Best Menus Hudson Valley Restaurant Week Spring 2018

admin Posted OnMarch 12, 2018

1.6K Views

Main Dining Room at Saltaire in Port Chester

Best Menus Hudson Valley Restaurant Week Spring 2018: If you’re like us we like to see the HVRW menu before we commit to make sure we’re getting an offering representative of the restaurant’s standard fare. And not just some chicken cutlets. Sadly, few eateries publish their menus for HVRW. So we’ve scoured the HVRW site to find the best menus for all your local faves and a few more that are worth the trip. Here’s the winners! See all the local players and 8 more Worth The Trip picks for HVRW.

Best Local Menus

Aesops Fable, Chappaqua (Lunch & Dinner: Tues-Sun) Westchester’s “waffle king” doesn’t disappoint with their HVRW menu. Can you resist the Braised Hudson Valley Shortrib over Crispy Polenta Waffle with confit tomato, Enoki mushroom and herbs? We’ll start with the Spicy Mussels steamed in lobster bisque with garlic, chili, hijiki, lemon oil and crusty bread. There’s white chocolate and raspberry bread pudding and Brownie Mousse for dessert but we’re going with the split banana, vanilla ice cream, caramel, pistachio and basil. (13 King St., Chappaqua, 914,238.3858; www.aesopsfablerestaurant.com)

Clock Tower Grill, Brewster (Lunch: Tues-Fri & Dinner: Tues-Sun) Let’s start with the easy stuff. Their Steamed Buns, with sweet soy, braised pork belly and green apple kimchi are to die for. For dessert we’re not passing up on the Fig Cake with dark chocolate sauce and shaved foie gras. Pick your own entree (there’s almost too many choices) from Warwick Brandy cured LI Duck and Bourbon Braised Short Ribs to wild caught Scallops in a melted leek cream sauce. PS you can’t go wrong with either the 1/2 roasted or buttermilk fried chicken. (845-582-0574, 512 Clock Tower Commons Drive, Brewster; www.clocktowergrill.com)

Cafe of Love , Mt. Kisco (Lunch & Dinner: Tues-Sun) Chef Lesley Lampert takes farm to table on a global adventure with the HVRW menu. For starters we’re torn between the Falafel Cakes with pomegranate tahini and the Seared Seafood Taco, cod, radish and cute salad and cilantro lime aioli. Then we’re going right for the Sangria Hanger Steak with sweet potato and “regular” fries with a chimichurri sauce. For dessert, the Sorbet Martini, mint and lavender. (914.242.1001, 38 E. Main St., Mt. Kisco; www.cafeofloveny.com)

Risotto, Thornwood (Dinner Mon- Sun) This under the radar local Risotto Emporium/New Italian kicks off their HVRW menu with a Fig & Prosciutto Risotta with crumbled Feta or their signature Beet Napoleon (pictured here). That’s a good way to start. For entrees there’s a Cacciatore Lasagna, a grilled salmon dish and their signature Osso Buco Piedmontese, slowly cooked pork shank in a wine reduction over risotto. And mini cannoli or tiramisu for dessert.(788 Commerce St., Thornwood, 914.769.6000; www.risotto-restaurant.com)

Best Menus Worth the Trip

8 North Broadway, Nyack (Lunch Mon-Fri & Sun & Dinner Mon- Sun) Chef Constantine Kalandranis’ 251 Lex (which we liked) didn’t make it in Mt. Kisco but he’s still cooking up serious Mediterranean seafood at 273 Kitchen in Harrison and 8 North Broadway in Nyack – that got a Very Good review with the NY Times in 2014. Harrison’s 273 Kitchen is an intimate 30 seater that has published it’s menu yet. But 8 North Broadway menu offers a raw bar plate of oysters, shrimp cocktail and tuna tartare and a Line Caught Fish of the Moment with lemon potatoes (outstanding) and sautéed bitter greens – for a nice light, fresh combination. There’s also a Warm Octopus & Orzo Skillet and their signature Crabcake for starters. He does wonderful things with yogurt for dessert. (845.353.1200, 8 V. Broadway, Nyack; www.8northbroadway.com)

Mima Vinoteca, Irvington (Lunch Tues – Fri & Dinner Mon- Fri & Sun) This rustic brick-walled Italian with a downtown Manhattan ambience gives Red Hat and MP Taverna a run for their money in Irvington. The Creamy Artichoke Bisque with chive and lemon infused EVOO jumped off the page on their HVRW menu. Ditto their Lavender-Honey Glazed Hudson Valley Duck Breast with roasted baby fennel, the Braised Short Rib with goat cheese polenta mousse and the Whole Wheat Penne with pistachio, mint pest, parmigiana and ricotta. (914.591.1300, 63 Main St., Irvington; www.mimarestaurant.com)

Il Cenacolo, Newburgh (Lunch Mon-Fri & Dinner, Mon, Wed-Fri & Sun) Anybody who puts pot roast on their HVRW menu knows fancy schmacy means nada! At this tip-top rated Italian, they call it Stracotta all Fiorentina and it comes with mashed drizzled with truffle oil, There’s also a slow-cooked Osso Buco, a red snapper soup, a smoked, marinated Rainbow Trout for starters and a white wine red snapper or Pappardelle with bacon and carmelized onions entree. And Pineapple Upside Down Cake! (845.564.4494, 228 S. Plank Rd., Newburgh; www.ilcenacolorestaurant.com)

Saltaire , Port Chester ( Lunch Wed-Sun & Dinner Mon- Fri & Sun) We just returned to this beautiful Port Chester seafood charmer and it did not disappoint. Their HVRW menu a choice of Shrimp Ceviche (we’re having that) a Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, New England Clam Chowder or a Chopped Salad for starters. Land lubbers will go for the Braised Beef Cheek next. Or choose from a Spiced Indian Salmon Curry, Rhode Island Fluke Meunirre or the Seafood Bolognese with hake, shrimp and mushroom Ragu. Don’t look down your nose at the Moules Frites in a spiced up sauce with house cut fries for the entree – we just had it and it was very good! (Saltaire, 55 Abendroth Ave., Port Chester, 914.939.2425; www.saltaireoysterbar.com)