Jill’s Bar & Restaurant Premiers in Mamaroneck
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Jack & Jill’s are now serving! Partners Ro Flanagan, Shane Clifford and Brendan Donohue have opened Jill’s Bar & Restaurant in Mamaroneck, just across from Harbor Island Park. Clifford and Flanagan, who are husband and wife, also operate the popular Jack’s Bar & Restaurant in Eastchester. It’s a dynamic creative matchup that is sure to bring Westchester’s communities good food and conviviality. Flanagan will be hosting daily, meeting and greeting. The restaurant design and approach are her vision.
Jill’s is a colorful 90-seat environment. Walk inside the airy dining room and be lavished with a palette of colors: blue, green, pink, orange, yellow and flowery murals covering the walls. The daylight spills through large picture windows highlighting the long bar and marble mosaic tiled floors and artwork. Contemporary lighting and multi-color velvet cushioned high tops and tables surround the room. There is a semi-private banquette seating area for greater intimacy. The space had been the site of a number of restaurants, including long running Lum Yen.
Talented Chef Donohue, who trained at IT Tallaght Culinary School in Ireland, has been cooking for 20 years. He created a stir at Jack’s. According to Donohue, the eclectic menu at Jill’s is his ode to “new European,” along with popular Irish American specialties brought over from Jack’s.
The menu offers ‘Jack’s Staples & Snacks’: Short Rib Mac & Cheese, Grilled Lamb Lollipops, Birria Nachos, Jack’s Breaded Wings with choice of sauce. Or you can hunker down with new starters: East Coast Oysters, Crispy Duck Pancakes, Panko Crusted Burrata and a Mezze Platter for two.
‘Salads & Flatbread’ include Lobster Cobb, Ahi Tuna Bowl, The Mush Flatbread with oyster mushrooms, prosciutto, burrata, basil pesto, tomato sauce. ‘Handhelds’ include Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich; Veggie Sliders; and an American Wagyu Beef Burger. Hearty main courses: an18 oz. Black Angus NY Strip Steak with stilton spuds, overnight tomato, charred broccolini, green peppercorn sauce; Guinness Braised Beef Short Ribs with Jill’s roasties; Half Roasted Petite Chicken; Seared Scallops; and a Non-Traditional Fish & Chips, pan seared cod filet in caper butter, crispy beer battered twills, house tartar, mint pea puree and house fries.
The house prides itself on a variety of curated specialty cocktails, draft and bottled beers, and vintage wines. The bar is a great place for networking.
Jill’s Bar & Restaurant is located at 100 W. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck. Open 7 days for lunch & dinner. Sunday brunch in the works. Main courses: $17 to $45. Bar/cocktails. TVs Take out. Semi-private party facilities. Municipal parking, free evenings. Reservations accepted. 914-341-1776. Website under construction. Check Facebook.
The Sailhouse Reopens in Tarrytown
If you enjoy meals near the waterfront, The Sailhouse has reopened while undergoing renovations. It is located in the Washington Irving Boat Club at the foot of the Mario Cuomo Bridge offering dramatic vistas of the mighty Hudson River. The site was formerly known as Sunset Cove.
We heard some buzz about it, so we made our way up Rte. 9 one Sunday after a visit to beautiful Untermyer Park and Gardens in Yonkers. Once inside we were greeted warmly and were offered seating inside the dining room or outside on their 200-seat patio. We chose inside, which still offered panoramic views through big picture windows. Outside was bustling. There is a new bar under construction in the main structure, while a service bar tended to our cocktail needs. There were bars set up on the boat club grounds as well.
The limited menu is simple, American New England stye tavern fare. We shared our orders: Fried Calamari served with marinara dipping sauce, garlic aioli, lemon and cherry peppers; and The Chicken Club, grilled or crispy, sail slaw, tomato, bacon, Swiss, honey mustard, served on Texas toast. Both dishes satisfied on this sunny afternoon.
Plenty to consider on our next visit: wings, crab cakes, clams Rockefeller, coconut shrimp, lobster rolls, braised short ribs, wild salmon, chicken parm. Selections for the kids, too.
The Sailhouse Restaurant & Bar, 238 Green Street, Tarrytown. Open 7 days starting at 11 a.m. Happy hours. Free parking. Party facilities. Casual dress. 914-332-0517 www.thesailhousetarrytown.com
Z Prime Italian Steakhouse Serving Lunch
Proprietor Zef Perlleshi and his team at Z Prime are now serving lunch Wednesday thru Sunday. The menu includes such specialties as: Chicken Parmesan Spring Rolls, Arancini, Meatballs & Burrata, a Blackened Shrimp Baby Gem Caesar Salad, classic Baked Manicotti, Pastrami Sandwich, Cheese Steak Sandwich with Prime Sirloin & Provolone, and Prime Sliders.
The upscale 280-seat space boasts such upscale amenities as Swarovsky crystal chandeliers, a ’24-karat’ bar, and custom fireplaces. There are three private dining areas. You have to see this to believe it!
Z Prime Italian Steakhouse, 189 E. Post Road, White Plains. Open Wednesday through Sunday. Closed Monday & Tuesday. Proper casual dress. 914-682-0011 www.zprime.com.
(Morris Gut is a restaurant marketing consultant and former restaurant trade magazine editor. He has been tracking and writing about the food and dining scene in greater Westchester for over 30 years. He may be reached at: 914-235-6591. E-mail: gutreactions@optonline.net)
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