The Lantern Inn
A century-old tavern reimagined as a community restaurant serving wood-fired pizza and small-town charm.
About The Lantern Inn
The Lantern Inn in Wassaic is a historic community hub reimagined as a family-friendly restaurant known for its wood-fired pizzas, ramen, and inventive seasonal dishes. Housed in a 100-year-old former tavern and pool hall, the restaurant blends old-time character with a fresh, farm-to-table approach. Inside, the cozy space is filled with wood-paneled walls, vintage posters, and a lively bar that has kept one Budweiser tap running for over four decades. Outside, a gravel garden patio strung with lights and dotted with picnic tables and fire pits creates a welcoming space for families, neighbors, and visiting artists from the nearby Wassaic Project.
Led by husband-and-wife team Minh Le and Erika DaSilva, The Lantern Inn has become both a culinary destination and a true gathering place. Their collaboration with chef Johnny Dearth, formerly of Michelin-starred Faro in Brooklyn, has elevated the menu with house-made pastas, grain-focused breads, and creative takes on seasonal vegetables alongside staple burgers and pizzas. Sourcing ingredients from local farms like Maitri Farm and Harlem Valley Homestead, the kitchen emphasizes simplicity with a touch of refinement, while the beverage program showcases small-production wines, Hudson Valley craft beers, and bespoke cocktails crafted on request.
What makes The Lantern special, however, goes beyond the menu. It’s a place where locals and newcomers alike gather, bridging generations and communities in a casual, unpretentious setting. Whether sharing oysters and pizza in the garden, sipping craft beer at the bar, or exploring the arts-and-food pop-up Wassaic Newsstand next door, guests quickly find that The Lantern is more than a restaurant—it’s a cultural anchor in Dutchess County that celebrates both good food and community connection.
Led by husband-and-wife team Minh Le and Erika DaSilva, The Lantern Inn has become both a culinary destination and a true gathering place. Their collaboration with chef Johnny Dearth, formerly of Michelin-starred Faro in Brooklyn, has elevated the menu with house-made pastas, grain-focused breads, and creative takes on seasonal vegetables alongside staple burgers and pizzas. Sourcing ingredients from local farms like Maitri Farm and Harlem Valley Homestead, the kitchen emphasizes simplicity with a touch of refinement, while the beverage program showcases small-production wines, Hudson Valley craft beers, and bespoke cocktails crafted on request.
What makes The Lantern special, however, goes beyond the menu. It’s a place where locals and newcomers alike gather, bridging generations and communities in a casual, unpretentious setting. Whether sharing oysters and pizza in the garden, sipping craft beer at the bar, or exploring the arts-and-food pop-up Wassaic Newsstand next door, guests quickly find that The Lantern is more than a restaurant—it’s a cultural anchor in Dutchess County that celebrates both good food and community connection.
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