13 S 3rd St, Hudson
518.822.1500; feastandfloret.com 

In October, iconic Hudson restaurant Fish & Game announced that it would not reopen after shuttering at the beginning of the pandemic. In its place, owner Whalers & Merchants, LLC have debuted their latest endeavor: stylish Feast & Floret, an Italian-inspired eatery.

The space has been transformed. Gone are the brown leathers and taxidermy animals, replaced by an array of brightly colored blooms, potted shrubs, and sprays of dried flowers. The menu, too, has gone lighter and brighter. Chef Amelia Telc heads an all-female kitchen, where the emphasis is on locally sourced ingredients, including produce from Blue Star Farm, proteins from Kinderhook Farm, DPNB extruded pastas, and Hudson Valley Fisheries’ impeccably farmed steelhead trout. 

Signature dishes include two-bite arancini erupting with molten, cheesy cores; tangles of house-made tagliatelle with minimalist, surprisingly light Bolognese; thick slices of toast, cloaked in Fontina, topped with raw egg yolk and an indulgent quantity of shaved truffle; and squid-ink soprese, glossy with a porky ‘nduja sauce. 

The restaurant also functions as a flower market, where customers can shop for seasonal blooms, many of which will ultimately come from partners Lavinia and Patrick Milling-Smith’s Hudson Valley farm. Florals also inspire the cocktail menu, curated by partner and NYC-restaurateur-turned-Hudson-transplant Jason Denton, with hibiscus, chamomile, and rose petal syrup finding their way into his creations.