Veteran food writer Morris Gut shares his favorite Westchester and Bronx restaurants of 2025, plus winter farmers markets worth visiting in 2026
By Morris Gut
NY Dining Scene
Manhattan Voice
December 2025
If you’re searching for best restaurants in Westchester County, classic Bronx eateries, or where to eat near Long Island Sound, read on.
Mamma’s Sunday Sauce at Mamma Francesca, New Rochelle
When Nick DiCostanzo talks about food, you hear the echoes of his childhood on the Island of Ischia, off the coast of Naples. Those memories—simple seaside meals, fresh ingredients, family around the table—still guide the kitchen at Mamma Francesca, a New Rochelle institution for nearly 40 years.
Set along the banks of Long Island Sound, the restaurant offers sweeping water views and a menu rooted in Italian-American comfort food done right. Standout dishes include freshly made manicotti, calamari fritti, Ischia salad, chicken parmigiana, misto frutti di mare, and rabbit cacciatore. But the star is the hearty Italian Sunday sauce, rich, slow-simmered, and deeply satisfying.
Add in a wood-burning pizza oven, daily happy hours, off-premise catering, and free parking, and you have one of the best Italian restaurants in New Rochelle—still going strong.
Mamma Francesca
414 Pelham Road, New Rochelle
914-636-1229 | www.mammafrancesca.com
The Johnson: A Modern Diner in Riverdale, Bronx
Classic diners are having a moment, and The Johnson Diner & Bar in Riverdale proves why. Opened by partners John Solo, Stefanos Katsikoumbas, and George Ballis, The Johnson blends nostalgic diner vibes with a contemporary menu and full bar.
Open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it’s a reliable stop whether you’re craving breakfast all day or a proper steak at night. The menu ranges from eggs Benedict and corned beef hash to Cobb salad, Pat LaFrieda burgers, eggplant parmigiana, moussaka, and a well-executed 14-ounce ribeye.
Service is warm and efficient, thanks to general manager Peter and his team, and the towering seven-layer cake is more than enough to share. If you’re Googling “best diner in Riverdale Bronx” or “modern diner with cocktails near me,” this one belongs on your list.
The Johnson Diner & Bar
3533 Johnson Ave., Riverdale, Bronx
315-677-7665 | www.thejohnsondinerbar.com
Liebman’s Traditional Delicatessen: Old-World Jewish Comfort Food
Few places define classic kosher Jewish delis in the Bronx like Liebman’s, serving Riverdale since 1953. The good news for pastrami lovers? Owners Yuval Dekel and Craig Weitz have expanded with a new Liebman’s location in Ardsley, bringing their revered menu to Westchester.
Expect everything you want from an authentic Jewish delicatessen: matzo ball soup, knishes, frankfurters with mustard and sauerkraut, smoked fish and appetizing, overstuffed corned beef and pastrami sandwiches, stuffed cabbage, Hungarian goulash, and chicken in the pot with all the fixings.
Whether you dine in, take out, or order delivery, Liebman’s remains a gold standard for traditional Jewish deli food in Westchester and the Bronx.
Liebman’s Delicatessen
Riverdale: 552 W. 235 St., Bronx | 718-548-4534
Ardsley: 472 Ashford Ave. | 914-231-6222
www.liebmansdeli.com
Hearty Sunday Roast at Jill’s Bar & Restaurant, Mamaroneck
The team behind Jack’s Bar & Kitchen—Ro Flanagan, Shane Clifford, and chef Brendan Donohue—hit another sweet spot with Jill’s Bar & Restaurant in Mamaroneck, located across from Harbor Island Park.
Jill’s channels modern Irish hospitality with a menu that mixes gastropub favorites and contemporary American and European dishes. Highlights include the fried chicken sandwich, truffle parm fries, chili-roasted cauliflower, lobster Cobb salad, braised beef short ribs, and ahi tuna bowl.
But the real draw? A proper Sunday roast, the kind that makes Jill’s one of the most comforting places for Sunday dinner in Westchester County. Add happy hours, weekend brunch, and a welcoming room, and you’ve got a neighborhood favorite.
Jill’s Bar & Restaurant
100 W. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck
914-341-1776 | www.jillsbarandrestaurant.com
Winter Farmers Markets Worth Visiting Right Now
Think farmers markets shut down in winter? Think again. Several Westchester and Hudson Valley winter farmers markets operate year-round, offering meats, cheeses, breads, jams, and artisanal goods—even when produce is limited.
Markets worth the winter drive include:
- Pleasantville Farmers Market – Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
- Larchmont Winter Farmers Market – Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
- Irvington Winter Farmers’ Market – Sundays, 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
- Hastings-on-Hudson Winter Farmers’ Market – Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
- Gossett’s Farm Market, South Salem – Saturdays, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
- Cold Spring Indoor Farmers Market – Saturdays, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Check times before heading out, but rest assured: local food culture doesn’t hibernate.
Final Bite
From Italian Sunday sauce to diner classics, Jewish deli staples, Irish-inspired comfort food, and winter farmers markets, 2025 proved that great local dining is alive and thriving. These are places worth revisiting—and recommending—as we head into 2026.
(Morris Gut is a restaurant marketing consultant and former restaurant trade magazine editor. He has covered the Bronx and Westchester dining scene for more than 30 years. Contact: 914-235-6591 | gutreactions@optonline.net)
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