Mc Gillycuddy's: Hot Spot in New Paltz

Are you looking for a casual place to take your family out to dinner? Or maybe you’re looking for a place to bring your girlfriend on a date. Or, perhaps, you want to watch the playoff game with some buddies and have a few drinks. Whether you are looking for a restaurant, a sports bar, or just somewhere to have a good time, McGillycuddy's is the place. McGillycuddy's is a local restaurant located in the center of town on Main Street. It is a mix of an Irish pub and a sports bar. McGillycuddy’s is definitely a hot spot in New Paltz. It has great food and awesome entertainment.



My Experience
I went there for dinner on a Friday night with some friends. The crowd is a mix of adults, families, and college kids. It was packed; we had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. The staff was friendly but not so good considering our waitress screwed up our order. She brought my friend a salad instead of a side of French fries. She apologized though and brought out the fries a few minutes later. The food was good in my opinion. I wasn’t expecting a five meal so I was quite satisfied with my pulled pork sandwich and waffle fries. My friends ordered a chicken fajita and a cheeseburger. We also shared appetizers; Irish nachos and a plate of mild wings. I definitely recommend the pulled pork sandwich; it is to die for. I order it every time I go. The Irish nachos tastes like heaven; they are waffle fries covered with melted cheese and bacon bits. The first time I ever had Irish nachos was at McGillycuddy’s. If you have never tried them before, you should most definitely order a plate at Cuddy’s!



Nightly Specials
Cuddy’s is the only restaurant in New Paltz open 7 days a week until 4 am every night. They serve food until closing. Every night Cuddy’s has a special. Monday night is wing night. For 40 cents a wing, you definitely get your money’s worth and you get to choose from a variety of awesome wing sauces. There are also $5 Miller Lite Pitchers starting at 9 pm. Tuesday nights enjoy a free poker tournament starting at 7 pm and $2.50 Bud Light drafts. Wednesday is trivia night where teams of two to six people compete for a first place prize of $25 gift certificate or second place prize of $10 gift certificate. Every Thursday night at 10 pm you can pick a song and sing with The Lounge Lizards, a live local band! And if you’re too shy to get up and sing, you can just request your favorite song for The Lounge Lizards to sing. Also, every Thursday there are $1 tacos from 9 pm to 3 am, $5 Bud Light pitchers and $8 margarita pitchers. Friday night is music video madness with DJ Chris Gilbert starting at 10 pm. Watch thrilling music videos on the huge flat screen TVs. Friday night drink specials include $2.50 Bud Light drafts, $3 Malibu drinks, and $3 whipped cream vodka shots. Saturday night is known as “Party Rock Saturdays” at McGillycuddy’s. DJ Joe Fresh plays the hottest music starting at 10 pm. Dance all night long to some awesome beats and drink $2.50 Miller Lite pints, $3 Bacardi drinks any flavor! Sunday night, the party continues with free pool starting at 10 pm and $2.50 Bud Light and Miller Lite pints.



Food, Prices, and Service
Cuddy’s is known for their award winning wings. There are over twenty flavors to choose from ranging from very very hot to sweet. Some of these sauces include: raspberry chipotle, coconut peanut, red hot BBQ, and honey buffalo. If you are in the mood for something different, order these flaming frisky flavors on your wings to spice things up! The menu has the usual food you would find at a pub or diner. They offer soup and salads, sandwiches, burgers, pasta, etc. They only serve lunch and dinner. The prices are decent. They give you a good amount of food for the amount of money you pay. The service is not the best I have ever had; however, they are all very friendly and accommodating.



Entertainment
Cuddy’s turns into a bar/ club scene at night. It is filled with mostly older adults. Cuddy’s used to be known as a college bar. However, the staff has gotten very strict with only letting 21 year olds in after 9 PM. The crowd is mostly local older adults that are looking to relax, enjoy good music and a few drinks.



Policies
McGillycuddy’s is very strict with identification and dress code policies. No one under 21 years of age is admitted after 9 pm or 8 pm on Monday nights. The dress code is “casual but proper” according to the official website of McGillycuddy’s. My friends told me they went to McGillycuddy's on a Monday night for wing night; however, they were not allowed in since they are under 21. I suggest you check out the website for more information before going to the restuarant since proper attire and identification if required.
http://www.cuddysny.com/

Overall, McGillycuddy’s is a good restaurant in New Paltz. It definitely is a good contribution to the community. I would give it a 4 star rating. I certainly recommend anyone to go to McGillycuddy's; on any given night, you are sure to have a good time and a good meal. Your stomach and your wallet will surely thank you.

Paul's Kitchen is the Best Bang for your Buck!

Are you a college student on a tight budget? Do you crave home cooked meals rather than that garb they serve at the dining hall? Do you like local or all natural foods? If you answered yes to any of these questions you need to check out Paul’s Kitchen.

Paul’s Kitchen is located on the corner of S. Oakwood Terrace and Main Street in New Paltz. They are open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. everyday serving breakfast, lunch and coffee. This restaurant has a very casual atmosphere and best of all it is affordable! Though the restaurant is right on Main Street it often gets passed by because it is quite small and blends in well with the surrounding buildings.

Photo compliments of Paul's Kitchen Facebook

Paul’s Kitchen is the small white corner building with a tiny patio. Outdoors seating is available and inside there are about 12 tables. The decorations inside remind me of any small-town diner. There is a counter where you can sit and grab a cup of coffee as well as the tables where the server will usually tell you to pick whichever one you want. The walls are decorated with old records as well as posters and pictures from New Paltz in its earlier days. Paul’s has the ability to make even the weary traveller feel at home because of the warm and welcoming atmosphere and especially because of their fresh home cooked tasting meals.

Diner Style Decor in Paul's Kitchen

The service here is great; most of the servers are college students. They are always helpful and recommend the best meals if you are unable to make up your mind about what to order. The owner Paul is also usually behind the counter and willing to talk with anybody about how they cook and what kinds of local foods they use in the kitchen. The only precaution I would take is about when you choose to come here. This place fills up quickly on the weekends so I recommend arriving early or just going during the week.

Paul’s Kitchen has many traditional breakfast specials such as the ‘Good Morning Special’, which is made up of 2 eggs served any style, breakfast potatoes, toast or fresh fruit, and bacon or sausage for only $4.00.  They also have other less traditional breakfasts such as their ‘Aztec Burrito’; a wrap filled with eggs, cheddar cheese and homemade black bean salsa for $5.45. All their meals come with large servings and I always leave satiated.

As far as lunch goes they have a huge variety of delicious meals. You can make your own sandwich, salad, and side combo for only $7.50 or you can try one of their delectable Paninis such as the Hudson Valley, which is made with grilled local vegetables, spices, and Fontina cheese. The vegetables are grilled to perfection in a savory sauce that creates the perfect amount of spicy with a hint of sweet. Their menu also boasts a large variety of gluten free foods as well as vegetarian dishes.

Their best meal is something a little crazy and different from anything I have ever heard of or tasted before. They call it “The Pizza Burger.” When I saw it on the menu I was skeptical, but my waiter said to give it a shot and he even promised me I would not be disappointed. The pizza burger is made up of a ½ pound burger with melted mozzarella, provolone, and Parmesan cheese with tomato sauce on it. When the waiter walked out with it and I smelled the potent tomato sauce I knew I had made the right decision. This burger was even better than I could imagine. It was grilled to perfection and tasted amazing. The best part about this burger is that it only cost me $5.95 for a ½ pound burger! I opted to save half of it for lunch the next day and it was still just as delicious.

Paul’s Kitchen is the perfect spot for sitting down for a quiet breakfast and a cup of coffee or grabbing a bite to eat while you’re on the run. No matter how long you stay Paul and his staff will treat you as if you are a guest in their own home with their welcoming hospitality and delicious home-style meals prepared with only the best local and natural ingredients. If you have not already eaten here I highly recommend it. Also, if you get there before 11am you get the breakfast special prices!

Presenting Pasquale’s: Preparing Perfection

Pasquale’s exquisite tan bricks!

Alright, I admit it, Pasquale’s isn’t as close to campus as you’d like and it certainly isn’t your usual college impromptu place to eat, but this restaurant is definitely worth the walk and the talk! 

My friend is OBSESSED about this restaurant and she would not stop talking about it until I finally decided to go with her. Of course, the day we decided to embark on this journey was probably the coldest, windiest day of the year, but a plan was a plan, so we stuck to it, and I’m so pleased that we did! 

Pasquale’s Restaurant and Pizza is an Italian restaurant right up Main Street, across the street from Stop & Shop, and closer to campus than Dunkin Donuts (hey, that’s a plus). The outside of the restaurant, located on a corner of an intersection, looks welcoming and presentable. The clean cut building, made of tan bricks, is elegant and inviting. A newly painted mural along the side of the building gives a picturesque touch.

Fancy mural!

Upon entering, we were approached by an amiable waitress who asked us to pick which table we wanted to sit it. There were some booths and some tables with chairs. Without much thought, we picked a booth; comfortable! The inside was smaller than I expected and far less decorative, but it was still embellished nonetheless. The seats were made of a dark red leathery material and the tables had a wood finish. There was family of three seated in a booth to our left and an old couple also in a separate booth seated to the left. A peaceful, merry vibe filled the environment. 

The menus were on the table. That walk sure worked up an appetite! Skimming down the appetizers, I noticed the usual Italian restaurant appetizers like garlic knots, and breadsticks, and even some unique ones like fried dough and jalapeno poppers.  

Have a look at the menu and prices here!

Soon enough, the waitress came by to take our order. She brought along a fresh loaf of bread and butter in a basket (yum!). The bread was perfect melt-in-your-mouth soft and warm. 

For our appetizer, we ordered bruschetta, which our informative waitress explained we could split, because it came in six pieces. It arrived promptly and the smell titillated my nose and stomach. The slices were organized in fine circle. That first bite was incredible! I expected crunchy bread but the bread was surprisingly soft and warm. My friend who has never been a fan of bruschetta said this was the best she’d ever had! The tomatoes were fresh and cut into bite sized pieces. The added olive oil, garlic, and basil ignited a tingly taste that left me wanting more. 

As a vegetarian, I was excited to see so many options. The menu was broken up into sections (e.g. pasta, pizza). My waitress generously told me that some of the entrees could be made vegetarian, like the penne vodka without chicken. She helped me pick out my dinner, Melenzane alla Parmigiana i.e. eggplant parmesan. I appreciated how concerned she was by making sure that the spaghetti on the side was also prepared vegetarian. The dinner meal also came with a salad or soup and I picked the garden salad with Italian dressing. 

The salad and the dressing were good, but not great. The presentation wasn’t as extravagant as the Bruschetta. The dressing was just placed in a small plastic container. The salad needed to be on a bigger plate with more variety in vegetables rather than just a few onions, tomatoes, and carrots on a huge pile of lettuce. Since the salad was fresh, it was still acceptable. 

My entree came out on a large plate, packed with scrumptious-looking food. First I tried the spaghetti. The sauce was tasty, with fresh tomatoes and a hint of oil and garlic, and the noodles were cooked just right. The smell of the eggplant made my mouth water and I couldn’t wait to indulge. The melted cheese was perfectly chewy and the eggplant was cooked to perfection. Everything was delicious! 

As much as I wanted to continue eating, I was stuffed, but the food was too good to let it go to waste, so I decided to get it packed and save it for later! The cost for the dinner was reasonable; it was a little over $15.00 including tax after splitting the bill. This dinner certainly satiated my need for a palatable meal and a sophisticated experience. 

I would recommend this place for anyone who wants a serene dinner. It allows for an experience away from the college scene and makes you feel more at home (college away from college yet home away from home). This place is perfect for visiting families or a date out with a boyfriend or girlfriend who just want a casual yet classy place to eat. If you’re a college student looking for a place that will completely satisfy your hunger in a formal, homely, yet not-so-costly way, Pasquale’s is the place for you! 

Mouth-Watering Moxie Goodness

A few days a week, I groggily wake up during the wee hours of the morning, hop on my bike, and ride to town to get to work before 7AM – a real feat for the typical weary college student. And every morning, in my sleep walking (or, should I say sleep riding) state, I pass Moxie Cupcake, longingly wishing to stop for a simple, delicious cupcake. Come to think of it, the thought comes to my mind every single time I pass the shop, seemingly beckoning me to come closer; and yet, I ride past it time and time again.

So one beautiful Saturday afternoon, I finally decided to give into the temptation, dragging my nocturnal roommate out of hibernation and into the shining sun to try out these hyped-up cupcakes once and for all.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Moxie Cupcake, let me tell you – you’re absolutely missing out! It’s located right on Main Street, tucked in the back corner of a little hole-in-the wall strip – a real “hidden gem.”

Moxie Cupcake’s reputation precedes itself – ever since I came to SUNY New Paltz, I’ve heard countless people rave about these local cupcakes. The shop touts their use of strictly local dairy, eggs, produce, and fruits, that they never use trans fats, added preservatives, or stabilizers, and that everything is made right from scratch! Cool, huh?

The shop itself is quite charming. The pinks and browns that paint the walls make it very obvious that the shop is run and owned by two female bakers. A cozy patio sits next to the main shop, and makes for a perfect location to sit and enjoy a Moxie treat on a picturesque afternoon.

My mouth started watering as soon as the baking aromas hit me, immediately titillating my taste buds. I’m not the best chef, per say, but I do love to bake. There’s just something about making sweets and desserts for myself, family, or friends  (and eating the ingredients while I’m at it!) that I find simply irresistible. There were countless flavors to choose from, including The Moxie (chocolate cake, chocolate ganache, vanilla bean buttercream and a candy Moxie flower), Vanilla Sky (vanilla cake, vanilla bean filling, vanilla bean buttercream, pearl sprinkles), Cherry Darling (chocolate cake, tart cherry filling, vanilla bean buttercream, organic chocolate shavings, chocolate cherry), and Annie Get Your Gun (red velvet cake, chocolate ganache, cream cheese frosting, chocolate shavings)… as well as SO many more… 

The Moxie 

Cherry Darling

…but my roommate and I both had our eyes set on the Salt Away My Sugar cupcake.

The main attraction: Salt Away My Sugar

For anyone who is a true caramel fanatic like myself, this is THE cupcake for you. The Salt Away My Sugar is made up of a chocolate cake iced with a chocolate butter cream frosting. Upon taking a bite, freshly made caramel ganache oozes out from the inside, which is absolutely and perfectly compatible with the flavor of the chocolate cupcake itself. More caramel is artfully drizzled on top, and the cupcake is finished with a sprinkle of fleur de sel, commonly known as sea salt.

“Sea salt?!”, you might wonder – does that strike you as odd? It did to us too, at first. My friend wrinkled her nose when she heard that, although that minor oddity obviously didn’t stop her from indulging in the delicious treat at once. The sea salt, surprisingly, complimented the caramel, and created a fun, sugar-like texture. The combination of salt and sweet was a perfect juxtaposition that made our mouths water and tingle with delight. Who knew?!

Simple, yet perfect.

My only gripe is in regards to the prices – they’re a just a tad too expensive, especially for a student on a college budget. Each cupcake is about $3.00, though the prices decrease a bit as you buy larger quantities at once. While this could not be a daily expenditure for most, it certainly makes for a nice way to treat yourself every once in a while! For what I paid, the cupcakes could be a bit larger as well. As they were undeniably scrumptious, they could definitely be larger in size.

In addition to their Main Street location, Moxie Cupcake just opened another shop in the Water Street Market. I’m excited to head down there soon to check out that location and to taste test many more of their alluring cupcake flavors! They have different daily specials for each day of the week, which are always posted on their Facebook page. I encourage you to do the same and check it out, cupcake lover or not! We all deserve to spoil ourselves & treat our sweet tooth every once in a while.

Bon appétit!

Awkward solo shot - but I had to flaunt my purchase!

Look at how cute it is!

Why just buy one? The more the merrier!

Check out Moxie's Website for directions, mouth-watering images, and more information!

Photo Credits for first six images: http://www.moxiecupcake.com/