It’s shaping up to be a busy summer for Westchester’s restaurant scene, with more than 25 new food establishments expected to open in July and August.
Dumplings are having a moment, with two national chains on the way, while coffee-centric cafés are also making their mark. Other newcomers include artisan gelato (see story HERE on Bronxville’s Gelateria Sorella), pizzerias, gourmet sandwiches, and tacos, adding even more variety to the county’s growing dining landscape.
Put the following on your radar.
Jane Foodie, Port Chester
Expect a slew of baked goods, sandwiches, stews, soups and salads when “Shark Tank” winner Jane Carroll opens the doors to her cafe sometime in mid to late July. The loungey space, complete with vintage furniture (including rotating items for sale), is in the old linen factory across the street from The Capitol Theatre. Carroll, who was on “Shark Tank” for her flash-frozen food (and got a deal with Lori Greiner), will also be selling those products along with offering bread baking classes (she’ll have a sourdough starter bank) and flowers. In another distinctive touch, her place will feature a pen pal program with complimentary vintage postcards, stationery and envelopes meant to connect guests with pen pals based on interests, language and preferences. 6 N. Pearl St., janefoodie.com.
Sundae BIS, Peekskill
The “BIS” stands for burgers, ice cream and shakes — and that’s exactly what you’re getting at this new spot set to open at the Peekskill waterfront July 1. The casual eatery is owned by the same hospitality group behind the recently opened Taco Station and Savia. 55 Hudson Ave.
Rosie Bella’s Italian Kitchen, Dobbs Ferry
July 20 is the grand opening for this Italian ristorante, from the owners of Louie & Johnnie’s in Yonkers. What had long been Scaramella’s has been completely revamped and rebuilt (the space was gutted) to create an upscale ambiance featuring authentic Italian food. Owner John Greco said diners can expect pastas made in-house (partially visible from a semi-open kitchen) along with personal pizzas, entrees and more. There’s also a separate bar area with an emphasis on martini’s. 1 Southfield Ave.
The Mariner Waterfront Kitchen & Bar, Mamaroneck
Summer means beaching it and at this new coastal-inspired dining and beach bar, basically alfresco prefabricated containers, you’ll be able to enjoy burgers, hot dogs, lobster rolls, sandwiches and more. The goal is to open sometime in July at Harbor Island Park. This is an outdoor bar with picnic tables that’s a collaboration between longtime restauranteur Katch Lin, teacher Matthew Spinks and the Village of Mamaroneck. Stephen E. Johnston Pavilion
Nomi Sushi,Scarsdale
An open sushi bar/kitchen defines this elegant space, set to open in early to mid-July with omakase sushi, and sashimi including high-end Japanese gin, sake, vodka and whisky. Noma rolls, including the Scarsdale (tuna, avocado outside, blue snow crab and spicy sauce inside) and a Surf & Turf are some of the options. The new venture is from chef Doug Nguyen, owner of Sabi Sushi in Piermont. 30 Garth Road, nomisushiscarsdale.com.
Broken Bow Brewery, Tuckahoe
Broken Bow, the family-owned brewery that’s been closed since January, will re-open with a complete refresh come mid to late July. The biggest change is its brand new full-service kitchen called The Forklift, which will offer a permanent food program. The interior has also been expanded with a renovated indoor taproom, an upgraded patio (now accessible year-round) and new gathering spaces designed to make the craft brewery ideal for everything from a quick pint to a night out with friends and family. 173 Marbledale Road, 914-268-0900, brokenbowbrewery.com.
Apposto, Mamaroneck
Say hello to a new Italian sandwich shop, opening mid-July with seating for up to 12. Along with sandwiches created on schiacciata bread, a Tuscan-style focaccia that’s “crispy on the outside, soft on the inside,” Apposto will include salads, breakfast, and a full coffee menu. Owner Fulvio Salza, who grew up in the restaurant industry, said he’s also importing most of his products, including meats and cheeses from Italy. 414 Mamaroneck Ave., appostosandwichshop.com.
The Cloudy Bean, Mamaroneck
A father/son duo are behind this new cafe, opening in late July/early August. The space, according to Westchester residents Joseph Carrasquillo and Joseph Michael Carrasquillo, is inspired by the island cafés found in Puerto Rico, a culture and environment the two are especially familiar with. Their goal? To create, as Joseph Michael said, “a beautiful yet inviting atmosphere where guests can gather, relax, and enjoy their time.”
Diners can expect a menu featuring high-quality Japanese-sourced matcha and a rotating selection of coffee offerings, including single-origin beans from Peru as well as carefully curated blends. There will also be a selection of baked goods. A big part of their mission, according to Joseph Michael, is “to source high-quality ingredients that are as clean and responsibly produced as possible, while prioritizing suppliers and products with minimal environmental impact whenever feasible.” They’re also hopeful this first café will be the first of many. 325 Mamaroneck Ave.
Dahlia’s Song, Tarrytown
Coffee shop meets florist meets event space is the mantra at Dahlia’s Flowers, which should open sometime in early July. Owner/florist Linh Hoang has turned the long vacant Washington Irving Trust Co. into a nature-filled “jungle” with a focus on a variety of dahlias. There’s even a piano.
Diners can expect Vietnamese coffee — she’s originally from Saigon — along with healthy foods like smoothies and cold pressed juices. Baked goods will also be for sale as will lots of flowers. 25 N. Broadway, 914-222-3132, dahliassong.com.
Tarrytown Local, Tarrytown
This is another hybrid shop; part cafe/restaurant/bakery; part grocery store. Built around “local first,” meaning Hudson Valley and regional producers committed, as much as possible, to regenerative agriculture, soil health, humane animal husbandry, and fair labor, it’s the brainchild of Fox Schanzer, a 10-year veteran of cooking in farm-to-table restaurants and fine dining kitchens, and Steve Wazny, a former lawyer turned line cook.
Set to open in August, it will feature a grocer in front complete with fresh produce, dairy, meats, cheeses, pantry staples, and dry goods, as well as a 25-seat full-service cafe serving breakfast and lunch (with dinner to come). There will also be a more casual seating area where folks can munch on pastries and freshly milled bread prepared by Katrina Poulin, who leads the store’s bakery portion. Everything will be hand-milled daily using locally-sourced grains and an Austrian mill. 57 N. Broadway, tarrytownlocal.com.
Drunken Taco Bar, White Plains
Don’t confuse this space with Little Drunken Chef — it’s a different owner and a different vibe. Vibrant colorful murals fill the space which will emphasize small plates, elevated cocktails and more. As its Instagram stresses: it’s more than tacos. Look for a “sometime later” this summer opening. 91 Mamaroneck Ave.
Fat Stu’s All American Burger, Mamaroneck
It’s all about burgers and fries at Fat Stu’s which is opening its third location sometime in mid to late July. The eatery, with a 1950s retro vibe, has locations in Harrison and Port Chester. 157 Mamaroneck Ave., Mamaroneck, fatstus.com.
Pizza Girls NY, Mount Kisco
Artisanal pizzas crafted from scratch and sourced from local markets is the mainstay at this woman-owned pizza-forward restaurant, set to open in mid to late July. Also on the menu: salads and sweet pizzas.
This is the first sit-down restaurant for the company which previously was found exclusively at farmers markets, private parties and pop-ups. They also have a permanent collaboration location at oHHo The Old Firehouse in Bedford. 38 E Main St., 914-454-9848, pizzagirlsny.com.
Mona’s Sandwich Co., Chappaqua
Duge Perlleshi, who’s been a professional chef for 15 years, is opening a fast casual take-out focused spot centered on fresh, made to order sandwiches, salads, small bites and bowls. Diners can expect a serious espresso bar and coffee drinks along with homemade doughnuts and croissants. Perlleshi, who hopes to open the first week of August, said he won’t be cutting corners, which means high-quality ingredients and thoughtfully curated sourcing. His fun illustration of the Mona Lisa for his eatery’s logo further implies his sense of commitment to only offering “the best.” 27 S. Greely Ave.
The Salad House, Greenburgh
Fresh, made-to-order customizable salad creations are the focus of this health-conscious spot, set to open early July in the Crossroads Shopping Center. The fast casual eatery, with multiple locations in New Jersey, also features sandwiches, wraps, soups, appetizers and smoothies and prides itself on offering a diverse menu that appeals to a variety of diets and lifestyles, including vegan, vegetarian, paleo, keto and gluten-free. This is the chain’s first location in Westchester. 439 Tarrytown Road, thesaladhouse.com.
Wonder, Yorktown Heights
July 6th is the soft opening date for this national chain, which already has locations in Larchmont, Harrison, Scarsdale and Pleasantville. The take-out spot, which features 15-plus restaurants under one roof, serves up a variety of dishes from poke to pasta. It will have its grand opening July 9. 370 Underhill Ave. wonder.com.
LUMA Lounge, Mamaroneck
The same family behind Mamaroneck’s The Roaster Cafe & Bistro and the recently-opened Turkish Meze, is opening a new upscale restaurant and cocktail lounge featuring Nikkei cuisine, a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian flavors. Guests can expect a menu of sushi, seafood, small plates, and chef-driven dishes alongside a creative cocktail program, premium spirits, sake, and wine.
According to co-owner Merve Arici, the concept is designed to offer a vibrant yet sophisticated atmosphere where diners can enjoy good food, handcrafted drinks, music, and nightlife. Early August is the target for opening, pending final approvals and construction progress. The space had previously been Barquila, which the family also owned. 308 Mamaroneck Ave.
Madhouse BBQ, Hartsdale
Craving barbecue? This new take-out focused spot, with a few seats inside, will offer brisket, pulled pork, spare ribs, house sausage, smoked mac and cheese, and more when it opens sometime in July. 2 N. Central Ave., 914-615-9495.
Lazy Sister, Mount Kisco
There’s a fun sense of humor surrounding this Chinese eatery, which is opening its second location in Westchester (the first is in Norwalk, CT) mid-August (ish). “Congrats on leaving the house,” reads the copy on its website before listing a menu filled with dim sum, salads, soups, noodles, meat and seafood entrees, cocktails and what they call “enchanted Szechuan favorites.” 36 E Main St., lazysisterchinese.com.
Piggy’s Deli and O2 Café, Bedford Hills
This is a combined family affair between Jen Pignone and her husband Mario Loor (for O2 Café) and the deli, which is run by the couple plus Jen’s father, Mike Pignone. The two, which occupy one building with two store fronts that connect inside, should open sometime in mid-July.
O2 Café, which served the Cross River community for more than five years, was long a wellness destination featuring a yoga studio, spa, boutique, and café, the latter which served organic food and drinks with its made-to-order smoothies, cold-pressed juices, vibrant salads, sandwiches, and wholesome grab-and-go offerings. Now, it’s in a larger space meaning there will be new menu items and other additions. Piggy’s Deli, on the other hand, aims to bring the timeless tradition of the classic Italian American neighborhood deli to Bedford Hills, serving everything from handcrafted cold-cut sandwiches and homemade salads to a full hot food table featuring comforting family favorites. 524 & 526 Bedford Road.
Baci in the Square, Ardsley
Chris Weisman, owner of Pizzeria Baci in Montrose, has been saying Baci in the Square, his second take-out only location is opening soon for a while now, but this time seems closer. The space, where he recently reunited with his mentor, 93-year-old Gaetano Nardi, the former owner of Sicilian in the Square where Weisman first learned the craft, was recently at the shop, making the shop’s first pie. Look for a July opening. 471 Ashford Ave.
Erawan Royal Thai, Harrison
The rich tastes of Thailand are on the menu and coming sometime later this summer to Southern Westchester. Among the array of choices include traditional classics such as Pad Thai, green curry, som tam, and mango sticky rice. 295 Halstead Ave., erawanroyalthai.com.
Maman, Rye
Maman’s first foray into Westchester includes this spot in Rye — set to open later this summer — where, like its other locations, there’s a wide array of coffee and teas, house made pastries, and made-to-order savory items including salads, wraps, sandwiches, soups and more. The all-day cafe, known for its blue and white signature china, its nutty chocolate chip cookie (named an Oprah favorite) and its rustic-chic, floral-filled design, also sports vintage furnishings, wooden farm tables, imported tiles and decorative details along with custom toile-printed espresso machines and floral installations by Floratorium. 64 Purchase St., mamannyc.com.
Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings, White Plains
This restaurant chain, with locations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Georgia, Illinois and Delaware, is in the hiring phase meaning opening can be any day now. Diners can expect a focus on dumplings along with stir-fries, noodles, and cold dishes such as savory pressed tofu with Chinese celery, chicken in wine sauce, and fried pork chops. 27 Mamaroneck Ave., nanxiangxiaolongbao.com.
Carlitos Tequileria, White Plains
The owners behind Carlitos Tequileria in West Nyack are opening a casual spot in the food court of The Westchester sometime in mid-August. Diners can expect pit smoked barbecue tacos featuring USDA Prime, hormone and antibiotic-free brisket, pulled pork, carne asada, chicken and more. All items are smoked low and slow in-house, and served on hand-pressed (and gluten free) nixtamal masa. The company, which started with a smoker/trailer in 2017, has since grown to other locales including Smorgasburg, Newark Airport Terminal A, and Garden State Plaza in Paramus N.J. 125 Westchester Ave., carlitostequileria.com.
Climbing Wolf Kitchen Coffee + Beer, Tuckahoe
Late summer is the projected opening for this new spot, from the owners of Climbing Wolf Coffee + Beer in Dobbs Ferry. The eatery, with an expanded menu from what they have in Dobbs, is going into the former Growlers Beer Bistro space. 25 Main St., climbingwolf.com.
On the horizon for fall
Nippon Cha, Mamaroneck
The first Nippon Cha is opening its first Westchester location in Mamaroneck sometime in late summer/early fall. This modern Japanese cafe, which has locations in Brooklyn, Bayside and Westbury, features premium matcha, Japanese specialty drinks, desserts, sushi and donburi bowls. 448 Mamaroneck Ave., nipponcha.us.
The Farm Cafe, Chappaqua
Gianna Giampia, who opened The Farm Cafe in Valhalla last December, is already onto her second location. This satellite space is smaller, with a limited menu of baked goods, coffee and sandwiches. Look for a September debut. 75 S. Greeley Ave., thefarmcafeny.com.
Gambelli’s Kitchen, White Plains
Gourmet food and pizza are on the menu at this cafe, which has taken over the former Utica Pie Co. space. Set to open in the fall, there’s both seating inside as well as an emphasis on takeout. 594 Mamaroneck Ave.
Bobo’s, Yorktown Heights
Sometime in fall is when this new Bobo’s, built from the ground up, will open in Yorktown Heights. Craig and Glen Bernardi, owners of the widely popular cafes, known for their coffee, acai bowls, sandwiches and salads, recently added a food truck and are opening another location later in the year/early 2027 on North Broadway in Tarrytown. 1726 Underhill Ave., boboscafe.net.
Legacy Soul Kitchen, Sleepy Hollow
Comforting soul food favorites will be on the menu when this mother/daughter venture opens sometime late summer/early fall. The space takes over what had been Croqueteria. 166 Cortlandt St.
Got food news?
Email JRMuchnick@gannett.com with details of restaurant openings or closings near you. And, if you want more intel on Lower Hudson Valley dining and entertainment, sign up for my free weekly newsletter, which often includes behind-the-scenes info I don’t always share in my stories at profile.lohud.com/newsletters/manage.
Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: What’s cooking? New Westchester restaurant openings heat up summer
Reporting by Jeanne Muchnick, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jeanne Muchnick, Rockland/Westchester Journal News | USA TODAY Network
