Butter + Brie, owned and operated by Danielle and Henri Nasto, officially opened its doors on November 12, 2025 in Pleasantville. “We were looking for a walkable downtown spot that we could put roots down in. We love the sense of community and the cultural vibe in Pleasantville, so it was important for us to be here,” they share.
Danielle and Henri both have extensive hospitality experience. They first met while working at Joe Bastianich’s Tarry Lodge in Port Chester, when it first opened in 2008. The duo are seasoned front-of-house managers, while Danielle is also a certified sommelier. After leaving Tarry Lodge, she worked at Bedford Post Inn as a beverage manager and at Fig & Olive in Scarsdale as a maitre’d. At the same time, Henri managed Serafina, an Italian restaurant in White Plains.
The inspiration for Butter + Brie stemmed from their previous experience with French food. “We wanted to build on the concept there, but we feel as if some people are hesitant to try French food,” Danielle explains. “We want to make it a little more approachable and bring American comfort into the equation.”
Henri and Danielle began brainstorming about the kind of place that they would like to go to as a customer and what atmosphere it would have. The result was Butter + Brie – a restaurant that is bright and airy with great food to match.
Making Dishes Approachable
On the menu, customers can expect a mix of traditional French dishes, as well as Americanized versions of French dishes. For example, Butter + Brie has a traditional beef bourguignon, but also features a non-traditional sliced hangar steak sandwich on the menu. “There is something for everyone. We are not trying to reinvent the wheel, but we are going to provide consistently good food in a great atmosphere,” Danielle says.
Butter + Brie is focused on a seasonal menu with local ingredients whenever possible. Currently on the menu, Butter + Brie features dishes with hearty ingredients like duck confit and butternut squash, but moving into the spring season, customers can expect to see ingredients like ramps and spring peas make an appearance.
“Butter + Brie is your French Riviera daycation spot, the neighborhood restaurant with refined taste, but a warm and casual atmosphere where you want to hang out for brunch, lunch, or dinner,” Danielle shares. “We want all of our guests to experience exceptional hospitality, our staff to feel taken care of, people to leave happy and eager to return over and over again, and we want to participate and strengthen the community.”
One of the inspirations for Butter + Brie was Setting the Table by Danny Meyer. It was that book that inspired Danielle to move to New York City as a young 20-something and venture into the world of hospitality. That came full circle for her when Meyer came into the Bedford Post Inn for dinner one night. “He was every bit as warm and hospitable as the author I admired in the book. It has always stayed with me, and we hope to evoke that same sentiment in our guests at Butter + Brie,” she explains.
On the Horizon
Short term, Danielle and Henri have been working on building out Butter + Brie’s brunch service, which debuted earlier in December. Additionally, they just opened for lunch and, at some point soon, will have merchandise available for purchase.
In the longer term, they hope to start organizing and hosting monthly events such as wine tastings and dinners and paint and sips, as well as attend community events and expand their cocktail program.
“Our focus on a high-quality guest experience, combined with great-tasting food each time is what makes us unique. It’s not as easy to find as it should be. It’s the little things that are no longer commonplace, like holding out a chair, refolding a napkin while a guest is in the bathroom, greeting guests with a welcome back or remembering their names when they come in,” Danielle says. “It’s most rewarding when you see guests with big, happy smiles on their faces as they leave, along with the ones who become regulars, and eventually, feel like part of the family.”
Butter + Brie is located at 68 Wheeler Avenue in Pleasantville. Call the restaurant at 914.449.6240, visit its website at butternbrie.com, and follow on Instagram @butterandbriewestchester.
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Dining and Cooking