We had a wonderful mother's day brunch. My wife the filet, my daughter a crab cake sammie and I had the jambalaya.. The location, ambience and wait staff were top notch.. Bonus..the restrooms are an immersive experience.. read more

A lively bar and restaurant with extensive outdoor seating and beautiful views located directly on the river. They even have a dock where you can tie up your boat if you should choose to come by way of the river. We made a dinner reservation and were greeted and seated immediately. Our waiter offered drinks. brought the menus and took our order very quickly and we enjoyed the views while we waited. The menu features the standard pub style items plus an unusually large variety of grilled cheese sandwiches. We sampled the Jambon et fromage version of the grilled cheese and it was excellent, as was the fish and chips. The ladies room is a fun homage to Frozen with "Let it Go" playing on repeat. The bar area was really hopping by the time we left around 7:00 and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for crowd pleasing menu items and great cocktails with a view. read more

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So I decided to grab a quick bite and check this place out--when I arrived, the view and vibe were absolutely amazing. Beautiful outdoor setup with a scenic view of the water and the bridge. I immediately asked myself, "Why haven't I heard about this spot before?" Started off with a blueberry margarita--sounds fun, right? Sadly, it was super underwhelming. Weak, barely any kick, and definitely didn't taste authentic. If you know me, you know I like my drinks STRONG, which is why I always ask for a side shot... thank goodness I did. For food, I asked the waitress for a salad recommendation and went with what she suggested--added chicken. I forgot the name, but honestly... it was a miss. The salad tasted like something straight out of a supermarket grab-and-go fridge. The chicken? Frozen, bland, and dry. Highlight of the experience? The view and outdoor ambiance... oh, and the bathroom had a full-on Frozen (yes, the Disney movie) theme playing "Let It Go"--which actually made me chuckle because, after that salad, I really did want to let it go... and leave. read more

The Governess Bar & Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Poughkeepsie, New York

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I walked in at 4:55pm alone, just after work ordered a burger to eat at the bar, told me they wouldn't be serving me food. Bar had no people sitting there. read more

We had a good dinner at the Governess. Despite being a Saturday night, it wasn't packed. Although it was busy. Location right along the water is dreamy and I could see it being a destination for outdoor seating. Too cold tonight, so we were seated inside. We had a reservation and the host initially attempted to seat us right next to the bathroom, but we requested another table by the window and were accommodated. We had impeccable service. Brooke was friendly and attentive with great recommendations. Cocktail menu changes seasonly and had lots of interesting choices. Both cocktails I ordered were good. Major downfall of the food was the tomato soup. We were warned that some people find it spicy, and it had a bit of a kick but was not overly spice. The flavor however, was something else. It was really dark red and had the consistency of marinara sauce and did not taste very tomato-y at all. We could not finish it, even after adding some sour cream. Our entrees were much better. The smashburger truly was a smash burger and was quite tasty as was the side salad. La Trempete Francaise (basically a French dip) was advertised having horseradish sauce but there was precious little on the bun. Much better after I requested more sauce. Served with sweet potato fries that were coated in sugar, so I didn't care for that. Music was quite loud. Not so loud you couldn't have a conversation, but a persistent pulsing beat at all times. And I could definitely see that as a turn off for some. All it all, we'd go back. read more

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We came here for my sister's birthday because a lot of places were booked for the holiday week . We had been to this location before when there were other restaurants here . We figured we'd try The Governess out . The decor was cute but that was probably the best thing about the place . The food was ok but overpriced . It was not busy that night which should have been a sign . The service was really slow despite it not being a busy night . They also charge a credit card fee as well as automatic gratuity . Overall was a disappointing experience for a birthday celebration so we would not return . read more

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We came to Governess as a party of 5 the first weekend of October. Beautiful location, right on the waterfront. First thing we noticed is that the drink menu was still summer cocktails. In October? We craved some fall flavors, not mango margaritas. Food was hit and miss. I ordered shaved ribeye sandwich with horseradish sauce. It was absolutely out of this world delicious. Other people in the party had burgers that they enjoyed. Two people ordered salads that looked tiny and were not worth the price. But the worst part was the service. Slow, inattentive, and overall very lacking. When the bill came, I understood why. They add 20% for tip automatically. Why bother with good service if you get tipped anyway? Do better, you have such a potential, given the location. read more

The governess has a fantastic location right on the water. There is plenty of outdoor seating, even for large groups. The ambience is fun and relaxed. The food is pretty good. I enjoyed the shrimp Poboy, and have had the fried chicken sandwich before. Stick with basics on the menu. Some of my friends ordered fancier sounding items that fell flat. Service is good and friendly. The drinks menu is on a QR code. I would say the only two downsides are parking and that the restaurant is right next to the boat ramp. The entire time meal, someone was running the motor on their boat, and it was quite loud. Overall, I would recommend this place. Definitely go for the scenery and to sit outside on a patio on a beautiful day. The views are stunning! read more

Found Governess by chance. Pull was that its right by the water. Beautiful day so it's perfect for eating outside. I started off with a coconut margarita. It was ok. There was some.confusion about sitting outside. When we found it in Yelp, We made a reservation online but the host could not see it. We were seated outside when a table opened. Party if 3. Order 1 shrimp po'boy sandwich which comes with fries, and ginger ale, order 2 salad with fried chicken chunks and a lemonade, order 3 chili churri wings, baked potato, and Pepsi. There was a very long wait for the food. We waited longer than 30 mins for the food. At the 30 min mark we had to ask him to go check on thw order as we saw a table that was seated after us get an order of wings. Our food arrived close to 40 mins and it was very clear that the food had been sitting as it was piping hot. Order 1- very basic. Fries had started to get cold, the bread was way too much, nothing special. Order 2- very basic. Salad did not look vibrant and fresh, plus was over dressed. Order 3 - the wings lacked salt. The chimi churri sauce only coated the outside. The baked potato was served only with sour cream despite telling our server that I wanted both. I asked fpr bbq sauce which helped a bit. I also had to ask for butter which turned out to be what everything needed as it had noticable salt in it. I ordered a to go meal at the same time I ordered my meal only to have to wait an additional 30 mins after we finished eating g to get that meal and to have the server bring it to me without a bag just the way he picked it up from. The kitchen. The server was absolutely horrible. He did not print the check out for us but rather just wanted is to pay without seeing the bill. Also he included the to go order in the regular tab despite me repeating several times that it was to be separate. Between the horrible service and the long wait this was a one and done. Pity as this was a beautiful location. read more

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The ambiance is great. Right on the water sipping drinks under a tree was heaven. Our waitress was fantastic. Very attentive and very helpful and friendly. Drinks were good and lots of choices of beers and cider. BUT if you are going to ask your customers to order from a QR code, then have FREE WIFI AVAILABLE when the service is not great AND GET someone to develop a mobile friendly website to order from. Keep in mind your customers who cannot see well from the tiny website font to not having service. You better thank your waitress that I was able to use her phone to access the menu because I would've walked out otherwise. If you want to last in this spot (which has been cycling through restaurants since the old icehouse)...you gotta fix this. The waitstaff can't even tell us what's on the menu because you change the variety of drinks so often. We couldn't even order by name...had to order by number. All I'm saying is that it shouldn't feel so hard to order. read more

The Governess Bar & Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Poughkeepsie, New York

I had a great experience at The Governess! We went around 2pm and there was barely anyone there. They had the place decorated for Halloween which was super cute. Our waitress, Brooke, was great and our food came out quickly. I got the grilled chicken sandwich which was very tasty. We got fries for the table which were well seasoned. We liked the burger as well as the buffalo chicken wings. Definitely recommend! read more

The Governess Bar & Restaurant - Grilled chicken sandwich with side salad - Seafood Near Me - Poughkeepsie, New York

I ordered the crab cake burger and it wasn't very good. My friend liked her burger. The drinks and atmosphere was very beautiful especially on an evening with perfect weather. The service was great Iyisha was our server and she was kind and attentive. read more

Everything I ordered was great besides the empanada, which had no flavor. The drinks are amazing. Seafood is always fresh. The service is warm and friendly. The space is warm with great music. The views of the Hudson are amazing. Anytime I'm in town I stop in. read more

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In August, when I dropped my daughter off at Marist, I stopped by The Governess (on my own) for a quick dinner. I just loved it. I ate at the bar, and the bartender was incredibly nice. She convinced me to try the crème de corn (cream corn made like a crème brûlée dessert). It was amazing. Two months later, for family weekend, I brought my mother and stepfather, and we loved it. Our server was incredible--feeling like a member of the family by the end of the evening. The pork chop was fantastic, and the creme de corn was as good as I remembered. read more

Would not recommend this spot. Really poor customer service. The lady delivering my food made a very inappropriate sexual innuendo that made me feel very uncomfortable. Not to mention the food was overpriced and the fish and chips had very little cod in it. Owner seemed unconcerned with the business. They don't value their customers and won't seem to be here very long. read more

Simply Amazing Food! Great Beer Selection too... better than almost every place in Poughkeepsie! read more

The Governess Bar & Restaurant - Burger! - Seafood Near Me - Poughkeepsie, New York

I went for brunch on Sunday. Menu was limited. Food was EXTREMELY salty and we like salty! Service was subpar. Waitstaff seemed to be very inexperienced. The place was dead at 1:30 in the afternoon which is not a great sign, especially for the location. No ambiance whatsoever. Maybe the bar scene is good? But I won't be returning for the food. read more

Service was excellent. Phil was very helpful. Food was impressive I didn't expect much but I was impressed with their commitment to the New Orleans style menu and food. Food was savory and tasty. The bathroom was very clean. The indoor seating seems slightly dark but that could be because no one was inside. I would definitely return. read more

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We went on opening night so I'll definitely update my review in a few weeks. We got there at 7:30, most tables outside were occupied and it didn't look like anyone was seated inside. We were quickly given a table and someone came over to take our drink order almost immediately. The day was lovely. It's been a long time since we were able to sit at the ice house. Our drinks came almost a full 40 minutes after we sat. The server was apologetic. The beignets we ordered as an app were filled with sweet potato (?), and the flavor was good but my brain couldn't convince me that these weren't just undercooked. They weren't - it just gave that impression. Not for me is all. I ordered the filet and partner ordered a sandwich. Main didn't come until 9:00 at which point we were starved and tired. Pretty sure my filet is 4 minutes/side, and the restaurant was pretty well cleared out by 8:15, so I'm not sure what took so long. My meat was cooked to perfection. Was awesome. I ordered a side of roasted seasonal vegetables, but it was only asparagus. I wish the menu specified this. The owner was highly visible all night, but seemed to spend time only with friends who came to support. She didn't introduce herself. She appeared to be having a great time while a lot of us were hungry and wondering if we had been forgotten, at one point, close to 9, she brought out shots for a table of friends. It was nice she was having a good time, but so many of us weren't, and some awareness of that would have been appreciated. I ended up having to find someone to take my credit card as we hadn't received the check and it was 9:30. I was cooked and ready to go. Overall, my steak and drink were awesome, appetizer was not for me. Atmosphere was great. Wait time was atrocious. I'll go back, though. read more

Absolutely gorgeous view, with outdoor seating right on the beautiful Hudson River. Food is outstanding. I've been here twice and my guests loved it too. Staff is very professional. This will be a regular stop for us for sure! read more

For a pleasant waterfront dining and or drinking experience, check out The Governess in Poughkeepsie. Our group enjoyed a great lunch and beverages last week. We were seated by one of the larger windows with a great Hudson River view. Our server took our drink order and all were delivered promptly. After a review of the menu our food order was taken and delivered in short fashion. All selections were enjoyed by each of us. We'll be back for sure. They have a wonderful outdoor patio that is directly riverside, so take advantage of that when the weather allows. read more

Was there on the 8th of Aug very good food! Nice resturant , people working were very nice ,ambiance very nice , very nice view of the lake and very close to the water read more

The holiday decorations are supreme! Beautiful waterfront view. The design team has done an impressive job inside and out. The Frozen themed bathrooms are destination and instagram worthy. The service was excellent. The beers in tap are delicious. The meat eaters thoroughly enjoyed their meals and the oversized portions. The salads were just decent and mid-sized. The sweet potato fries were dusted with cinnamon sugar. No vegan options in the year of 2024? A true 3.5/5, but could be improved with vegetables. read more

Very disappointed, waitress was very pleasant but the first issue was we waited at least a half an hour for our sandwiches. My husband ordered his sandwich with no cheese, it came with cheese. At that point we were done. Again waitress very apologetic which is appreciated and they changed us only for our drinks. My sandwich that I bought homo was good, it's just to bad that our luncheon at this restaurant was a flop. read more

Went here on June 21st 2025 with a party of four for a birthday celebration. When we received the check at the end, it was a little over $200 for four people added a 20% tip onto the top of that. Then either server or the restaurant decided to add their own tip on top of that and the total came out to $349.79! WTF is this nonsense and because we didn't get a physical receipt, our bank will not let us dispute the charge! Would never go back to this place again I would not recommend it to anyone!!! read more

Everything about this restaurant was fabulous, except for the food. The service, view, ambience, decor - was all exceptional. The food however was overpriced and under flavored. read more

Wonderful atmosphere and Anthony is the man! 10/10 go here and bingo is fun. Super recommend

Food was excellent. Got here after a long drive and wanted to eat somewhere that wasn't a chain restaurant. I was very impressed with the meal I picked and the service was awesome as well. great views of the water from inside and outside. I will be back if I'm ever in the area again read more

The drinks were bad. Weak and flavorless. the food was awful. Unpaid 35 for a lobster roll that was cold and meanly and soggy and the service less than average. The locations the only thing that was a plus. Overpriced for a very poor experience. I won't be going back. read more

Great location on The Hudson. Jason and Megan are excellent. Had a great time. Visit, read more

Amazing food, friendly staff and owners and beautiful views! My husband and I split an order of oysters, the lobster thermidor, snow bbq boneless wings and a seafood boil -- everything was fresh and exceeded our expectations. We will definitely be back soon!! read more

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The food was delicious and plentiful. The beer list was not as great as I had hoped but I found an Excellent Octoberfest and my husband enjoyed his lager. The most memorable part of the evening was our server Brooke. She was attentive without being obnoxious. We were having trouble downloading Uber and she let me use her personal phone as a hotspot! So above and beyond! read more

Melanie was such a kind hostess and made our stay here a time to remember. Will be coming back again

I'm so happy this place opened up and it wasn't disappointing. We came here for lunch and the service was fast and friendly. Drinks were so refreshing. I got the French dip sandwich with sweet potatoes. Very good flavor. I love the view. I do wish they had a less expensive lunch menu options. But we will definitely be back! read more

Fun vibe with a wonderful view if you can eat outside. Limited and overpriced menu. Apps were better than dinner, and dinner better than dessert. Oysters were fresh and clean, nice way to start us off. . Staff friendly but struggling to find their flow. read more

The Governess Bar & Restaurant - Fresh raw oysters - Seafood Near Me - Poughkeepsie, New York

Delish! Drinks hit the spot! Atmosphere is spot on! The view is too die for! The specials are perfect!

Checked out a new place last night, The Governess Bar & Restaurant. Location is awesome however they are still figuring out the kitchen & menu. Service was good, outside of the kitchen being slow & the kitchen didn't prepare the dishes as described in the menu. (We let the waitress know to relay the message to the kitchen). Also only having menus per the QR code isn't older adult friendly, our mother in law doesn't use a cell phone and had to be read the menu which didn't make her happy . Location is great, servers were trying hard to manage with the bumps in the road and also showing signs of frustration with managing some of those bumps. read more

The food was overpriced and salty. There's a nice setting on the river and the wait staff was decent. But the quality of the food was poor and the owner was aggressive when a meal was complained about in an attempt to give feedback to a newer restaurant in the area. I will not return! read more

Have no idea how the food or drinks are because we didn't get waited on and didn't get menus. We went for dinner on a Thursday night, a few days after opening. We made reservations online for the dining room, but we're seated in a section near the bar, which is right in front of you when you walk in the door. Not sure if that area we were seated in is considered the dining room, but it really was like being in a loud cafeteria, with hard floors and high ceilings. We had to shout to be heard. A waitress passed us a few times, but made no acknowledgement that we were there. We ended up leaving after 15 minutes. One of the young women who greeted us when we came in, just smiled at us as we left and said nothing. Seems like they were understaffed, and maybe waitstaff was still in training, which is probably to be expected at such an early date. Also, parking was hard to find. Hopefully they will work out the kinks after being open a while, but we won't go back. The food seems pretty pricey, especially for a place with that kind of bar-type atmosphere. read more

FABULOUS! A magical place with upbeat energy & gorgeous views you can hardly imagine of the serene Hudson & colorfully lit bridges. Dare you to find a prettier spot. Sip cocktails on the patio overlooking it all, or pop inside for a unique hip ambiance. Great bar staff too. Drinks were among the best I've had and OMG the food- so good. Just had the Route 66 Burgers but was surprised how yummy - even served with mini Ketchup bottles! The beautiful Governess herself welcomed us personally and infused us with the total feeling that this operation was genuinely happy we came there and we left with our assurance that we will be back- even though we are 2 hour drive away! I cant wait to return when their piano stage is playing tunes. PS Bonus for ladies: you've never seen a cuter bathroom even at Disney. read more