Le Canard Enchaine

This is one of the many great restaurants in Kingston! If you’re looking for a classy French Bistro in the area this is the place for you.

My partner and I came here to celebrate for New Year’s Eve. Food was good, but we had to wait over 30 minutes for our reservation. On a holiday it’s understandable to be busy, but I’ve never had to wait for a reservation at a restaurant before. There were a lot of other two person parties waiting even longer than us. We had to stand awkwardly in the way by the entrance/bathroom because there was no room at the bar while we waited which we didn’t enjoy. Once seated we were very happy with our food. We had the garlic snails, goat cheese salad, salmon and duck confit. Our waitress was also nice and attentive. That made up for things, but didn’t love the wait.

We recently had the pleasure of dining at this exquisite French restaurant, and the experience was truly unforgettable. The culinary expertise on display was evident in every dish, but two standouts stole the show: the lamb and the creme brulee cheesecake. The lamb was cooked to perfection, with each bite offering a tender and flavorful experience that left us wanting more. However, the real showstopper was the creme brulee cheesecake. This innovative dessert combined the richness of cheesecake with the classic caramelized sugar of creme brulee, creating a truly unique and indulgent treat. The service was attentive and knowledgeable, ensuring that every aspect of our meal was enjoyable. We look forward to returning soon to explore more of the menu and relish the delightful atmosphere. Recommendation: Don't miss the lamb and creme brulee cheesecake! Both are must-try dishes that will leave you eager for your next visit.

Fabulous Martini, fabulous crab cake, fabulous roast duck--tender, flavourful, crispy skin. Excellent service. A great meal. Servings were prompt, very little wait, and staff were simultaneously friendly and professional. No BS.

Me and my partner really wanted to like this restaurant. We have been traveling throughout the Hudson River Valley for the last year, taking trips to different restaurants.(we both have worked in the restaurant industry for many years and travel for fun and for research). Throughout out trips to Kingston we have asked wait staff what their favorite places to go and eat are, Le Canard Enchaine was not one that was really brought up. The only reviews we got were people saying that they had been there many years ago. Based on this, other reviews, and our experience last week, it’s safe to say that this restaurant is not what it once was. Our food while edible, lacked in the flavor department, (ie. summer tomato’s with absolutely no flavor) and was served with wilted salads. The drinks, while good, were extremely expensive and one was served without any garnish. When a French martini is $20 it should be served with an orange slice or orange twist. It’s truly a shame because we really wanted to like this restaurant based off the menu and the overall look, however I don’t think the quality of the food matches the prices. With so many other Hudson Valley restaurants offering fresh local produce and meats, it’s unlikely we will be making a trip back.

Exceptional!! The atmosphere was warm and inviting. Lovely cocktails and wine selection. Food was truly delicious from appetizers to fabulous dinners to perfect deserts. The service was extraordinary. Thank you Patrick and coworkers! It wasn't around the corner for us but so worth the drive!! A truly perfect evening! We will be back!

Love this gem of a restaurant in Kingston. The atmosphere is warm and cozy. The wine list is super varied. The food is off the charts. The onion soup is the best I’ve ever had. Escargot is delicious. The duck and lamb were off the charts. Key lime pie is not to be missed with the most fantastic whipped cream. You will not be disappointed.

This is my favorite restaurant in Ulster/Dutchess county, and maybe even all of New York. I've been here on multiple occasions, and the staff has always been delightful. The atmosphere is glorious with good music and decoration. Most importantly the food is to die for. I have not been disappointed by a single thing on the menu. The escargot and crab cake are some of my favorites

Well we're going top shelf folks up here in the hinterlands. With my son and two friends. This is a classic French restaurant with a beautiful panache Starting with kir royale, a traditional French aperitif with champagne and crème de cassis, served in the requisite flute glass and gin Beefeater Martini with the mandatory three olives. Well Ludi incipiant! Kathy is our waitress and she's a local and absolute riot!! "Don't be shy boys!" So it's soup a L'onion gratinee. Chicken liver pate and 1/2 dozen oysters. Then entrees two 1/2 ducks with a special request of red cabbage a veal cutlet over mashed potatoes white wine shiitake mushrooms. My onion soup is just delicious and the perfect temperature not scolding! They tell me the pate is beyond expectations. The oysters just amazing! Long Island Blue Point. Great time of year to eat them. Always the rule, only eat oysters during a month with an r We end the meal with espresso Also sharing a chocolate mousse. Finis et magnifique!

Smooth seating and welcoming staff! First of all, the bread and butter were amazing -- had 3 baskets and I still want more. The CT east coast oysters were delicious and perfect in size and chew. We then ordered the escargot-- absolute perfection in garlic, olive oil and herbs. Soak all that up with the bread, of course! The goat cheese cake was a treat indeed-- drizzled in a honey balsamic, w crunchy walnuts, apple slices and greens. We went onto our entrees.... The lamb shank was delicious with the meat falling off the bones. The raisins and the tomatoes stood out in the sauce and never overwhelmed the meat. The flour less chocolate cake is a nice ending with an unbeatable moisture amidst a strong chocolate flavor.

What are ya doing YELP plz?! Umm I ain't from here, a bit south but lived here for a while now. This restaurant.... I swear, if it did a mite of steak & pom frittes with a green sauce-deliverable.... holy crap-not for the cost of a first born child? Whoa! I've eaten st at their restaurant or his, sorry Chef! When I sold everything in nyc, moved up here..... this was my secret place. Please don't tell anyone! Plus..... rumor has it he has something to do with the freakin dangerous soups st at Si--At Ai... that is correct. Thank you Ai! Umm where were you please? Ohh yea-Dockside freakin Potato Salad-Yumm & their fabulous RoastBeef Sandwiches there holy shit yum! It it Teri's Deli? Did I pass please? Yeah! Really? Ok. Whad I win? Peace out. You won YELP. I'm completely cray now & u just got me to write another review & I ate nothing kinda.... well... um. Forgetaboutit holy moly hope this helps some amazing person near Kingston! Wishing y'all Comfort & Joy!

Went for a birthday dinner. Kind of a weird entrance during winter as some doors are shuttered and initially it looked closed. We found an entrance and were greeted by someone at the bar. Led us to a table away from main dining area (which was kind of weird) but service was prompt and friendly. We tried a lot of dishes and all were good: vegetable tower, oysters, branzino, lamb shank, pot du crème. Also had some cocktails. Nice interior minus the fake plastic foliage everywhere. Little bit chilly inside during our dinner. Overall, good meal but not a 5 star experience.

This place is a must on their French onion soup alone!! Who doesn't love a good onion soup? But so many are so similar. Le Canard's is a level above, with a more complex and delicious flavor profile, and noticeable taste of beautiful herbs. Really quite a soup. The rest of the menu, from the duck to the steak to the desserts were all delicious. The ambiance is cozy and romantic without being overly pretentious as some French bistros sometimes are. Really just perfect. Go now!

We're from West Hollywood and are in town for a family reunion that happened to fall on our first wedding anniversary, and this restaurant was the perfect choice. The meal was exceptional from start to finish. The tomatoes in the salad were incredibly fresh, and the lamb was cooked to perfection with generous portions. The tangy sauce that accompanied the dish was an unexpected but delightful surprise. The staff was attentive and friendly, making the whole experience even more enjoyable.

We dined here for the first time, and our waitress Morgan made it an exceptional experience. My wife had the lamb shank, which was delicious, and I had the 1/2 chicken, which was delicious, as well. The cabernet wine Morgan allowed us to sample, and we ordered it, as it was excellent in body and flavor. Again, service was outstanding, and the only reason for the 4 star food rating was due to the size of the portions. We undertand that French cuisine portions are often not what one would get if dining any other cuisine, but in America, we expect the portions to be adjusted to fit the price. Nonetheless, would highly recommend based on our overall experience.

The restaurant is like a French bistro in decor and ambience. The service was friendly and attentive. But the star of the restaurant was the food. We were 3 for lunch. The mussels were the best we've ever eaten. I had the vegetarian sandwich and it was delicious. The bread was as good and crispy as you could get. The third entree was a salad with egg,bacon etc.. it was good but compared to the mussels and sandwich just fair. Five stars plus

This was one of the best meals we had in the Hudson Valley. It's an authentic French restaurant and we really enjoyed the traditional dishes like escargot. Their French onion soup is crave worthy! It was also nice to have a great selection of wine by the glass. The service was excellent as well. I think this is a perfect restaurant for a romantic night out, a business dinner, or lunch with the girls. If we lived closer we would be regulars.

I have been going to Le Canard-Enchaine since 2010, when a friend introduced me to it and Jean Jacques. The place is stellar, and if you visit Kingston, I recommend it for dinner. The quality is as good as or better than the better Manhattan bistros, but the prices are average. Having a place this good in Kingston is an important addition to Kingston's restaurant scene. I also live in NoHo, Manhattan, so I have comparison points, and I save my French dining for Le Canard-Enchaine. There aren't many comparable places in upstate New York, and it is more than competitive for Manhattan. Jean Jacques, who attended Le Cordon Bleu and is now running Le Shack in St. Philip, Barbados, is at once a fine pastry chef and a fine chef de cuisine. He created most of the recipes. The quality has remained high and stable since JJ moved to the Caribbean. Among the excellent dishes I have had there in the past year or two are the French onion soup, duck liver terrine, roast duck, confit of duck, crusted salmon, and trout amandine. There are ever-changing specials, which are always great. The desserts, especially the pastries, are phenomenal, so leave room.

Great service not too imposing. Many French Restaurants are.(Thank you Christi) Great continental feeling Great French music. Oh! and most importantly the food just perfect. We travel from Long Island and it is worth it every time. Thank to all the staff for a wonderful meal However NOT a restaurant for children

Wow, who knew a small town could deliver such high quality food! We absolutely loved our dinner here. Food was fantastic and the service was great. *Bread - their bread was so fresh and delicious. *Classic garlic escargot - wonderful. Dip the bread in this sauce! *Bass - amazing. Their sauce was to die for. Perfectly cooked. I cleaned the plate!! *Duck - delicious. Has to be from the restaurant name right? My boyfriend ordered this and now loves French food. *Tare tatin - apple dessert with ice cream, just beautiful. *cotes du Rhône - smooth red wine that I really enjoyed Highly recommend Le Canard!

Had the short rib over mashed potato with a sweet thick brown gravy. Very tasty! Beef was tender and a nice size. Cocktails were also made well. The waiter was awesome on top of everything including water refills. He's very French and a cool guy!

The ambiance was cramped and a little noisy, but okay. The server was very nice but slow. The food was horrible greasy and salty. The prices were expensive for what you got. This is a never again.

Remains consistently excellent. Took off half a star for inexplicably loud music. Located in downtown Kingston. Street parking easy. Very good service. Wonderful fresh baked bread. Ordered chicken liver paté: sublime, served with a few apple slices and gherkins and micro greens. Croque Madame very good. Niçoise salad also very good: a generous serving of seared tuna in a bed of frisée, eggplant, zucchini, and red peppers, with three fingerling potatoes in a subtle vinaigrette. Ended with a magnificent crème brûlée. The restaurant is a throwback, a series of rooms with art and posters on the walls; great ambiance. If they would only turn down that music. Recommended.

Went there for a birthday dinner. I've dined in 51 countries and all 50 US states. This is a solid 4 out of 5 stars for cuisine francais here in the states.

The food was good had better French food service and ambiance where very good. 4 people out to dine

Popped in for lunch and was immediately seated and welcomed by my server. Ordered the French Onion soup the duck confit. Both were on point, rich/deep flavors. Great food and service. Looking forward to next time.

Didn't expect to find some of the best French food in the state. Onion soup was a masterpiece as was the rest of the meal. This is a restaurant to go out of your way for. Must go back

This is my absolute favorite place, and I would recommend it to any and everyone that is visiting Kingston! The people are so nice and always make the experience absolutely amazing. They clearly bring their authentic selves to work, which we really love. The entire vibe of the restaurant is undescribable, it's just very moody and has dim lights, very romantic and fancy but not intimidating. The food is amazing. I've never had anything bad here or all of their desserts are just amazing. It's just a place that you have to visit whenever you're in the area. Love it here!

The food was delicious! The French onion soup as authentic as possible! The mussels, with a wine, butter & garlic broth were heavenly & the entrees & desserts exceeded expectations. A wonderful evening!

Came here after a super long day, by myself. At first I was hesitant because I thought I was gonna be totally underdressed. I got a seat at the bar, the vibes were lit, and the staff was super friendly. I don't eat bread, or white vegetables and they totally accommodated substitutions. The vegetable medley that replaced the fries with my steak was probably the best I ever had. This was a super healthy paleo style meal. Meat and vegetables! As you can see I ate it all!

Stopped in for lunch outside. Great decision. Service was friendly, food was superb. Escargot and a baguette. Nothing better than white tablecloths and great food. I will stop in anytime I'm in the area.

Amazing dinner, dessert and atmosphere! Wonderful service all! Worth the drive! Make reservations!

First visit and we Loved it! Goat cheese/ potato cake appetizer; delicious, rich over a lovely salad; very generous portion. Flavors were spot on. Pepper coated salmon over red cabbage ragout far surpassed my expectations. Fennel, pear and blue cheese salad was balanced and refreshing. Duck confit was fantastic with a very generous portion. Wait staff was attentive and informative. Unfortunately we did not have time for dessert. We're looking forward to returning soon.

This was our first long awaited visit. For an appetizer, my husband ordered the duck liver mousse which was incredibly rich and delicious. I ordered the French onion soup which had a gelatinous ball of cheese and a lot of bread with a delicious onion broth. The soup was covered with more cheese, which was nicely browned. This was delicious, but difficult to eat with the cheese ball in the center. For entrée my husband ordered duck confit which was very good and I ordered mussels with cream, fennel and pastis sauce. This was incredibly rich and the anise flavor was a bit overpowering with both pastis and fennel. We shared apple tart tatin for dessert, which was OK. The ambience of this restaurant is lovely and the wait staff friendly and fun, and a very attentive. It is quite expensive for bistro food.

By far one of the best restaurants in the Hudson Valley. Ambiance was wonderful, it felt like a cozy place in Europe or NYC. I had the sea bass my husband had the duck and our friends both had branzino. We all raved. Service was good. Highly recommend. Appetizers included oysters and french onion soup. Desert (only one of us because we were full!) was creme brulee. All so good!!!!

Have a steak at the bar on a white napkin with red wine You can start with escargot or French onion soup Better than Chleo

Great food great service my wife and I went for our anniversary and everything was awesome will definitely be back

Lovely food, perfect outdoor dining with attentive but not intrusive service. Stephane, as has been mentioned before, was professional and delightful! Sea bass, vichyssoise, lamb shank and arugula salads were stars at our table- as was a perfectly medium rare steak and divine rosemary scented hand cut "frites"- warm flourless chocolate cake was a delightul, shared dessert. The only downside was the very loud and invasive music which was finally lowered when I made it clear how obnoxious it was- after 4 other requests were unsuccessful by our servers. Conversation was impossible for the 3 of us; not acceptable at the price point and demographic of the clientele ( mature and senior adults all!) Happily, our meal ended with music lowered to a "background" volume and we will definitely return.

The pros: very kind waitstaff and great French ambiance. The duck was very well cooked though under salted and a bit drowned in sauce. The cons: my French onion soup was black charred - not great. My partner's steak was really under seasoned which was a bit surprising given that it was the most expensive dish on the menu. Also, when you walk in it's totally unclear who to talk to or how to get seated. Led to a fair amount of awkwardness.

We were in the area looking for somewhere to eat and we came across this place here on Yelp. I'm glad we did. To start, we ordered the escargots special and the French onion soup. The soup was so good!!!! Anytime I go anywhere, I always have to try the onion soup and this was was phenomenal. The escargots were good. First time trying them, the dish felt a bit too oily in my opinion, but tasted great. We ordered the strip steak and the marinated mussels for our main courses. We were both happy with our choices. My steak was huge and cooked perfectly. The compound butter gave a nice touch of added flavor to the steak. We ordered some drinks, which all promptly arrived after ordering. My cocktail was delicious and perfectly made. Our server was attentive and never left our glasses empty. My only two comments are that this dinner cost over $100 per person which is pretty pricy in my opinion when each of us just had an appetizer, main course, and 2 drinks. But, it could be the norm for this area. I'm not very familiar with it. The second, there were three different silverware pieces that were placed on our table that had not been cleaned properly. Overall, we were both pleased with the food and service. I do recommend trying this place out!

We've been gone for 10 years and were back visiting friends and were had to come here as it has always been one of our fave restaurants. It didn't disappoint and was one of the highlights of our trip.

A memorable lunch in company with a dear friend. If my eyes had been shut, I would have sworn I was eating food in France. The service and meal were reminiscent of many bistro meals in Paris, Auvergne, Bayeaux, and elsewhere. I started with an endive salad, dressed with crumbles of bleu cheese and walnuts, a classic with the addition of a few slivered apple slices. My main: beef bourguignon. It matched the versions I've had many times before--thick rich sauce, beef and vegetables that were fork-tender and delicious. A glass of Bordeaux made a nice accompaniment. And for afters, another classic: tarte tatin. Absolutely delicious. This place deserves its many accolades. What a great place to celebrate my first indoor meal after 14 months of Covid living.

We have been here several times ,great food, excellent service, strong cocktails what more can I say! We would go back in a heartbeat.

The most dreamyyy restaurant for a special occasion. Super rich, decadent French cuisine that is unlike any other in the area. Walking into this place I felt like I tripped into a time machine and landed in an older intimate dimly lit Parisian restaurant from the 1950s. Amazing hospitality from the servers and just an absolutely amazing experience overall! One of a kind in the most special way and perfect for a splurge occasion.

Incredible food. The lamb was great and so was the steak. Do not skip the garlic snails. Excellent food, good ambience, good server. Have been 2 times and have not been disappointed neither time. The one thing is even if you have a reservation you will wait at least 30 minutes regardless. It does not matter though. It's worth it.

It was beautifully decorated for the holidays and the food was great...the service is attentive and timely.

We had a reservation for a Saturday night, and were seated pretty quickly. All of the staff sounded French, which was a nice change. We felt like we were in Paris lol. The food was very tasty, and we had a really great time there. It was also pretty busy even during covid, which was honestly nice to see. It's a very nice place to come for special occasions or fancy nights. It is pricey but worth it especially for date night!

Walking into this restaurant gave me "home-y, comfy" vibes. It's a cute French restaurant perfect for a date night. My boyfriend and I came here and the hostess offered to hang my jacket. She was very nice ! Once we sat at the table we were offered bread and butter, and I could not get enough of it. We started with a bottle of Pinot noir which tasted classy. Then, we ordered their escargot, NY steak, and duck confit. I will say that the escargot, and my steak needed salt, but all the dishes were very yummy. The escargot were pretty big which I wasn't used to, but still tasted good! The steak was a big portion as well and cooked to a perfect temperature (asked for medium). We ended our night with crème brûlée (EXCELLENT) and coffee. The waiter that served us was so so nice, and attentive. Always checked in on us and refilled our water and wine. I loved it here and I hope to return again !

We love this place. Have been here many times. Always excellent. Charming. Consistent. Never had a bad meal here.

Went for Mother's Day had oysters. Soft shell crab. Chicken. Salmon. Mussels. Desserts. Salads. All wonderful!!!

We chanced upon this lovely little hidden gem earlier tonight. We live in Midtown Manhattan and our general impression of upstate dining is that it all closes very early but this place was not only open but seemed to be decently (but safely) occupied even during the CoVid19 restrictions. The lighting and setup was warm and authentically Parisian (not just a couple of token distressed mirrors thrown in). The small gathering of patrons at the bar gave the impression of being regulars and contributed to the mood. But the highlight was the food! We shared an appetizer of French sausage on warm potato salad which was just scrumptious and frankly hearty enough to qualify as a main course by itself. For mains, we had the Trout Almandine, which was flaky, garlicky and cooked just right, served on jasmine rice which had a little tart kick (lemon?); and the salmon which was cooked medium rare, just like we like it, served on a cabbage ragout which was caramelized so perfectly it was like a jam. We had a glass of excellent Languedoc Pinot Noir, and the vodka martini was made expertly and served him-chillingly cold, slightly dirty with three olives We will definitely go back again :-)!

Came here to celebrate the birthday of two very good friends. Our waiter seemed very uninterested in us from the beginning and it showed since other than telling us he was our waiter, we never heard from him again. Our steaks were very dry (cooked way too long!) and upon watching our waiter moving from one direction to another, we interrupted and asked for a side of bearnaise sauce and we were promptly told that "we do not serve that here". Extremely disappointed since we are all foodies and have been to our share of French restaurants. He offered no solution! (was it racial? classist? we will never know, but he was extremely rude to us) There are plenty of restaurants in Kingston starving to have us dine there...this was just not one of them. Never again.

This place and Red Onion are the best restaurants in the entire area. Don't try anything else until you hit these places up.

The most incredible meal I have had in a very long time. Maybe in my top five meals ever. The owner gifted us a bottle of wine which was an incredible red wine. Every person who works there is just lovely. I cannot wait to go back. The bread so delicious and the butter seemed like it was churned that morning. I cannot wait to go back!

Cozy, homey, authentic French restaurant decor and ambience. The English maitresse'd was very welcoming. Our server, Francesca, was very attentive, articulate and helpful, and let my wife try multiple wines to pair with our duck entrees. Carrot puree soup, well-seasoned frites and garlicky very tender escargot appetizers were all excellent. My wife felt the duck confit was too sweet, but we both liked the Long Island duck with mixed berry sauce over mashed potatoes, as the generous portion of duck was very tender, moist, and high quality. The cote de Rhone paired well with the duck dishes. The tarte tatin with ice cream was a happy sweet ending to a wonderful meal. Compliments to the chef and staff! Thank you.

We've been here a few times while passing through the area. Why the chef here insists on incorporating sweet sauces in few of the apps and main dishes is beyond me. You ruin a decent piece of fish with sweet sauce....horrid. The steak is not the best quality and when you ask for bernaise or au poivre sauce they look at you like its a bother and you have six heads. Who ever heard of any bistro in Paris or NYC that doesn't offer that. The menu used to state $50 for the steak now its up to $65.....and trust me it is not worth it. Their fries are ultra greasy, thin and choppy as if they were re-heated....what's up with that? Here in NYC you can go to many places like Raouls or even the factory-like Balthazar or even Odeon and have a far better steak.....and experience. ....or I'll just stick to making my own at home......which trust me is far superior.

Good food. A bit pricy. Good wine list. Engaged owner. A cut above the restaurant experiences in this part of town. Not many options left after Boitsons closed.