Landau Grill… Woodstock Comfort Food

The Landau Grill occupies a building that has been a drinking spot in Woodstock for as long as I’ve been around. Before the Landau, this building housed the local Irish pub. Back in the day, the Irish pub was one of Woodstock’s music venues. I played there.

So, I’m back to my virtual tour of Woodstock. I’ve done about half of the main business district.

What distinguishes the Landau is its large outdoor seating area. During the warm weather months, the tourists and bikers flock to the Landau to enjoy the breeze and to eat comfort food. The restaurant makes a stab at trendy menu offerings, but that’s just Woodstock. I’d be willing to bet that a quarter of their business is the hamburger deluxe… and it’s pretty good. Fresh cut fries make a big difference.

My favorite is the Landau’s meatloaf served in a casserole dish, topped with mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy. Try an ale or a stout from the bar as an accompaniment. That’s one of the hangovers from the bar’s day as an Irish pub… heavy beers.

Woodstock’s drinkers have been hanging out, watching sporting events on TV and shooting the breeze at the bar for decades. This bar is not a hangout for the radical political crowd. No, this remains a good old boy enclave.

As I said, back in the heyday of Woodstock’s music scene, the main room at Landau was a music venue. Not a serious songwriter venue, but a good time scene. Kentucky Kate and I played there with our string band. Irish bands served up jigs and reels.

The season in Woodstock used to run from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Now, as long as the sun shines, the tourists make their pilgrimage to the world’s most famous small town. So, next time you make the daytrip, stop in for lunch or a drink at the Landau Grill. The place is almost always packed. The food is reliable and moderately priced.

I take my daughter out to dinner occasionally at the Landau. If you stop in, you might even meet Shouting Thomas.