When life is bustling, reliable takeout dinners are a godsend. Here are 10 spots for terrific to-go meals.
1) Haiku 149 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains (914) 644-8887 (also in Bronxville, Mamaroneck, and Cross River). The Haiku quartet is doing a hefty takeout business of pan-Asian specialties: zany sushi rolls, dumplings, fusion sashimi, and noodles.
2) The Iron Tomato 57 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains (914) 328-9400. Delicious cheeses, creamy gelato, a pizza bar, thick deli sandwiches, and fresh produce. On your mark, get set, go: one whirl around makes a meal as quickly as waiting for egg rolls to
take home.
3) Khan’s Indian Grocery 546 Commerce St, Thornwood (914) 747-0445. Generous portions and portability add to the appeal of the subtler-than-average, home-cooked Indian standards here: samosas, naan, palak paneer, chicken tikka. Indian cuisine also accommodates vegetarians well. It’s cash only for small orders.
4) Mex-to-Go 345 S Riverside Ave, Croton-on-Hudson (914) 271-8646. A taqueria you’ll love brought to you by Craig Purdy and Jonathan Pratt of Peter Pratt’s Inn and Ümami Café. Tacos, burritos, and four kinds of salsa, yes, but also a wildly popular, adobo-seasoned, rotisserie-roasted half chicken and great rice and beans and fried plantains for your side dish pleasure.
5) Mint Premium Foods 18 Main St, Tarrytown (914) 703-6511. Mint is a European-style provisioner from which you can flesh out a dinner in a jiffy. Belgian beers, flatbreads, octopus salad, imported cold cuts, extraordinary cheeses, roast chicken, chocolates, dried fruits, and tasting of everything is encouraged.
6) Pony Express 30 Wheeler Ave, Pleasantville (914) 769-7669. This brainchild of Chef Phil McGrath of Iron Horse Grill next door has its roots in the same American cuisine but the “naturally good fast food”—hot dogs, sliders, sweet-potato fries—are way healthier for you. Call ahead to arrange curbside pickup to avoid challenging parking and giddy up home.
7) Q Restaurant & Bar 112 N Main St, Port Chester (914) 933-7427. Who can resist these ribs, brisket, chicken, and pulled pork? You can take out a whole backyard party with cornbread, coleslaw, potato salad, and baked beans sides too. Add sweet tea, indie beers, a checkered tablecloth, and don’t forget the Wet-Naps…oh, and Q’s banana pudding.
8) So Dam Hot 10 Broadway, Valhalla (914) 328-6051. Nothing fancy but this hamburger joint makes good burgers, wings, fries, and onion rings, plus a mean chili. Keep your eyes on the road and leave those addictive fries in the bag until you get home.
9) Touch of Jamaica 37 S Moger Ave, Mount Kisco (914) 864-0341. Steam-table treatment won’t hurt this aromatic, from-scratch Jamaican food, such as chicken curry and jerk shrimp, well-seasoned but easy on the Scotch bonnet peppers. Take it on a sandwich of dense white hardo bread or order some with rice and peas and plantains. Try a (non-alcoholic) ginger beer as a treat.
10) Zeytinia Gourmet Market 51 Maple St, Croton-on-Hudson (914) 271-5600. Turkish-style panini, stuffed with spinach, potato, feta and parsley, make a hearty, easy meal, or pile up selections from the nearly endless, hot and cold salad bar ($5.98/lb cold; $6.99/lb hot). You’ll start your take home feast with a selection of cheeses, olives, and Mediterranean spreads and end with baklava ($11.99/lb) or other flaky pastries.
