Eating & Drinking Well in Kingston, NY in the COVID Era
Photo: Chicken Bisciut, award winning mac and cheese with fried okra, vegan bean salad- Pakt.
Photo: Outdoor drinks at The Crown. From left to right- Josh, Jean, Abraham.
At long last, many of our favorite local restaurants and bars are reopening in accordance with official guidelines. No matter how much time we have spent in the past few months refining our bread-baking techniques, mixology skills, or general culinary capabilities in lieu of typical everyday activities, we all still crave a certain meal or after-dinner cocktail at our favorite establishment. (Not to mention that eating a large meal without having to do dishes afterward sounds positively exhilarating at this point!)
But despite the gradual reopening, it’s still far from business as usual. Many restaurants and bars are hanging on by a shoestring, and people whose livelihoods depend on the food and beverage industry are also being impacted. Communities and their local businesses always depend on one another—and now more than ever, our favorite Kingston restaurants and bars need our support.
Fortunately, The Kingston Weekender has compiled a helpful and easy-to-navigate dining guide for this difficult-to-navigate time. [Click here for our Kingston dining guide] This alphabetical directory also features helpful symbols so you know exactly what’s on offer at each establishment. (The truck symbol means delivery is available, the fork and knife signify takeout, the umbrella stands for outdoor dining, and the martini glass means you can get drinks to go).
We have selected 10 of our favorites to highlight below.
Photo: Lobster Roll, Hotel Kinsley
For delivery, order one of the rightfully acclaimed burgers from Anchor. If you can handle something very spicy, we recommend their Burning of Kingston burger. The combination of Kilcoyne beef, cheddar cheese, sauteed onions, jalapenos, and Anchor’s homemade Apocalyptic Buffalo Sauce will make quite an impression on your taste buds!
You also don’t want to miss curbside pickup at local bakery Bread Alone. We know, we know—everybody is an amateur baker now, but the folks at Bread Alone have been doing it since the early 1980s, and the expertise is evident in every single one of their delicious organic breads and pastries.
For indoor dining, we recommend Hotel Kinsley. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu here, but if you really want to indulge in that early summer feeling, we recommend their lobster roll with fresh Maine lobster and gem lettuce, served with fries and onion rings.
Our choice for best fried chicken goes to Boitson’s. And not only is the chicken to die for, but Boitson’s is one of the only places around where you can order fresh oysters. Boitson’s is now open Wednesday-Saturday for dinner this week. Boitson’s will not be taking reservations yet, and will be seating tables at a first come, first served basis.
The best Southern/comfort food in Kingston is Pakt. If you want a filling, cozy meal, their award-winning mac & cheese—which is topped off with fried okra, miso pulled pork, or fried chicken—is now available for takeout and delivery.
For the best drink to go, we figured we would recommend two places. After all, what’s wrong with two drinks in one outing? At Crown Lounge, the Frida is a refreshing summertime cocktail with Suerte reposado tequila, aperol, passionfruit, fresh lime juice, Scrappy’s Firewater Bitters, and a chili salt rim. Stockade Tavern’s Old Fashioned is one of the best versions of this popular cocktail that we have tried.
Our picks for best sushi are Kyoto Sushi and Yasuda Sushi. Both restaurants feature amazing fresh fish and chefs who know how to make every piece of sushi/sashimi and every roll to perfection.
The best sandwich places to stop by are Joe Beez—whose Pam Anderson sandwich includes grilled chicken, grilled roast beef, onions, pepper jack, hot sauce, horseradish, hot peppers, and blue cheese—Sissy’s Cafe — Vegan Delight with Tamari Tempeh, avocado, tomato, sauerkraut, veganaise, red onion and sprouts and The Lunch Box, where the BLT wrap is second to none.
When you have a bubble tea craving, there is really no substitute in the world that can quite hit the spot in a satisfactory way. The taro milk tea at Yum Yum Noodle Bar is both delightful and refreshing.
And of course, where would any of us be without our favorite neighborhood coffee shops? You can browse books and get a great cup of coffee at Rough Draft, or pick up a cold brew growler (and perhaps a vegetarian treat!) at Outdated.
More than ever, of course, etiquette and concern for the safety and wellbeing of others is a priority. Be sure to keep at least six feet away from others, wear a mask while you are inside of any establishment, and be patient—many places are unable to operate at full capacity at the moment. And perhaps most importantly—make sure you tip well!!
So take a hiatus from your own culinary adventures, treat yourself to something delicious, and help Kingston’s local economy get back on its feet!