News and Notes from Westchester's Dining Scene

Scarsdale has its first wood-fired pizza restaurant and wine bar with the recent opening of Via Forno (2 Garth Rd; 914.556.6464). The La Pazza (tomato, anchovies, wild oregano flowers, black olives) dolce ai funghi (housemade mozzarella, mushrooms, caramelized onions), and the Via Forno (house-made mozzarella, San Daniele prosciutto, tomato, arugula) are among the pies available. Wood-fired plates are also on offer — roasted carrots with focaccia breadcrumbs, Brussels sprouts with prosciutto cotto, and sweet sausage and peppers.     

Fast-casual food hall, 19 Court (19 Court St, White Plains; 914.644.8224) is now open in the space that once held Pizzeria Veloce. Sushi and sashimi by Chef Eric Zheng (who worked at NYC’s Nobu), poke bowls, protein bowls, salads, and pizza are offered. Beer and wine are on tap. The owners are Executive Chef Rahsaan White, who has 24 years’ experience, and his wife, Shelly.

Hartsdale is the lucky recipient of Shake Shack’s (379 Central Ave; 914.529.8801) second county location (the other is at Cross County in Yonkers). The Danny Meyer-founded chain serves hormone- and antibiotic-free Angus beef burgers, chicken sandwiches, griddled flat-top dogs, and frozen custard.

The first non-NYC outpost of Fresh & Co., a health-minded fast-casual food chain offering chef-inspired organic fare, is scheduled to debut at Boyce Thompson Center in Yonkers in early 2019. On the menu: grain bowls, panini melts, daily-made soups, avocado toast, omelets, and yogurt parfaits.

Purple Corn Peruvian, offering a signature rotisserie chicken, among other Peruvian classics, is scheduled to open across from the City Center on Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains this winter.

Bronxville’s 80-year-old Topps Bakery, purveying classic-American sweets (including Best of Westchester jelly donuts), plans to have opened a second location at Mount Kisco Square (360 N Bedford Rd, Mount Kisco) by this month. A savory menu of breakfast and lunch items is also available. This shopping center is the location of a new Five Guys (914.229.3353) as well, the fifth in the county.   

Lucky Charms or Cap’n Crunch? You’ll have your druthers of those, plus many others at Westchester’s first cereal bar — Milk N Cookies Cookie Café & Cereal Bar (270 Mamaroneck Ave, Mamaroneck; 914.266.5437), which was set to have opened in late November.