The Lemon Squeeze New Paltz — Restaurant in Town of New Paltz

FIRST VISIT:

AMAZING food. Dishes here typically range from $30 -$40. I am very critical of restaurants especially at this price point, but I truly have no complaints about anything I ordered. Wait staff was also really friendly, attentive, and helpful with my questions.

Started with the beetroot terrine. 10/10. I could eat 50 of them in a row, and it is a generous portion. I've seen restaurants with similar beet dishes charge the same price for much less. Perfectly seasoned and every ingredient complimented the other in all the right ways.

I had a double pork chop entree & my date had the cauliflower steak. My chops were flawless. I was so full from the appetizer, but I could not stop stuffing my face with this sweet and savory apple, pork goodness. I had a few bites of the cauliflower, and it was also good. If I'm being picky, it could have used a touch more salt/seasoning as the cut of cauliflower was very thick and the interior is obviously impossible to directly season. It was served with black rice which was also cooked to perfection.

I don't remember what it was called, but for dessert, we had a couple fruit-ice cream-pastry things that also were delicious.

This is not a huge issue for me but I wish there was a larger selection of beers. I know their main focus is the cocktails, but I'm personally more of a beer guy. Some sours would be nice. I will probably try one of their cocktails eventually though.

In terms of ambiance, it was sort of secondary for me. The piano didn't start until we were wrapping up and getting ready to go. What I did head sounded nice, but I wish the piano was more visible from every table. It's located up some steps and I couldn't see it at all as I was sat near the entrance by the windows. This didn't bother me because I was more interested in the food, but I think is worth mentioning.

Can't wait to go back

UPDATE:

I was singing this restaurants praises after my first time, but my second visit could not have been more different. Hostess was extremely rude. We were made to sit at the bar even though there were many open tables available. Not very busy on a Thursday night. The bar itself was pretty busy and there was only one bartender. She was a champ plowing through cocktails and eventually took our order. After waiting about a half hour, 2 top opened up. We asked the hostess if we could move and she said yeah no problem. Only thing is she didn't do her job and communicate to anyone else that we moved. We didn't get a server for another 20 minutes and didn't see our food for another half hour. Waited total of an hour for our meals. Again, the dining room was not very busy.

But I was relieved when my burger came out and it smelled so good... I took a bite and somewhere in a galaxy far far away master Yoda felt a tremor in the force. I was so heartbroken that my burger was VERY well done and I ordered it medium. My partner order the cauliflower steak, same as last time. only they must have changed the recipe because it was spiced with something very unusual. Not necessarily bad, but strange, and not what we were expecting. Again it took another 10 minutes for our server to check on us and I let her know about the burger. She was kind and apologetic and they brought me another which I ordered to go. Thank god it didn't take another hour.

Lastly, we were not made to feel welcome at all because after we moved to the table, the hostess and some other employees were sat at the table behind us saying they couldn't wait for us to leave so they could have their favorite table.

Walked away wishing I had went somewhere else...

The fact that my first visit was so positive made this experience...

I don’t know where to start when explaining to a reader, how amazing this restaurant is in New Paltz, New York. If you have to wait a few minutes for a table and if their bar happens to be full, take a walk down Main Street in New Paltz and have a cocktail somewhere while you wait. It’s totally worth it. They will text you when your tables ready and allow you time to return. The staff is so friendly and fun. The atmosphere is amazing. The decor is beautiful and the menu is wonderful. We were able to listen to two different piano players, with completely different styles, who were both amazing and entertaining their playlists pleasantly surprised us, and ranged from classical to the Beatles to rock ‘n’ roll to Radiohead. We had such an amazing time at a fun dinner with friends. We didn’t plan on eating as late as we did but we’re glad we didn’t change our plans. We were there from 8 PM to 10 PM and we usually don’t stay out that late but the whole experience of the restaurant got us so wrapped up in the fun of it all that we didn’t mind one bit. The cocktail selection was incredible. Every drink anyone got at the table was delicious. The food was absolutely amazing. There was no dish, including the specials that we wouldn’t have again some of our favorites were the delicious selection of four types of oysters as well as the fried oysters, which were some of the best we’ve ever had. Their lobster mac & cheese is some of the best we’ve ever had as well. The beat Stack salad is a dish I’ll be dreaming about forever or at least until I go back and then I’ll probably dream about it again. Lol. This was truly a unique dish that I hope stays on their menu forever. The combination of beets, thinly sliced cheese, and nutty arugula was just divine. The desserts were all absolutely out of this world something as simple as affogato was dreamy but the donut bread pudding was a table favorite hands down. Will be dreaming about that too. All in all it was just an awesome dinner and we couldn’t believe how wonderful we felt when we left. We were all so happy so far but not overstuffed, and all talking about how quickly we want to return. If you’re reading this review, skip all your other options in that area. The Lemon Squeeze is your choice....

I have been waiting to try this Restaurant since they opened. Not rushing there, because I wanted to see what it would be like “after they settled in” and “got comfortable” not when they were on their tippy top Premier Performance. To say disappointed does not even come close. To begin with, our waiter was never to be found, our drinks were constantly empty and after delivering the food, he never came back to see if it was even okay. Now the food, you want to tell me how a hamburger on a bun “exclusively on a plate without even the garnish of a lousy pickle” makes a nice presentation or was worth $18 for my kid, it not only looked sparse and ridiculous and “un appetizing”…. It was ordered medium and came DARK RED in the middle, which, of course we did not realize until after she put ketchup on it and it was too late to put it back on the grill. I ordered the lobster mac & cheese. It was a greasy mess. Absolutely no lobster meat, lol. Did not even have the flavor of lobster. But instead, with nothing but a super greasy macaroni and cheese in a tiny skillet… seriously, leave out the sausage grease please!!!! The drinks were weak and they were so overpriced. I ordered margaritas on the rocks. I received a little tiny rock glasses, full of ice, full of sour mix with a splash of tequila. I do not drink. I had three and felt nothing. At some thing like $14 a pop mind you. Not only have I lived here all my life, as well as continually through my life frequented all of the area four and five star restaurants even worked in some during my college years,so I know of which I speak! Basically: I give the place atmosphere +2 service -0 quality of food -0 drinks -0 If it wasn’t for the hype and the atmosphere, you’d be out of business already, I don’t care how much you love New Paltz or that you met at SUNY so many...