Three Newcomers to Try

Always on the prowl for new tastes, we tried these three recent entries on the Westchester restaurant scene and thought all had something good to offer: Nemea on the Boston Post Road is owned by the same family who run the ever-popular Nikos Taverna on Central Avenue. While Nikos is casual, Nemea serves a similar menu in a more formal atmosphere. The restaurant has been elegantly appointed, and the soft lighting and spacious layout make for a more gracious presentation.

However, lovers of traditional Greek tavern food will not be disappointed as all the standards are available. We sampled the tzatziki, hummus, dolmadakia (stuffed grape leaves) and the spanakopita to start. While we waited for our entrees, we shared the “Elliniki” salad with feta, Kalamata olives and cucumbers as well as the kidney bean salad. . For dinner, some had grilled shrimp and others ordered whole grilled branzino, - which was deboned by the waiters tableside. Accompanied by sautéed spinach and spanakorizo, the Greek’s answer to risotto, the fish was moist, and tasty. We couldn’t resist the baklava for dessert, and it was well worth the extra calories.

Nemea
599 East Boston Post Road
Mamaroneck, NY
914-698-6600

Grilled Shrimp and Spinach at Nemea

Tucked underneath City Center, you could easily miss Pranzi as you enter the maze-like, multi-level parking lot. Though the space is tight, the location is convenient for moviegoers and the menu is far more ambitious then the setting suggests. The night we visited a noisy crowd was at the adjacent table, making it difficult to converse. But once they left, things improved.

The chef hails from Polpo in Greenwich, a place where food is taken seriously– and his expertise is clear when your food arrives. For starters I had the Zuppetta Di Vongole, steamed baby clams in a flavorful Chardonnay seafood broth. We also ordered the fresh burrata, a special on the night we visited. For those looking for lighter fare, Pranzi offers 15 types of individual pizza, and the crispy crust was delicious on the Pizze de Parma that we shared. There is a full selection of pastas … including rigatoni with sauteed eggplant, tomato and ricotta salata, fusilli Della Nonna, pasta baked with sausage, mini meatballs, mozzarella and tomato sauce and black linguini with seafood. For entrees there’s veal scallopini, chicken scarpariello, rack of lamb and salmon with limoncello sauce to name a few. And if you don’t like what you see, ask for what you like. The chef is very accommodating.

Focaccia at Pranzi

Pranzi
8 City Center
White Plains, NY
914-328-4000
www.pranzirestaurant.com

And for those who want a quick bite at a reasonable price, stop in at Hash-O-Nash on Mamaroneck Avenue in Mamaroneck for flavorful Middle Eastern specialties. This menu doesn’t take sides in political conflict, featuring foods from Jordan, Lebanon, Greece and Israel. You’ll find matza ball soup, kreplach, stuffed cabbage and flanken next to Lebanese salad, moussaka and couscous.

They’re short on ambience but long on flavor and the large menu is sure to please with a big array of cold appetizers including Halloumi cheese drizzled with olive oil, baba gahanoue, --roasted eggplant, tahini, garlic and lemon and muhammara, a pureed smoked red pepper dip with roasted walnuts and pomegranante molasses. The tabouleh, packed with fresh parsley, tomato and lemon was a winner. On the hot appetizer menu there’s falafel, Lebanese sausage stuffed with ground lamb and pine nuts and spinach fatyer, which is chopped spinach and onion in a pastry cell -- to name a few. Prices for these appetizers range from just $6 to $10. For lunch or dinner there are ample portions of lamb, beef, chicken, salmon, tuna or shrimp shish kabobs, plus rack of lamb, shawarma and gyros. We also ordered the grilled eggplant and zucchini, which was cooked with care by a vegetable lover. Again, prices for their well-seasoned and generously sized entrees are not bad, starting at $16 for the main course.

Service was friendly and informed. Hash-O-Nash means grillin-n-chillin in Jordanian and you can chill there seven days a week, from 11 am – 10 pm or order take-out to enjoy at home.

Hash-O-Nash
441 Mamaroneck Avenue
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
914-630-7310
www.hashonash.com

Tried anywhere new lately? Tell us about it in the comments section below.