The Cookery - Brunch, August 12, 2012

I am not sure if there are any more positive words I can express towards The Cookery, but the word “food-gasm” was used several times during brunch.  For $24 per person, you can enjoy a 3 course brunch with a complimentary mimosa, bellini or bloody mary. 

Upon entering the restaurant, we were told we could sit where we wanted.  We opted for a two-person table in the dining room.  We had our water and bread with oil in a timely manner.  The restaurant was not crowded, but we were certainly a little early, since it got progressively more crowded as our brunch lingered. 

I started with the mozzarella because, even though there are several things I would like to try, I cannot resist.  The grilled bread was very tasty and complemented the fresh mozzarella and oil well.  Chris went for the buttery, salty potatoes and they were piping hot and flavorful.  The cheese balanced well with the salt. 

Cookery Mozzarella

Buttery Potatoes

For the entrée course, I went with the eggs in purgatory.  I am not a huge pomodoro fan, but this sauce was excellent.  The garlic truly came through, but not in an over-powering way.  The polenta served as a perfect base, absorbing the flavors of the provolone and the pomodoro.  Chris had the crisp heritage pork.  As with my meal, the polenta was a great base and the meal went well.  Everything was very tasty.

For dessert, I had the chocolate polenta (I am such a creature of habit) and Chris had the bread pudding.  Both of us had a taste and Chris had a cup of coffee.  The service was top notch, as always.  The meal was solid and extremely well-paced.  I highly recommend The Cookery, whether you are going to go for dinner or brunch.    

www.thecookeryrestaurant.com

Dobbs Ferry, NY

MP Taverna, July 18, 2012

So, it was a Wednesday and we wanted a place with a good vibe to grab a good meal. None of us had ever eaten at MP Taverna, but we had heard good things and decided to try it. It has a convenient location near the Irvington train station on the river side. The exterior has a clean, crisp appearance. The outside seating area was not being used because of the weather.

Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted with a gush of cold air and a pleasant hostess. She seemed a bit bombarded at the time we came in (about 7:30). Several groups came in at once and the area became crowded. We were seated within five minutes of arrival and managed to get a booth. The restaurant area itself has very high, wood ceilings. The booth was very comfortable – enough room, good seats. Our waiter, Roger, introduced himself and was very friendly. The décor was understated while being unified.

For starters, we were with the Spicy Pork Ribs and the Combination Dips. The ribs were well cooked and had a great flavor but were not very spicy. The accompanying smashed fries were perfect. The yogurt and chick pea dips were great. The eggplant could have used a bit more flavor – maybe a spice?

We were a party of four this particular evening and, for entrees, our companions had the Lamb Shank and the Gray Sole with MP salad. They were both happy with their meals. The lamb was extremely tender and fell off the bone. The sole was lightly seasoned, but well done. Chris had the Hanger Steak (medium rare) and Greek Sausage. The sausage was fantastic and the steak was perfectly cooked. And, yes, the smashed fries made their reappearance. I had the Roasted Lemon Chicken, which was well cooked, as were the fingerling potatoes. I wasn’t expecting the whole cloves of garlic. Since I love garlic, this was good for me, but I can see how other people wouldn’t be as pleasantly surprised.

Left column - Lamb, Steak, Sole | Right - Chicken

For dessert, we had the brownie with sesame ice cream. The two flavors really complimented each other and the brownie’s cake was moist and not too dense. It was a nice closing to a very flavorful meal.

Overall, the food is well prepared and presented. I would recommend this place to friends, as long as they check out the menu first. This is not your typical Greek with common options. It is more upscale than the typical gyro joint.


michaelpsilakis.com/mp-taverna/
Dobbs Ferry, NY

Half Moon (Patio) - May 28, 2012

We opted for a stop at Half Moon in Dobbs Ferry on the way home from a Memorial Day happy hour. We walked up to the bar and were immediately seated, which was a bit unexpected yet totally welcomed.

Chris and I are aware that the “South Beach” menu is a bit different from the regular menu, but it would be fine for us. We ordered our drinks (mojito and cranberry rose) and after a few minutes were indulging in a drink, watching the sunset over the Hudson River.

To start, we opted for the mini pulled pork buns. Three rather tasty pulled pork “sliders” came out. For our main course, we both went for the Chipotle Caesar (Chris added chicken). The salads were very tasty and there was a good amount of chicken on the salad.

Half Moon is a great spot to go for a quick bite and a nice view while having a drink or two.

harvest2000.com/hmn
Dobbs Ferry, NY

The Cookery - May 26, 2012

I am not sure any more great things can be said about “The Cookery,” but I can try.

I will start with the negatives. As someone who often dines in a party of two, there reservation policy is not appealing. I can certainly overlook that the second the fork hits my lips.

Okay, while I will admit that picking a beverage is not a simple task, I opt for the pineapple mojito while Chris goes for a beer (over the usual red wine because something sparked his fancy). The food leaves so many choices, but we cannot resist the “mozzarella made daily, olio novella and grilled Tuscan bread” and the sausage with lentils. I will admit that the bread is a bit burnt and that the tasso ham might be tastier than the sausage, but it was still very amazing.

This is a place where they pace you out, so they want you to order all of your food together. After a great amount of debate (since I love the cauliflower ravioli and Chris seriously considers that steak), we go with the gnocchi and osso bucco. Our waiter (both times we have been there the wait staff has been both charismatic and knowledgeable) cheered both of our selections.

Fortunately, the food was great. The gnocchi, as promised, was light since it was ricotta, not potato. The osso bucco was tasty and the creamy polenta base was a do not miss. It was pretty fun that Chef David DiBari was actually in the kitchen, but he still made his friendly rounds.

No the wowza moment that we even used to sell others on The Cookery while at Pour (fantastic wine bar in Mt. Kisco) – dessert. Although the honey balls were on the daily menu, it is too hard to resist the warm chocolate polenta with pretzels, Slovenian fleur de sel and caramel. I also indulge in the moscato d’asti while Chris enjoys a cup of coffee.

Although there was certainly a need to turn our table, the wait staff never forced our move. The food and drinks were great and the people were very pleasant. This is certainly somewhere where we will return.

And, we look forward to Doughnation!

Visit them at www.thecookeryrestaurant.com
Dobbs Ferry, NY