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Tivoli Restaurant Always Evolving

TIVOLI, N.Y. -- There's always something interesting cooking at Panzur in Tivoli.

Rei Peraza.

Rei Peraza.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Rei Peraza.

Rei Peraza.

Photo Credit: Contributed

The farm to table restaurant, which specializes in New American Cuisine, has been in Tivoli for six years.

"We do a very progressive menu," owner and chef Rei Peraza said. "We are always evolving, we're always changing. We do a lot of fun things that are outside the box. We do what we do and we hope you like it."

Looking to open up a restaurant, Peraza admits Tivoli wasn't initially on his radar screen.

"We didn't really know much about it," Peraza said. "But then we came to see it and we saw how close it was to Rhinebeck and Hudson. We thought it was a cool town."

Peraza said he likes the small-town feel that Tivoli provides.

"You pretty much know you're always going to see certain people," Peraza said. "Customers will e-mail me if they're not coming in on a certain day. A lot of our friendships have stemmed from owning this restaurant."

Peraza is often driving around the Hudson Valley, visiting farms and getting the freshest ingredients. 

"It's the right way of doing business," Peraza said. "I want to service the best product I can for my guests. All restaurants should be serving local products."

The food at Panzur is made with a lot of passion with the menu often being printed two to three times a week.

"Being stagnant scares me the most," Peraza said. "I'm always pushing to make myself better. 

Menu highlights include a pig belly with a sour cherry-sherry glaze and french fries with scallion, calabrian pecorino and smoked aioli.

"We put a ridiculous ton of energy into our fries," Peraza said. "People love them."

Customers, especially first-timers will have their palates challenged when they come to Panzur.

"Nothing is more painful than when a four-top comes in and the first courses are all the same- two chickens and two steaks," Peraza said. "We try hard to change the way people eat. We want people to order dishes in waves. It's a much more dynamic experience. We do what we do and we hope people understand us and like it."

Panzur is at 69 Broadway in Tivoli. For more information, contact 845-757-1071 or visit www.panzur.com

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