Ulster County Dining, Ugly Gus Cafe and Bar

		Ugly Gus Cafe and Bar 11 Main Street Kingston, NY 845-331-5100

You'll Dine Handsomely at Ugly Gus Cafe & Bar
Lori Pierce Abendschein for the Poughkeepsie Journal

Kingston Restaurant Has Variety, Charm
After seeing numerous ads with a character wearing a paper bag over his head, I thought that an establishment with a name as curious as Ugly Gus Cafe and Bar Surely deserved a visit. We learned from our server shortly after our arrival that the name "ugly Gus" came from a childhood game between co-owner Chris Seche and his brother.
Now years later, Chris and his wife, Tinsy, have brought Ugly Gus to life, making "ugly" a very good thing.
The menu can solve any diner's quest for a lighter meal, pasta, steak or seafood. Begin with a spinach stuffed portobello mushroom over greens with roasted red peppers and fresh mozzarella, or a plate of fried calamari teamed with Fra Diavlo sauce. Impressively large prosciutto wrapped barbecued shrimp paired with mango salsa disappeared rapidly. These were a better choice than the crab cakes, which could have used fewer breadcrumbs and more crab.
As for entrees, I can recommend several. Baby-back ribs are succulent and demand attention. Pastas aren't played down either. Try a bowl of fettucine with pleasing large shrimp, scallops, tons of fresh cherry tomatoes, basil and garlic. Too often when one attempts a dish like this, it ends up laden in oil or butter. Happily, that's not the case here. It makes you feel like you've made a healthful choice, freeing you up for a side of sweet potato or perhaps thick-cut french fries to go along with one of the many steaks on the menu.
The New York Sirloin comes smothered in earthy wild mushrooms and bordelaise sauce, while a special of the evening was pan-blackened and served with sweet cipolini onions. California Chicken pretends to be lighter with ingredients such as artichoke hearts and sundried tomato pesto, but is splendid and rich, especially when it comes to the tarragon brandy cream sauce.

Desserts Delightful
In such a jovial atmosphere, staying for dessert is a pleasure. All desserts except for Jane's ice creams and sorbets are made on the premises, promising a delicious ending. Banana cream pie is a veritable treat, with far too much whipped cream but plenty of all of the other important ingredients that make it tremendously worthwhile, and one of my favorites.
There is also coconut cream pie, but chocolate seems to win every time and the warm brownie sundae is no exception, leaving you speechless as you vie for the last bite of fudgy brownie to sop up the chocolate sauce and ice cream.
If you haven't met Ugly Gus, then be sure to plan a visit soon. Ugly Gus Cafe and Bar is charming, friendly and possesses all of the qualities you could hope for in a neighborhood restaurant. Chris and Tinsy's presence in the dining room, hustling right along side their staff while doling out a personal touch, is appreciated.

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