Two Westchester gourmet cafes to close
Two cafes are closing, one in northern Westchester and one in the rivertowns.
Daniel's on June Cafe, which opened last May in North Salem, will have its last day Feb. 15, while Suzanne's Table, in Irvington for seven and a half years, will close Feb. 17.
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Daniel's on June Cafe, North Salem
This breakfast and lunch cafe, known for its pizza, quiche Lorraine and breakfast burritos, announced its closure on Instagram, saying it will relocate to The Market at Union Hall, at nearby 2 Keeler Lane. Both are owned by Daniel Pereira.
Suzanne's Table, Irvington
Suzanne Hart, owner of Suzanne's Table, a cozy lunch and gourmet cafe/takeout spot which seems lifted out of a Nancy Meyers movie, is scrambling to find another space. Hart's landlord told her he's interested in turning the spot at 75 Main St. into either a home or an art gallery.
Her last day of business will be Feb. 17 complete with a community party from 3 to 7 p.m.
"It's frustrating because we're a viable business," she said. "We stayed open during Covid and feel that we provide a service to the community."
It's hard, too, because of her emotional attachment to the place. Customers have become her friends, she said, and she's really sad to leave. "This is my passion. It's more than just a job. It's my livelihood, as well as the livelihood of the two women who work with me."
Hart had her eye on the space for 25 years before taking it over in 2015. At the time, it housed Le Moulin cafe, which later moved to Yonkers (it's since closed and now operates for catering only). “I’ve always wanted to do this, and I’ve always wanted this space,” she said.
A former food editor at Vogue and private caterer, she's built a repuation over the years for her modern, vibrant, and healthful cooking with popular dishes that include organic egg salad with capers and dill; turkey manchego cheese (with organic turkey breast, apples and fig jam); and chicken salad with apricots, basil, and almonds (it’s made with yogurt instead of mayonnaise).
Though primarily a takeout business, Suzanne’s Table is designed like a quaint kitchen full of shelves decorated with Hart’s collection of cookbooks, serving bowls, and old-fashioned kitchen appliances. There are a few marble-topped tables and chairs perfect for settling in with a coffee, laptop, and croissant.
Rachel Gerstein is one of those who's been coming to Suzanne's since she moved to Irvington in 2019 and is unhappy about the closure. "It's such a loss to the community," she said. "Suzanne's food is thoughtfully prepared and delicious. Her ingredients are always fresh and there is nothing better than her kale salad and dry rubbed salmon.
"Suzanne, Jean and Janet have become friends — and I'm not the only one who feels that way. There have been several occasions in which I've seen Suzanne and Jean leaving the store to help escort elderly customers safely out. And after I gave birth, Suzanne sent food over to our house without even asking if I needed anything and said it's the way she knows how to help and show love."
Irvington resident Paula Veale echoed those feelings, reiterating how much a part of the community Hart is. "She lives here; she raised her kids here."
It's also, she said, especially sad to lose a woman-owned small business.
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: Daniel's on June will move; Suzanne's Table in Irvington to close
