French restaurant opens in Westchester. 'The essence of a classic bistro,' owner says

French bistros are trending in Westchester with the recent openings of Café Deux in Harrison in March and North Salem's Cenadou Bistrot and Scarsdale's Bistro de Ville in June. Now, there's another: Micheline, also in Scarsdale, owned by recent New York City transplant (by way of France) Jonathan Aubrey.

The new restaurant, where Scarsdale Metro Diner had been, opens for dinner Sept. 13.

Aubrey, who grew up splitting time between Paris (where his mom lived in the 16th Arrondissement) and Scarsdale, home to his dad, knows French bistros. He also knows restaurants, having worked in management roles at Manhattan heavy hitters Eleven Madison Park, Happy Cooking Hospitality, and Nur. Sensing an opportunity when he and his family moved to Scarsdale two years ago, he decided to recreate that Parisian feeling close to home.

It's why the bar at Micheline is so important to him. "It's the essence of a classic bistro," he said. And so, diners can expect an all-French wine list, with an emphasis on growers and producers in addition to Laurent Cazottes liqueurs, Domaine du Tertre Vintage calvados. There will be interesting cocktails such as a table-side poured martini (with either French Grey Goose vodka or French Citadelle gin) and a Pirouette (Rockey's liquor and sparkling wine).

The 11-seat bar also features a custom designed zinc countertop, something found in most Parisian bistros.

The rest of the 69-seat space is airy and light with a large mirror on the dining room back wall and a décor filled with lots of blues, coppers, black, white and brown. Dark blue banquettes line one wall that also features white subway tiles. A blue-striped awning outside (complete with alfresco seating) lets you know you've arrived. Blue is also the color for the hard-cover menu featuring a train logo (more about that in a minute).

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Aubrey said the place was completely gutted to transform it from a diner to a bistro, making it unrecognizable to those who previously visited for omelets, coffee and pancakes.

"I wanted to create something warm, inviting and comforting," said Aubrey. "So that people can really feel at home."

Le Menu

Being a classic French restaurant means diners can expect clean, fresh ingredients, locally sourced when possible, with most everything — including the burger bun — made in-house.

Like Aubrey, Executive Chef Josh Capone hails from the New York City dining scene, having previously worked as Chef de Cuisine of Restaurant DANIEL, and is focused on creating items that are traditionally French but also elevated and approachable. Sample menu items include Steak au Poivre with green peppercorn sauce and hand-cut fries; the Micheline burger with Gruyere cheese, pickle and fries; and a honey brined pork chop with Armagnac soaked prunes, creamed greens and a quinoa pilaf.

Desserts include a bittersweet chocolate tart, lavender custard, crème brûlée and homemade ice cream and sorbet.

Train station connection

As for the train logo that graces each menu, Aubrey said two trains gave him inspiration for the name: one American and one French. The first meaning originates with a French rail car from the 1930s that ran on tires — Michelin tires (Micheline in French).

Because the restaurant is close to Scarsdale's Metro North train station, the name also gives it a sense of place as this is where he's living now and raising his family. As a bonus, he also recently discovered it's the name of a French liqueur, which he now has a small stash of.

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If you go

Address: 878 Scarsdale Ave., Scarsdale, 914-504-1717, michelinerestaurant.com

Hours: 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday's through Sunday's. Expect brunch down the road followed by dinner seven nights a week, with lunch sometime in the future.

Good to know: There's a 20-seat outdoor dining space, complete with heat lamps, in addition to another 20-seat side area, the latter of which will not open for a bit.

Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @lohud_food or via the lohudfood newsletter. 

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: French restaurant with elevated, classic food opens in Scarsdale NY