Excellent chill vibe; sat outside and had some drinks before going to a fancy dinner. Easy location.

Backbar was an experience! It's house in the back of antique shop, though to me it seemed like an old body shop the way it was set up. The vibe was very eclectic. There were communal tables and chairs lined up near the garage doors. Plus, more lounge seating with couches. The bar was small with about 6-8 stools for seating. Menu-wise, they offer a bunch of great small plate options. It's all Asian inspired foods - we ordered the crab Rangoons which is made from real crab. None of that imitation crab here! For drinks, we both started with the poison flower which was a vodka and hibiscus based drink. It was perfect for me and I ended up having 3! The Old Fashioned was excellent. I'd come back again but will wait until the summertime when they have their lot open with outdoor seating. read more

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I'll admit, I left Backbar a bit disappointed. Before I get into the food, I want to emphasize that the staff were wonderful. They were friendly, attentive, and prompt. Unfortunately, the dishes I ordered left more to be desired. I'll start with the bao bun. The bun itself was excellent: soft, fluffy, and steamed to perfection. However, the filling fell short. It lacked both sauce and flavor. When I order pork bao buns, I expect a rich, saucy filling with that signature sweetness, but this one didn't deliver. I also ordered the dan dan noodles, and this dish was another disappointment. Like the bao bun, it lacked depth of flavor. I was hoping for that rich, complex umami you typically find in Chinese cuisine, but it wasn't there. I also found it odd that the noodles were topped with a sauerkraut-like garnish whose distinctly Western flavor distracted from the rest of the dish. For what it's worth, the noodles they used were nicely chewy. Seemed liked it was made fresh. Nonetheless, that wasn't enough to save the dish for me. If you're not particularly discerning when it comes to Asian cuisine, then Backbar may just do it for you. Unfortunately, it just didn't do it for me. read more

Backbar - dan dan noodles and bao bun - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hudson, New York

Been here twice. Forgot that this place charges a hefty service fee that we were told the staff do not get. You are also expected to tip. Drinks are tiny and extremely expensive. Staff is unhappy. Feels like they are just there to rip off tourist. Will never go back. read more

Asian inspired dishes, nice selection of drinks. Large outdoor shaded patio. Perfect day to be outside. I wanted a snack and got their small Asian kale salad and a Nine Pin Bellini cider. Perfect pairing. Salad is spicy, peach Bellini cider is sweet. Very nice people working here. Shout out to Zach. read more

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A niche spot, great if you like the sweet/salty fried chicken taste. They also have a kale salad that's really good. The spot is nice, tons of little positive messages, cool outdoor patio, freestyle seating and games all around. Great for groups and it's cozy! Zack(h?) behind the counter is delightful, staff is professional and efficient. read more

Meh, Walked in. Granted between lunch and dinner, but two bartenders not busy and the place didn't feel clean nor did we feel particularly welcome. The exterior garden...I'm not looking for curated, but weeds and overgrown stuff made me feel like they may be riding on success of days past. So, on that day plus one three weeks later...we passed again. We never got to food, or drinks...maybe our loss, but they sure didn't "have me at hello." read more

On Memorial Day whoever was bar tending was over his head and quite rude. Busy, yes but it is a service industry and the servers need to be cordial. read more

Great spot to grab a quick brew! Good for outdoor seating and large groups! Easy to walk in and grab a drink. read more

Backbar - Outdoor seating - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hudson, New York

The food is great, and the ambience is relaxed. That said, the service can best be described as surly, unwelcoming, and indifferent. Not sure why, as I read several reviews across multiple platforms that indicated this was a must visit in Hudson. I won't be returning. read more

This place has an awesome set up and vibe. The girl working the register was incredibly sweet and attentive. We had to wait almost an hour for our food and it was not a busy night. But once it did come out it was great. I loved the Dan Dan noodles, such good flavor. The crab Rangoons were top notch. The girl working the register apologized a few times for our wait but it was honestly not a problem. We sipped our beer and checked out all the decor details of this place. Beautiful lamps everywhere. I'd definitely return but again on a slow night. With all their sitting you can definitely tell they get busy. Only complaint is the side of kimchi is $8 and it is in a to go sauce container. That was disappointing, it was so good I wanted more! read more

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We stopped at Backbar for lunch during a day trip to Hudson. It seemed like a promising start to our day with a great outdoor area, Malaysian bites and veggie options, but was a supremely disappointing experience. I ordered the Summer Miso Noodles that were supposed to include mushrooms, kale, broccoli rabe, and presumably, miso. What I received included no broccoli rabe or any discernable miso. They tasted like buttery noodles, and there was nothing Malaysian about them. We also ordered the cumin tots to share, which were fine, but nothing special. The tots come in a huge order, so plan/order accordingly. Sadly, my hubby's non-veg options were equally meh, so we can only assume this is a decent spot for outdoor drinks when the weather is nice, but NOT for food. It was such a disappointing experience, it cast a pall over the rest of the day in the way only truly terrible food can. Learn from our experience and choose one of the many other dining options in Hudson instead! read more

Backbar - Summer Miso Noodles - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hudson, New York

We came here on a rainy night, so outdoor seating wasn't an option, but that area looks like it'd be a fun option when the weather is nice. We sat inside, in the back area and it wasn't very crowded at all. You have to order up at the counter, then they let you know when it is ready. There is a spot for napkins, extra condiments, etc., and a place to put your trash/dirty dishes when you're finished. We ordered: steamed edamame dumplings, cumin tater tots, crispy hot honey chicken sandwich, soba noodle salad. Everything was quite good and we had a nice time! read more

Backbar - Steamed edamame dumplings, cumin tater tots, crispy hot honey chicken sandwich, soba noodle salad. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hudson, New York

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What a great place.... Atmosphere 5stars! Staff 5 stars! Food 5stars!!! Go check it out you will be happy!

hibiscus froze and cumin tots 10/10 so good, also they were just so nice here, i wish i came earlier to try more of the food! read more

Backbar - hibiscus froze - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hudson, New York

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Food is scrumptious, but a bit of a wait since it's a popular spot. Get your drinks at the back bar and settle in while your food cooks. Cool atmosphere and chill vibe. You like savory? Perfect. You like spicy? Even better. Be prepared to drop a little coin but totally worth it. Dog and kiddo friendly space too. read more

Asian Caesar salad was amazing. Everything was tasty. All food was great. The front room is really cold and drafty and music was a little loud. read more

When walking around downtown Hudson we ran into this cute little spot. My first impression was I loved the vibe and thought the set up was super cute. We were hungry for a bite to eat and ordered the wings (VERY SPICY!), and the potstickers. Both were tasty, however a little overpriced in my opinion. Not sure what kind of food they're aiming to serve. I asked our waitress, and her answer was a little complicated. LOL. Something about Southeast Asian and southern fusion. My only real issue with this place is they charge a 20% "livable wage fee" to help pay the staff. As much as I want the staff to make a livable wage, I don't think it should be the customers responsibility to pay the staff anything aside from the tip. Yes, they want you to tip on top of their 20% fee. So essentially you're tipping 40%. I think that's a bit ridiculous. I can imagine some people don't tip the servers because of that fact. read more

Backbar - Peep the fee policy in the bottom right hand - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hudson, New York

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Why does this place have such bad reviews? I was almost deterred by them, so figure I should chime in. 5 stars for atmosphere/drinks, 4 stars for food, 4.5 overall, rounding up. They have a really lovely, large, chill outdoor space that is worth coming for alone. Fun frozen drinks. Loved the hibiscus froze. Good selection of local beers and ciders as well. For food we got the cucumber salad, cumin tater tots, karaage, and mushroom baos. Tots and cucumbers were my favorites. Karaage and bao buns were a bit pricey for what they are, but still very solid. read more

The decor is super cool. They have a lamp made entirely out of spoons. They are more like an eatery/bar. They have couches sprawled out through the front which made my son super happy! They give you permission to eat on the couch without the worry. Their portion sizes are small for the price but the fried rice was cooked with dark soy sauce which adds a depth of flavor read more

Truly a perfect outdoor space of the main drag in Hudson. They constantly have pop ups, and a super solid beer menu. They boast a few frozen cocktails and some great riffs on the classics. You can no longer sit at the bar, which is a bummer, but their vast backyard is wonderful and dog friendly. The prices are pretty high, but that's Hudson for you. Have a few drinks here and then head over to Governors Tavern for some cheaper booze and local vibes. read more

Backbar - Kimchi mustard for the win. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hudson, New York

Get the tater tots! Just do it. If you're looking for a spot that has great food and drinks but still casual and quirky energy, this is your spot. The inside is eclectic and whimsical, while the outside is a cool picnic table setup with string lights. We hosted an wedding welcome event here in 2022 and it was amazing. Highly recommend working with Alex and team if you're hosting an event. They helped us produce a menu that accommodated a range of diets in a way that didn't compromise on food quality or flavor in any way. read more

This was a cute restaurant. You order first and then you get a buzzer. The food then gets brought to your table. I ordered mushroom bao and a salad. Both were refreshing. There was also a lot of cool art throughout the building. read more

Our initial plan was just to stop here for a bathroom break but it had such a cool vibe that we decided to stick around for a drink. Oh, I really wanted the Dan Dan Noodles but we had to be somewhere else at a specific time and couldn't wait. Dang! Instead, a round of drinks in this neat bar that is literally a converted service station right down to the open garage doors. I had a nice "hot weather" drink, a Bangkok Cooler that had gin, Thai basil and lime juice in it. Nice and cold and refreshing! Super friendly, neat and eclectic, just a great spot that needs a revisit when we have more time. [Review 11498 overall, 1278 of 2019.] read more

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Cute place and friendly staff... but for $15 the shredded bao buns I went for were pretty sad. They were not very stuffed at all... felt like they were filled with just a cabbage garnish and it would be impressive if you got three bites out of one. The sesame ginger kale slaw ($8) is tasty but spicy. read more

Very uniquely decorated restaurant. The service was good and the food was yummy. The dan dan noodles was super spicy! Stay away if you cant handle spice. The chicken curry katsu was very flavorful. Ive never had a curry with the squash and loved it. Might have to add it to my homemade curry. We were really disappointed in the spam musubi. For $9 we expect for than just one piece. Definitely had better else where. read more

Backbar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hudson, New York

We came here because they had outdoor seating. There was food on the plate before we even received the food!!! It was disgusting. We thought maybe they missed that plate so we let it go. We received our food afterwards. The burger was so mediocre that we were wondering why it cost $17?? It only had a beef patty, cheese and some radishes. That was all!! The video says it all. We received the chicken karage which was half cooked and dry as hell. The Bao buns smelled funky so we didn't even eat those. The Dan Dan noodles was the only item that was edible. Please don't come here!!! We ended up spending money here and regretted every moment of it. read more

Backbar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hudson, New York

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My boyfriend and I came here for a night cap after dinner, and we loved it. The ambiance and the decorations were so cool, and the vibes were overall great. Loved the outdoor area as well! We did not eat here, just drinks. The bartender was attentive. read more

Backbar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hudson, New York

Located on the back of a store.The food here was amazing.The cumin tots were the best tots i ever had.We kept on ordering more of them. The pork belly wrapped in banana leaf was delicious.The relish and rice were flavorful. We also tried the tofu crispy rice,roti and hot wings. The ginger beer was one of the best. Defintely try this out if you are in the area. read more

Slushi drink was good but the crab Rangoon was booty cheeks. Problem with the ragoon: dough/dumpling was undercooked and barely any stuffing Environment was decent though read more

Overpriced for flavorless food. Dan Dan noodles were tasteless - the vegetables were the best part of this dish. The chicken wings were overpowered by the sauce - tasted like it was dipped three times in heavy fish sauce. The fried dumplings were the only delicious meal we had. A 20% living wage adjustment fee is automatically applied to your order so it's kind of upsetting to pay for food that unfortunately gave me diarrhea. read more

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Came to back bar on my first trip to Hudson and it was definitely the highlight of our trip. So many Asian inspired dishes to choose from that you will be completely overwhelmed- but in a good way. I orders the curry, chicken wings and dumplings. So delicious so full of flavor and I was stuffed. They have nice, out door, socially distanced seating that was really wonderful for a nice day. They also have slushee cocktails that are full of flavor. You won't be able to have just one. If you can only go to one spot while you visit Hudson, Ny this is the place to hit read more

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I've been visiting Hudson for the past four years now but hadn't dined at Backbar until my most recent trip. I couldn't really tell you why, it just wasn't high on my list. Given that all my prior Hudson trips were fairly short, I wasn't able to properly explore the bar and restaurant scene until planning a longer stay. So in 2020, year of Fleeing All Cities, my partner and I escaped to Hudson for the foliage and a dining scene far more relaxed than New York City. Backbar is a funky, eclectic, fusion-type deal. To be honest, I was a bit worried because virtually all of the reviews from 2020 (at least the post-COVID ones) are scathing. Like really, really bad. I repeatedly came across lines lamenting the pretentious/aloof staff and the flavorless food. So I was wary. But it turns out that Backbar is perfectly pleasant, the staff is nice and welcoming, the vibe has kind of a laid back, alternative Brooklyn sorta feel and the food is legitimately good. Came here as a part of five on a Saturday night. The setup is as follows: order when you arrive with the host, sit at your table and wait. There's indoor and outdoor seating (all distanced). They bring your food out when it's ready but oddly, when your cocktails are done there's no real notification of your party. We ordered drinks when we arrived and after quite some time had passed, I went up to the bar to get some water and inquired about our drinks. They had just been sitting to the side of the bar. Strange. Thankfully the cocktails weren't watered down and those who ordered wine didn't have any issues. Though the frozen cocktails looked sublime, it was a pretty cool night so the bf and I both opted for the standard cocktail menu. He got the Yaaaas Queen (Plantation 3 Star Rum, strawberry, fresh lime juice, topped with ginger beer) and I got the Electric Orchard (Barking Irons applejack, bourbon, peach, cinnamon). Both super yummy, tropical goodness. Food-wise, Backbar serves Malaysian fare that's delivered in to-go boxes but is certainly more elevated than grab-and-go or typical street food. The menu is diverse, small-plates style (sharing encouraged), with plenty of good veggie options for vegetarians and those who prefer produce to livestock. We sampled a nice array of dishes (the bf and I split things between us and the other members of our party did their own combos of splitting), all solid. Eats, below: Crispy Rice, shrimp, eggplant, ginger sambal: A Admittedly I only had a few bites of this, but it was fantastic. The sauce was rich and super flavorful and actually enabled me to enjoy eggplant -- something that is rare for my palate. Brussels Sprouts salad ("secret menu): A- A raw brussels salad, nothing too exciting but still a really nice complement to some of the heavier dishes on the menu. There's some serious spice to this salad (jalapeños, maybe? I can't recall because this item isn't listed on the website) so be advised if you're not into that (I am so it's no problem). Beet Laab, mushrooms, lettuce, herbs, chilies: A Served with lettuce for lettuce wraps, this is probably the most involved veggie dish on the menu. The beet laab was absolutely fantastic. I ate most of it so the bf can't speak to it, but that just shows you how delicious it was. Seasoned beautifully and super flavorful. Roasted squash, delicata & honeynut, shallot curry, yogurt: A+ Squash is just the most satisfying fall dish. Look at the ingredients here -- how could this be bad? Sweet, rich, nutty, warming, super flavorful. Probably the highlight of the night for me. The bf also tried the Smoked Pork Ribs and was drooling, though I didn't try any because a) he never eats ribs and was overjoyed to be eating them and b) I was chowing down on the veggie items and wasn't really feeling red meat. Still want to mention that it's a viable option as well. read more

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well where do I begin. The only thing I like about this place is their "black lives matter" sign and their beautiful outdoor seating. We are from NYC and didnt have high hopes for Asian food here but it was recommended by a friend and thought of giving it a try. First off the cashier named Arron has an attitude. I asked him if he has cumin lamb dumpling because I saw the picture on yelp and he said if you dont see it up there (he pointer his finger at the menu) we don't have it. We came back from hiking and were very hungry. We spent 85 bucks for small plate of undercooked fried chicken, 6 pieces disgusting of dumplints, string bean and two drinks and we came out hungry. First off, all the string bean and the dumpling taste yucky. The fried chicken taste ok but as we were eating it, the blood came out. The fried chicken taste like something you get from frozen food isle. I give them 2 star because of the pandemic. It would have been a 1 star otherwise. read more

Backbar - bloood coming out of the fried chicken. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hudson, New York

I've been coming to this place for years, but WOW has it gone downhill recently. The last two times I've went the food came out as basically mush, and some of it did not seem sanitary. The manager, Matthew, in particular was rude and demeaning to us. This place used to be so great, but the new management has driven this place into the ground. What a let down - they were a great part of our Hudson community, but now they're essentially the laughingstock of town. read more

I came here when visiting Hudson during the pandemic, so this review is reflective of their offerings at that time and their take away service. In general, I was pleased with the experience and food and would happily recommend or return. As mentioned, I can't speak about the overall dining experience because...coronavirus. But ordering online was easy and walking up to grab the food before leaving, tables outside were distanced as were a few tables inside a tent. They didn't offer contactless pick up, but everyone seemed to be wearing masks and using precautions. We ordered the crispy rice, sesame noodles, shrimp dumplings, and edamame dumplings. The dumplings are offered steamed or fried, so we chose one of each. The crispy rice was the standout of the meal. The mushrooms in it were amazing, and it had great flavor overall! The sesame noodles and edamame dumplings were standard; the shrimp dumplings, however, were a little too fishy for me. The food alone at Backbar was great, and I'd definitely come back...hopefully to see what the space looks like outside of a pandemic. read more

Backbar - a plate of food on a wooden table - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hudson, New York

Can't say a bad word about this place! Such a nice way to have a casual yet delicious meal in a nice setting. Ordering was easy and the food was brought to our table. Everting was super hot and absolutely delicious! I love dumplings and these did not disappoint! My husband loved the sweet potato curry dish and we both loved the long beans! They are really long! read more

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Such a gem in the heart of Hudson that actually stays open for Millennial/ people who work all day-hours and the food is amazing too which was a delightful surprise when we first came in. We try to pop in once a week when we can and Tara is our favorite bartender and always brightens our day! Loving how cozy it is inside with the wood burning stove now that it's cold and also love how much space there is and missing sitting outside in the summer. Can't wait to come back on a Friday for the live music which also blew my mind tonight. Thanks for being our local watering hole! read more

Another spot on our Hudson, NY trip that I must recommend! Backbar is an Asian inspired mostly outdoor spot with fantastic food and awesome ambiance. You can seat yourself at one of the many picnic tables in the backyard area under the cover of many string lights that always set a wonderful scene! You need to start out with one of their many creative frozen drinks! I had one akin to an old fashioned and it was amazing!! The food is all Asian inspired and so so delicious! My husband and I split dumplings, a salad, and the friend rice and there was so much more on the menu I would have loved to try! The bartenders and staff were all also so friendly which made for the perfect dinner after a busy day on vacation!! Would recommend to anyone in the Hudson area!! read more

Loved this rustic restaurant or brewery? It had an interesting food menu inspired by Asian flavors. I was skeptical but the burger was so delicious! Simple, tasty and juicy burger would def order again. No fries or chips comes with it. Their cocktail was amazing "kiss it better" ---get it! Booming in flavors with mezcal spirit. My friends loved the Dan Dan noodles and dumplings. The staff were so nice! Please be kind, I think they were under staffed but it didn't bother us. The ambiance is rustic and huge. Lots of seating inside and outside. Super casual. Dog friendly :) read more

Backbar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hudson, New York