How many new restaurants did you visit in '23? Here's the (long) list for Lower Hudson

What restaurants opened this year? I almost want to say — what didn't? This year felt like a hamster wheel with one spot opening after another, often in close succession. I counted 132 throughout the Lower Hudson Valley, 51 more than last year's 81 (and no doubt I missed a few). Plus, more will squeeze in openings before the end of the year that are not counted here.

Italian restaurants and coffee shops topped the list of new offerings though there were certainly a fair amount of Mediterranean spots, breweries and bakeries. Also high on the list: husband-and-wife owned places.

What kept the momentum going? Restaurant owners cite opportunity and demand.

Adem Brija, who scouts franchise locations for Patsy's Pizzeria, opening one in Harrison this year with plans for a White Plains spot in 2024, said the volume of business he's seen in Westchester has been "absolutely tremendous." That extends past New York, as he's also looking at potential locales in Florida, Massachusetts, Texas and California.

Jeevan Pullan — who's on a restaurant roll of openings with NH 44 in Hartsdale, TAKO Mexican in Harrison, and Jaipore Express in Ridgefield, Connecticut, last year and Jaipore Express in Briarcliff Manor and LeMark Malaysian in Scarsdale this year (on top of TAKO Mexican in Yonkers and Vega Mexican in Hartsdale) — said he's always looking at new spots. "It's all about right time, right place," he said.

Ditto for celebrity Chef David Burke who opened Red Horse by David Burke in White Plains in February, along with multiple other eateries, including his just opened Park Ave Kitchen by David Burke in Manhattan. "Did I set out to open six restaurants this year?" he said. "No! Would I change the fact we did? No! Part of the reason we did is because we can take advantage of unanticipated opportunity, because we’re willing to put in the work and we have the expertise.”

More: Late-year restaurant openings: 12 new eateries debut in Lower Hudson (with more to come)

He, like Pullan, also admitted to being ambitious and aggressive. "You have to be in the restaurant business," he said. "And if you want to continue to grow, as we do, you always have to have projects in the pipeline, so you can maintain your infrastructure and attract top notch people."

Of course there were closures, too (see my "What Closed in 2023" story), but they were on par with natural industry attrition rates and far fewer than what opened (think 50 closures to more than 100 openings). From Asian fusion to fast casual sandwiches to tacos and always more Italian, here are the new spots where diners flocked in 2023. Know of a place not on the list? Email updates to JRMuchick@gannett.com.

Westchester

• Aki Asian Fusion, White Plains

• Alessia’s Trattoria, Mamaroneck

• Allegria, West Harrison

• Alondra's Restaurant, Larchmont

• Anasa Greek Kitchen, White Plains

• Asopao, White Plains

• Benny's Brown Bag, Peekskill

• Beer Garden, Yonkers

• Better Burger, Peekskill

• Bistro de Ville, Scarsdale

• Bistro House, Hastings-on-Hudson

• BobbyPop, Rye

• Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken, White Plains

• Br'ers BBQ, Bedford Hills

• Buleria Tapas & Wine Bar, Tuckahoe

• Café Deux, Harrison

• Cafe Europa, Mount Vernon

• Captain Lawrence Food Truck

• Casa Fuego, Yonkers

• Casaroma, New Rochelle

• Chatterbox, Hawthorne (this is their second location; the first is in Pleasantville)

• Cocoa Tree Chocolates, Dobbs Ferry

• Coffee Lab Roasters, Eastchester/Bronxville border (second location; first in Tarrytown)

• Common Grounds Cafe Lounge, Jefferson Valley

• Constantino's, Hartsdale

• Constantino’s Ice Cream & Dessert Bar, Hartsdale

• Crawdaddy's Creole Kitchen, Pleasantville

• Crumbl Cookies, Hartsdale

• Dobbs & Bishop Fine Cheese, Scarsdale (this is their second location; the first is in Bronxville)

• Doggology, Cortlandt Manor

• El Artesano, White Plains

• El Callejon, Port Chester

• Empire Bagels, Larchmont (also has other locations)

• Enbu Asian Fusion, Yonkers

• Fat Stu's, Harrison

• Fuel Hub, Tarrytown

• Golfzon Social, Scarsdale

• Harpoon Hanna's, New Rochelle

• Hermosa, Mount Kisco

• Horseman Bagels, Sleepy Hollow

• Invito Restaurant, Elmsford

• Jaipore Xpress, Briarcliff Manor

• K & P Lounge, Cortlandt

• Kung Fu Tea, New Rochelle

• La Casa, Mamaroneck

• La Casa de Nina, Hawthorne

• Las Americas, Mount Kisco

• Lefteris Gyro, Hartsdale

• Little Star Pastry, Croton-on-Hudson

• Líkhâ Art Cafe, Hawthorne

• Mamaroneck Social Bar & Lounge, Mamaroneck

• Mamajuana Cafe Prime, Hartsdale

• Matanzas Cuban Cafe, Hartsdale

• Mario's Metro Pizza & Pasta, New Rochelle

• Medi Bistro, White Plains

• Melike Turkish Cuisine, Mount Kisco

• Mexcellent Deli, Chappaqua

• Micheline, Scarsdale

• Miles, the Prince, North White Plains

• Milladoro, Elmsford

• Mimi`s by Martine's, Scarsdale

• Mister Chen's Seafood & Bar, Scarsdale

• Morris Park Pizza Express, Shrub Oak

• Mr. Nick's, Tarrytown

• Mandy Bean Specialty Coffee, Yonkers

• Marcellino's, Yonkers

• Molcajete, Dobbs Ferry

• New York Craft Coalition, Mamaroneck

• Noble Pies Bakery & Cafe, Tarrytown (they also moved their Rye location and may have another Westchester spot in the works)

• Ofori's World Cuisine, Peekskill

• One Rare Steakhouse, Scarsdale

• Paris Baguette, Hartsdale

• Penny Lick Ice Cream, Mamaroneck (this is their second location; the first is in Hastings-on-Hudson)

• Piccola Trattoria, Dobbs Ferry

• Picardia Burgers, Port Chester

• Playa Bowls, White Plains

• Pokémoto, Tarrytown, White Plains

• Richie's Kitchen, Ossining

• Red Horse by David Burke, White Plains

• Redd's Soul Food, Croton-on-Hudson

• Rosa’s Italiana Cucina, Mamaroneck

• Rosarito Tacos and Tequila, Croton-on-Hudson

• Salsa Fresca Mexican Grill, Thornwood

• Shah's Halal, Yonkers

• Shiraz Kitchen & Wine Bar, White Plains

• Simple Motive Brewing Company, Yonkers

• Shawarma & More, Yonkers

• Smokehouse Tailgate Grill, Somers (new location at DeCicco & Sons)

• Susuru Ramen, Tarrytown

• Sweet Temptations and OMC, White Plains

• Table 13 Pizzeria, Harrison

• Tee Bar & Grill, Shrub Oak

• The Hudson Oven, Croton-on-Hudson

• The Meadows Social Kitchen and Bar, Harrison

• The Producer Coffee Studio, Port Chester

• The Sail House, Tarrytown

• Tipsy Taco Bar, Scarsdale

• Tous Les Jours, Bronxville

• T-Swirl, Yonkers (second location; first is in White Plains)

• The Tav'ery, Bronxville

• Tumbao Bar and Lounge, Sleepy Hollow

• Tutto Cream, Hawthorne

• Via Veroli, Yonkers

• Venchi Chocolate & Gelato, White Plains

• Wanna Empanada, Ossining

• Wildcraft Baking Company, Irvington

• X-Golf Scarsdale, Scarsdale (opening soon)

Rockland

• Bangkok Station, Nyack

• Baily's Smokehouse, New City

• Bella's Kitchen, Pearl River

• Chomped Food Truck

• Cooper's Restaurant, Pearl River

• Corner of Ukraine, Nyack

• Deli on the Hudson Cafe, Nyack

• Dom To Go, New City

• El Toro Steakhouse, Congers

• Flours Pasta & Bakeshop, Haverstraw

• Himalya Tibet Momo, Nyack

• Lynch's on the Green, Thiells

• La Casa de las Pupusas, Tappan

• Lanni's Cucina Verace Italiana, Sparkill

• Nyack Social, Nyack

• Mille Luci Pizza, New City

• Philly Pretzel Factory, New City

• Pizzetiello, Pearl River

• Red Barn Cidery, Congers

• Round Table Brewery, Garnerville

• Six23 Social, Sparkill

• The Best Diner, Suffern

• The Rail Trail Blauvelt

Putnam

• Uncle Cheef, Brewster

• Rye Republic

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

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: New restaurants in Westchester, Rockland NY that opened in 2023