Northern-ish Westchester 20th Anniversary Dinner

[Nancy C]

Hello Chowhounders

We're looking for a quiet dinner for two for our 20th anniversary. Any suggestions for something new to the area would be appreciated - we've been to some of the usual spots (Blue Hill, Garrison, Kittle, H20, etc.) for prior special occasions, so hoping to change things up this time. Outdoor dining would be particularly nice :-)

Many thanks

Nancy C

[rkaene]

Le Chateau in south salem. Beautiful, romanic, and good food. They have dancing some nights.

[weedy]

"Romantic" in a stuffy kind of sedate way though. I don't know exactly what it is, but that place always feels very dated to me.

[wincountrygirl]

Agreed. And I don't like the food either, unless i'm at a wedding!

[weedy]

does "H20" mean X2O? hard to beat X2O on the food.

what about Xavier's in Piermont?
Pantiere?
Aroma Osteria in Wappinger's Falls

honestly, for my anniversary, we drive into Manhattan, where the prospects open up enormously.

[Nancy C]

X2O is what I meant :-) Been there thrice, including birthday #65 for spouse.

I'll check into the suggestions offered - alas he'll be coming off knee surgery two weeks earlier (SHOULD be ambulatory pretty fast, but I'm trying to keep up close to home). Vox sounds like a possibility.

Any more ideas are always welcome, and thanks, all!

[MisterBill2]

Amusingly, if you go to the X2O website, some of the pages do have H2O in the page title!

Xaviers in Piermont is excellent. But that's not Northern Westchester.

How about Iron Horse Grill in Pleasantville. Very nice place and fairly quiet.

Also agree on North, great place. Just ask to sit upstairs when you make the reservation.

Also, when you say Garrison do you mean Valley? That's another very nice place, if you haven't been there.

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

Good call on Valley. I found the service to be a bit awkward last time we were there for RW, and my fish entree was uninspired, but everything else was great. I think it would be special for an anniversary. Misterbill, do they have outdoor seating in nice weather?

If you're looking for something less formal, I love Tavern in Garrison, especially for a weeknight dinner, when it's not very crowded. The new patio is nice and would give you the option of semi-outdoor dining, but I prefer the rustic dining room. It's really cozy and feels romantic to me. Just make sure you call and ask them to put aside a table for two if you'd rather not sit at a communal table; sometimes they'll sit two parties of two at a long table.

As much as I like the food at North, I would never recommend it for a quiet dinner!

[MisterBill2]

I think the only place you can eat outside at Valley is at the bar, and I'm not even sure about that.

I didn't get to Valley this year for HVRW this year because I didn't care for their menu, and also because the person I knew who was the GM there left (which I discovered last year).

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

Yeah, my fish was really bland. I kept thinking to myself that I could have made a better preparation at home, and I'm not exactly Julia Child. But whatever my husband got was excellent. I've only been for RW, which I think is a good value, but it's too pricey for me to return on a regular non-RW basis.

[weedy]

to me there's a BIG gap in food quality between North (which I like, but...) and X2O.

Iron Horse is also really good, if a little unexciting, in some odd way.

[MisterBill2]

I think Iron Horse's problem is that they never seem to have new dishes on the menu. They switch it around for seasons but it never seems new. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing since their stuff is very good, but as you say, it seems unexciting.

I thought that the food at North was pretty darn good (and comparable to X2O) Certainly the service and dining experience is not the same as at X2O.

[weedy]

I have to disagree.
I LIKE North, and I recommend it.
But I don't think it's anywhere near in a class with X20.

[wincountrygirl]

I have had good and bad experiences at North - and a bad experience at that price point is totally unacceptable. I'm not much of a fan of Iron Horse either but I do like X20 - and the old Bully Boy (X) as well. My 2 cents on where to go..... I love 121 but it's not special occasion by any stretch. Vox is a good choice and I still stick by Buffet de la Gare!

[Marge]

I agree with you Mr. Bill--I thought the food and service was wonderful at North, but certainly the atmosphere and total experience is much better at X20. That said, as a HUGE fan of X20, I think that North is worthy of a special dinner for people who are looking for something different in northern Westchester.

[foodie0529]

I recently had a meal at Equus at the Castle in Tarrytown. While the Equus isn't new to the area, they are under new ownership and offer both a tasting menu along with a la carte. I opted for the 7 course tasting menu. Both the food and service were excellent. I know they offer outdoor dining.

[byramgirl]

My favorite is Vox in North Salem. They have a patio for outdoor dining where you can watch the deer nibble on the foliage. If they have the goat cheese and tomato tart as a special appetizer, get it. I also love the Iron Horse as well.

[rjbh20]

With the exception of some less than dazzling service last time, probably due to a large party in house that night, North in Armonk has been a pleasant experience. No outdoor dining, though.

[Elisa515]

I think I had the best meal I've ever eaten at Restaurant North--but it is NOT quiet!

[roxlet]

Upstairs is quiet, and you can sit there unless its booked for a private party.

[Elisa515]

Well...when we reserved, that's what we asked for. No one told us there would be a private party (it was some sort of wine dinner) so that wouldn't be possible.

I'm not complaining, but I'm saying that asking for upstairs when making a reservation does not guarantee a quiet meal at Restaurant North. The food is so amazing that I didn't mind (and found the noise gave us some privacy, actually). But the OP did specify quiet.

The food and the service were so great that I'd tolerate heavy metal music being pumped into the room, though, to get to eat there again.

[Marge]

We're finally going to North next week, I'm excited! What do you recommend, thanks!

[Elisa515]

Marge, I think I need to get around to replying about that meal on the latest North thread. Thanks for the push! (short answer: everything!)

[MRS]

oh good...i've been wanting to hear your thoughts on your evening!!!

[MRS]

Marge, if the soft-shell crabs are on the menu, they are a must!!!

[Marge]

I hope, I hope, I hope, I LOVE soft shell crabs, thanks!

[MRS]

omg!!!! they are the best!! Interestingly enough, soft shell crabs are how my love affair with North began when they 1st opened. I wish you a delicious dinner there. We love it!!

[Marge]

Had a wonderful dinner at North, I posted a separate review on the latest North thread.

[DGresh]

I have not been there for some time, but we have always enjoyed the Iron Horse Grill in Pleasantville. We also enjoyed 121 in North Salem quite recently.

[wincountrygirl]

My favorite is Buffet de la Gare in Hastings - they don't have the outdoor dining but they do have a cozy, romantic atmosphere and great French food.

http://buffetdelagareny.com/