Westchester's restaurant scene continues to evolve, with a host of new openings, new leases and promises of more great food. Read below for details and send any leads on openings and closings to jmuchnick@lohud.com.
Just opened
Copper House, West Harrison:There's is a lot more elbow room — as well as a host of new dishes — at Copper House, a sibling of Copper Kettle Cafe in Hartsdale. Look forlocally crafted American comfort food with Italian influences as well a nice-sized outdoor patio. The restaurant had its soft opening Memorial Day weekend with its official grand openingset for May 30.Go:11 Taylor Square, 914-949-5820,copperhouseny.com
Falafel Taco, Pleasantville: Mexican and Middle Eastern flavors come together in this eat-in/take-outshop, where food is prepared from scratchand made to order. On the menu: mexighanoush (roasted eggplant babaghanoush with a Mexican touch), homemade tahini, latkes with fresh guacamole and Mexican matzoh ball soup. Open since April, the eatery is owned by husband and wife Jonathan and Rosie Hernandez whoworked closely with Bill Kromberg and Steve Groth, mentors withSCORE Westchesterin White Plains, a nonprofit that offers free advice to small businesses. Go:30 Wheeler Ave., 914-579-2526,falafel-taco.com
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Flaming Grill & Modern Buffet, Mount Vernon: Those who like buffets and lots of choices will enjoy wading through the plethora of options at this new Mount Vernon spot, which celebrated its grand opening May 24. The restaurant, with seating up to 400, specializes in seafood and Asian dishes including hibachi, Chinese,Japanese and American food. Of note:A $9.99 lunch special as well as an all-day Sunday dinner for $14.99 with 10 percent off for police and firepersonnel. There is no liquor license yet.Go: 440 E Sandford Blvd.,914-668-7888
Lenny's North Steak and Seafood, Armonk:The team behindLenny's Steakhousein Larchmont andIl Castelloin Mamaroneck opened mid-May in thespace formerly occupied by Restaurant North in Armonk. On the menu: premium dry-aged cuts of meat, line-caught seafoodand house-made pastas. Go:386 Main St., 914-273-8686,lennyssteakhouse.com
Mission Taqueria, Pleasantville: The long-awaited restaurant quietly opened May 21 and is described by a spokesperson as "Playa del Carmen meets NYC in the 914." Tony Fortunate and Mitchell Dennis of 105-Ten in Briarcliff Manor have joined forces with NYC designer Andrew Kotchen of Workshop/APD and NYC restaurant consultant Richard Ampudia to create a menu (and atmosphere) brimming withMexican fusion eats and inventive co*cktails. Among the items:rotisserie chicken, an array of tequila/lime infused ceviches, lots of tacos, and salads with producefrom local farms. Ninety-eight percent of the menu is gluten-free.Go:472 Bedford Ave.,914-741-5285, missionpleasantville.com
Tailgate Dogs & Sausages, New Rochelle: The new hot dog place near New Rochelle High School, is having its ribbon cutting May 30 at 3:30p.m. as well as free swag (and free food samples) on June 2 with a percentage of its grand opening weekend sales goingto Iona College Sports Department and New Rochelle High School’s Athletic Programs. Thesports-themedrestaurant featuresspecialty hot dogs, sausages and sides. Go:766 North Ave., 914-499-3470,tgdogs.com
Coming this summer
Bango Bowls, Scarsdale: A Long Island-based company is making its first foray into Westchester with the opening of Bango Bowls, a healthy quick service restaurant set to debutin mid to late June. The eatery, which specializes inacai bowls, pitaya bowls, oatmeal, smoothies,Poke bowls and cold brew coffee, will have about 20 seats inside and ten outside. According to co-owner, Ryan Thorman, thecustomer can customize everything from the granolato the fruit base to the toppings. Thorman also said the company hasplans to further expand in the area.Go:16 Harwood Ct.,bangobowls.com
Black Rock Kitchen, Croton: Eric Kupferberg, the former chef at Tagine, a French restaurant with North African influences which closed in April, is taking over the space formerly occupied by another shuttered Croton spot: Justin Thyme.Black Rock Kitchen, which he hopes to open by late summer/early fall,will serve modern American cuisine. Go: 171 Grand St.
Cooked & Co., Scarsdale: Expect a vastly different new space when Cooked & Co., which closed in August 2017, re-opensthis summer. What had been a gourmet market and café offering cooked-to-order breakfast and lunch items, as well as pre-made, takeout items, has been expanded to double its size. The new space, in what had been a dentist's office next door, features an airyCalifornia-inspired restauranton the right with a renovatedmarket portion on the left. A gleamingopen-kitchen sits in the back, connecting the two. There's also a smalleropen kitchen on the restaurant side as well as a full bar.
In total the space holds 70; 50 on the restaurant side and 20 on the market side.
"We wanted the space to be very personalized and open to interaction," said owner Herb Lindstrom. "We designed it to beinviting and warm, like you're in someone's home and we're an extension of your family."
Drawing the most attention: the dramatic LED lights that hang from the ceiling: there are 70of them in varying sizes. which hang in various lengths from the ceiling.
The room itself is modern — Iscarocalls it "California meets Brooklyn" — with white brick walls, gray chairs and wood-plank tiles. Floor to ceiling windows in the front bring in the sunshine, completing the West Coast look.
Already, the curious have been poking their heads in while construction wraps up and owner Melissa Iscarosays they're happy to see such enthusiasm in the neighborhood.
As for the food, expect perennial Cooked & Co. favorites like turkey meatballs, veggie burgers, spaghetti squash and its all-time favorite, the nutella muffin (along with other baked goods) at the market as well as a new lunch and dinner menu focused on small plates and seasonality.
Cooked & Co. will also serve brunch with a large focus on breakfast items (waffles and pancakes will definitely be on the menu). Executive chef Mike Biancodescribes his creations as "modern American" with international influences. He also plans to have a few family-style portions (for two to four people) and a heavy concentration on sourcing from local farms. Craft beers from microbreweries will also play heavily on the bar menu.
Once open, the three plan on serving lunch and brunch first before launching into dinner. They will also keep the market open later than they had before, probably until 6 p.m. weekdays; 4 p.m. weekends. Said Lindstrom: “A few things are still up in the air.” Cooked & Co. will be open seven days a week. Go:128 Garth Rd.,914-205-3939,cookedandco.com
Gaucho Burger Company, White Plains: Argentinian burgers are the specialty at this new South American-influenced eatery full of Latino fusion flair. It is set to open by mid-June but if you're lucky, you can catch the owner Moises Mera showing off his burgers at the White Plains Farmers Market. Go: 66-68 Mamaroneck Ave., 914-217-4146,gauchoburgercompany.com
Hurley's Steakhouse & Pub, New Rochelle: Dublin-born bar owner Paul Hurley is all aboutrefining the quintessential steakhouse experience, which is why he's transformed aformer rug store into a space complete with a jazzy soundtrack, tufted banquettes, a marble bar, and prime steaks andseafood. Among its signature dishes: aRacquet Ball ribeye,cooked inan 1,800-degree broiler with a crust that resembles chicharrónes. There will also be burgers and other pub-style food, including quick bites at the bar and a "Sunday Roast" dinner. Hurley hopes to open by early to mid-June. Go:15 Division St.,914-738-6000,hurleyssteakhouse.com
Moonlight on the Avenue, Mamaroneck: Former employees of longtime coffee house Cafe Mozart, plan to open an eatery with a similarly modeled menu — thinkschnitzel, sachertortes, various pies and other central European specialties. Go: 308 Mamaroneck Ave.
105-Twenty, Croton: It's been one of the worst kept secrets, at least in Croton where the local moms Facebook page has been speculating for weeks who was taking over the former Tagine space. The lease has been signed and the news is now official: The same owners as 105-Ten in Briarcliff Manor (Tony Fortunate, Mitchell Dennis and Eddis Martinez) will open in July with a similar menu to 105-Ten. As with the Briarcliff restaurant, the name is a homage to Croton'szipcode. Said Fortunate:“We are very excited about opening in Croton and adding a little 105-Flavor." Go: 120 Grand St.
MORE:Briarcliff's 105-Ten opening in Croton; restaurant will be called 105-Twenty
Rio Bravo Tacos & Tequila, Tuckahoe: The Mexican restaurant, with a location in Larchmont, is coming sometime in June to the former An American Bistro space across from the Crestwood Metro North station, and will featurethe same menu as its Larchmont sibling.Go:296 Columbus Ave.,riobravotacosandtequila.com
Sophia's Italian Bistro, Mamaroneck: Hearty southern Italian cuisine and wood-fired pizza from Naples are on the menu at this new spot, where Lum Yen Chinese Restaurant used to be. The new restaurant, owned by Mount Vernon residentRicardo Mauro, will be a more casual version of his midtown Manhattan Italian eatery, La Vela, located at 558 11th Avenue. Go: 100 W. Boston Post Road.
DETAILS:Two new restaurants coming to Mamaroneck
Gabriel Rom contributed to this story.
