Talk About Cheap Eats
1946
While many restaurants fail within the first three years, Westchester boasts some (very) old favorites. One of the oldest is the Blue Dolphin, which opened its doors in Katonah in 1940. The small restaurant served standard Italian fare before being transformed into a diner in the late ’40s, when classic American staples such as hamburgers, grilled cheese, and peanut butter sandwiches dominated the menu. When Alfredo and Antonio Abbate, natives of Capri, Italy, took over the restaurant from the diner owners in 1987, they took the restaurant back to its Italian roots and adorned the 12-table dining room with photos of their hometown. Now, the Abbates specialize in such dishes as homemade ravioli al formaggio and grilled swordfish. Sixty years ago, one of the most expensive items on the menu was a ham-and-cheese sandwich for 50 cents; today, the filet of sole, served with a side of pasta, will run you $18.90.
2006
