09/29/08

Ibiza Steps into Boe@324

One of the tough things about keeping up with restaurants is that while they open to big fanfare (with boasting, self-generated press releases), they close with barely a wheeze. So it went with Boe@324 www.boeat324.com, which packed it in three weeks ago, having not lasted long enough to make it into the bi-ennial Zagat guide. I’m afraid we’re going to be saying that a lot this year, folks.

In its place is stepping Spanish food/tapas bar, which makes it about the thousandth in Westchester. (Can’t you really blame them? It’s a great business model—lots of high profit drinking and small plates.) Boe@324’s replacement is called Ibiza, and it’s operated by the folks behind...

Posted at 09:56 AM | Permalink | Comments: 1

09/24/08

Tarrygram

So—we dropped by Tarry Lodge last week, trying to guage an opening date for the most highly anticipated restaurant in Westchester ever, and here’s what we found. According to a surprisingly helpful unnamed cook, who didn’t throw us out on our butt after we barged unannounced into his kitchen (in our day, we’d have thrown a pan at us), Tarry Lodge will be open on Friday September 26th, pending a final kitchen inspection scheduled for September 19th. While we were loitering (all ears), we spotted Executive Chef Andy Nusser orienting a new staffer. We didn’t bug him—he has a lot on his hands.

We did however notice that Tarry Lodge has a whiffy Dumpster out front loaded up with produce crates, and there’s still a couple of...

Posted at 07:53 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

09/22/08

An Eatery Transformed

As noted in last week’s EATER, Frank Bruni declared that the most interesting thing about the newest crop of restaurants is that they used to be the old crop of restaurants. Cue Chef Raphael Palomino’s introduction of Route 1 Bar and Grill—which will be going into Port Chester’s Pacifico spot any moment now.

Savvy powerhouse Chef Raphael Palomino has two ragingly popular Pacificos still operating (one in Lehigh, PA, and one in New Haven, CT), but he feels that his new Route 1 concept is more responsive to our current economic situation. Route 1 is projected as a value-conscious, family-friendly spot serving gourmet sandwiches, burgers and a wide selection of international beer. Sad to see you go, Pacifico.

Posted at 05:35 AM | Permalink | Comments: 1

09/22/08

Has Emily Shaw Kicked the Bucket—Again?

Sometimes you know by just looking at the menu. Last year, when assigned to review Americana 12 at Emily Shaw’s Inn, we were faced with a menu that simply spelled doom. Though named Americana 12, and
festooned with Colonial-ish tchotchki, this restaurant’s menu was a confused pileup of usual suspects in fusion cuisine -- wasabi, nan, chorizo, gnocchi, pizza. Owned by a limited partnership of three married couples -- only one member, by the way, had been in the food business–Americana 12 was a restaurant designed by committee.

In my review, I noted, ”This lack of a focused concept weakens this restaurant. Is it American or fusion? Rustic or refined? You’ll find no answers...

09/15/08

Times Are Tough: The Value of Value

According to Frank Bruni’s September 2nd article on the subject, one of the striking things about the newest crop of restaurants is they used to be the old crop of restaurants.  In an environment of tightening belts, restaurants are being re-tooled to appeal to newly value-conscious diners. By refining concepts (and, like Larchmont’s upscale Plates, offering early-bird specials, bargain prix-fixe menus, catering, BYOB nights, and a farmers’ market bread stall) savvy restaurateurs are dropping their pretensions, and hustling for Westchester’s shrinking dining dollar.
 
Take Alex and...

Posted at 04:31 AM | Permalink | Comments: 3

09/12/08

Tuthilltown Tasting at Pour

Just a heads up—Ralph Erenzo of Tuthilltown will be showcasing the distillery’s fantastic—and fantastically well received – locally-made bourbons at Pour Mount Kisco on Tuesday, September 16th from 7-9 PM, $60 per person. According to Pour’s owner Anthony Colasecco, attendance is limited “…to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of our guests.” (Translation: Pour’s rooms are small, and you’ll definitely want to hear what this guy is saying.) RSVP for the event by phone (914) 864-0606, or by email, anthony@pourmtkisco.com. Cheers.

Posted at 08:46 AM | Permalink | Comments: 2

09/10/08

Crabtree’s Garners Another Wine Spectator “Grand Award”

We hate to sound promiscuous, but we have to admit: we drink around. Typically, we enjoy a glass or two at each restaurants that we visit, which, we’re afraid, really adds up to a lot of glasses in the end. Yet even with all those sips, we just can’t shake the memory of the last two ambrosial glasses that we tasted – a big, tobacco-ey Syrah and a hauntingly subtle Barbera. And guess what? Both were all of $15, and just hanging out on the by-the-glass list at Crabtree’s Kittle House. Who knew?

Well, it seems that Wine Spectator knew. In the August 31 issue, the magazine announced that Crabtree’s won another Grand Award this year, celebrating its wine list as one of the seventy-three best in the world. (Other local recipients are: Cru, Daniel,...

Posted at 06:09 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

09/08/08

Staycation Destination: Westfair Fish and Chips

Here’s the thing about summer: it ends – and abruptly, too. Just when you finally re-built the inter-toe callous with your flip flops, Staples sends out its Back to School flyers. At first you’re stunned. Sitting in the sun wearing shorts, you’re annoyed by the aggressive marketing -- there’s Halloween candy in the stores, for God’s sake, too. But, soon, despite your resistance, the end of summer becomes real. August’s humidity lifts, there’s a stretch of 73-degree days, and then you catch yourself reaching for a sweater.

Here’s what we do when that happens. We panic. And then we run around doing all of our favorite summer things before it’s too late. (And being EATER, most of those things involve food.) We...

Posted at 05:17 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

09/01/08

Review Rewind (and Chef-O-Rama): Restaurant One

Restaurant reviewers hear the same thing, again and again and again. Spotting our name in a supermarket checkout, a disturbed (and frankly accusing) reader will accost us, and demand to know why s/he had a very different experience at Restaurant Shmo than the one represented in our review. In fact—and here’s where their eyes narrow -- this reader’s experience was so (pick one, great/ghastly), that Restaurant Shmo seemed like an entirely different establishment from the one discussed in the article. “Why”, demands the reader, as s/he presses into our personal space, “Why? Why? Why?” And we, defensively clutching a jumbo pack of toilet paper, will have to figure out the problem. It usually turns out that the reader visited the...

Posted at 07:59 PM | Permalink | Comments: 2