It’s not like you need another reason to dine at L’inizio, Scott and Heather Fratangelo’s little Italian in Ardsley’s downtown (that’s supposing a few strip malls and a Starbucks qualify as a downtown). After all, reviewer Julia Sexton raved about the place in our August issue. But new at L’inizio since the review is the Barrel and Bites menu, a selection of small plates ($6-$9) and barrel-aged specialty cocktails ($5) offered Tuesday to Sunday from 5 to 6:30 pm (especially fitting for those that find the majority $20-plus entrées pricing a stretch on their dining out budget).
The cocktails are made with spirits that have been aged in-house in charred oak barrels for two weeks and include variations on three standards (a Manhattan, an Old Fashioned, and a Negroni) plus seasonally changing Margaritas (e.g., spicy basil) and Mojitos (e.g., peach and vanilla bean). The small bites menu includes such choices as a crostini trio, ricotta meatballs, parmigiano arancini, buratta and cherry tomatoes in an arugula pesto, and two salads: radicchio, goat cheese, and grilled peaches and octopus with puntarella lettuce and garlic croutons.
