Company description
Beebs An American Bistro offers French Restaurants services in Newburgh NY, NY area.
More details
- Editorial Text 1
- This restaurant is a contrast within itself - look vs. taste. The building was built in the 1800s and is decorated, as it should be, as a testimonial to that era. Near the entrance, there is a magnificent bar, shipped whole from Europe. A tiny nook off the bar is perfect for cocktails before dinner. Farther inside are a nicely decorated narrow middle room and a larger main dining room. We're seated on a corner of the red banquette - very nice, thank you. The tables are covered in linen, and each is decorated with candles and a simple pine cone. Walls are covered in an antique patterned wallpaper. Boughs of holly and evergreen are draped around a central pillar and along a double door that leads to an outdoor dining area, which is used in warmer weather. Paintings are period pieces that suit the room. And there's a handsome hutch in the corner that holds glassware. It is a lovely journey into the past, an inside look at a historic Victorian house. But the menu and ambience couldn't be more modern. There's the requisite Fried Calamari, of course, but also Pork With Coconut, Curry and Grilled Pineapple and, as a special, Vegetarian Spring Rolls. Modern American cooking defines Beebs, which bills itself as "an American bistro." The large, intelligently chosen wine list travels the world for its treasures. The staff is all laid-back, some with shirttails out, while the cordial owner prowls the room in jeans and a denim shirt. The place has a nice, laid-back feel to it, but it is serious when it comes to food and wine. We start with two dishes from the list of specials. Pumpkin Ravioli With Blue Cheese Sauce ($9.50) is a nice pairing. The ravioli are neat little squares filled with slightly sweet pumpkin filling. They bask in a sumptuous blue cheese sauce that could easily overwhelm the dish. But the combination works; the pumpkin flavor seeps through the piquant cheese sauce, and the dish is a winner. Vegetarian Spring Rolls ($9) aren't as fortunate. The small spring rolls atop a sweet sauce made with dried apricots are fried and crisp. And while the vegetarian filling may be wholesome, it also screams for more seasoning. It is bland and almost totally without flavor, a dish that fails to deliver. Entrees arrive on gorgeous plates with dark ruby rims that are small, crowding the food onto the plate. From the menu comes Chicken Sevilla ($21.50), a nod to the cuisine of Spain that is white-hot right now. A large skinless breast is topped with a mixture of prosciutto, olives, mushrooms and tomato. The chicken breast is overcooked dry. The topping, while flavorful, never quite comes together. And why use prosciutto in a Spanish preparation? But the side dishes - sweet potato gratin and green beans with garlic - are excellent. My entree, Potato Crusted Opa ($23), improves things. This fish, also known as moonfish, has come to Newburgh all the way from Hawaii. The thick white-fleshed fillet is sweet and clean-tasting. It's topped with a thin crust of crisp potato and served with a chipotle aioli. The crust adds texture, although it would work better with a thinner fillet, and the sauce works very well with the fish. Overall, it's a winning performance. We have ordered Prosecco for our wine, a simple Italian sparkling wine, but the owner, Peter Kronner, arrives with a bottle of Domaine Carneros from Taittinger ($22), a terrific sparkling wine from California. He explains they're out of the Prosecco and very generously offers to substitute the more expensive California sparkler for the same price. The wine and his hospitality are both terrific. For dessert, there's the old classic Chocolate Cake With Raspberry Sauce ($6). A tidy, round cake arrives sitting in a dark red pool of sauce. The cake is warm, topped with cool, sweet whipped cream, all forming a wonderful, voluptuous finale to our meal. Service is attentive and friendly. A team of waitresses, a busgirl and a runner all do a fine job of taking care of us. Dinner comes to $91 for tax and tip, a good value for innovative food. Beebs is part of a restaurant group that includes Il Tesoro and Big Easy Bistro. It has been years since I've last been here, and Beebs continues to blaze a trail with Modern American cooking that is intelligent and well-prepared, though sometimes its culinary experiments are not well-executed. The Victorian era room is attractive and comfortable. Prices are reasonable, and the service team has a real sense of hospitality. This is a fine restaurant, a beautiful old building and a Newburgh landmark that continues to deliver a solid dining experience. Restaurant critic Bill Guilfoyle has more than 25 years experience in the restaurant industry as a sommelier, manager and chef/owner. He is an associate professor at a local college. The Dish rating Decor: *** Service: *** Food: *** Value: *** Overall: ***
- Restaurant Features
- Catering Services, Meet for a Drink, Natural / Organic Ingredients, Online Menu, Patio, People Watching, Serves Game, Singles Scene, Takeout Available
- Features
- Bar Dining, Group Friendly, Non-Smoking, Parties / Private Rooms, Take Out
- Ambiance
- Cozy, Elegant, Intimate, Outdoor Dining, Quiet Conversation, Romantic
- Payment Accepted
- Cash, Major Credit Cards, Traveler's Checks Accepted
- Cuisine
- American Traditional and Classic, European
- Rating
- 65% of 29 people liked it on Urbanspoon
- Good For
- People Watching, Singles
- Reservations
- Recommended / Suggested
- Alcohol Served
- Beer, Liquor, Wine
- Atmosphere And Personality
- Bar Scene, Upscale
- Dress
- Business Casual
- Meals Served
- Dinner, Lunch
- Meals
- Dinner, Lunch
- Price Range
- $$$ ($16-$25)
- Bar Style
- Neighborhood
- Dining Style
- Fine Dining
- Restaurant Style
- Fine Dining
- Neighborhood
- Newburgh
- Alcohol
- Full Bar
- Parking
- On Site
- Cross Streets
- Rte. 9W
- Source
- 10Best
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Quiet
- Year Opened
- 1998
- Average Drink Price
- $7
- Web Site
- http://www.beebsbistro.net/
