Red's Restaurant: Serving Seafood in the Hudson Valley

Thanks to Red’s Restaurant, serving fried fish off a boat in Coxsackie, you can get your summer seafood fix without leaving the Catskills. Granted, the boat is docked in a parking lot, but it’s surrounded by giant planters that overflow with beachgrass and the fish is fried-to-order, crisply battered on the outside and juicy within.

Scallop rolls and shrimp rolls prepared to order at Red’s Fish Fry Boat in the Catskills.

With ample indoor and outdoor seating, Red’s works for a family dinner or a date night. They cover all bases from cocktails to kiddie fare, and they’ll bring a taste of the beach to your landlocked heart.

Freshly fried seafood on a boat in the Catskills: no ocean required.

Seriously, though, whose idea was it to dock a boat in a parking lot and sell seafood through a takeout window? This is the kind of gimmick I can get behind! I love every bit of it.

Outdoor dining in the Hudson Valley: picnic tables at Red’s with a fine mountain view.

If you’re ordering from the boat, seating is available at nearby picnic tables. If you’d prefer to order from the full menu, there’s a large covered patio with table service and an indoor dining room. It’s a good idea to call ahead and reserve a table in advance, as Red’s is a local favorite.

Outdoor covered seating at Red’s in the Hudson Valley.

Red’s has one of the most extensive kids’ menus I’ve ever seen. The sliders were a big hit with Ramona, and Archer loved the mac and cheese, which was made with trumpets from the nearby Sfoglini factory. Plus, they’ve got a solid beer, wine, and cocktail menu, along with some delicious soft drinks, like the lavender lemonade that Ramona is sipping below.

Lavender lemonade at Red’s.

Inside the restaurant, wood paneling, wall-to-wall carpeting, and leather-backed chairs offer a midcentury captain’s quarters vibe—with the modern convenience of air conditioning.

The dining room at Red’s Restaurant in Coxsackie.

I wouldn’t bring rambunctious little ones to the indoor dining room, but kids are free to frolic in the field behind the parking lot at sunset.

Thankful for our friend Clare, who took the girls running through the grass after dinner.

Red’s Restaurant is located at 12005 State Route 9W, West Coxsackie, NY; 518-731-8151. Open Wednesday through Sunday 11:30am to 9pm; closed for vacation 9/4/23 through 9/12/23. Check out their website to confirm hours and to reserve a table.

>>> Looking for more seafood spots in the Catskills? Check out Tanners Boat House in Tannersville!