A Review of Greene, NY's Silo Restaurant and Carriage House

The Silo Restaurant provides a wonderful atmosphere for brunch, dinner or even a special occasion that requires that extra special touch. The Silo Restaurant overlooks a valley and diners have three comfortable rooms to choose from in which to dine. The Restaurant is decorated with a country theme throughout and diners will enjoy the beautifully landscaped gardens and spacious window views. The Silo Restaurant is well known in the area for its Sunday brunch and Friday seafood buffets.

The Silo was originally built in 1967 and called "Ye Olde Silo". It closed in 1972 until purchased by the current owners, the Kurz family in 1973 and reopened in 1974 under the name, The Silo. In 1985, a fire threatened to destroy the family business, but with the community's support, son Gary who now owns and operates the establishment, was able to reopen several months later that year. During this time, a banquet room was added to accommodate up to 300 people and the gardens were landscaped, making The Silo an ideal place for weddings and other celebrations.

Coat check service is available at The Silo Restaurant, which is a rarity these days. After being escorted to one's seat, you will find an elegantly set table, complete with linen napkins, water goblets and bread and butter dishes. If you are there for one of the buffets, a waiter or waitress will take your drink order and then you may start serving yourself from one of the many tables. There is a salad bar, complete with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and every topping you can think of; a table full of hot entrees and sides, a carving station, a dessert table and if you are there for brunch, two tables staffed to make fresh waffles or eggs of any kind using single burners.

On Friday evenings, The Silo boasts its Friday Night Buffet Extravaganza from 4-9 pm for $21.95 per person. Choices include all you can eat iced shrimp, crab legs, seafood newburgh, broiled fish, fried seafood of all kinds, freshly carved roast beef, ham, turkey, sides and all sorts of desserts to choose from. Perhaps even better known for its Sunday brunch, The Silo serves its all you can eat buffet every Sunday from 10am-2 pm, providing everything from breakfast to lunch for hungry diners for only $15.95. You can start your meal off with a complimentary glass of champagne, Bloody Mary or Mimosa (champagne and orange juice) which a waitress will provide you with. Then you are on your own as you select and sample from the dozens of entrée and side choices. Examples include turkey, ham or roast beef carved right in front of your own eyes, seafood newburgh, chicken and beef dishes, rice and dozens of desserts such as puddings, coconut or chocolate cake, cheesecake, Danish, or pastry.

I prefer the breakfast options and always enjoy watching a cook make me a fresh Belgian waffle or omelet with my choices of ingredients such as bacon, onion, cheeses or vegetables added. The Belgian waffle is one of my favorite dishes at The Silo. Its crispy exterior and fluffy, buttery insides make for a delicious breakfast treat. Toppings include whipped cream, strawberries, blueberries with sauce, or if you prefer the good old fashioned way, maple syrup and butter. After dropping off my egg or waffle at my table, I like to get a clean plate and select from the serving dishes of crisp bacon, browned sausage, delicious corned beef, mini bagels, roasted potatoes and Danish.

For diners that prefer to order off the menu, The Silo offers a large selection of appetizers, including French onion soup, bacon wrapped BBQ shrimp, mozzarella sticks, shrimp cocktail, clams casino, stuffed mushrooms, and even escargot for the more refined and daring diner. Entrees include pasta dishes such as pasta primavera ($13.00), fettucine a la Silo (fettucine served with sautéed ham, mushroom, pecorino and romano cheeses, cream and sherry) for $15.00, baked manicotti ($13.00); or chicken dishes such as good old chicken parmesan served over pasta ($15.00), chicken picatta or chicken marsala (both $16.00) and different dishes such as the stuffed greek chicken (chicken breast stuffed with spinach and feta cheeses) for $18.00 and the coconut chicken (chicken breast dredged in coconut, sautéed and served with fresh pineapple and a coconut sauce) for $16.00. Veal lovers will enjoy veal marsala, scallopini or cutlets (all $19.00). Those who would like to try ostrich can do so with one of The Silo's original dishes: the Ostrich Saltimbocca or Ostrich Madiera ($23-25). Naturally, a restaurant that serves a Seafood Buffet will also have menu offerings including shrimp scampi ($19.00), a full pound of Alaskan snow crab legs at a bargain price of $20.00), scallops ($19.00), haddock dishes and for those wanting to sample a bit of each, the Broiled Seafood Platter for $30.00 including lobster tail, haddock, shrimp, scallops, crab legs, and clams casino.

The wait staff is typically friendly and quick to provide drinks or serve you freshly carved roast beef slices or cooked egg dishes. The atmosphere is beautiful and provides diners with a more refined dining experience than the usual restaurant. On sunny days in the spring and summer, diners may even take a ride on the horse drawn buggy outside in the gardens. The beautifully landscaped gardens would make a spectacular backdrop for wedding photos. When dining at The Silo, I prefer the Sunday brunch buffet as The Silo boasts the most selections at an affordable price as compared to any other brunch place in the area. We have dined off the menu on a few occasions and have not been as thrilled with some of the inconsistencies in service or food. The Greek Chicken however is delicious and cooked to perfection. The brunch however is typically consistent and the dining experience fun. In addition, the drive to The Silo for those from out of town is pleasant and a stop at some of the antique stores or variety store (a 5 and 10 store) in downtown Greene is a refreshing reminder of days gone past.