We met in Beacon (NY) for a birthday lunch at Cafe Amarcord, a friendly, casual Italian restaurant on Main Street, before taking a barge to Bannerman Island for a cruise to Bannerman Castle and Pollepel Island and a walking tour. 

We started with cocktails, with some sipping the Hugo Sprintz ($25) made with St. Germain, while others drank a Paper Plane ($15), a cocktail we’ve featured, while nibbling their fresh bread dipped into a tomato oil relish. 

We shared the decadently creamy stracciatella cheese (made by combining shredded fresh mozzarella and cream) with Vesuvio tomatoes ($18). And, their smoked trout and endive salad ($15) with radicchio, Jerusalem artichokes and batons of honey crisp apple.

Entrees—all recommended—included their pan-roasted mussels ($15) with shaved fennel and chorizo; a rustic special garganelli with shrimp ($25), tomatoes, caramelized onions, calabrese peppers, a little cream and parmesan; pan-fried chicken milanese ($21) topped with arugula, cherry tomatoes and shaved parmesan and a sliced and grilled pork tenderloin sandwich, topped with poblano peppers, gorgonzola and onions, served on a club roll with fries ($18).

Our fabulous server brought ice cream to the two of us, celebrating our belated birthdays.

I highly recommend Amacord if you’re in Beacon. The service and food are well worth a stop.

Amarcord
Beacon
276 Main Street
Beacon, NY 12508
845-440-0050
cafeamarcord.com/