Irvington NY: Sneak peek of Cifone’s Italian restaurant
Lohud food reporter Jeanne Muchnick shares a sneak peek of new restaurant Cifone’s in Irvington Sept. 3, 2025. Tania Savayan/lohud
New Italian American restaurant to open Sept. 9 in IrvingtonTraditional Italian recipes are at the heart of Cifone’s, but with modern twists
Two lifelong friends with 50 years of combined hospitality experience are behind Cifone’s, a new Italian-American restaurant opening Sept. 9 in Irvington.
Matt Kay, who owns Hudson Social in Dobbs Ferry and most recently Club Car Grille in Irvington, has, along with fellow Dobbs Ferry native Michael Cifone, created a space designed to bring people together over good food, well-crafted cocktails and warm hospitality.
It’s not so much a rebrand of the year-old (ish) Club Car, but more of a redo. The two created the restaurant with a three-prong approach of catering to takeout, families and date night.
And it all starts with a sophisticated but welcoming décor.
The new décor at Cifone’s
Diners who’ve been to the previous incarnation which long before Club Car was River City Grille will notice the same layout but with an ivory and forest green color scheme to make the dining room lighter and brighter.
The banquettes that lined the right-hand side of the restaurant have been taken out and replaced with new tables and chairs, complete with white tablecloths and green cushions. There are also lots of brass accents throughout as well as new light fixtures and green patterned curtains that, for private parties, can be closed.
The bar area has also been renovated with mosaic green tiles, self-floating bar shelves and the addition of high-top tables which Cifone, who’s super handy, built himself (no more banquettes here either). Thanks to low lighting, the room has a bit of a speakeasy vibe.
Another new addition are the faux olive trees just outside the restaurant’s entrance. Plus fun black and white photos on the bathroom doors with “My Cousin Vinny” stars Joe Pesci for men and Marisa Tomei for women.
Traditional meets modern on the Cifone’s menu
Cifone, a culinary-trained chef, is all about showcasing the classic recipes he grew up eating albeit with creative twists. Case in point his Chicken Parmesan Alla Cifone, a slightly unorthodox chicken parm rollatini presentation with fregola sarda and spinach (check out the cheese oozing from inside the chicken, instead of on top).
“I love to have fun with plating and be creative,” said Cifone.
Another riff, this time on Kay’s Hudson Social popular Brussels Sprouts are Cifone’s version with guanciale, chick peas and a honey balsamic glaze. Fans of linguine with clam sauce will also find a new take featuring white clam sauce, fresh black squid ink trenette, cherry tomatoes and toasted breadcrumbs.
“Linguini Vongole doesn’t normally have tomatoes,” said Cifone. “But I like to add fresh tomato to a lot of my dishes because the pectin thickens the sauce and makes it a little bit more rich without adding butter.”
He also has his own take on affogato with espresso poured tableside from a moka pot.
In keeping to what diners can expect from traditional Italian-American restaurants, there are also plenty of more common entrées such as Rigatoni Bolognese, Lobster Frai Diablo, Cacio e Pepe, Shishito Peppers Oreganato, Eggplant Milanese, Chicken Scarpariello, branzino, shrimp risotto, veal chop and more. In addition, many dishes can be prepared parmesan, piccata, capricciosa or Francese style.
Cifone said Italian traditions are the heart of the restaurant’s menu while a modern sensibility keeps the flavors fresh and exciting. Chimed in Kay: “We’re not a red sauce joint but we do have some of those nostalgic dishes with a twist.”
Thirty percent of the menu is devoted to seasonal ingredients and the two are fiercely committed to supporting local, including the down-the-street Sunday farmers market.
Let’s talk Cifone’s cocktails
The bar program complements the kitchen with a curated wine list of mostly Italian vintages and signature cocktails that, like the menu highlight classics with twists. Two examples: the Sicilian margarita, with Tres Agaves Tequila, St. Elder blood orange, fresh lime, agave and trinity bitters; and the Amalfi Coast with gunpowder gin, limoncello, fresh lemon juice, limonite soda and mint.
There’s also a pomegranate mule (Tito’s vodka, pomegranate liqueur, lemon and lime juice, ginger beer and mint) and a Nero Manhattan with four roses bourbon, Meletti and amaro.
Said Cifone: “We want everyone to feel welcome whether during the week with their family, on weekends with a date, friends or significant others.”
If you go to Cifone’s in Irvington
Address: 6 South Broadway, 914-591-2033, cifones.com.
Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday; 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Good to know: By October they hope to open for lunch. There are also plans to stay open seven days a week.
Private dining: Cifone’s has room for 35 in the curtained-off area; the dining room can accommodate 50.
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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.
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