Had a lovely Saturday night dinner here! The food was spectacular - truly fresh ingredients and high quality, worth every cent. We had the squash bread with apple jam and the bone marrow + steak tartare as starters. Both were so good, especially the steak tartare that just tasted so clean and fresh, pairing nicely with the richness of the bone marrow. It came with these little potato slices that were scooped out to provide a perfect vehicle for the marrow/tartare. My partner had the carrot tart tartin, which he loved, and my scallops with morel mushrooms were perfectly cooked, with the hazelnuts providing such a nice texture. He enjoyed his phony negroni (they also had other NA options, including other mocktails, an NA beer, and an NA Riesling) and I really liked my Good Shepherd cocktail, their unique take on a dirty martini. We were too full for dessert, unfortunately. The service was great - attentive and friendly, but it felt like we were able to take our time and enjoy ourselves without feeling rushed, even though the place was busy. It is definitely on the pricier side and I would recommend reservations as the place was pretty full, but I would absolutely recommend this spot for a delicious, quality meal in Rhinebeck! read more

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An excellent Saturday night spot. We were seated outside in a quiet, relaxed setting with low-volume ambient music and other tables that were respectful of those around them. The service was five-star, and the food--though expensive--was delicious and very satisfying. We skipped dessert, but I'm sure it would have been equally on par. All in all, this place was a welcome escape from the chaos, blaring music, and flip-flop, T-shirt crowd across the street at what was once a pretty good establishment 25 years ago. read more

We had an enjoyable evening. Food was good. We all enjoyed our meal. Vegan stuffed squash ratatouille, with herbs, rice, etc. I'm grateful for a real meal, but I think it needed to be on a base of some beans. Fried chicken with dill pickles with buttermilk ranch dip was delicious and tender, collard greens were packed with flavor. Miso marinated black Cod with mushrooms and red lentil puree was enjoyed. All delish! Bar decor is chic and stylish. Not too noisy on a Sunday night. Small place with limited seating. Nice bar. Great ambiance. Service was perfect. Sign was tiny. At a nearby table, we saw a Absinthe fountain(!?), which looked fascinating! On my agenda... Helpful? read more

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Amazing service and menu dietary options. Very gluten free and dairy free friendly. Will go back! read more

Pretty to Think So - New American Near Me - Rhinebeck, New York

The vibe here is if Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl designed a restaurant. The unairconditioned bathroom looks like an interrogation cell and if you ever wanted to use the toilet while starring at yourself in the mirror this is your place. The hostess was disdainful of our presence. The general ambiance is weird and it's a small loud space. The food was bland. Our server was friendly. But over all a waste of time and money. read more

Highly recommend, had a great birthday dinner here with a large group. It was a pre fix menu, and really enjoyed the baked good items and the haddock. Would recommend for people in the area. read more

Three stars feels generous, but here we are. This place is charging *fine dining* prices while serving in more of a bistro/tavola calda setting. Let's just say the math doesn't quite add up. Expect to pay about $100+ pp complete. The online menu? Completely outdated - none of what was posted showed up in person, and the real menu was noticeably slimmer. Food choices get a 2/5 from me, and that's with me really trying to be fair. Atmosphere was... serviceable. About a 3/5. Seating and table comfort? Also a 2/5, more "hotel café" than "upscale dining." On the human front: our server deserves credit, a solid 4/5 for friendliness and competence. The bartender, however, scored a 1/5 for managing not to acknowledge us once when we tried to order another round at the bar. Impressive in its own way, I guess. Pricing? Way off - 2/5. If you're going to ask for those numbers on the check, then what's on the plate and in the room has to match. Here, it doesn't. Now, to end on a positive note, the one thing they nail: this place is 100% dedicated gluten free, and that's a major win for celiac diners. A true 5/5 there, no sarcasm needed. (Although you won't find that GF info on their site or socials.) Would I go back? Maybe, if someone else insists. Otherwise, there are better options nearby at these prices. read more

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When dining becomes an experience, my wife and I take note. We had a reservation for a table but opted to sit at the bar as we are "bar people". The bone marrow appetizer was amazing and the tomato powder dusted popcorn was the perfect accompaniment. The Duck for two continued to impress and the cocktails were also great. read more

Pretty to Think So - Cocktails "Duck you too" and "Little" {something} - New American Near Me - Rhinebeck, New York

I came with family after the Sinkerklaas Parade, and let me til you what a wonderful, welcoming, and cozy atmosphere on such a cold day. We sat at the bar. The "Well Duck You then" cocktail was unique and delightful. The cheesey popcorn was great, as was the truffle twice-baked potato. The pumpkin dish was absolutely delicious as well. All the food and drinks were wonderful, as was our bartender-waiter. Will definitely return when I'm back in town! read more

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Service and ambiance were lovely, but the food was meh. Trying too hard to be something and they would do better to keep things simple and make them flavorful and wonderful. read more

From the moment I walked in I was smitten. The atmosphere is absolutely beautiful with dark walls, and soaring ceilings. The perimeter is punctuated with large windows each with a few decorative items including jars and books set on the deep sills. The seating runs the perimeter of the small space with an l shaped bar immediately to your left. The attention to detail in the design was top tier. After being seated we began with cocktails which were perfectly crafted, followed by appetizers, entrees, and dessert. All of the food was absolutely delicious. A definite must stop for foodies. The service too, was also wonderful, making for a lovely evening out. Highly recommend. read more

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Gosh, what a pleasure to dine here. I chose it after reviewing a number of comments and I (and my guest) were extremely pleased with the meal. Fairly priced and excellent service. Indoor and outdoor seating. Excellent drinks as well. read more

I rarely give 5 stars so this is a very positive review. I would have had to sample more dishes to give it a 5. The red beet risotto and the glazed carrots with wild rice were excellent. The Carrot and rice had an earth/meaty taste that made the very satisfying as a vegan dish. Dishes at nearby tables looked good. Service was prompt and knowledgeable. The seating is close but the guests are enjoying good food rather than being boisterous. read more

A review I'm scared to write, as I'd love to keep this restaurant to myself and go every weekend / every week / maybe even every day?! An amazing addition to the area with a full gluten free menu (which you'd never even know!) Each dish is super creative, the staff is incredibly kind and responsive, and the atmosphere is simply stunnin. Here's a list of everything that is delicious (and all five stars): THE SWEET POTATO BREAD: I could eat 20 loaves of this. It's sweet but paired with tart cranberry sauce on the side, which balances it nicely THE OYSTERS: super fresh and a great selection-- even in the winter months THE KALE CAULIFLOWER SALAD: I could also eat 20 of these. The sweet potato purée is such a nice touch and the kale is lovely paired with the cauliflower THE BEET PEAR SALAD: I did look like a vampire licking the plate clean of the most amazing beet dressing + juices THE BEAN SOUP: perfect for a cold night, and hearty for a meal THE SHORT RIB: perfectly cooked, super moist, and the potatoes that are served with it are excellent Oh, and the caviar frites are an experience to not miss! You will not be disappointed here! read more

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Wonderful. The room is small. Not great acoustics but... Service was great. Nice menu, cocktails and wine list. We started with cocktails and starters. Although we passed on the raw bar, we were happy with the bone marrow with beef tartare and fried potatoes with caviar. Entrees of braised short rib and duck confit were perfectly cooked with delicious sides. We split a fig tart dessert with ice cream and a French press coffee. The bill included an 18% gratuity and we left a bit more...service was that good. We'll definitely be back. read more

What a fabulous restaurant! We were greeted by the bartender who was very accommodating and friendly. Our server was new but she did a great job taking care of us and had no shame asking a coworker if she didn't know the answer to our question! The oysters here were fantastic, the skookums might have been the best oysters I've ever had. Super fresh and absolutely divine. The drinks were extremely balanced and nuanced with a lovely presentation. The tartare was absolutely stellar and the popcorn was a nice touch(seems juvenile but it works). The scallops were great but I'd pass on the caviar addition as the other flavors seemed to overpower it. The potatoes were also insanely good, loved the sexy ketchup. Only area lacking was desserts, but the rest of the experience was so great I can't even take off a star for that. The mango sorbet had basically no mango flavor, and the key lime pie was a miss(the watermelon rind was inedible) Don't let the desserts stop you from trying it though! read more

Amazing meal from start to finish! This is a great spot for a date night or a night with friends - if you are looking for a high end meal. Was kindly met at the entrance and taken to our seats then had amazing service all night long. The drink and food menu were amazing it was so hard to decide what to drink and eat There's lots of options depending on what type of alcohol you prefer and ABV you are looking for. The absinthe drip looked so cool. Will definitely be back to try it! Nice raw bar selection. We had the chefs selection oyster then opted to share a bunch of plates. We also had the squash bread, baked potato (this was the best baked potato I've ever had!), scallop crudo, endive Caesar, cucumber and goat cheese salad (special), and risotto. All were delicious! Great for someone who is gluten free read more

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Stopped by on a lark. Excellent food, great drinks, friendly staff. Definitely going back.

This place is pretty much a joke and trying its best to pretend it's on the upper east side of NYC with its pretentiousness. Horrible service! The only good employee was the bartender, who was friendly and kind. So slow and small portions. Enya (I think, got her name from the bill), our waitress, was barely noticeable and extremely unfriendly. She did not introduce herself. Didn't engage in conversation. Did not offer to refill our water. Took an hour for mediocre food which did not match the descriptions on the menu. Management needs to reevaluate their staff if this is what is what they want representing their establishment. Also...beware of the automatic 18% tip. The amount a customer tips should be at the discretion of the customer, right? We spoke to the manager and his excuse that "this is a fine dining restaurant" and that there are "7 chefs in the kitchen" is complete bogus. This wasn't a party of 6+ people. It was my husband and I, trying to enjoy our anniversary meal. We've been to plenty of restaurants around the NYC metro area, and never have had this absurd 18%, automatic tip added. I understand times are tough, but this is a complete joke. Guess we will try another restaurant in Rhinebeck, because this place was not what we expected. Few tables, bathrooms upstairs (not handicap accessible?), slow service, waitress who looked unhappy to be there. read more

Pretty to Think So - 18% "service fee" no thanks. - New American Near Me - Rhinebeck, New York

Overall, Pretty...offers interesting, even fascinating food, intricate and adept service, excellent basic ingredients, and just the kind of ambience you'd want for a sophisticated restaurant in the Hudson Valley: countrified, a little moody, romantic. (This was on the coldest night of December thus far, so it's probably quite different and just as nice at other seasons and times of day). The Kumamoto oysters were like a mouthful of ocean air and the accompanying sauces, particular the tomato, were excellent. My partner had the delicate flavorful scallop crudo in a green sauce redolent of fresh peas and mint. I had the twice-baked potato with, for a miracle, truffle you could actually taste. The potato was so creamy and flavorful, and the shell so crispy and light, you could finish the whole thing--and might, for a light meal! My partner's seafood paella was great too, with a crispy rice layer ("socca") on the bottom, as all great paella must have. The pumpkin cheesecake with a topping of whipped crème fraiche was rich, sweet, and light. There's a phenomenal baker in the kitchen, as well as some very talented chefs. I also have to applaud Pretty's supply chain. How do they get so many great ingredients, not just things like caviar and truffles but quotidian items like potatoes and pumpkin and rice? I was looking forward to the bone marrow and beef tartare, but the dish was a mis-step. An honorable one! The cubed raw beef and its dressings were everything they should be, tart enough to cut through the rich meat and also savory,but it was served inside a hollowed-out bone with a layer of marrow still in it. Beef tartare should be served at room temperature or a little cooler; bone marrow must be served warm or, ideally, hot. In this case, parts of the tartare were uncomfortably warm, and, especially for the last few bites, me marrow was unpleasantly cool and greasy. Also, the fries served alongside were too cool, My other complaint is that the lights in the restaurant were so dim, I don't think it could have been much worse if all of Rhinebeck was having a black-out! Part of the joy of a fine meal is to be able to see what you're eating. In this case, I can't identify many of the ingredients because I couldn't see the plate--or even read the very detailed menu! We'll come back again, very soon---during daylight hours! read more

Went here with my partner for our anniversary, and we enjoyed everything very much! I loved the style of the interior, very art deco inspired. We went to an early dinner at 5:30 and it was near empty, which I expected in making reservations as I don't like crowds very much. Started off with tamarind soda and my boyfriend had a cocktail. The drinks menu has great mocktail and low ABV options and even zero-proof absinthe. I didn't get to try any because I didn't realize but boyfriend enjoyed his Call Me Honey. Appetizer was local cheeses and they were good! I wasn't a huge fan of the grapes that had seeds and wish it had been served with a pâte. Server was helpful in making sure the cheeses were pasteurized. Entree I had the organic half chicken and he had the braised lamb shank and both were wonderful! Very tasty and moist chicken, the lamb was fall off the bone good. Dessert was delicious, chocolate tart and a blueberry olive oil cake! My boyfriend had the cold brew and we didn't realize it's served sparkling so it was very interesting, not my favorite but that's personal taste. The only downside here was the music they played was ONLY the Beatles and nothing else. I don't know if every day they play a new discography but please make a better playlist. Overall everything was great, looking forward to coming back and trying the raw bar when i'm no longer pregnant. Would love to see them possibly rotate the menu in the future for new options. read more

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Went because of a number of reasons. The name is just plain cool and so was everything else I read about. Food awesome, cocktails awesome, design snd crowd awesome. A cool place in a quaint hudson village! A must read more

One of the best restaurants in the Hudson Valley, perhaps all of New York. Creative and delicious food from an expert chef, and the atmosphere and decor is impressive. I've been a number of times and the service is always first rate. They have a highly original beef tartare appetizer and a scallops dish that was memorable. Highly recommended. read more

If you like mediocre food with pretentious slow service then this restaurant is for you. We had high hopes for this restaurant after reading other reviews. Unfortunately, our experience did not live up to the hype. We waited quite a while in the vestibule for the host to greet us. When we asked if we could get table seating instead of bar seating the host told us there was no availability, which was a lie. There were open tables the entire time we were in the restaurant. The high notes were the beet salad (fresh and nicely prepared), the pork chops were served with a delicate sweet sauce, and watching the bartender mix cocktails was entertaining (though all cocktails were less than a full pour). The paella was overly smoked with the rice over cooked to a gelatinous mess. They also automatically charge an 18% gratuity for this less than great experience. read more

Nice vibe, tables are very close together so your experience will depend on your neighbors. Wine list by bottle is limited & skews towards expensive eg reds start at $ 75. Menu is adventurous but limited. We had the beef shank which was tasty but not much in the way of food. We also had the skirt steak which was ok & a larger portion. The restaurant is totally gluten free which eliminates bread & other items from your meal choices. All in all, underwhelming food, expensive wine in a nice, euro vibe. read more

meh. could have been an off night in the kitchen, but the food took over an hour to get to us after the appetizers. The people next to us who came in 15 minutes after us got theirs before us. My wife's scallops were lukewarm warm, and my duck was missing 2 sides.‍ Another thing, this new tipping scenario where the restaurant adds a "service charge" that goes towards the gratuity is annoying. It was not mentioned on the website or on the menu, only when the bill came were we notified. this poses a problem, as I was going to give the server more than the 18% that they charged, but because the amount would have been less than another 10$ it would look really cheap. hence I declined. I hope this works in the long term for the servers, but it's really off putting. read more

The restaurant has a very cool, intimate vibe. There were only about 8 tables inside besides bar seating. The whole menu is gluten free, and seems allergy friendly to other types of allergies. Highlight: The Summer Squash Bread- this was insane. We ordered it out of curiosity, mostly, and it was the best part of the meal. So moist and delicious, you would never know it is gluten free. Lows: Drinks- almost undrinkable at how strong they were. Timing- the main course took about an hour to get to us. read more

I had high hopes for this place. It was recommended by a good friend and Rhinebeck is desperately lacking fresh energy. Alas, this was a once and done event. The name of the restaurant....should have set off some alarms. Rather pretentious....as was the whole experience. Upon being seated at the completely empty restaurant (6:30 pm on a Friday night), I asked for a taste of one of only 3 red wines offered by the glass. "We don't have an open bottle of that so can't give you a taste," was the response I got from our server. How is this even offered by the glass if they wont open a bottle to give me a taste? I had never even heard of any of the wines offered and our server could not offer me any descriptions, yet they were unable to even let me taste them. The restaurant did fill up over the course of the evening...(it's a small space...30 seats at most), though our server was earnest food service was excruciatingly slow. Be warned...the "Caviar Frites", was nothing more than home fries with Salmon Roe on top. Yes, salmon roe!! Not a speck of Truffle on either the Twice Baked Truffle Potato or the Turnip Papardelle that was advertised to have black truffle as well. The trout was decent, though not memorable, and in general....everything was so rich and buttered up, that even if there was a speck of truffle, one would not have been able to taste it above the butter. The food lacked seasoning as well. The best thing about this restaurant was the decor. It was inviting and curated. I'm sure the cocktails were good though we did not have any. The bartender did seem to painstakingly create some impressive looking drinks. The red wine by the class selection was very lacking. We were so underwhelmed by the experience that we did not stay for dessert. As a former tv producer for the TVFN (4 years) and a published restaurant reviewer, I consider myself a foodie. I live in NYC and travel around the world having ample opportunities to dine out. I will only write Yelp and Trip Advisor reviews if something was really exceptionally good or disappointing. Reading others reviews...I feel I was not off the mark here. Don't see myself going back any time soon. read more

Walked in and no one to greet us. Podium outside the door but no one was there. Went in side and another couple was standing there looking confused. Only one visible staff member on the phone not acknowledging anyone. Zero atmosphere. Not vibrant at all! We left. Obviously can't comment on the food as we didn't stay and most likely will not try again. I'll pay any price but expect a positive experience. read more

Wow Amazingly, fresh food, everything perfectly prepared Incredible staff I love this place. It's definitely my favorite Rhinebeck restaurant. Don't listen to any reviews below a four. There is an incredible energy here. The food is so fun and delicious. The drinks are really fun and delicious. The staff is really wonderful really great. read more

This restaurant comes as advertised.... upscale, creative, interesting, and impressive. The cocktails are the stars of the show. They have a huge selection of drinks and each one is carefully crafted like a work of art. They advertise a Raw Bar so we went all out for the Royal Tower which has lobster, clams, oysters, shrimp, and caviar. No complaints, seafood was fresh and tasty. We also got a vegtarian stuffed pumpkin dish that was delicious. For dessert, we had the petite four special which I found underwhelming and wish I would have chosen something else. Service was attentive and friendly. I am glad we tried it as we were curious and it was a nice evening. read more

Amazingly delicious meal. We tried the butternut bread, the cheese plate, the beet salad special and the caviar frites dishes for starters. Everything was exciting to our palette especially the caviar frites (little smashed potatoes topped with a bit of caviar. Put entrees were the duck confit, whole trout, clam chowder topped with seared cod, pork osso bucco and the porchetta special. The flavor thrills our taste buds. Everything was delicious. We're planning to come back in the warmer months to taste what else they will have on their menu. read more

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We went for an early dinner and there was only one other couple there so we had the full attention of the bartender. Service was great. I had the half chicken and it was one of the best meals I've had in a while. My dining partner had the oysters and a negroni and was very satisfied. The atmosphere is over the top, which I like. Wallpaper, and different textures. I guess it could come across as pretentious but I just thought it was fanciful. It was expensive for sure but these days everything is so expensive and most of the time not very good. So I was relieved that there is obviously someone in the kitchen who knows what they are doing. read more

We stumbled upon {pretty to think so} while trying to find a place for a late dinner on the night before the July 4th holiday, and couldn't have picked a better spot for a vacation meal. We were blown away by the quality of the food, the drinks, and the atmosphere--it's moody and intimate, with a speakeasy feel (if the speakeasy was also, like, an alchemist's laboratory or an upscale coven, maybe)?. Loved the low-ABV libation options put together by Madeline Dillon, who was at the bar--I recommend the Call Me Honey--and had a delicious nettle risotto, thought the halibut special with kohlrabi-apple slaw that my wife got was definitely the star of the night. For dessert, we ordered petit fours (served in a solander, another nod to the literary bent of the place), of which my favorite was the strawberry oreo, and the unmissable olive oil cake with cherries--absolutely get that one if it's on the menu when you go. The service was great, with plenty of recommendations offered when we asked for them. This one's definitely a hidden gem we were lucky to find. read more

Pretty to Think So - Call Me Honey, a low-ABV libation. - New American Near Me - Rhinebeck, New York

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This place needs a LOT of work. Service was very unprofessional, we sat at the table for close to 20mins before someone checked in (asked for still water, received sparkling). Our server, while friendly, clearly was undertrained or just didn't want to be there - stacking plates at the table, zero knowledge of the menu, etc. Food is below average. A handful of our oysters were good, the majority were gross and full of sand, as were our clams. The lobster was essentially hollow, no meat to be found. Risotto was flavorless, our other entrees were equally unimpressive. Dessert ("gelato" and sorbet) was essentially inedible - server got our order wrong and served us the wrong flavors. Overall, the vibe is really weird. It was basically dead after 8:30 on a summer Friday. Definitely not the best the Hudson valley has to offer. Also - if you're going to add an 18% service charge to every bill, it has to be noted on the menu. It's just rude not to (we would tip 20% regardless, but come on). read more

Did anyone else receive a 28% service surcharge on top of their bill that was explicitly stated to not be gratuity. What planet am I living on? I called to question and I was told they are within their rights to add this ambiguous charge that was for nothing specific. read more

Service was bad. I practically had to beg to order my food and drinks, creating an unnecessarily uncomfortable dining experience. The food was of good quality, but the raw bar's presentation was unappetizing (who wants a heap of kelp underneath their oysters?). Half lobster was mostly inedible Tomalley. A claw and some scraps for $35? And melted butter was served congealed on the platter of ice the lobster was served on. Strange experience. Don't recommend. read more

Yes, great ambience. And, downhill from there! In time I imagine service will become professional but in the meantime.....waited 15 minutes after ordering a glass of wine, of which, choices are very limited and about which they seem to take inordinate pride. Partner attempted to order a mixed drink from a runner who declined to take it but, magically, he became a waiter a short time later and returned to accept the order. Overall, food is too precious (as is the restaurant's name, by the way) and not fit for hungry people. Whole trout was on the dry side and served with raw swiss chard and what--tasteless jerusalen artichoke slices? Too many other good dining venues with flavorful food including real vegetables in Rhinebeck for us natives to enjoy. read more

This will be the new "go to" in Rhinebeck. Food,cocktails and service were great. We had a large party and everything went smoothly. Our friends ordered the duck for two. The chef brought it for display before carving. It was a great presentation, and tasted great as well. My friend shared a few slices with me ! The decor is really cool, with a nice bar area. The mixologist is one creative person, there are at least 10 specialty cocktails. We are headed back next weekend, it's that good read more

After attending an event at Bard College, in Red Hook, my friend and I arrived for our 9:00pm reservations. We were comfortably seated immediately. The service was attentive and extremely competent without being intrusive. That's hard to do (and how much do I love NOT being called, "you guys"). The menu is ravishing. The food is fresh, beautifully prepared and presented, and delicious. I think that the photos above accurately show the beauty of the dishes. The treasures from the bar are memorable, bright and tasty; "nuanced" doesn't half begin to describe the complex flavors of my cocktail ("Baiting a Storm"). I started with a shrimp cocktail of oceanic size served with two wonderfully tangy sauces. I followed that with the tender, broiled octopus dish. Lovely. My friend swanned through iced raw oysters (with seaweed threaded beautifully through the crushed ice). I finished with macarons and excellently brewed coffee. We closed the place down. You should,too. read more