Take a video tour of The Arch Restaurant in Brewster NY
The Arch Restaurant in Brewster Feb. 13, 2025. The Arch, which dates to 1974, is now run by the Balidemaj family, longtime restaurateurs.
Fine dining is alive and well in Brewster where The Arch, an iconic French restaurant, is celebrating 49 years of business with a new chef, a revamped menu, an updated dining room and a grand reopening party Feb. 20.
What’s different
The Arch, located in a craftsman-designed home, re-opened Feb. 6 after a month-long renovation. You’ll still find a room filled with crisp white tablecloths, a wood-burning fieldstone fireplace and a cozy Provençal ambiance but now it’s been renovated with new lighting, new artwork, new upholstered chairs, a new floor, new paint (think a dark green instead of white) and new ceiling.
Also added: a wood wall where a dated mirrored wall had been and a new wood beam crafted from recycled materials, which further enhances the charm.
Also new: a more modernized menu with a focus on local ingredients. Yes, there’s classics like Soufflé au Fromage, Beef Wellington and Duck à l’Orange but with an elevated reimagining thanks to chef Mike Casanova who likes to combine “the warmth of Southern hospitality with French techniques and Japanese influences.”
Originally from Newburgh, Casanova’s culinary identity flourished out West where he studied French cuisine at Le Cordon Bleu in Scottsdale, Arizona. There, he worked with James Beard Award-winning chef Robert McGrath, honing his skills in preparing various exotic meats. Later, the longtime cooking veteran, who recently appeared on Food Network’s “Chopped,” led the kitchen at the since-closed Gusto, a fine dining Italian restaurant in Los Angeles.
Understanding the need to meet the changing tastes of customers, The Arch’s menu remains French-focused but is no longer limited to French dishes. That means made in-house pastas — think a Casarecce with fennel sausage, braised kale, garlic breadcrumbs, fennel pollen and Agnolotti, with wild mushrooms, parmesan, garlic, black truffle burro fuso — as well as seasonal specials and a new section devoted to “Du Grill” with dry aged New York Strip and a Petite Filet Mignon served à la carte.
Desserts include vanilla bean crème brûlée, tableside sabayon for two and a Grand Marnier chocolate or raspberry soufflé.
Commitment to tradition
The Arch, which dates to its founding in 1974 by George Seitz, is now run by the Balidemaj family, longtime restaurateurs who took over last April. The family operated Castello in Mamaroneck from 2001 to 2006 and Castello II in Danbury since 2007.
And while fine dining took a hit during the pandemic, it remains something the family is committed to preserving.
“Fine dining gives people an escape from the everyday grind,” said General Manager Zenel Balidemaj. “Here, the focus is on them the minute they step through our doors. They can come here and forget what happened at work or at home or wherever they may have been. Our job is to make their experience the best and make it memorable.”
They’re also dedicated to maintaining the restaurant’s long-held reputation as a Hudson Valley destination. “We understand the unique historical significance of The Arch,” added Balidemaj, “Our goal is to honor and preserve the restaurant’s legacy and provide an unforgettable experience.”
If you go
Address: 1292 NY-22, Brewster, 845-279-5011, archrestaurant.com
Hours: 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday
FYI: Country club attire is preferred, with jackets being optional, to complement the elevated dining experience.
Grand opening party: Takes place Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. A ribbon cutting ceremony will follow with a champagne toast and priced fixed dinner. A limited number of tickets are being sold; tickets to the cocktail hour are $30 per person and include a glass of champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Dinner is $75 per person and includes a glass of red or white wine, salad, main, and dessert. Call the restaurant for details or go through OpenTable.
Good to know: Come spring, there’s an outdoor patio.
Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter.