Rosendale, a sleepy little hamlet perched on Rondout Creek in the shadow of an iconic train trestle, is poised for a restaurant renaissance, with openings of a wine bar, moonshine distillery, coffee shop, and boutique tavern in the near future. Of course, the changing gastro scene also means mourning a few closures, including the recently announced goodbye to the much-loved Santa Fe Burger Bar on November 10.
The town’s population has steadily grown over the last few years, now up to about 5,693 residents. Sitting at a crossroads between the nearby hamlets of Stone Ridge, High Falls, the Village of New Paltz, and Kingston, Rosendale is well-positioned to capture passing traffic for a bite to eat or a drink. Those in the know already mark their calendars for the annual Rosendale Street Fest (July) and International Pickle Festival (October)—or drop in to catch an indie flick at the Rosendale Theatre, hike along the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, and peruse the smattering of shops. With the growing menu of dining options, the village is sure to gain an ever greater draw.
Parrillada Family Meals | 378 Main Street, Rosendale
Serving up healthy and hearty dinners is a family affair for the Chub crew. Husband and wife MaryLu and Ramon “Junior” Chub are the owners of Parrillada Family Meals, which opened April 8. Junior’s brothers Marcial and Tomas are business partners in the venture, and sister-in-law Claudia Turcio Chub serves as restaurant manager. Even the chefs are two Chub cousins, Melvin and Douglas. While MaryLu and Junior trace their roots to El Salvador and Guatemala, the menu at Parrillada instead features Turkish and Italian cuisines. Think kebabs and pastas, pitas and paninis. The key word is “parrillada,” Spanish for “grilled.” Fresh and flavorful is the name of the game, whether entrees are grilled, roasted, or lightly sautéed.
Joppenbergh Gap Distillery | 713 Route 32, Tillson
Named for the mountain that rises over the village, Joppenbergh Gap Distillery opens this month, bringing moonshine to the Hudson Valley, which owner Jason Gaidies says, “this area hasn’t really seen.” “We are opening with 100-proof clear corn whiskey exactly as it would be out of the mountains of Tennessee,” he says. The Rosendale resident has been a moonshiner and home-distilling instructor for 12 years. You might recognize him from the Discovery series “Moonshiners: Master Distiller” or the recent Woodstock Film Festival’s HUDSY Shorts premier of “Shaken and Stirred with Nigel Barker.” Gaidies is reviving the town’s “spirit,” as there was a distillery on James St. in Rosendale pre-Prohibition. “I’ll be slowly reintroducing those classic spirits,” he says. Get ready for “moontinis” and cocktails focused on corn whiskey, as well as beer, wine, cider, non-alcoholic drinks, and a cast of rotating food trucks.
Well Nice Wine | 407 Main Street, Rosendale
Husband-and-wife team Zoe Wilkins and Joe Barron are transforming the iconic former spot of the Alternative Baker into a destination for wine this winter. The couple fell in love while working at a wine bar in Manhattan in 2018 and tied the knot last August. It’s only fitting that their next step is creating their own concept, which Wilkins explains will be a cozier take on the classic wine bar with a blend of domestic and international offerings, traditional and natural. “Imagine if your grandma ran a wine bar—that’s the idea,” she says. The menu will feature Eastern European comfort dishes with a kitschy Americana twist. And while the wine list is well-rounded and long, Wilkins adds, “Don’t worry—we’ll always have a $5 beer on hand. At Well Nice, we’re about sharing great food, fantastic wine, and a laid-back atmosphere that feels like home.”
Lift Cafe | 424 Main Street, Rosendale
Lift Cafe, moving into the former Perry’s Pickle locale, is set to open early November. For the venture, owners Peter Oellers and Daniel Malpica moved to the area from New York City in 2014 and are partnering with their 36-year-old son Myles O’Meara, who will manage the cafe with his wife and daughters. The family’s vision is to become a community anchor, complete with a calendar of events, and also serve as a space to gather over coffee, smoothies, and juices. The menu will also feature healthy snacks, ideal for those who are seeking protein options or who are tracking their macros.
Bistrot Le Chat Barbu | 434 Main Street, Rosendale
When the doors shuttered on the Rosendale Cafe in 2022, many wondered what would become of the space. Recently, a building permit popped up, with a sign in the window reading, “Coming soon . . . a cheeky bistro.” By winter, the Bistrot le Chat Barbu, which translates to bearded cat, will open. Chef-owner Devin Delgado explains that the “T” at the end of “bistrot” is intentional, reflecting the original French spelling of the word. He adds that the “cheeky details like that sum up much of what I am hoping to create, atmospherically.” A sense of fun will prevail, easing any anxieties about fine dining. There will still be seriously good wine and French fare—like steak frites and coq au vin, as well as creations inspired by the cuisines of Senegal, Martinique, or Vietnam—but without any pretense. Delgado says, “At Le Chat Barbu, you can put your elbows on the table.”
Six Bells Inn | 435 Main Street, Rosendale
Opening next spring on Main Street in Rosendale will be a self-styled “storybook you can sleep in,” Six Bells Inn. Owner Audrey Gelman opened the Six Bells homewares boutique in 2022 in Brooklyn. Expanding the concept into a hotel was “always the plan,” she says in a Wall Street Journal article, which also names Jeremy Selman as partner in the venture and future operator of the establishment. Those who love shopping at Six Bells will now now be able stay overnight in a historic inn with the same vibe. The three-story brick building, featuring 11 guest rooms, has been an inn or boarding house since 1850 and will open back up for booking in 2025. The reimagined hotel will also house a shop, restaurant, and tavern. Gelman says the menu will be early-American and country-cooking inspired.
Montauk Catch Clubhouse | 2608 Route 32 Rosendale
You might already shop for Montauk Catch Club’s fresh seafood and prepared dishes—like chowder, coconut milk curry, tuna burgers, and shrimp/lobster dumplings—at area farmers’ markets. But now, the Catch Club will soon have a new home base on the outskirts of Rosendale in the former Cuties location. The company also delivers around the Hudson Valley and throughout the New York metro area, with a dock-fresh concept courtesy of chef Savannah Jordan and fisherman Parker Hollinger. The two joined forces to bring high-quality, sustainable seafood straight to customers’ doorsteps. Now, you’ll be able to track them down at the Clubhouse.
