We’re always looking for new places to take our city kids to dinner; it’s the sure way to get them to spend some time with the “old folks”. A recent recommendation for The Fat Radish turned out to be a “worth the detour” spot. It may be out of the way for some of us Scarsdalians but I suspect the Lower East Side is familiar territory to many of your offspring. And the good news is that there’s plenty of local parking. Of course you can enjoy the restaurant on your own, but be warned, it’s easier to hide behind your cool 20-somethings so you don’t stick out like sore thumbs!
From the minute you walk in, the restaurant is appealing. You’re welcomed by a smiling hostess and if your whole party has not arrived you’re ushered to a tasteful long wood bar to wait. The restaurant has beautiful country wood tables, more open spaces than you expect to see in NYC and high ceilings with a vaulted skylight . Once the drink list is presented you can choose among a variety of wonderful wines from around the world or pick one of the creative cocktails. I had my first taste of aperol which was mixed with Prosecco and lime in the cocktail of the day. It was light and refreshing, perfect for a hot summer night. And things just got better from there.
Fat Radish is a restaurant that specializes in locally sourced food, something a lot of places are doing, but not always 
well. Shortly after we sat down our waiter brought a plate of namesake radishes that were tossed in olive oil and sea salt, slightly bitter, but a good nibble. Menu starters include some appealing salads with lots of local vegetables; in fact sources for most of the items were listed on the back (farms, creameries, vineyards, etc). There was a sweet pea pie that looked delicious and someone recommended a selection called grilled cheese and pickles but we kept to the lighter items including a wonderful beet salad and another selection that was loaded with greens and tomatoes. Other choices for our next visit included a kale Caesar salad, handmade pasta and Vermont quail. This is definitely a spot where you could dine well with a couple of small plates.
While the appetizers seemed more extensive and interesting than the mains, there were enough fish and meat options to appeal to us all. I had the striped bass that was fresh, if not exciting. The vegetarian special with wheat berries got good reviews and the lamb was rare and tasty. We ordered a reasonably priced wine (about $40) and enjoyed the food and ambience. The restaurant was crowded so service was a little slow but our waitress was conscientious. We skipped dessert but there was a very tempting berry something and a variety of cookies that called out to us for next time!
The check for three with tax and tip (including drinks and wine) was about $200. Appetizers range from $8-$16 and entrees from $16-$28.
The Fat Radish
17 Orchard Street
New York, N.Y 10002
212-300-4053
Front Café: Monday – Sunday 8 am – 4 pm
Restaurant: Monday – Friday 5:30 pm – 12 am
Saturday 11 am – 4 pm, 5:30 pm – 12 am
Sunday: 11 am – 4pm, 5:30 pm – 10 pm
The Sidewalk Sale is coming to downtown Scarsdale on Thursday July 28, Friday July 29 and Saturday July 30. On Saturday, there will be entertainment for the whole family in Chase Park, so mark your calendars now. The Scarsdale Chamber of Commerce, who organizes the event, has released the following list of participating stores, restaurants and businesses. Take a look at the impressive line-up and remember to stop by these locations when you shop next week.
It was hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk and steamy enough to eat ice cream for breakfast – and that’s what some of the customers seemed to be doing when we visited the new All Good Things ice cream and candy shop in the Golden Horseshoe Shopping Center on Tuesday. Who knew there was so much early morning traffic at an ice cream store – and that most of the customers were full-grown adults, not kids yelling for ice cream!
white and dark chocolate chips. I also sampled a rich, dark chocolate ice cream and was tempted to ask for mud pie which is coffee ice cream with oreos and chocolate shavings and cookie monster; vanilla ice cream with oreos and cookie dough. Levy’s ice cream could quickly become a habit.
It was the best of times and, well actually, continues to be the best of times. When the Executive Chef’s philosophy is “to create food that is simple, straight forward, not over the top, with a harmony of ingredients” and where “eatibility and seasonality” reign, then you know you are in for something great. Chris Vergara, the Executive Chef at not one, but two distinctly wonderful culinary destinations in Westchester is delighted to have accomplished his personal goal of having more than one restaurant before he turned 35. At a very playful 32, creative and talented Chris is proud of Meritage Restaurant opened almost seven years ago in Scarsdale and six month old, Harper’s Bar and Restaurant in Dobbs Ferry.
Serafina has opened in downtown White Plains and is already bustling with diners both inside and out. Those who are familiar with this Italian chain from the city have been eagerly awaiting their arrival in Westchester and are happy to have good, fresh food at reasonable prices in this central locale. Even better, with parking available at the Ritz next door, it’s easy to get in and out.
bottle. The menu proved to include far more than pizza … providing a full selection of appetizers, salads, pizzas, meat and fish entrees and desserts.
There’s a long list of pastas – all said to be homemade. I ordered the La Paglia and Fieno Del Sud, which was very thin pasta with tomato, basil, parmesan and a touch of cream. The serving was big enough for two and was so tasty that I polished it off myself. Also on the pasta menu are pasta “crepes” with spinach and ricotta cheese in a light tomato basil sauce, a pasta trio with raviolo, gnocchi and spaghetti, pappardelle with pesto sauce, pine nuts, string beans and potatoes …. and the list goes on.
“specially constructed oven in order to ensure a moisture-free and crispy Pizza dough.” You can have the pizza almost anyway you can imagine from the classic Margherita with tomato, mozzarella and basil, or Formaggi d’Italia with mozzarella, fontina, aged parmesan and gorgonzola, to more imaginative gourmet pizzas including Tonno, with sushi grade tuna over robiola sauce or Al Salmone with mozzarella, Norwegian smoked salmon and dill. Priced from $9.75 - $24.00 these pizzas are a meal in themselves.
