Modern Rustic Vibes and Comfort Cuisine at Union + Post: A boutique hotel with onsite restaurant offers respite and refreshment in the Catskills.
Melissa Esposito | July 10, 2023The Catskills offer an array of experiential getaways, whether you prefer to spend a day biking rugged trails, perusing antiques shops, hitting the slopes during winter, or just hanging out at one of the many breweries along the range.
At the end of the day, however, there’s nothing like a good meal amidst good people followed by a comfortable place to rest your head. When it comes to Catskills comfort, Union + Post—a boutique hotel and restaurant in Windham—has quickly become favored by locals and visitors alike.
Situated on the outskirts of the town’s main drag, Union + Post is located at the site of the former Pine Lodge, one of those places known by generations of families as a spot charmingly frozen in time. When the current owners took over in 2018, however, the process of renovating the property brought up the realities of renewing outdated rooms and dining spaces. It took a team of contractors more than two years to bring the hotel up to date. “The goal was to bring the property into the 21st century without forgetting the past,” says Joe Ricci, who is among a diverse and passionate group of investors and operators who own the hotel and restaurant.
The hotel is currently comprised of 12 rooms in four buildings surrounding the restaurant, with accommodations ranging in size from a 200-square-foot room with a king-sized bed, to a slightly larger double with two double-beds, standard bed and bath space to a spacious suite with a dining room, living room, and private deck. Each one is tastefully decked out with just enough modern-rustic flare to give that mountain-getaway vibe—think contemporary furniture with natural wood tones atop jute rugs, and canteens or antique badminton rackets as wall decor—plus luxe bath amenities, room service or private cooking available from the onsite restaurant, and more.
The hotel opened in December 2020, but the restaurant only began serving up its upscale-comfort fare, creative cocktails, and lively nightlife scene in January 2022. “The restaurant is the jewel of property,” Ricci says. “We wanted to create an experience that was something different and exciting, while respecting the roots of the local community, with amazing food and a fun, jovial environment.”
Upon entering the restaurant, you’re immediately drawn into its luxury lodge feel, thanks to a behemoth barn chandelier, wheeled up from Texas itself. (The chandelier is an exception; most of the decor throughout the restaurant and hotel rooms has been sourced from local antiques and hobby shops.) Beneath it, a long, poured-concrete bar sits atop a rustic wood paneling, upcycled from the building’s original siding. To the right, the dining room, with its locally handmade tables, offers seating for about 80 guests.
Upstairs, three distinct-yet-connecting private rooms with family-style dining or lounge furniture and parlor games are open to the public on busy evenings, like live music nights. But during the warmer months, most tend to gather on the outdoor patio overlooking Windham Mountain itself. Take in the vistas while enjoying inspired cocktails from the bar like Flora and Fuego—mezcal, fresh cucumber and lime juices, celery soda, and rosemary-jalapeño syrup ($18), or the Ski Bum with tequila, pomegranate liqueur, fresh lime juice, and agave ($15).
There’s also an expansive list of reds, whites, and rosés from around the world that run the gamut of moderately priced house wines by-the-glass ($11-$18) to per-bottle options that can get as extravagant as a $430 Cab Sauvignon. Ten taps of beer primarily feature local breweries like West Kill Brewing, Chatham Brewing, and others.
But don’t miss the food. Start with house-made artichoke dip ($16) or the comforting G’Ma’s Meatballs—three meatballs on a bed of creamy polenta ($20). At current pricing, all entrees are under $40, and you can try the burger voted third-most-popular in the county, according to Greene County Chamber voters. The savory patty is topped with house-made maple-bacon jam, Vermont cheddar, and spicy aioli on brioche with a side of fries or salad ($25).
The preserved-lemon chicken is a classic, served atop grilled broccoli rabe with chili lime sauce and salted potatoes ($35). The menu revolves seasonally with some staples remaining, others here for a fleeting time, like the New England lobster roll ($34). Dessert options are few, but irresistible, like the cast iron cookie served hot in the pan with ice cream ($9).
“We wanted to create an experience that’s both approachable and unique, so you can spend all day in town, then come back to first-class room amenities and enjoy city-quality food,” Ricci says. “People tend to think of the Catskills as a winter or summer destination, but it’s really a four-season destination—no matter what time of year, you can spend three days in the Catskills and do completely different things each day. We encourage people to come for dinner, stay for a couple of nights, and enjoy what the region has to offer.”
The restaurant at Union + Post is open at 5pm; kitchen until 9 pm, bar until “late.”
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