This much-loved Chappaqua restaurant is known for its 50,000-bottle wine collection and a couple of loyal patrons named Clinton. However, it’s also worth recognizing its longtime devotion to sustainability and organic or biodynamic food and wines.
“We’ve had that philosophy for 25 years,” says owner John Crabtree, “working with local foragers in the early days and now collaborating with more than two-dozen local farmers and purveyors.” Those fresh ingredients are showcased in the elegant fare, including one of Crabtree’s personal favorites: the sushi tuna pizzetta (tuna tartare with spicy Japanese aioli, cilantro, and jalapeño, served atop a crispy sushi rice cake). Crabtree also recommends the seared Hudson Valley Magret duck breast with seasonal sides and Valrhona Chocolate Gift, the latter of which has been on the menu for more than a quarter-century.
Dine in the more casual taproom or the more formal main seating area, both housed in an impressive and historic 1790 white building complete with a French-style mansard roof, black shutters, and grand columns.
Excerpt from the october 2001 review: “We started with the seafood ravioli, three plump pillows stuffed with lobster, rock shrimp and crab served in a bright-tasting beurre blanc sauce of butter, white wine, and a little lemon. On top of each pillow was a little drop of emerald green purée of tarragon and lemon to provide some drama, and it was good to swirl a little bit in with each bite.”