Eliza

The menu has many interesting combinations of Southeast Asian ingredients and New American cuisine. The scallop crudo highlighted the intense Asian notes really well. The trout, less so, but it was a nice meaty cut and they prepared it well. Nice ambiance, they have a more lively atmosphere near the bar, a quieter room in the back, and a big patio.

Really delicious food here in Kingston, likely one of the nicest restaurants in the town. With espresso martinis and regular martinis on draft, I can tell who the catered demographic is. That being said, I did indeed get a draft martini to pair with a delicious dinner of: a Porkchop, Trout, Octopus, alongside a side of fries and mixed greens. The Porkchop came with an East Asian tamarind inspired sauce which I thought paired nicely. Wood fire grilled made the char and flavor so much better than a skillet. I found it to be delicious! One of the best dishes I’ve had all year! The trout was good with crispy skin and a good flavor. Pickled mushrooms were nice and homemade but may have been a bit overwhelming to the rest of the dish but that’s being nit picky. The octopus was fine — not a knockout dish but it was still good. Basically had an advanced chipotle mayo (Calabrian aioli) on the bottom. The fries and mixed greens were delicious. Perfect homemade fries and an outstanding dressing on the mixed greens. The dessert is to not be missed, luckily came on a day where they had my favorite sorbet, Blood Orange. Purple Rice Pudding was delicious and unique. Overall — great food here and exceeded my expectations. Had 1 night on a day trip to Kingston and it was the perfect date night.

Fabulous restaurant in Kingston. The grilled sea bass and the roast chicken were excellent as were the charcuterie appetizers (soppressata and prosciutto) and bread. Nice wine selection (we had a delicious Riesling from the Mosel). Great atmosphere and friendly service. Wonderful restaurant for a special occasion.

One of the most pleasurable dining experiences I’ve had in Kingston – the staff are perfectly attuned to guest needs and the meal was flavorful, perfectly prepared/plated and prompt. I enjoyed the skylight in the dining room as all food looks best under natural light. I also appreciated the wine recommendation from the sommelier who was very knowledgeable about a specific vineyard/region my dining companion was interested in. I will certainly return.

We didn’t have a reservation but got lucky and sat at the counter in the bar area. Amtosphere and design was awesome. Ruby are server was so nice and helpful. Food was delicious, fresh and flavorful! We can’t wait to come back and try more dishes and drinks!

Very satisfied! And really surprised. We shared a Radicchio Salad which was delicious. The salad had fried tofu and sweet potato chips in it. The bread and butter was excellent. Main course we shared fish and chips. Also really good. Not greasy and home cut chips. Dessert we recommend the mousse. Delicious.

Came in for something to eat after a little drinking... Was kindly greeted by Erin and Amanda who told us there would be a wait for a table so we sat at the bar. At the bar Winnie made us a Jam Band Julep and a Long Island Iced Tea As we waited for our Seared Steelhead Trout which was out of this world. Absolutely delicious. The drinks the food the atmosphere is amazing at Eliza's.

Nico makes a mean gin martini. Amazing trout entree and a great radicchio salad with peanuts and tofu.

Memorably mediocre. Solid ambiance despite the space's air of downtown exclusivity. Service tried their best by seating us at the bar but acted as though they had solved a foreign affairs crisis. Food was pretty underwhelming. The arugula & fennel salad (delish) and grilled octopus (just fine) were a great start but the fish & chips (mid), drunken tagliatelle ("interesting..."), rigatoni (basic), and seared steelhead (actually pretty fab) left us wanting more from the experience. The roasted mushrooms made for a decent if uneventful side. Arranged a birthday surprise dessert with the staff with the moment ruined by a bartender asking the birthday girl when she was ready for her dessert. *heavy sigh* they tried I guess.

Eliza's outside look is the perfect mix of retro and colorful sending out a 70s diner feel with the bold dark green plexiglass-type panels, café-style curtains and the Eliza sign in neon lighting you can spot like a block away. The style immediately drew my husband in. The inside design is warm, the dimly lit glow surrounds the space for a romantic dinner or just pure hangout fun. Large L bar greets you, followed by the (open?) kitchen and dining room on right. Our drinks were creative and seriously potent. Our tin can Cantabrian anchovies had the perfect blend of brininess+oil. So much so, we used the crusty bread to sop up the few drops of that brine mixture. The paper-thin fennel and orange wedges without the pith and membrane was a tasty bed for our grilled octopus. Less time on the grill was needed. Hubs thoroughly enjoyed his Mediterranean+ Turkish-spiced 1/2 roast chicken to the point where he told me "I'm sorry- but I'm picking up this chicken'" And I, was digging my steelhead trout. The service is really good in a weird sort of way. What do I mean by that? I mean... it is good and everyone is really pleasant- but they will swiftly pass your table without so much as eye contact or "do you need anything?" But don't get me wrong- it's like a hot date where things just take a moment to warm up. I used to think that laid-back meant slow. But when things are good, I guess they're worth waiting for.

I want to champion a fine dining establishment in midtown Kingston, but I don't recommend this one foodwise. My hubby and I ordered several apps and mains - it was the first time my husband and I dined there. He wasn't thrilled about his pasta with mushrooms, the pasta was overcooked and there were random Thai flavors. When I took a bite, all I could taste was salt and gluey pasta. We sent it back to the kitchen and they were nice enough to comp us after coming to the same conclusion. The service was friendly and the renovation of the space lovely. But that pasta dish lives rent free in my head... :(

Went in on a Saturday and sat at the bar. This restaurant is typically booked, so unless you have a reservation, be prepared to sit at the bar. The drinks are reasonably priced and the food is excellent. Great vibe as well.

This place is amazing. Been there now about a half dozen times, maybe more. Had my 50th birthday dinner there. Amazing food, great staff, fantastic vibe. What an awesome addition to the Kingston food scene. Highly recommended.

The best meal I've had all year. Just stellar from every angle -- the food, the drinks, the service, the decor, the vibe -- everything! We had an exceptionally fussy table (don't blame me) but the staff at Eliza did not miss a beat and provided a seamless experience throughout. That alone was impressive. The fresh mackerel was superb. Don't overlook their dessert menu either. The only hiccup was that our steak needed to be cooked more. Medium rare is not a good match for flank steak. (I think it was flank.) Luckily we had an expert at our table who recognized this and sent it back.

First time here and it Eliza did not disappoint. Outstanding food & excellent service all around. I loved the retro decor. They clearly maintained the classic early 20th Century vibe of the space. Our server was kind & accommodating. Even the hostess was fantastic. I will definitely be back.

A spot I would dream of having in my neighborhood. Makes me feel like coming home where expectations food and service wise are the norm (yes I know how that sounds). The kind of warm, personable and knowledgeable team welcome you into a cozy ambiance, serve you house made fresh bread and cured meats and offer fun and unique drinks. This was also my kind of menu. Cozy, just like the interior and also a bit nostalgic. I had the rigatoni alla vodka - divine. I ordered a nice little green salad with a honey mustard vinaigrette on the side. Delicious. We ate so slowly because not one thing was off. Even the other diners seemed just as relaxed and it was a vibe. I do have a newfound appreciation for those running successful restaurants. My hats off to the staff there for bringing all of the right things together. We can't wait to come back.

Back in July 2024, we were trying restaurants in Kingston to see where we wanted to have our rehearsal dinner in November. After our meal at Eliza, we knew that was the place for us. The meal was phenomenal, as was the service (Shout out Ruby!), and the space was gorgeous. We reached out in August to inquire about having a small rehearsal dinner there, and Heather was phenomenal to work with. We collaborated on a seasonal menu, including a few favorites such as the smoky eggplant dip, stracciatella with lemon, and the spicy rigatoni. Our families still talk about the food months later (especially the homemade seeded crackers). We felt so taken care of before and during our event. They even printed up custom menus for us that we took as a keepsake. Eliza is a Kingston gem!

My West Coast visiting family was tired and greens-starved after a long drive from Montreal, where the food is great but heavy. Found Eliza on Yelp and it was awesome - Hudson Valley freshness at its best while still having that casual upstate vibe. An arugula and fennel salad with mackerel was amazing as were grilled pole beans and the savory half chicken. Super friendly and attentive staff. Check em out!

Killer menu, executed super well. Have not had a single forgettable dish yet. Cocktails are also wonderful. But the real star is the service. Warm, kind, and caring. This place is a new gem in the neighborhood.

Great ambiance - bustling but friendly and warm. Food and cocktails were lovely - good wine selection. Bar was a great place to hangout. Busy - make a res if you can.

Second visit. No reservation. So we got to sit at the bar. Mid week and the place was buzzing. So I would say mostly locals. Great service all around. The food and drinks were a total joy. Love the detail of the place. For sure a much younger crowd, but it's very nice to see this part of the revitalization of Kingston. A must. The kitchen delivers. Looking forward to our next visit. Kingston has some very nice places to get a great meal or drink.

We had a great visit to Eliza this past Saturday night. Despite an early seating (4:30pm) the place was already filled with diners, and the atmosphere was bustling. We ordered the crunchy cucumbers, bitter greens salad, and 'tinned fish' trifecta for starters. The cucumbers are light and bright, slightly pickled and very crisp. The salad was huge, and the simple combination of apple, walnut, and greens worked well with the horseradish-honey vinaigrette dressing. As a horseradish fan, I especially enjoyed it. The 'tinned fish' deserve special mention - it consists of pickled mackerel, marinated octopus, and mussels escabeche. These can be ordered individually but we ended up with the whole lot. The mackerel is nice and meaty, a denser flesh than say a herring, with good flavor. The octopus had just the right amount of chewiness, short of the rubbery texture you sometimes find. Last but not least, the mussels had great flavor, still firm but again, not too chewy. All were generous portions. For mains, two of our party had burgers, while the third had the smoked trout, and we enjoyed some sautéed mushrooms as a side. The burgers are enormous, and fully dressed. They are also accompanied by terrific salt and vinegar fries. The mushrooms have a nice meaty texture and taste, and were a nice accompaniment. Finally, the trout, normally an appetizer, was a good choice for someone who may have overindulged on the starters. All this was paired with a variety of IPAs, wine, and cocktails, all quite nice. The entire experience was a delight, and we look forward to our return! Check it out - it's well worth the trip.

Great atmosphere and delicious food at reasonable prices. Everyone was beyond helpful, and the vibe was great. Best of luck, we're sure you'll succeed!!

Eliza is such an iconic eating establishment in the downtown Kingston area. When you dine here it is truly an experience, not just a meal. The food is phenomenal, service is personal and exceptional and the ambiance is warm and cozy. Every aspect of this bistro has been carefully and lovingly thought through. You will feel like you have stepped into a time capsule of an era long gone. Prepare to be impressed and to return again and again!

My friend told me this was her new favorite place in Kingston so we went to check it out and it did not disappoint. Service was professional and friendly. The atmosphere is thoughtful but not too trendy to be distracting. Good attention to detail (nice forks) but not too fussy (no white table cloths). The bar looked like a lot of fun. We sat in the rear room and there were 3 other tables seated even though we went at 4:30. Unfortunately the music was a notch too loud and just not a good match for the space (never really like a screeching saxophone while eating). There is a great wine and cocktail list. I had the trout without the bacon and while the bacon. The bacon wasn't substituted with anything so the plate looked a bit empty, but the red peas and farro were rich enough to make this a filling meal. The fish and chips were ample, fluffy, and well cooked (maybe a little too well on the chips?). We ordered the pavlova, which was a mistake. Who orders pavlova? The meringue hurt my teeth and the kirsh cream was a bit too strong. While it was our mistake to order this because it was probably perfect for people who like pavlova, our server very kindly took it away and brought us the olive oil cake, which was very nice. I should have ordered a coffee with it. So that might sound like a mixed review but I highly recommend this place and will definitely return. My only regret is that in hindsight I did my math wrong and should have left another dollar to my server. Sorry! Next time.