Review: Village Social Kitchen in Mt. Kisco, warm, welcoming, lively and very popular

Monday, May 2, 2011
by Maryellen Phelan

On a recent Sunday evening, my husband and I and our “dining out” friends had an enjoyable time at the Village Social Kitchen and Bar on Main Street in Mt. Kisco.

As we entered the restaurant we were each pleasantly surprised by the feeling of warmth and being welcomed into the space by the hostess and by the restaurant’s layout and décor.  A big, beautiful bar and tables were located to the right of the main entrance. To the left of it, a variety of attractive tables and booths and novel seating arrangements were presented.  We were quickly transported from downtown Mt. Kisco to downtown New York City.

There were high ceilings supported by iron trusses throughout.  A large skylight with a swag of sailcloth draped beneath it was centered over the main dining room. The walls were covered with dark paneled barn siding adorned with several colorful paintings and interesting prints. A large front wall/door/window system let in plenty of light and access to outdoor dining in warmer months. The environment was, thankfully, completely different from the former Woody’s restaurant.

Packed by 6:45 p.m. on a Sunday evening

We arrived at 5:30 p.m. The tables were completely taken by 6:45 p.m. with adults and children too. The restaurant does not take reservations for less than six persons at a table.

The menu is American, but extensive and unique. It includes appetizers, salads, pastas, pizzas, sandwiches, entrees and sides. We ordered our appetizers first to enjoy while we continued to decide about entrees.

The sautéed shrimp with chorizo pan sauce, corn cake and pumpkin seed oil was a large portion, “delicious in every way” and “very filling.” The tuna tartare with Japanese basil and pink peppercorn vinaigrette was “fresh’ and “highly pleasing.” The grilled octopus with manzanilla olives, chorizo and saffron served on roasted garlic potato puree, was “an original offering” in a satisfying portion that was “wonderfully tender.” But a clams casino pizza with bacon, garlic and gremolota, larger than a personal pizza, was “undercooked and cold” and the topping combination “disappointing” and “bland tasting.”

All but one entrée a hit with the crowd

We were quite filled by now, but ignored our swelling tummies and continued to order and eat. For the main course we ordered a chopped salad of apples, toasted pine nuts, Brussels sprouts, red onion, grapes, feta cheese and balsamic vinaigrette that was declared “scrumptious.” We also enjoyed a “good, I like it” smoked salmon club sandwich with red onion, avocado and black pepper aioli served with “outstanding” sweet potato fries. The fish taco with tilapia, cilantro, avocado and lemon aioli was “tasty” and “fresh. But the wood roasted chicken dinner with potato gnudi, French beans and thyme pan sauce fell “short of the mark” and tasted “dry,” but the accompanying vegetables were “good.” We ordered two sides, Brussels sprouts and wild mushrooms, which were both “very flavorful.”

With dinner we had three glasses of wine by the glass. The chardonnay was “superb” and the cabernet “so-so.”

Dessert, the final frontier

We really were satiated, but we had our mission to accomplish. We ordered two desserts: The red velvet Twinkies were “delightful” and fun to look at as well as eat. The chocolate ganache was so good we ordered a second.

We also brought a quarto formagi pizza with prosciutto and balsamic vinegar home to my 20-something son, his very favorite.

The dinner bill with tax, excluding the take home order was about $200, $35 of which was spent on wine. The wait staff was excellent and very attentive throughout the entire meal.

In conclusion, I would say that the four of us definitely had a good dining experience at the Village Social Kitchen and Bar. It was a fun, easy, casual, interesting place to dine. Overall it filled the bill for good to very good food with a few inconsistencies.

The Village Social Kitchen and Bar is located at 251 Main St., Mt. Kisco, N.Y. 914-241-6200.

It is open for lunch, Tuesday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. -3 p.m.; Dinner, Tuesday – Thursday, 5:30 – 10:00 p.m.; Dinner, Friday and Saturday, 5:30 – 11:00 p.m.; and Sunday Brunch, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.; Sunday Dinner, 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.

It has quite a weekend bar scene, I am told by my son and his friends. There is plenty of private parking adjacent to the restaurant. It is handicap accessible. No reservations are taken except for parties of six or more. Catering is available.