Who has Rockland's best burger? 🍔 Plus more openings

Jeanne Muchnick, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
·3 min read

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" — Martin Luther King Jr.

No sooner had I written (and published) my story on new dining options in Westchester and Rockland that I heard about two more: La Hacienda Meat and Grocery Market in Yonkers, run by two brothers, and La Catrina in Croton-on-Hudson, a Mexican-Asian fusion restaurant run by husband-and-wife team Enrique and Consuelo Estrada.

There is definitely an increase in Latino owned restaurants among many of the places that have opened recently so look for a story on that in the next few weeks.

It's all about the burger

For now, my mind is focused on burgers, burgers, and burgers. I'm all about meat come winter. I'm also all about finding out what YOU think. It's why we're running a poll, first in Rockland and later in Westchester, on who has the county's juiciest, tastiest patty. Please vote if you haven't yet — and feel free to pass along to a friend. Voting ends Friday at 7 p.m.

If I've got you craving burgers, consider the deals going on during New York City's Restaurant Week. More than 440 places across the five boroughs are part of a $29, $39 and $59 three-course meal promotion that runs until Feb. 13.

Restaurant weeks are also going on — and will most likely continue — throughout a host of Westchester and Rockland cities and towns as Chambers of Commerce, business improvement districts and even local food Instagrammers band together to create promotional deals as a way to support restaurants during what continues to be a difficult time.

Lohud Food & Dining Reporter Jeanne Muchnick at Boro6 Wine Bar in Hastings-on-Hudson. The restaurant is one of 10 in Westchester that have recently mandated a vaccinated only policy to dine indoors.
Lohud Food & Dining Reporter Jeanne Muchnick at Boro6 Wine Bar in Hastings-on-Hudson. The restaurant is one of 10 in Westchester that have recently mandated a vaccinated only policy to dine indoors.

Difficult times, as we know, call for difficult decisions. Last August, when NYC started its mandate to show proof of vaccination to dine indoors, only two restaurants in Westchester followed suit. Now there are 10, including a jazz club that serves food. And, there's now one in Rockland. If you know of more, please reach out so I can add to the list.

And, if you hear of anything new opening (or closing) in your neighborhood, let me know that, too. I rely on your input and greatly appreciate your feedback.

Which brings me to my final question: Are there things you'd like to hear more about in my newsletter? I'm open to any and all suggestions. But first, I have a burger to dig into ...

On that note, I'm adding a tasty new morsel to my newsletter:

Notable bites

(Basically what I ate — and loved — this week)

  • Spanish tortilla, new on the brunch menu at Boro6 in Hastings

  • Gluten-free matzah ball soup at Red Barn Bakery in Irvington (it's cold out there and I crave comfort food)

  • Everything bagel with scallion cream cream and nova from Long Island Bagel Cafe in Scarsdale (in honor of National Bagel Day last week)

  • Steak frites with mushroom caramel sauce at the not-yet-open Townhouse in New Rochelle (though they're open for private parties)

What are you eating that I should know about? Email JRMuchnick@gannett.com.

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: Tasty news: Best things I ate 🍽️