Dining Out with Karen Talbot: Café Alaia Puts a New and Interesting Twist on Classic Italian Dishes
By Karen Talbot
Jan. 16, 2019: Does Westchester need another Italian restaurant recommendation? My answer is decidedly yes, because Café Alaia in Scarsdale, which opened about a year ago, puts a new and interesting twist on many classic Italian dishes that is well worth a try.
Café Alaia is owned by Vincenzo Alaia, who is from Naples, and his partner, Nancy Rosner. Together they have made their restaurant into an inviting and cozy destination, complete with a small bar, large wooden beams overhead, and wooden tables and chairs with dimly lit lighting throughout.
Our dining experience here started with sesame-crusted Italian bread served with a wonderful tomato sauce for dipping. Our antipasti and salads included gamberi e fagioli, seasoned grilled shrimp over sautéed cannellini beans; barbabietole, a very fresh salad of beets, arugula, and almonds; a Caesar salad; and the pièce de résistance, sformatino di melanzane, slow-cooked eggplant soufflé topped with burrata fondue and a light tomato sauce.
From primi, we ordered tagliatelle alla bolognese, homemade tagliatelle with beef ragu and grana; tortellini al formaggio e proscuitto, homemade grana tortellini with fontina and taleggio sauce, parmacotto ham, and peas; and a special dish of the evening from secondi, vitello scallopine, veal in a brown sauce reduction. Everything was very, very good, but the portion sizes on the pasta dishes were larger than they needed to be. We would have preferred half portions, but they were not available.
The glasses of red wine that we enjoyed with our dinner were a Nebbiolo, super Tuscan, and Chianti, all from Italy. I wish that the wine list included a few less expensive wines by the glass; $12 seemed to be the lowest price point.
Vincenzo was very attentive and made sure that we really liked our food choices from the chef, Luca Cabras, and the sous-chef, Marcelo Yubi. The service was spot-on throughout our dinner there. Do not skip dessert. We had a deliciously flavored almond pear tart and affogato, vanilla ice cream drowned in espresso.
The restaurant is open from noon to 10:00 pm every day except Monday.
Café Alaia
66 Garth Road
Scarsdale, NY 10583
914-725-3000
https://cafealaia.com/
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This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Would you like to join our directory? Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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914-779-7944
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This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Mon., Tues. and Wed. from 5 to 10pm
Thurs. Fri. and Sat. from 5 to 11pm
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Bronxville, New York
914-793-2000
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Mediterranean
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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.
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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
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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
Would you like to join our directory? Contact 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
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