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Dinner and a Beer Flight at Mill House Brewing Company

Posted on August 20, 2018 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

(Thank you to Dutchess Tourism and Mill House Brewing Company for hosting NY Foodie Family. As always, all opinions are our own.)

Mill House Brewing Company is located on Mill Street in Poughkeepsie, right off of Rt. 55. Surprisingly, the restaurant was never actually a mill and was most recently a Chinese restaurant! My husband and I didn’t realize until visiting that we’ve driven by this place multiple times on our way across the river! Now that we know that it’s there though, we will be back. Mill House Brewing Company is a brewery and a pub. When we talked to people at other stops on our Dutchess Craft Beverage Trail tour and mentioned that we were visiting Mill House Brewing Company, they always commented on how good the food was here. And they weren’t wrong!

The restaurant has an extensive menu, filled with so many delicious options. My husband and I debated making a meal out of Appetizers and Bar Bites, because there were so many dishes that we wanted to try! In the end we took our server’s recommendation and shared the Fried Calamari Salad. The portion was humongous and could have been a meal in itself! I had never heard of a fried calamari salad before, but it was so good. The calamari was so tender and the chili-lime vinaigrette and Srirarcha Ranch aioli complemented the arugula so well.

For our entrees we shared the Fig and “Pig” pizza and a Deep Fried Scallop and Oyster Po’Boy. The sandwich was messy good! Unfortunately, it was a daily special and not something that they serve every day.

The pizza Fig and “Pig” is one of five pizzas that the restaurant serves. This has smoked mozzarella, housemade duck bacon, black mission figs, arugula and aged balsamic. We were getting full and took most of the pizza home with us!

Mill House Brewing also has several burgers on their menu, including the 50/50 burger being the winner of the Hudson Valley Burger Bash, three years in a row. They also make several different sausages and offer a variety of pasta, seafood and steak dishes. There is something for everyone at this Mill House and I can almost guarantee you that it will be delicious.

We were seriously too stuffed for dessert, as much as we wanted to try some of them (I’m talking about you, Peanut Butter Sundae and Cannoli Profiteroles!). Just another reason for us to go back!

“….our A-Team here, who make “holy s#*t” moments happen at Mill House day in and day out.”

But of course, besides serving amazing food, we can’t forget that Mill House is also a brewery! They have 16 taps and are always changing the beers that they serve. My husband enjoyed a flight, where you can choose 5 beers for $15. His flight included Kold One, which is their most popular beer, Cross Reference Blackberry, Cucumber Blessings, Velvet Panda and Northwest Territory. Although he enjoyed them all, his favorite was Cucumber Blessings. This award-winning cream ale is crisp and dry with notes of cucumber. Basically, a perfect summer beer!

Assistant General Manger, Chris, told to us that the brewmasters Jamie Bishop and Larry Stock have become more experimental with their beers since they acquired the additional space down the street that houses 20 additional barrels. According to Chris, asking him to name his favorite beer is like asking a parent to name their favorite child. However, at the time of our visit, his current favorite brew was Zoe.

Brewmaster Jamie works with a local artist to create unique badges for each new beer.

If you really enjoy your beer, hopefully it is one of five that are sold in cans. Kold One, Cucumber Blessings, Hubar I DIPA, Grocery Getter and Northwest Territory Imperial are their five beers that you can find in stores like Whole Foods, some local beer distributors and even Grand Central Station. Otherwise, you can purchase some on your way out of the restaurant to take home with you (along with some of their home homemade sauces made with their beer).

Stop by The Mill House Brewing Company for a delicious meal and a cold brew (or flight)!

The Details:

Mill House Brewing Company
289 Mill Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(845) 485-2739

Website: www.millhousebrewing.com

Hours: Monday – Thursday 11:30 AM – 9 PM, Friday 11:30 AM – 10:30 PM, Saturday 11 AM – 10:30 PM, Sunday Brunch 11 AM – 3 PM, Sunday Dinner 3 PM – 9 PM

Fondue Fun at The Melting Pot

Posted on August 1, 2018 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

I can’t believe that I haven’t written a review of The Melting Pot until now. This restaurant has become a family favorite and is frequented annually for one, or sometimes even both, of our kids’ birthdays. The restaurant is a chain, with locations throughout the United States. While my husband and I aren’t huge fans of chain restaurants, we both enjoy the The Melting Pot as much as the kids do.

For those unfamiliar with The Melting Pot, it is a fondue restaurant. Dining here is a fun, interactive experience for the entire family. One of the best parts of The Melting Pot is that you can customize your menu. If you only want to do appetizers and dessert, you can. For our family of four, we usually order two 4-course experiences and share between the four of us. They do have a children’s menu, but we have found that there is enough food for all of us, sharing the two adult entrees. The kids do love the special kid cocktails they offer. Be warned, they are very sweet! We usually water them down.

The 4-course experience begins with your choice of cheese fondue. Our go-to choice (and a signature item) is the Wisconsin Cheddar. This fondue includes Aged Cheddar, Emmenthaler, Sam Adams Boston Lager, garlic and spices. You get a board loaded with veggies, different types of bread (including our favorite, pretzel bread) and apples.

The second course is a choice of three different salads. The kids usually share a Caesar salad and my husband and I share this California salad. It’s super tasty with mixed greens topped with candied pecans, Gorgonzola and house-made raspberry vinaigrette.

The third course includes a choice of three different entrees. I believe that different locations of the restaurant may offer different entree options. We always opt for “The Classic” which includes Certified Angus Beef Sirloin, shrimp and Herb-Crusted chicken breast.

For our second entree our go-to is “The Pacific Rim” which includes dumplings, duck, shrimp and Teriyaki marinated sirloin.

With the entrees you also get a bowl of veggies that includes potatoes, broccoli and mushroom caps. The fun of this restaurant is getting to cook the food yourself! Every person gets two colored cooking forks. The colors are different so it’s easy to keep track of whose fork is whose. Your server will tell you cooking times, but it’s approximately one to two minutes for seafood and additional cooking time for other other proteins.

And we can’t forget about the sauces! There are six different sauces that you can dip your cooked foodinto including a Green Goddess sauce (my fave), cocktail sauce, Gorgonzola sauce and a curry sauce.

The restaurant thinks of everything. The plates have special compartments for you to scoop your sauce into. As you can see, you will be eating your main entree in stages. Since you only have two cooking utensils, you will be continuously cooking and eating the main entree. You will also get a “Search and Rescue” slotted spoon, because inevitably, some food will fall off your cooking fork!

Of course, the kids’ favorite part of the meal is dessert! Since we most recently celebrated my son’s birthday, we let him choose the chocolate fondue, since there’s only one per table. This time, he chose the Flaming Turtle which includes milk chocolate, caramel and and candied pecans. There’s a splash of rum which is added and set on fire, thus the “flaming” part of the turtle.

When you arrive at the restaurant, they ask if you are celebrating a special occasion. We mentioned to the hostess and our waiter that it was our son’s 10th birthday. When our waiter brought us our dessert, he also brought this fun, colorful plate.

The Melting Pot is a fun restaurant that is great for celebrating special occasions, a date night or just a dinner out with friends. When you dine here, you will have a memorable, interactive experience.

The Details:
(Please note that The Melting Pot has locations throughout the United States. Check the website to see if there’s a location near you.)

The Melting Pot White Plains
30 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 993-6358

Hours: Monday – Thursday 5 PM -10 PM Friday 5 PM -11 PM, Saturday 12 PM – 11 PM, Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM

Parking: Street Parking

Price: $$$ (Four-Course dinner for two plus cocktails approximately $100+)

Newest Additions to Savor Westchester: The Little Beet And Melt Shop

Posted on July 2, 2018 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

(Thank you to The Little Beet for hosting NY Foodie Family. As always, all opinions are our own.)

Two new eateries, Melt Shop and The Little Beet recently opened at Savor Westchester, the food hall type dining experience at The Westchester in White Plains.

Melt Shop is all about comfort food. We’re talking grilled sandwiches (with, of course, lots of melty cheese!), tater tots, and milkshakes. Sandwiches are reasonably priced, ranging from $5.05 to $8.96.

One of our favorite Melt Shop sandwiches is the Signature Fried Chicken. A generously-sized piece of fried chicken is topped with pepper jack, red cabbage slaw, and Melt sauce. A warning: This sandwich is messy, but so good! Have plenty of napkins on hand.

We also tried the French Onion Beef. Roast beef, frenched onions, Muenster cheese, arugula, and sherry vinaigrette are piled on Country White Bread. This was a tasty sandwich as well, though the fried chicken was definitely preferred.

Melt Shop doesn’t serve fries, they have tater tots. You could choose tots topped with just cheese sauce. However, we opted for the loaded tots which are covered in cheese sauce, bacon, jalapeno and herbed parmesan.

Another new addition to Savor Westchester is The Little Beet. This eatery has a strong plant-based focus, featuring lots of veggies. They have dining choices for special dietary preferences including gluten-free, vegetarian, dairy-free and more.

This is a quick-service create-your-own bowl restaurant. You choose a base of either field greens, brown rice and spirulina (FYI -spirulina is a superfood algae), or a gluten-free ancient grain blend. Then choose two veggies for your bowl. They offer cool choices, like the cukes and tomatoes (which happens to be a fave of the staff at the Savor Westchester location), seaweed slaw and pea and radishes. Warm veggies include chipotle kale, charred sweet potato and more. If you don’t want one of the bases, you can opt for a third veggie instead. Step two is picking a protein. Salmon is one of the best-selling options, since no other eatery at Savor Westchester offers a salmon dish. Other options include chicken, tofu, beet falafel, sesame avocado, and braised pork. Step three is to choose a sauce; Chimichurri, beet hummus dip and sweet chili garlic sauce are a few of the choices. Finally, you can pick a garnish of either super seeds, turmeric almonds, pickled ginger or hibiscus pickled onion. The combinations and options are nearly limitless! Prices are based on the type of protein chosen but range in price from $11.40 for sesame avocado to $14.00 for salmon. You can also just have the veggies and base only for $8.95.

One bowl we opted for was brown rice and spirulina topped with charred broccoli, cukes and tomatoes and braised pork. We chose to top it with avocado bean dip and sweet chili garlic sauce. This combo was definitely one of our favorites!

On this bowl we opted for a third veggie instead of a base. We chose charred sweet potatoes, golden cauliflower and shaved brussels sprouts topped with turmeric tahini, roasted red pepper and walnut dip and pickled onions.

We also tried the Chef Made Yuzu Poke Bowl. We opted for a rice base which is then topped with salmon poke, grilled avocado, cucumber, sea vegetables, pickled ginger and sesame seeds.

I am not kidding when I tell you everything was delicious. The kids loved it all as well and my husband noted that you don’t even need the meat. The veggies and sauces are so flavorful. If we could eat this every day, we could totally become vegetarians!

So the next time you are at Savor Westchester, make sure to stop by either Melt Shop or The Little Beet for some tasty eats! Click the link to read more about some of the other dining options at Savor Westchester.

Lunch at El Balon Cantina

Posted on January 11, 2018 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

(Thank you to El Balon Cantina for hosting us! All opinions are our own.)

Living in Northern Westchester County, we don’t make it down to Yonkers very often. However, last weekend our family ventured down to Ridge Hill, for lunch at El Balon Cantina. El Balon Cantina is a Mexican Cantina located on the corner of Market Street, near T.J. Maxx and the Legoland Discovery Center.

The interior of the restaurant is bright and colorful. There is a variety of seating including booths, tables, and seats at the bar. My kids loved the optical illusion floor! A large bar is situated in the middle of the restaurant.

There are two different foosball tables in the restaurant, which are great for entertaining the kids (or adults!) while they wait for their food.

One of El Balon Cantina’s most popular drinks is their margarita. Since we were there on the weekend, my husband opted to sample a Chipotle Bloody Maria, one of the restaurant’s brunch cocktails. This drink had a spicy kick! The kids shared a non-alcoholic frozen strawberry daiquiri and I stuck with water. We started with chips and guacamole while we decided on what else to order.

The weekend brunch menu has staples like Huevos Rancheros Tostadas, Chilequiles Verdes, Tostada Francesca (Mexican french toast) and a variety of egg dishes (burrito, avocado omelette, etc.). The restaurant has a children’s menu for those 12 and under. It has a variety of choices including a quesadilla, chicken tenders, hot dog, mac & cheese that are reasonably priced at $7 and includes one side. Drinks are additional. Although our 9 and 11-year-old children were with us, they did not order from the children’s menu. Instead, as we often do, we opted to order a variety of dishes from the regular menu and share.

I saw the brown rice bowl and knew that I wanted it with Sriracha Pepper Shrimp. I will be honest, this bowl is smaller than I was expecting, especially since we wanted to share. Everyone had a little taste, and I ate the rest. It was spicy but tasty! I loved all the veggies that were in this.

The kids, especially my son, love tacos. We ordered three different tacos – Crispy Panko Shrimp ($4), Grilled Baja Fish ($3) and Chorizo ($4). Look at all the toppings on these tacos! There were so many tasty looking tacos on the menu that I’m going to have to go back! The Falafel, Calexico and Barbacoa tacos are still on my need to try list! If I was making a meal out of only tacos, I’d likely add a side of rice and beans and fried brussels sprouts.

We rounded out our meal with the BBQ Brisket Enchiladas which came with rice and beans. These enchiladas were tasty with big chunks of brisket.

We of course couldn’t leave without sampling dessert! We decided we would choose two and share. My husband immediately saw the Caramel Flan and knew he wanted to try it. It took us awhile to decide between the Churros, Fried Cheesecake or Balon Sundae for the second dessert. But we finally opted for the Fried Cheesecake.

We made two great choices. The flan was creamy, but firm and wasn’t overly sweet. While I’m not a huge fan of flan, my husband and kids thought it was delicious. We all enjoyed the fried cheesecake too. The outer shell was crispy and dusted with cinnamon sugar. The inside was filled with creamy cheesecake.

El Balon Cantina is a reasonably-priced, family-friendly restaurant. It’s a perfect place to grab a quick lunch or dinner after a day of shopping or family fun (Rockin’ Jump, Legoland Discovery Center and Showcase Cinema de Lux are all located in the shopping center). For those of you who live closer to the restaurant, they have lots of weekday specials. On Mondays frozen margaritas are $7 all evening long, on Taco Tuesday they have all you can eat tacos in 60 minutes for $19.95, 50 cent wings on Wednesday and $7 frozen margaritas and $5 beers on Thirsty Thursday. Plenty of reasons to stop by and give them a try!

The Details:

El Balon Cantina
Ridge Hill
211 Market Street
Yonkers, NY 10710
(914) 376-6800
For reservations call the restaurant.

Hours: Open daily, 11:30 AM – 11:30 PM

Parking: Paid parking in garages ($3 for up to 3 hours), limited metered street parking

Price: $$ (Most starters under $10, tacos $3-$4/each, mains (enchiladas, fajitias, rice bowls $11-$18)

Farmstead Flatbread {Queensbury}

Posted on September 4, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

We were hungry after a long, fun-filled day at Six Flags Great Escape in Queensbury, NY. In an attempt to avoid another amusement park meal, we stumbled upon Farmstead Flatbread. The restaurant, located on Rt. 9, is only a few blocks south of Great Escape. Originally known as Sutton’s Marketplace, after 40 years the restaurant re-branded and became Farmstead Flatbread.

When you enter the restaurant, you encounter a large bar and pool table. It’s a great space for hanging out and grabbing a drink. Outdoor seating is available and perfect for dining al fresco. The main dining area is spacious and has a casual vibe. Strands of lights are strung across the ceiling and the deep gray walls are adorned with a mix of farm tools and wall hangings.

As soon as we saw the regional beer and locally-sourced dinner menus, my husband commented that this was “our kind of restaurant!” Their extensive beer menu has 20 craft beers on tap that change regularly.

The real star of the restaurant is the hearth oven located in the dining area of the restaurant. Guests can watch, either up close or from their table, as the chefs assemble and cook their flatbreads. The menu features nine different flatbreads to choose from. Or, you can create your own. The restaurant uses organic and locally-sourced ingredients on the flatbreads including Lake George Olive Oil Company olive oil, organic tomato sauce, house made nitrate free sausage, and Nettle Meadow goat cheese.

Between the four of us, we shared the seasonal salad, and two small flatbreads. The seasonal salad at the time was a Greek Salad with romaine, Greek-style feta cheese, peppercinis, red onions and local cucumbers tossed in a house-made Greek dressing. The salad tasted really fresh and the crumbled Greek-style feta was amazing! If you aren’t in the mood for a salad, Farmstead Flatbread also serves wings. They are lightly fried and made with a house rub. You only have to choose the number of wings you want and the type of sauce (mild, medium, hot, BBQ or the flavor of the day).

The flatbreads come in two sizes, small and large. It was difficult deciding which ones to get, but we finally agreed on a small “Cultivator” and a small “Grazer” flatbread. The “Cultivator” (pictured at the top of the above picture) included organic tomato sauce, Italian cheeses, house-made meatballs, basil pesto and spinach. The “Grazer” included organic tomato sauce, Italian cheese, peppers, red onions and nitrate free sausage. Let me tell you, we were not disappointed with our decisions. Both flatbreads were delicious with great combinations of flavors! Unfortunately, when traveling, we can’t take leftovers with us. So we might have finished both flatbreads. It was a tough job, but someone had to do it!

We were too full after dinner to even think about dessert and just requested the check. The staff were friendly and attentive throughout the meal, checking in and refilling water glasses. On Sundays, they have an amazing looking brunch menu that is served from 10 AM to 3 PM. I wish I lived closer so I could try it out! If you’re dining between the hours of 11:15 AM – 5:30 PM you can head upstairs and check out Starla’s Shoppe for gifts, jewelry, unique toys and more.

If you are looking for a family-friendly, delicious dining experience in the Queensbury/Lake George area, I highly recommend Farmstead Flatbread.

The Details:

Farmstead Flatbread
1066 State Route 9
Queensbury, NY 12804
(518) 741-6911

Hours: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM, Monday – Thursday
11:30 AM – 10:00 PM, Friday – Saturday
10:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Sunday

Parking: Free parking in lot adjacent to restaurant

Cost: Small flatbreads range from $9.25 – $13.75, large flatbreads range from $15.00 – $22.75. Beers range in price from $5-$7 per 16 oz. draft. (Credit cards are accepted)

Ravenous Creperie {Saratoga Springs}

Posted on August 14, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

On a recent visit to Saratoga Springs the kids and I were wandering down Phila Street looking for lunch. Many of the restaurants have menus posted outside with most offering the usual burgers, salads and sandwiches. When we stopped to look at the Ravenous Creperie menu, the kids unanimously voted that we eat lunch here.

Ravenous Creperie is locally-owned and serves lunch, dinner and brunch. We visited on a Tuesday afternoon and arrived at 12:15, prime lunchtime. The restaurant space is small and cozy and it was packed! There are several tables in the middle dining space that can be pushed together to seat a larger group. There is also counter seating with a great view of the crepes being made and window counter seats with views of the street. We had to wait a few minutes to be seated and were given three seats at the window counter.

This was our first time eating at a creperie and we were not disappointed! I told the kids that we’d split a savory and a sweet crepe and either an order of pommes frites or poutine.
The pommes frites are a popular starter. As I looked around the restaurant, almost every table had a paper cone atop it filled with the frites. But, the kids opted for poutine, and I wasn’t complaining about that! We ordered the petite-sized poutine. The ceramic dish was filled with crispy hand-cut pommes frites topped with locally-sourced cheddar curds and a house-made gravy. We devoured this in no time!

The savory menu has a crepe for every palate including several vegetarian options. They also offer a daily crepe special, which was a kale and white bean crepe the day of our visit. If I was ordering a crepe, I would have chosen the Monterey Short Rib (braised black Angus short rib with caramelized onions, diced tomatoes and Monterey jack cheese) or the Upper West Sider (Smoked Atlantic salmon, cream cheese and a choice of scallions or capers). However, the kids decided on the Mama Mia. Although it’s difficult to see in the picture, this crepe was filled with Herb and Romano sausage, roasted peppers and onions, mozzarella and a tomato-garlic reduction. All savory crepes are served with a salad of mixed greens that is dressed with Saratoga Olive Oil & aged Balsamic Vinegar. This is only half the crepe and salad, as my daughter had already started eating the other half! The savory crepes are served in what looked and tasted like a wrap, versus a traditional crepe, which wouldn’t have been able to hold all of the tasty filling. The Mama Mia crepe is kid-approved. My two were very happy with their crepe pick! There was plenty of filling and the sausage was flavorful but not spicy.

The sweet crepe menu has twelve different crepes to choose from which include everything from fresh strawberries, lemon curd, chocolate-hazelnut spread, fruit jam, Ghiradelli brownie and more! Four of the crepes come in a petite size, for those looking for just a little something sweet to end their meal. The kids opted for the Pommes & Caramel crepe (Maple glazed apples and house-made sea salt caramel). This crepe was delicious! Caramel and apples are a great combo and we could taste the sea salt pieces in the caramel. While this dessert was sweet, it wasn’t overly-so.

I shared these three dishes with my two children, ages 9 and 11. We left satisfied but not stuffed.

Ravenous Creperie has a prix fixe menu where you can get a small pommes frites with dipping sauce, a choice of one of three different classic crepes and a petite sweet all for $16.99/person.

For those local, they have a Rewards program, where you can earn points for every dollar spent. Online ordering is also available (with pickup only, no delivery).

If you are in the Saratoga Springs area, I highly recommend stopping by Ravenous Creperie for some tasty eats!

The Details:
Ravenous Creperie
21 Phila Street
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
(518) 581-0560

Hours:
Closed Mondays
Tuesday – Thursday: 11 AM – 8 PM
Friday: 11 AM – 9 PM
Saturday: 9 AM – 9 PM
Sunday: 9 AM – 8 PM

Prices: Most savory crepes are priced between $12-$14, most sweet crepes are priced between $6.59 and $8.59. Petite sweets (mini sweet crepes) cost $2.99. Pommes Frites come in small, medium and large sizes ($3.49-$6.99) and poutine comes in petite ($5.99) and regular ($7.99) sizes.

Conveyor Belt Sushi at east Japanese Restaurant {Updated}

Posted on July 24, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

Conveyor belt sushi used to be a rare dining experience that I only saw on television. Luckily, it’s becoming more popular and now, even us suburbanites can partake in the conveyor belt sushi experience. If you are shopping at the Palisades Mall in West Nyack, New York and are looking for a family-friendly, non-chain, unique dining experience, east Japanese Restaurant is the place to go.

Guests are seated in booths around the sushi chefs, who have their prep stations located in the center of the dining space. As they prepare different rolls and sushi, they cover and place them on the conveyor belt. The labeled plates travel around the restaurant, and diners take the items they want.

The different patterned and colored plates are priced differently. White plates cost $1.75 each while the gold plates cost $8.00 each. Most plates include two pieces of sushi or three pieces of roll. There are many types of sushi available from the California roll to the specialty Big Thunder Mountain roll. Non-sushi dishes like seaweed salad and fried chicken are also offered. If you do not see what you want or prefer not to go the sushi route, the restaurant offers a full Japanese menu including teriyaki and tempura dishes. At the end of your meal, your plates are collected and you are charged accordingly.

What we love about this restaurant is that we are able to try new dishes without a huge commitment. For a couple of dollars a plate, if we like it, we’ll take another plate of it. If we didn’t like it we at least tried something new! This is a great way to introduce your kids to different types of sushi. Plus, like our kids, they will most likely enjoy grabbing the dishes off the conveyor belt. It definitely makes for a unique and fun dining experience, which we highly recommend! Unfortunately, the only conveyor belt sushi restaurants that we are aware of that are not located in the city are this one and YO! Sushi at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets.

Savor Westchester: Changing the Food Court Experience

Posted on June 21, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

*I was invited to a preview tasting of Savor. All opinions are my own.

After visiting Savor Westchester, the new dining experience at The Westchester, you will never want to eat at an ordinary mall food court again. After a year-long, multi-million dollar renovation, three of the six planned eateries are currently open. Shoppers can currently choose from Mighty Quinn’s BBQ, Whitman’s and Australian-based coffee shop Bluestone Lane. This is the first Westchester location for all three eateries, which all have establishments in NYC and other metropolitan areas. Located on the fourth floor, Savor has plenty of seating as well as an outdoor patio. SAVOR is adjacent to PLAY (a free 2,300 square foot play area) and CONNECT (a technology lounge that contains flat screen televisions, work space and phone charging stations). Here is a more detailed look at the three open eateries.

Mighty Quinn’s

Mighty Quinn’s is a BBQ restaurant that cooks, “the old school way with plenty of wood and time.” They offer traditional barbecue items including brisket, pulled pork, burnt ends, spare ribs and more.

Several of the meat options can be ordered naked or on a sandwich.

For those who prefer chicken, options include a half chicken, a crispy chicken sandwich or chicken wings. Unfortunately the only vegetarian choice is a veggie burger. They serve a variety of sides including pomme frites, onion rings, burnt end baked beans, sweet potato casserole, buttermilk broccoli salad, potato salad and mac and cheese. Mighty Quinn’s serves beer both in bottles and on tap as well as glasses and bottles of wine. Prices range from $7.50 for 6 chicken wings to $28.00 for a Brontosaurus Rib. Many of the meat choices can be ordered as a single serving, a half pound or full pound.

Whitman’s

Whitman’s serves a variety of salads and sandwiches.

They have several burger selections including a Green Chili Burger, Bacon Egg & Cheese Burger, and a PB & B Burger (that stands for peanut butter and bacon!). If you’re not feeling a burger you can also order a grilled chicken club, a cheesesteak or a hot dog.

Whitman’s also offers a veggie burger on their menu as well as three different salads, including this Brussels Sprout Salad. Prices range from $4.50 for a hot dog to $12 for most burgers.

Bluestone Lane

Bluestone Lane is an Australian-based coffee shop.

They offer an extensive menu of hot and cold coffee options using their own roasted beans. A variety of tea and wellness drinks, like beetroot and matcha lattes, as well as fresh juices are also available. Bluestone Lane is the place to go for lighter fare.

They sell a variety of toast including the infamous avocado smash, salmon toast and a turmeric sweet potato toast as well as a variety of pastries and sweets.

Have you visited SAVOR at The Westchester? What is your favorite dish from these eateries?

Sultan’s Turkish Cuisine {Review}

Posted on March 28, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

While traveling from Westchester County, New York to my parent’s house in Rhode Island, we pass Sultan’s Turkish Cuisine as we travel through Waterbury, Connecticut. Located at 586 Plank Road, the restaurant is visible and located, right off I-84. We’ve driven by this restaurant countless times and finally, on a recent trip back from Rhode Island decided to stop for a late lunch.

The restaurant was empty when we arrived around 1:45 PM on a Monday afternoon. However, as our lunch progressed, the restaurant started to fill up.

The dining area is large with both tables and booths. The interior walls are hung with decorative artwork, while elaborate drapery hang from the windows.

Turkey is a transcontinental country with parts in both Western Asia and Southeast Europe. The cuisine is influenced by its location, with key ingredients include lamb, beef, rice, fish, eggplant and nuts. Spices often used include parsley, mint, sumac, cumin, Za’atar and paprika.

My husband and I were slightly familiar with Turkish food, as we recently had a Turkish-themed supper club dinner. However, this was our family’s first time dining at a Turkish restaurant. To get the most variety and be able to try different dishes, we opted to share a small mixed cold appetizer platter and a small mixed hot appetizer platter.

The small mixed cold appetizer platter ($13.99) included (from top left (11 o’clock) on the plate) Humus, Bababganush, Haydari, Havuc Tarator, Antep Ezpe and Soslu Patlican. I was expecting lavash bread (a puffy bread often served with appetizers) or some other type of pita to put these spreads and dips on but we weren’t given any. Instead, we used the crusty bread that was placed on our table when we arrived.

Humus – pureed chickpeas with olive oil, tahini, garlic and lemon juice. We are not new to humus. Although I usually buy it, rather than make it, it’s usually a staple in our fridge.

Babaganush – pureed roasted eggplant blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic. I love babaganush!

Haydari (Labne) – pressed yogurt mixed with garlic, olive oil, dill and crushed walnuts.

Havuc Tarator (Carrot Dip) – Carrots, mayo, sour cream, olive oil and lemon juice.

Antep Ezpe (Muammara) – A blend of tomatoes, red bell peppers, hot long green peppers, parsley, garlic, walnuts and pepper paste. This spread was a bit spicy.

Soslu Patlican (Sauced Eggplant) – A mixture of fried eggplant cubes, red and green peppers and garlic topped with the chef’s special tomato sauce. This was one of my favorites of the cold appetizers!

The small mixed hot appetizer platter ($12.99) included (from top 12 o’clock) Calamari, Mucver, Sigara Borek, Arnavut Cigeri and Falafel.

Calamari – Deep fried calamari served with the chef’s special sauce.

Mucver (Zucchini Pancake) – Combination of zucchini and fresh herbs and spices, served with yogurt sauce.

Sigara Borek – Cigar-shaped, fried crispy pastry filled with feta cheese and fresh parsley.

Arnavut Cigeri – Floured and deep-fried calf’s liver cubes pan seared with garlic and herbs.

Falafel – Deep-fried mixture of chickpeas, parsley, onions, garlic and Middle Eastern spices.

The only other hot appetizers not included on this platter include Izgara Kalamar (grilled calamari), Kizartma Fuve (potato pancakes) and Imam Bayildi (stuffed eggplant). While I found the variety of the platter to be good, the portions were not conducive to sharing. Splitting several of the above items between the four of us meant we each literally only got a bite. A large platter though would have been way too much food for us.

Finally, for the main entree we shared the Mixed Grill Kebab Plate ($23.99). This included Chicken Shish (cubed chicken), Lamb Shish (cubed lamb), Kofte (Turkish meatballs made of ground lamb), Adana (ground lamb seasoned with red bell peppers) and Doner (Thin slices of seasoned lamb and beef slow-cooked on a large, vertical spit). All kebab entrees are served with a side salad, and both white and bulgur rice.

Although stuffed, we couldn’t leave without trying a dessert! The dessert menu included Baklava, Kunefe, Revani, Sekerpare, Sutlac and Kazandibi. We ordered the Kazandibi ($5.95), pictured above, to share among the four of us. It’s a vanilla-based milky pudding with a caramelized top. This had a similar texture and taste to creme brulee.

Baklava – A sweet pastry made of layers of filo, filled with chopped nuts and sweetened and held together with syrup.

Kunefe – Shredded filo dought stuffed with cheese then soaked in a sweet sugar-based syrup.

Revani – Baked semolina soaked with the chef’s special syrup.

Sekerpare – Baked soft balls of pastry dipped in a thick, lemony, sugar syrup.

Sutlac (Rice Pudding) – Sweet vanilla based mixture of milk and rice baked in the oven.

A variety of tea and coffee, including Turkish Coffee and Turkish Tea, are available and can be ordered by the cup or kettle.

We had a great experience at Sultan’s Turkish Cuisine. Although I don’t have prior dining experience to compare it to, the food we had was delicious and tasted authentic. The restaurant is family-friendly and offers a variety of dishes including vegetarian. I liked how there was no issues with the four of us sharing the two appetizers and one entree. Our waiter even complimented on our “eating family-style.” Since we obviously don’t eat Turkish often, this was a great way for us all to taste a variety of items from the menu. Saturday evenings the restaurant has belly dancers from 7:30 – 8:00 PM which would be a fun experience for the kids to see! The restaurant also offers takeout and delivery.

Attached to the restaurant is a small grocery shop selling all kinds of Turkish food products. We of course couldn’t leave without picking up a few different types of candy to try!

The Details:
Sultan’s Turkish Cuisine
586 Plank Road
Waterbury, CT 06705
www.sultansrestaurantct.com

Hours:
Sunday – Thursday: 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday & Saturday: 10:30 AM – 11:00 PM

Price: $$
Appetizers: $4.99 (lentil soup) – $20.99 (large mixed cold appetizer plate)
Kebabs: $13.99 – $26.99
Entrees: $12.99 – $25.99)
Desserts: $4.95 – $7.95

Recommend for families: Yes

Overall Recommendation: Yes

2017 Westchester County Valentine’s Day Dining Guide

Posted on February 2, 2017 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

Valentine’s Day is less than two weeks away. If you are planning on going out to dinner with your sweetheart, reservations are a must! Here is a look at some of the area’s restaurants that will be offering special Valentine’s Day menus. Most other restaurants throughout the area will be open and serving their regular menu. Regardless of where you decide to eat, be sure to make reservations now!

Please check the restaurant’s website or call for the most up-to-date information. Additionally, please note that prices listed below do not include tax and gratuities.

Benjamin’s Steak House (Steak House)
610 Hartsdale Road
White Plains, NY 10607
reservations: (914) 428-6868

Benjamin’s Steak House is offering a 3 course Valentine’s dinner menu for $89/person. Dinner is served 4-10 PM.

Gaucho Grill (Argentinean Steak House)
One North Broadway
White Plains, NY 10601
reservations: (914) 437-9966 or online

Gaucho Grill is offering a special 3 course dinner for $65/person. Dinner hours are from 3-10 PM.

Half Moon (New American)
1 High Street
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
reservations: (914) 693-4130

Half Moon is offering a special 3 course dinner for $65/person. Dinner hours are 5:30-10 PM.

Harvest-on-Hudson (Italian)
1 River Street
Hastings, NY 10706
reservations: (914) 478-2800 or online (A deposit is required when making reservations)

Harvest-on-Hudson is open from 5-10 PM on Valentine’s Day. They are offering a special three course dinner for $69/person.

The Hudson Room (New American and Sushi Bar)
23 South Division Street
Peekskill, NY 10566
reservations: (914) 788-FOOD

From 5-11 PM, The Hudson Room is offering a 4-course dinner for $70/person. At 6:30 and 8:30 PM there will be live jazz musical performances.

La Panetiere (French)
530 Milto Road
Rye, NY 10580
reservations: (914) 967-8140

The French restaurant is having two seatings, 5:30 and 8:30 PM. The three course dinner costs $90/person or $140/person with wine pairing.

Modern on the Rails (Italian, New American)
One Station Plaza
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
reservations: (914) 777-9300

Modern on the Rails is offering a four course Valentine’s Day menu for $65/person. The restaurant is open until 10:30 PM.

Moderne Barn (New American)
430 Bedford Ave.
Armonk, NY 10504
reservations: (914) 730-0001 or online

From 5-10 PM, diners can enjoy Chef Ethan’s 3 course prix-fixe menu. The dinner costs $78/person or $118/person with wine pairing.

One Twenty One (New American)
2 Dingle Ridge Road
North Salem, NY 10560
reservations: (914) 669-0121

One Twenty One is taking Valentine’s Day reservations from 5-9:30 PM. Chef Beck Bolender is preparing a 3 course pre-fixe menu for $65/person.

Plates (New American)
121 Myrtle Boulevard
Larchmont, NY 10538
reservations: (914) 834-1244 or online

Plates is having four Valentine’s Day seatings, with a 3 course prix-fixe menu. The 5:00 and 6:30 PM seatings cost $65/person and the 6:30 and 8:00 PM seatings cost $85/person.

Red Hat on the River (French Bistro)
One Bridge Street
Irvington-on-Hudson, NY 10533
reservations: (914) 591-5888 or online

Red Hat on the River is offering a special Valentine’s Day menu for $72/person plus gratuities. They also have four special Valentine’s Day cocktails that they will be serving that evening.

Rosemary and Vine (Mediterranean)
29 Purchase Street
Rye, NY 10580
reservations: (914) 481-8660

On Valentine’s Day, enjoy live music while you dine on Rosemary and Vine’s 3 course prix-fixe menu. The vegetarian menu costs $45/person and an additional $28 for a wine pairing. The restaurant is open until 9 PM.

Thyme (New American)
3605 Crompond Rd.
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
reservations: (914) 788-8700

Thyme is offering a 3 course menu as well as a complimentary glass of champagne and a chocolate rose for $90/person. Dinner hours are 4-10 PM.

Putnam County:

The Arch (French)
1292 Route 22
Brewster, NY 10509
reservations: (845) 279-5011

The Arch is serving a 4 course Valentine’s Day menu from 5-9:00 PM for $85/person.

Hudson House River Inn (New American)
2 Main Street
Cold Spring, NY
reservations: (845) – 265-9355

Hudson House River Inn has special 3 course Valentine’s Day menu for $47/person. Their regular menu is available to order from as well. The restaurant is open for dinner from 5-9 PM and they will have a keyboardist playing live music. They also have special Valentine’s Day overnight packages as well.

Jaipore Royal Indian Cuisine (Indian)
280 Rt 22
Brewster, NY 10509
reservations: (845) 277-3549

Jaipore has a special Valentine’s lunch buffet served from 12:00-2:30 PM for $15.99/person. They are also offering a special dinner buffet from 5:00-9:45 PM for $25.99/person.

Ramiro’s 954 (Latin)
954 Route 6
Mahopac, NY 10541
reservations: (845) 621-3333 or online

This Latin eatery is offering a 3 course prix-fixe menu for $55/person, which includes a dessert to share. The restaurant is open from 3:30-9:00 PM.

Rockland County:

BV’s Grill (New American)
400 High Avenue
Nyack, NY 10960
reservations: (845) 675-8740

BV’s Grill is offering a special three course Valentine’s Day menu on Saturday, February 11 from 4-11 PM as well as on Valentine’s Day from 5-10 PM. The dinner costs $150/couple and includes a champagne toast and dancing.

Quinta Steakhouse (Steakhouse)
24 E. Central Ave.
Pearl River, NY 10965
reservations: (845) 735-5565

Quinta Steakhouse is offering a special Valentine’s Day a’la carte menu as well as their regular dinner menu. Dinner is served from 5-9 PM.

Sixty 5 On Main (Mediterranean)
65 Main Street
Nyack, NY 10960
reservations: (845) 358-5200

Sixty 5 on Main is offering two seatings, 6:30 and 8:30 PM. Ginetta’s Vendetta Band will be playing live music beginning at 7 PM. They are offering a 4 course dinner with a complimentary bottle of red, white or sparkling wine for $130/couple.