Cafe Mutton

You have to visit this special place! They put a lot of thoughts into making each dish. The cafe is bustling for Sunday brunch. Everyone was very friendly and food came out quick. If you’re feeling adventurous their specials include some bold dishes! I truly love this place and it made Hudson such a cool town too. I prefer this restaurant to lots of Michelins. This is where you get food with a soul.

We especially enjoyed the pig foot rice (it’s boneless and you don’t really see the shape of the pig foot) and stuffed duck neck (it was nothing like what we imagined; it’s kind of like a sausage. The dish has chestnut which is very special!!)

Can’t wait to go back and try more dishes!!

Traveling thru Hudson and had breakfast at Cafe Mutton. Read a short review in BA and wanted to try it out.

We had the soft scrambled eggs, crepes, pig head porridge, scone with jam, and sticky bun.

Porridge, eggs, and crepes were all delicious and beautifully executed. Would recommend them.

I’ve had much better scones. This one wasn’t particularly interesting and the Apple jam didn’t have enough apple flavor.

The sticky bun is impressive looking and was recommended as a must-have. We found the glaze to be a bit too thick and heavy for the tender, light dough. The bun itself was really well made and the dough was great, but the “sticky”’part overwhelmed the delicate bun.

We still had a wonderful experience and would highly recommend a visit. There are a number of items I’d like to try.

Don’t miss their breakfast/lunch. Every dish on thr menu hits - its minimalist sort-of nose to tail meets classic American diner fare: blood pudding, fried bologna, crab omelette, etc. Counter service, natural wines, no reservations (save for their one, Friday diner service). Get a sticky bun for the table.

Had an errand that took us to Hudson, NY, around lunchtime on a Saturday. Checked the Google and this place popped up. Sounded like our vibe so we stopped in. As one would expect on a Saturday at noon, it was very busy. The hostess let us know it would be about a 40min wait, but that she could take a number and text us when our table was ready. Sounded cool, so we went to run our errand.

The text notifications are through Resy, and work super well. I got an update after a few min that our wait was now 30min, and another shortly thereafter that it was down to 15min. Finally, just a few min later, a notice that our table was ready, would be held for us for 10min, and we could tap 1 to confirm or 9 to cancel. Total wait was probably 20min. Perfect.

We quickly finished our other business, hightailed it back, and got in line to order. The way things work at Cafe Mutton is that you place your order at the register, then have a seat and wait for your food to magically arrive. We did that.

The menu is mercifully short (it's still hard to choose) and seasonal. I had the maitake and gruyere omelette with a bloody mary, and a sticky bun to go, and my partner had the pate sammitch with a poo driver cocktail. The drinks arrived quickly, and were very tasty and not too boozy. The bloody mary was very fresh and balanced well, though I personally would have liked a little more spice. The emphasis was on the fresh veggie flavor, this isn't a 'smack you in the face with spices' version. The poo driver (so named because it contains prune juice) was a very interesting sour, herby concoction. Not really my jam, but my partner likes sour stuff and enjoyed it very much.

My omelette looked beautiful and tasted beautiful-er. The 'shrooms were cooked but not overcooked and still had a nice bite, and there was just the right amount of cheese - not overwhelming. On the side were several well-buttered slices of the house sourdough, toasted. I could have eaten a whole lot more of that.

My partner's pate sandwich was also constructed with house-made bread, two thick slices of white. The hearty slab of pate looked delicious, with some thinly sliced pickles and a grainy mustard. It was so delicious, apparently, that I wasn't offered a taste!

The atmosphere is casual funky-cafe, with an eclectic assortment of art and some plants. The space is bright and cheerful. When it's full it's very loud, not a place for quiet conversation. There are a lot of seats (maybe 25?) crammed into the space, but we felt we had enough distance from our neighbors to be comfortable.

Despite the crush, service was friendly, prompt, and thoughtful. Don't expect long, lingering conversations with your server when it's busy - they simply don't have time and that's OK. That sticky bun I ordered to go? It arrived toward the end of the meal so I wouldn't have to juggle the box on the tiny table. Very nice. On the way out I remembered that I'd forgotten to bring water for my dog on this little day trip. At my request I was cheerfully provided with a cup of water to go for the pooch.

Yes, this place is pricey. Looking around Hudson, it's clearly one of those towns close enough to the orbit of NYC to be 'weekend house' territory, so I didn't expect low prices anywhere. Add the fact that nearly everything is made in house from premium ingredients, and yeah, you're going to pay. It's expensive, but not "over-priced" as a few whiny reviewers claim. If you aren't willing to spend ~$40 per head on brunch, go elsewhere. We can't splurge like this every weekend, but once in a while it's worth it.

I had the sticky bun for dinner. Yes, that was my entire dinner. The bun was huge and awesome, but I'm sure it would have been even better if I'd eaten it sooner.

Bottom line, if you're traveling through Hudson and want a fresh, tasty, filling breakfast/brunch/lunch, or even just a sticky bun for the road, make time to stop at Cafe Mutton. It's exactly the type of one-of-a-kind place I love to find when I'm traveling and I hope to get back someday.

Me and my partner absolutely loved this place - from the eclectic bathroom art, the food, to the snappy (some hilarious) comments and posts on reviews here / Instagram.

It’s alternative, funky - not your regular kind of brunch if you’re going there for brunch. You have to be open minded and just let your stomach and tastebuds do the rest. It’s not fancy but yet it’s creative.

Absolutely everything is so freshly made, homey and delicious. Loved the pork rillettes toast and beef-barley soup - both hearty and full of flavour.

The place was packed on a Thursday afternoon but they do a good job of getting people to tables and getting food out. Everyone was really nice too. It was enjoyable experience and we are glad we made the trip - wish we could try dinner sometime. The town itself is also a little gem. The hype is real.

I’ve been coming to Cafe Mutton all the way from NYC since 2021. It’s been AMAZING every single time. The don’t serve your typical breakfast items such as breakfast sandwiches, but everything on the menu is so good! Strongly recommend their orange muffin, house soda, chicken porridge, and crepes. Their special items are usually very good too!

Taste, ambience, and value—everything was well-considered. It came through clear as day how much passion and (deserved!) conviction the folks here have. We polished our plates. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

The food was incredible and the staff were so friendly and welcoming. Highly recommended!
We had the soft scrambled eggs and the pâté sandwich, both were dreamy.

5 stars across the board. Will definitely be dreaming about the crepes; maple-y, sweet and buttery with salty little flavor crystals that pop in your mouth, a must.

… but it’s all about the bologna sandwich.

Cafe Mutton is the best!
We’ve been going there since the beginning of this year, every weekend for breakfast and at least once every two weeks for Friday dinner. We’ve tried all their house dishes and most of the weekly specials. Regardless of what we’ve had from onion sandwich, to stuffed morels with creamy sauce each of our dining experience has been a true feast. Love love love Cafe Mutton.

Made a special trip out to Hudson to try Cafe Mutton because we had heard so many great things and it did not disappoint! The food was satisfying and beautiful and seasonal and the cafe itself was so inviting we stayed all afternoon! The women running the show here really know what they're doing. Can't wait to make it back.

The food was excellent. So tasty and well prepared. It looked great too. Thanks Cafe Mutton

A couple of down to earth people cooking some unique and delicious food. The rice porridge is a favorite. I would definitely recommend this place for brunch.

Cafe Mutton is bae
It’s kinda like eating at grandmas. No frills presentation and classic recipes nailed to perfection. Some of the plates on the menu might seem a little out of your comfort zone (don’t be scared: the scrapple is amazing!) but there are enough options you’ll figure something out. I should maybe be embarrassed by how many times I’ve had the Spanish tortilla and buckwheat scone. 🤔nah like I said— Muttin is bae❣ and Liz has a smile that might literally save the world one day. I can’t give this neighborhood gem enough praise!

The best breakfast I’ve ever had in a restaurant.

I dream about Cafe Mutton. They make the 3 hour trip to Hudson from Ithaca worth it. I think it's worth noting that this is the only restaurant that provides an appropriate amount of butter on scones, bread, etc.

Imagine if you went to your neighborhood cafe and it served some of the best most comforting food in the known universe. Then imagine that place also has the best staff ever and great drinks. Then stop imagining and realize you are at cafe mutton.

Delicious food. Worth the wait. The new oatmeal porridge is delicious and the crepes are to die for. Salads always delightful.

A delicious lunch spot. Had the homemade pate sandwich, of course, on their wonderful homemade bread. Dressed with mustard & cornichons. Great! Wish it were closer as I'd go there often.

First time here, the overall culinary aesthetic is impeccable. Absolute commitment to traditional nutritious foodstuffs with no apologies or handholding. Also found this poem in their library. Truly a gem!