Flatiron

When Flatiron Restaurant in Red Hook opened in August 2008, it was an instant hit, filling a void for red meat lovers in this part of northern Dutchess County. This contemporary steakhouse gives surf and turf a creative twist, by way of USDA Prime-grade steak ($18-$40); a shortlist of burgers (served on a house-made English muffin; $13-$18); and seafood (from olive oil poached hHalibut to caramelized scallops; $254/$26). Craig Stafford and his wife, Jessica Stingo, the thirtysomething co-owners, named their restaurant after Manhattan’s Flatiron district, where they first met, while working at Giorgio’s of Gramercy, an eclectic American restaurant. Stafford, a Culinary Institute of America alumnus, has crafted a well-edited, seasonal and local-leaning menu that offers something for everyone. There is steak, of course: three cuts, including hanger steak (6 or 10 oz.; $18/$22), filet mignon (6 or 10 oz., $24/$34) and a 16 oz. rib-eye ($40)—served with your choice of a half-dozen house-made sauces—plus steak tartare ($15) as an appetizer. But, with non-meat choices that include salads, vegetable sides, a pasta (such as local pea risotto, $17) and a vegetarian burger option (roasted eggplant and organic brown rice, $13), vegetarians can feel equally comfortable grazing here.   Flatiron’s winning combination—toothsome fare, friendly service and a low-key, kick-back vibe—keeps diners coming back for more. —  Flatiron 7488 South Broadway, Red Hook, NY (845) 758-8260 Wednesday-Thursday 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday 5 - 10:30 p.m. Sunday 5 - 9 p.m.