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.