The charm of the Brasserie 292, established in the summer of 2015, is being able to step inside and be transported out of Poughkeepsie for the evening.
For over a decade, the Main Street spot serving French cuisine has given diners the ability to “get lost in” the restaurant for the evening, according to owner Charles Fells.
We introduced a poll on Feb. 4 asking you what the most romantic restaurant was in the area.
Out of seven Dutchess County restaurants, as well as an option to write your own choice in, Brasserie 292 won with over a quarter of the vote, with 25.68%.
Whether it’s the food, music, staff who aim to go “above and beyond,” Fells said, or the design elements of the building, striving to combine Poughkeepsie’s historic elements with rustic French features, guests will find themselves immersed.
Think white tile walls, their distinctive tin ceiling, black and white checkered floors and splashes of red leather while dining.
“We get into this business because we like to see people happy, and our way of making them happy is through food and beverage,” Fells said.
Get to know Brasserie 292: your next potential date-night spot
When you walk into the restaurant, you’re meant to feel as though you’ve just stepped into a Parisian Brasserie.
Some may call it noisy, but Fells thinks of Brasserie 292 as “bustling” and “energetic,” especially on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights. Wednesdays and Thursdays are a bit quieter, he noted.
Brasserie 292 may be serving up French cuisine, which can be intimidating, but Fells aims to do it in an “approachable” way, he said. It’s not just foie gras or escargot on the menu.
Although those items are available to diners, Fells wanted to highlight there are meals to be had that aren’t “too far out in left field” for area residents.
The fare at Brasserie 292 is more akin to comfort food, and utilizes local ingredients “within reason and within season,” Fells described it, such as their beef, which they get from Kiernan Farm in Gardiner, Ulster County. They try to source as much as they can within 80 miles of the restaurant.
Over a decade in, besides the restaurant, catering has been another major highlight for Brasserie 292, including weddings, engagements and milestones.
Yet, over the years, building a clientele of regulars has also been a rewarding aspect for Fells, some of whom will go every week, the same day and time, on the dot.
“It’s a great feeling to see all of our guests who come back all the time,” Fells said.
This may be attributed to the service, as Fells highlighted the staff know how to be “attentive without being overbearing,” and strive to take care of things for their guests — make that special day, or reason for coming in, memorable.
“I think that really is what sets us apart from a lot of places,” Fells said.
The only other thing that you may want to consider before dining there is where to park, but Fells suggested parking in the Liberty Street Parking Lot, located at 23 Cannon St.: the lot is behind the restaurant and a short walk from it.
Food and drink highlights at Brasserie 292
If you’re planning to stop in, Fells’ recommendation is their duck confit, sourced the majority of the time from Hudson Valley Foie Gras. Made traditionally, according to Fells, it’s dry-cured for 48 hours and then slow-cooked for 24 hours.
Another suggestion from Fells is their “Frisee Aux Lardons,” a rich salad featuring applewood smoked bacon, a soft-boiled egg and a sherry vinaigrette.
Brasserie also has a raw bar, including oysters, as well as specials, and plenty of wines to choose from on their list.
On the topic of alcoholic beverages, Fells recommends their “292 Manhattan,” a cocktail they make, then age in a Hudson Whiskey Barrel — which also has their own charred oak in it — for typically three months before it’s tapped and served.
“We are very consistent in our service and our food,” Fells said. “…We’re not perfect, but we’re as best as we can be.”
Find more information on their website, brasserie292.com, and make a reservation through OpenTable.
Who were the runners-up for the best local romantic restaurant?
Brasserie 292 may have won the vote for the best local romantic restaurant, but in second place was the write in option — plenty of people, 20.27% of the vote, had places to share.
If you’re looking for a new date-night spot, here are the top restaurants in Dutchess County people wrote in as the most romantic eateries, listed in alphabetical order:
Brother’s Trattoria: 465 Main St., Beacon, and 2540 Town Plaza, Route 55, Poughquag; brotherstrattoria.comCharlotte’s: 4258 Route 44, Millbrook; charlottesny.comMcKinney and Doyle: 10 Charles Colman Blvd., Pawling; mckinneyanddoyle.comMelzingah Tap House: 554 Main St., Beacon; melzingahtaphouse.comMill House Brewing Company: 289 Mill St., Poughkeepsie; millhousebrewing.comOld Droves Inn: 196 E Duncan Hill Road, Dover Plains; olddroversinn.comPoughkeepsie Steakhouse: 11 Vassar Road, Poughkeepsie; poughkeepsiesteakhouse.comPretty to Think So: 6417 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck; prettytothink.soRestaurant Six at Curry Estate: 2737 Route 52, Hopewell Junction; curryestate.com/restaurant-sixSotano Food & Wine: 1036 Main St., Fishkill; sotanofishkill.com
Otherwise, in third place, with 14.86% of the vote, was The Tavern at Beekman Arms, nestled in Rhinebeck. This spot, widely recognized as America’s oldest inn, dating back to 1766, brings a historical element to date night. Find exposed beams in their Colonial Tap Room, sit by the open-hearth fireplace, according to their website, and go for lunch or dinner, seven days of the week, along with Sunday brunch. For more information on what’s on the menu, check out beekmandelamaterinn.com/dining/menu; make a reservation via Resy.
Nickie Hayes is the Breaking & Trending News Reporter for the Poughkeepsie Journal and focuses on how to make the most of what the mid-Hudson Valley has to offer. See her most recent articles here. Contact reporter Nickie Hayes: NHayes@poughkee.gannett.com, 845-863-3518 and @nickieehayess on Instagram.
Dining and Cooking