14 Westchester Restaurants to Visit for Special Occasions

1881 Kitchen Table

Although the restaurant’s building dates to the late 19th century, brunch here is far from traditional. Pancakes, lox, and eggs are certainly on offer, but so are globally-inspired dishes such as schnitzel, sunchoke and mushroom pizza, and Mediterranean mixed-vegetable patties with tahini and harissa. If you’re looking for a semi-private space, reserve the large table on the mezzanine. It seats up to 10 people and provides a great view of the goings-on down below.

112 N. Main St., Port Chester; 914-640-2814

Basso by PXK

The return of superstar chef Peter X. Kelly is reason enough to celebrate. But if you have a joyous occasion of your own, Kelly’s new partnership with Basso by PXK, has a showstopping $42 Sunday brunch. There’s no menu, just an endless pageant of amazing food prepared tableside, including pastas, meat, fish, and risotto. Bellinis are $5, and children under eight years old dine for free.

11 King St., Chappaqua; 914-861-2322

Harvest on Hudson

The garden and river views here make this the ideal spot for a festive meal—and a $48, two-course prix fixe makes a group party a no-brainer. The menu features salads, apps, and raw-bar picks, plus brunch-y and lunch-y entrees, from eggs Benedict to wood-fired pizzas. For those who insist they can’t possibly eat all that, an á la carte menu is available as well. The restaurant has several party spaces for private shindigs: The Skyline View Penthouse, which accommodates 20 to 36 guests; The River View Room, which seats between 30 and 50; and The Garden View Lounge, ideal for 14 to 26 people. You can also rent out the entire main dining room, with a capacity of 51 to 75.

1 River St., Hastings; 914-478-2800

Sam’s of Gedney Way

Sam’s extensive brunch menu includes a buttermilk chicken and waffle sandwich and their very popular eggs Benedict.

Parties and family gatherings always seem to be in swing here, thanks to the restaurant’s private outdoor patio, which is sized for 25 to 40 guests. Diners don’t always realize there are other private and semi-private spaces inside: the Gedney Room, for 12 to 20 guests; the ’32 room, with the same capacity; The Loft, a semiprivate space for 25 to 30 guests, and the elevator-accessible Hathaway Hall on the second floor, for 40 to 110 diners. The extensive brunch menu includes a buttermilk chicken and waffle sandwich and the ever-popular eggs Benedict with richly flavored mashed Yukon potatoes.

50 Gedney Way, White Plains; 914-949-0978

Cocktail Party

3 Westerly Bar & Grill

The sleek granite bar here is ideal for after-work drinks to toast a colleague’s birthday or a friend’s engagement. For a large function, rent out the whole space: it accommodates up to 250 people by combining areas, or you can book just the main bar (up to 50 people), the main dining area (up to 90), the private dining room (up to 60), the mezzanine (up to 50), or the beer garden and terrace for up to 125 people. The drinks list features wines from Napa to Georgia in Eastern Europe, and craft cocktails abound. Enjoy it all, plus spectacular views of the Hudson.

3 Westerly Rd., Ossining; 914-762-1333

Red Hat on the River

For drinks with panache, head for this ultra-chic bistro’s main floor or loft. Or, best of all, rent out the rooftop bar, which can accommodate around 40 guests for cocktails. Depending on when you visit, the seasonal drinks can include fruity martinis, margaritas, house-smoked bourbon, and more.

914-591-5888

Rye Bar & Grill

You don’t have to clink glasses elbow-to-elbow with strangers here. This restaurant, with the charm of a classic inn, has three party rooms. Reserve your own space with a bar setup and take it from there. You’ll find more than 50 wines to choose from on the main menu, plus local, imported, and craft brews and a lineup of seasonal cocktails. Arrange for passed hors d’oeuvres or sit-down dishes including a variety of salads, pizzas (including clam and wild mushroom), street tacos, and even a sumptuous filet mignon. The Toll House Cookie Pie makes for a delicious grand finale.

One Station Plaza, Rye; 914-967-0332

Town House Kitchen + Drinks

At Town House, you don’t just get great cocktails—you get to enjoy them in a gallery-like space with beautiful art. The 2nd-floor dining room can accommodate up to 100 guests.

You don’t just get great drinks here—you get to enjoy them in a gallery-like space with excellent artwork, reflecting this restaurant’s location in the cultural hub of New Rochelle. Handcrafted cocktails are not only creative, but also whimsically named; try the Awkward DM Slide (Empress 1908 indigo gin, crème de violette, lemon, and sparkling wine), for instance, or the Spirit Animal mocktail (pomegranate, basil, blueberry, and coconut water). The curated menu includes raw bar favorites such as oysters and shrimp cocktail, starters including kale Caesar salad and a hummus bowl, and entrees ranging from a charred-cauliflower-and-black-bean tostada to lobster bucatini and brick-pressed chicken. If you’re looking to party in private, the three-story building offers several options: a 2nd-floor dining room with a large wine bar that can be converted into a full bar and enough room for up to 100 guests, a 3rd-floor salon that seats up to 12, and a skylight studio where you can host up to 60 people.

559 Main St., New Rochelle; 914-278-9278

Vida Thornwood

Your friends in the know are already onto this buzzy Spanish eatery; now you are too. Expect a wine list heavy on Spanish vineyards, naturally, but also cocktails that venture refreshingly far afield from the unsurprising tried-and-trues. They exquisitely complement the tempting menu of charcuterie, tapas, paellas, and more. The Vida Lounge on the second floor is a perfect, intimate space to host a baby shower, birthday dinner or gathering (60-100 people).

14 Marble Ave., Thornwood; 914-825-8020

Allegria

With high ceilings, large windows, and an airy feel, this restaurant seems to echo any festivity that takes place within. The plating of Italian favorites such as burrata is sublime, with tomato slices and sprigs of basil arranged just so. There’s wood-fired pizza, a wide assortment of homemade pastas including hand-rolled strozzapreti zucchini pesto, plus mains like the popular Marry Me Chicken. What better place than one of the restaurant’s two party rooms (one accommodates roughly 30 people; the other up to 50) for a wedding shower or engagement fête?

11 Taylor Sq., West Harrison; 914-600-8855

Augustine’s Salumeria

The pretty, private dining room at Augustine’s Salumeria is just the right place to kick back when life’s going well.

This restaurant’s meteoric rise–it has appeared in the Michelin Guide as a recommended restaurant and was recently recognized by USA Today as one of the top restaurants in the country—ensures your meal will be equal to the merriment. And as if Augustine’s needed any more evidence of its pedigree, chef Marc Taxiera and wife Brianne Meyers also own Vida Thornwood. Dishes have a familiar ring but are truly nothing like you’ve had before. Gnocchi is folded into a sauce of wild boar, apothecary spices, and chocolate, while beef short rib is brightened with cherries and red wine. The pretty, private dining room, which seats 25, is just the right place to kick back when life’s going well.

213 Halstead Ave.; 914-315-6541

Bedford Post Tavern

There’s a country, yet stately, vibe going on here with a range of charming indoor and outdoor spaces for private events. The menu, however, is full of surprises: Yes, you can get a cheeseburger or roasted chicken, but also lobster thermidor and paccheri pasta with cashew cream and oyster mushrooms. In summer, the pergola makes this bucolic scene a treasure of tranquility.

954 Old Post Rd., Bedford; 914-292-9516

Cenadou Bistrot

Sleek and modern but not forbiddingly formal, this ultra-hot dining spot is a Frenchified gem. Tuck into hors d’oeuvres such as anchovy toasts or Hudson Valley foie gras, or an appetizer of tangy leeks vinaigrette with pistachios. Pastas, fish, and signature dishes such as Wagyu beef are one step up—or two—from your usual restaurant fare. The entire restaurant is available for rental, perfect for throwing your very own soirée.

721 Titicus Rd., North Salem; 914-485-1519

Tutta Bella Ristorante

This lovely space, festooned with lights, serves up exemplary Italian fare. Food is plated with flair—a paper-thin ribbon of cucumber encircles the Caesar salad; scampi-sauced shrimp bow in worship around a snowy mound of microgreen-topped risotto. Dessert includes a chocolate soufflé as well as a soufflé flavor of the day. Tutta Bella also has four party rooms that accomodate 20, 40, 60, and 100 guests, respectively.

754 White Plains Rd., Scarsdale; 914-725-0566

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