Karma Lounge
202 Main Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
845 473 4294
Open for Lunch and Dinner, 7 days
The flakes of roast rabbit were perched on a puddle of risotto, redolent of caramelized onions with an earthiness that made me think that there were also mushrooms in the recipe. (There weren't.) The rice was laced with wilted leaves of spinach, and spiked with salty chips of crisp bacon. On top sat a dollop of lemon crème, adding a wonderful sweet contrast to the savory dish. I washed it down with a glass of Layer Cake Primitivo, a Zinfandel masquerading as an Italian import from Salento. I had to remind myself that I was standing at a bar on Main Street Poughkeepsie, on a spot I had occupied many times in past years, but never eating like this.
This scene was unfolding at the Hudson Valley's new culinary mecca, in this case on lower Main, just below the bridge bound arterial. The Karma Lounge is the newest offering from Sally and Michael Rich, the couple who brought you Twist in Hyde Park .
Karma Lounge joins Bull & Buddha, Crave and and Artist's Palate as downtown culinary destinations really worth trying. (One more is on the way - A May opening is planned for a new bistro style eatery on the 300 block.) I am not sure if Karma Lounge is best described as a restaurant with a really nice bar, or a bar and lounge with a really great small plate menu. I think the latter fits better. I think the new word is "Gastropub".
Mark Murray, the CIA chef that also worked with Sally and Michael at the now shuttered Twist is responsible for Karma's kitchen. His selection of “small plates” is more substantial than a classic tapas menu. No one dish will suffice as a main course, but the choices and the prices ($6 - $10) allow for building a “mix and match” meal without going broke. The few that we sampled were fabulous. His novel preparations take creative liberties with classic dishes; some like the Caesar salad, border on heresy. The Caesar ($6) is tossed with Spanish Manchego cheese and tossed with a lemon cumin dressing, topped with tortilla strips. Romaine salad? Yes. Caesar? No. But still sounds great.
Karma Lounge joins Bull & Buddha, Crave and and Artist's Palate as downtown culinary destinations really worth trying. (One more is on the way - A May opening is planned for a new bistro style eatery on the 300 block.) I am not sure if Karma Lounge is best described as a restaurant with a really nice bar, or a bar and lounge with a really great small plate menu. I think the latter fits better. I think the new word is "Gastropub".
Mark Murray, the CIA chef that also worked with Sally and Michael at the now shuttered Twist is responsible for Karma's kitchen. His selection of “small plates” is more substantial than a classic tapas menu. No one dish will suffice as a main course, but the choices and the prices ($6 - $10) allow for building a “mix and match” meal without going broke. The few that we sampled were fabulous. His novel preparations take creative liberties with classic dishes; some like the Caesar salad, border on heresy. The Caesar ($6) is tossed with Spanish Manchego cheese and tossed with a lemon cumin dressing, topped with tortilla strips. Romaine salad? Yes. Caesar? No. But still sounds great.
Fingerling potatoes, a tapas bar staple, are roasted and plated with fried green beans. The herb laced sour cream dressing that accompanies the dish is accented with vanilla, which was a total surprise, and a wonderful combo. Also $6. A tangy shrimp and artichoke dip ($9) is served hot, to be spread on a middle eastern pita style flatbread.
My favorite was the spinach and duck breast salad ($8), tossed with a smoked tomato and sherry vinaigrette dressing. It was topped with a patty of fried goat cheese, and sprinkled with toasted pecans and duck “croutons”. The bite size pieces of crispy brined duck breast reminded me – especially visually and texturally – of Chinese take out fried pork ends. Probably not the concept that the chef was searching for, but my memory banks have dark cavernous spaces that I go to infrequently and only after a few glasses of wine.
The bar itself at Karma Lounge is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship; a copper sheathed bar top highlights the space. The original exposed brick walls line the back bar, with small open kitchen at the far end. An outdoor patio will add much needed extra seating once the weather cooperates. The intention is to add live music to the menu during the summer months. The theme, the menu, and the music soundtrack is obviously directed at the post graduate young working crowd, but us old folks felt right at home having a 7 PM dinner at the bar, which is probably many hours before the real crowd shows up.
The complete menu can be found here. Wine list here. Karma Lounge can also be found on Facebook.
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5 comments:
Karma is a great place cheap good foe foods love it there hope many can stop there to try it out.
Can't wait to try it Joe! Thanks for sharing the review. I'm also intrigued by the mention of a new bistro nearby ;)
Enjoyed this review. I look forward to trying Karma Lounge. One note-neither Michael nor Sally Rich "brought us" Twist restaurant! Sally was an employee. It was created by Ben Mauk and Ellen Henneberry, and we miss it very much! I just want to be sure credit is given only where credit is due...
Absolutely, Sally & Michael Rich did not own Twist and do not want to be associated with or compared to Twist.
Totally different concept and a much cooler vibe. Karma Lounge Rocks!
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