New restaurant options in Rockland, from Mexican fusion to plant-based cuisine
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What's great about the restaurant business is that it's always evolving, bringing different cuisines, personalities and a range of choices. In Rockland that means a new Mexican fusion spot with more Italian and American food coming soon. Plus, an upscale wellness retreat serving plant-based cuisine, and resembling something out of the Gilded Age, will shine a new light on Sloatsburg. Details follow.
Bubbakoo’s Burritos, West Haverstraw
Open since Feb. 8, this new Mexican fusion spot, with the mantra "peace, love and burritos," is the fourth one in Rockland, behind Pearl River, New City and Pomona. It's also the 15th spot for Franchise Owners (and New Jersey residents) Perry and Fenil Patel. Diners can expect customizable made-to-order items such as the recently renamed Papi Hibachi (hibachi style steak and shrimp) burrito, Nashville burrito along with boneless wings, tostada salad, and bowls. 45 S. Route 9 (in the Samsondale Plaza), 845-271-3726, bubbakoos.com.
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Coming Soon
Alta Irpinia, Suffern
Opening day is getting closer for Angelo Competiello's hybrid salumeria/pizzeria/Italian grocery shop. Competiello, who beat Bobby Flay on the Food Network last April, plans to start with a series of pizza and takeout pop-ups featuring his woodfired pizza and sandwiches (check his social media for details) sometime in the next week or two.
His new place, an homage to the history of his family, also offers a variety of homemade cheese, imported cheese, cured meats and other prepared foods along with a small grocery selection. Operating on the mantra of retracing his roots through ingredients, his new spot is named for the Southern Italian region his father was born in and where he spent a lot of time growing up.
Competiello's father, it should be noted, along with other family members, are the original owners of the A&S Fine Foods stores in Westchester and Connecticut (he was raised working in the Thornwood store). Competiello previously had a store in Wyckoff, New Jersey that he sold in 2020. 57 Lafayette Ave., altairpinia.com.
District 96 and The Burger Loft, Nyack
Burgers and beer are coming to Nyack the first week of April courtesy of District 96 and The Burger Loft. The new 65-seat space, with an open bar and great views of downtown Nyack, will feature a similar menu to its New City location but with more options, apps, salads and burgers. Beer will not be brewed here but brought over from New City. The corner space was previously run by Rising Above Bakery and Hudson Market on Main, part of Rockland Community College's Hospitality and Culinary Arts Center. 5 N Broadway, theburgerloft.com.
Café Diem, Piermont
Louise Higgins, owner of Café Diem in Pearl River, is bringing a second location to the old Ned Kelly & Company space sometime this spring.
"Our vibe and menu has been well received in Pearl River [she opened there in Oct. 2022] so when we noticed an opening in Piermont, we jumped at it," Higgins said.
The cancer survivor, who left behind the confines of a corporate job to start a new career (she never owned a restaurant before) told The Journal News/lohud: "You've got to seize the day."
The new location will feature a similar menu with approximately the same amount of room (about 36 seats) but with the bonus of a back patio and secret garden. Diners can expect a combination of healthy options and comfort food such as cauliflower pizza, avocado toast, grilled cheese Reuben and fish tacos. The new location will feature breakfast, brunch and lunch to start, with dinner down the road. 458 Piermont Ave., cafediempr.com.
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The Ranch Hudson Valley, Sloatsburg
This new wellness destination, in a restored mansion dating to 1902 and surrounded by the 4,000-acre Ringwood State Park, will open in April and is already taking reservations for its three-night, four-night and weekend resets. Each program offers up to six hours of low-impact exercise daily, with two or four-hour hikes in addition to strength training, restorative yoga, and a daily massage. Also offered: restorative amenities such as an infrared sauna and a hot and cold contrast plunge or add on services like colon hydrotherapy, IV therapy and energy healing.
As in their Malibu location, the menu will consist of nutrient-dense, organic, plant-based meals focused on detoxification and revitalization, with ingredients sourced from local, organic farms. Meals are enjoyed together as a way to foster deeper connections among guests and enhance the experience. Corporate groups can also take advantage of the intimate setting to create private, customizable, health-centric experiences.
Known as the Table Rock Estate, the property was built by JP Morgan for his daughter as a wedding gift when she married the great grandson of Alexander Hamilton. Local, family-owned Treestone Architecture and Construction, who built the nearby Valley Rock Inn, has meticulously restored and preserve the home's extraordinary architectural features. 150 Sterlington Road, 888-777-2177, theranchlife.com.
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: Bubbakoo's, Italian salumeria, more restaurants coming to Rockland NY
