Pleasantville's dining scene is expanding with a new steakhouse, nostalgic American tavern
Pleasantville has always been a restaurant town. Three years ago, in 2019, we wrote about the explosion of new places along the short stretch of Wheeler Avenue with the opening of the trattoria Dolphin South, the Asian street food eatery Fatt Root and the debut — literally on the day the pandemic shut down the world — of Soul Brewing, a microbrewery owned by longtime home brewer Allen Wallace.
But recently, there's been a new flurry of activity and openings, including a steakhouse, a cocktail bar, an Italian-focused eatery (where karaoke is king) as well as new additions to beloved favorites.
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That's on top of newcomers Root2Rise (open since June 2021), The Taco Project (open since March 2021), the Seafood Market Grill (open since April 2021), Second Mouse Cheese (open since 2019) and Lefteris Gyro IV, another 2019 newcomer.
If you haven't walked along Wheeler lately, or been to a movie at the Jacob Burns Film Center and wondered where to go before (or after) your movie, here are some options. And yes, we know, parking remains the same issue it's always been.
Chatterbox Pleasantville
Those who remember Chatterbox 54 from Briarcliff Manor will now find its reincarnation in the old Mediterraneo space under the abbreviated name Chatterbox. Joseph Pandolfo, who owns the restaurant with his father (who shares the same name) and brother Michael, have made the space — which opened in March — open and airier with a long 25-seat bar and an expanded menu.
Old-time favorites such as rigatoni pork braciole, zeppole with homemade cannoli cream, stuffed artichokes and veal parmesan on the bone are still on the menu but there are now more modern twists like Pasta a la Cugine, linguine topped with slices of chicken cutlet in a vodka sauce and topped with burrata. The restaurant's popular Thursday night karaoke is also back and packed with folks singing their hearts out. 75 Cooley St., 914-495-3900
Lucy's
Lucy's, a Pleasantville stalwart since 2004, has been transformed into three distinct rooms each offering their own unique experience. The front area devoted to live music is now the Garage, decorated with power tools, old license plates and lots of references to horror films, a passion of general manager Rob Catalano's. The back room is now The Basement, set up to look like the kind of 1970s hangout your parents (or you) grew up in complete with a 1982-era jukebox, a Pac-Man machine and a TV playing old favorites like "Three's Company." Upstairs is the Digital Frontier where there are seven pinball machines and arcade games, as well as a change machine (as all games take quarters).
The food menu has also been upgraded to include a fried chicken sandwich, BBQ pulled pork, cauliflower crust pizza, salads, a smashburger and wings. Catalano said the pandemic gave him time to think about what he wanted to do as well as time to do it. The reveal took place in November. 446 Bedford Road, 914-747-4740, facebook.com/LucysLoungeNY
The Prime Stk-Out
Cliff Mascarenhas, who owns Baroso in Yorktown Heights, always wanted to open a steakhouse. And so, on April 16 he did, taking over the former Bollywood Grill space. The 49-seat restaurant has the same layout, but with a redecorated interior. Diners can expect black tablecloths, a couch in the bar area and a menu filled with USDA prime meats. A raw bar and brunch are coming soon 68 Wheeler Ave., 914-239-8807, theprimestkout.com
The Raconteur
Open since April 20, this new cocktail bar, in the former Flights space, is all about — and celebrating — storytellers, from the food to the drink to the art on the walls and music on the speakers. Owner (and Croton-on-Hudson native) Michael Boulos, who previously worked at (the since closed) Restaurant North in Armonk said his mission is to provide guests with "a unique bar experience that stands apart from the sports bars, college dives and restaurant bars" with a focus on "quality seasonal ingredients, time-honored dedication to craft, and attention to details."
"At lot of the same principles that drove us at Restaurant North when we opened will be what I bring to this place," he said.
To that end, expect a seasonal menu of small plates such as the strawberry fields salad (cognac pickled strawberries, dehydrated strawberry crisps and goat cheese and honey roasted carrots with labne, za'tar, sumac, sunflower seed and micro chive), as well as cheese and charcuterie boards and a focus on the botanical. Ingredients like rosewater, orange blossom, fennel pollen, herbs, and edible flowers are part of both the food and beverage program. Another focus: Spanish style gin and tonic goblets.
Boulos is also planning Pimm's cups in the summer (an ode to his time in London) and antique absinthe fountains. 10 Marble Ave. 914-769-4040, theraconteurbar.com
And coming soon
Freddy's: Christina Drake Safarowic and Chef Matthew Safarowic, who used to operate The Whitlock and Jay Street Cafe in Katonah, are opening a new restaurant where Mission Taqueria/105-Seventy Bar & Grill had been. Freddy’s, named after Safarowic's father, will feature comfort classics with, as Drake Safarowic said, "a hint of nostalgia mixed with modern American tavern fare, 20 different tap offerings and reimagined classic cocktails." That also means an interior bathed in leather, exposed brick and red and white checkered tablecloths. The restaurant, which should open sometime this summer, will serve dinner Wednesday to Sunday with Happy Hour offerings during the week. Brunch will eventually follow. Said Drake Safarowic: "We’re incredibly excited to be a part of the booming restaurant and arts scene in downtown Pleasantville." Freddy's is at 472 Bedford Road
The latter part of May is when Fatt Root, which has been in Pleasantville since 2019, should have its reveal featuring a new 12-seat bar and a revamped menu. Mogan Anthony, the corporate chef for the Village Social group, said he wanted to create a noodle bar ambiance like you'd find in Asia (or Momofuku in Manhattan). That means more entrees and bar food (hello wings!) as well as cocktails and mocktails using exotic fruits like yuzu, lychee and dragon fruit. There will also be a host of Asian beers. Said Mogan: "We want to make it fun." the restaurant is still open during its renovation and offering takeout. 11 Wheeler Ave., 914-579-2552, fattroot.com
As soon as Enzo Cutaia can hire enough bakers, he plans on opening Fleetwood Pastry Shop at 57 Wheeler Ave. This would be the second location for the Mount Vernon bakery which has been in Westchester for more than 25 years.
Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @lohud_food or via the lohudfood newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Dining in Pleasantville: 7 new village options and rebranded favorites
