ED KOWALSKI, A HUDSON VALLEY NATIVE and the mastermind behind Poughkeepsie’s Crave Restaurant & Lounge and the popular take-out café Lola’s, has ventured out of the city with half of his culinary team and longtime colleague Brandon Brooks to open a second version of Lola’s across the river. Like its namesake, Lola’s New Paltz focuses on local, seasonal ingredients, though the new site is decidedly vegetarian-friendly, with an emphasis on side dishes and grain bowls (like the Power Bowl: edamame, mushrooms and scallions over farro and quinoa, with a ginger carrot vinaigrette). Daily blackboard specials range from heirloom tomato salads to over-the-top milkshakes alongside signature soups, wraps, salads and sandwiches. Lola’s New Paltz will not, however, replicate the original. “For Lola’s, we try to keep it simple,” Kowalski says, “but there’s a lot of surprises.” To start, the café serves both lunch and dinner, and diners can choose to dine al fresco on the front patio. There’s also a new, hand-selected beer and wine list with local offerings.

Lola’s Café New Paltz
Sun 11–8; Mon-Thur 11–9; Fri-Sat 11–10
49 Main St, New Paltz
(845) 255-6555
lolascafeandcatering.com