Mountain Brauhaus

Address

3123 Route 44/55, Gardiner, NY, (845) 255-9766

At the corner of Route 44/55 and Route 299, at the turn where you head back to New Paltz from the Gunks.

Hours

Closed Mondays and Tuesdays and for a month in mid-December to mid-January.

Great Beer, Huge Portions, Creative Menu… But Long Waits

One of the most popular restaurants for climbers and the closest to the Gunks. There are two dining areas. The dining area in the bar area, where you enter, is more casual and the walls are covered with images of rock climbing. The main dining room is slightly more formal, but don’t worry about being dressed like a climber here, the atmosphere is very casual.

Clearly this is the most popular restaurant anywhere in the area. Every weekend there’s a wait starting in the afternoon, and by dinnertime it could be over an hour and a half. You won’t get a quick bite here, but you will get huge portions at a good value and excellent beer. If your group has 6 or more, you can call ahead to get your name on the list, otherwise they don’t take reservations. Enjoy nice weather having a beer on their small front porch while you wait for your seat. If you have kids, show them the old fashioned phone booth inside, something you don’t see much anymore.

Although their specialty is German food, which they do very well, you’ll find very high quality creative offerings that will surprise you. Check what they have for specials that are often made with local ingredients when possible.  While most of the dishes have meat, there’s always a delicious and unusual vegan dish on the menu, spaetzl primavera, and numerous salads. You might find usual dishes with rabbit, kangaroo or ostrich meat. But one of the most popular dishes is the Gunks Burger. It’s covered in sauteed onions on fresh raisin pumpernickel bread and a fantastic value if you’re on a budget. Desserts are very good if you aren’t already stuffed.

So if you aren’t in a rush and don’t mind a long wait for a table and service that is at a leisurely pace, enjoy the excellent German beer and really high quality food with a view of the Near Trapps cliff out the front window.