The Club Car Arrives at the Mamaroneck Station
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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We heard that the 19th century Mamaroneck Train Station had been transformed into a large new restaurant and decided to check it out on Saturday night. It turned out many other people had the same idea.
We found the bar jammed and a line of diners waiting in the vestibule for a table. But since we were assured that our 9:30 reservation would be honored we hung in, and shortly thereafter the hostess made good on her promise.
We were escorted to a table for two in the spacious station that has been beautifully restored with a pressed tin ceiling, stained glass windows, crystal chandeliers, exposed brick, carved woodwork and polished paneling and beams. The original building dates back to 1888 and is the second oldest surviving station building on the New Haven Line. The building looks to be three times the size of the Hartsdale station – but of the same vintage, and holds 35-40 tables and a big bar. Though the setting is noisy, there is a good, lively vibe.
Service was surprisingly attentive given that the restaurant was full and newly opened. We were quickly served wine from a nice list of wines available by the glass or the bottle and perused the menu.
Offerings are fairly basis – burgers, steaks, salads and some appetizers that are good to share. We started with beef
empanadas with avocado salsa which could have been a meal in themselves. Other tempting appetizer selections include baked stuffed little neck clams, cashew crusted calamari and grilled asparagus with glazed Gorgonzola and truffled balsamic reduction. From the salad selection, we ordered the chopped Gorgonzola salad which was fresh and crunchy. For dinner there were burgers, two pastas, a loin pork chop, Arctic sea bass, salmon and Chicken Milanese. We went for the chicken which was two cutlets fried in panko over arugula salad … tasty but not remarkable. Also on the menu was a thick and juicy T-Bone steak – pictured below. Either share one of these or expect to bring half of it home.
Prices were reasonable – our tab for two was $62 though we did share plates. Visit the Club Car soon and let us know what you think in the comments section below:
The Club Car Restaurant and Lounge
One Station Plaza
Mamaroneck, New York
Hours: Lunch: Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Dinner: Tuesday and Wednesday, 5 to 10 p.m.; Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 to midnight with a special late-night menu served until 2 a.m.; Sunday, 5 to 9 p.m.
Brunch: Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Closed on Monday.
(914) 777 -9300
http://www.clubcarny.com/ 
Savona Makes Its Debut Downtown
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This account of dinner at Savona on Chase Road in Scarsdale was sent to Scarsdale10583 by a Fox Meadow resident who was lucky to get a table last Saturday night: It's exciting to see Scarsdale continue to develop a more robust restaurant scene. We've often wondered why Scarsdale and environs had so few top quality restaurants relative to other communities, such as Greenwich.
Dinner this past Saturday started on a whim - in our first call to Savona we were told that they were completely full, and they offered to take a reservation for next weekend.
But just as we were about to leave for another place for dinner, we called Savona one more time, and this time were told to come right on in as there were tables. We arrived around 7:15 and stayed until just before 9:00, and there were plenty of open tables -- although it did start to fill up as we were leaving.
We were immediately impressed with the restaurant. The place has been beautifully renovated, and stepping inside we felt like we were walking into a hot Soho restaurant. Although the acoustics were a bit loud, the place had a buzz, and had clearly been carefully outfitted.
The food was very promising, and no doubt after a few more months of operation, will reach a level consistent with the best restaurants anywhere. After enjoying three kinds of wonderfully prepared bread accompanied by flavorful olive oil we ordered an octopus and potato salad, and a Frito Misto - a plate of fried scallops, calamari, and zucchini.
The octopus salad was almost perfect, a light, well seasoned dish which left us wanting more, although the portions were more than fair. Our other appetizer, the Frito Misto, was nicely battered and fried, with hints of tempura.
We both ordered seafood dishes: I had a homemade tagliatelle with clams (the clams were great, and the pasta excellent), and my wife had a seafood stew (light on the mussels please...). Both were made with fresh ingredients, and quite flavorful. We were full by the time we finished these courses, and did not have room for dessert.
Service, although friendly, was very slow, especially when it came to getting our bill, which took 15 minutes to come. But we excused this small over sight as this was the first weekend that Savona was open. Overall we had a nice evening and a delicious meal and we will definitely go back.
Burrata Wood Fired Pizza is Hot
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Despite a change in the Scarsdale Village code designed to make it easier for the Village to attract more restaurants, there are still many empty storefronts in town and limited dining options. The good news is that while Scarsdale is struggling, Eastchester and Tuckahoe seem to be sprouting new eateries each week. This month we’ve had the pleasure of tasting unforgettable meatballs at Polpetinna in Eastchester and delicious tapas at Bistro Latino in Tuckahoe. And last night we sampled wood-fire pizza at the newly opened Burrata on the Post Road in Eastchester.
Burrata, just next to the Piper’s Kilt is easy to get to – plus you can park at the Eastchester Library across the street. The restaurant is far more than a pizzeria. It’s beautifully designed around a wood-fired pizza oven and has a lovely bar, attractive seating and has an elegant look without upscale prices.
They offer a full cocktail menu and many varieties of Italian wines by the glass or bottle – and wonderful sides to accompany 
their first-rate pizza. From the antipasti list we ordered the wood roasted beet salad and also tried a few items from the salumi and formaggi selections. Both the beets and our sopressata and robiola plate were delectable. Also on the menu were caponata, olives, and “crema de burrata”, soft mozzarella cheese which may be the restaurant’s signature dish.
It was difficult to choose from the tempting list of pizza offerings. We settled on the “Burrata” with wild mushrooms, garlic, chile flake and porcini oil and the “Prosciutto” with prosciutto, mozzarella, parmigiano reggiano and arugula. However, the next time I go, which will be soon, I would love to try the “Cockle” that includes clams, fresh herb and extra virgin olive oil or the “Sunny” with egg, guaniciale, parmigiano reggiano, mozzarella and truffle oil. The pizza dough was beyond description – a cross between crispy flatbread and freshly baked Italian bread. I could have eaten the pizza crust alone, without any topping whatsoever.
We couldn’t resist a side of roasted brussel sprouts with pancetta from the “Contori” menu and the broccoli rabe with garlic, chile and fresh ricotta. Also on that list were crispy potatoes with truffle aiolo.
Prices for this fresh and flavorful feast were very reasonable, with pizzas ranging from $14 to $17 and sides from $6 - $12. Lunch with soup or salad and a pizza is just $10.
We’re sure that Burrata is going to get very crowded very fast, so we felt lucky to hit them on a Monday night when we could linger over our meal and enjoy the ambiance. Stop by soon and tell Chas that Scarsdale10583 sent you!
Burrata Wood Fired Pizza
425 White Plains Road
Eastchester, NY 10709
www.burratapizza.com
914-337-3700
Hours:
Lunch: 12-3pm daily
Dinner: Monday -Thursday 5pm - 9pm
Friday- Saturday 5pm - 10pm
Sunday 5pm - 8 pm
Takeout also available
Scarsdale Village’s Newest Restaurant Savona Opens Monday; and Yes, West Elm Is Coming
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The Village’s newest restaurant offering, Savona, is set to open on Monday, April 9. We tried dutifully to get as much information as we could for our readers about the new French- and Italian Rivera-inspired restaurant, but the owners are very tight lipped before the opening. Here’s what we did learn. Savona and Bar Savona are located in Gulph Mills, Pennsylvania (Main Line Philadelphia) and this will be the first foray for the owners in New York. A quick look at OpenTable for reviews of the Pennsylvania location shows the restaurant consistently getting high marks, always a good sign. The executive chef of the Gulph Mills’ location, Andrew Masciangelo, is known for his relationship with local farmers and employs a "farm to table" philosophy. Savona has the largest wine cellar in the state of Pennsylvania, offering guests more than 1,000 selections from which to choose. We also learned that Fred Dexheimer, one of 106 Master Sommeliers in the world, has been selecting wines for the Scarsdale location of Savona, definitely a good sign for Scarsdale oenophiles. As background, a Master Sommelier is the highest distinction a professional can attain in fine wine and beverage service. We promise to update you once we learn more. Doors open at 5:30pm on Friday, but please do call ahead to confirm. Savona 2 Chase Road Scarsdale 10583 (914) 798-0550 (Corner of Popham and Chase). www.savonarestaurant.com
Last Friday, we wandered over to the old Maurice Villency space near Lord & Taylor to see how the West Elm store is progressing. 
West Elm is the beloved brand owned by Williams-Sonoma, Inc., one of the premier specialty retailers of home furnishings in the United States and Canada. West Elm, which bills itself as “a distinctly modern, design-driven home furnishing brand” opened its first retail store in November 2003 in D.U.M.B.O., Brooklyn, down under the Manhattan Bridge overpass and now has four locations in New York, as well as stores nation wide and in Canada. While the store is definitely a work in progress (I would guess two months away from opening, but we have gotten no official confirmation), the space is large and the parking will be easy, always good. If the Scarsdale location is similar to West Elm’s other stores, we should see a large selection of globally sourced furniture and lighting with upscale bath items. We will update you as more information becomes available. West Elm 678 Post Road Scarsdale, NY www.westelm.com
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
