Ice cream is practically a necessity after a summer meal in Westchester. Adobe Stock/ Shaiith
Sweltering temps in the 914 call for light bites, like a crisp salad, coupled with a cooling, meal-ending must: house-made ice cream.
Goosefeather + Main Street Sweets
Tarrytown; goosefeatherny.com; tarrytownicecream.com
Despite how it sounds, the warm mushroom salad at Chef Dale Talde’s fancified take on classic Cantonese fare is an instant refresher, with spring lettuce, pickled star fruit, umami butter, and black vinegar — particularly pleasing outdoors, on the venue’s lush green lawns adorned with string lights and firepits for cooler nights.
This women-owned, family-run haven of heaven in a cone crafts 30 flavors of premium ice cream daily, with a staggering array of house-made waffle cones (colorful and gluten-free) that serve as the perfect vessel for such smile- and chill-inducing creations.
Haiku Asian Bistro + Bluebird Homemade Ice Cream
Cross River; haikubistro.com
Nowhere is it written that a salad must actually include leaves, and at this Pan-Asian crowd-pleaser (also in Bronxville, Scarsdale, White Plains), lettuce is so last summer. Julienned jicama and sweet mango make up the base of the Vietnamese salad, which also includes kiwi, shaved carrots, crushed peanuts, crispy cellophane noodles, and a light dressing of vinegar and fresh orange juice.
Small-batch scoops at this small, under-the-radar shop feature top-notch ingredients, including antibiotic- and hormone-free dairy, organic cane sugar, and fresh fruit; vegan offerings and scrumptious house-made waffle cones make it fun for everyone.
Related: Where You Should Be Eating Ice Cream in Westchester Right Now
II Bacio Trattoria + Cookies ’n’ Cream
Bronxville;
cilbaciotrattoria.com; cookiesn-creambronxville.com
In this bustling, neighborhood haven of pizza, pasta, and Italian specialties, the panzanella salad commands attention, featuring chunky tomatoes, sliced avocado, red onion, and cucumbers that dance a tangy tarantella with cubed, aged pecorino cheese and hunks of crisp Italian bread soaking up the delicate, zippy vinaigrette.
Stamford-based Longford’s Ice Cream (with brick-and-mortars in Larchmont and Rye) and giant cookies are the main event at this village scoop shop, where flavors like Oreo Bomb, Gram Slam, and Cookie Monster please palates of all ages, aside a lengthy list of vegan and dairy-free options.