Poughkeepsie’s newest casual Italian eatery, Giulia, is quickly gaining popularity as a neighborhood hangout spot. Sure, the menu of Italian-American favorites with a twist is a draw, but there’s something about the atmosphere that feels familiar; it evokes nostalgia for a place without pretension. It’s quality food in a casual setting; there’s attention to plating but also paper napkin dispensers on the table. You can bring a date, or show up in sweatpants. And that’s all intentional; Giulia arrives as a solution to our current cultural climate’s collective yearning for slow food and good company.
“The name creation of Giulia is two-fold,” explains co-owner Michael Purcell. “She is named as a homage to the warm, matriarchal figures in Italian family heritage who brought everyone around the dinner table. We wanted a name that sounded classic, personal, and hospitable—like visiting an old friend or family member who always makes sure you’re fed incredibly well.”
The name is also an homage to the historic building in which it resides. Located steps away from the Vassar College campus at 60 Raymond Avenue among a row of diverse shops and eateries, Giulia opened on September 8 in the iconic Juliet building. Originally built as a movie house in the 1940s, the site later became a popular billiards hall in the 1990s and 2000s before being purchased by Vassar to house their campus store; it’s still there, just to the right of the restaurant.
The space was a natural option for Giovanni Ilardi and Michael Purcell, who also co-own the popular restaurant Spettro, an Italian gastropub around the corner. “Giulia is part of a growing family of hospitality concepts alongside Spettro and our off-premise catering arm, Little Ghost,” he explains. However, Giulia is a sister with her own personality.
By day, it’s walk-up counter service featuring grab-and-go breakfast options like an egg and cheese on brioche ($9) or French toast sticks with maple creme anglaise ($9) or enjoy a treat like olive oil cake ($6) and a latte from their artisanal espresso bar and gelateria section dubbed Caffe Giulia.
For lunch, choose from a menu of house-baked focaccia sandwiches, 18-inch New York-style sourdough pizzas, Mediterranean-inspired salads, and sides like pasta salad or wings. You can cozy up to the counter on a barstool and watch a muted TV or sit at one of the rustic bistro tables along large windows that fill the dining room with natural light. Low music and the hum of cafe sounds just barely drown out the steady stream of traffic along Raymond Avenue.
On any given afternoon, a diverse crowd gathers to chow and chat; you’ll find members of the Rotary Club enjoying salads next to phone-glued college students meeting for coffee, across from a business casual crew enjoying sandwiches on their lunch break. Chances are, one of the latter has ordered the hugely (and rightfully) popular Classic Chicken Parm sandwich: a crusty yet soft seeded Italian bread busting at the seams with a tender breaded chicken cutlet, basil pesto, housemade vodka sauce, melted mozzarella, and torn basil ($15). “It’s our tribute to the quintessential red-sauce comfort food, elevated with fresh, scratch-made components,” Purcell says.
During the evening, the same tiled walls—decked with an eye-catching assortment of framed vintage Italian promo posters—takes on a warmer ambiance as the sun sets and hosted seating begins. The menu expands to include scratch-made pastas, red-sauce classics, craft cocktails, and a curated wine list. Think of it as a trattoria minus the white tablecloth.
Enjoy shared dishes like the Giulia Pie, an 18-inch sourdough NY-style pizza topped with house vodka sauce, stracciatella, fresh basil, Parmigiano Reggiano, and extra virgin olive oil. (Pizzas: $18 to $25.) Or, try pasta favorite Lumache alla Vodka: Lumache pasta tossed in a rich San Marzano sauce with applewood smoked bacon, Calabrian chili, basil, Parmigiano Reggiano, extra virgin olive oil, and salted ricotta. (Pastas: $18 to $25.)
Lauren Coleman, culinary director of Spettro Hospitality Group, developed the menus, while head chef Erik Sohlstrom, a CIA graduate, leads the kitchen team alongside sous chef Olivia Casailinova. “She is a master at her craft when it comes to pizza,” Purcell says. “Recipe development starts with classic flavor profiles people hold dear, like a cheesesteak, Caesar sandwich, or vodka pasta, and refines them using house-made elements like ’nduja aioli, fermented chili, and daily-baked breads.”
Giulia’s bar program was created by Brandon Brooks, general manager and beverage director. “It’s thoughtfully curated to complement our food, focusing on Italian amari, aperitivi, natural and classic Italian beers and wines, and refined takes on retro cocktails,” Purcell explains.
Standout drinks include the perfected Negroni, a classic Italian Spritz, and their signature Italian-inspired gin and tonic. (Cocktails: $14 to $16.) Six Italian wines are available by the glass ($11 to $15), as well as a half dozen Italian and local beers ($7 to $8).
“The response from the Hudson Valley and Vassar community has been incredible,” Purcell says. “Seeing the dining room filled with local regulars, students, families, and multi-generational groups from day one has been deeply rewarding.”
Located at 60 Raymond Avenue in Poughkeepsie, Giulia is located at 60 Raymond Avenue in Poughkeepsie and is open daily from 10 am until 3 pm and then 4 to 9 pm. Closed Mondays.
