Say Hello to the New River Pavilion Restaurant at Hutton Brickyards
By Craig Friedman
The view from the banks of Hutton Brickyards — a hotel and venue situated right on the Hudson — features a long uninterrupted panorama of blue sky, passing clouds, dense clusters of trees across the channel in Rhinebeck, and the occasional passing boat. It’s perfectly tranquil and it’s been mesmerizing people for hundreds of years. From 1865 to 1980, this parcel of land was the epicenter of brickmaking, the key source of essential building blocks for New York’s most famous buildings, including The Empire State Building, Yankee Stadium, The Brooklyn Bridge, and Columbia University. The site attracted a diverse group of international workers — Italians, Poles, Hungarians, African-Americans, Irish, and Germans — and they all admired the same panorama you see today.
Last month, management unveiled the recently reimagined River Pavilion restaurant, nestled on the shore. So now a new breed of visitors can take in the view — while sharing a drink or meal amidst the history and scenery of the space.
BRING FAMILY, FRIENDS & FIDO
River Pavilion, open to the public from May to October, checks all the boxes you’d want to see at a riverfront eatery: It’s date-friendly, family-friendly, pet-friendly, and event-friendly (it’s a popular wedding and retreat venue). It also boasts plenty of open space for large groups, people who like to walk off a meal, and antsy kids.
An all-new restaurant team includes chefs and managers who bring years of local experience to the venue, including Chef Edward Harder, a Le Cordon Bleu graduate with over 15 years of experience, who previously worked at the acclaimed luxury resort, Wildflower Farms, and Petra Frank, who played a key role as kitchen manager at Woodhouse Pizza in The Woodhouse Lodge (in Greenville).
MMM, WOOD-FIRED PIZZA
One other thing sets it apart: The menu makes the most of having a wood-fired oven that gets hot enough (800+ degrees!) to cook a pizza in three minutes.
“These are thin crusts with fresh-made dough every day, so it's very airy,” says General Manager Brendan Dwyer. “And there are blisters of char — that's all part of the flavor.”
Pizza fans can choose among five pies for dinner. The signature pie is called, of course, the brickyard pizza (it has house-made fennel sausage, panna, mozzarella, red onion, and scallion). The menu also offers a classic margherita (with mozzarella di bufala, tomato, and basil), meatball (grass-fed beef meatballs, mozzarella di bufala, roasted tomato, chili flake, and oregano), bianca (fontina, mozzarella, sottocenere, sage, and pesto), and funghi (misti fontina, taleggio, thyme, and wild shiitake, cremini, and oyster mushrooms). Gluten-free pizza is available upon request.
For brunch, the pizza options include a Bacon, Egg & Cheese Pizza (farm fresh eggs, cheddar, thick-cut bacon) and a Breakfast Pizza (Yukon Gold potatoes, fried egg, red onion, rosemary, olive oil, parmigiano reggiano, and caciocavallo with optional bacon).
LOCAL, SUSTAINABLE, DELICIOUS
One of the advantages of having a locally grown culinary team is that, over the years, they’ve developed relationships with many nearby farms. So it’s no surprise that Meiller Farm in Pine Plains provides the beef for the meatballs, burgers, and chargrilled ribeye steak. Or that Murray’s Chicken, located in the hills of Southeastern Pennsylvania, processes its birds — the star of the Chicken Milanese — just over the New York state line in the Catskill Mountain region of Sullivan County. And that Beaverkill Farm, in Livingston Manor, on the western side of the Catskill Mountains, supplies the seafood in every order of Hudson Valley Steelhead Trout.
Prefer salads? River Pavilion varies the options depending on the season with produce from local purveyors. The opening menu currently features the Hutton Chopped Salad (romaine lettuce, chopped egg, cucumber, radicchio, red onion, provolone, salami, cherry tomatoes, ceci, and oregano vinaigrette), the Tricolore Salad (radicchio, endive, romaine, and anchovy dressing), and the Panzanella Burrata Salad (heirloom tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, herbs, oregano crostini, burrata, and cucumber).
Brunch-goers can choose from many popular dishes including Eggs Benedict, Baked Apple Pancake, and Smoked Salmon Bagel featuring salmon from Catsmo Corp. in Wallkill (pizza and burgers are also on the brunch menu).
When’s best to visit? You’ll have a better chance of scoring the perfect seat if you come for Wednesday evening’s “Drink & Light Bites” or on a Thursday night. If you’re planning a brunch, Saturday is mellower than Sunday.
RIVERFRONT DRINKING: BEER, WINE & COCKTAILS
For a crash course in local breweries, look no further than the beer and cider list on the drinks menu. There are five brews on tap and five in bottles and cans. This includes Hutton Pilsner (available only at Hutton Brickyards!), Pale Ale, and Kolsch from Kingston Standard in Kingston; Grass Wagon IPA, Ball Lightning Pilsner, and John o’The Birds Hefeweizen from Catskill Brewery in Livingston Manor; River View Dry Cider from Seminary Hill in Callicoon; Mother’s Milk Stout from Keegan Ales in Kingston; and Kaaterskill NEIPA and Brookie Pale Lager from West Kill Brewing in, you guessed it, West Kill.
River Pavilion’s craft cocktails pay direct homage to the iconic buildings that used Hutton bricks. So there’s an Empire State Building, Columbia University, Brooklyn Bridge, Yankee Stadium, United Nations, and The Plaza. The full list of ingredients in each is listed on the brunch and dinner menus. For brunch on weekends, you can also order staples like a Mimosa, Bellini or Bloody Mary.
Got a large group? The restaurant seats 86 people and has a private dining room that fits 12. To secure space for a group with more than 10 people, interested parties should fill out the form on the restaurant webpage. Weddings, corporate retreats, and other types of events are a whole other matter; Hutton Brickyards has three other riverfront spaces — a hall and two pavilions — that can fit up to 1,400 seated guests. At that point, you’re no longer eating at River Pavilion but your group will still have a memorable meal, incredible views of the Hudson River, and phenomenal photos to commemorate the event.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Do I need to be a hotel guest at Hutton Brickyards to dine at River Pavilion?
No! River Pavilion is open to the general public for brunch and dinner.
Are reservations required?
Not required, but they are highly encouraged. Walk-ins are welcome, but to guarantee your table and avoid a wait, especially during peak times, making a reservation is the best option. You can easily make a reservation through OpenTable here.
Walk-in space for large parties?
To guarantee seating and ensure a smooth dining experience, reservations are required for parties of 6 or more. If your party is larger than 10, please submit an inquiry through the special events form on the restaurant webpage. Once you submit a form, someone from our events team will reach out to you.
Can I grab a drink at the bar while I wait or after my meal?
Absolutely! There is plenty of space at our bar, cozy fireside lounge, and outdoor Adirondack chairs just steps from the water!
Dog-friendly?
Yes, and there’s plenty of room for your furry companion to sprawl out and catch the eye of passersby.
What is the parking situation?
Complimentary parking in Lot E at Hutton Brickyards. Enter our main gate at 200 North Street in Kingston and follow signs for Lot E.
INFO & HOURS
River Pavilion Restaurant
Hutton Brickyards Riverfront Hotel & Event Space
200 North Street
Kingston, NY 12401
845-514-4853
Dinner is Thursday to Saturday 5 PM - 9:30 PM.
Brunch hours: Saturday and Sunday 11 AM - 2 PM.
Reservations encouraged, walk-ins welcome.
Open to the public with free parking.
Get more answers to frequent questions and the dinner, drinks, and brunch menus
PIZZA AND COCKTAIL MENUS BELOW (FULL MENU HERE)
