Aria Grill 608 Broadway, Kingston 339.ARIA (2742) * www.AriaGrill.com Located in Kingston directly across from the UPAC Theater, Aria Grill opened its doors last October. Serving a wide array of Afghan and Persian Cuisine, the atmosphere was warm, clean and inviting. Family-owned and operated, the wait staff knows all there is to know about the menu. Don’t be surprised if the owner comes out and introduces himself while you are enjoying your meal. There are lots of delicious appetizers to choose from, including the sambosa—six small pastry dumplings fried to a crisp and stuffed with mildly seasoned beef ($3.95). Entrée choices like the chicken breast kabob ($11.95), described on the menu as chunks of chicken breast marinated in seasoning and saffron then boiled over wood charcoal. All entrées are served with a choice of a variety of basmati rices (like zamarut palau, a green rice cooked in spinach) and salad topped with a lip-smacking yogurt dressing they make in-house. You may come very close to licking your plate! Yummy desserts abound, but one to try is the sheer biringe — rice pudding sprinkled with fresh ground pistachio for just $2.25. The owners have also applied for a liquor license, which they should have within the next few months. Looking for a terrific meal for a terrific price? Aria Grill is a wonderful place to visit. - Lauren Yanks

Garden Café on the Green 6 Old Forge Road, Woodstock 679.3600 * www.GardenCafeWoodstock.com Ready for an unexpected culinary surprise? Head to the Garden Café in Woodstock. The only completely vegetarian restaurant in town, the Garden Café serves unbelievably tasty and imaginative food in hearty portions, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and decadent smoothies. Dining at the café feels like sitting in your friend’s country living room. The tables are a hodgepodge of styles and each is adorned with decorative salt and peppershakers. Patrons converse like neighbors, all eyeing one another’s menu selection and raving about their meals. The food hits the table with a splash of color as the cuisine is as appealing to the eye as to the palate. The sophisticated vegan menu spans from the dessert-like appetizer of Chickpea Blinis topped with sweet date and cashew chutney to the mildly spicy Curried Tofu Mango Sandwich with caramelized onions. The sautéed greens are not to be missed. Studded with toasted sesame seeds, they melt in your mouth. The Grilled Tempeh Salad and Stir Fried Rice with Miso dressing is ginger zesty. From Black Bean Sweet Potato Burgers to Afghani Lentil Boulanee (roll ups), the menu goes way beyond simple beans and rice. As Garden Café uses local and organic whole foods, entrées range from $10-$20. Why not head on over to sample breakfast replete with Tofu Scramble, Oatmeal Crème Brule, Gluten Free Johnnycakes and a chocolate banana latte? - Ilyse Simon

Hacienda Restaurant 145 Main Street * Highland Falls 446.0406 * Website If you’re in Highland Falls and have a craving for good Mexican food, you’re in luck. Don’t let the unassuming exterior throw you off, for inside is a colorful, festive dining area. The walls are covered with beautiful Mexican murals, there are streamers hanging from the ceiling and the chairs are pieces of artwork on their own. After the friendly wait staff seats you, the first food to arrive is a bowl of fresh, warm nachos with homemade salsa that can prove addicting. Follow that up with an appetizer like the Botana, which has quesadillas, tacquitos nachos, guacamole, jalapenos and mini-chimichangas ($9.95) and your palette should be good and warmed up. Now comes the hard part: choosing an entrée. The menu is extensive and inexpensive, making Hacienda one of those restaurants you may want to visit a few times so you can sample all it has to offer. Consider their delicious Enchilada in your choice of chicken or beef ($9.95) In addition to the good food served in generous portions and brought promptly to your table, a meal at Hacienda won’t break the bank. One of the most expensive on the menu is the Camarones a La Diabla – a tasty shrimp sautéed with onions, tomatoes and a spicy red sauce served with refried beans and rice – is only $15.95. Click onto the website to view a sample appetizer/soup, specials, combination platters or entrée menu. - Chris Foreman

Homespun Foods 232 Main Street, Beacon 831.5096 * www.HomespunFoods.com Whether it's to grab a quick mocha latte before the gym or relax with a Chai tea and French toast breakfast at the window counter, customers are flocking to this quaint café. Three years ago owner/chef Jessica Reisman opened the doors and her clientele has increases steadily. The cafe's popularity lies not only in its reasonably priced and wholesome cuisine but in its charm. Those interested in “dining in” can choose from several table seats, a window-view counter spot on a retro-style green barstool or a place in the out-door dining area. Breakfast options include homemade granola-layered with yogurt and fresh fruit dish ($4.95) or oatmeal with real maple syrup and brown sugar, sprinkles, currants, walnuts and pumpkin seeds ($3.95). On weekends, all stops are pulled out with the Breakfast Burrito, a loaded flour tortilla with scrambled eggs, black beans, potatoes, cheddar cheese, avocado and sour cream ($7.25). With everything on the lunch menu under $10, it's the place to stop for a mid-week lunch or a lazy Sunday afternoon meal. The Cheddar and Chutney, Tuscan Tuna (with a side of White Bean Salad and pesto) and Mid-East (hummus, tomato, cucumber and feta) sandwiches, each on handcrafted breads and but a few of the selections. Homemade soups – priced at just $2.50 for a cup and $3.99 for a bowl – are also available. Using many organic ingredients as well as nitrate-, antibiotic- and hormone-free meats when possible, Jessica and her kitchen team are committed to providing wholesome, nutritionally sound affordable dishes. From the looks of their lines, the patrons agree. - Jennifer L. Warren

LongHorn Steakhouse 1286 Route 300, Newburgh 567.0212 * www.LongHornSteakhouse.com Since it opened a few months ago in Newburgh, the two things the folks who rave about LongHorn Steakhouse talk about most are the good food and the long wait to get in. But once you get in, there’s much to experience, from the sepia-toned, western-themed photos on the wall to the earnestly helpful and friendly (but not in an overly sappy way) wait and host staff. You’ll know that authentic westerners don’t live by steak alone when the sirloin, seafood and grilled chicken aromas drift through the air. Think of an urban Dorothy telling Toto “We’re not in Newburgh anymore.” Appetizers – like the Shrimp and Lobster chowder and Authentic Ranch House Chili are reasonably priced and the main lunch and dinner menus host a wide selection of steak and burgers, ribs, pork chops, chicken dishes, grilled and fried shrimp, salmon, salads and more. Try the Parmesan Crusted Chicken Sandwich ($8.59) and the seven-ounce Flo’s Fillet ($15.49), wash them down with a flavored iced tea or limeade ($2.99) and any of the “delectable sides” choices that come with the meal and you’ve got quite a feast. Thinking of skipping dessert? Passing up the Carmel Apple Goldrush ($6.59) – sliced apples, cinnamon and brown sugar baked in a pastry shell and topped with vanilla ice cream and burbon-caramel and raspberry sauces – will be tough. There generally isn’t a wait for lunch, you might want to call ahead and add your name to the wait list if you’re planning on heading over for dinner. - Felicia Hodges

Miss Lucy’s Kitchen 90 Partition Street, Saugerties 246.9240 * www.MissLucysKitchen.com Opened for about six years, the produce at Miss Lucy’s Kitchen is provided by local farmers and its dairy, poultry and meats are hormone-free. Because of a commitment to freshness, the seasonal menu changes on a daily basis, adding an element of surprise to even the most loyal customers. Salads, salmon tartare with Tobiko and salads like the Baby Arugula with sesame blood orange vinaigrette and goat cheese so fresh it will practically melted in your mouth are a few of the appetizers available, most for around $8. Entrées are plentiful. The Northwind Farm Grilled Chicken, served with garlicky greens, tomato chimmichurri sauce (which originated in Argentina and is often used to grill meat in Latin America), fresh parsley and seasoned with garlic and herbs ($22) is light and delicious. The dessert menu includes ice creams that are made in house as well as yummy decadences like the Maple Icebox Cake, Apple Pear Crisp, Lemon Buttermilk Tart and more. One to try is the Butterscotch Pot de Crème ($7), a creamy blend that is somewhere between a mousse and a pudding. With a wide array of wines to choose from—both by the glass and the bottle—and a varied children’s menu for $5, Miss Lucy’s offers something tasty for everyone and is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Saturday. - Lauren Yanks

Spanky’s Restaurant 85 Main St., Poughkeepsie 485.2294 * www.SpankysRestaurant.com If you’ve never been to Mardi Gras, you don’t have to head to New Orleans to experience down home Creole cuisine in a festive atmosphere. Spanky’s Restaurant in downtown Poughkeepsie has been serving up a Cajun celebration for 25 years. Where else in the Hudson Valley can you find pan-blackened catfish, gumbo, jambalaya and crawfish galore? With so many savory Southern specialties on the menu, you’ll be hard-pressed to narrow down the choices to just one. Even vegetarians will find something to rave about; Spanky’s offers meat-free versions of some of its most popular Just after the Mardi Gras rush, there was a new celebration being stirred up – Spanky’s Southern Homestyle Anniversary. For less than $20 bucks per person enjoy entrées like the delightfully spicy Shrimp Creole over rice or the finger-licking BBQ chicken and ribs along with fresh salad, a glass of wine and homemade dessert. You can’t beat that deal – especially when portions are so generous. No matter what time of year you go to Spanky’s, there’s always something happening, with special menu items during its Mardi Gras celebration, Crawfish, Catfish and Oyster festivals, “Savannah Summer” festival and annual Creole Christmas celebration. If you’re in the mood for Cajun, let the good times roll at Spanky’s. - Leah Byrons

A Taste of Thai in Hyde Park 728 Violet Street, Hyde Park 452.2186 * www.ThaiHouseHydePark.com Looking for a place to fully experience Thai culture? A visit Thai House may be what you’re searching for. In addition to a beautiful outdoor garden, hand-made Thai artwork and colorful and fabric wall hangings inside add to the ambiance. Thai music plays in the background as wait staff, clad in colorful, silk robes escort you to one of two dining rooms. Once seated at tables adorned with handmade bamboo mats and elegant candle-style folded napkins, choose from a wide assortment of very reasonably priced lunches (from $6.95 to $9.95) or dinners (all under $25) – including the Chicken Satag (marinated grilled chicken on skewers with peanut sauce and cucumber salad). If you are in the mood for seafood, try one of the house entrée special such as the Seafood Clay Pot, packed with shrimp, scallops, mussels and calamari, simmering in a tangy coconut and lemongrass broth and topped off with mild Chili Paste. Chicken lovers will flip for the Panko Crusted Spicy Angel Wings. Stuffed with ground chicken, glass noodles and Japanese mushrooms, they are served with a Thai-style Buffalo Sauce. Cool things down with a Thai beer ($4 a bottle) or any $3.50 glass of house wine Co-owners Tom Chineta and Araya Mera won't let you exit without sampling one of their homemade desserts like fried ice cream, coconut and chocolate chip or green tea ice cream, Thai custard or crispy fried bananas desserts – the perfect ending to your total Thai experience. - Jennifer L. Warren

Tuscan Café 5 South Street, Warwick 987.2050 * www.TuscanCafe.net The Tuscan Café, a combination “quick-lunch” or “dinner” spot, has a cozy atmosphere in both the front room seating area, where you can watch the action behind the counter and in the back room, where you can choose a comfy couch or peruse art pieces created by local craftspeople. Owner Kristi Ranieri who has been running the café with partner and chief cook, Kristen Ranieri considers the menu “one-third vegan, one-third vegetarian,” with the other third offering meals that include meat or animal products. The menu features delicious items like whole wheat Hummus Wrap, which is especially creamy and savory with diced roasted red peppers and sundried tomatoes and garlic bagel chips instead of fries ($5.79) and the tender and flavorful Vegan Burger ($5.99) that can be topped with cheddar cheese. The menu leans towards Mexican with quesadillas, chips and guacamole, nachos supreme, burritos – but tofu and soy help keep the dishes pure. If you’re with the kids, go for the grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Top off the meal with moist and delicious vegan chocolate chip cookie (which substitutes applesauce for eggs) or the bread pudding, served with whipped cream. Breakfast, with available hummus and vegan sausages, is served all day, as is a “make your own” coffee station. Open seven days a week, the café also features live music and special events on weekends. - MJ Hanley-Goff