Unsung Eats: The KShack in New Lebanon

Drive through New Lebanon on Route 20, and you may notice something a little different: a colorful, comics-esque sign for The KShack. It’s easy to pass if you’re on a mission from Pittsfield to Albany or from New York City to the Berkshires, but this roadside food stand, set off the main drag on Tilden Lane, is worth a stop. In each travel direction.

A hit with locals and second-home owners since its opening on July 4th weekend, the KShack is owned by Kelly Hagan, who might just be the world’s nicest badass. (How badass? She’s a motorcycle safety instructor for the military.) Hagan is originally from the area and has lived in Florida for several years. When she started thinking about a return, New Lebanon—and its growing creative community—was first on her list.

The KShack roadside eatery boasts a menu that encourages communal dining among vegetarians and meat eaters; photo by Robin Catalano.

“Well it’s set way back in the middle of a field
Just a funky old shack and I gotta get back”
The B-52’s

The looser, funkier sister of Sheffield’s Bistro Box, the KShack serves elevated comfort foods. They’re made mostly from local—and sometimes even down-the-street hyperlocal—ingredients, including vegetables from the Abode of the Message’s top-rate farm and kielbasa from nearby Button Hollow Farm.

The menu changes according to the availability of seasonal foods, and includes favorites like chicken pot pie, dry-rubbed barbecue ribs, and a hefty, hearty cheeseburger with local bacon. Vegetarians can choose from the Israeli couscous salad with radishes, walnuts, goat cheese, and arugula; beet salad with goat cheese, walnuts, and a tangy vinaigrette; and a crispy-creamy pepita pesto sandwich made with Four Fat Fowl’s stellar St. Stephen triple cream cheese. Don’t miss the hand-cut onion rings and truffle parmesan fries, and housemade lemonade and limeade.

Generous portions of hearty, healthy food will likely attract a loyal following; photo by Robin Catalano.

And save room for dessert. The KShack serves a short list of Barts Ice Cream, made in Amherst with no-growth-hormone milks and non-GMO sugar cane, as well as fresh baked desserts made on premise by ‘Shirl’ The Baker.

Hagan and company hope to be making appearances at other local venues, such as the new Roaring 20s Brewery & Taphouse, scheduled to open in December. The KShack itself, and its laid-back picnic area, are open through October, and will return again with the warm weather in the late spring. So head to this funky little shack and get your fill before the roadside-food season ends.

Robin Catalano

Robin Catalano believes in the power of storytelling to connect communities and cultures. She’s applied her creative approach to writing for magazines, books, blogs, websites, and a wide variety of marketing projects, and has published more than 75 articles and 1,000+ blog posts. As an editor, she has worked on more than 350 books for publishers including Penguin Random House, Workman, and Simon & Schuster. She has also served as a book coach for independent authors, helping them take their ideas from concept to print. An avid traveler and travel writer, Robin lives, reads, and writes voraciously in upstate NY.

1 Comment

Kelly Hagan says:

September 26, 2019 at 10:08 pm

Thanks so much Robin for writing and posting about The KShack! Excellent!

I wanted to respectfully let you know – it was Kielbasa from Button Hollow Farms… also, we have only heard through the grapevine re the ‘Roaring 20’s’ micro brew, I do not know their intentions or if that is exact name or date of the venue opening…Apologies for any miscommunications. We are excited for the new venue and look forward to another awesome place in the community!

The KShack does happily serve Bart’s Ice Cream. We also have fresh baked (Locally sources when possible) desserts made on premise by ‘Shirl’ The Baker.

Thanks again Robin for stopping by ! Thank you thank you…
Sincerely,
Kelly Hagan
The KShack