Written by Karen Talbot

Nov. 19, 2014: An American Bistro is aptly named and is owned and operated by the friendly husband-and-wife team of Denise and Robert Horton. I have been going there for lunch for over twenty years and have never been disappointed.

After starting as a much smaller place on Marbledale Road twenty-two years ago, the restaurant has been at its present address, across from the Crestwood train station, for twelve years. My husband never wanted to go there for dinner because he felt it was a dining spot for ladies. But the décor has been updated, and we ate at the bar the other night, which, for my husband, made a big difference.

The bar area is especially attractive, with gleaming dark wood, subdued lighting, a quiet atmosphere, and ample seating at the bar with three TVs. The entire restaurant seats 120, with a separate dining room extension that can accommodate thirty for a private party.

Our visit coincided with Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, so we ate for only $29.95 per person for three courses. Our starters were stuffed mushrooms filled with crab and boursin in a red wine jus and a spicy polenta with BBQ duck, cranberry, and date mostarda. Both were excellent and we enjoyed a glass of Chardonnay Hanging Vine, St. Helena, Cal., 2012, at $9 a glass and Malbec Bodini, Organic, Argentina, at $10 a glass. Bottles of a wide choice of wines are priced from $24 to $55. We were able to give Pablo, the bartender, instant feedback on just how delicious this creative American food was!

Main courses were veal cutlet, smoked ham, Jarlsberg, and spinach with a porcini ragout, and pork osso buco (off the bone), candied mashed sweet potato, sautéed spinach, and grain mustard in a sherry wine glaze. Both entrees were great choices for their delicious flavors and creative combinations on Robert’s part.

The service was efficient and the restaurant was mostly full, and no wonder, with great food and a diversified menu of appetizers, salads, flatbreads, pastas, entrees, and, of course, dessert.

Chocolate pot de crème with cranberry peanut brittle and whipped cream and a warm apple crisp with Tahitian vanilla ice cream ended our meal perfectly. An American Bistro seems to keep getting better, so please put it on your must-eat restaurant list!

Pictured here: The inside of An American Bistro in Crestwood.

Photo by Karen Talbot