NYCGuide

The Best Restaurants In Westchester

A 100-year-old roadside hot dog stand, a Martha Stewart-blessed French bistro, and possibly the best farm-to-table restaurant on the planet.
The bar at Goosefeather in Westchester

photo credit: David A. Lee

Remember commuting? Neither do we. But if you head directly north of NYC, you’ll run right into Westchester County—home to about a million people spread out across nearly 50 cities, towns, and villages, each with their own quirks and distinct personality.

There are the “River Towns” that run north along the Hudson, with an influx of young families who ran out of space in Brooklyn. There are the densely populated cities in southern Westchester, where the day-ones mix with newcomers who want a short ride to the city, and a handful of wealthy enclaves to the east. And then there are the towns further north, where you get more land in exchange for a longer trip to the nearest coffee shop.

For a long time, the ratio of hits-to-misses in Westchester dining was not particularly great. But that trend has reversed. Along with your friend from Cobble Hill who moved to Irvington, a number of talented chefs from NYC have also settled up here. Now, new and exciting spots open regularly. Below are 17 of our favorite reasons for Westchester locals to eat close to home. And if that’s not you (yet), save this guide for the next time you’re driving through the ‘burbs.


MAMARONECK

photo credit: David A Lee

Italian

Westchester

$$$$Perfect For:Date NightLunchPrivate Dining
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The menu at this Italian restaurant is loaded with hits: mafalda ribbons made one-by-one in the kitchen, fresh-pressed pizzelle that forms the cannolis you’re going to want for dessert, and a linguini nero that has its own following of regulars who come weekly for a fix of the black ink pasta with clams in a complex garlic, chile, and tomato infusion. The front room has a good buzz and includes the restaurant’s bar and charcuterie case, but if you have a larger group, stretch out in the back room. Find some time to get here for lunch, too, when the salumeria makes dynamite sandwiches like the prosciutto, stracciatella, and pesto combo that just might make you loosen your relationship with your favorite local deli. 


Walter’s has been a Mamaroneck institution for over 100 years, and if you’ve never waited in line for hot dogs from a roadside pagoda, this is your chance. They’re made in-house with a combination of pork, beef, and veal, then split, grilled, and served on a toasted bun. Get a single or double dog, and show your condiment style by ordering either “with” or “without” Walter’s own mustard blend. The hardest choice you’ll have to make is between four fried potato options (we’re partial to the curly fries). Walter’s is open year-round and has a nice picnic area if you want to demolish your dogs onsite. There’s also a second location in White Plains, if you prefer more indoor seating and less history.


NORTH SALEM

This new French spot in a rebuilt farmhouse bordering Connecticut is a good place to watch chefs stir mushrooms into risotto just so, and maybe have a Martha Stewart sighting. Dishes walk the fine line of rich ingredients and moderate-sized plates that’ll leave you satisfied but not stuffed, though if you want splurge in both price and portion, there’s a grilled wagyu with bone marrow for two that you’ll see on tables across the dining room. We think Cenadou is worth the trip up north, but if you’re looking for a French bistro in Westchester and don’t want to head all the way up county, check out Saint George in Harrison.


NEW ROCHELLE

Anyone who’s driven up 95 has undoubtedly noticed the evolution of high-rise developments dotting downtown New Rochelle, which has brought an influx of young professional people and new restaurants that came along with them. And while we love longtime favorites like Alvin & Friends, there’s nothing wrong with the distressed brick wall featuring carefully placed wine bottles at Town House. Lean into the starters and sides, where you’ll find things like burrata or pan con tomate that don’t taste as expected. The service can be spotty, but when the food is right and the crowd is in full voice, Town House feels like the place where locals meet that next generation of Westchester as they start their night out. 


TUCKAHOE

Odo has immaculate dinner party vibes. The restaurant glows a little from the street, there’s a happy buzz in the small dining room, and the staff welcomes you like an old friend who stopped by and happened to be hungry. The kitchen takes the food seriously—start with the scarpetta before moving on to the crowd-favorite gnocchi—but the Abruzzese-focused Italian menu has a playful sense of humor that begs you to try your best Sopranos accent: the traditional name for its lamb skewers is shortened to speducc, and the side dishes are grouped under the heading “goomahs.” If you’re coming for Sunday dinner, expect a totally different experience: a family-style, rotating prix-fixe menu that’ll likely lean toward red-sauce classics, plus wine.


TARRYTOWN

We can’t think of a more “farm-to-table” restaurant than Blue Hill at Stone Barns, where you drive past your dinner on the way to eating it. A meal at Stone Barns involves culinary education, offering thought-provoking food like zucchini sushi and badger flame beets, served by people who likely helped put it into or take it out of the ground. For the full tasting menu experience, you need to prepay and book about one month in advance—expect to spend around $1,000 for a party of two, before drinks. But if you want to get a taste of the farm with a little less time or money on the line, Stone Barns also offers casual lunches in their cafeteria, and preset family-style meals on limited dates, all with advance reservations. 


There’s a lot going on at Goosefeather, a Hong Kong-style Cantonese barbeque and noodle place set in a manor house on an estate in Tarrytown. There are multiple dining rooms with art deco ceilings and chandeliers, a huge outdoor seating area, and a swanky bar room. It’s the kind of spot that rewards repeat visits, and you can attack the menu in a few different ways: load up on vegetables and dim sum, focus on noodles and rice dishes to go with the barbecued meats, or stop by the bar for strong cocktails and small bites. Among the visual Easter eggs is a treat for New York Yankee fans: a framed photo of former pitching legend (and partial namesake) Rich “Goose” Gossage hung in a strategic location.


SCARSDALE

The best wings in Westchester are at Candlelight Inn, a roadside bar in Scarsdale. It’s nothing fancy, cash-only, always busy, and you may have to put your name on a clipboard and wait for a table. But the magic of Candlelight comes from keeping it simple: a perfectly balanced crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside wing nirvana accompanied by a plethora of great sauce options, where the only break from the standard playbook is that the wings are served attached to the drums. The kitchen is open until 2am seven days a week, because they know wings are really good in combination with things you do late at night.


ARMONK

Family-operated since 1990, Mariachi Mexico shares frontage with a fish store on Main Street in Armonk, and the dining room may feel a little sleepy when you first sit down. But the sensory fireworks start once the food hits the table, thanks to their fanatical devotion to local sourcing and seasonal ingredients. Salads burst with edible flowers, and commonplace dishes like enchiladas or black bean soup taste like revelations, with details like nuanced salsas and hand-pressed nixtamalized masa. The back wall of the restaurant serves as a huge chalkboard that lists out their purveyors, along with the daily specials. Give those some real consideration, because, unlike places that are trying to move leftover product, here, the chef takes full advantage of that day’s bounty.


HARTSDALE

Chinese restaurant O Mandarin is perfect for a Sunday night family dinner, a group celebration, or even just some comfort food to-go if you don’t want to wait out the no-reservations policy. Focus on the signature dishes like wild pepper shrimp and crispy rice, or the spicy Mandarin pork shank if you can handle the heat, and keep in mind that the scallion bubble pancake is on every table for a reason. Or, make a game-time decision to go big with the peking duck. And don’t be fooled by the Hartsdale strip mall location: O Mandarin blends modern and traditional elements with lots of carved wood accents that make it all feel like a proper night out.


DOBBS FERRY

At almost 15 years old, The Cookery in Dobbs Ferry is like a punk rock band that’s gone mainstream. It still feels a little rebellious, even though everyone loves it by now. The menu is a mashup of gastropub and Italian, but really, they just lean into anything salty or fatty. The housemade pastas are great, there’s a whole pig dinner if your group is feeling primal, and somehow, dishes like duck liver cannoli with smoked cabbage marmellata make perfect sense. So settle in for some hip-hop and a strong drink, and worry about your cholesterol another time.


MILLWOOD

If you live north of White Plains, go anywhere upstate on the Taconic Parkway, or have ever driven someone home from a house party, you’ve been to Rocky’s. This cash-only, 24/7 deli has been around for 60 years, and rumor has it they haven’t locked the front door or turned off the lights in over 23 years. The specialty sandwiches (known as wedges in these parts) are the way to go. Select one of the chicken cutlet-based greatest hits to show you’re a Rocky’s pro, like the Tommy D with chicken cutlet, bacon, egg, and cheese, or the Hash Tag with all that, plus hashbrowns. There’s almost always a crowd of 30-and-under types milling around, and a throng of friendly staff behind the counter ready to oblige. 


IRVINGTON

There are a handful of highly regarded Indian restaurants in Westchester, and our favorite is Chutney Masala in Irvington. The flavors feel brighter here, which is something you can see and taste in the vegetarian curries, like the deeply dark green pureed spinach saag that’s equally rich and distinct. There’s a suggestion on the menu to forget your fork and eat with your hands, but silverware’s provided just in case. The paapdi chaat and chicken kati rolls are excellent starters, and give way to tandooris and curries that all hit the mark. 


RYE

Everything about Oko in Rye says “you’ve made it,” from the difficult-to-score prime-time reservations to the luxury items all over the Japanese menu, including three kinds of uni appetizers. Make sure to try the handrolls and the yakitori, but know that however you decide to navigate the hot and cold starters and extensive nigiri selection, you’ll be rewarded with high-quality ingredients and lots of excellent single bites. Even the dessert course feels like pampering, with a homemade matcha kit kat and custom toppings on creamy soft serve, resulting in a sundae that far exceeds the token ice cream at many Japanese restaurants. 


HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON

You’ll notice two things when you walk into Boro6 in Hastings: the 40-foot-long marble horseshoe bar, and the everyone-knows-your-name welcome from the staff. Shorthand for Westchester serving as the sixth (food) borough of NYC, this wine bar has large picture windows, a street corner location, and a mix of locals and visitors that all work together to give off a casual, cosmopolitan vibe. Stop in for a glass or hunker down with a bottle from a list that’s primarily made up of European natural, organic, and biodynamic producers. The cacio e pepe arancini is still a signature dish on the food menu, which has recently veered from a longer list of small plates to a curated selection of starters, salads, and mains.


MOUNT KISCO

Like a great Disney movie, Mt Kisco Diner works on two levels. During the weekdays, it’s a classic local diner that serves standards like oversized omelettes and good-enough coffee, with just the right blend of friendly-yet-disinterested service. On the weekend, it becomes a social media magnet, drawing crowds of tweens and teens with milkshakes that belong on competition shows and mashed-up concoctions that sound like a regular menu got dropped into a centrifuge. But the gimmicky stuff actually tastes good—we’re looking at you, chicken alfredo tacos. So if you want old-fashioned french toast and quiet conversation, come for breakfast. But if you are (or gave birth to) someone who needs to make a TikTok about the finer points of Fruity Pebble Pancakes, this is the prime-time spot for you.


EASTCHESTER

Classic spots like Johnny’s and Sal’s are probably what come to mind first when you think of the pizza scene in Westchester, and they remain beloved. But these days, there are plenty of options for great slices or pies. Burrata in Eastchester has established itself as arguably the best spot for sitting down with a Neapolitan pie that’s the perfect balance of charred crust and chewy dough. In addition to pizza, they have a full Italian menu and a bar. Get the J Sexton pie, which receives a shot of chilled burrata after coming out of the oven, and the agnolotti filled with short rib pasta dish. Service is a bit casual, but the pies come out pretty quickly, and the prices are reasonable by Westchester standards.


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