These new Westchester eateries are slated to open Feb. 14
Feb. 14th isn't just reserved for Valentine's Day. It's also the day a long-awaited bakery will open in Pleasantville and a new fine dining restaurant will open in North Salem.
Other new spots — Westchester seemingly has a new place open every other week — follow.
More: New Westchester restaurants offer fresh twist on tacos, Thai, fusion
Fleetwood Pastry Shop, Pleasantville
After a two-year delay, Fleetwood Pastry Shop, which has been in Mount Vernon for 27 years, will open its second location in the former Pleasantville Bakery and Cafe space. Co-Owner Enzo Cutaia said he simply didn't have the manpower to open earlier and didn't want to have to skimp on quality or service. "We're known for our products and I didn't want to offer anything that's less than 100 percent," he said.
To make sure he can accommodate customers, the store will be baking in Pleasantville as well as bringing in items from their Fleetwood location. That means plenty of layer cakes, cookies (yes, they will have heart-shaped ones for Valentine's Day) and, pastries including the bakery's famous lobster tail.
As for why his family finally decided to open in northern Westchester, he said "I have a lot of customers from this area and they've always asked me to move further north," he said. "So this made sense." Initial hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, and 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Cutaia will hold a "meet and greet" from 3 to 6 p.m. Feb. 12, as a way to get to know the community, something's that very important to him: "Come in, say hi and have a cannoli," he said. 57 Wheeler Ave., 914-303-3636, westchestercakes.com.
La Bastide by Andrea Calstier, North Salem
Chef Andrea Calstier and Elena Oliver, the married couple behind Cenadou in North Salem, are opening their intimate six-table restaurant on Valentine's Day featuring a fine dining tasting menu that highlights the chef's French origins. La Bastide takes its name from the French word for “Proven?al country house,” and, like that image, the two promise "a soulful yet serene exclusive experience" with a thoughtful, modern, ingredient-focused menu that celebrates the seasonality, terroir and produce of the Hudson Valley.
Said Oliver: "Our menu is a two- and a half-hour long experience that can be enhanced with a curated wine pairing or your pick amongst our wine list." The wine list, by the way, is filled with 600 French region-focused vintages.
New in Westchester: Burgers, Italian and Indian food with more eateries to come
There will be two seatings per night: one at 5 p.m. and one at 8 p.m. from Wednesdays to Sundays. The restaurant can accommodate 25 people and offers a $225 per person menu with $150 extra for a wine pairing; $35 for a cheese course and $25 for a cheese pairing.
Among the initial menu offerings: White asparagus with fresh seaweed pistou, Lardo Iberico and Sorrento lemon sabayon; Maine lobster with wild rice, roasted heads caramel and orange blossom and charcoal grilled black sea bass with caviar, sake and razor clams mariniere. 721 Titicus Road, 914-485-1518, labastidebyac.com.
Also newly opened in Westchester
Jane Foodie, Yonkers: Jane Carroll is back. For those who remember the longtime baker's Jane Bakes Yonkers, which opened on Larkin Avenue in 2019 but then closed due to the pandemic, she's now opened a 90-seat cafe featuring breakfast items (think pancakes, eggs, overnight oats, pastries), sandwiches, salads, Roman-style pizza, smashed burgers and more. The loungey space, with a Soho industrial vibe, opened Jan. 31 and is meant for both the public as well as those working in Lion's Gate, the building she's in. There's also a full line of Jane Foodie frozen items to go as well as an event space with the possibility of live music and/or comedy nights down the road. Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. 28 Wells Ave. (entrance on Bashford St.), 914-400-5121, janefoodie.com.
The Getaway Car, Mount Kisco: Get ready for American food reimagined. Open since Feb. 9, this new restaurant features creative items such as "Pig & Fig Flatbread" (with figs, smoked mozzarella, bacon, wild arugula, and fig balsamic glaze); Cornbread (with elbow mac, a four-cheese blend and freshly baked cornbread topping); "Not Your Nonna's Meatballs (with vodka sauce, covered in melted mozzarella, served with garlic bread) and Onion Soup Dumplings (caramelized French onions and crispy wontons covered in imported gruyere cheese). There's also an array of sandwiches, salads and entrees. The restaurant is also serving brunch and will have live music. 222 Main St., 914-218-3164, nygetawaycar.com.
Chop It Up Salads and Smoothies, White Plains: Felix Castillo, a local White Plains resident, wanted to bring healthier food options to the area. The result is this fast casual spot specializing in chopped salads and smoothies. Open since Oct. 2023, he runs it with his wife Deyanira and their daughters. 474 Mamaroneck Ave., 914-615-9095, chopitupsaladsandsmoothies.com.
Plus, look forward to a new eatery for Irvington
Club Car Grille will open the end of March in Irvington where River City Grille had been. Matt Kay, who owns Hudson Social in Dobbs Ferry, officially takes over the space Feb. 14 and plans to offer steak, seafood and chops. 6 S Broadway.
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Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: New Westchester NY restaurants to open on Valentine's Day