I was thrilled to see that Hudson Diner opened the day we arrived in town for a two-week stay. We…read morehave our favorite restaurants here that we visit every trip without fail, but we will always jump at the chance to try a new spot--especially when it's the brainchild of folks who run some of our other favorites in town. It is not surprising, then, that we thoroughly enjoyed our time here and were already planning our return before we had even finished our meal. Hudson Diner is wholesome, quirky, nurturing, fun, and affordable -- certainly a welcome addition to the dining scene!
We walked in here at around 8pm on a Saturday night (they don't take reservations, at least at the time of this review). The space was about 2/3 full when we arrived, but about 15-20 minutes into our time here, it had filled up considerably. Hudson Diner took over the space that used to be Grazin' Diner, and while the bones are the same, the energy is noticeably different (read: improved). The menu at Grazin' was giving overpromising and underdelivering whereas Hudson Diner's menu is understated and what you'll receive is fresh, classic, and delicious.
I heard from a friend that Hudson Diner was boasting an impressive cocktail menu, so we made that a priority upon arriving. Like the food menu, you'll see a list of well-known classics (i.e., margarita, martini, tom collins) and some lesser known classics (i.e., amaretto sour). Lately I've been more in the mood for the classics rather than that super fancy and intricate stuff, so this was exciting to me. I started with a mezcal margarita because it was a hot day and there's nothing that gets me more in that summery place. They couldn't do it spicy but they at least had salt, and it was delicious. My partner started with a Singapore Sling, which I was pleasantly surprised by (I often find them too sweet but this one was very well-balanced). I then made a hard pivot to a dirty (read: filthy) gin martini, because I am me. This one did not disappoint either!
Food-wise, it's still all about the classics. Snacks/chilled apps, a bunch of salads, sandwiches/anything between bread, and mains. Yes, the bread is from Mel the Bakery. We split every as we're known to do, but it's not necessary to do shared plates style here. That said, it's always fun to try everything on the table. Eats, below:
Smoked Fish Dip
We threw this in at the last minute and the impulsivity paid off. Served with Saltines, which felt correct in this context. It was like very good whitefish salad, delicious and nostalgic.
Greek Salad
Nothing like a fresh Greek salad on a hot day. I would've liked a few more tomatoes thrown in there, especially at this time of year, but that's personal preference. Overall, a great salad that was very satisfying.
Chicken Souvlaki w/ tzatziki, greek salad
No frills, no problem. Little else to say about this other than it hit the spot.
Chopped Steak w/ peppercorn sauce, onions, peas
I was curious what "chopped steak" would be given that I've ever seen something described as such. Perhaps I was thinking it would be something similar to the way steak is served in carne asada? In this case, it was closer to hamburger than steak, the steak being "chopped" to the point of being essentially ground. My partner was surprised, but it was a moment of needing to withstand the surprise of getting something different than what you were expecting, because it was downright delicious. I loved every bit of it. Served with onions rings that we agreed were the perfect ratio of breading to onion, with space in between. Peppercorn sauce was delicious and I wish I could've gotten extra to take home and put on roasted veggies at some other meal.
Lastly, I'll just say that the service was excellent. We were checked up on by multiple people throughout the meal, and water glasses were filled in a timely and efficient manner.
