Canoe Hill — Restaurant in Town of Washington

I really liked this place. The interior is small and very cozy with just a few tables and a bar. They don't take reservations, and we ended up waiting for about 30 mins when told it would be 10, but my friends and I sat at the bar, ordered cocktails, and had a few oysters, which were delicious even if some were a little small. It's an expensive place, and the menu is limited, but overall the food is quite good. We had several appetizers - chicken liver pate, mushroom toast, and duck fat potatoes. The pate and mushroom toast were both delicious. The pork chop was good as an entree, but I felt it needed something else to go with it in addition to the shishito peppers and the few cherry tomatoes that came with it. My husband had the grilled cheese, which he said was excellent, but after appetizers, dinner, and dessert, he was still hungry. In reality they're probably serving the right amount of food! We ended with chocolate mousse, the only dessert they offered that night, and various coffees. I'm not a chocolate mousse person, and the presentation was not the best, but it was the best chocolate mousse I've ever tasted, and we ended up ordering another one to share at the table. I feel that the wait staff was a little aloof and maybe not the most friendly, but I'm noticing that at other more upscale places lately as well. That disappoints me, but maybe that's what it means these days to be upscale. I would...

My girlfriend and I went up to Columbia County for a weekend away and decided to stop in at Canoe Hill on the way up for some Happy Hour drinks and bites after finding the place by chance just looking at the map for dining options. We came for the $2 happy hour oysters and stayed for the service and atmosphere. The oysters are chef’s choice, so we recommend ordering in small quantities so you can continuously try different types (we ordered 4, then 6, then 4, and got three different types of oysters). We had a couple of delicious drinks and a very tasty bar grilled cheese, and had great service from Valerie (also my girlfriend’s name!) who took care of us the whole time. The place was also virtually empty, which makes it a great spot for some alone time with a loved one. It’s not the cheapest place, but with the price comes an incredibly high quality experience....

Once you go through the front door you're greeted by a cozy atmosphere and comforting smiles from the staff. The small menu of drinks and food are amazing, and the whole service was impeccable.

This was easily the best dinner in Dutchess County I've had to date. To compare it to a fellow locavore farm-to-table restaurant, I'd say it's better than the Michelin rated Blue Hill at Stone Barns. The portions are better and it's much more relaxed. I initially wanted a tasting menu, but I'm glad they don't have one. Now I have to go back and try the rest of the menu before the seasons change, and when they do, go back a few times to taste the new menu.

Oh, and if you're a restaurant critic, for the love of God stay away... You're going to ruin my new favorite place. As far as you're concerned the food...