At first glance, Main Street in the Village of Tannersville appears to end just past the Village Hall, where a row of decaying buildings marks a boundary many tourists rarely cross. But now, there’s a compelling reason to venture further up the street. Nestled on the left-hand side, in the building once occupied by Bear and Fox Provisions, is Lucky Catskills, an Asian cafe unlike any other on the mountaintop.
Lucky Catskills is the creation of Patty Wu, who modeled the cafe after the bustling Chinese cafés in New York City’s Chinatown, where she grew up. “It’s a culture of grab-and-go food,” Wu explained. “We’ve combined it with Western-style lattes but with Asian flavors.”
Lucky Catskills isn’t just another coffee shop. It’s a harmonious fusion of East and West, where traditional Asian treats meet modern coffee culture. The café offers a unique range of Asian-flavored lattes, including a red bean latte, a toasted coconut latte, and the standout miso-caramel latte. Wu credits Head Barista Olivia Wood for the miso-caramel and gochujang caramel lattes, which features a house-made caramel infused with gochujang—a Korean red pepper paste known for its sweet and savory complexity.
“You’re combining something savory and sweet,” Wu said, highlighting the boldness of the flavor combinations.
The gochujang caramel latte is particularly notable. “It’s slightly sweet with a kick similar to mole,” Wu explained. Lucky Catskills also serves Vietnamese-style coffee that is “incredible,” according to Wu. “Instead of brewing the coffee traditionally with a phin, we brew a double shot of espresso and add some hot water to match the 4oz brew of the phin. It is then mixed with a hefty serving of sweetened condensed milk. This drink packs a punch with espresso and is definitely for people with a sweet tooth and a coffee addiction.” A phin is a traditional Vietnamese coffee maker consisting of a perforated plate, brewing chamber, tamper, and lid, designed for a slow, drip-style extraction.
Lucky Catskills offers a selection of traditional Asian snacks and desserts that are hard to find anywhere else on the mountaintop. The baked custard bun, for example, is a milk bread with a sugar cookie crust—a delightful mix of soft and crunchy textures. The cafe also serves baked pork buns and steamed pork dumplings, priced at $7 for five pieces.
Patrons can also explore a variety of Asian snacks, including Lychee gummy candy from Japan. Wu describes lychee as a “fragrant and sweet fruit with floral notes.” She added, “The flavor of lychee fruit is described in a few different ways. Some say it tastes like a cross between a strawberry and a watermelon, while others taste a blend of citrus and rose water.”
The inspiration behind Lucky Catskills stems from Wu’s desire to recreate the flavors of her youth. “I wanted a place to recreate the flavor profiles of my childhood,” Wu said, reflecting on her upbringing in NYC’s Chinatown. The café is a tribute to her Taiwanese heritage while celebrating flavors from Korea, Japan, and China.
The influence of Wu’s background is evident throughout the menu, from the Japanese curry she plans to introduce—”sweeter than Indian curry and not spicy”—to the Tonkatsu ramen special, featuring a rich pork bone-based broth, crispy pork belly, shiitake mushrooms, baby bok choy, and menma, a Japanese condiment made from fermented bamboo shoots. “You can even add a jammy egg and fishcake,” Wu said with a smile.
The journey to opening Lucky Catskills began after Wu and her husband, David Schneider, ran The Notch at the Colonial Golf Course in 2022. It was there that they started experimenting with Asian street food. “We knew there were people who wanted Asian-style food,” Wu said. “They didn’t want just Chinese takeout.” This realization led them to create a café that blends authentic Asian flavors with modern culinary trends.
Schneider, who also opened Tabla on Main Street, serves as the head chef at Lucky Catskills. The couple has been together since high school and has been married for 35 years. “David has been eating the same foods as me since he was sixteen,” Patty said, laughing. Their deep connection to each other and to the region played a pivotal role in establishing Lucky Catskills in Tannersville.
Patty and David first discovered the mountaintop while visiting David’s family in Columbia County in the mid-90s. They eventually bought a house in Lanesville, which was once used by the Videofreex, a group of 1970s video artists known for pioneering independent video production.
Wu’s investment in the local community is apparent through her cafe and role as a part-owner at Sundry, another popular spot on Main Street. She emphasized the importance of revitalizing this end of the Village. “We need to have this end of the Village open,” Wu said, referring to the run-down buildings across the street.
Looking to the future, Wu has plans to host pop-up events featuring guest chefs and Tiki bar drinks, further enriching the cultural landscape of Tannersville.
Lucky Catskills is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday through Tuesday.
With its unique menu, cultural roots, and commitment to community revitalization, Lucky Catskills is more than just a cafe—it symbolizes good fortune for Tannersville.