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Good morning! Today is Tuesday March 15, and you are reading today’s section of Examiner+, a digital newsmagazine serving Westchester, Putnam, and the surrounding Hudson Valley.
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Having been born and raised in Westchester, I’ve spent a lot of time dining out around the county and surrounding area. My mom hails from the Midwest, and upon her arrival was excited to experience everything this area had to offer, especially the local legends and long-established family restaurants with a rich history. My father was born here and fancied himself a man about town — knowing many local restaurateurs, the best nights to go out, and where the provisions were procured. While I remember so many dinners out and the new, old, good, and not-so-good spots that I was privileged to explore with my parents, I remember wistfully the treat that it was to go out to lunch with my stylish, classic mom to Charleston Gardens inside B. Altman’s, or the Bird Cage in Lord & Taylor. If I had known that they would disappear I know I would have appreciated those experiences more.
For whatever reason, the restaurant experience that made the most indelible mark on me, and still does, are the classic Italian restaurants that dotted nearly every town when I was growing up. I loved — and still love — the knotty pine walls, photos of celebrities that graced the establishment, the big Naugahyde booths, mirrored bars, faded dollar bills, and good luck notes stapled above the cash register, the waitresses that had been there forever, the scents, sounds of camaraderie, the warmth, tradition, and predictability of each visit. Think Jimmy’s in Dobbs Ferry (swoon), Albanese’s in Eastchester, and the Lincoln Lounge in Mt. Vernon. We will never forget them and all the good times.
Fortunately, some of these great spots survived and remain robust, often with third-generation ownership, and they are reliable, comforting, and evoke a time when things were — not better, necessarily — but easier, kinder, and less complicated. Even the most demanding “foodie” today can appreciate what they have to offer: dependable food, a convivial experience, and a walk down memory lane.
Johnny’s Pizzeria
Before growing up in Dobbs Ferry, I came from Mt. Vernon. I didn’t live there very long but since my mom was a teacher there for 40 years, and my dad was from there, we often frequented the restaurants there. For pizza, it was always Johnny’s Pizzeria. Just the name “pizzeria” evokes those old memories of the past. Since 1942 this family-owned and operated institution has been serving “pies, not slices” and homemade…
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