Two Restaurants Under the Radar
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Some great Westchester dining opportunities are not readily apparent. They may be disguised by very ordinary exteriors or hidden inside other venues. Here are two places that have been open for some time but will probably be new to you.
The first is Trattoria Vivolo. I’ve been driving past this converted diner across from the street from the Harrison Train Station for years and finally Googled it. I learned that they specialize in regional Italian fare. Prompted by the good reviews online we tried it twice and I am happy to report that we had two excellent dinners.
When you first walk in you may feel like you are intruding on someone’s private party. Dean Vivolo, the owner and host since 2001, knows everyone and they all seem to know each other. However, within a short time he knew our names too and made us feel a part of the celebration.
Delicious bread from Arthur Avenue and bruschetta on a crispy flatbread made from very thin pizza dough arrived at the table immediately.
For appetizers we tried a thin crusted pizza, a tre colori salad and chopped baked clams with breadcrumbs and minced vegetables – all excellent.
Traditional antipasti is also available including fried calamari and frutti di mare.
There are a full range of pasta dishes on the menu and among the ones we sampled are orrechiette with sausage, cherry peppers, bread crumbs, basil, garlic and oil (a house specialty) and a baked rigatoni with mozzarella, eggplant, pancetta and tomato sauce. Each was cooked as it should be and full of flavor.
Two other main courses we enjoyed were sardines cooked the traditional way with raisins and pine nuts and the Vitello Vivolo, veal scallopini with marsala wine, shallots, tomatoes, rosemary and artichokes.
A homemade cannoli (the freshest and best I’ve ever had) finished off the meal as well as a complimentary liqueur, another nice touch.
Check them out and let us know what you think!
Trattoria Vivolo
301 Halstead Avenue, Harrison
(914) 835-6199
Lunch M – F
Dinner 7 nights
www.xaviers.com/yonkers/
Dylan’s Lounge at X20
We had eaten at X20 in Yonkers a number of times but it wasn’t until we were at a Bar Mitzvah there and couldn’t stop eating the incredible sushi at the cocktail hour, that we discovered Dylan’s Lounge. Dylan’s is a sushi restaurant located in the same area as the X20 bar, with a sushi bar, communal table and regular seating. A few things to know: no reservations are taken but if you get there by 7 you’re safe; a little later and you may have to wait at the bar. Or, sit at the sushi bar where seats always seems to be available. The other thing to note, besides all the great sushi, is that you can order anything from the X20 menu!
We have had some incredible meals by combining a few sushi appetizers (try the scallop tartar with black truffle and Hawaiian red salt) and a main course from the X20 menu like the wild king salmon with sweet chili glaze or the cowboy steak for two with a brown sugar and cayenne crust.
Dylan’s is a perfect option when you need a place to go last minute and don’t feel like sitting in the more formal X20 dining room.
Dylan's Lounge at X20
71 Water Grant Street,
Yonkers
(914) 965-1111
Dinner Tuesday – Sunday, 5-10
www.xaviers.com/yonkers/
Remember: Hudson Valley Restaurant Week is March 18 – 31! 185 restaurants are participating with 3 course lunches for $20.95 and 3 course dinners for $29.95. For a complete list of participating restaurants go to HudsonVallyRestaurantWeek.com
Calcutta Wrap and Roll
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Looking for delicious, authentic Indian food with the fresh taste of home cooking? We discovered Calcutta Wrap and Roll when it got rave reviews from our neighbors who are Indian food connoisseurs. We decided to check out the restaurant and were pleasantly surprised! It is now our go-to Indian restaurant.
Located in the heart of Ardsley at 465 Ashford Avenue (off the Ardsley Avenue exit off the Sawmill Parkway), Calcutta Wrap and Roll was started by Dr. Shishir Bhattacharya (“Dr. B”) and his wife, Sumita with two other partners, the Sahas (Chitta and Sohini) and the Cocuccis (Hugo and Maria). The Bhattacharyas, who are passionate about food, dreamt of opening a restaurant because they missed the kinds of food they had eaten growing up in India. A little over a year ago, this dream became a reality when they opened their restaurant in Ardsley. “We couldn’t find a restaurant in Westchester that served the Kati rolls
What makes Calcutta Wrap and Roll special is the owners’ attention to detail. Dr. B has spent long hours in his home kitchen perfecting the rolls, the “Samosa” appetizer and the spicy “Dr. B’s Chicken Chatpata” which are served at the restaurant. The Bhattacharyas, along with the Sahas, have used their personal family recipes to create home-style dishes that are a hallmark of Calcutta Wrap & Roll. “We want our restaurant to provide the quality of food that we would eat at home.”
There are special lunch platters, served from 11am to 3pm, which are not only delicious, but a bargain. These thalis, (plates) priced at $7.99-$9.99, include dish chicken, lamb or tandoori meats as well as one vegetable (choice of Aloo Tamatar, Aloo Gobi, Chorchori or Chhole) plus Raita and a choice of rice or naan.
For dinner, we love the Chicken Tikka Masala, cooked entirely with white meat, the Lamb/Goat Biryani, is Basmati rice flavored with saffron and cooked with either lamb or goat in an exotic blend of spices, and the Chicken Vindaloo. Dr. B. explains that even though many restaurants add potatoes and peppers to their vindaloo, he does not add these “fillers” which take away from the authenticity and rich taste of this dish. All the dishes can be made mild, medium or hot.
Those on a gluten free diet will find a plethora of delicious options at Calcutta Wrap and Roll where instead of wheat based flour, several dishes are made from rice flour. One example is the Mysore Masala Dosa, priced at just $7.00, which can be an entire meal. It is a traditional rice dosa stuffed with potato and a generous sprinkling of homemade “Podi Powder” (lentils and spice powder). This dosa is served with coconut chutney and sambar, which is lentil soup.
The restaurant has only four tables and is mainly a delivery/pickup business. With a minimum order of $20, you can get free delivery within a 5-mile radius, which covers most of Scarsdale. They also cater for all occasions.
They are currently running a “free samosa” promotion if you take a picture of yourself in front of the restaurant and tag yourself and the restaurant on Facebook. Also, with orders of $40 or more, receive a complimentary naan.
Calcutta Wrap and Roll
465 Ashford Avenue
Ardsley, New York
914-591-2222
http://calcuttawrapandroll.net
Open: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 11am to 9pm
Friday and Saturday, from 11am to 10pm.
(Pictured at top: Chicken Sheekh Kebab)
Contributor Will Heffner is a senior at Scarsdale High School and has been a lifelong resident of Scarsdale. In his free time, he enjoys acting, and playing music. Contact Will at [email protected].
Battle of the Burgers
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The rebirth of downtown White Plains has spurred a burger war – with three burger joints now open within walking distance of each other. Scarsdale High School senior Daniel Jureller set out to sample them all and to determine who had the tastiest burger.
Here is what he learned: We began our expedition at Cheeburger Cheeburger on Mamaroneck Avenue. We were instantly seated in the 1950’s-styled restaurant, with pressed tin walls, neon lights and jukeboxes. If the atmosphere is not enough to keep you busy while you wait for your order, try the batch of trivia cards you’ll find on the table. I ordered the original cheeseburger with French fries and an Oreo milkshake. The burger was grilled to perfection and tasty, and made for a perfect meal when coupled with the golden brown French fries topped with original seasoning. I also enjoyed the Oreo milkshake, which I selected from a choice of 74 different flavors of ice cream! For bigger eaters, Cheeburger offers a one-pound burger challenge –eat one of these giant stuffed hamburgers and you can earn yourself a place on the restaurant’s “wall of fame”. You can customize your cheeburger, chicken sandwich, or grilled cheese sandwich with special toppings – there are over 50 from which to choose -- including lettuce, A1 Steak Sauce, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, artichoke hearts and pepperoni. And for those who prefer salad, Cheeburger has a full salad bar where many of these same toppings are available as well. Prices are reasonable and the overall experience was great.
My next stop was The Westchester Burger Company on Westchester Avenue. Parking was tricky but we found a spot in the lot behind the restaurant and were told it’s also okay to park at Stop & Shop next door. With a bit of a fancier touch, The Westchester Burger is a step up from your average burger place. Don’t be put off by the tight seating – the sacrifice in ambience is justified by the food. After looking at the menu, I decided to order the “Entourage”, a hamburger sandwiched between two grilled cheese buns. Although it was a lot to take down, it was pretty good, and came with a side of small shoestring fries. Though we were stuffed after the burgers, we couldn’t resist the Cinnabon sundae for dessert that we ate all too quickly. Overall the service at Westchester Burger was good, prices were higher than Cheeburger, Cheeburger but well worth it.
The last stop was Five Guys on Main Street, recently opened next to Citi Center. Five Guys functions a little differently than your average burger spot. Upon entering the store, customers wait in line to order from a menu that is more limited than those at the other two restaurants. I ordered a burger with lettuce, tomato, and onions and a side of Cajun fries. After you place your order and pay, you have to try and find a seat – which can be a challenge because the place is busy. When your food is ready, they call your number and it’s self serve. If you decide to eat there rather than take out your food there are free boxes of peanuts to eat while you wait. Although the burgers are not as large as Cheeburgers or the Westchester Burger Company, they are densely packed and filling. The food was good, but probably not good for you as I could see the grease from the burgers and the fries seeping through the brown bag. Five Guys is good for a fast meal and the process is simple. I would go back just to have another order of the Cajun fries.
Who had the tastiest burger? For taste, service, atmosphere, and pricing, my favorite burger spot hands down is Cheeburger Cheeburger. Try it for a fun, casual lunch or a reasonably priced dinner with friends or family.
Cheeburger Cheeburger
84 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 437-7537
Westchester Burger Company
106 Westchester Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 358-9399
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
240 Main Street
White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 422-3483
Contributor Daniel Jureller is a senior at Scarsdale High School, headed to Lafayette College in the fall. He is looking forward to studying English and education.
The Beer Necessities Now Open on Quaker Ridge Road
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I don’t like beer. I guess this is surprising because I am a major foodie and certainly enjoy other alcoholic beverages, particularly wine. But when I heard that a craft beer and gourmet food shop had opened I was intrigued -- and since my husband needed a gift for a football party we both headed over to Quaker Ridge Road to check it out.
The Beer Necessities, now open about three months, is truly unique and has over 700 different beers in its inventory. Adam Deutsch, one of the owner/managers, took me on a tour of the store’s extensive selection of beer and food to accompany the beer. There are two aisles chock full of beer and all types of gourmet goodies that complement the beverage.
The beer aisle is arranged geographically from East Coast to West Coast and imported beers by country. There are craft and microbrew beers and there is something for every taste, even mine. With the store’s help, I bought Ithaca Beer Company’s Apricot Wheat and I have to say it was refreshing and fruity.
In the back of the shop you can purchase growlers in either 32 or 64 oz. sizes. A growler is an empty glass “jug” 
that can be filled with one of the 15 beers available on tap. When sealed, these growlers will stay fresh for up to six weeks and make a great gift for a sports parties and game nights.
The food aisle is very appetizing, with a huge selection of hot sauces, bbq sauces, specialty popcorns, over 50 artisanal cheeses as well as prepared foods that can be served as a meal. The prepared food comes from Great American BBQ and the Johnson Truck, a new food truck with Cajun-Creole comfort foods that was parked down at the Mamaroneck harbor last summer.
The Beer Necessities will be holding beer tastings Fridays from 5 – 8 and Saturdays from 2 – 5. Call for details.
11 Quaker Ridge Road
Quaker Ridge Shopping Center
New Rochelle
(914) 278-9050
http://www.beermenus.com/places/3195-the-beer-necessities
Facebook.com/BeerNecessities
Contributed by Michelle Levine
Chocolate Louboutin's and Cocoa Roaches for Valentine's Day
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When Scarsdale chocolatier Sabrina Berkowitz got an email from the Bronx Zoo asking her to make chocolate roaches for Valentine's Day she thought it was a joke. But when she called back the zoo, she found out that they meant business. They explained that last year thousands of hopeless romantics named real live Madagascar hissing cockroaches after their favorite loved ones, “ex,” or mother-in-law. This year, they were offering the naming opportunity again but also selling “cocoa-roaches,” -- genuine artisanal 100 percent solid dark chocolate likenesses of a Madagascar hissing cockroaches, which are the world’s largest member of the roach family. Berkowitz was asked to create the chocolate roaches for the Zoo’s Wildlife Conservation Society.
She set to work creating a mold and painting the sample roach. The Society loved her design and contracted with her to move forward. Now as Valentine’s Day nears, Berkowitz and her roaches have become an overnight sensation. On February 7, the roaches were featured on “Live! with Kelly” and Berkowitz was also interviewed by Amy Eddings on WNYC radio. To date, over 50 articles have been published about this very unique Valentine’s gift.
Berkowitz started her career as a computer programmer – but after taking a Chocolate course at the French Culinary Institute she realized she had found her passion. Within two months of completing this course, she quit her job and started the Chocolate Box NYC in 2008.
She uses all of her own recipes and creates them with specific people in mind.
For instance, the Chai Spice gives a nod to her Indian background and the Hookup, consisting of fresh vanilla bean and rose petals was created for a friend who arranges her “late night clubbing dates with her husband.” The fudge is made from a recipe that dates back to grandmother.
The chocolate she makes contains no preservatives or artificial ingredients. Though prices remain reasonable, Berkowitz uses the same chocolate as some of the most well known chocolatiers in New York, plus fresh ingredients and purees imported from France. Each item is handmade and Berkowtiz does it all, from packaging to delivering to marketing and cleanup.
Berkowitz creates an entire line of chocolate, perfect for Valentine’s gifts. Check out her chocolate boxes, chocolate munchies and elegant line of chocolate shoes at: https://thechocolateboxnyc.com/ . To order, contact her at: [email protected] or by phone at 646-413-3999.
