Candlelight Reopens Their Outside Dining Area for Summer!

Well, it is the moment we've all been waiting for! (At least I know I have been waiting for it.) Candlelight Inn in Scarsdale has finally reopened their outside dining section! 


Candlelight, for those who don't know, is a fairly well-known mom-and-pop owned restaurant located on Central Avenue. 


Once a residential house, owned by the Tracey family, Candlelight was turned into a restaurant in the early 1970s. It is family-ran and boasts the title "Best of Westchester" in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2011.


Other awards include the Hottest Wings award in 2011 and the Best Late-Night Dining in 2008. 


Candlelight is the go-to place for wings and a cold beer. Regardless what time you arrive at this place, you are sure to find both the bar and the dining area packed. 


Its kitchen is open until 3 a.m. every night of the week, and they do not believe in taking off for vacations! You can literally get Candlelight at almost anytime! And the best part is, they just recently started delivering until 12 a.m. 


Usually, Candlelight does not open its outside dining section until after Memorial Day weekend but, because the weather has been so cooperative the past 2 weeks, they decided to open it sooner. 


Dining outside at Candlelight is a different experience than dining in doors. Inside, though comfy, it is somewhat crowded. Picture a medium-sized living room turned dining area. It's pretty crammed and if you're not sitting in a booth you're probably going to have to share a table with another couple. This can either turn out to be a great experience of the worst night of your life, depending if you get along with you fellow diners. 


Outside, it is breezy and comfortable. The waitresses never forget about you and, because they pool their tips, multiple waiters and waitresses will serve and get you whatever you need throughout your time there.  There is no need to hunt and wave down your waiter as you would at a different restaurant. 


I recently went to eat at Candlelight with, who else? My boyfriend.


First we ordered the broccoli poppers. I get this every single time I go to Candlelight (which is more than I'd like to admit) and they are amazing! 


I've never seen them at any other restaurant, so let me explain to you what these consist of. Broccoli poppers are a head of a piece of broccoli with American cheese rolled into a ball of flour and deep fried. Yup, amazingness.


The small order comes with 6 and the large comes with 10, we usually try to stick with the small. This will run you around $6. 


For my meal I ordered the grilled chicken Cesar salad (I know, boring, but all this eating is getting me fat!) It was great, as usual. The croutons are always nice and crunchy and their homemade Cesar dressing has just the right amount of Parmesan cheese incorporated into it. This costs around $11.



My boyfriend ordered the hot buffalo wings cooked well-done and of course I had to have a few. They are so good, but sooo spicy! If you cannot take the heat, do not order the hot wings, they will have you panting for breath. This will run you about $10


We ordered a pitcher of Bud Light for about $12, which poured out to 2 glasses of beer each. 


If you're looking for a great, little spot to stop and grab a quick bite and a beer, Candlelight is your place to go! It's great for all ages and very family friendly. 


For another take on Candlelight, here is a review from Matt L. on Yelp.com:


If you've never been here, GO!

It's nothing fancy but the food is always good. Every time I go I expect to wait for a table, whether it be 5 minutes or 45 minutes, it's worth it - however there have been several times when I sat down immediately.

I love the wings, ribs, meat nachos, any of the fries (regular, curly or waffle), burger, etc. and recommend anything on the menu.

PS,
In regards to other people's negative reviews; ARE YOU SERIOUS?

Texas De Brazil Opens in Yonkers!

Texas De Brazil is a must-go-to Brazilian restaurant. It is an authentic Brazilian-American steakhouse that combines the foods and spices from Southern Brazil with the "everything is bigger in Texas" mentality. 


There are over 50 items to choose from including appetizers, main dishes, sides, and deserts. 


At $45 per person, it is an all-you-can-eat soirée! Simply turn your place card to "green" and prepare to be swarmed by a troop of waiters and waitresses serving various cuts of beef, lamb, pork, chicken and Brazilian sausage. 


But wait -- there's more! Each cut of meat comes with you choice of side item and house-baked Brazilian cheese bread. You will leave there feeling more full than ever!


But wait... What about drinks? If you've been reading my blog posts, then you know that I am a lover of a great glass of wine.


Texas De Brazil's in-house wine connoisseurs will help you to select the perfect wine that pairs well with whatever it is that you're eating. It saves you the headache and the anticipation of wondering if your drink pairs well with your food choice. 


As you can imagine, the meat is fall-off-the-bone good. Made daily, all of the food is very tasty and prepared well using spices and herbs that will awaken your senses. 


The staff will not hesitate to cater to any needs you may have during your dining experience. More pepper? They will gladly get you it. About to finish you last sip of wine? They are right there, waiting for you to put your glass down so they can refill it for you.


I came to Texas De Brazil with my boyfriend for our anniversary. We decided to go last minute, so we did not have time to make reservations. We figured that since it was a Monday night, it wouldn't be too crowded.

Pork and filet mignon with dipping sauce.

We arrived around 8p.m. and there were a good number of people there. We got a drink at the bar while we waited for our handheld buzzer to alert us that our table was ready. 


About 15 minutes later, we were brought to a nice cozy booth.


First, I decided on the filet mignon and garlic mashed potatoes. Both were fantastic! The filet minion, as expected, was juicy and tender. 


My boyfriend ordered the pork with caramelized bananas and It was just as amazing. 


Though I was pretty full after my first main course, I could not help but want to try more! I turned my place card over to "green" and had the waitress cut off some lamb for me. As imagined, it was SO good!

Mashed potatoes and caramelized bananas

Our bill, including the alcohol, came out to about $120. You must remember, it is $45 per person, all you can eat, but alcohol is not included in this flat rate.


I totally recommend this place to a group of friends looking to have a fun, festive meal or a couple looking for a wonderful, romantic dinner.


Texas De Brazil is child-friendly, and children under 2 years old eat for free. They also offer senior and military discounts.


For another take on Texas De Brazil, here is Santos' Yelp.com review:

"Great place to take out your family, plus it has the most wonderfully staff. I has a party of 16 and they handles us easily.  Food was OMG great the manager is a good person... Joe the waiter was great He know how to make a large good of people feel like we are at home... Great job Joe!"

City Island's Oldest Restaurant Still Can't Be Beat!

I have been to the Black Whale in City Island in the Bronx numerous times, and everytime it has been a delightful experience.

Just yesterday my boyfriend and I decided to go there to grab dinner. We were exhausted and did not feel like cooking (we love being waited on and catered to.)

The Black Whale seemed like a perfect fit, it is quiet and comfy and you feel as if you're sitting at home with your own personal chef.

We requested our favorite waitress, Melissa, and ordered a drink right away. She then informed us that the Black Whale began a special since the last time we had dined there: Add $6 to the price of any salad pasta or fish entree and recieve an appetizer and a dessert.

The choice of appetizers are: Mixed Green Salad, Caesar Salad, Soup of the Day or Fried Potsticker Dumplings (shown below, right.)

You can also choose you desset from the following: Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream, Chocolate Layer Cake (shown below, left) and Crème Brulee.

This seemed like such an amazing deal and we just couldn't pass it up!

Fried Potsticker Dumplings

I ordered the Fried Potsticker Dumplings (pictured right) and my boyfriend ordered the Ceaesar Salad. For dessert we ordered the Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream and the Chocolate Layer Cake.

We split our appetizers and desserts and I walked out more full than I've ever felt! (There goes my diet!)

The Potstickers were amazing, they had just the right amount of pork to vegetable ratio and the soy sauce tasted like one we usually get from our favorite chinese food restaurant.

The desserts were beautifully presented and scrumptious. The Apple Crisp was crispy and flaky, and melt in your mouth delicious. The vanilla ice cream completmented the texture well.

The chocolate layer cake was even better. Layers of chocolate mousse combined with layers of chocolate pound cake topped with chocolate icing and a strawberry smoothered the plate. Need I say more?

Chocolate Layer Cake

Our bill, not including our drinks, came out to around $35. This is including two appetizers, two desserts, and two entrees. If you ask me, it's a pretty amazing deal for exceptional food, great service, and wonderful atmosphere.

For another take on the Black Whale in City Island, here is Mark Anthony B.'s review from Yelp.com:

I have been here three times within the past week after a three year hiatus from City Island. So here's a rundown:

1. Crab cakes - scrumptious.. although not Maryland-style, they come pretty close
2. House red wine - French.. good enough.. get a bottle.
3. Banana honey shake (vanilla ice cream, honey & bananas) - you can taste the honey.. soooo good
4. Black angel (2-scoop hot fudge sundae served over angel food cake) - I opted for the cookies and cream and coffee ice cream, with whipped cream topping, of course.
5. Drunken whale (Godiva, Kahlua, coffee & steamed milk) - a must-try for chocolate-minded folks.
6. Crème brûlée - legit.. can't go wrong
7. Tiramisu - I forget how good semisweet chocolate sauce tastes like.

The place used to be just a dessert restaurant, and you can tell. They have outdoor seating and there's tons of funky stuff around the place. Plus, you can buy t-shirts as souvenirs.

Dellprimo's Pizzeria in Yonkers Hits the Spot

Dellprimo’s Pizzeria is an Italian pizzeria/restaurant in Yonkers, NY on Central Ave. It recently had its grand opening, and I have been eager to give it a try.

Being that I live in Morris Park in the Bronx, I am very biased when it comes to traditional Italian cooking. My boyfriend, whowho has already eaten there many times, has been telling me about this pizzeria and claimed that I would love it (he knows how picky I am.) So, just yesterday I decided to cross my fingers, walk on in and order a slice.

To my surprise, he was right! (I’m usually the one who’s right… only about 100% of the time.)

The owner greeted us warmly when we arrived. He recognized my boyfriend, since he has been going there since they first opened. He took our order, personally brought our food to us and asked us if we needed anything else. It is a very small place, but they treat you as if you’re dining in an elegant restaurant.

The menu is priced well and, besides pizza, features traditional Italian dishes such as lasagna, baked ziti, and stuffed shells. Appetizers, and hot and cold sandwiches are also made to order.

Regular slice from Dellprimos

For an Italian restaurant/pizzeria in Yonkers, I would have to say that this is the best I have been to. The pizza crust is thin and crunchy, and there are a wide variety of foods available. If you’re ever in the area, it is definitely a place to stop by to grab a quick bite. 

A slice of pizza will run you around $2.50, but if you get a fountain drink you can purchase a soda and a slice for $3.50. 

Their slogan is “Where Quality isn’t Expensive… It’s Priceless!” And they do live up to it.

For another take on Dellprimo’s Pizzeria, here is J.E.’s review from Yelp.com:

I've been ordering food here regularly for a few months now. After ordering from six or so pizzerias in the area, this is the best I've found so far. Their pizzas usually arrive on time and they're always hot. Greasy as hell, but delicious nonetheless. Granted, I live nearby, but I've had pizzas delivered over shorter distances that seem to have crossed a minefield in Siberia to get here, so this is always a plus (not that I don't admire the courage it takes to cross a battlefield in the tundra to deliver food, mind you).

Apart from the pizza, their menu seems pretty big, and just about everything I've ordered from here (pizzas, calzones, some sandwiches) was good enough to order a second or even a third time.If you're in Yonkers and you love greasy, delicious Italian food, then yeah, this is for you.

Yard House: Great Food, Great Service, Overall A+

Steele Platt founded Yard House in the early 1990’s. The first Yard house was located in Long Beach in Southern California. His idea to create top-notch quality food at affordable prices combined with over one hundred beers on tap won over the hearts of the locals. He then realized that his concept could be expanded, and decided to open multiple locations. 

Today, there are multiple Yard house’s in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Virginia, and Texas.

Onion ring tower

Yard house features American fusion cuisine. There are over 130 items on the menu ranging from appetizers, salads, pastas, sandwiches, tacos, grilled burgers, individual-size pizzas, seafood, steaks and ribs. 

The Kids Klub menu includes fresh-to-order favorites including a selection of healthy items for children. The atmosphere can be described as lively, classy, and young. Flat screen TV’s pointed in every direction broadcast the day’s news and sporting event. It is a place that can be enjoyed by families and friends.

Upon arrival to Yard house in Yonkers, my friend and I waited around a half hour for our handheld buzzer to alert us that our table was ready. It was a Friday around 8PM, so the amount of people there was excusable.

Summer salad

We ordered the onion ring tower for an appetizer and I had the summer salad, which consisted of romaine lettuce, strawberries, avocado, oranges, candied walnuts, leeks and spiced balsamic vinaigrette. It was delicious and tasty. The ingredients were very fresh and complemented each other well. I ordered a strawberry daiquiri to compliment my food and it was just right. Not too strong, not too weak, the bartender put just the right amount of rum. I was a happy camper!

The bill came out to around $70, which I thought was understandable for an order consisting of two alcoholic drinks, an appetizer, and two salads.

The posh, young crowd made us feel as if we were right at home and the waiter was extremely attentive, helpful, and patient.

Upon leaving Yard house I was extremely satisfied. I felt, as though it was money well spent, the food and service could not have been better.

I recommend this restaurant to a person in there 20s or 30s who enjoy an upscale, lively place with great food and people.

For another take on Yard house in Yonkers, here is Melissa S.’s review from Yelp.com:

I wanted to rate it a 3.5 and I'll tell you why...
Positives: 
1. Service is good.  Servers are very knowledge of there products and have patience with you. 
2. Setting is great for any customer-family, date, and group of friends. 
 3. 130 beers to choose from-any beer lovers dream 
4. Happy hour deals that are beneficial considering the prices are a little steep on some items.
 5. TV's all over so great to go to for sporting events.

Negatives:
1. Not impressed with the food. Small portions, big price.  And taste is decent. 
2. The parking situation within the complex stinks.  Its $3.25 per car even if you're there an hour.  And Yard House doesn't validate the parking ticket, other places in the complex do.

Introducing the New and Improved Moonstruck Diner!!

Moonstruck on 58th

         Moonstruck Diner/Restaurant on East 58th St. is a young, cool place to visit, grab a sandwich and a glass of wine, and just kick back and relax. The atmosphere is cozy and fun, complete with shiny booths and a futuristic flare. Weird, spiral lights peek out from the walls and ceilings. Red, green, and yellow lights glow and will give you the feeling that you have walked onto another planet.

         Recently, Moonstruck has been expanding its space. Another room has been added featuring more spiraly lights and a section of baked goods including various types of cakes, pies, and pastries. After some inquiring, I found out that they currently changed owners, which meant that the cooks, and entire staff is being changed also.

          The food is better than ever. The price is rock bottom, especially for the midtown East side of Manhattan. It is not your typical diner food. The veggie burgers are out of this world delicious, the fries are just the right amount of crispy, and the chicken soup will cure the worst of sicknesses. The new chefs are amazing, named Choi and Roberto, and will wave at you as you walk by the entrance of the kitchen when they see you. The staff is overall friendly and kind, as well as extremely attentive.

My recent lunch at Moonstruck Diner.

           For my lunch yesterday, I decided I would order the veggie burger without the bun, a side of tomato as well as a side salad (as you can see, I'm watching my figure!) The food was prepared to perfection and not only was it delcious, it looked amazing. The chefs at Moonstruck take pride and truly love what they do. They do not just cook your meal, they arrange it to look visually appealing also.

            Overall, the bill came out to be about $15, not bad for a diner in an exceptional area of NYC, huh? I recommend stopping in for a bite if you're ever in the area and the best part about it is that they're open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week! You just can't beat it.

             Moonstruck's menu can be found here. You will notice that the prices are extremely affordable, averaging in at around $10 for breakfast, $11 for a sandwhich, burger, or wrap (including fries), and about $25 maximum for a complete dinner including sides, salad, and optional soup. Overall, I think the prices are very fair considering this diner's location and it's quality of food.

             For another take on Moonstruck Diner on 58th, here's Jenny C.'s review from Yelp.com: "On a scale of new york city, this place is average good.  But, I come here all the time because it's convenient, there's always room, they have everything you could possibly crave on a Sunday morning, and their salads are bangin'!   Oh, and plus one, they have sanitary hand wipes for all you germaphobes out there."

Yucatán's Opening is a Far Cry From Grand.

        The cool, baby blue awning catches your eye as you walk down Williamsbridge Road in the Bronx.Yucatán Restaurant describes its food as "a blend of Mexican and Caribbean" tastes that will awaken your senses like never before. Oh, how I wish it were true...

        The hostess greeted us graciously when we arrived and attempted to seat us rather close to the noisy bar where sports games were turned up loudly. Strike One.We politely asked for a booth, she obliged.

        We were given nachos and salsa to munch on before our meal arrived.The salsa was OK, just OK. In my opinion, the Tostitos salsa available at the supermarket is better. Strike two.

        We began with drinks. I ordered a strawberry daiquiri and my friend ordered a Malibu bay breeze, both tasted as though they were virgin. Strike three.

Burrito from Yucatan

        For my main course, I decided on the steak burritos (see picture to left). The portions were rather large, but the food was sub-par. I had asked for my meal to be prepared without cilantro and the waiter assured me that everything was made to order. However, when my food arrived there was cilantro in it. I asked for it to be taken back. Strike four.

        My friend ordered the chicken quesadilla's. After trying some of her food, my mind was made up. I would never come back to this restaurant again. The chicken was very dry, even paired with cheese and toppings. It seemed as if it was pre-made and thrown into the oven five minutes before it was served. Strike five.

Yucatán's bar area

        Our bill came out to a lot more than expected, about $95 for just two people. This confused me, since we hadn't even ordered appetizers! I guess the minute amount of alcohol poured in our two drinks really put the check over the top.

We were shocked to find that the restaurant did not have change for large bills. We witnessed waiters and waitresses scrambling around, speaking angrily in Spanish to each other, trying to figure out what to do. I'm not sure where they came up with the change, but eventually they did. Shouldn't a restaurant be prepared for situations like this?

        All in all, it was a disappointing experience. Restaurant goer Edgar S. on Yelp.com, also had a similar dining experience. He said "I didn't get nachos. The bathroom had no paper towels (I had to dry my hands and face with a bar napkin that was stuck all over my face and hands.) I overheard the waiter tell a patron they ran out of chorizo. I was told I would get salsa and never did and apparently they had a hard time getting my change from my bill." Apparently, Yucatan Restaurant is not too fond of giving change to customers.

       I would not reccommend Yucutan Restaurant to anyone looking for a relaxing, enjoyable dining experience. From the service to the food, Yucatán is below average. Don't let the pretty awning fool you.