A Sea Change in Scarsdale

New restaurants are popping up almost weekly in our area. We’ll soon have some well-recognized Manhattan brands here -- while local eateries are expanding or opening additional sites.

On Garth Road, construction of the Asian Fusion restaurant Tengda seems to be moving slowly, but further down the street, Southeast Chinese has been converted to SEA Scarsdale, a sleek new Japanese and Thai, pan-Asian restaurant. They have built a beautiful sushi bar where two professional sushi chefs were producing creative special rolls including the volcano, dragon, dynamite and kiss of fire. We tried the Scarsdale roll, pictured here, and as you can see the dish was illuminated with a bright light perched artfully in a wine glass. The tuna and salmon were fresh and tasty.  We also ordered the mu shu pork, a large portion that was served with four pancakes and was enough for dinner for several evenings.  At a neighboring table, a diner was sipping from a family-size bowl of wonton soup with chicken and shrimp.  The menu appears to span the entire Asian continent and also includes shumai, dumplings, and a long list of hot curries, chicken and fish dishes and noodles. With Kirari, SEA and Tengda there will be three Asian options on Garth Raod. SEA Scarsdale is open seven days a week and they will deliver for free. Check them out at 72 Garth Road or call 914-723-8898/8895 to order in.

Serafina, a favorite pizza and pasta chain in the city will be taking over the location of Via Quadronno at 199 Main Street in White Plains. They are slated to open in November and will serve thin crust pizza, fresh pastas, grilled fish and meats. Watch for their bright yellow awning.

Another New York City star, Benjamin Steakhouse is scheduled to open this month in the former location of Mighty Joe Young’s on Hartsdale Avenue. The chef hails from Peter Lugar’s so the steak ought to be first rate.

Eclisse has opened on East Post Road in White Plains in the former home of Laguna. Many assume that Eclisse is a sister of the restaurant with the same name in Rye Brooke, but it is actually unrelated and serves Mediterranean and Persian cuisine. On the menu are a full range of appetizers including rice meatballs, spicy octopus and calamari and baked spinach with onion, garlic, herbs and yogurt. There are pastas, kabobs, and stews including lamb osso bucco and veal stew with parsley, scallions, dried lemon and herbs. Check out their website and whet your appetite at: http://www.eclissewp.com/

Pizzaria Frankie and Fanucci’s in Hartsdale is expanding into the space next door, formerly occupied by the bakery Enricos, that is now in larger quarters down the street. They are also building a new Fand F in Mamaroneck where they’ll compete with the famous Sal’s pizzaria. The new restaurant is currently under construction at 301 Mamaroneck Avenue, near the movie theatre and CVS.

Even though Indian favorite Bengal Tiger burned to the ground this summer, Ambadi, their takeout establishment across the street at 141 East Post Road in White Plains is still open for business. They have expanded their menu, accept credit cards and have added a few tables so you can eat in, pick up your dinner or call for delivery with a minimum order of $25. There are samosas chicken tikka masala, chicken tandoori, saag paneer and they even threw in some hot Naan, even though it's not shown on the menu.  The only thing missing is the gentleman with the red turban who always greeted us with a chilled glass of King Fisher beer.  Find the menu at www.ambadi-usa.com or call 914-686-2014 or 914-686-1746 to order.

Last Ban Zai Hibachi is looming large on Central Avenue on the building site where Carvel once stood. The new restaurant has been in the works for many months and we’re eager to learn more about it.