Alvin and Friends in New Rochelle
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It’s hard to know what to look at first when you enter Alvin and Friends, a new southern and Caribbean restaurant in New Rochelle. There’s Alvin Clayton himself, a former GQ model with a dazzling smile and warm handshake, his wife Gwen who was recently named one of Westchester’s most beautiful people, the elegant, softly-lit setting or the colorful paintings that line the walls of both dining rooms.
Whatever you see or eat is sure to delight you.
We reserved a table on a recent Saturday night and were impressed with the ambiance, the food and everyone we met at Alvin and Friends. Alvin explained that he had been waiting for the right site to be available for his restaurant. An 11-year resident of New Rochelle, he wanted to pick a location where “your Grandmother from Wykagyl would feel safe.” When downtown New Rochelle was rebuilt and Villa Rina vacated the space on Lawton Street across from the New Rochelle Public Library, Clayton knew he had found the right spot. The area is safe and parking is available on the street and in a lot a few steps away.
As Alvin was a partner in two restaurants in Los Angeles, he was not new to the food business and had a vision for 
the concept for Alvin and Friends. The space has an elegant feel complemented by the display of Alvin’s colorful oil paintings. A talented artist, Alvin’s works depict life in his native Trinidad and here in the United States, using bright hues with influences of Gaughin and Matisse.
We were promptly seated and offered a tempting array of tropical drinks from the bar including Rum Punch, flavored Mojitos, a pomegranate and blueberry martini and Red Stripe beer. We perused the menu that offers both southern specialties like fried oysters, smoky chicken wings and broiled catfish as well as Caribbean dishes such as curry mussel bisque, jerk rubbed duck breast, and lechon frito (pulled pork, black beans, yuca fries and citrus mojo.) Chef Raymond Jackson, who was trained at the Culinary Institute and worked under Emeril Lagasse in New Orleans, has designed an original menu that combines spices and ingredients from several regions.
For the main course, adventurous eaters went for the spicy broiled catfish with braised greens and cornbread while others tried the crispy striped bass that was served with coconut rice and peas, under a vanilla-ginger butter sauce. Also on the menu was sea scallop fricassee, with olives, capers and tomato broth served over fettuccini, crispy fried chicken with macaroni and cheese and grilled lamb loin with grits and black eyed pea salad.
I’m embarrassed to admit we had dessert too, and shared the white chocolate red velvet bread pudding with
And if the food, the artwork and the good service were not enough, as we left the restaurant a saxophone player had begun to circulate the tables and we would have liked to stay to enjoy a set.
Our meal came to $130 per couple, with entrees priced from $16 for spicy rubbed and seared tofu to $29 for a nine-ounce rib eye steak. A late night cocktail and bar menu is served from 10 pm to 12:30 pm. With everything it has going for it, it might be tough to stop by Alvin’s and expect to get a table, so reservations are recommended.
49 Lawton Street
New Rochelle, NY 10801
914-654-6549
www.alvinandfriendsrestaurant.com
Open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday, 5:30 – 11:00 pm
Sunday: 5:00 – 9:00 pm
Sunday brunch: 11 am to 3:00 pm
Solmar ... Seafood for the Soul
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We arrived at Solmar with nine hungry diners and high expectations as we had heard good things about this Brazilian and Portuguese restaurant across the street from the Tarrytown Music Hall. The owner, Carlos Mendonca greeted us warmly and seated us at long table in the front window of this airy, pleasant site. Out to celebrate our friends’ recent relocation to Tarrytown, we brought our own champagne and the restaurant agreed to open it and serve it for a modest corkage fee. But there is not need to BYOB as they have a full bar.
With our large party we were able to taste many of the offerings on the menu and everyone cleaned their plates. Shrimp, clams and mussels as well as pork and sausage featured prominently and there was an interesting mix of both Brazilian and Portuguese fare.
To begin the meal we started with “Steamed Clams Bulhao Pato” which were clams in the shell, steamed in white wine, garlic, cilantro and
Another delicious entrée was the sardines – which are marinated in olive oil and garlic, grilled whole and served with roast pepper, baked potato and zucchini.
Still more fish was available – there was grilled salmon in a white wine and mango sauce as well as "Penne a Cachaca" with shrimp and scallops. Cachaca is Brazilian sugar can rum and in this dish the sauce is a rum reduction.
There’s plenty available for meat eaters too, including Porco Alentejano, pork stew with little neck clams, Frango Solmar … chicken breast
Proprietor Carolos Mendonca is a native of Rio de Janeiro and has always worked in the restaurant business. Starting out as a waiter, he served and saved to build his own place. Sol Mar opened its door on St. Patrick's Day in 2008 is now three years old.
Solmar’s attentive service, flavorful dishes and fresh ingredients all add up to a memorable dining experience. If you’re in the mood for a new taste, Solmar is a short drive away – and well worth the trip. Reservations are recommended!
Solmar
12 West Main Street
Tarrytown, New York
914-333-0151
http://www.solmartarrytown.com/
Exotic Flavors in a Local Setting
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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
Join the Family at La Scarbitta in Mamaroneck
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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.
Though it was late the place was hopping. Our waiter offered us grilled Tuscan bread with olive oil and garlic to stave off hunger pangs while we ordered. The extensive bar offered a good variety of wines by the bottle and by the glass and the menu is small but had many appealing options.
From the antipasto list we chose an arugula salad with grated parmesan cheese and proscuito as well as Caprese Buffalo mozzarella.
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 Primi Piatti there are an array of pastas including gnocchi with ricotta in Bolognese sauce, farfalle al pesto, ravioli with ricotta and spinach, fettucini with mushrooms and prosciutto, pasta Amatriciana, triangolini --- triangle shaped ravioli-- with porcini mushrooms and truffles and linguine with clams. We ordered the ravioli – which were clearly freshly made – and a special called “Shrimp alla Rosa” which was a tasty combination of large shrimp with cherry tomatoes and vodka served over pasta.
The menu also features meat or “carne” selections and fish. From the carne, there’s Veal Saltimbocca, a veal chop, mixed grill, several chicken dishes and a porterhouse steak. My husband ordered the Pollo alla Scarbitta, which was Mamaroneck’s version of chicken martini and it was rich, buttery and delicious. We all tried to dip our forks into his plate.
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.
After dinner, we spoke to the owners and were surprised to learn that chef Rosa is from the Spadaro family who owns Spadaro’s in New Rochelle. She recently left the family business to break out on her own and is cooking and managing the operation with help from her husband Angelo. Once we made the connection with Spadaro, we realized why the food was so good. Rosa told us that she only offered the best from Spadaro’s extensive menu.
Rosa has been cooking since she was 12 years old and moved to the United States from Puglia with her family at age 17. Her family sold fish in Italy so she has a good nose for fresh fish and purchases only the best for her restaurant daily. She is passionate about her new venture and is now working on adding more items for vegetarians to the menu and looking forward to spring when asparagus and zucchini flowers will be available. As soon as the weather warms up, La Scarbitta will be opening their front doors and serving lunch and dinner outside.
Rosa told us that customers come in as strangers but leave as part of the family ….so go join them for a meal soon!
La Scarbitta
215 Halstead Avenue
Mamaroneck, New York
914-777-1667
Open for dinner from 5 – 10 pm nightly
Open and Opening Soon in Scarsdale
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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.
The restaurant is smaller than the Haiku in White Plains, but equally as attractive. We caught a glimpse of the metallic blue tile, attractive fixtures and neatly lit sushi bar. The drinking bar in the front also looks like it will be a fun place to hang out any night of the week and they have their liquor license.
On the menu are Haiku’s specialty rolls including the Out of Control Roll with spicy tuna, salmon and 
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.
The restaurant is open from 11:30 am to 12 midnight seven days a week and also offers take out and delivery.
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.
Johnny Rockets is an international chain that provides food, fun and friendliness reminiscent of feel-good Americana. The new Johnny Rockets will offer juicy hamburgers, classic sandwiches, healthy salads and hand-dipped shakes and malts. The all-American design will include jukeboxes and authentic décor and the restaurant will welcome families.
They plan to be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and will also have a 20-seat private party room available.
The new owner, Daniel Weisse, grew up in Edgemont and heads a group who is responsible for bringing Johnny Rockets to Westchester. He is very excited to join the local business community.
