Van Winkles

Was just here with friends as we've been coming up to the area the past 26 years for a guys trip. we stay at the Kaatskill Mountain Club and this restaurant has always been good. This year was a little different. We've been accustomed to paying a little bit more for the convenience, but this year was a shock. The specials were in the $32 to $35 range. I'd been used to averaging $25 per entree. While food was OK, it's not NYC style fare. At a loss as to whether we now have to go offsite for our last night traditional dinner.

Restaurant at the hotel at Hunter Mtn. Has a decent and varied menu. Always well prepared and service is good. Bar is fun for happy hour.

Went here in the “off season” during summer events. Was served a half-uncooked pork chop. Rest of food mediocre, but as expected for an on-site hotel. No complaints about service, as I can understand they run on a skeleton crew this month, but don’t kill me with raw pork, please.nIf staying here I recommend getting a room with a kitchen and bringing your own food.nAlso thank the staff for making me feel young; despite my graying hairs I got carded for the first time in many years.

On a positive note, waiter service was good. On a less positive note, we were the only diners last evening. When I asked the waiter if the fish was fresh or frozen, our waiter checked with the chef and came back to the table and told me the Chef told him to tell me that’s all fish is frozen at sea. I buy FRESH fish all the time at my local grocer. I should have known then not to order the fish. We ordered the Snapper and Tuna specials. The Snapper special was severely overcooked when it arrived and was sent back to the kitchen. I continued to try to eat my Tuna special, but it was very dry and overcooked on the outside, and very dry inside. When the second attempt at the Snapper arrived at the table, it was even more well done than the first. I suspect that the chef was microwaving the fish and had overcooked it, again. My date could not eat it. Because we were still hungry, and had ordered a bottle of wine for our meal, we decided to try dessert after inquiring if it was made by the current chef. After our limited meal, we received the check for our dinner, and although the first attempt at the Snapper special was removed, we were still charged for the other attempts by the chef. Because there was no manager available in the dining room, we paid our tab and left......NEVER to RETURN. We now know why there were no other diners at Rip Van Winkle’s last night. Dismal date evening.

Allways very good,great specials,great brew