4 Best Restaurants in Poughkeepsie, Hudson Valley

Chefs Charles and Megan Fells started a dining renaissance on Poughkeepsie's once destitute Main Street when they opened this New American bistro and wine bar in a chic spot that wouldn't be out of place in New York City's Flatiron district. Fish is flown in fresh, and if it's available (the menu changes every two weeks), pork lovers shouldn't miss the Three Little Pigs: pork tenderloin stuffed with housemade pork sausage topped with a horseradish-bacon glaze. For dessert, Megan's daily cheesecake special is always divine.

You can unwind at this popular bistro with brick walls and a bar along one wall. The wide-ranging menu includes dishes such as Cajun-cornmeal fried calamari, slow-roasted pulled pork with Carolina BBQ, and sesame-dressed soba noodle salad. There are also several vegetarian options and a long list of beers.

This classic French bistro is famed for its raw bar, which it stocks with frequent seafood deliveries. Fresh briny oysters (only $1 each at Sunday brunch) are perfectly complemented by the mignonette and spicy cocktail sauce. Mussels are prepared with tasso ham, leeks, and cream; duck confit is cured in a mixture of salt, sugar, and spices. The menu changes every three weeks but the popular steak tartare is always on the menu as are the impeccable french fries.

This tiny Vietnamese restaurant serves delicious noodle dishes and soups in a friendly atmosphere with prices that don't break the bank. Choices include crispy spring rolls, tender marinated steak bits, beef soup with vermicelli, lemon-marinated chicken, calamari with ginger, and a few vegetarian options. Vassar College is around the corner.