Main Course has been one of my go-to spots in New Paltz for years. It's one of those places you trust when you want a real farm to table meal done right everything tastes fresh, clean, and actually thought out. You can tell they care about the ingredients, not just throwing stuff on a plate. Their baked goods are lowkey some of the best around too. Perfect with a coffee, just sit there and chill. And the vibe? Super warm, relaxed, no nonsense. Feels like a local spot in the best way. Consistent, quality, and always hits. One of my favorites in the Hudson valley. read more

Love Main Course when I'm looking for a fresh healthy tasting lunch. Salads are top notch and I loveeeee the dressings! It's on the pricier side but I appreciate the quality. Counter service but they have a well oiled system that delivers the food quickly! Love to peek at all the little goodies in the shop area. The indoor space is very farm to table vibes and there are a few outdoor seats! Good new paltz option read more

Main Course - Crisp Eggplant - New American Near Me - New Paltz, New York

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First time visit Big parking lot Outdoor dining available Friendly service Trying Sunday Brunch - Eggs Benedict Highly recommend read more

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I agree with a lot of the reviews on here, food is excellent...staff is not. The feeling like you arrived at a party you weren't invited to is kind of what you get going into Main Course. Ive been several times, its just getting worse. And since its mostly self serve - asking for a tip on the register isnt a good look. Hey, I'm fetching my own food, serving it to my table, and busing my table? I should get any tip. Our food was amazing, craft your own salad, but the drinks weren't. Both iced coffees needed more syrup, but when I got up and asked, the guy at the counter grabbed the syrup, squeezed it in my drink and walked away. You guys need to do better... read more

Amazing food! Beautiful, bright flowers! Fresh and flavorful. A welcome respite after a long day on the road. I am supremely delighted! 10/10 -- excited to come again. read more

Main Course - I was supremely delighted by the fresh, bright flowers and exquisite food. 10/10 -- excited to come again - New American Near Me - New Paltz, New York

I didn't mind driving the 10 or so minutes from work in Highland, NY to come here during my hour-lunch break and pick up to-go bites. Plus, coming to New Paltz, seemed like a destination jam-packed with variety altogether in my opinion. I think one of the nice things about Main Course on Main St. is that there's a mix of cozy seating options. From al fresco on the slightly-elevated patio, inside- closer to the ordering area, or the more formal dining room- you pick. I thought I had enough time to order, sit in and enjoy the veggie quiche and hibiscus lemonade I'd ordered- but then I noticed these folks had a slew of take-out and dining-in orders before mine- so take out it was for me. Despite the quiche's too brown top, fear not- the inside is moist, cheesy and delicious. If you want to feast and gather, Main C. is your place. Definitely worth dropping in- but do come with time. read more

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Consistently excellent. They make salad exciting somehow. Everything is done extremely well here.

Fresh local ingredients and unique turmeric margarita. Service was slow and portions small for the price. Still a solid spot.

The food is great here. Vegan, vegetarians and meat eaters will all feel satisfied here. If you're looking for a sit down dinner with table service and a warm environment this is not your place to eat. It has the feel of a cafeteria but with much better food and a friendly staff. You walk up to the counter, place your order and pay then find a table and wait to hear your name called. You bus your table when you're done and toss your trash. None of this bothers me because I have yet to have a bad meal and I've been here A LOT! The meatloaf panini is my favorite but the empanadas, the blackened chicken and the "compose your own salad" are all great too. This is definitely worth looking into when you're in New Paltz. read more

This place is so cute and I love the choice of making your own salad. When you walk in there is a paper that you check off the topping you want and the sizes you want. Then you wait until they call your name. The people are so nice and make your food so fast. I love this place!!! read more

If you want to feel like you are an annoyance to the staff at a restaurant just for walking in the door. Choose Main Course. I make an effort to interact positively at every eatery. It's my nature, and I know from personal experience it's a hard job. I've eaten here several times over the past 6 years and have ALWAYS wanted to like it more. But I don't. I can't. The staff I've encountered are consistently disconnected and rude and discouraging. Each time I'm amazed by the sullen, aloof demeanor of the people behind the counter. I'm not asking to be their best friends, or that they patronize me with fake smiles. But I've been in food service (over 15 years back in the Jurassic Age) and it doesn't take much energy to interact with a customer in a more positive way. Is it a generational thing? A Gen Z or Gen X trait to be so self-invested (or depressed at working in food service)? Perhaps. But part of the answer came in observing the Main Course business model: it's all self-service. Staff are set up behind a wraparound counter and never have to interact with customers. Ever (besides having to call out a name like you hear at the DMV). No dropping dishes at tables, no bussing tables. The lack of interaction ITSELF engenders apathy. And apathy breeds resentment. And, upon writing this, THIS is what I felt at Main Course yesterday (4/19/25 5pm) a palpable resentment by the main counter staff cashier. Maybe it's in their training or their management allows it. But the self-service model bakes in a disconnect. Staff never leave their station which becomes a bunker. A barrier. A refuge. I do get it. It's hard to be a waiter commingling with hungry folks spending their hard earned $. People can bejerks sometimes. But the flip side is in the Food Industry there often occurs an arrogance among kitchen and staff/waiters borne from this "them vs us" mentality. This arrogance is strong at this beloved establishment, and the distance created by the counter service model in this case doesn't work for at least this guest. Because that is what I am. A guest. I'm at YOUR house Main Course. The contract isn't explicit but there is an implication that, as I've chosen YOUR house to come to and spend my $, I expect a modicum of pleasant interaction. At least pause your socializing conversations with other staff, put down your cell phone and look me in the eye at some point during our exchange. Please don't make me regret my 18% gratuity for doing absolutely nothing. read more

The food is so fresh and delicious here! I had the split pea soup and the Campanelli''s Organic Oven Roasted Chicken. The presentation of the chicken exceeded my expectations, it looked awesome and tasted better. The staff is very friendly and quick. I waited about 6 minutes for my food. You can see the chefs cooking right at the counter, it's so cool! Inside the restaurant, there is a lot of seating. They don't do table service, you order and pick up your food at the counter and sit wherever you'd like. He place is very clean anhave free water read more

Stopped for a hanger steak and also got the empanadas. The steak was dried and disgusting and smelled old. The empanada was no better. They may have a former good reputation, but I won't eat here again. read more

Had a wonderful italian wedding soup. So good. I was a little confused about the congee which should be a rice based soup. This was more of a glutinous rice dish. Not what I expected but pretty good. read more

Main Course - Congee. - New American Near Me - New Paltz, New York

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We have loved the Main Course for years. It is our go to place when we are in the area. Many times we will go multiple times in one week. We noticed a year ago a change. Prior to that every meal was. excuse the hyperbole. exquisite - and medium priced! The menu was interesting and inventive. Every dish was a pleasure and flavorful. Salads and soups were delightful with the combination of ingredients and tastes. It had been consistently good with very fresh ingredients until recently. The offerings are still good, and by far the best in the New Paltz area, but not as wonderful as before. We had heard that there was a change in ownership or chef. They seem to be working on it. The last two times we ate there in July the meals were a little more special and quite good. We were happy to see that. The food is still good, but the quality of the ingredients and flavor and the overall menu are lower. At the same It continues to be our favorite. We have a lot of appreciation and respect for the team. We see how everyone who works there works hard and caters to our requests. We wish them luck in getting back to what we have loved. read more

This is an updated review. I used to love Main Course until maybe a year ago or so. However, since they changed hands my experiences eating there have been sadly disappointing. Tonight, for example, I ordered a take away dish that was swimming in oil and badly presented. I wanted to give it another try but that is I got. read more

My husband and I tried to eat there at least once a week and get their chopped salad . You get to choose your items that you want in your salad and the service is great and they even care about gluten free . I have never gotten sick here and the medium chopped salads are enough for two meals . Everything is fresh and taste great . We usually get ours to go but they have plenty of seating inside . Just a great place all the way around with exceptional food that's healthy for you and not filled with GMOs and junk . read more

Main Course is a must visit in the New Paltz area for anyone with a gluten allergy. It is a little pricey, but so worth it. They have many gluten free options, GF bread, cookies, scones and many other things. They have a rotating menu with new options all the time. Their teas are made in house and addicting. I tried their plum spices (cold) and their peach/ginger (hot). They staff was very nice and answered all my allergy questions. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Outside has heat lamps so you can enjoy the beautiful views on the mountains in the colder weather. There is no table service. You order at the counter and they call your name on the speaker. They also have grab and go selections, pies and many other baked goods. Dogs are welcome on the patio. read more

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Stopped for lunch on way to Mohonk Moutain House. Food was fantastic!! Lots of great, healthy options.

Service is friendly, accurate and quick. Ambiance has an artisan vibe while being super cozy. Menu items are unique, healthy and fresh! Love all the premade takeout options as well. Recommend the option of ordering online so your meal is ready when you arrive. read more

I love the made to order salads at Main Course - they are so perfectly prepared with fresh ingredients and the dressings are delicious. What really is exciting to see is that they actually have on their listing here that you can bring your own container! I brought my own large stainless steel container and a small stainless steel container for the dressing. I bought this one at Rock & Snow in New Paltz and it works perfectly for takeout. Not only does Main Course make delicious food they care about our environment and our health. Let's help them out by bringing our own containers so they don't have to buy disposable single use boxes that only go to landfill! read more

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Very much enjoy you bus your own table and have to go boxes, utensils,free water cups and napkins all out for you. Don't have to wait for servers or worry about tipping. The menu is just right not too large or too small, plus love pencil in chart for what you want for custom salads. Prices are bit high here, but i can say the menu had very creative libraries and only freshest ingredients, so it's a toss up. The meatloaf sandwich was great, very filling and well seasoned, with plenty of ketchup and gooey cheese, plus the bread was toasted well and did not get soggy. Potato salad I agree with others on here, it's very good, used to plain Jane potato salad and here it's a savory gravy type sauce. Beef empanadas, I did find like other review mentioned it tasted like sloppy Joe sauce and ground beef, shame too since crust has artistic braiding and chimachurri sauce was good. Both the scones, were softest scones ever, but I wish flavor was more pronounced, since barely tasted the coconut flavor for one and the strawberry lemon in the other. The coconut pandas petit gateau was truly amazing, the shell itself was sweet and soft, filling between the lime coconut mousse and crusty cookie crust underneath was very good, the dessert reminded me of chocolate mousse bomb. Definitely will have come back to try the build your own salad, and trust me this place gets very crowded during noon, so best time is between 11am when open to noon, if you want get a table to eat in and not get stuck behind a long line read more

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I stopped here to get a light lunch and for a rest stop during a road trip. Although the listing makes it seem like a food court, it is actually a single ordering counter that offers coffees and a variety of prepared food items. I wanted something light, so I tried the empanadas with chimichurri. Although the portion size was good, the filling tasted like "sloppy Joe" meat, and the sauce was sweet. The restaurant has ample indoor seating, and a nice outdoor deck. Parking is limited, and I was lucky to arrive before the lunchtime crowd. read more

Main Course Marketplace is always a good option to get good eats if you are in New Paltz. They even have a small parking lot! (If you know New Paltz you know this is a big deal). They have a great selection of salads, sandwiches, soups and other entres. I usually order the chicken Caesar salad and it never disappoints. They also have an area where you can buy premade drinks, meals and other items like things for your kitchen. There is plenty of seating and you have to bus the table after yourself but that's part of the charm and what makes Main Course feel homey. read more

Main Course - Chicken Caesar salad - New American Near Me - New Paltz, New York

We enjoyed dinner here recently. The short ribs were very good, tasty and right amount of gravy sauce. The curry chicken salad was also good. The toasted walnut dressing was very good and complimented the salad. Had the margarita, whoa, the punch of turmeric and ginger was a bit hot. No doubt a healthy menu but with enough tasty options to satisfy any longing. Try the apple galette, so good. read more

EXCELLENT!!!!! Locally sourced - simple recipe combinations - yet an EXPLOSION of flavors. It's a perfect meal and great environment.

This is my very favorite place to eat in New Paltz! I moved away but, when I visit I make sure to get a meal there. Everything is top notch! My favorite is M.C. Veggie Burger with a side of tabbouleh. I get it vegan with extra chutney. It is absolutely delicious! This time, I was starving and got a medium chopped salad as well. The salad is huge! It was a treat so I added a cocktail. If you're in New Paltz, go! read more

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Always a good bet. Fresh and tastes amazing every time. Good service. Ordered online and was ready immediately

Loved the idea of this place! You order at the counter and then grab your plate when it's ready. You can choose your seating. There is also complimentary water and coffee. There is a daily menu that changes. The food tasted very fresh but could be seasoned a bit more. The steak and halibut could be saltier! Otherwise, would love to try the rest of the menu! read more

Main Course - Roasted Sirloin of Beef - New American Near Me - New Paltz, New York

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Great food great service right in the middle of town. Very good food, but you pay for it. Considering the quality it's worth it. I've been coming here for years and it is consistently good, and always has great service. The atmosphere is pleasant and relaxing. I will definitely come again right by after I finish paying off the debt from this visit. Lol. read more

5 stars for the selection and quality of ALL of the food options here. There is something for everyone! And it won't break your bank. I had the delicious turkey sandwich and the potato salad. I am not sure what seasonings they use in the potato salad, but oh my goodness was that good! The potatoes were the perfect consistency. Cooked well, but don't crumble when you stab it with the fork. I loved every single bite and encouraged my family to try it because it was so good. They all agreed and think the "secret" ingredient was tumeric? The sandwich was on a delicious bakery role and the turkey was fresh and the cheese and other toppings and aioli were a perfect blend to the point the sandwich had a creamy texture. YUM! I had a cranberry mango - "House Spritzer spritzer which was refreshing because the dining room was 82degrees! (yikes). I actually got it because it was so hot in the dining room, perhaps that was intentional? Well Done Main Course if it was. The to go options looked very appealing, however, I am not local and couldn't take them with me. As you have read above, the experience was great, however the 4 stars and not five is due to the layout of the experience. As you walk in, you encounter a tower of menus and clip boards and people. It is really chaotic and loud when it is busy. There is kind of a line, but ends up just being people bunched together as people try to make room for people that keep coming in. The order process is slow, as there are a lot of options and in general most people seemed to be overwhelmed. I don't think it was the staff's issue. If you don't like crowds or standing close quarters with a lot of people, you may want to avoid the line and call ahead. The dining area is fairly limited inside and large parties are difficult to accommodate if there are already two large parties (5+ people) ahead of you. I highly recommend this place for the quality and creativity and prices. YUM! read more

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Great food . All cooked fresh. Takes a bit to come out. But worth the worth. At lunch is gets busy. A small line to order but good comes relatively quick. Lots of seating area. Small tables in front. Larger stable in side room. Outdoor seating and bench seating Overall do lunch here when you can. read more

Great place for take out with lots of daily specials. Always love their chopped salads! They also do catering which I would highly recommend. I've never had a bad meal from Main Course! read more

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I thought this was a sit down restaurant at first. Got confused and realized you had to place your order then wait for your food. Seating is open. No waiter service here. Lines are long during weekend lunch rush. Food can take a while but damn, it's yummy! Daily Special: Turkey BALT - I didn't expect this sandwich to be so good. Super fresh ingredients! The bread was perfectly toasted. Crunch yet light. The bacon was done the way I like it - crunchy and lots of it. Good amount of bacon. Good size and great portion. Comes with a potato salad which was okay, hint of spice in it. Daily Special: Root vegetable reuben - this wasn't bad! Perfectly grilled with all ingredients melted nicely inside. Loads of cheese and vegetables. Comes with potato salad. Hearty and filling. Cobb salad - this was a GIANT. Can totally be shared among two people and probably be filling. Comes with a fairly generous load of toppings. Very good salad. Would definitely order again. Don't let the giant plates scare you off - it is good and you'll want to finish your meal. Cookies - chocolate chip was divine! I loved this...so fresh. The soft, chewy texture was exactly how I like my cookies. The oatmeal cookie was pretty good, too! Drinks - coffee was good. Standard. Daily special white peach tea was good, too. Pure tea, not sweet - just the way I like it. Pricing is great because the portions are HUGE. So worth it. Amazingly fresh food. Will definitely be back if I'm in the area. Just be prepared for a mad rush during lunch times on the weekend. read more

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I discovered main course 8 years ago as a student at SUNY new paltz and I come back every time I visit!! The food is delicious, ambiance is awesome and the service is great!! I stopped by for my favorite blackened chicken sandwich this weekend and was flooded with so many happy memories. I loved it so much I ordered another sandwich to bring home!! I liked how I was still able to access the free water cups by the door but not sure how covid-friendly this was. We sat outside on the patio because it was a beautiful sunny day. I also liked how there was a speaker system outside so you could hear the staff call your name when your order was ready. The food was prepared quickly as well. Main course will forever be my go-to lunch and dinner spot in new paltz. If you have not yet gone... here's your sign! read more

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Nice place for brunch! I love that they have a parking lot. The food was good and service was friendly, patient and helpful. The only thing we thought was a bit confusing and awkward was the decor. They had a random table with merchandise right in the middle of the sitting area and a very small corner where people had to line up to put used plates and utensils. read more

The food was good but nothing that we're going to be rushing to get again. I got the Meatloaf panini, my boyfriend got the Hanger Steak panini, and we got one of each empanada to share (goat cheese/mushroom and beef). We couldn't decide which empanada to get and were told when ordering that we could get one of each, so that was super nice! The empanadas were decent but the sandwiches were so underwhelming. I don't know what it was, but each was missing some component that would have made them better. The hanger steak was weirdly chewy but also tough at the same time, but the BBQ sauce on the meatloaf was really good! We chose a side of potato salad each, which was interesting. The char was nice but it was also kind of bland. We also got a cocktail each and they were... not good. After about three sips we gave up and pushed them to the side. What was the real shining star was the desserts. We got the cranberry oatmeal cookie and the hazelnut opera cake. They were both INCREDIBLE. While eating the cake we decided that it was in the top 5 best desserts we've ever had. In the future I will be skipping food here, but definitely stopping by for pastries. read more

Main Course - Home Style Meatloaf panini, Mushroom & Goat Cheese Empanada and Spanish Beef Empanada, Grilled Northwind Farm Hanger Steak panini - New American Near Me - New Paltz, New York

What a great place. We sat outside. high and low top options. We decided to share the porchetta sandwiche and the stuffed cauliflower. The desserts were unique and absolutely delicious. I would come here again and again when in town. read more

The aesthetics and cleanliness receive 5 stars from me although those two aspects being superb are just a bonus to the real reason people come here and that's of course for the food. First things first you cannot deny this place being top tier in the Hudson valley for high quality cuisine. You get what you pay for. This place is pricey, but trust me, well worth every penny spent. Every time I order from here, I can't help but wonder who the mastermind is behind the brilliance of the menu and the top tier culinary quality. Your body and your taste buds will thank you and have you ready to come back for more. I just can't say enough good about all this establishment has to offer. Please do visit. You won't be disappointed or dissatisfied. ever. read more

Stopped at Marketplace on Friday afternoon around 1:30 pm. We were visiting New Paltz for the weekend and wanted to grab a casual lunch before heading to a winery. Parking here was a bit of a challenge since their lot was full and so was most of the nearby street parking. The place was very busy and lively when we arrived. Marketplace is a casual eatery; there are no servers -you order at the counter and then seat yourselves while you wait for your name to be called. You are responsible for clearing your tables as well. They had several tables indoor (also one large communal table) and space outdoors. It seems like there were some people setup working or studying on their laptops for the afternoon. Their menu features several salads, paninis and sandwiches. They had a number of specials in addition to their regular menu. I decided on the grilled cheese panini w/ mixed greens and a side of the cauliflower curry soup. My boyfriend got the meatloaf panini with potato salad and a side of soup that had chicken, pesto and mushrooms. It was all delicious and fresh. Everyone else's food looked really good too - the salads were very big. My only complaint was that it took a very long time to get our food. My boyfriend eventually went up to check on it since I figured we could start with the soup. Turns out everything was ready except the chicken pesto soup. As a result, my grilled cheese got cold while they held our meals on the side. They should have let us know the soup wasn't ready since it delayed everything. Other than that, we had a pleasant time. read more

Main Course - Grilled cheese panini - New American Near Me - New Paltz, New York

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