Cafe Mutton

"Cafe Mutton feels like it was made for a rapidly-disappearing version of Hudson—one that remains eccentric, affordable, and connected to the natural world around it. Things like sausages and buckwheat scones are made in house, with the kind of care and attention you couldn’t manage in New York City without charging at least three times as much. The country pâté, served in sandwich form, is the kind of dish to go out of your way to eat again and again, and the savory pig head porridge is the perfect way to warm up when you overestimate how warm it would be Upstate. Expect crowds and a constant wait on weekends, while weekdays are usually a bit more relaxed." - anne cruz, clare lagomarsino, keith hernandez, chanize thorpe

"Even if your idea of being a morning person is rolling out of bed just before noon, you should make a point to set your alarm and prioritize an early brunch at Cafe Mutton. This Hudson spot doesn’t take reservations, so you’ll have to scrap for a table with families and legging-clad people fresh from hot yoga, all lining up for coffee and homemade bologna sandwiches. They also do dinner on Fridays with jiggly terrines and lusciously sauced pastas, but brunch is the reason we keep braving the hordes of weekenders to come back. photo credit: David A. Lee photo credit: David A. Lee photo credit: David A. Lee photo credit: David A. Lee photo credit: David A. Lee The menu is a lot more interesting than your typical eggs and avocado toast situation. Buckwheat scones are moist with gorgeous crumbs, and warm bowls of porridge have layers of decadent richness from herb butter, poached eggs, and tender lamb. Your table will have a lot of beige going on—a sign that you’re about to eat comforting food that’s more interested in tasting good than looking cute in your Upstate photo dump. Despite all the city folk here chatting about the lack of air pollution, there’s an intimately local feeling to Cafe Mutton. People recognize their friends waiting in line and ask about upcoming craft circles, and the staff is very gracious whenever you have to scooch past them in the kitchen to get to the bathroom. That’s very nice of them, especially considering they’re hard at work whipping up food we wish we could make when we’re staring at our half-empty fridges at 11am. Food Rundown photo credit: David A. Lee Lamb Head Porridge Here are two really good reasons to visit the Hudson Valley in the winter: There are way fewer tourists fighting for the same 15 parking spots, and this lambs head porridge is exactly what you’d want on a bitingly cold day. This is not a bowl you should polish off before running a 5K, but the richness of glossy spoonfuls of tender lamb and herb butter is perfect for pre-gaming your afternoon nap. photo credit: David A. Lee Crêpes Eating these feels like being tucked underneath a warm, silky blanket. The crepes are almost translucent with lacy browned edges, and the maple syrup drizzle and pats of butter create pockets of extra slippery-sweet layers. photo credit: Anne Cruz Scone It’s easy to overlook a humble baked good when you can smell sweet crepes and meaty porridge floating past your table. That would be a mistake. The buckwheat scones here have a tender bite and a crisp buttery bottom, and we’d be perfectly happy having the combination of flaky bread, jam, and butter for breakfast every day." - Anne Cruz

"Cafe Mutton feels like it was made for a rapidly-disappearing version of Hudson—one that remains eccentric, affordable, and connected to the natural world around it. Things like sausages and buckwheat scones are made in house, with the kind of care and attention you couldn’t manage in New York City without charging at least three times as much. The country pâté, served in sandwich form, is the kind of dish to go out of your way to eat again and again, and the savory pig head porridge is the perfect way to warm up when you overestimate how warm it would be Upstate. Expect crowds and a constant wait on weekends, while weekdays are usually a bit more relaxed." - chanize thorpe, anne cruz, keith hernandez

"Café Mutton is a heralded newcomer in Hudson offering seasonal comfort food, famous for its fried-bologna sandwich and red lettuce with anchovy and stracciatella salad."

"Shaina Loew-Banayan, behind the lauded Hudson, New York, restaurant Cafe Mutton." - Luke Fortney