Once you walk into this rustic old home now converted into a cozy restaurant you immediately notice the character. The large wooden bar shows its age in the best way, giving off that classic, old-school feel. There are about 20 tables and roughly 10 or 15 bar stools in the main seating area. They do take reservations, and it's smart to make one if you want to guarantee a spot. We were greeted right away and served complimentary water and fresh sourdough bread with sea salt and olive oil. The sourdough was incredible honestly some of the best I've had. My wife ordered the chicken parm, which came in a large portion with fresh, house-made pasta. The sauce was excellent, truly one of the best I've ever tasted. The chicken cutlet was perfectly pounded, breaded, and crispy on the outside. I went with one of their standard pizzas a white pie with fresh garlic, honey, and other toppings that all worked beautifully together. Their sourdough pizza dough has been in the family for years from what we were told. The oven appears to be a brick oven (not sure if it's firewood or propane), but it has to be running at 1,000 degrees or more given the incredible crust. They also have a full bar with plenty of beer options. Parking is on a dirt lot across the street, with a small side lot as well. Service was excellent across the board. This is the type of spot that absolutely belongs on the TV show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. I can't say enough about how much we loved the food. read more

See all

Cannot recommend the pizza...this is among the worst I've had...sorry to say...it was mostly blackened, barely warm when I picked it up right at the scheduled time and it had the consistency of bread that was overcooked in a microwave...very mysterious how such potential could be totally ruined...will not be going back. read more

My love affair with this place is over. We planned a birthday dinner with our family who drove over 5 hours to see us, and arrived at 6p to a chaotic greeting and reservation confusion. The start and basics were delicious as always, but then our dish came out with pasta that was so underdone, it couldn't be saved; if they put it back on the heat, the seafood would surely be overcooked. Then the server made us feel like we were in the wrong after having to send it back twice and finally agreeing to take the dish off the bill. No offer to bring us a different pasta dish or pizza. No offer of dessert for the table. We were so disappointed, and it started a birthday weekend off on the wrong foot. read more

Fried calamari was good, tentacles were a little rubbery but I kind of like that! Bpt sandwich is pork tenderloin flattened on brioche roll with lettuce tomatoes and secret sauce. The size of the loin was literally 5" wide by at least 12" long! Very tender and no way I was able to finish it. In fact it was good for two days of lunch! Very nice staff and great ambiance! Well done! read more

The Old Foundation - Dining area - Bars Near Me - Kenoza Lake, New York

One of our favorite go to places. The food is always great. Love the salads and the pizzas. The service is always wonderful. I'd go everyday if I could read more

The Old Foundation - Patty Pan squash simply delish! - Bars Near Me - Kenoza Lake, New York

See all

We accidentally found this place on our way home from Pennsylvania. It looked like the perfect cozy restaurant we wanted to relax and fill our hungry tummies. Ambience Was warm and inviting. They were able to accommodate all 7 of us without a reservation. Service was great. Owner operators Ian and Jessica take pride in the food and are very hospitable. We had the fra Diablo, smash burgers, truffle burger, and the carbonara. Food was perfect and delicious. We will be back and I can't wait. read more

What a disappointment Clam appetizer had no taste clams were fresh but broth was bland. My carbonar pasta could not eat had to send back. Definitely will not be back read more

driving by, you would think this was a dusty old tavern serving below average burgers and fries. pull over and you'll realize, this is something special. first off, the backyard tables and fire pit look awesome. they have music and entertainment certain nights. we booked the side room. perfect space for a party of 13 with half of them being kids. the cocktails were refreshing. we ordered pizza for the kids, who devoured it. the pizza's dough had that classic Brooklyn feel, crisp but chewy. the adults shared 5 or 6 dishes. some of our favorites were the carbonara, maccheroni della nonna, chicken milanese and brussel sprouts. this place is a gem. superb food with a laidback vibe and a cozy upstate charm. read more

The food is extraordinarily delicious and portions large. Something for everyone. Fresh mozzarella made in house! Sandwich buns homemade! Amazing pasta dishes! Cozy warm old world tavern atmosphere. Friendly staff. Cocktails on- point!!! Best place in the area. Plus a monthly dance party second Saturday of every month. Then it's a Funky night club vibe in the middle of nowhere! No cover charge. Super fun!! read more

They still need to tone down the salt, but otherwise my most recent dinner here was great. I tried: + Crispy Brussels + Burger with fries + Magic molly pizza + Summer salad + Filet o fish with fries + Burnt basque cheesecake + Cantaloupe sorbetto The best dishes were the pizza and fish sandwich, and both desserts were great. Definitely will be back again and again! read more

See all

Wow! food was great and prices very reasonable. beware portions are huge. share all dishes. loved everything, salad, blt, steak Brussels sprouts, garlic bread root salad are standouts. Too full to even have dessert. Definitely go there!!! read more

Exceptional! Absolutely blown away. The entire experience was lovely. Ryan from Jeffersons Cigars told us this was the place to eat. He didn't lie! Thanks Ryan! The staff seemed like family, everyone worked so well together and was so welcoming. Immediately that sets a great tone. Pete at the bar was outstanding! He seemed to know every customers name and was so pleasant and attentive. We got there early for our reservation and so sat at the bar for a bit. Met some cool people and listened to the live music, which went on for the entirety of dinner service. That was unexpected, and I was so pleased; dinner and entertainment! When we finally sat, we had been given a number of recommendations on what to order from all the locals, and in the end we decided on the margarita pizza, the steak dinner, and the Nona pasta. Just wow! Best Neopolitan pizza I've ever had. Doughy crust, cheesy, and excellent sauce. Pasta was cooked perfectly. The pasta came out with a ton of grated cheese on top, and looked so appetizing. Delicious sauce and meatballs were soft, tender, and light. Impossible to eat the entirety of this dish, at least for me. The portion was for a small family of 4! The steak equally delicious. Even the fries were perfect; crispy on the outside and soft tender in the inside. Prices are incredibly reasonable! Service phenomenal. Loved the live music, and what a cute, homey, welcoming vibe inside. Dinner they are open from 5-8. Make a reservation! We will be back! read more

After a rocky start, this has become one of our new favorite places--and it's five minutes from home. In the middle of nowhere, near the gorgeous Stone Arch Bridge (and yes, you should stop there), is what looks like a house, but with a freakishly large parking lot. Inside, you will find a rustic, but tidy, decor and informal ambience. There are several rooms, one with the bar, one with a live music setup, and one larger room that has a table large enough for a party (8-10 people?). When the music is on, it can be loud in the music room. Tuesday is karaoke night, starting at 5. The menu is eclectic, with a mix of simple, straightforward classics and gourmet items. For instance, on the list of pizzas, you will find a straightforward margherita alongside a white pizza with ricotta, mozzarella, mushroom duxelles, and truffle oil (not too much); pasta and salads. The pizzas are done right, in a very hot oven with spots of char and bubbly cheeses. I'm a pizza snob and this is one of the few excellent pizzas around here. We enjoyed a number of small dishes and appetizers. The meatballs were as good as I have ever had. Fried calamari doesn't vary a lot but this was noticeably different. Perfectly fried and a little saltier, a lot more flavorful. The accompanying marinara makes us eager to try their pasta. Brussels sprouts. OMG. Sweet and savory, very deeply fried (almost burnt, but in a good way!). Must try. We also had the mussels, very good. The wings (we had garlic parmesan) were perfectly cooked and full of flavor. We had an old fashioned that was spot on and for a spicier twist, the "Rye, NY," which is more bitter. Prices are quite reasonable and the servings are very large. We had enough leftovers for a whole dinner the next night. The one negative I have is that dinner was verrrry slow the first night we visited. They were not busy when we arrived but filled up and by the time our food arrived, just under an hour had passed. I spoke to the manager a few days later and he said they are still trying to coordinate help, especially for days where there is a concert at the nearby Bethel concert venue. On our other two visits, there was no issue. Service is great: Friendly, cheerful, fast and attentive. read more

See all

In full disclosure I am biased. I work here. But I would eat here regardless! The name itself indicates it has an old world charm and that's true. Inside you feel like you might be in any era and it's changed little since it began as a country inn nearly 200 yrs ago. Ian, the chef owner was trained in Italy by a Michelin chef and his sourdough crust pizzas are extraordinary, as are the daily fresh pasta specials. Although there are no gluten free options for the pizza or pasta, there are quite a few menu options for various diets. This is not an Italian restaurant. The menu is diverse with plenty of delicious dishes available for (likely) any pallet!! Huge hits are the fresh mozzarella he makes in-House daily. The meatballs, clams, crispy Brussels sprouts, & fried calamari also hugely popular appetizers. I would be writing all day if I had to go through the menu here. It's ALL good! The Rib Eye dinner for 2 or more is an exceptional value and one of the most delicious steaks any diner could expect. Desserts are also all made on premises and Ian is known for his babka. And burgers, and... Reservations highly recommended!! Although the place appears to be isolated on a country road, it is seated between 2 resorts and often we fill up quick! We have a wonderful crew who truly care about great service but there can be times we are so busy and occasionally understaffed where we get spread too thin. I believe only then does service suffer, but not often. But given that this place has established its reputation -often filling to capacity, with so little advertising (there is actually no identifying signage outside), this speaks for itself. On behalf of The Old Foundation, we apologize to anyone who ever had problems with their meal or service. I believe if you came again, you could have the experience you had hoped. read more

The Old Foundation - Table seating in the Bar Room - Bars Near Me - Kenoza Lake, New York

Love the ambience and the people but the food is really hit or miss, sometimes to the degree it smells off or has made me ill. Still go back, they have a couple of things I enjoy and feel safe ordering, but unfortunately overrated given the uneven quality and (in)consistency of the food. read more

Off the beating path. Food was very good, a real local pub/restaurant. Friendly and helpful waitress. I would go back!

We were driving into jeffersonville for Dinner and notice this place was open. I'm so glad we stopped. The home made sodas are tasty and the food was yummy. We order the smoked trout. Is on the sides part of the menu. Also order the rib eye steak. Season and grilled perfectly. The ambiance was perfect. There was a guitar player playing blues-jazzy background music. The service was on point. If you want a nice confortable low key pace, this is the spot. By the way. There is a friendly dog that hangs out in the property. His one goal in life is to ge in. "Don't let him in". There is a sign in the door asking to keep him out read more

Came here for dinner. Started with the seasonal salad, and we had the steak frites and one of the pizzas (forgot the name - with sausage and vodka sauce). All very delicious. The service was wonderful! The host (young man, was wearing a straw hat) was kind, professional, and made us feel well taken care of. The waitress was responsive. And we had live music to boot! Can't think of a reason to complain, all great. Will be back next time I'm in the area. read more

The Old Foundation - Seasonal salad - Bars Near Me - Kenoza Lake, New York

Went to the Old Foundation last night with some friends and we ordered a lot of food. All of it was delicious. Brussels were perfect! Wings were amazing! Chicken liver mousse was a huge hit. Filet of fish sandwich was a standout hit. Felafel was really good (but a little mooshy). Babka dessert also was a standout- moist and delicious! We all had fantastic martinis. Bar tender and wait staff were attentive and friendly. All around wonderful experience. The menus were really well designed also... what a hit!! read more

The Old Foundation was excellent. From great service, nice ambiance, and great food you can't go wrong coming here. We ate at the Heron, the Junction In Roscoe, and Hennings local .... And we had to place these great restaurants in order they would go 1-Heron 2-Old Foundation 3-Hennings 4-Junction. We ordered Lobster Bisque (good), a Summer Salad (great), and a special pizza with spicy salami and hot honey (amazing). Coming from NYC it is a challenge to find good pizza elsewhere and have to say that the pie at Old Foundation rivaled the best in Ny. read more

Main issue is that we showed up and were told all tables (currently empty) were "reserved" so we had to sit at the bar. Totally fine. But then they proceeded to sit multiple people coming in without "reservations" at tables. That's just not right or how you treat customers, everyone should be treated equally. Food was good but this bizarre treatment detracted from the experience. read more

Unfortunately, my last dinner here was less than stellar. The food has lost its love and the service was a bit chaotic and the drinks were subpar. I'm not sure what is happening but it was sooo much better and we used to dine here often. I hope this is just a bump in the road and things will be as they were/should be. read more

Eaten here a few times in the past was always happy with service, food and cocktails. Have been meaning to go back but was told it wasn't the same. Finally went and not only was it not the same, it was bad. Place was half empty for starters on a Saturday night. Bartender put seltzer in my old fashioned. Appetizers were good, wings, brussel sprouts, calamari. Dinner was a disaster. My burger was funky, dont know how else to describe it. The filet o fish was served cold and smothered in tartar sauce, the Ceasars salad with trout was way over dressed, the pork chops dry and over cooked. I could go on. We didn't finish any of it.. Service, although attentive was inexperienced. Not returning until they get their act together. Disappointing. read more

what a fantastic find! great food, wonderful service too. We are first-time visitors to the area and happened upon The Old Foundation. Previously Stone Arch Bridge Inn. This place is great. Everyone is warm and welcoming, from the friendly bartender Al, to our great server Susan. We enjoyed our dinner visit so much, we returned the next day for some lighter fare - we highly recommend the pizza! Live music was playing and dinner was great. Highly recommend this place! can't wait to visit again next year. read more

Really disappointed this time. Last time we were there, I thought they had some interesting food items and we enjoyed the food and ambiance. Their hood has been "broken" for several weeks and they can't make many items and the items they did make were poor. Meatballs were great and salads as well. Pizza was good. However, wings and pasta special were terrible. Get an air fryer to hold you over or find other things that you can make well while you wait for your hood to get fixed! Wine portions are very small. Probably not going back, too bad, I wanted to like it. read more

LOVE this great local gem! The food is excellent and the waitresses was so nice! So glad Villa Roma's food is terrible otherwise we wouldn't have found this local treasure! read more

Nice surprise in an otherwise disappointing visit to the Catskills. Rustic interior, great bar , live music. Kids loved the pizza. Dirty martini and cosmopolitan were perfectly made. We ordered oysters, mozzarella sticks, spaghetti and meatballs, and a falafel burger and everything was delicious. Extra points for the waitress knowing to give the same number of sheets of coloring paper to each kid and to whisper to us about the tie die ice cream so the kids wouldn't hear. Wish this place was closer to home read more

First of all, you are gonna need a reservation. It.is that busy because itmis that gooe. Fantastic staff who were attentive and communicated with one another. For appetizers group had the brussels which were fried and seasoned with chipotle and a drizzle of local honey. We also had the mezse which had a pillowy pita. Main courses included steak frite, pennoni della nonna, burger, chicken sandwich, fish sandwich and the pizza of the day which a ridiculous peperoni and drizzle of honey. Desserts included a Basque style cheesecake, Peaches and cream, and lemon sorbetta. The Mezcal Negroni has a nice smoky hint which mak3s the campari less bitter. read more

Cute place, good environment, owners are the sweetest. Have always felt comfortable here!

My husband and I had dinner last night. Brussel sprouts were delicious - a bit of heat, salt and sweat and perfectly fried. We each had a pasta dish - I had the pasta with the vodka sauce, meatballs and fresh mozzarella. Portions were large, but more importantly, the dish was delicious. My husband asked for some bread, and with a smile they accommodated his request (and the bread was very good). We stopped by the wine store next store before our meal and had an equally lovely conversation with Daniel about wines and purchased a couple of bottles. The wait staff at the restaurant was great, and the atmosphere and food made us want to come back soon. Only negative - the brownie in the brownie sundae wasn't really a brownie - more like a light chocolate cake (we ate and enjoyed it all anyway!). Next time we'll try something more off the beaten path for dessert. Can't wait to return. read more

I so wanted this place to be good, I was a regular when it was the Stone Arch and I really miss the home cooked meals at a fair price. I have been to the OF a number of times trying to give them a chance, at 1st I thought it was just the growing pains of a new business but unfortunately the food is not good enough for me to be a regular. read more

This was our first time visiting. We were a party of 7 (6 adults, 1 child). Staff was SUPER friendly, and accommodating wherever possible. They even got us in on a Thursday night for reservations last minute, which with its close proximity to Villa Roma on a summer week, can be pretty tough anywhere. The margherita pizza was amazing!!! Small (its personal sized), but worth the $14 price tag, being made with burrata mozzarella and fresh passata tomato sauce- and NOT being covered in garlic. The steak frites we very well seasoned, cooked medium as requested, but were unfortunately VERY chewy. The burger looked amazing, hubby said was very tasty, if slightly overdone. The fried chicken sandwich was actually the most surprising- it was like an actual de-boned buttermilk battered southern fried chicken breast on a very large bun. It was a very sizable piece of chicken, but there is no way it could be eaten as a sandwich. A bit overdone and a little dry, unfortunately. A few complaints- and these may be personal preference - 1. It was absolutely freezing in the room we sat in- although the waitress tried to be accommodating and did raise the thermostat twice for us to be a bit more comfortable. 2. All of our meals did not come out reasonably near the same time-3 people got dinners, then almost 10 min passed before another 3 came out. Finally, my 9yr old was the LAST one served. He ordered chicken fingers and fries, and actually had sat there watching the rest of us finish our dinners before his had even come out. As a parent, I usually try to ask that younger kids meals be served with appetizers, but since he was having some of the pizza I did not request it. I just never would have thought he would have been the last served ordering such a simple dish. And even though they were piping hot, he said they were too hard to chew. I would definitely go back, most definitely for the pizza!!! But would prefer to try the rib eye for two, or one of the pasta dishes even- bc they looked amazing! And I would definitely ask that kids' meals be served first or with appetizers instead. read more

See all

Great bar - do not recommend the food. Went here and had the food which was the worst I had in a while. The bar was fun and well stocked though. read more

Some of the best food and best service anywhere. There isn't a bad item on the menu - the meatballs are the best I've ever had. The service is friendly - a real everyone knows your name kind of place. read more

I think the food is excellent here, the service is great and even if they don't get everything perfect they are always friendly and accommodating and fun. The prices are reasonable, and a pretty good bar with great beer selection. I've always been there on Saturday nights and each time they have had live music. Each time before, maybe three times, the music was very good and not obtrusive. Always a nice vibe for dining. Last night however, they had a guy playing guitar and singing accompanied by poorly produced pre-programmed music. I won't be rude and comment on the quality of the musicianship, however, the guy seemed openly hostile to people who had the nerve to talk while he was playing. He was loud, obtrusive and when he didn't feel like he was getting the attention he deserved he would just make loud, offensive sounds, literally. The dude was just rude. I went to dinner with my family so we can all eat and talk and have a nice time sharing in each other's company, and had this jerk whose intention seemed to be to drown out everyone else's good time and company. I hope the management doesn't have him back, and I'll probably take a break from the place because he nearly ruined what would have otherwise been another great night at Old Foundation. read more

Excellent all around. Pub food with an upscale twist. But that's not all. Chef Ian creates delicious specialties with the freshest ingredients. A talented chef, a lovely hostess, a comfortable setting, all in a quiet corner of countryside. Not to be missed. read more

Great place! Great staff! Our dinner was wonderful! My little neck clams were awesome. I'll get those every time! Falafel delicious. There was live music which I liked. The menu was full of different options which I'm really in to. Dessert was delicious. My dirty martini's were amazing and got even better as the night went on lol Susan our server, I loved!!! Derek was top notch and Lizzy was wonderful! I can't wait to go back! read more