Westchester's hidden gems: 10 eateries you may not know about
Did you know Westchester has its own indoor mushroom farm? Or that you can plan a party with treats artfully displayed on a vespa? How about picking up your groceries at the same location where you can have a sit-down meal of brisket and a beer? Or enjoying authentic kouign-amann (puff pastry) at a place that makes you feel like you've just jet-setted to France?
Some food spots, be they markets, caterers, bars or cafes are so good, so unique and so local yokel, you don't want to tell the world for fear they'll be overrun. And even though I'm a great secret keeper (just ask my sister), I'm also a big fan of supporting mom and pop businesses. To that end, I've rounded up 10 hidden Westchester gems that run the gamut from a speakeasy in a Metro North train station to a new canned tequila company born out of the pandemic to a bathroom in a coffee shop that used to be a bank vault.
Whistling Rail, Bronxville
Talk about a secret. This snazzy speakeasy, accessible via an unmarked door on the north end of the Bronxville train station house (look for the lantern), is all about appreciating the bygone era of the '20s with a glamourous décor that honors the historic, Spanish Mission-style building it's located in. Open since April 2022, there's naturally a big emphasis on classic cocktails (hello to Old Fashioneds and Negroni variants), as well as house inventions such as the espresso martini that uses espresso made in the adjacent BXVL Coffeehouse (Charu Rana owns both). As for food, expect an assortment of munchies like a hummus platter, Spanish olives, fruit-and-nut board and cheese-and-charcuterie plate. Just keep in mind: the speakeasy is open Thursday to Saturday only from 5:30 to 11 p.m. with last call at 11:15 p.m. Look for the Gatsby Night party held annually in May where customers come in 1920s attire. 2 Station Plaza, 914-600-8139, bxvlcoffeehouse.com/whistling-rail
Petite Bretagne, Mamaroneck
Even though Pierre-Yves Milton has been in business since 2021, many people still don't know about this cozy slice of France, unless, of course, you're an expat living here or are married to one. The intimate spot, with 12 seats inside and 12 out, is a combination bakery/crêperie/grocery store offering a taste of items from Paris, Brittany and the Côte d'Azur (think chips, candy, crackers, mayo, mustard and more). The specialty of the house, along with its crepes and classic French baguette, is the kouign-amann, a sweet Breton puff pastry. You'll also find croissants, Croque Monsieur's, quiches and cafe au lait. Plus check out the map in the back of the store where Milton has circled "Heaven" around the part of France he loves best. I'm also a fan of his classic striped t-shirts. 152 Mamaroneck Ave., 914-315-1157
More: Marlowe Ales is back, with a new beer-centric location, new coalition and new mission
Hemlock Hill Farm, Cortlandt Manor
This is a third-generation family-owned farm (owned and operated by women) that not only offers tours, where you can show your kids cows, sheep, goats and chicken in their natural habitat, but a place where you can buy groceries, with a majority of the items sourced from the farm. Hemlock Hill has its own butcher offering natural farm pasture raised meats in a variety of cuts (think chicken, duck, beef, pork, goose, lamb, rabbit, and sausages). You can also buy bacon, eggs and seasonal vegetables as well as items from other local farmers and purveyors, including cheeses, jams, honey, and maple syrup. Come Thanksgiving, it's also a great place to order a farm-raised turkey. Tours begin in September but the market is open year-round. 500 Croton Ave., 914-737-2810, hemlockhillfarm.com
Apero, North Salem
North Salmen resident Amanda Polizzi wanted to recreate the feeling and ambiance she had at a bar in Milan years ago. Apero, which she launched this past March, is the answer, catering parties with a Vespa, garlands of beautiful florals and a lot of imagination. Each event — she services Westchester, Fairfield County, Manhattan and the Hamptons — is uniquely styled, taking inspiration from the seasons, turning her bar into an interactive conversation piece/artful display of small bites and cocktails. aperovespa.com
TSL, Pelham Manor
Pelham Manor friends James Glover, a Google advertising tech exec, and Seth Jerabek, an orthopedic surgeon, spent a chunk of the pandemic trying to perfect the ultimate margarita. When their simple tequila drinks featuring tequila, soda and lime were a hit with family and friends, they launched TSL, which literally stands for tequila, soda and lime. They launched in July with two flavors, Tequila Soda Lime and Rosarita (which includes rosé), and are already in a host of retailers such as Fairway, Crespo Whiskeys and Wines, and Rye Brook Wine and Spirits. The drinks, now manufactured in Saratoga Springs, are available on their website. drinktsl.com
Westchester Mushroom Co., Peekskill
You'd never know from the outside of this nondescript Peekskill office building that it houses some of the most gorgeous colorful mushrooms you've ever seen. Austin Schatz, Jonathan Vantman and Benny Liu were working at Fables Farm in Ossining where they began tinkering with growing mushrooms. Customers loved them, but to really create their dream mushrooms, they needed a controlled indoor environment. Specialty mushrooms are highly sensitive to temperature and humidity swings. So, in August 2021, they rented a small commercial space and began growing 10 seasonal varieties such as pink and yellow oyster, lion's mane and blue oyster mushrooms. At first, only local chefs bought from them, but the business soon mushroomed (sorry, I couldn't resist) into supplying DeCicco's as well as mushroom aficionados, who are part of their subscription program and want to pick up direct from them. 8 John Walsh Blvd., westchestermushrooms.com
Coffee Labs Roasters, Bronxville
While the opening of this coffee shop isn't a secret — it's been covered in our 22 new spots opening soon — what IS a secret (unless you follow lohudfood on Instagram) is the bathroom. It used to be a bank vault. Now it's got fancy wallpaper, two mosaic chandeliers and an amazing mural on the inside door of Kaldi, the goat herd that discovered coffee in the 15th century. The cafe itself is a work of art, with wood from the Tio Conejo coffee farm in Colombia and lights that are shaped to look like coffee blossoms (check out the "beans" inside). There's also an old depository outside (from the building's former banking days) as well as a cool takeout window that used to be the teller's spot where you can now order coffee while you hang on a cushy lounge seat on the patio. 493 New Rochelle Road, coffeelabs.com
Feel Good Booch, Peekskill
Kombucha is all the rage but did you know this brand, launched during the height of the pandemic in 2020, is the brainchild of four Blue Hill at Stone Barns alumni? Not only do Julio Enriquez, Alanna Ledesma, Ronald Rufino and Drew Eline have years of hospitality under their belts, they're super serious about flavor, blending their kombucha with freshly pressed juices and cold-steeped infusions so the balance of acidity and natural sweetness is perfect. The business has grown so much since they started selling their product in 2021, they recently signed a lease on a new facility in Peekskill with three large fermentation tanks. A table for order pick-ups and sampling at the warehouse may be in their future, but for now, you can find from six to eight seasonal flavors such as Purple Corn, Mango, Elderberry, Guava and Turmeric, and Ginger, either direct from their website or at select retailers including DeCicco's, Root2Rise in Pleasantville, Grassroots Kitchen in Tarrytown and, naturally, Blue Hill Cafe & Grain Bar in Pocantico Hills. feelgoodbooch.com
La Hacienda Meat & Grocery Market, Yonkers
Open since December 2021, this grocery store/fast casual eatery is the longtime dream of brothers Richard and Efrain Magana, who wanted to bring their passion for food — of their hometown of Jalisco, Mexico — to Yonkers. Shoppers will find shelves filed with everything from produce to candy to spices and cereal from Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru and Puerto Rico. But one of the biggest draws is the market's fast casual cafe featuring Latino dishes including a quesabirria, a birria-style tortilla with melted cheese and a side of consommé. They're also known for their roast chicken meals (and deals). 1727 Central Park Ave., 914-685-3242, lahaciendameats.com
Smokehouse Tailgate, Somers
There aren't many grocery stores that have a full-service restaurant on their second floor. But at DeCicco & Sons Somers location, that's exactly what this outpost of Smokehouse Tailgate is. The barbecue restaurant, with locations in New Rochelle and Mamaroneck, started as a pop-up here but did so well, they officially became the grocer's new eatery in December 2022. That means plenty of ribs, brisket, pulled pork and fried chicken, all via the click of a button on a kiosk. Diners then go to a counter to pick up their food, which, incidentally, goes perfect with one of DeCicco's vast beer options. Just be warned: They're only open Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 8 p.m. 266 Route 202, shtailgate.com
Got a food tip?
Know of a hidden gem? A restaurant opening or closing? If so, share your food news by emailing JRMuchnick@gannett.com.
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: Ten Westchester NY eateries that are hidden gems
