Photo by N. Bower
By Mary Marvin, Mayor of Bronxville
Jan. 11, 2023: As the great fears of Covid seem to be mercifully ebbing, a fair number of you have reached out to me and the Trustees to express your opinions, both in favor of and/or against the continuation of outdoor dining in the Village as we are 2+ years into the experiment.
Knowing that some of our incredibly loyal merchants count on the outdoor dining as a continuing economic lifeline and the fact that between the five of us in Village government, we have no expertise in this field, we have reached out to professionals to assist us in assessing the program.
We believe it is also the opportune time to look at the entire downtown; food, non-food businesses, traffic patterns, etc. as everyone is a part of this ever-shifting landscape. As you remember, similar to our neighboring communities, we invoked our emergency powers to allow our food establishments to create outdoor dining opportunities, both to frankly keep them in business, and to also accommodate Villagers who felt extremely uncomfortable heading into any of our indoor establishments.
We are now at a crossroads, as merchants do not want to spend money on outdoor upgrades if the program is going to change dramatically and rightly so. We need to envision what the Village will look like in the new paradigm going forward. To that end, we are in the process of engaging a consulting firm so named Street Plans to assist us in reimagining the Village streetscape. Street Plans is an international planning, urban design and transportation planning practice with emphasis on public engagement to reach comprehensive planning and development goals.
Current projects include work throughout Connecticut in New York City with the newly configured streetscape at One Vanderbilt across from Grand Central Station, a recent project.
Issues that will be addressed include a complete review of establishments that are contributing to the aesthetic and ambiance of the Village and those that are honestly currently a blight. We are in total concurrence that using our limited stock of parking places for furniture storage and/or the repository of dead plantings is completely unacceptable and severely impacts the ambiance and aesthetics of our Village streetscape. At the same, time we cannot but appreciate the establishments who meticulously keep their property at ideal hygienic and attractiveness standards.
Issues to be reviewed include the amount of garbage generated, trash pick-up, noise, adherence to fire codes, traffic safety, and the loss of parking spaces for customers of non-restaurant establishments. (As a note, outdoor restaurant owners pay the full cost of the parking spaces that their establishments occupy – such was not the case early in the COVID epidemic.)
The professionals will also be looking at vehicular circulation and emergency access especially in the area of Park Place taking into account that the Uber Eats and Door Dashes are part of the new norm.
To put in context, the gradient of preference for outdoor dining is wide with Larchmont fully embracing it to Rye’s closure of most outdoor venues.
Our neighbors in Greenwich recently attempted to strike a balance with the enactment of new and stringent regulations to take effect April 1. Regulations include requiring restaurants with more than 12 outdoor seats to get site approval from their Planning and Zoning Commission.
Permits are seasonal (April 1st to November 20th) and must be renewed annually. Failure to adhere to the stringent new regulations, including mandatory cleaning procedures, can result in revocation of a permit and egregious violations can result in permanent removal.
Our consultants will be reaching out to all stakeholders as part of the process. You are certainly free to weigh in at this juncture, but it would be even more helpful as the process unfolds and perhaps alternatives are proffered.
Like Greenwich, we recognize it is a delicate balancing act as we all try to adjust to a new normal.
Irish Gastro Pub with wood-fired pizza. It also has a Cocktail Menu.
219 Main Street, Eastchester
914-752-7650
Article about summer dining that includes Jack's
One Pier Steakhouse
One Pier Steakhouse is located on the banks of the Hudson River in downtown Yonkers, N.Y. right in the middle of the Yonkers renaissance. The restaurant offers a beautifully designed dining room featuring private banquette seating; an upstairs private room for sit-down or cocktail events; an inviting large bar and outdoor seating.
The menu offers a mix of traditional cuts of steak: Porterhouse for two, Filet Mignon, NY Strip, Ribeye and Skirt. There is also a variety of fresh fish offerings: Whole Branzino, Colossal Shrimp Scampi, Lobster Tails, Chilean Sea Bass, Sushi Grade Tuna, Salmon and a Raw Bar. Also included are Soups & Salads, Appetizers and Signature Dishes of Coffee BBQ bone-in Short Ribs, Lamb Shank and a 1/2 Roasted Chicken, along with a Pasta Station.
The bar features craft cocktails and a wide ranging wine list. The vibe is a softly lite romantic setting with up-tempo jazz.
Drink* Eat* Gather
Haiku
Pan Asian
56 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-5601
Chinese cuisine. Stylish setting with classic decor.
361 N Central Ave, Hartsdale, NY
Wild Ginger
Pan Asian
10 Park Place
Bronxville, New York 10708
Underhill’s Crossing
For over thirty years, Underhills Crossing Restaurant in Bronxville has had the privilege of offering guests a diverse menu of French-American cuisine. Whether for a light bite with a friend, a celebration of family, or a special occasion, join us in our elegant dining room or enjoy al fresco dining in our beautifully decorated outdoor dining area.
Underhills Crossing Restaurant brings the Manhattan dining experience to Bronxville. Enjoy our raw bar, full caviar service, extensive wine list, and by-the-glass Coravin program, along with seasonal specials, which complement the lunch, dinner, and brunch menus.
Please let us know your thoughts.
5 Pondfield Rd 74., Bronxville, NY 10708
(914) 337-1200
Lange's of Bronxville
Lange's of Bronxville is a homestyle delicatessen nestled in Bronxville. For over 3 decades, Lange's has proudly offered an authentic deli and catering experience, serving freshly prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner favorites that keep our customers coming back for more.
Opa Opa Fresh Greek.
New casual and friendly Greek restaurant serving fresh homemade specialties in a light and airy setting. Order for Take-Out…call 914-600-8129 for delivery on Uber Eats or Door Dash.
116 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, NY 10708
914-600-8129
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Serves Noteworthy Italian food and Brick Oven Pizza with outdoor seating available.
914-779-7944
Ciao
5-7 Albanese Place
Eastchester, NY
914-779-4646
An Italian Bistro in the heart of Scarsdale.
808 Scarsdale Avenue, Scarsdale
914-722-0808
Instagram: 808bistrony
Delicious Italian food prepared with great care and served in a vibrant, modern Italian setting. Do private events. Best of Westchester “Best New Restaurant” in 2019. It was also awarded the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand Award in 2020.
11 Huguenot St,
New Rochelle, NY 10801
(914) 636-0006
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Italian restaurant with the charm of a real Italian Trattoria
Mon., Tues. and Wed. from 5 to 10pm
Thurs. Fri. and Sat. from 5 to 11pm
10 Palmer Avenue
Bronxville, New York
914-793-2000
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Sapori of Scarsdale
A handsome new restaurant serving unique and interesting authentic flavors of Italy, with a new lunch, bar and children’s menu that has both indoor and outdoor café dining.
Mediterranean
2 Chase Road
Scarsdale, New York 10583
914-874-5316
Scalini's mission is to serve classic yet innovative regional cuisine that highlights the culinary diversity of the country, including tasty homemade pasta and daily seafood specials. The food and beverages are skillfully curated under the direction of owners Angelo and Elio DiRosa of Abruzzo, Italy.
Scalini carries uniquely Italian microbrews and has a seasonal craft cocktail program and an extensive wine and spirits list. With a patio and secluded courtyard that mirrors a quintessential Tuscan village, their outdoor dining experience is available year-round and offers a perfect venue for all types of events and engagements.
65 Pondfield Road
Bronxville
914-337-4935
https://www.scaliniosteria.com
Tredici Social
Italian
Tredici Social serves contemporary Italian food with a modern flair. Outdoor Dining Available
104 Kraft Avenue
Bronxville, New York
914-793-1313
Roberto Paciullo's hometown of Salerno is transported to the streets of Tuckahoe. Zero Otto Nove Trattoria is the fourth outpost of his famous restaurants from Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. From the atmosphere to the food, stopping by Zero Otto Nove is taking a quick trip to Italy.
Marigold is a vibrant tribute to the rich tapestry of Indian flavors and timeless traditions. The menu proudly presents Chef Hemant Mathur's iconic creations, skillfully layered with a harmonious blend of tangy, sweet, and spicy elements, all expertly woven together with fresh, high-quality ingredients and imaginative flair.
Each dish is a labor of love, meticulously prepared with the finest ingredients and authentic spices, resulting in an extraordinary and unforgettable experience. You will embark on an unparalleled culinary journey through the heart of India.
434 White Plains Rd. Eastchester, NY 10709
(914) 202 9455
Ladle of Love
Ladle of Love dishes out delicious soups, sandwiches, salads, wraps, hand crafted meals and rotating daily specials. They also have a Meal Plan Program that is personalized for individuals or families, offering daily or weekly meals which can be customized to dietary preferences and needs.
18 Palmer Avenue, Bronxville
914.346-8883 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dobbs & Bishop Fine Cheese
Owned by Bronxville's own Ruth Walter and Kevin McNeill, Dobbs & Bishop Fine Cheese carries traditional varieties of cheese such as manchego, camembert and Irish Cheddar as well as other varieties from a half dozen countries. They also sell specialty breads, baguettes, scones, croissants, olive rye batard and other varieties provided by French baker, Balthazar. Gift baskets and party platters are available to order. It is also a go to destination for lunch for the school children offering the mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches on white or multi-grain bread and yummy lemonade.
107 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-361-1770