Hamilton Restaurant has reopened

MILLERTON — After closing its doors in February, The Hamilton Restaurant is back in business. The Main Street mainstay reopened May 20 following a decision made by the Metz family, which has owned the restaurant since 1996.

“Well, we wanted to do some upgrades to the building and it was the dead of winter, so we thought it was a prudent time to complete the necessary upgrades,� Lauren Simons said. Simons is a member of the Metz clan and helps run the business.

Those upgrades include landscaping, a new HVAC system, lots of painting and cosmetic work.

“We’re very pleased with it,� Simons said. “Especially the landscaping — that came out better than we expected.�

There were some changes made within the restaurant as well.

The fare is now described as international cuisine. Chef Jose Lalvay offers an array of delicacies ranging from American cuisine to French, Spanish and beyond. Lalvay was once the restaurant’s sous chef but after attending the Culinary Institute of America he has returned to become executive chef.

In addition to the menu being revised, due to the tough economic times prices were “adjusted accordingly.� There is also now a children’s menu, to make the restaurant more “family oriented.�

“We hope it will be well received by the public,� Simons said, praising manager Karen Pitcher for her hard work and for dealing with all of their customers’ comments.

As far as how it’s been running a business in today’s climate, Simons said once one gets beyond the winter months, which she described as “tough for any business,� it’s not too bad, especially in a place like Millerton.

“It’s quite touristy and the foot traffic has increased each year and I think that will continue as more businesses land here,â€� she said. “I think the location [is great]. It’s close to Massachusetts, it’s close to Connecticut, it’s in Dutchess County, which is remarkable as far as  being able to gain produce locally, and it’s a quiet area.â€�

In addition to dinner, which is served Wednesdays through Mondays, from 5:30 to 9:30 or 10 p.m. (Simons called the restaurant hours “flexible�), the business also has banquet facilities for private parties. For more information on special events, call Pitcher at 518-789-9399.

The Hamilton Restaurant is located at 67 Main St. in Millerton, in the Platt A. Paine building. According to Simons, it’s one of the oldest buildings in the village and was built by one of Millerton’s founding fathers.