Catskill might not be the first destination that comes to mind when one imagines authentic Mediterranean food and drink, but manager Denise McCarroll and chef Salah Alygad, founders of 394 Main Mediterranean Bistro, aim to change that.
The space is quaint with a marble-topped bar and high beam ceilings—an ideal spot for fine dining with a casual, cozy ambiance.
Denise, a Greene County native, and Salah opened 394 Main after 13 years of experience in food service at Friends and Family ll in Stone Ridge. Since the restaurant and wine bar’s launch in April 2018, 394 Main has wowed local diners and food savvy out-of-towners alike. The menu’s keen focus on Mediterranean-style cuisine—think homemade hummus, homemade falafel and taboulleh, simply accented meat entrées— is a nod to Salah, who hails from Egypt. “Although he can cook food from all over the world well, it seemed an excellent idea to accentuate Mediterranean food,” Denise recalls. “And that’s how it began.”
394 Main Mediterranean Bistro is known for its fine selection of wines, including varieties from France, Italy, Spain, and Israel. The space is quaint with a marble-topped bar and high beam ceilings—an ideal spot for fine dining with a casual, cozy ambiance. Denise’s small staff is “close-knit” and specializes in friendly service. (Denise recommends calling to make a reservation on weekends due to limited space and high demand.) Outdoor seating is available on the bustling Main Street sidewalk, and is ideal for warm summer nights and getting a feel for the downtown Catskill scene.
Outdoor seating is available on the bustling Main Street sidewalk, and is ideal for warm summer nights and getting a feel for the downtown Catskill scene.
394 Main Mediterranean Bistro is known for its fine selection of wines, including varieties from France, Italy, Spain, and Israel.
Culture plays a big part in the bistro’s appeal with locals, too. On the fourth Monday of every month, creatives Robert Tomlinson and Michelle Williams host 394Spoken, a regular open mic night for poets, artists, and musicians. The event runs from 5:30 to 8pm and includes a full-service bar and special “Starving Artist Dinner” for a $5 entry fee. (It’s also co-sponsored by Magpie Bookshop, Denise’s neighbor over at 392 Main Street in Catskill.)
Above all, Denise is overjoyed to be one of the many small business proprietors working to put Catskill on the map as a cultural hub. “Catskill is really experiencing a comeback,” she says, “and it’s fun to be a part of it.”
394 Main is open Wednesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, and Sunday for brunch.
394 Main Mediterranean Bistro
394 Main Street, Catskill
518-947-4774
394 Main is open Wednesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, and Sunday for brunch.
