LaManda's Restaurant in White Plains

A loyal and happy patron since 1979. The menu only changes imperceptably from decade to decade. Sly can be gruff but he runs the place well and he treats this long-time regular warmly. I've no objections to his cash only, all must be present to be seated and no screaming toddlers rules. And the food is consistently good and well-priced. If you're looking for trendy it's not your place.

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

New Whole Foods in Ridge Hill (Yonkers)

I am not paying for parking in the middle of nowhere to go to a supermarket. It's outrageous to enrich the Yonkers politicians and developers who thought we would just pay to park and shop in a mediocre marketplace where you can find the same products anywhere these days within 5 miles.

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

Yard House/Ridgehill Shopping Center

I won't pay for parking in the middle of nowhere in Westchester county and enrich the Yonkers politicians and developers who thought I would. I don't care how good the chain restaurants and chain stores are. There are the same or similar mediocre places not far away with free parking.

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

The physics of reheated pizza and the shell game at Joe's & Bleecker St. Pizza

Solution: Go with a friend or two and order a whole pie. Request preferred doneness. Wait 10 -15 minutes. Eat straight from oven. If a pizza place can't do that - move on. Oh for the glory days of Gloria's Pizza on Main St. in Flushing... I didn't know how good I had it then.

demifast in Manhattan

Frank Pepe's

Ask for your pizza well done (but not burnt) and this seems to help.

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

The Cookery in Dobbs Ferry

Well, perhaps energy and buzz (noise)will be around for a long time - but I hope someday Westchester will see some new restaurants that combine great food and a noise level that allows a diner to hear the conversation of the people at their own table. And a restaurant that provides some space between those tables. And properly trained wait staff.

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

Aberdeen, White Plains

So true. Love East Harbor. Going there tomorrow. Worth the drive and the crazy hunt to park. But in Westchester, I agree with other posters - Central Seafood has very decent dim sum on weekends. I've never been to Aberdeen - I'll have to try it.

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East Harbor
1560 Central Park Ave, Yonkers, NY 10710

Central Seafood
285 N Central Ave, Hartsdale, NY 10530

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

Candlelight Inn, Scarsdale

Although I usually have the wings - the burgers are very good - as are the sliders.

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

Best Pizza in Westchester (again)

^^ so true. Pizza seems so simple and it's just done well anywhere near here.

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

Hudson Valley Restaurant Weeks - March 14-27, 2011

I don't know if it's just me - but the 3 restaurants I've tried so far for RW - I'm not impressed by the deal. I'd much rather just order an interesting appetizer and entree on the regular menu and skip the dessert for my money. I don't know if I'd do HVRW again.

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

Metromix "Best" - Seriously?

I just read the "best of" list in the local paper. Who is voting for these places? Best Chinese - PF Changs? Best Italian is a restaurant in Rhinebeck? If I was going to travel 80 miles for Italian food - I'd much rather go to Brooklyn (and it's closer). Who is voting for these places?

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

City Limits Diner, White Plains

why do you need to cut off discussion about city limits? last time I checked - that was the title of this thread. some people love it - others (myself included) find it mediocre and not up to it's previous standards - successful or not. the thing about food in westchester is it's generally mediocre at best but mediocre seems wonderful compared to everything else.

if you want to discuss 42 - start another thread.

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

30th Birthday Restaurant & Lodging

If the Mohonk Mountain House experience is not your thing - but want something nice in the same area - check out the Minnewaska Lodge. It's a beautiful 26 room lodge right next to Minnewaska State Park and Mohonk. There's great food in New Paltz and the surrounding towns.

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

City Limits Diner, White Plains

I've been going to City Limits pretty consistently since it opened. Lately I've become disappointed by things I've ordered. The food is better than a local diner - but that's not saying much. Prices have gone up, portions are smaller and quality is just not the same. I do like the space and I wish I liked the food better.

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City Limits
1557 W State St, Olean, NY 14760

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

Shoprite in Scarsdale

And call me petty - but I can't stand their ads - those can can dancers and that music is borderline offensive. Plus, I don't use many canned items - so the pun falls flat with me.

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

Shoprite in Scarsdale

Not a fan of the entrance hidden behind a brick wall all the way to the right of the store. Not a fan of having to walk acres through the store - passing a takeout restaurant - passing a full size drug store - passing a hardware store, etc. to get to the dairy (typical store layout - but ridiculously far away from the entrance). Not a fan of the surly check out staff. Not a fan of the parking lot which has the best parking area taken up by the entrance roads. Not a fan that there is no parking anywhere near the entrance at any hour. Not a fan.

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

Smuggler's Notch

We've just come back from a week there. The best restaurant is 158 Main which is in "downtown" Jeffersonville. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. All excellent. We had lunch there the other day and their salads were outstanding.

If you're ambitious, the next best place to go is burlington which is 45 minutes away. We tried American Flatbread Company in downtown burlington this trip and it was great. Wood-fired pizzas with wonderful local toppings, excellent salads and a long list of local beers.

The food at Smugglers is mediocre at best - but acceptable and not outrageously priced. We tend to bring a cooler with staples and buy local products like cheese, eggs, sausage, bacon, maple syrup - and cook in. Highly recommend the Cabot cheese outlet in Waterbury and Snowflake Chocolates in Jericho if you're in the area.

demifast in Northern New England

Best Burger

that's the problem with a board that encompasses the entire state of ny. just when I was getting excited to hear about something new in burgers in the westchester area other than pipers kilt or squires (decent places both - but terrible atmospheres and boring sides) - along comes recommendations for places in Ithaca and Binghamton. sorry - but a 4 hour drive is too far for my Friday night burger cravings.

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

Restaurants near Palisades Mall

short answer - none. to find anything that offers "good food" venture to downtown Nyack or Piermont (Freelance Cafe).

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

Update on Italian Restaurants in Westchester

Scaramellas in Dobbs Ferry. The food is wonderful. It's a great place when you want excellent food, not too casual with traditional, attentive service.

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Scaramella's Restaurant
1 Southfield Ave, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

The Cookery in Dobbs Ferry

But on a typical night - you can talk all you want while you wait 2 hours for a table. I only go there if I'm hungry at 4:30 in the afternoon.

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

Gazpacho in Westchester

I've gone twice at 8:30 on a Sunday morning (one was Mother's Day) and it's been quiet and a pleasure to shop there. Love this store (but their kosher meat selection in Manhattan is much better as are the views in Brooklyn). I can live with the views of Pelham in exchange for the proximity and lack of a toll. I'll have to try the gazpacho there.

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

harvest on hudson dinner

I was wondering also - were you disappointed with Harvest on Hudson in Hastings? I've been there several times and have always enjoyed the food and the venue.

But it's a different story for Half Moon in Dobbs Ferry (formerly Chart House). I've found the food there to be mediocre and overpriced.

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Harvest on Hudson
1 River Street, Hastings on Hudson, NY 10706

Half Moon
1 High Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

Pepe's in Yonkers -- Great Pizza

I've been to the Yonkers Pepe's several times, most recently yesterday. I think their pizza is great. I love the white clam pie - I thought the clams tasted fresh and perfectly seasoned - not watery at all. We also ordered a spinach pie which was excellent.

Maybe you're comparing Pepe's to old-style NY pizza - it's not like that at all. Maybe someday someone will open a decent pizza place like the Gloria's in Flushing of my youth. Now that was fabulous NY-style pizza. Unfortunately, that style does not seem to exist anymore. I'm very happy with Pepe's.

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

Salad Pizza in Westchester?

I like the salad pizza at Villagio Pizzeria on Central Avenue by the Xmas Tree Shop Store. I don't like the salad slice at Catania's - too much raw garlic. (Who can digest that much raw garlic? I wish I could.)

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

Westchester Pizza - Why so thin?

Ardsley Pizza (next to DeCicco's) has a thicker crust that's decent. They have a very good baked ziti pizza if you like that (I do).

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

Frank Pepe's

I liked it - but with reservations. The crust on one pie was not just well done as requested - but burnt. The toppings were wrong on both pies and we waited twice as long as all the tables seated near us. We were joking that the reason for the wait was that they were plucking the chickens for our chicken topping. And one minor complaint - the tables are too far from the benches (and immovable - they're bolted to the floor) so you feel like you're sitting too far from the table. Watch those drips...

demifast in New York State (exc. New York City)

Announcement: New Board Breakdown for Chowhound

Honestly, I think it's stupid to have a NY board. I live in westchester county. I am not interested in postings that are 400 miles away in Buffalo. I am interested in Fairfield County or the Bronx. This site is becoming too cumbersome to be of any worth.

demifast in Site Talk

Stew Leonard's vs. Fairway

And, this may not matter to most, but Fairway has a great selection of kosher meats and kosher deli meats - Stews used to have a few overpriced kosher chickens and now they don't even carry that. Unless they're having a sale on Tropicana or I need milk - I never go to Stews.

And how annoying is their latest commercial with the mooing cow? I have to change the radio station every time I hear it.

demifast in Southern New England