Leslie Firtell and Michelle Morgan began thinking about the whole concept not long after purchasing their Olivebridge house back in 2014, and grew even more motivated as they found themselves, like so many transplants, becoming full-time Rondout Valley folks when COVID-19 hit in 2020: Such a beautiful place. So many wonderful people, most of them living rurally and widely scattered. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a really cool place to hang out and socialize? Something more than a restaurant. A place to eat, gather, connect, and feel a part of the community.
“You could be living right next door to someone who could be a best friend but never actually meet them,” Morgan says. “We were thinking of how many great friends we’ve made since moving here and realizing that the geography being the way it is meant that there were probably many more amazing people who we just don’t happen to meet, who may never meet each other.” Firtell, an attorney who built and sold her legal staffing business in 2023, and Morgan, an OB-GYN, had never dabbled in the restaurant world but know the ins and outs of running a human-focused business, and, socially, both enjoy being around people and entertaining them, which is at the heart of hospitality. “Michelle and I both love having people over to the house, learning about their lives and what they love or don’t love, mingling, and eating together,” Firtell says. “Our vision was to create an environment where that kind of energy could flourish, more than it typically does in a restaurant, where you come in, sit down, eat, and leave, and you may only get up to use the restroom.
“Our vision was to create an environment where that kind of energy could flourish, more than it typically does in a restaurant." – Co-Owner Leslie Firtell
We knew we wanted to offer great food, but we wanted more of the vibe of becoming part of our shared space where people would feel comfortable speaking with their neighboring table or sharing a couch with people they never met before. Something sophisticated yet approachable, and welcoming to everyone.” To that end, in addition to traditional dining tables on two levels, Accord Social features comfy couches, armchairs, and coffee tables amid high ceilings and lots of natural light, with glorious views. One wall stretches from a cozy bar down a glass-fronted expanse, the beverage wall, that’s designed to provide freedom of choice and plenty of opportunities for conversation: it’s largely self-service, and guests are given a card that tracks what they have chosen to pour, from three-ounce tastes to full glasses and cocktails.
“It encourages mingling and chatting and lets you experiment with trying new things you might not have otherwise ordered,” Morgan says. “You can do some adventurous tasting—three ounces of this and three ounces of that, then a full glass when you find the perfect wine. Our standard wine glass is six ounces—most places it’s five—and we’re able to offer things by the glass that most places can’t, because the wall preserves the bottle carefully for a whole month. So you can have that special-occasion glass of something really fancy without committing to the entire bottle, or you can try three ounces of a red and three ounces of a white before choosing which one you want with dinner.”
Getting up to pour one’s own beverage isn’t mandatory; there’s a full-service bar, and servers will of course bring you whatever you want. But it adds to the house-party feel, making a great excuse to wander a little before settling back down into your cozy spot on the couch, where the server may just be arriving with a share-friendly charcuterie board.
Guests are loving the experience—in addition to the beverage wall and sense of camaraderie—the food is at the heart of Accord Social.
Guests are loving the experience; in addition to the beverage wall and sense of camaraderie, the food is at the heart of Accord Social. Their culinary team, composed of a strong and talented team of locals, is passionate about creating modern Italian food that feels both elevated and approachable, using fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients, bold flavors and creative preparation. “In just our first two months, we’ve continued to evolve the menu—listening to our guests, experimenting with new dishes, and refining the food as we discover what Accord Social can become. What makes us especially proud is the dedication of the people in our kitchen. Behind every plate is a team working incredibly hard, learning together, supporting one another, and sharing our commitment to creating food that gives people another reason to gather around the table,” Morgan says.
Many menu items are sourced from neighboring farms such as Saunderskill and Barthel’s, just minutes away; there’s a focus on local foods paired with a willingness to explore the globe as necessary.
“We’ve hired people who share our vision to create something truly special in the Hudson Valley, and our servers in particular all grew up around here,” Firtell says. “It’s so adorable watching our hostess welcome her old teacher to the community’s new spot. We’re gratified that most of the people who come in are also locals; they seem really thrilled to find us, and they come back again and again.”
There’s a rewards program for returning guests; all kids’ meals are just $12, and the idea is to offer something for everyone: inexpensive wines that are nonetheless deliciously drinkable, menu options that don’t break the bank. “We’ve taken care to make sure it’s not just directed to a certain, you know, aspirational lifestyle,” Morgan says. “And on the other hand, if it’s your birthday or your special upstate weekend, we have a fabulous steak that’s not inexpensive, but it’ll leave you delighted and satiated.”
Many menu items are sourced from neighboring farms such as Saunderskill and Barthel’s, just minutes away; there’s a focus on local foods paired with a willingness to explore the globe as necessary. “We love offering cheese and charcuterie items you don’t find everywhere,” Firtell says. “We love the Red Beard cheese from Chaseholm Farms in Pine Plains, for example.…Our menu will change with the seasons and adapt to the best new discoveries we make as we go along.”
Many menu items are sourced from neighboring farms such as Saunderskill and Barthel’s, just minutes away; there’s a focus on local foods paired with a willingness to explore the globe as necessary. “We love offering cheese and charcuterie items
Stop in for Mahjong Mondays in a setting that was conceived to encourage one and all to enjoy great food and each other’s company. Or just stop in to nosh and relax.
Getting Accord Social up and running before it opened in summer ’26, including its brand-new purpose-built home, was a challenge, one that both the owners and their allies took on with joy, seasoned with laughter as needed. Now, with the grass filled in on the back field that will host firepit fun and adult kickball when the weather breaks, and the memories and moments accumulating, the team is savoring every bite.
“I was talking to these three women who came up to see their family,” Firtell says. “They were raised in Stone Ridge. One still lives in Kingston, one lives in Florida, one lives on Long Island now, and they were just so happy. ‘Thank you for putting this here, we wish we had this when we were growing up here.’” Come spring, it will be time for kickball and lawn games on the spacious field with its stunning Gunks panorama. For now, stop in for Mahjong Mondays (all skill levels welcome!)—and whatever other indoor amusements the team may have dreamt up by the time you’re reading this—in a setting that’s artfully conceived to encourage one and all to enjoy great food and each other’s company. Or just stop in to nosh and relax.
“We had such a great experience!” a local diner says on Google Reviews. “The food was delicious from start to finish, and the servers took great care of us—attentive but never rushed. Portions were generous and the prices felt more than fair. This restaurant has amazing views, it's clean and comfortable plus they have my favorite tequila! Will definitely be back.”
“What we're hearing, actually, from all of our guests is they're just so excited that there's a comfortable place to come and eat and hang out without having to drive a long way,” Morgan says. “And some of them drive all the way from Kingston or New Paltz to get here, which surprised us at first—neither of those lacks restaurants. But we’re trying to do something just a bit different here, and as we get into the rhythm of it, it just keeps getting more and more fun. It’s definitely a love project.”
ACCORD SOCIAL
4977 Route 209, Accord
845-253-0173 accordsocialny.com
