BANQUE – 544 Warren Street, Hudson, NY

The Space:

When you walk into the restaurant Banque at 544 Warren Street, you are inspired. The high ceilings and windows lift your gaze and soul upwards, like a cathedral, while the hanging light fixtures, murals, and terrazzo floor help ground you. Although still in Hudson, the restaurant’s design evokes elegant midtown Manhattan from the 1920s or 30s. One can imagine Audrey Hepburn sitting in a corner booth with a large brimmed hat, or Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis wearing small white gloves, on her lunch break from the publishing world. The building’s architects, Shreve, Lamb & Harmon, designed many Art Deco buildings, including the Empire State Building. 544 Warren was previously a wooden Victorian-era bank that burned (confirmed by the Hudson Area Library’s History Room) and in 1927, was rebuilt to last, in brick and stone.

“The building had different lives,” says owner, Arden, who used to visit Hudson around fourteen years ago while attending Bard, “in the ’90s, it was a piano repair and recital space, then an antique shop. There was an apartment upstairs.” The ceiling above the bar in the back is an example of the height of the former drop ceiling.

“There were fragments of ceiling leftover and we were able to recreate the crown molding and ceiling coffering. The windows [on the right] were not here; they were bricked up. The window panes were not there. With the removal of the bricks, there’s metal plating on the exterior to reinforce the wall. There’s all new plumbing and electrical. It was a structurally-intense renovation. With COVID, and its restrictions, the renovation lasted several years.”

“Murals on the wall done by a friend, Rachel Hearn,” says Arden “the paintings are food-related plants and flowers. There are cacao orchids, vanilla bean orchids and almond blossoms. I want it to feel relevant, and beautiful.”

The Food:

“The menu has an all-day concept,” explains Arden, “The morning and afternoon menu are one. You can have breakfast at 3pm – which speaks to the experience you want to have in Hudson. The local community can come in and grab an egg sandwich or pop across the street in the middle of the day for a salad. The menu was created with the intention of having a breakfast and lunch spot that feels approachable, while using great ingredients with a focus on quality. Our egg sandwiches are on house-made rolls. Our avocado toast is made on focaccia baked in house. Everything is done in house. All of our pastries and gelato are made in house. The chocolate is made in house. We have a full production facility downstairs. We do everything (literally) from the ground up.”

The croissants range in price from a standard croissant for $6 to a more elaborate croissant for $12. These pastries are all-out desserts, one is a lot to eat, and some may want to split them. You can sit down for table service or order from the counter, and take a pastry to-go in a powder blue box.

A deluxe croissant from Banque can be like a bouquet of flowers – a special gift. It can be a thank gift, a way to brighten someone’s day or a small reminder that you are thinking of them.

At some point, you must try the hot chocolate. It is listed on the menu, simply as ‘Hot Chocolate’, but it is not like any simple hot chocolate. It’s rich and smooth, like a cup of melted dark chocolate. It will redefine hot chocolate for you.

The Staff:

Banque employs twenty-six people and all but two are locals. When you walk in, you may be greeted by a someone you know or recognize from around town. Everyone is very friendly, courteous, and approachable. They care about your experience at Banque and want you to feel comfortable.

Banque is the epitome of the Emily Post quote:

“Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.” – Emily Post

Pet-friendly:

What may be the best thing about Banque? It’s completely pet-friendly. The kitchen is separated from the dining area, and pets are welcomed.

Stop in and give Banque a try – tell them Trixie sent you!