Bacchus
4 South Chestnut
Street
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| Picture compliments of Bacchus |
New Paltz, New York
12561
Yes, this small
town eatery boasting its collection of over 400 beers certainly has to live up
to its own standard. Bacchus, located right off of Main Street, on 4 South
Chestnut Street is cleverly named after the Roman god of wine and intoxication.
This restaurant and, of course bar, is local and student friendly. They
specialize in seafood and southwest specialties however they have an array of
delicious cuisine here. Whether you’re looking for a pricier meal, or a cheap
bite. You name it, they got it!
I actually
discovered this eatery by winning a gift card with my friends at SUNY New
Paltz. My friends and I decided we would all share the card equally and go out
that Friday night. We were seated upstairs because downstairs was bustling. The
infinite bar and the pool hall are located downstairs. Upstairs is more formal
and quite, very good for a date night. I ordered the Lobster Ravioli with
mushrooms and spinach in a cream crab meat sauce. I couldn’t believe I found a
dish with all my favorite foods in it. I’m drooling just thinking about it.
Being a college student I normally wouldn’t pay $18.95 for a meal, but it was
worth every penny. The flavors were incredible and although a pasta dish, not
too heavy. I attempted to finish it all but ended up taking some back to my dorm.
By far, it was the best pasta dish I’ve ever had.
A few weeks later,
my aunt had come up to visit me and we wanted to grab salads after our hard Sunday
of shopping, Bacchus it was. I ordered the house salad with shrimp, about $10.
Although not exactly what I was craving, the shrimp was cooked perfectly and I
was full. Also, the dressing, like vinaigrette was absolutely delicious. I
think it was called Mexican Italian; the cilantro was arousing.
Even just last
weekend my family friends were coming to visit the college and requested a
“decent” place to eat. I knew that whatever restaurant I chose would influence
their feelings about the town or even school. I needed to show them a place
that gave them a taste of New Paltz nightlife while still maintaining high
quality and service. After much deliberation, we were off to Bacchus.
The family ordered
classic American favorites ribs, wings, and burgers. I decided to try something
new and ordered the Ahi Tuna sandwich which was garnished with mesclun greens,
bean sprouts, avocado and wasabi aioli, served with my favorite, curly fries by
choice. The tuna was cooked just the way I like it, rare, pink in the middle. They
were not skimpy with the tuna or avocado either which I was even more impressed
by. The crusty bun, thick tuna steak, and creamy avocado worked great together,
especially with that pungent wasabi aioli for the kick. That’s definitely going
to have to be a usual for now on. It was a very filling sandwich and totally
hit the spot and only for $9.95. Everyone left satisfied and happy.
One of my favorite
things about this restaurant is that it’s the perfect place to bring just about
anyone. When in doubt…go to Bacchus! I’ve eaten at this restaurant three times
since March and can’t wait to go back.
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| Picture compliments of Bacchus |
As far as the
atmosphere is concerned, the brick walls are adorned by titillating décor and
the high ceilings really give you a great feel for the place. I found myself
looking around the restaurant as if I were at an Applebee’s. The outdoor patio
and pool hall really distinguish this restaurant from the others.
Bacchus also hosts events, shows and live music throughout the year. There were
dozens of people just having a genuinely good time. Great food, live music, and
a billiard hall…talk about a triple threat!
Although every
time I ate at Bacchus I walked out sate, there are a few things I would have
liked differently. The aesthetics are there but over time, the lights dim and
the adornments and wall hangings are camouflaged. The service is satisfactory,
they never forgot about us but the wait staff was a little slow. Lastly, my
major concern was the fact that there were two menus. One, the main menu the
waiter hands you. But there is also another menu enclosed in a plastic stand
that had cheaper, more eclectic cuisines. There were at least a dozen other
menu options on this standing sheet, including burritos, pizzas and my Ahi Tuna
sandwich. I felt tricked into buying the more expensive menu options from lack
of knowledge of the second menu. Now I know, and so do you.
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| Picture compliments of Bacchus |
I love Bacchus and
everyone I have taken there loves it too. You definitely can’t get this food on
campus and this is even one of my favorite restaurants in town. This restaurant
is perfect for college students who want to go to a different place, not the
typical Murphy’s, P and G’s or McGillicuddy’s. Although Bacchus is also a bar,
there is less of a “bar feel”, this eatery is more formal and classier. I also
appreciate how the restaurant does not exclude people under 21 after certain
hours. There is something for everyone on every budget. This isn’t just bar
food; some of this is sophisticated fare that you know was carefully
manipulated with textures and spices to give you what you deserve- a fantastic
meal!
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| Picture compliments of Bacchus |
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