Dining out in the Hudson area has been particularly challenging during the pandemic. Some places are gone, others have staffing problems that have caused them to dumb down their menus. So we’ve been particularly happy to find a few new places that are doing well.

A friend recommended Rojo, a Spanish and Caribbean tapas restaurant on Broadway in Tivoli, so we gave it a try a few days ago. The first thing that strikes you is the elegant decor and well-spaced tables. Then comes the food. A wide selection allows you to mix and match many dishes for sharing. Wines and beers pair well. Three of us had a total of eight dishes, seven savory and one sweet. The lamb chops were outstanding, garlic shrimp delicious, stuffed mushrooms, piquillo peppers with cheese, Basque sausage, artichoke hearts, and beef/pork meatballs all hit the spot. The chocolate tart is not to be missed. The owners are charming and their devotion to good food is evident.

http://www.rojotapasandwine.com/

Nonne

Nonne (“grandmothers” in Italian) is a casual spot on Main St. in Chatham, specializing in pizza and pasta, but with a nice selection of main courses as well. We’ve been here several times in the last year and have never been disappointed.

They also have a great selection of local craft beers, and a full bar with interesting cocktails.

https://nonneny.com/

In our quest to find restaurants we haven’t tried before, we’ve been checking out places that have been around awhile but have eluded our notice. Rosa Mexicano is one of these, and we were pleasantly surprised.

The space is huge, it can be noisy, and the service can be a bit distracted, but the food makes up for these minor quibbles.

We started with nachos, which were completely different from the usual pile of chips and cheese. This was neater and easier to eat, almost like a crisp quesadilla. We also had a shrimp ceviche which was very good. For the main courses, we loved the carnitas, though the tacos served with it were not of the best quality (I was happy to eat it without the tacos anyway). The quesadilla with steak could have had a bit more meat in it, but was tasty and fine for the price. The tres leches cake was simple and delicious. On the whole, a very good and filling meal. We also got a nice pitcher of red sangria.

We will defintitely be back.

https://www.rosamexicano.com/menu/union-square-ny-menus/

In our quest to find new and interesting restaurants, we discovered Laut. Actually, I had noticed it back a couple of years ago, but then forgot about it. When I was alerted to it recently, and realized it was Malaysian, along with Singaporean and Thai, I immediately wanted to try it. It’s been some time since we’d had Malaysian food here in the city, since our favorite, Fatty Crab, closed several years ago.

Tucked away on a quiet block of 17th St., the unassuming storefront is easy to miss. It’s well worth seeking out. Apparently it’s attracted quite a following, as it was very busy on a recent weeknight.

The menu is quite extensive, and I hope to return to try more of their dishes.

We started with crispy wontons, which were a bit disappointing, but the fried calamari more than made up for it. In a light batter and interestingly spiced, they hit the spot. For the main course, we had the Singapore crispy soft-shell chili crab, delicious in a spicy tomato sauce, served with fried bao which was irresistible. The other main dish was Nasi Lemak, a dish we used to love at Fatty Crab. This version did not disappoint. Combining chicken, shrimp, pickled vegetables and coconut rice, it was a real treat.

To drink, we got a carafe of 3 Pals Punch, which is made with rum and Campari, and reminiscent of Sangria. Very good.

https://lautnyc.com/

Though it has been in existence since 2019, chef/owner Alfred Portale was for 35 years the chef and part owner of the legendary Gotham Bar and Grill, Stanley and I only recently became aware or his new venture, and have now been there twice. Everything about Portale feels right, from the charming ambience to the luscious food to the attentive and cordial service. Though bustling, the sound level is quite tolerable.

With 9 appetizers, 5 pastas and 6 main courses. the menu is sufficiently varied that dining here multiple times would not become boring.

Dishes we loved include cauliflower salad, carpaccio, frutti di mare, lumache, agnolotti, bucatini, pork chop and duck breast. The chocolate mousse was exceptional, and the bomboloni were very good. Wine prices, while not low, did not carry too high a mark-up over retail.

We are looking forward to more dinners here.

https://www.portalerestaurant.com/

Click to view listing: https://www.wohlfarth.com/listing/RPLU-403621426210/

Click to view listing: https://www.wohlfarth.com/listing/RPLU-403621258343/