Grand Cru: Same Neighborhood Vibe In A New Neighborhood
NOTE: THIS RESTAURANT HAS CLOSED.
When RI last caught up with Rod Johnson of Rhinebeck’s Grand Cru, a popular bar and retail shop, he was standing behind the small bar in his sliver of a storefront right in the middle of the village of Rhinebeck. A popular stop for both locals and tourists, Grand Cru made a name for itself by serving top-notch craft beers and tasty local cheeses, and for Johnson’s ability to find a beer to suit every customer, even those who claimed not to like beer. (He insists they just haven’t found the right one).
Grand Cru, co-owned by Johnson and his wife Alicia Lenhart, seemed very much a part of the Rhinebeck village landscape, but on Memorial Day of this year, they up and moved. Their new Rhinebeck location is out on Route 308, surrounded not by other shops but by farms and plenty of open land. "We wanted to go somewhere with an outside space," says Johnson. For years, they’d drive by the empty building, which sat vacant after a Greek and then a Japanese restaurant came and went. “It has a great yard, the neighbors are all cool, and it’s surrounded by horse farms.”
The couple bought the property, and Johnson refinished the floors, built new bars using old tops from the original Grand Cru, and set up his kitchen space exactly how he prefers it, including bringing his old taps — now totaling 16, up from the original 6 — to serve Grand Cru’s beer and cider. They still stock a wide selection of beers and ciders to go, and continue to offer their popular small plates of cheeses and meats, with soups scheduled for fall, but the new space has allowed Grand Cru the freedom to expand their event offerings. They now offer food pop-ups and food trucks on weekends, and have scheduled plenty of live music, booked by Lenhart.
“We don’t charge a cover, so people can come and see music for free,” Johnson says. “We’ve always supported music of all genres, from rock and roll to bluegrass, rockabilly, and jazz fusion.” The old space could only fit smaller acts, but their new stage allows for a full band, and Johnson and Lenhart are enthusiastic about showcasing acts from the area. “The Hudson Valley is blessed,” he says. “There’s a lot of talent right here.”
Their new outdoor space and food trucks have made Grand Cru into a more family-friendly spot, with people of all ages bringing blankets and chairs and spending warm evenings hanging out, eating and playing lawn games. Johnson, a former nature educator, even offers an occasional impromptu nature program for the kids. Edible Roots, Frites of NY, Farmers & Chefs and Heather Ridge Farm have stopped by to serve food, with Valia’s Wood Fire pizzas and fresh seafood from Off the Hook coming up. In the winter, Grand Cru will still offer food pop-ups, with meals served inside.
Because of the couple’s connections over the years to breweries both near and far, they can offer things on tap that no other local spots can. What’s on tap changes, but recently we tried a fantastic Romilly Brut Cider ($8), and there were local beers from Chatham Brewers ($8), Rushing Duck Brewing Company ($7) and Sloop Brewing ($8). Johnson says, “Hudson Valley is on the map big time, nationally, for craft beer. Cider-wise, we’re the in the top three apple-growing regions in the country, so the cideries are blowing up, too. I’ll tell you this, you’d better be good, because there is so much competition.”
After years building relationships with guests, Grand Cru isn’t having a hard time keeping their old customers or, for that matter, finding new ones. “We have a large enough following, from both far and near, not just Rhinebeck, but beer aficionados from Massachusetts, Connecticut and the city.” Though they don’t get the village walkers anymore, they do have bicyclists stopping by and plenty of new people finding them all the time. Johnson will ask people if they were ever at his old place where he was for 9 years. “They’ve never heard of us,” he reports.
Follow Grand Cru on Facebook or Instagram for news about upcoming musical acts, food trucks and pop-ups, or just stop by to watch a game on one of the three TVs and try to see if Johnson can find you a drink that fits your flavor profile. He’s as enthusiastic as ever about being an ambassador for craft beers, which he says is “what beer is supposed to be.”
Grand Cru
1094 Rt. 308, Rhinebeck, NY
(845) 835-6150
Wednesdays, noon-9 p.m.
Thursdays – Saturdays, noon-10 p.m.
Sundays, noon-7 p.m.
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