While there are plenty of Italian restaurants across the Hudson Valley, there are a select few that go the extra mile when it comes to making their dishes.

The newest season of Netflix's popular documentary series Chef's Table focusses on the one food that brings the whole world together: pasta. Watching just one minute of the show makes you want to immediately find a bowl of your own... but who's doing it the best in Ulster County?

Handmade pasta
There are some brilliant handmade pasta options in Ulster County, NY
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The Best Handmade Pasta in Ulster County, NY

"I am looking for a local Italian restaurant that makes their own pasta, any suggestions?". The question in a local Facebook group immediately set the comment section on fire, with pasta lovers from across the Hudson Valley all lending their favorite choice. Several in particular, however, rose above the rest.

Annarella's in Saugerties, NY
Annarella's in Saugerties is a popular Italian option with some handmade pasta dishes as well (Google)
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#3 For Handmade Pasta: Annarella Ristorante in Saugerties, NY

Annarella came highly recommended from several different sources. Specializing in Tuscan cuisine, Annarella's offers dishes ranging from specialty seafood to Italian classics. While not all of their pasta dishes are handmade, their tonnarelli con aragosta (thin pasta with lobster) is made in-house.

Lombardi's Italian restaurant in Gardiner, NY
Lombardi's in Gardiner, NY prides themselves on handmade pastas (google)
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#2 For Handmade Pasta: Lombardi's in Gardiner, NY

Lombardi's in Gardiner, NY has been serving Ulster County diners for a half century, and prides themselves on handmade pasta for every dish, ranging from ravioli and manicotti to fettuccini and spaghetti. Patrons are big fans of their homemade bread, too.

The Downtown Cafe in Kingston, NY
The Downtown Cafe in Kingston, NY was the highest recommended destination for handmade pasta (Google)
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#1 For Handmade Pasta: Downtown Cafe in Kingston, NY

Far and away, the most-recommended destination for handmade pasta was the Downtown Cafe in Kingston, NY ("if they aren’t suggesting Graziano’s Downtown Café in Kingston, they really don’t have your best interest at heart", offered one comment). The restaurant is located at 91 Broadway in Kingston, NY.

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Travel Writer Picks His Top 12 Upstate New York Italian Restaurants

Over the last 15 years or so, I have driven thousands of miles all around Upstate New York researchi8ng and exploring places for my 12 travel guides published for this area. Almost always, when it comes to dinner time, whether in Buffalo, Ithaca, or the Hudson Valley, I head to an Italian restaurant for a meal. And, yes, over these many years and miles I do have favorites. Here are a dozen of them!

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

Holidays in Upstate New York Mean Italian Cookies, Gelato, and the Legendary Tom and Jerry Drink

Many holiday tables across Upstate New York this season will feature Italian treats like Christmas cookies and gelato. Italian-Americans, in fact, make up the largest nationality from which Upstaters can trace their DNA back to the Old Country.

In this gallery, we highlight several top places to get your Italian Christmas cookies this year. Also, take a look at the gelato shops we feature. A colorful Italian cookie and a fresh scoop of homemade gelato. What a pair.

But what about the Tom and Jerry? Have you ever had one? Have you ever heard of it? It is quite a legend in Upstate New York, and we list a couple of places that have been serving this unusual holiday drink for as long as 100 years.

Mangia!

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

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