A trip to Italy for pasta (cacio e pepe or amatriciana, anyone?) might sound tempting, but Westchester restaurants serve up Italian cuisine that’s just as satisfying. From October 27 to November 9, Westchester residents can enjoy gourmet dining deals on prix-fixe menus during Hudson Valley Restaurant Week (HVRW).
Choose from restaurants with prix-fixe lunches and dinners for $24,95, $29.95, $39.95, or $44.95; prices are set by the participating restaurant. Whether you’re exploring a new hotspot or visiting an old favorite, you’ll love visiting these seven stellar restaurants serving traditional Italian dishes with modern twists.
Enzo’s Restaurant
451 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains; 914.698.2911
Guests can feel instantly transported to Italy when visiting Enzo’s in Mamaroneck. This authentic spot proudly maintains the legacy of fine Italian cuisine and has a large selection of vintage wines displayed throughout the restaurant.
What we’re having: For lunch service, we recommend starting with either the chopped salad with gorgonzola sauce or mussels champagne. Choose between main courses like gnocchi with pesto or veal francese, which is egg-battered veal in a white wine and lemon sauce. For dinner, try the polenta luciano or mozzarella caprese with prosciutto to start. Work your way toward the main courses, with options like the salmon aromantico, filet of sole Picasso, or short rib ravioli papalina. What’s more, the dessert list is anything but basic. Order the homemade Italian cheesecake, homemade tiramisu, creme caramel, or gelato for a sweet treat you won’t soon forget. All desserts come with a choice of coffee or tea.
Divino Cucina Italiana
524 Warburton Avenue, Hastings-on-Hudson; 914.274.8501
At Divino Cucina Italiana, all dishes on the menu are made from scratch. Plus, the restaurant sources its Italian meats and in-season produce from local suppliers.
What we’re having: For lunch, choose between appetizers like truffle arancini, fennel salad, or garlic bread. The entrees are a big deal, and it’s hard to choose between spicy vodka chicken parmigiana, chicken Maria, eggplant parmesan, and rapini pesto rigatoni. Dessert lovers can go for the tiramisu or espresso panna cotta.
Frankie & Fanucci’s
301 Mamaroneck Avenue, Mamaroneck; 914.630.4360
All menu items, including thin-crust pizza, fresh salads, handmade pasta, and other Italian favorites, are made from scratch at Frankie & Fanucci’s. See for yourself why this hotspot has been voted Best of Westchester for six years.
What we’re having: Starting off with the lunch menu, the butternut squash soup and pear and ricotta crostini are must-haves for appetizers. After enjoying the antipasti, try the penne alla vodka or panuozzo sandwich. For a dinner entree, opt for the chicken Milanese, seafood linguine, or hanger steak. End the night with a cannoli or lava cake.
La Lanterna
23 Gray Oaks Avenue, Yonkers; 914.476.3060
La Lanterna is known for its fresh pasta and authentic dishes made from high-quality ingredients. If you choose to sit indoors, you’ll be greeted with painted wall art. For alfresco dining in Westchester’s largest outdoor patio, guests can taste Italian dishes in a serene and inviting atmosphere.
What we’re having: The stuffed Sicilian or burrata and prosciutto are perfect antipasti options. The seafood risotto or mafaldine bolo, made with signature meaty Bolognese sauce, are dinner staples. Anyone with a sweet tooth can appreciate the rich cheesecake or flourless chocolate cake.
Il Sorrento Italian Restaurant
706 Central Park Avenue, Scarsdale; 914.713.3133
Il Sorrento brings top-tier Italian cuisine with a taste of the Tuscan coast to Westchester.
What we’re having: Il Sorrento serves lunch and dinner for HVRW, with plenty of appetizers, entrees, and desserts from which to choose. You can’t go wrong with arancini (a.k.a. rice balls) or baked clams to start. For entree specials, go for the skirt steak or veal saltimbocca. Choose from dessert options like tiramisu, panna cotta, or flourless chocolate cake gelato.
Moscato
874 Scarsdale Avenue, Scarsdale; 914.723.5700
Moscato serves lunch and dinner in a cozy ambiance indoors or outdoors with overhead heaters.
What we’re having: Moscato offers lunch and dinner menus with Italian, French, and international wine. Our favorites on the appetizer list are the crispy artichokes, a.k.a. carciofi alla moscato, and the insalata di mango, a salad with mango, watermelon, baby arugula, and feta cheese. Choose from main courses like the pollo pizzaiola or vitello parmigiana, the latter which is pounded veal with breadcrumbs and marinara sauce. The dessert menu doesn’t disappoint; go for the homemade ricotta cheesecake or homemade almond biscotti called biscotti della Nonna.
Louie & Johnnie’s Ristorante Primavera
887 Yonkers Avenue, Yonkers; 914.423.3300
Louie & Johnnie’s Ristorante Primavera is a go-to spot for authentic regional Italian cuisines in an inviting environment.
What we’re having: Louie & Johnnie’s offers a three-course prix-fixe dinner menu. For the first course, we recommend the beef meatballs with whipped ricotta. Go for the stuffed rigatoni Bolognese for the second course. End the Italian-themed night by choosing a dessert dish from options like the house-made cannoli, gelato or sorbet, ricotta cheesecake, or house-made Belgium chocolate mouse and cream. Buon appetito!
Related: 10 Westchester Menus to Try for Hudson Valley Restaurant Week
Dining and Cooking