Bartaco
Casual and chic perfectly collide at Bartaco in Port Chester. Just about 20 minutes away from Hackley, Bartaco feels like an escape to a beachy town in the midst of summer all year around. A fun, lively, and constantly busy environment, Bartaco is the perfect place to go with your friends, or on a date. Bartaco offers a unique ordering process; instead of telling the waiter what you want, each table fills out a meal card, making for a quick and efficient ordering service. While the restaurant does a good job about not making you feel rushed, every food order feels expedited and comes out fast. While some of the flavors require a broader taste palate, there are tons of dishes we love, including the tacos — our favorite’s are the Baja Fish and Rib Eye, and if you’re looking for a fresh, light dish, the ceviche. For dessert, make sure to order the churros; the mixture of the warm churro and the dipping chocolate simply melts in your mouth. Prices are affordable, and parking is easy.
Kira
Look no further for fresh sushi in Westchester; Kira Asian Bistro in Armonk is your destination for delicious sushi. Located minutes away from 684, Kira is a convenient spot to meet with all your friends from Hackley that live spread out over the county. Although Kira offers a variety of different types of sushi, it also offers a broad selection of classic Chinese meals like General Tso’s Chicken and Spicy Crunchy Beef. The environment is relaxed, but since the space is small, expect it to get busy on Friday and Saturday night. Although the place can get relatively crowded, the food always seems to come out quick, and the waiters are friendly. Parking is free and easy.
La Provence
Amazing salads, combined with creamy frozen yogurt, make La Provence the perfect place for a delicious lunch. Conveniently located in the Bloomingdales of White Plains, La Provence provides the perfect pitstop if you need a little break from all the shopping cardio. Although La Provence is quiet, the restaurant is beautifully decorated and chic. Unlike many other restaurants, La Provence provides its customers with a buffet style salad bar (free with any main course) that also contains side dishes such as Chili and sautéed beets. Our favorites on the menu include all the delicious salads (that you can customize—just ask your waiter) and the must have fro-yo which is perfect to split with a few friends if you order a large. The waiters are friendly and the service is relatively fast. Parking is very easy in the large, free Bloomingdales parking lot.
Lefteris Gyro
Lefteris Gyro is the ideal restaurant to visit with friends. Located five minutes from Hackley in Tarrytown, Lefteris offers authentic Greek cuisine and especially fast service. To start, share some warm pita bread with tzatziki and hummus with the table. Make sure to also taste the spanakopita, a spinach pie, and the falafel platter. If you are feeling brave, try the octopus, a Greek classic that is grilled over an open flame. Finish off your meal with the baklava, a Mediterranean dessert made of stacked dough filled with honey and nuts. In the spring, Lefteris sets up tables outside on the sidewalk. Surrounded by flowers and vines, the tables are the perfect place to enjoy the afternoon. Parking on the streets in Tarrytown can be difficult, so try parking in the large lot right off of Main Street. After the meal, explore the charming streets of Tarrytown, with several fun shops and delicious ice cream.
All photos by Isabella Berland.
