PINE PLAINS — Walking down Church Street around lunchtime, residents can satisfy their craving for a lunch hot off the grill at Spud Shack.
Since their move to Pine Plains 12 years ago, Spud Shack owners Rod Quijada and his longtime girlfriend, Tami Plassmann, have set out to give the restaurant business a try, starting with the opening of the deli, Hard Roll Express. Originally located across the street from Stewart’s Shop in Pine Plains, the couple gathered a following with Hard Roll Express for 10 years, five of which were spent on Route 44 in Amenia.
After enjoying moderate success, Quijada grew tired of the deli business and wanted to do something different, resulting in his decision to close the deli and open a shop in Pine Plains. With the help of family, Quijada and Plassman invested their time and energy into remodeling the building at 2953 Church Street into a family-oriented restaurant. Today, customers can admire vintage Coca-Cola advertisements, model cars and other memorabilia that contribute to the 1950s vibe. Quijada said the model car theme fell into place, especially in light of how the building was previously a Ford dealership.
By Saturday, Feb. 9, Spud Shack was officially open for business. As of now, the restaurant is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; on Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
Customers might need a moment before selecting their meal; Spud Shack features over 20 different burgers on the menu, including the Baconator Burger, the Lion’s Burger, the Mama Q Burger and many more. Every burger is made with eight ounces of fresh beef from Josef Meiller Farm & Slaughterhouse and the fries are freshly cut every morning. While the main focus of Spud Shack is burgers and fries, the menu also features deli sandwiches from the former Hard Roll Express, baked potatoes, homemade chili, homemade soup, paninis and vegan sandwiches.
While they’re waiting for their meal to arrive, customers can listen to music from the 1950s through 1980s over the restaurant speakers. Plugs are available in every booth for customers to charge their phones and there are tablets that people can use to play Solitaire as they wait for their meals. They can also watch vintage cartoons on the TV next to the front counter.
Quijada said the Spud Shack has received an impressive clientele, particularly from the students at Stissing Mountain Junior/Senior High School who come to the Spud Shack to hang out with friends.
“We had a lot of customers that drove from Pine Plains to Amenia,” Quijada said, “and now that we’re back, people are really happy we still carry our sandwiches.”
Along with local residents, he said the Spud Shack has welcomed customers from Milan, Rhinebeck and even Connecticut.
While Quijada and Plassman are currently at the helm of the restaurant’s operations, they hope to bring more employees on board as business takes off. At the request of many hungry customers, they also hope to bring in a soft-serve ice cream machine so people can enjoy milkshakes with their burgers and ice cream for dessert.
To contact Spud Shack, call 518-771-3205.
Justine and Victor Valla in their studio with a painting of Victor’s,”Jonah and the Whale.” Robin Roraback 
A ceramic vase by Kathleen Heidemann.Provided 
Joy Brown’s delightful ceramic sculptures.Provided 
