Fresh Farm Cuisine and other New York State, NY Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: Blue Hill at Stone Barns

We've been wanting to try Blue Hill ever since it opened in 2004, but didn't have an opportunity until recently. The Sunday before Valentine's we were able to get an 8:30 pm reservation.

Stone Barns is a working farm and agricultural center on the Rockefeller estate area of Pocantico Hills, New York, and Blue Hill is the centerpiece restaurant showcasing the fresh, seasonal, local foods grown and raised there. In the warmer months, the surrounding area is a destination and attraction in itself.

We arrived early (!), which was a good thing since it was a bit of a walk to the restaurant entrance, through a courtyard past the gift shop and exhibit area and a right turn to the restaurant foyer. It was freezing outside, but a merry fire warmed the bar/waiting area. We sipped seasonal cocktails (Apple Pie martini and Blood Orange margarita, $12 each) while we waited.

We were seated at about 8:45. The dining area is not as rustic as I'd expected - steel beams and white walls instead of wood and stone as you'd imagine from seeing the exterior. The tables for two were quite close to each other - I felt as if we were on a cruise ship. The lighting was very dim - so dim, in fact, that Blue Hill hands out tiny keychain flashlights in order for patrons to be able to view the menu. It would be better if they'd just turn the lights up a notch! Another negative were the bathrooms - you had to go downstairs, as the bathrooms were part of the larger complex. They were cold and at the end of the night, messy and out of necessities. Not what you'd expect from this kind of establishment.

The service, however, was exactly what you'd expect - courteous and knowledgeable, prompt, efficient, and they even came around with one of those lovely crumb catchers. I love that! And while hubby was away from the table, the waitress (if you could call her that, it was her last night before becoming the manager at a NYC restaurant) refolded his napkin. Quite honestly, some of the best service we've ever gotten in a restaurant.

Favorite Dish: There are three levels of prix fixe for dinner: two courses plus dessert for $65, three plus dessert for $78, and the $110 "Farmer's Feast," where you put yourself into the hands of the chef for the night. We decided we were only up to the $65 plan, so I had sea scallops and venison, and hubby had pumpkin tortellini and beef.

Before our first course arrived, we were served a set of amuse bouche - squash soup in a sort of shot glass, and something on a stick (parsnip?) with pancetta. Both were lovely. The bread basket came at the same time - tasted like Bisquick.

My sea "scallops" were just one (I think, it was quite dim) but it was large and very tasty. Hubby's tortellini were even better, though, with the pumpkin and saffron melding nicely. He was disappointed that there were only six.

My venison tasted perfectly medium-rare and not at all gamey. Not like the venison Dad used to bring home! It was served with quinoa, which I've loved ever since having it at Boma at WDW's Animal Kingdom Lodge. We were also served Peruvian potatoes and pureed cauliflower, compliments of the house. The potatoes tasted very anisey, and that taste lingered long after the meal. The cauliflower was excellent, however, even though I usually don't like cauliflower.

For dessert hubby had the chocolate torte with chocolate ice cream, and I chose the poached pear, which was very good. Our check came with milk chocolate with chocolate nips served on a cold slate slab. The nibs added too much crunch, I think, but it was a nice touch.

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Theme: American
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: 914-366-9600
Address: 630 Bedford Rd., Pocantico Hills, NY
Directions: off Rt. 117 from 9A
Website: www.bluehillstonebarns.com

Restaurant Name: Equus at Castle on the Hudson

After living in this area for 8 years, and hearing about the Castle in Tarrytown, I figured it was high time to go and see what the fuss was all about. For a change, we didn't take a trip for my birthday, so we made reservations at Equus instead.

You're pampered as soon as you pull up to the portico. Valet parking is requisite, and doormen ensure you don't have to break a nail entering. :)

The building is a former mansion, once a boys school, and now a luxury hotel and restaurant. Dining is in one of three rooms: the Oak Room, brought intact from France, with its cozy fireplace, the Tapestry Room, and the windowed Garden Room, overlooking the Hudson - in my opinion the nicest and luckily where we were seated.

The food was perfect, but the service was divine. Unobtrusive, yet attentive. Our waters were always filled, our every wish was met, and the bus boy even stopped what he was doing to pull my chair out when I returned from the restroom!

Dining at the Castle is not cheap. Dinner is prix fixe, at $71 per person, but some menu items have additional supplements (especially the caviar - good thing I don't like it!). Total, without alcoholic drinks, we paid just under $200 for two people, including tip.

Reservations are highly recommended, jackets are required for men.

Favorite Dish: Dinner began with an amuse bouche from the chef, a 1/2 cherry tomato with goat cheese and tapenade. For appetizers, I had the escargots and mushrooms, and hubby had the squash soup. Both excellent - and mine came with a little side of some kind of fruit spread with tiny toast. We were glad we only had one roll each as we moved on to the second course - a romaine salad with walnuts, grapes and bleu cheese dressing. Third course was entrees. I had sea scallops - perfect, and hubby had wonderfully tender lamb. We couldn't even finish dessert - warm chocolate cake and cappuccino, mint hot chocolate for hubby. Also, a plate of petit fours from the chef!

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Theme: French
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: 914-631-3646
Address: 400 Benedict Ave., Tarrytown
Website: www.castleonthehudson.com

Restaurant Name: The Culinary Institute of America

The Culinary Institute of America, in Hyde Park, NY, is the alma mater of a large number of chefs both in the New York area and across the country. For those who aren't attending the full-time coursework here, the CIA offers tours of their campus, hands-on enthusiast programs, and of course, gourmet offerings in their five student-run restaurants: American Bounty Restaurant, Apple Pie Bakery Café, Escoffier Restaurant, Ristorante Caterina de' Medici and St. Andrews Café.

Favorite Dish: We had lunch on a Tuesday at Caterina de' Medici for a birthday celebration a few years ago. We thought to have dinner there the weekend before, but the Caterina restaurant at least is only open Monday through Friday. Reservations at all the CIA restaurants are strongly recommended.

The Caterina de' Medici is located in the Colavita Center for Italian food and Wine. The atmosphere is that of a Tuscan piazza. I had the gnocchi, which was excellently prepared. I also remember sampling a blueberry dessert wine, which I absolutely loved.

Keep in mind that the restaurants are staffed by CIA students, which includes not only the chefs, but the wait staff - the service was excellent, as they are actually being graded on their performance!

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Address: Route 9, 3 mi. north of Poughkeepsie, NY
Directions: 2 hours north of NYC
Website: www.ciachef.edu

Restaurant Name: Umami Cafe

Umami means "deliciousness" in Japanese and is considered the fifth sense of taste (along with salty, sour, bitter and sweet). The namesake cafe in Croton only carries umami-tasting menu items. The decor is Asian-stark, yet cozy. Terrace seating is available in warmer months.

Favorite Dish: Ahi Tuna Mini Tacos - a unique take on an old favorite. Tasty! As an appetizer or entree.
Coconut Lime Soup - if you ask for the shrimp, be prepared for a full-size prawn staring back at you from the bowl. Once you've removed it and covered its face with a napkin, though, be prepared to enjoy!
Garlic Ahi Tuna - I can't get enough of this tuna!
Evil Jungle Prince - Comes in its own "cannibowl"
Also had a nice glass of shiraz after a lousy day - I'm not much of an expert, but one of the better ones I've ordered. Sangria is cheap and potent at $5 a LARGE glass.
Presentation here is also unique - funky rectangular dishes to match the decor, plastic bowls for pre-dinner homemade potato chips. And for Westchester, the prices are very reasonable!

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: 325 S. Riverside Ave.
Website: www.umamicafe.com

Restaurant Name: The Black Cow

The best coffeehouse this side of Westchester IMHO. Great coffee and coffee go-withs (mmm, scones), friendly, laid-back atmosphere with the requisite alt newspapers and cozy chairs to curl up in. It's the perfect place to get some writing done. Live music and art on the walls complete the scene. Shammy! Or is that, chamois?

Favorite Dish: Last summer I went through a blended coffee phase, so my current favorite here is the Cow Whip - espresso and milk blended w/ ice. I was even able to order it decaf with soy (70 cents extra), which for a large is about 5 bucks, but hey, how often do I get out anymore??

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Theme: Coffeehouse
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Maple St., Croton-on-Hudson, NY
Website: www.blackcow.com

Restaurant Name: Le Bouchon

Le Bouchon opened less than a year ago in Cold Spring, NY, but we finally had the opportunity to sample the cuisine recently.
The restaurant is in a converted house, so the decor is very cozy and warm (read: red). An apparently newly-installed "curtain" at the doorway blocks bothersome drafts, which is nice in the winter.

Favorite Dish: We ordered the specials: ostrich for him and venison stew for me. Both came served on butternut squash puree. The ostrich was very flavorful; my venison was good but not as good - had some gristly surprises. We shared the escargot provencale appetizer - and we couldn't get enough of the bread - mmmmm! Even though "Le Bouchon" means the wine cork, we didn't order wine so can't comment on that aspect.

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Theme: French
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Address: Main St., Cold Spring, NY
Directions: About an hour and a half north of NYC, off Route 9D

Restaurant Name: The Stadium!

The Stadium, on Route 9 in Garrison, is more than just a sports-themed restaurant. The owner's father collected sports memorabilia from the time he was a little kid, and the collection has grown to be one of the largest individual sports memorabilia collections in the U.S.

We're not big sports nuts, but even to us, it's pretty impressive. From their home page, the collection "boasts such unique items as two Heisman trophies, Mickey Mantle's Triple Crown award, six Gold Glove awards, three Silver Bat batting awards, two Cy Young awards, three MVP baseball awards, baseball and hockey Hall of Fame plaques and a football Hall of Fame bust." That's just for starters. The walls, the ceiling, in between booths, everywhere you look you'll see this amazing collection.

But, remember, this isn't just about the past - big screen TVs are strategically placed so you can watch the Big Game or whatever as you dine. We made a special point to go to The Stadium for the 2003 Kentucky Derby to root for Funny Cide, who unfortunately didn't win the Triple Crown that year.

Favorite Dish: The menu is typical American - buffalo wings, potato skins, burgers, fries, steaks, etc. Overall, pretty carnivorous, and a little greasy for my taste, but the guys enjoy it. It's fun to just read the menu, though, which is sprinkled with quotes from the collector's own sports experiences.

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Theme: American
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: 1308 Route 9, Garrison
Directions: from the South: a few miles north of the Annsville Circle in Peekskill, on the right after the 1-2-3 and then Winston Ln.
from the North: on the left, just after Graymoor Monastery
Website: www.stadiumbarrest.com