If you’re looking to escape the kitchen after cooking your Passover or Easter feast, here’s a place to try that may be off your radar but is actually very close by. Mughal Palace is just a short ride from Scarsdale, up the Bronx River Parkway to Valhalla and they serve excellent northern and southern Indian fare. Native chefs have been cooking there for seven years and the same team also owns Rani Mahal on Mamaroneck Avenue in Mamaroneck. Whether you want to eat there, or take out you’ll find a friendly staff and a diverse menu that includes the usual favorites plus many new dishes to try.
While you’re waiting for your food to arrive ask about their extensive list of beers, wines or order a drink from the full bar.
On a recent visit our large group was hungry and we had the opportunity to taste many of their offerings.
We started out with samosas filled with a spicy mixture of potatoes and green peas. Also recommended is the masala dosa, a paper thin
We followed the appetizers with aloo gobi, which is cauliflower, potato and tomatoes cooked in a light sauce as well as sag paneer, homemade cheese cubes in spiced spinach.
Divided on how we liked our chicken, half of the group opted for the chicken tikka masala, a tandoori roasted chicken in a rich, creamy tomato sauce. The others chose murgh tikka; chicken breast marinated in yogurt, ginger, and fresh ground spices and cooked in the clay oven,
To soak up the sauce we ordered nan, an unleavened Indian bread baked in the tandoori oven. Ample servings of rice came with the dinner.
Don’t leave without trying the nan or poori, a hot puffed whole wheat bread and remember to order some chutney and raita, a chilled yogurt and cucumber mixture to accompany your meal and temper the spicy flavors you’ll find in your dinner.
Mughal Palace was given an “excellent” rating by Zagat and we concur. Give them a try and let us know what you liked so we can order it at
Mughal Palace
16 BroadwayValhalla
New York 10595
(914) 997-6090
Hours:
11:30 am – 2:30 pm and 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm dail
Pictured at top: Samosas, Pakoras and Chutney
We heard that a new Italian restaurant opened in Mamaroneck and headed over to Halstead Avenue, across the street from the train station, to give it a try. We were surprised to see that the restaurant was located in the space once occupied by Bar Vivace. The setting is pleasant, with high ceilings, a long bar, a stone oven and large glass doors which open to the street. There are both front and a back dining rooms, giving La Scarbitta the ability to accommodate more diners that you would assume at first glance.
Both arrived surprisingly fast and the ingredients were fresh and flavorful. Other antipasto options were an antipasto Italiano made of fresh meats and cheeses, an Antipasto Verde of vegetables, melon and prosciutto and mussels in white wine or marinara sauce.
For fish, there’s branzino, grilled calamari and Pesca Spada Alla Messinese, which is swordfish sautéed in garlic, cherry tomatoes, capers and olives. On the night we visited they also had a trout special with marinara sauce or with lemon and white wine sauce.
More good options for Scarsdale diners this week. We visited the new Haiku that opened today, St. Patrick’s Day in the Vernon Place Shopping Center in Scarsdale, directly across the street from the new Fig and Olive.
avocado on the inside surrounded by eel and scallions on the outside and the Thunder Roll with lobster salad and shrimp tempura wrapped in soybean seaweed. There’s also a complete menu of cooked appetizers and entrees plus a nice selection for soups and salads. Lunch specials served with an entrée, with soup, salad, and rice are offered for as little as $7.95. It’s a deal.
In the works, is a new Johnny Rockets, planned to open in May on the site of the former Friendly’s at 777 White Plains Road.
Hajime has been serving authentic Japanese sushi in Harrison since 1996 but we just discovered this gem last weekend. Located on Halstead Avenue the façade has little to distinguish it from other Japanese restaurants in town. But once you take a seat at the long sushi bar you’ll quickly realize that their fresh, high quality sushi puts Hajime in a league of its own.
know your likes and dislikes and he’ll custom design a memorable meal for you.
We love good Indian food and in the years we have lived in Scarsdale we’ve seen many options come and go. Dawat, on the north end of the Post Road in White Plains with its Tandoori oven, gracious service and spacious dining room was a favorite for years. We were surprised when it suddenly vanished as the restaurant always appeared to be full. We also frequented Bengal Tiger and joked about what the man in the red turban hid under his hat. That went up in flames last summer in an epic blaze that sent acrid smoke billowing over White Plains well into the night.
