I Can't Wait To Get Sitters Again
/If you are, like me, (i) a parent who has had NO access to babysitters for the past year and/or (ii) a person who is still uncomfortable with the prospect of indoor dining, then, probably, you are, like me, REALLY missing the glorious feeling of having an adult meal inside a restaurant.
In normal times, my husband and I fairly regularly treat ourselves to a sitter in order to have some alone time together and to try some of the nicer spots around. I miss that A LOT.
Alas, spring is getting nearer. Vaccines are happening. And my SECOND COVID birthday is fast approaching. MAYBE soon things will be some version of normal again. Until then, I’m daydreaming about all my favorite local spots to revisit when I have a sitter. Here is that list in case you feel like daydreaming with me.
Think of this as the grown up version of my “Where to Feed Your Kids” list!
PS I included below only spots that I’ve been to (and been impressed with) over and over. I have a whole other mental list of spots that I’ve done just once, and badly need to try again (e.g. Don Memo in Westport, Maria in New Rochelle, the Whitlock in Katonah and L’Inizio in Ardsley).
CONNECTICUT
THE WHELK, WESTPORT, CT
If you follow local food news at all, then you already know that Chef Bill Taibe is a rock star around these parts. If you don’t follow local food news, then I’m here to tell you that Bill Taibe is a rock star around these parts.
Chef Taibe is the real deal. His three restaurants, all in Westport, CT, are so damn good, they’re not only worth traveling to, but I believe they rival some of the best of NYC dining. The Whelk, the oldest of the three operating restaurants, is my personal favorite.
The food at the Whelk is so delicious and so much more interesting than what the majority of local suburban spots are offering. It’s a diamond in the rough. When you come to the Whelk, come willing to try new things. The menu is made up mostly of shared plates (with a few larger plate options) and fresh seafood and fresh vegetables are the focuses here.
The Whelk’s beachy, relaxed-but-hip vibes put guests in an automatic good mood. The room is airy and bright, done mostly in whites and tans, with a long bar spanning virtually the entire right side of the room. Whether you’re there at 5:30pm or 8:30pm, guests are drinking, eating and being merry. It’s a PERFECT spot for adulting.
UNCORKED, NEW CANAAN, CT
Southend Uncorked is one of three New Canaan spots owned by Chef Nick Martshenko. Billed as a “tavern,” Uncorked is one of our absolute favorite spots to hit when we snag a sitter. The room is tiny and usually packed, with vibes that feel more like a bar with tables than a typical restaurant. Walking into Uncorked, you immediately transform from “tired parent” to “happening adult.”
As you might expect from its name and the tavern feel, Uncorked has a strong cocktail program and several beers and wines on tap (and to be uncorked). And the food menu here matches perfectly with Uncorked’s emphasis on drink. Dishes are meant to be shared, including a couple mind blowing sandwiches (I know, sandwiches are not a typical share food).
Start with Chef Martskenko’s seafood offerings - the Hamachi Nachos, Tuna Tacos and/or Lobster Lollipops. All three are perfect accompaniments for your first (few?) glass(es?) of white wine or refreshing cocktails. But save room for the brown liquors and red wine and most definitely for Uncorked red meat offerings. Both the Double Cheeseburger AND the Philly Cheesesteak at Uncorked are KILLER good. They’re each truly perfect renditions of classic bar foods.
A night at Uncorked rejuvenates my tired mama soul. I can’t wait to return again in normal times.
MATCH RESTAURANT, SOUTH NORWALK, CT
Match SoNo has been around for decades and maybe that’s why the whole operation feels very “adult.” What I mean by that is, as great a spot as Match is for a romantic date night, it’s just as good for an evening with your parents or grandparents. Match is a well oiled, professional machine and it’s lasted this long because of how good is it at what it does.
The dining room at Match, highlighted with hues of purple and dark wood elements, is elegant and refined, but still quite welcoming and comfortable. The food menu at Match matches the room - there are casual American classics on the menu (the Match Burger is epic; and Match does one of my favorite Caesar Salads on earth) and there are also elegant, refined dishes, too. My favorite dish among that latter group is Match’s standout signature appetizer, the Carpetbagger Oysters. These are a half dozen fried Bloom & Son Norwalk oysters prepared with truffle cream, truffled steak tartare, truffle aioli. They are heavenly.
Match’s consistency flows all the way through to its desserts. Even if you leave the children at home, consider ending your meal on a childlike high note with an order of Match’s Just Baked Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookies.
WESTCHESTER
BURRATA WOOD FIRE PIZZA, EASTCHESTER, NY
Burrata Wood Fired Pizza has been open since 2012 in Eastchester. Since we don’t live all that close by, it took us way too long to get here. But once we started, we can’t stop going.
The execution of the dishes is what makes Burrata Wood Fired Pizza a great restaurant, but before I even get to what you’re putting in your mouth, I must first give the restaurant credit for its menu. It is simple but elegant. There are Italian basics done extremely well on that menu, alongside more interesting, less “safe” offerings done just as well.
Start your meal with at least a few picks from the Antipasti, Insalate and Verdure sections. When you visit Burrata Wood Fired Pizza, most certainly include a burrata dish in your order.
Now it is time to carb-load. As the name suggests, Burrata Wood Fired Grill has a wood fired grill. In said grill, they make some tasty pizzas. The pastas at Burrata Wood Fired Pizza are truly outstanding and each made in house. Despite the restaurant’s name, if you only have room left in your belly for one carb, I’d make it a pasta.
A good restaurant has a good everything, including a solid drink list. Whether you want craft beer, craft cocktails or craft wine (lol that’s not a thing), Burrata has it all.
THE COOKERY, DOBBS FERRY, NY
Chef David DiBiri is a local celebrity chef and for good reason. He’s super talented and he brings a unique vision and lots of excitement to his cooking. I’ve written previously about his more kid friendly, pizza spot, the Parlor. But The Cookery is where you wanna head when you’re paying someone to watch your kids.
Along with Executive Chef Sajin Renae, Chef DiBiri has created a mainstay in Dobbs Ferry. The Cookery has been around awhile - the husband and I were going here BEFORE we had kids (a lifetime ago). The beauty of The Cookery is that it feels like a rustic, neighborhood spot, but the food served here is so good that it makes the restaurant a destination spot, very worthy of the longish drive from CT.
The menu here is Italian leaning but never boring or typical. Though not currently listed on their online menu, The Cookery’s Bone Marrow Rigatoni (served with the bone sitting upright in the middle of the dish) is a Westchester icon.
Don’t skip the desserts at The Cookery either, Chef Renae is known for her killer donut drops. This is all around a great spot.
GOOSEFEATHER, TARRYTOWN, NY
Cantonese restaurant Goosefeather features Top Chef contestant and super badass former NYC chef, Dale Talde at the helm. Chef Talde is such a talent and he’s put together a menu at Goosefeather that is so exciting and so delicious. We are lucky to have him and it around.
Goosefeather is located in the King Mansion at Tarrytown House Estate (DREAMY) and the space is just sublime. It’s elegant, it’s modern, it’s full of personality and it’s thoroughly “adult.” Start your evening in Goosefeather’s beautiful lounge for cocktails. The dining area here is spread among several cozy rooms (it being a mansion and all). In warmer weather, there is also an expansive and beautiful outdoor area, which became VERY clutch last summer for outdoor, COVID friendly dining.
As for as the food at Goosefeather, this is the kind of menu where you’re going to want to eat everything. So consider ordering family style to be able to try a bunch of things. We make sure to always order the Beef Potstickers to start and the MUST ORDER Crab Rice Jalapeno Aioli, Tobiko (pictured below). It’s SO SO DREAMY and yes I do actually dream about it.
The Goosefeather team has managed to create an incredibly special and chic dining experience from top to bottom. This is probably the closest you’ll feel to a NYC dining experience within the suburbs.
DA GIORGIO, NEW ROCHELLE, NY
Da Giorgio sits in a very unassuming shopping center in the North End of New Rochelle. Driving by, it would be easy to assume this is just another Italian restaurant in Westchester - but that would be very foolish. Inside his small, narrow dining room, Chef Giorgio Giacinto cooks incredible Calabrese dishes.
Start with Chef Giorgio’s interpretation of burrata, currently served with tomato, beets, pistachio and basil. Maybe add one of his fresh salads - you’re going to want those greens to balance what comes next. Da Giorgio’s signature Rigatoni Da Giorgio dish is delectable. It features rigatoni mixed with cuts of filet mignon mixed with zucchini and cognac cream in a demiglaze. It’s INSANELY good and quite rich. We typically order it to share and add on Da Giorgio’s very good Chicken Scarpariello as our second dish.
As mentioned above, the dining room at Da Giorgio is narrow and tight, making this a tough place for children. Rather, it’s a perfect spot for a relaxing, cozy evening spent enjoying delicious Italian courses, accompanied by a bottle of wine and adult conversation.
TRATTORIA TRA DI NOI, BELMONT, NY
Okay this one is actually in the Bronx, not Westchester, but we’re talking just 22 minutes from Da Giorgio - so it’s close enough. The Belmont Section of the Bronx (aka Arthur Avenue, aka the Real Little Italy) is so great and so reasonably close to home, we very much keep it in our rotation when we are lucky to snag a sitter.
Trattoria Tra Di Noi on 187th Street is our definitive top spot in the area and quite possibly our favorite restaurant in all of New York. Chef Marco cooks the kind of food that you wish your Italian grandmother cooked. Using fresh, top notch ingredients, Tra Di Noi dishes are deceptively simple feeling, incredibly rustic and delicious beyond a doubt.
The “Specials” board at Tra Di Noi is truly special and should not be ignored. We usually try to include something from it in every meal to keep things interesting and to try newer creations. But you also cannot miss with Trai Di Noi’s regular menu items. We love their Insalata di Casa, Fettuccine Carbonara and Veal Parmesan. Even the complementary roast potatoes and green veggie that comes with your entrée are crazy good. This place is our jam.
