La Crem To Go Opens in Banksville

La Crem To Go Opens in Banksville: Robert Meyzen, proprietor of the legendary country French restaurant in Banksville, recently announced that they are re-opening with the creation of La Crem To Go. David Amorelli, formerly of Cite, will be the restaurant’s new chef. Their new upscale take out service is a ramp up to a full opening later this year.

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, David received the first externship with legendary Chef Gilbert LeCoze at Le Bernadin. He has served, throughout his career, in primary roles in such iconic restaurants as River Café, Gotham Bar & Grill, David Burke & Donatella’s, Brasserie Ruhlman alongside world renowned Chef Laurent Tourondel and Cite where he ran the kitchen for 10 years.

The takeout menu features a potage du jour, their signature Escargot and Angel Hair Pasta (a personal fave), Shrimp Flambé au Cognac, Short Rib Bourguignon, Roast Organic Chicken “Lyonnaise”, and their famous Pommes Frites. New to their offerings is a Kids menu where all dishes are priced at a budget friendly $13. Including Supreme de Poulet (that’s crispy chicken tenders to you), Fromage Grille (aka a grilled cheese sandwich) and a French Bread Pizza Margarita.

La Crémaillère was the first restaurant, and one of just a few, who have been enshrined in What To Do’s Bucket List. Their iconic renown is national in scope. A perennial Top Ten in the Westchester/Hudson Valley, La Crémaillère was named one of America’s Most Beloved Restaurants by Town & Country, and was voted one of the 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America by OpenTable diners in 2017. In 2016, LoHud wrote that it was “arguably the most important French restaurant to have ever opened in the suburbs” In 2017, Vanity Fair said it was “Home to the Finest French Country Cooking on the East Coast.”

La Crémaillère closed last year when former co-owner Bobbie Meyzen, Robert’s wife, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud after being arrested in September 2019 for a series of bank and insurance fraud, and identity theft allegations dating back to 2015. Bobbie was sentenced to two years in prison last September and is no longer a stockholder in the corporation. Full story here.

The restaurant had been operating under bankruptcy protection since April of that year. Meyzen Family Realty Associates LLC, which owns the farmhouse and property, had previously filed for bankruptcy in September 2018. The Examiner News recently reported that Peter Orthwein now owns the property and is leasing the restaurant to Robert Meyzen’s reorganized company, La Cremaillere II. Orthwein is an Anheuser Busch heir, co-founder of Thor Industries, a manufacturer of recreational vehicles and buses, and a Greenwich polo player.

In Other Armonk Restaurant News

Macelleria Italian Steak House: Macelleria, a new Italian Steakhouse, recently opened in Elide Plaza. The space was formerly occupied by Kitchen 273, a popular bistro with an Italian twist. Before that it was The Armonk House. With the opening of Macelleria, Armonk now has two Italian Steakhouses. (The other being Lenny’s North on Main Street in the former Reataurant North space.

At Macelleria,Chef Joe Fusco brings all the lessons he learned from his participation in Season 6 of Kitchen Nightmares with Gordon Ramsey. Plus an updated steakhouse menu featuring Braised Short Ribs served over mushroom risotto, Chilean Sea Bass with pan roasted garlic spinach and a nicely priced New York Strip @ $30. Did we mention that they opened in the fall of 2020 – in the middle of the pandemic? We’ll be checking this out soon and get back to you.

Mermaids’ Table: Anna Mallozzi Irizarry recently moved into the former Tauk space at Armonk Square. In the spirit of her predecessor, she has maintained a beachy menu, complete with Maine and Montauk style lobster rolls. Mermaids’ Table’s spa bistro menu also features Fish Tacos, Shrimp BLT, Fish & Chips and a Rainbow Quinoa Salad. There are also some Asia and Latin touches such as Tuna Poke, Bang Bang Shrimp (crispy with Thai Chili sauce) and a Spicy Shrimp Avocado Roll with jalapeño. And a healthy dose of Italian with Shrimp Scampi, Chicken Francese and Short Rib Pasta.

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