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.

A Sushi Sensation: Hokkaido is the place to go!

It was a chilly and wet evening as my friend and I rounded the corner and walked through the fence to Hokkaido. This little, hidden, Japanese eatery in the town of New Paltz was somewhat crowded, but very quiet, which was a nice surprise. The place itself felt very comfortable due to the confined area, dim lanterns, the paper screens and pull down shades on the windows, and the wood paneled walls as well. Unfortunately, because of a lack of seating my friend and I were sent to the sushi bar in the back corner until a table opened up shortly after. We would have waited patiently but it was nice to see the hostess wanted to help us enjoy a good meal right away. This really displayed the sort of quiet charm and sweetness of the employees. After only a few minutes we made our switch to a small table in the center of the dining area and took our time glancing through the extensive menu selections. 

There were appetizers, udon dishes, noodle dishes, rice dishes, sushi and sashimi, specials, combos and beverages galore. Yet I hadn’t had sushi in quite some time and so it did take me while to make a final choice as to what rolls I wanted. It would have been nice to try a wider selection, however we were not willing to empty our wallets, even though it would have been quite easy. We both ordered the miso soup which was really flavorful because of it’s fish based broth as opposed to water based. It also had a good amount of soy and seaweed in it which was great because I usually get very little of both at other Japanese restaurants. We split an order of edamame, or steamed soy beans, that were a perfectly warm temperature and not super salty.

Their dishes were also very visually pleasing. These soup spoons are my favorite to eat from! The small wooden table enhanced the warmth of the environment and made our food appear to be more home made. 

Miso Soup and Edamame

We were both  drooling as our plates were placed in front of us. I ordered a special, a mango salmon roll, and tried it immediately. WOW. The fish was very fresh, and there was a hint of spice and a small crunch to the entire roll. Then the mango...I love mango. It added the perfect amount of tang and sweetness that lingered about shortly after swallowing, and it was spectacular! My tuna roll, though not as exciting as the other, was equally as fresh. Simply wrapped in sticky white rice and seaweed, and greatly complimented by a dab of wasabi and a dip into the soy sauce. My friend ordered a yellowtail scallion roll which he allowed me to try. This would not have been a first pick for me because I don’t quite enjoy yellowtail. Despite my own palatal opinions, it was also really fresh and the scallions added a nice, light crunch. He also decided upon a spicy salmon hand roll which seemed a little too complicated for me to try so I asked him to describe it for me. He said it had good texture because of the larger fish pieces, that the coldness of the fish was a nice contrast to the warm white rice and that there was a really good balance of spice and flavor.  “Delicious!” is how he concluded.

Mango Salmon Roll and Tuna Roll

Yellowtail Scallion Roll and Spicy Salmon Handroll

 Once the plates were completely empty, I felt content and not too full. The final cost was a little expensive, however this is to be expected at higher quality sushi joints and yet it was totally worth it! The entire experience was very relaxed and peaceful like a zen-sushi-temple, if ever such a place existed. 

To be honest, the only complaints I can come up with about that night was our silly seating swap and the fact that there was no music playing. Though I didn’t really hate the quiet too much, I think I’m just so used to background music that the lack of it distracted me. To end on a lighter note, on our way out I noticed some outdoor seating. This titillated my desire to come back and enjoy a simple, light, and mouth watering sushi dinner in the springtime sun and hopefully I’ve inspired you to do the same. When it comes to craving japanese cuisine, Hokkaido certainly knows how to enlighten your taste buds. 

Finger-Lickin’ Good Vegan Chocolates

New Paltz chocolate lovers listen up! I have discovered a hidden treasure, a gem;  It’s the crème de la crème of chocolates and it’s right here in town! Their name’s Lagusta’s Luscious and knock-your-socks-off chocolate is their game.



Taken by Georgia Schunk



Tucked away behind Pegasus foot ware, Lagusta’s is a quaint, little house with robin’s-egg blue walls (an overall color scheme of teal and chocolate brown) and artsy, New-Paltz-hippie approved décor creating an ambiance similar to that of a craft store and a coffee shop combined.  



Taken By Georgia Schunk



On all sides of the store are deliciously-displayed chocolate bars and a small refrigerator in the corner is loaded with hand-made products such as cheeses, jams and sodas



Taken By Georgia Schunk



There are shelves upon shelves of perfectly organized spices that add to the already intoxicating aroma of fresh chocolate. If you weren’t craving chocolate before you walked in the door, you certainly are now!

Taken By Georgia Schunk





In a glass display case (perfectly in view the second you walk inside) lay an assortment of hand-crafted VEGAN chocolates! When I first heard that word I thought “oh great, tasteless chocolates… yum” but the little vegan-babies looks so darn beautiful and delicious I thought it might be worth the risk… Best decision I ever made!



Taken By Georgia Schunk



After a long debate between the salted Galápagos turtle and the almond-toffee frog I finally purchased the $3 caramel, chocolate and pecan turtle with a dash of sea salt on top (my sister getting a coconut pyramid ($2), her friend a macadamia Maui vanilla cream with chamomile ($2), and my mother: the almond-toffee frog ($2.50))



Strawberries and Cream Bark (Taken By Georgia Schunk)



Taking my first bite into my turtle I felt an explosion of spices, followed by a gooey eruption of salted caramel. The pecans, slightly roasted, snapped apart giving the candy a nice crunch palatable with the chewy caramel. I found my mouth begging for the next bite until my palm sized turtle was devoured. My chocolate craving: delightfully satiated

Taken from Lagusta's Website

The recipe for chocolate is of unparalleled taste. An odd but yet delicious marriage of spices accompanies every chocolate masterpiece Lagusta’s creates. I will warn those, however, who are not fans of experimenting or spices. With options such as the caramelized onion and chipotle truffle, the coriander-beet truffle, and the furious vulva, to call the recipes “crazy concoctions” would be a gross understatement. 



Taken from Lagusta's Website



To make my time at Lagusta’s even more pleasant (which must seem impossible by now) the most wonderful person was working behind the counter: the owner/ creator/ genius behind Lagusta’s! She had such a friendly demeanor and always carried a pleasant smile across her face. She was there to answer my many questions about her recipes, and gave off a warm and welcome feeling that instantly made me feel comfortable. Had there been a bed in the front of the store, I would have moved in permanently!



Taken By Georgia Schunk



Since my first trip to Lagusta’s I have made a weekly ritual of bringing my friends down and trying out the different chocolate (the selection varies depending on what’s available, what is prepared that day and what’s in season). With an assortment of 8 for $15, we split the coast and slowly slip into a chocolate induced coma.  



Taken by Georgia Schunk



Every time my mom stays for the weekend, she ends up leaving with a bag load of Lagusta’s. On many occasions she has even called me from home and asked me to bring her back a box for her friend’s birthday, or simply because she has a burning craving for the divinely enticing Lagusta’s!

Taken from Lagusta's Website

I would tout to anyone and everyone that Lagusta’s Luscious has the best chocolates in all of New Paltz! Every person I have ever taken along the ride with me has left with a new favorite. Whether it be the Heathen Toffee, the Pomegranate Truffle, the Rosemary Sea-Salt Caramel, or the Walk in the Woods Bonbon, there is something for everyone and always a new thing to try. Even if you don’t feel like a truffle there are croissants, chocolate drinks, cookies, teas, sweets galore! Seriously, if you don’t have a foot out the door already then you must be allergic to chocolate or nowhere near New Paltz! And if that’s the case then I’m sorry, and I can’t believe you read all of this, but for those of you who do not have either excuse, grab your wallet, a friend and an empty stomach and check out Lagusta’s Luscious!

Taken from Lagusta's Website

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!

Just When I Was About To Give Up On Chinese Food

What is a town without good Chinese food? Extremely depressing, that’s what it is.

I can’t deny that New Paltz has plenty of great places to eat, but I was absolutely heart broken after my two attempts at enjoying a Chinese American meal. There were two Chinese restaurants; one of which I couldn’t even bear to finish the meal, and the other that I could finish but never wanted to return.

Chinese food is a delicacy for Americans. The greatest of all takeout foods. I had no idea what I was going to do for the next 3 ½ years of college. That is, until the grand opening of Asian Fusion! Not only was this place delicious for Chinese restaurants in New Paltz, it was delicious in general. It was almost good enough to compare to NYC Chinese food (but nothing beats anything from the city).

Check our their Facebook page for the menu!

The day that had changed my life, a few of my sorority sisters were spreading the word about a free Chinese buffet at the grand opening of Asian Fusion. Free Chinese buffet in New Paltz? If the other two restaurants were charging money for their low quality food I could only imagine how terrible this food would be. But they kept insisting on how great the food was; and let’s face it, as a college student I can never turn down free food.

Asian Fusion immediately had this nightclub feel to it. The bar was glowing colors, colorful lights were flashing on the walls and the Techno/Dance music was bumpin’, just like they do in Express Stores. The buffet was set up in the back with fried rice, Lo Mein, spring rolls, chicken and broccoli, sushi and more. There was even a table for water and iced tea. The seating was a little awkward (seats lined in an open square so that we were all watching each other obscenely scarf down the food) but it was clear this place wasn’t normally a buffet.

We have no shame in enjoying Chinese food

I grabbed my plate as it was time for the moment of truth. The plates were awfully small – probably to insinuate that the free buffet was just for taste – but I made sure to stack up. I sat down, took a bite, and instantly knew I would be up for seconds and maybe even thirds. The cooks definitely didn’t half-ass this meal. I ate until I was full and had a subtle feeling of regret: Was this meal only so delicious because it was free and I was starving? I knew I had to go back.

And so I did. Two more times within a week and a half. It was so worth it. The second time I had ordered takeout for dinner. Sweet and sour chicken with shrimp fried rice and an egg roll. Stupid me – I meant to order sesame chicken but I’m so glad I didn’t! I can’t remember the last time I ordered sweet and sour chicken but I’ve definitely been missing out! The chicken wasn’t overly battered and I definitely did not have to question the quality of the meat. Unfortunately I had to scarf my food down because I had a full packed schedule and needed to go somewhere but I would have loved to savor every moment of that meal.

The food was almost devoured before
we remembered to take a picture

The third time I decided to enjoy the lunch special with a few of my sorority sisters. I ordered the General Tso Chicken with fried rice and an egg roll (only $7!) as a test. I had tried it once off my boyfriend’s plate but I’ve never ordered it myself. I knew if I were to go to Asian Fusion with my boyfriend he would order this, so I wanted to see if it was good. And of course, it did everything but fail me. This chicken also didn’t have too much batter and it was the perfect balance of sweet flavor included. I even tried sesame chicken off of my friend’s plate and was still surprised at how great everything turned out. 

Knowing that there is an amazing Asian restaurant in New Paltz basically makes this town perfect. The only downfall was my fortune cookie. The fortune was misspelled and didn’t make much sense (I take fortune cookies seriously), but I have faith that that won’t happen again. If you’re strongly craving some good Chinese food, or if you are just deciding what you want to grab for your next meal, I strongly suggest you go to Asian Fusion. You will not be disappointed.

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/ 

Who Doesn't Love Home-Made Beer?

            Gotcha. Just kidding, they wouldn't serve it to me because I'm not twenty-one yet, but in two years I think we should all definitely go and check it out. Check what out, you ask? Check out The Guilded Otter. Yes, I know it's at the bottom of that damn hill on Main Street past Water Street Market, but I promise you the food is to die for. OR you can take the easy way out like I did and have older friends/suite mates with cars drive your butt there. So you really have no excuse to not go there unless you hate really good food.

            You walk in and see these giant cauldrons (yes I know they aren't really cauldrons) of different beer that's being made right in front of your eyes. The entire places has a rustic yet homey feel to it and your eyes are overwhelmed by how cool the place is. Everyone around you is enjoying the place as much as you do, including the servers. After we sat down at our table I finally opened the menu, and let me tell you, the food on the menu made my mouth water.

            I am probably every restaurateurs least favorite person to dine with because I take forever to pick an item on the menu. But this time I didn't. I looked at the personal pizzas that they offered, and there was my dinner. The Pizza Rustica, aka the greatest pizza I've ever heard of, was going to be my dinner. My own personal pizza topped with Garlic Oil Pesto Basil, Kalmata Olives, Feta Cheese, Artichokes, Roma Tomatoes and Caramelized Onions. I'm getting really hungry just thinking about it. The pizza was amazing, not too oily to make you feel gross and it wasn't too hot to the point that it was impossible to eat. It was perfection. I fell in love with it from the first bite.

            I wasn't the only one pleased with my food. My suite mates and I were silent after we got our food because we were all enjoying it too much. But the food wasn't all that I was pleased with. The service wasn't only friendly, but fast as well. It only took about ten minutes for our table of seven hungry girls to receive one of the greatest meals ever consumed in New Paltz. I can't wait to go back again and eat my favorite pizza.

            The price is the only thing I haven't talked about. While the place is huge and so are the portions, money is the most important thing to a college student. Most students end up bringing their families here or save this place for a nice atmosphere. It's understandable why. My pizza was around nine dollars. I didn't mind paying that for the best pizza that I've ever had, but most people were in an uproar when I told them what I paid. Most of my suitemates also didn't mind paying about ten dollars a head for dinner. Eating at the dining hall all the time made me forget that money exists in this world and now I understand how it feels to be a broke college student.

            Even though they made be a little pricey, the food at The Guilded Otter is worth every penny ( and every step). I think that they strategically placed it at the bottom of the hill so we can all get a nice workout when we leave with our stomachs full.  If you haven't made the adventure to go here yet, I definitely suggest it. As the weather warms up and you're out in town more, walk down that hill and go get some amazing food from an amazing place or bring your family when they come to visit. I promise you won't be let down. This is a place that everyone should experience at least once while they're in New Paltz, maybe after a nice hike up to the Lemon Squeeze anyone? You only live once.