NYCGuide
Where To Eat In Northern Westchester
photo credit: David A Lee
There’s no line on a map dividing northern and southern Westchester, but there is a highway. Interstate 287 runs through White Plains, Westchester’s largest city, and basically splits the county in half. There are a lot more people on the southern side of the county, and in our opinion, it’s also easier to find great places to eat.
But if you’re selective, you can find plenty of restaurants up north worth visiting. We’ve scouted out some prime options across northern Westchester, which includes a handful of the spots that were in our Best of Westchester list. So next time you invite your friends from Larchmont or Yonkers to venture out of their comfort zone, you can recommend somewhere to meet with confidence.
NORTH SALEM
photo credit: David A Lee
We’ll forgive you for assuming this spot is just another charming, farm-to-table country restaurant. It’s true they build the menu around what they grow on-site, and the way-north farmhouse location dates back to the 1770s. But despite appearances, Purdy’s Farmer & The Fish has been a local go-to for years, and it’s kind of a scene—the crowd looks younger, gets louder, and stays later than you might expect. Follow the menu’s lead and focus on the fish dishes (one of the owners also operates a seafood distributor that supplies this spot and a sister location further south in Westchester). You can also take advantage of the farmstead location by dining out on the porch in the warmer months, and grabbing a drink by the fire pits that they set up in the winter.
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
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.
SOMERS
photo credit: David A Lee
Securing great barbecue often comes with a catch, like required pre-ordering or the patience to wait in a very long line. At Smokehouse Tailgate Grill in Somers, you won’t have to dedicate hours to your meal. But you will have to venture to the second floor of a grocery store—DeCiccos, Westchester’s favorite booming chain—and only on Thursday or Friday. The reward: a short menu of juicy smoked meats, plus a smashburger and some deep fried boneless wings in a buttery sauce that’ll force you to construct a giant napkin graveyard. The upstairs space has a large bar full of highlights from DeCiccos’ massive craft beer selection, with the BBQ operation tucked in a corner of the bar. If you want more menu options (and more hours), Smokehouse has two other full-time locations further south.
POUND RIDGE
photo credit: David A. Lee
When it opened a decade ago, The Inn at Pound Ridge became an instant hotspot among the three-car-garage crowd, and the buzz hasn’t worn off since. The vegetable-forward menu does little to dispel the notion that you’re at ABC Kitchen’s weekend house, and neither do the staff’s expertly pressed plaid shirts and anecdotes about peekytoe crab. Virtually every dish features a mix of textures and flavors that feel engineered to release some dopamine, so give in and order a perfectly sized pizza to share. It’s perpetually packed, so you’ll probably end up grabbing a drink at the bar while waiting to be seated, either in the grand upstairs dining room with high ceilings and lots of light, or the moodier, dark, brick-walled basement. Reservations are much easier to come by for weekend brunch than dinner, and you can still experience most of the menu’s greatest hits alongside a handful of brunch classics.
photo credit: David A Lee
When Bitcoin finally hits your target price and you buy that fantasy horse farm in Pound Ridge, The Kitchen Table is where you’ll go for a casual breakfast. This counter service spot is located in the Scotts Corners hamlet, which runs for about three blocks and is filled with picture-perfect shops that make everywhere else seem ... not good enough. They serve breakfast until close (which is 3pm most days), along with lunch starting around noon. We’re partial to the breakfast menu, especially the burrito, but the sandwich classics are worth your stomach space as well. The staff are super friendly and patient, even when there’s a line of locals out the door, gossiping no doubt about the price of hay.
PEEKSKILL
Apropos doesn’t exactly blend in with its Peekskill neighbors. The restaurant sits high on a hill overlooking the Hudson River, in a former convent that was reinvented as a luxury boutique hotel in 2020. The views all around the grounds and from one of the dining rooms are spectacular, and the restaurant offers all-day dining options to service the hotel’s equally well preserved guests. We like Apropos best for dinner, and prefer to focus on the smaller plates and pastas, especially the standout pappardelle with lamb ragu. There’s also a small but cozy bar area where you can order the full menu, and there’s usually a light buzz in the room from the guests who always seem to be a few drinks into a fabulous night.
YORKTOWN HEIGHTS
photo credit: David A Lee
Jewel of Himalaya is a strip mall spot that’s always busy with people dining in and taking out. They do traditional Tibetan and Nepalese food, as well as excellent versions of dishes from China and India. Definitely get a soup—we love the dal and the thendup, which includes flat noodles cut by hand in a rich broth along with chicken or beef. The momos are the only thing on the menu that don’t always land for us, but any place where we can assemble a gently priced feast of Himalayan curry, tandoori chicken tikka, and vegetable fried noodles is a place that makes our regular rotation.
KATONAH
photo credit: David A Lee
Remember those three weeks when you were a sourdough baker? That loaf you were workshopping has been perfected at LMNOP, a country-chic bakery that sits on the main strip in downtown Katonah. The sourdough breads made with freshly milled flour have earned them a lot of attention, but feel free to grab a cup of coffee and a croissant, a bialy, or whatever looks good—everything we’ve tried here has made us close our eyes with joy. All the baked goods are made onsite on the second floor, where some of those breads are also transformed into premade sandwiches. Just be prepared: Even though the Katonah locals look friendly, their sharp elbows come out when one of the 20 or so coveted seats open up.
photo credit: David A Lee
This classic, roadside window service joint has been offering epic soft serve since the 1950s. The current owners took over more than 20 years ago, expanded the hard ice cream selection, and added things like burgers, lobster rolls, and fried clam strips to the menu. The full King Kone experience includes navigating the hectic parking lot, waiting in line to order, and remembering to bring cash (or getting bailed out by Venmo). There’s picnic table seating onsite, and we can’t think of a better way to enjoy the good weather once they open in April than by pulling up, grabbing a generous soft serve with sprinkles, and savoring every moment while you battle your melting reward.
MOUNT KISCO
photo credit: David A Lee
The best thing on the menu at Badageoni, a Georgian restaurant in Mount Kisco, is the adjaruli khachapuri: the country’s national dish, which consists of a soft, oval-shaped bread vessel filled with cheese, butter, and an egg. But the menu here rewards exploration, and the staff are excited to introduce you to some less obvious menu items. So on that note, we think you can skip the khinkali, and save room for some of the heartier plates, like their excellent chakapuli, a tender lamb slow-cooked in white whine broth with tarragon and sour plums. The space has a warm and inviting energy despite straightforward décor, which is just the right backdrop to soak in the Georgian pop music playing overhead.
photo credit: Mt Kisco Diner
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.
OSSINING
Brothers Fish & Chips sounds like it could be a waterfront shack, but it’s actually an out-of-the-way seafood refuge in an Ossining strip mall. There’s a full-service restaurant next door to the original Brothers takeout spot, and both places serve carefully sourced, beer-battered fish and other fried marine life. The relaxed and friendly restaurant has a DIY-meets-deluxe aesthetic, and the tasting menu of the day may include dishes served with dehydrated chimichurri or mezcal tomato sauce. Not every dish hits, but this place has an undeniable charm, enhanced by details like edible flowers grown onsite and cocktails made with fresh juices. There’s also a short list of a la carte options each day, and themed dinners throughout the year that are worth checking out.
CHAPPAQUA
We have a complicated relationship with Crabtree’s Kittle House. We love how this place oozes history, how they were name-checking local farms and rotating seasonal ingredients long before it was cool, and how the wine list will silence the biggest grape snob you know. On the flip side, you can’t always tell who’s waiting on your table, and the menu never seems to pick a lane—smoked salmon, falafel bowls, and truffled mac and cheese all make an appearance. But we keep coming back, because there are two great ways to play Crabtree: Bring your parents to the stately main dining room for a civilized, grown-up meal. Or, camp out in the dark, cozy tap room that serves as Chappaqua’s unofficial living room, with live piano music, a killer veggie burger, and a huge glass of your new favorite wine.
MILLWOOD
photo credit: David A Lee
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 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.
PLEASANTVILLE
photo credit: David A Lee
Not sure what you want for dinner? You could wander around Wheeler Ave in Pleasantville, where there are great options for beers, sushi, tacos, and more. Or, you could just head straight to Pubstreet in Pleasantville’s former train station, and experiment with the menu’s shareable apps, burgers, and grain bowls. Two of our favorite things to order are the salmon poke “sushi fritters,” and the Pubstreet Rice Bowl with fried chicken and sambal aioli. You’ll probably need to squeeze into a spot at the crowded bar while waiting out the no-reservations policy (unless you have a party of six). But the dining room is always lively, the prices are reasonable for these parts, and they offer a nice weekend brunch—which is helpful if you want to take advantage of Pleasantville’s awesome year-round farmers market or the Jacob Burns Film Center around the corner.
ARMONK
photo credit: David A Lee
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 the chef takes full advantage of that day’s bounty.
