Happy 18th Birthday to Ship to Shore
By contributing writer – Benjamin Horn
Anyone who has strolled the quaint marina street of West Strand in the Historic waterfront District of Kingston’s Rondout has inevitably been momentarily swept away by its inviting charm and idyllic colonial structures. On such a stroll it would be hard to miss the many small businesses that flourish there – the salons, boutiques, bakeries, and restaurants. While they all have their unique draw, perhaps the most inviting is the double door entrance to Ship to Shore American Bistro. With curbside dining that overlooks the Rondout Creek, an impressively cozy dining room and an attractive bar to quench a thirsty traveller, Ship to Shore has become an icon of the Strand because of it’s unflinching dedication to providing locals and tourists with the best that the Hudson Valley has to offer in food, wine, and service.
Chef and Owner Samir Hrichi, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, opened the restaurant in 1998 with a concept that featured local ingredients, sustainable fresh seafood, and in-house dry aged steaks. That concept remains intact eighteen years later and is supported by an ever-changing list of daily and seasonal specials. Ship to Shore has earned a loyal following of returning customers who adore the now-classic menu items and eagerly anticipate the newer creations from Samir’s globally inspired kitchen.