Beautiful Brunch
Valley Rock Inn, Sloatsburg
Chic city dwellers and stylish suburbanites clamor for a reservation at this outdoor oasis, and with good reason: Walking along the stone pathway that leads to the main dining area and bar is like stepping into an alternate universe, one where every surface is perfectly landscaped and appointed, flowers abound, and cozy nooks by the firepit beckon you to relax with a Bloody Mary or bellini. The food is also a delight: everything from huevos rancheros and a seared ahi tuna BLT with yuzu Asian slaw and chili garlic aioli to white truffle wood-fire pizza with fontina and arugula. And for lighter fare, there’s a Spa Menu featuring egg-white frittatas with preserved tomatoes, and coconut green curry with pickled shiitake mushrooms and Japanese eggplant, complemented by an organic green juice—a delicious combo of ginger, spinach, green apple, cucumber, and celery. (Brunch is served on Sunday only.)
At Valley Rock Inn, cozy nooks by the firepit beckon you to relax with a Bloody Mary.
Festive Family Style
Tramonto, Hawthorne
Whether you’re planning a shower, a small wedding reception, or just want to organize a dinner for 20 of your closest friends, this Westchester staple can handle it seamlessly. A rustic sliding barn door separates the back of the restaurant from the main dining room to ensure privacy (there’s also a patio in warmer weather), and the family-style menu features Italian classics of chicken Francese, rigatoni pomodoro, and eggplant rollatini, prepared in a simple yet ultra fresh fashion. Add a couple of appetizers, such as fried chickpeas with truffled Parmigiano or whipped ricotta toast with honey basil and pistachio, and don’t skip the cocktails: the Barrel Boulevardier includes clementine bitters aged in Tramonto’s own oak barrels.
Wine and Dine
Chateau Hathorne, Warwick
It’s not every day that the opportunity to have dinner in a hand-dug wine cellar presents itself, but that’s the draw at this historic mansion that dates to 1832. Make your way down a stone staircase, through the kitchen, and into the cellar—dug by chef and owner Dolph Zueger, from a crawl space under the upper dwelling—and take a seat on an upholstered wine barrel. There, you’ll enjoy an eclectic six-course meal of Swiss- and French-inspired cuisine—portabella mushroom over polenta; Maine lobster claw in a cherry port wine sauce; duck breast l’orange with cabbage salad; and oysters Rockefeller and tuna sashimi—while surrounded by more than 12,000 varietals of wine.
Dinner with a View
Inness, Accord
Dining at Inness is like being in the comfort of a friend’s home, with sweeping views of the Catskills.
Enjoying a meal at this luxury resort is like dining in the comfort of a friend’s home—if it included sweeping views of 220 acres of pastoral Catskills landscape, that is. Chef Gabriel Salazar builds his Mediterranean-focused menu around produce grown on the property’s organic farm, and in warmer months, many of the dishes are prepared on the kitchen’s outdoor smokers and grills. This spring, dip into Maine scallops with white asparagus and pea shoots, charred leeks with smoked trout roe and chardonnay vinegar, and a wild arugula, English pea, and mint flatbread. (Grab a table near the grill to watch all the cooking action up close.) The communal bench seating, vintage rugs, exposed beams, and a roaring fireplace make for a convivial and welcoming gathering space.
Intimate Experience
Wm. Farmer and Sons, Hudson
If you’re craving a seasonally forward dinner prepared by a CIA-trained chef but want it to feel like you’re entertaining in your own dining room, look no further. The property, which is run by Chef William Kirby Farmer and his wife Kristan Keck, boasts a main barroom and restaurant, plus three private event spaces. The Marion is ideal for intimate dinner parties (up to 14 guests), while The Merchant House, located in a historic building next door, seats 40 and is an homage to the old whaling captains of Hudson—complete with a lovely backyard garden. For an al fresco event (for a group of 55), book The Pavilion, a covered garden characterized by its California redwoods architecture and gas lanterns. No matter where you sit, you’ll be treated to a tight lineup of expertly prepared fare, from fresh roasted vegetable plates, country ham boards, and handhelds (the grass-fed wagyu burger with foie gras mousse is deliciously indulgent) to entrées of free-range chicken fricassee and skate cheek frites with minted peas, malted tartar, and hand-cut fries. The property’s 15 rooms and suites make it easy to extend a celebratory gathering of any nature.
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