The Aviary Kinderhook

This has been one of our absolute favorite restaurants since it opened, but for Valentine's Day they did a truly special limited menu that we very much enjoyed. Each course had ample selection, vegetarian options, and despite being busy at no point did we "feel the hectic" that the wonderful staff was no- doubt feeling. It was a wonderful relaxed evening that left us smiling all the way home.

My husband and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary here over the weekend. We had been wanting to try this place for a while and we're glad we spent a special night there. The restaurant is very cool, large but with intimate seating. Decor is very nice. Our drinks were fantastic, I got a House of Hummingbirds and it was delicious. The Espresso Martinis with our chocolate ganache for desert were lovely. My salmon was delicious, my husband noted his wagyu beef burger was unseasoned for his first two bites, though he said it was rectified after he got some of the sauce in a bite and realized why the burger was "under seasoned." Overall, we had a lovely dinner. Our server was very attentive. We will return another time if the opportunity arrises and we're looking forward to trying their breakfast place (Morning Bird) downstairs sometime. Thank you for a great night!

Sometimes… it all comes together and the magic happens. As a former NYC restaurant owner, I know how hard it is to maintain a cohesive vision that shines through the entire dining experience from first look to dessert. The building is beautiful, inside and out. The adjacent bottle shop is a charming convenience and lends a village feel to the approach. Inside the space is divided between a warm taverna style area and a soaring light, minimal industrial dinning area. Everything is tasteful and in its right place. Service was extraordinary. The entire staff moves in calm, graceful choreography attending to guests with warmth and attentiveness. Sophia, our server, created an instant bond and made us feel like regulars and old friends as only the best of front of house staff can do. Beer list is tight and on point (don’t sleep on the Baby Kittens from Fat Orange Cat). Wine list is broad and well constructed. Cocktails list was creative and balanced with a stellar mocktail option. The menu is well put together and features the perfect meeting of new American and asian influences. Standouts were the duck bao (which after one bite, I looked at Beth and said “ooohhh! That’s MY food exactly”), the shrimp burger (slightly spicy with Vietnamese vibes) to the roasted 1/2 chicken with togarashi. Flavors were bold and inventive. Everything we ate was cooked and plated perfectly. I rarely end a meal with nothing to critique, but, well, I have nothing but superlatives here. Do note that the kitchen closes around 8:30 PM even on weekends

Wow. Just a wonderful experience. Food was luxurious. The chefs are top notch. Service was stellar. Atmosphere was divine.

My partner and I booked a last-minute reservation at Aviary on a snowy night over the holidays, and it turned into one of the highlights of our visit to the area. The staff was warm and welcoming, the vibe lively and pleasant, and the food delicious. The menu was inventive and the portions plentiful, and we felt like we were lucky to have picked this spot. Recommended, next time you're in the area.

Kinderhook is a real gem of a town, and the entire restaurant/ art collective that houses The Aviary, Morningbird, and The Nest is a standout. I enjoyed a lovely birthday dinner at The Aviary and was floored by the hospitality, gorgeous interior design, inventive cocktails, and delicious food with beautiful plating. I have been recommending the entire collective to loved ones and I hope they're around for a long time to come!

This restaurant ruined our Valentine's Day plans with their poor customer service. We made a reservation in advance to ensure we had a place for dinner on Valentine's Day and they waited till the last possible moment to inform us that the regular menu was being replaced by a $75 per person set menu with none of the items we liked from the regular menu. To make matters worse, one party member is a vegetarian with a sensitivity to garlic and onion who enjoyed the regular menu but has no options on the set menu. I reached out to the restaurant about if there were other options for the party member to choose from that are not on the set menu or if the meals on the set menu can be modified to accommodate them and I have heard nothing back. It was incredibly rude of the restaurant to surprise us with the set menu this close to Valentine's Day when making other reservations is very difficult. They also showed poor customer service in not answering our questions regarding the party member left out in the cold by the set menu. Edit to respond to the response from the restaurant: I made the reservation on 1/17/26 specifically at the request of the individual the restaurant claims is hard to accommodate as they were a fan of the restaurant who has eaten there before with no issues. The restaurant made no mention of a special menu then, despite them now claiming that it was "posted a month ago". When I contacted the restaurant (as they say they "truly wish I had") when I became aware of the set menu on 2/12 they refused to help in any way. Based on my interactions with them, I find their claim they strive "to please all their customers" disingenuous.

The last time I was at The Aviary, I had the best chicken I have ever eaten in my life. This chicken was so spectacular that I concluded the evening at midnight cross-legged in bed rawdogging the leftovers cold off the chicken carcass. No shame. Tonight I returned. No chicken on the menu, no worries. Spectacular spicy lamb dumplings, honey laced duck with tart notes, and a side of plump potato croquettes with wicked togarashi mayo. This is a destination restaurant, make no mistake.

Unsure how to feel about this place. The food here is great, not "I must come back" great, but solid for sure. But the vibe is as though you stuck all the people going to the MOMA on a bus and dropped them off in Kinderhook. Think thick-rimmed glasses, guys in suspenders, people dressed to the nines just to go to a restaurant in Kinderhook. Upstate NY! What happened?! I used to walk around here in my pajamas! You come to Kinderhook to escape this kind of crowd, not eat with them. The Aviary definitely ushers in this new vibe and I've got mixed feelings. However, the food is good! The meatballs are juicy, the shrimp burger is so juicy and flavorful, and the mushroom sticky rice risotto was my fave, so unique and savory and sweet. I wouldn't rush back but glad to try it.

lovely venue and ambience and attentive service - but food portions were very small and several dishes lacked flavour and originality ( eg one course was a bowl of tomatoes with tough skins and the pork was just tasteless ....) Just not for me as came away feeling disappointed and hungry!

Okay, let's get the not-so-fantastic bits out of the way. Our reservation was at 7pm, yet we weren't seated until around 7:45pm. I fully understand and appreciate a bit of a wait, but that's a solid half-turn. I was already feeling peckish when we arrived, and I was borderline hangry by the time we even got around to ordering. Also, we were so excited about trying the Manhattan at the recommendation of the proprietresses at 2 Note. It's a lovely, beautiful beverage, but it didn't evoke Manhattan vibes for me. The turmeric ginger shrub (also, delightful!) lent a tropical flair to the drink. If this had been called a "Bird of Paradise" and served to me in a tiki mug adorned with a paper umbrella, I wouldn't have batted an eye. Once our food started arriving, it became clear why The Aviary's the "it" game in Kinderhook. Every single item we ordered was stunning in both aesthetic and flavor. Don't sleep on the clam chowder; it may very well have been my favorite dish. I almost couldn't resist licking my bowl to get every last drop of soup--it was so delightful. The drizzle of chili oil on top took a good adaptation of clam chowder to great. A little unexpected subtle heat had me moaning with pleasure. We also shared the skate wing (beautiful, buttery, flaky, and shockingly satisfying) and duck fat rendang (because... duck fat) before rounding out our meal with a decadent sticky pineapple cake. Dessert deserved the highest praise I can offer as a child of Asian immigrants: not too sweet. If you're anywhere within reasonable driving distance to The Aviary, go. Make reservations now, because I predict that this is going to absolutely blow up (although, it appears the secret's already out)!

Outstanding! Unique! Creative! Delightful! Attentive! Pleasant! A must try! Everything from the creative cocktail menue to the the uniquely prepared food, to the attentive and pleasant staff makes this a must try restaurant if you are in that neck of the woods!

My partner and I had such a lovely meal here. The aesthetic and the vibe is outstanding from the minute you see the front door. Coming at night provides a beautiful dark moody setting that I love. I'm thankful for the numerous vegetarian options in the menu, and every dish we had was a flavor and textural delight. The gouda straws looked nothing like I was expecting, but I loved the oversizeness and flakiness. Our waitress told us the duck egg is a sleeper hit on the menu and I enthusiastically agree -- it was probably my favorite bite of the night. For larger plates, we tried the beet carpaccio and the mushroom and sticky rice risotto, which made this non-mushroom fan a mushroom appreciator for the night. Dessert was the calamansi pie, I had never heard of the calamansi fruit before, but it's a Philippine lemon that makes a beautiful lemon-esque pie. Based on what The Aviary is doing with food it was no surprise that their cocktail menu is also inventive, fun, and delicious. Kinderhook has really stepped up it's food offerings in the last few years, and The Aviary is a great addition.

TOP NOTCH! Came in with some girlfriends and we just loved it start to finish. Great cocktail selection with top shelf ingredients that may each and every drink hold its own on the menu and isn't just a cast of repeats where your bartender is a one trick pony. The food menu is killer. Fresh and booming flavors. We had some crab noodles that were sensory changing. The pee wee potatoes are bomb. Honestly don't sleep on anything. It's all incredible. You gotta just get a handful of items and go to town with your table so you can try all the different flavor combos.

Our favorite restaurant find in the Hudson Valley! The creativity in the food is always surprising and tasty. And the service is top notch as well. The converted knitting mill is an inviting modern space as well. It's our go to place when friends come to visit.

Superb original dishes and excellent service. The restaurant provides plenty of room so you will not feel cramped nor concerned in this Covid era. Plan ahead as Reservations can be hard to come by.

What an extraordinary meal and great service! We loved the perfectly balanced green papaya salad, local trout and calamansi pie. Everything was perfect and the bartender Nick gave us the most excellent service. We will be back again and again!

The Manhattanization of Columbia County dining continues. Old time favorites like Kozel's and Carolina House close (the first due to retirement, the second due to the pandemic,) only to be replaced by "fine dining" establishments like The Aviary. We ate in the vast austere main dining room, which was cold in both senses of the word (I never took off my heavy wool hat.) The food (served in expensive child-size portions) was admittedly interesting and creative, but you don't expect to go home hungry after dropping $136 for 2 people (no drinks).

What a rare gem. We, a group of four, had a uniquely exceptional experience at the Aviary. The food is outstandingly good, with creative nuances of a very talented chef and with perfect execution by the kitchen team. All dishes were excellent. The roasted potatoes were so good that we ordered extra. The green gazpacho was excellent. The prawns chips, the trout and the shrimps burger were excellent. The Calamansi Cream Tart was the best lime tart ever, not too sweet. The chocolate cake was superb as well. Located in a beautifully renovated red brick factory. The restaurant dining area is beautiful, decorated with wonderful wall paintings of vegetation and birds. The servers were nice and attentive. Worth a trip from the Berkshires. Will definitely return while in the area.

Great space, service, ambience and food. Will definitely be back. Alot more to explore there.

Lovely space, excellent service, and every bite of every course was perfection! Must order pineapple cake.

Pre fixe menu was delightful and satisfying. Easy parking and nice ambiance. Would definitely visit again!

We had the great pleasure of eating here last week. From the tea lites adorning the walkway to the entrance, to the intimate table for two in the dining area surrounding a large burning fireplace, the experience was amazing, for lack of a better word. We had drinks at the bar while we waited for our table, and the manhattans were out of this world! The menu was magical, the food equally so. How refreshing to have a professional and knowledgeable person to take care of everything for you at the table. She was totally amazing!!!! We loved this place and i can't wait to go back! And by the way, we spent no more on our evening out here than at our regular go-to's

Wondered if I should post thinking we might not be able to get a reservation but I decided to share with you. OMG! One of the best dinners I've had. What a great addition to Kinderhook, NY. A short drive south from Albany but well worth it. We have enjoyed many restaurants in Hudson but this is worth the short drive north. A couple on the way out suggested we get the fritter appetizer and the pineapple cake for dessert - too late! They were out of both! We substituted the Grilled Vale Farm Dragon Tongue & Pole Beans radish green salsa, umami drizzle, pickled onions for the appetizer (an excellent choice) and the Slagroompudding for dessert (OMG!!!) Three of us ordered the Grilled Mediterranean Octopus - tamarind kecap manis glaze, charred green chili sambal Gentle Time sword lettuce, ginger sweet potato puree. The octopus was perfect but the potato puree was just delicious. My vegan buddy ordered the Tivoli Oyster Mushroom Rendang - Gentle Time bok choy, scallion chimichurri duck fat nasi goreng* (They made it vegan for her and I tasted it. I'm not vegan but I might order this next time). For dessert we shared the Samascott Damsel Plum Sorbet and the Slagroompudding macerated strawberries almond lace cookie (kletskoppen). The sorbet was nice but the pudding was amazing! Here's how they describe the cuisine: "featuring Dutch and Indonesian-influenced dishes that highlight produce from our Hudson Valley farm partners." Hours: "Open for dinner Friday-Saturday 5:30-10pm, Sunday brunch 11-3"

We have been to the Aviary several times since last August, sometimes with friends or family, and it never disappoints. Excellent cocktails and the food is creative and delicious. We were last there for New Year's Eve and had a wonderful time. Go!

Outstanding food - can't remember the last time I had such a fabulous meal. The attention to detail was exceptional. Amazing flavors elevated every dish. Can't recommend this restaurant highly enough.

First time eating in this restaurant and it was truly amazing! What a gem! The food was innovative and the service was great. We will definitely go back!

Excellent Food and Service. I certainly recommend the Pork Shoulder and Coconut Cake. The Coffee was excellent as well. Open, airy Dining Room. Not perfect, but close.

Although the food is tasty and unique, the service and atmosphere left much to be desired. Firstly, it was freezing cold in the restaurant. Most of the patrons were still wearing their winter coats. We came for the Christmas Eve Prix Fixe three course and waited at least 15 minutes for a hot tea, which was desperately needed given the temperature of the restaurant. Our server was inattentive, yet there were few other occupied tables. The appetizers were fine, but nothing special. We were there for over an hour and a half before we were served our second course and we were ravenous. We ordered every entree option and 2/3 were under seasoned. We waited at least 45 more minutes for our desert to arrive. Both dessert options were underwhelming. There was too much gelatin in the coconut cream tart, and the persimmon sticky cake was average. 20% gratuity was included, however, we wouldn't have tipped more than 18% given we were neglected for over 2.5 hrs. Overall, this was not worth the money and we will not be returning.