Saint Florian: Top-Rated Restaurant in Hudson, NY Featuring Fried Chicken & Seasonal Cocktails

Went there the other night. The space has been reworked better than I thought possible from the old barbecue place. Seats are spacious, lighting is warm, and everything seems really thought out. We started with the pickle plate and the shrimp. The pickle plate was fun, and the shrimp cocktail looked like it was plucked straight out of Rick’s Café Américain. Had a couple of glasses of natural wine. They definitely have a good buyer because, for a sub-hundred bottle list, they’ve got a bunch of low-allocation hitters. We had a bottle of Riesling with the fried chicken dinner. The chicken itself was super juicy and sweet. It wasn’t served with a dipping sauce, but I’m guessing that was intentional because the chicken really stands on its own. We had mashed potatoes and gravy and a warm, bacon-spiked coleslaw as well. Service was good—casual yet refined, with a vibe kind of like Bernie’s in Greenpoint. Definitely a top 10 upstate spot right out of the gate.

This was my second experience at Saint Florian, and both visits have been exceptional! On today’s visit, my boyfriend and I enjoyed a delicious lunch and fantastic cocktails which certainly helped us make the most of a raw and rainy Saturday afternoon in Hudson. I feasted on the fish and chips, and he enjoyed the chicken strip steak. Both meals were fantastic!! We will definitely be visiting again soon!

(2025 Dec) Love this place. Service staff was v friendly. Had a few drinks and had the apple cider crème brûlée (was here with my son). Was good. Met some frequent customer one of whom was a volunteer firefighter who had work in the same spot (it was an old fire station). Showed us the tire marks. There you go - history and good company and friendly staff - all you need in a good bar. There was a 21st birthday party and the crowd swoon in at 9 - just as the lovely lady bartender promised.

Every dish was a solid hit. NY strip steak was cooked perfectly to medium rare. I could tell that the steak was very quality from the delicious juicy fat. Every bite of the caesar salad was a perfect bite of textures and flavor. I personally loved how the waiter was very patient and informative about the food. Def worth the visit!!

The best part of our dinner was the bone marrow and creamed spinach. If you're a fan, these are must tries. However, the battered cod was okay, very fried and missing seasoning. We also got a hanger steak ordered medium, the middle/thickest slice was blue raw and smelled like raw meat. Its understandable due to its shape it may be a bit undercooked in the center, but I do think the chef should understand that meat should be cooked until the thickest most piece reaches a certain temperature, which in this case it clearly did not. The buttered sauce it came with was delicious though. One last thing, the fries were extremely salty, after one or two I was done. Wait staff and bartender were very nice and friendly.

Long story: Nestled on Warren Street in the sleepy town of Hudson, NY is Saint Florian. While Hudson has a vibrant foodie scene it did not have the special mix of what Saint Florian is serving (both literally and metaphorically!). When entering the historic former fire house we were warmly greeted by staff. The bottom floor is rich with wood, a large bar and tables for more casual dining. Up a beautiful wooden staircase to the second floor you’ll find another sizable, zinc topped bar and cozy seating. The decor is comfortable and playful, including many little nods to the building’s fire house history. The menu changes seasonally and specials are offered nightly. The menu is protein centric without being a stereotypical steak house. It offers something for everyone, literally. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free foodies will all be satisfied with offerings, here! As a long time vegetarian I am often left with salads as a main course or need to modify menu items to suit my diet. Saint Florian was a welcome reprieve with a variety of choices for me. The menu does not overlook the vegetarian or vegan diner. More than not overlooking us, Saint Florian is catering to us! Our table shared the mushroom croquettes appetizer special along with the fried mushrooms and steak tips. The other diners with me reported that the steak tips had excellent flavor and texture. The mushroom croquettes made from locally foraged mushrooms was certainly a highlight- even to the omnivores at the table! The fried mushrooms were crisp and the horseradish sauce to dip them in was stellar. Each dish is elevated using lesser know/unique ingredients to level them up. For example black garlic was used in the steak tips and nutritional yeast was used in a buttermilk sauce that the mushroom croquettes were placed atop. Main courses we ordered included the fish and chips (fried cod and French fries) which were not only a large portion but were reportedly delicious. The main vegetarian item was a roasted cabbage. It was crave worthy! The quartered roasted cabbage sat on a puree that added sweetness and depth to the roasted quality of the cabbage. Chopped nuts played well with the warm roasted vibe while the fresh dill brightened the dish. For dessert we ordered lemon crème brûlée along with a scoop each of coffee dark chocolate and peach with sumac ice cream. All were wonderful but the coffee ice cream had us floored. It was the best ice cream I’ve ever had and I really am not a fan of coffee flavored foods. The texture was beyond words- silky, creamy, mousse-like. The cocktails were unique with fun twists like smoked honey. A nice wine list is available as well. Service was attentive, well paced and friendly. It added to the experience and made everything super comfortable. The best word to describe our experience at Saint Florian is thoughtful. It was clear a lot of thought and love was put into every choice made from the design of the physical restaurant to the design of the menu. Short story: The Chef/owner has created a restaurant that hits all the marks for what I enjoy when dining out: good portions, well priced for what is received, welcoming/comfortable environment, vegetarian menu items, well trained staff, good cocktails and of course excellent food!

Absolutely outstanding. One of the best meals I’ve had in a while. The steak was cooked perfectly and everything from the salad to the sides were great. We celebrated my birthday and the team did so much to make sure everything was special. Will be returning!

We were so impressed by Saint Florian - highly recommend! The meatloaf and steak with fries made the perfect meal on a cold, snowy night. The waiter and bartender were both so welcoming and friendly throughout our meal. Would definitely add to your list when in Hudson :)