The driving influence behind Jacopo Giustiniani’s restaurant Felice was his grandfather, whose talent and teachings in their family’s home kitchen in Italy brought so much joy it inspired the restaurant’s name (felice means happy in Italian). The first Felice opened in 2007 on the Upper East Side, coinciding with Giustiniani’s partnership with Manhattan’s SA Hospitality Group. The group originated in Milan and put their roots down in America in 1982 with the opening of Manhattan’s first Sant Ambroeus cafe on Madison Avenue. Since then, SA Hospitality, now at the helm of brands Sant Ambroeus, Felice (there are now seven in NYC), and Casa Lever, has expanded to several outposts in New York, Florida, Colorado, and internationally.
With a focus on creating an intimate Italian dining experience, the group has brought their Tuscan flair to the county with Westchester’s first Felice. Giustiniani, who also serves as Felice’s managing director, knew it was time for him to explore the city’s northern neighbor. “Shortly after we opened our restaurant in Roslyn, I knew I wanted to bring Felice to Westchester,” he explains. With its proximity to the city, Westchester made sense as the next market to enter. “When the opportunity came to take over the space in Port Chester, I knew it was the perfect location. Being able to introduce our brand to a community that’s excited and eager to try new restaurants and cuisines will be most gratifying.” Moving into the space that previously housed seafood restaurant Saltaire, Giustiniani kept the bones of the building while bringing the trattoria’s signature design flares like tufted leather seats and lighting set just low enough for a cozy ambiance.
Felice is both Italian countryside and cosmopolitan—the exposed brick and wine-filled shelves echo a rustic Tuscan villa, but the menu’s complex flavors and refined techniques go beyond a comforting red sauce restaurant. While fans of the Manhattan locations will be happy to know that their signature dishes, like the house made spinach and ricotta ravioli, roasted chicken with sun-dried tomato pesto, and cavolini salad, have made the trip north, Port Chester will debut new menu items.
“We are very excited to be offering a selection of pizzette [mini pizzas] for the first time in Port Chester,” says Giustiniani. “We’ve never had them on our menu before.” Another treat for Westchester diners is the addition of peposo—a traditional Tuscan black pepper stew. The comfort food is elevated with Wagyu brisket, which has been braised for hours in Chianti, ladled over a corn cake and cannellini beans, and crowned with crispy fried sage.
The bold and extensive Italian wine selection is, “focused on sangiovese variety and super Tuscans with a few international gems,” explains Giustiniani. The majority of the restaurant’s wine list comes from the Giustiniani family’s organic vineyard in Italy, Fattoria Sardi, near Lucca, which produces exclusive Felice wines like their chardonnay, sangiovese, and rosato. For those who prefer hops to grapes, Giustiniani carries unique craft Italian beers that are difficult to find in the states.
The welcoming dining room and thoughtfully curated menu offer a gracious respite, whether it’s a get-together with friends or a date night. Despite being the new kid on the block, Felice’s atmosphere and personable hospitality hint to a neighborhood staple with staying power.
Related: These Dubai Chocolate Treats in Westchester Will Make Your Mouth Water
