Bursting onto the dining scene in the popular Hudson Valley destination town of Woodstock, A&P Bar opened its doors this past June and everyone took notice. For this charming and casual town, A&P Bar is a change of pace, offering top-notch drinks—with an impressive array of homemade shrubs, bitters, and syrups—and a comforting yet eclectic menu for urban dining in the country.
A&P is the brainchild of seasoned restauranteurs and husband and wife team Pierre-Luc Moeys and Nina Paturel and their business partner Gemma D’Entrone. In this new venture, they aspire to bring something different to the area. The team’s philosophy for A&P is a simple one: comfort and contrast. “We believe that food should be for everyone,” Luc says.
“People should feel comfortable, but it’s exciting to show people contrast.”
That philosophy manifests in A&P’s two-part menu, which is broken down into “comfort” and “contrast” options. A “comfort” option for a cocktail would be something like a classic Manhattan, Luc explains, while a “contrast” option could be a lemon-meringue-pie cocktail. Likewise, A&P’s robust food menu features the same duality. Guests can choose from staples like hamburgers and shepherd’s pie alongside more unique, adventurous dishes that showcase international styles and flavors. “We wanted to have the comfort food people know and love,” Nina says, “[but] you can also come in and try different things depending on your mood.” Located in Woodstock’s old video store on Mill Hill Road and named for the famed grocery store that once inhabited the space, A&P Bar has plentiful indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant boasts three floors, including a mezzanine perfect for private events.
Nina spearheaded the design of the restaurant, which was a cold industrial space with “a lot of concrete” when the team first found it. “We had to warm it up,” Nina says.
Nina says. “I tried to add a lot of warm things like wood, tile, color, and cozy corners.” Equipped with a strong creative vision, Nina commissioned an incredible lineup of Hudson Valley artisans to create a space that celebrates the community, not only in its use of local produce, but also in its structure and design. From the stunning 30-foot tiger maple bar top to hand-fired plates and bowls, hand-sewn staff aprons, and a throwback, custom A&P neon sign, a sense of pride and appreciation for the Hudson Valley’s world-class local artistry is evident.
Luc and Nina, who founded Oriole 9, Lekker, Yum Yum and Café with Love, bring all their experience to the table (literally). Gemma adds international management and client service experience to create a strong partnership that celebrates community, a love of food, and great cocktails with an international twist. Much like the menu, this crew embodies contrast:
“We’ll be offering a lot of different things, but it’s the clientele that decides who we really are. We’re going to listen very closely to them.” —Pierre-Luc Moeys, Co-owner and Chef
“We have a local but international team,” says Gemma. “I’m British, Luc’s Dutch, Nina is a Woodstock native, our chief mixologist hails from South Africa, and our sommelier is French; it’s a great blend of perspectives and influences.” Luc, Nina, and Gemma hope to attract a diverse, international crowd while staying true to the small town they love. It’s an ambitious goal, Luc admits, but for this team, it’s sure to come to fruition. “We really want to create a place that fits in with the Woodstock community,” Luc says. “We’ll be offering a lot of different things, but it’s the clientele that decides who we really are. We’re going to listen very closely to them.”
a&p bar
83 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock
845-684-5395
bottomsup@aandpbar.com
www.aandpbar.com
