and others' criticisms and use them to improve the restaurant's current shortcomings.

Based on past lunch experiences, I decided on Garvan's for my birthday dinner. When I found out there would be music that night in the pub section of the restaurant, I thought, "Perfect birthday present!" Resy showed availability for the pub, so my husband called around lunchtime and left a message for the restaurant to change us from the dining room to the pub that night. They never got back to us, which should have been my first clue. They don't check their messages.

Upon arriving, we saw an Irish host (not Garvan) who was talking to a family waiting to be seated. It sounded like the family were walk-ins and were to be seated elsewhere but they wanted to be in the pub. The staffers accommodated them, pushing two tables together. The host came back to us and we gave him our names and mentioned we had called earlier in the day for pub seating. He had no clue what we were talking about, didn't attempt to verify the message we left, and told us sorry, he had just seated the last pub table. Just a shrug and no real apology. We were seated in the back dining room.

Now for the food: My son enjoyed his gorgonzola burger, my stuffed chicken breast was very good, but my daughter did not like her burrata ravioli. My husband was disappointed with his duck, which featured four little slices of duck (two of which were end pieces) and a massive massive mound of mashed sweet potatoes to fill out the plate. Like, way more than a human would want to eat. It felt like we were getting ripped off. (Side note: His dinner was so lackluster that he was actually still hungry when we got home and had a bowl of cereal.) Unfortunately, I think Garvan's dinner menu has gotten away from what they do best: solid seafood entrees and delicious Irish fare. If I wanted OK pasta, I wouldn't go to an Irish restaurant for that.

Dessert time: My husband couldn't eat anything since it was almost all dairy heavy, my son enjoyed the lemon polenta cake, my daughter thought the Guinness chocolate cake was too rich, and I found the Guinness creme brulee too bitter. Not sure if it was the Guinness not pairing up well with a custard dish or the sugar coating, which looked like it went well beyond the traditional carmelization. All told, the bill was $200+ with tip. And an FYI, you can't hear any of the music from that back dining room, which was a huge disappointment since the music was a big draw for us.

Service: Our waiter did disappear for long periods of time but was very friendly.

Sadly, I think our love affair with Garvan's is over. Until they can right this ship, anyway. If you do go, consider lunch instead. At least you can get fish and chips or something reliable.

1/30/24 Edited to add: No call, as mentioned in the...

Sadly after waiting a week and getting No reply from management I have to instead put the word out on here so others don't make the same mistake. I wanted to give them a chance to make this right but couldn't even get a response after taking the time to let them know in full detail of this horrible experience!

I took my wife and daughter here for Lunch on Sunday 1/29/23. I was excited to try it after reading reviews and wanted to do something special for my girl who's going to college in town! So I made reservations! We arrived and it was such a nice spot. The inside was warm, quaint and pleasing. As we were being seated we were guided past a lovely dining area with many open tables and brought into a small semi private room. Sadly there was a table of 10 people which stretched the entire length of the room. They were all conversing across and the full length of the table making it incredibly loud! So loud that though sitting at a small 4 top I was unable to hear Anything without having it repeated multiple times! My wife sat right next to our daughter and they were struggling to hear each other! Still we ordered and we were all hungry We had two soups and a crab cake appetizer. My wife and I each had a cocktail. We then ordered our Lunch 2 Sea Scallop over Risotto lunch entrees and a Guinness battered cod! The soup and crab cakes were fine. The scallops arrived mid appetizer ( got that distinct feed them and street them feeling) I was shocked my $22 plate consisted of 1 ok sized scallop and 3 that were smaller then bay scallops $22 per plate! My wife's cod was almost all Breading thick and greasy barley any, (not so fresh tasting fish!) Total bill you ask? Over $140 BEFORE tip nearly $170 after tip ( or waitress was fine ) ! Ive Never minded spending good money only ask for decent food and a reasonable quantity! I was honestly sad. Just trying to do something special for my girl and can't believe I was seated in that room when so many nice table were available in main area and mostly am appalled that they havnt even bothered responding to me after reaching out to let them know about this experience! I don't know about anyone else but I work extremely hard for my money. It really bad when you spend so much and it's that lousy. Maddening when management apparently could care less! I find that pompous arrogant and disrespectful! Don't go there!! There are So many nice choices in New Paltz so many good eateries!! Avoid this Overpriced mediocre establishment! I would be glad to update this review but it’s been weeks Apparently management at Garvans feel repeat business isnt...

Made reservations for 11 adults 3 children for a 2:30 lunch. Upon arriving some of our party was already seated. I greeted leonie and Garvan with a welcoming hello nice to see you here for a reservation. Were leonie escalated the situation by calling me a liar and assuming the girl taking the reservation who was completely spaced out( long pauses inbetween me asking if she needed spelling seemed like she was mentally doing something else while taking the reservation. To them she could not have made the mistake but instead I was a liar and they could accommodate it but it was definitely our issue to work out. I was very confused to why it was becoming hostile and as If I wasn’t welcome there. As we are seated our family is saying hellos and sitting down to where we came up with having the children sit on laps and moving to the first one long table in a completely empty room. Garvan’s came in very over the top red in the face (my dad said he was at the bar drinking after the fact) saying have you folks figured out the issue you made, calling me a liar to the whole table like I was a thief (how it felt) and saying we better work it out. To where my mom whose birthday we came to celebrate asked who are you why are you being so rude to which he was glad to provide he was Garvan and “tread lightly wouldn’t want to be making enemy’s” and offered us the option to leave if we wanted as he walked off. Which now confused and overwhelmed with the situation I just wanted to leave so as my family and I are leaving Garvan sees this and now acts like a bouncer walking to the door to hold it for us as if we were creating a commotion at this point. He escalated by saying something to each family member as we leave with a drunk happy grin which I could only relate to a drunken expression . Well Garvan you did it pal you made a liar out of me only for me to go home find the ring camera alert from Thursday 7:46pm as I walked into my sunroom to make the call 11 adults 3 children. As well as the family group chat at 7:47 relaying the time, place and group size to the fam. Well we all arrived at the right location and right time. Would you look at that. Nothing could fix this wrong to me the traumatizing experience to the younger family members no apology necessary leonie and Garvan you showed you’re true colors. Drinking for a restaurant owner is always the downfall of a good...