A Few Westchester Restaurants to Try for 2025

By Morris Gut

The food and dining scene in greater Westchester is as dynamic as ever in 2025. Here are a few places to visit in the new year.

The Cobble Stone

Brothers Scott and Craig Sala are the owners of The Cobble Stone, which has been continuously operated by the Sala family since 1917. Many of the old fixtures are there – the green vinyl wooden booths, cobblestone walls, of course, stained glass windows and even an old jukebox and cigarette machine that sit idle in the bar/lounge. The restaurant is located within close range of Manhattanville College, SUNY Purchase and Fordham University’s West Harrison campus.

The gorgonzola bacon burger is a tasty bet, served on a Kaiser roll with a side of steak fries. So is the chicken chopped Cobb salad, served on a bed of mixed greens topped with avocado, tomato, bacon, hard-boiled egg, red onion and cucumber and served with choice of dressing. I also enjoy their fish and chips. Portions are always ample.

For dessert, the house-made New York-style cheesecake with caramel sauce and whipped cream satiated our sweet tooth.

The Cobble Stone is located at 620 Anderson Hill Rd. in Purchase. Open seven days from 11:30 a.m. Info: 914-253-9678 or visit www.thecobble.com.

3 Westerly Bar & Grill

We stopped off in the revitalized Harbor Square area of Ossining late one afternoon and got a window table at 3 Westerly Bar & Grill, the nautical-themed gastropub. The multitiered contemporary dining areas and long bar are impressive. The view of the Hudson River is lovely from this sprawling space. There is not a bad table in the house. The long bar with TVs is another seating option. There is a seasonal outdoor patio that bustles with patrons during the warmer months.

Our beers went well with an order of plump, crispy peach habanero chicken wings. The chicken sandwich was quite good and the bacon cheeseburger with fries also hit the spot. After lingering for a while, we took a brisk walk outside. It is a very nice setting, indeed.

3 Westerly Bar & Grill is located at 3 Westerly Rd. in Ossining. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Info: 914-762-1333 or visit www.3westerly.com. 

Kelly Takes Over Kitchen at Basso56

Renowned Hudson Valley chef Peter X. Kelly has taken over the kitchen at Basso56 in Chappaqua. The restaurant has rebranded into Basso by PXK. The restaurant, which opened two years ago, is owned by Sammy Ukaj and Sherif Nezaj.

Kelly has been in the process of updating the Italian menu with many of his own contemporary specialties. For starters, there is a new brunch served on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Currently, dinner is served Monday through Thursday from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and until 8:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Basso56 is located at 11 King St. in Chappaqua. Info: 914-861-2822 or visit www.basso56.com.

Winter Larder at Hilltop Hanover

Took a drive to Hilltop Hanover Farm in Yorktown on a brisk Saturday to stock up on the winter produce from their market. There is no heat in the barn yet there was a constant flow of hearty visitors browsing the winter fare. We filled our basket with rutabaga, kale, turnips and watermelon radishes.

The winter farm market at Hilltop is open the first Saturday of the month for the next three month (Feb. 1, Mar. 1 and Apr. 5) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prices are reasonable.

Hilltop Hanover Farm, on 187 hilly acres, is a historic working farm dating back to the 18^th century. It is owned and operated by Westchester County and supported by Friends of Hilltop Hanover Farm. About 10 percent of produce grown is donated to food pantries and soup kitchens.

Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center is located at 1271 Hanover St. in Yorktown Heights. Info: 914-862-5050 or visit www.hilltophanoverfarm.org.

Film to Table at Jacob Burns

As part of the popular Film to Table series at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, there will be a presentation of “The Taste of Things” on Monday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. It features the mouthwatering romance between a chef and his lover that won Best Director honors at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

After the film, patrons are invited to the Jane Peck Gallery for a food and wine tasting provided by Pubstreet seafood restaurant in Pleasantville. Tickets are $55 for members and $65 for non-members.

The Jacob Burns Film Center is located at 364 Manville Rd. in Pleasantville. Info: 914-769-6070 or visit www.burnsfilmcenter.org.

Lewis a JBA Semifinalist

Somers-bred chef and restaurateur Brian Lewis has been nominated a semifinalist for Best Chef Northeast by the prestigious James Beard Foundation. Lewis and his team own Oko in Rye and The Cottage Restaurants in Westport and Greenwich, Conn. Lewis first rose to prominence in Westchester as opening chef at the former Barn at Bedford Post Inn.

Finalists from across the country will be announced in April.

For more information, visit www.jamesbeard.org/blog/the-2025-james-beard-award-semifinalists.

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 30 years. He may be reached at 914-235-6591or gutreactions@optonline.net.