Mulino’s of Westchester has been our go to restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner over the past four years. It has never disappointed. This year was no exception.
To start, it is very easy to find in downtown White Plains with valet parking or metered self-serve parking in the municipal lot across the street.
The restaurant outdoes itself every year with its Christmas decorations which are fully assembled two weeks in advance of the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Descend the steps to enter a magical wonderland of animated life-size nutcrackers and reindeer, sparkling trees, wreaths and candy canes with twinkling lights at every turn. It feels like the North Pole meets Hollywood, red carpet and all. Crisp white linen tablecloths on every table offset the rainbow of colors and lights that abound throughout the space.
A cheerful host is there to greet you as he checks your reservation and has someone escort you and your party to your table. This year it was just myself and my son. I treasure this time together with my son as we sit down to enjoy each other’s company for another Holiday meal.
I have turned him into a foodie, much like my parents did with me. And like my parents often did with me, I derive great pleasure from being able to treat my son to a nice meal. So it is we settle in to take a look at the menu, enjoy the ambiance and each other. So much to be thankful for!
The waiter offers the special of the night, a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. But, we are both more interested in the traditional Northern Italian cuisine that their regular menu is known for. Ben orders a beer and I order a ginger ale to start. A waiter brings us our drinks along with a soprassatto and cheese appetizer offered on the house as we decide on our mains. A nice touch. With very attentive service.
Along came a bread basket, with a soft and fluffy loaf of bread and a tub of butter, also on the house. Another lovely gift, which we both devoured, as well as aptly utilized to soak up the delectable sauces in all of our dishes. It seems so rare to be offered a bread basket (once a staple offering when dining out) at restaurants these days, yet, again, so greatly appreciated. It is, no doubt, these thoughtful and traditional touches that are among so many factors that have kept this award-winning restaurant in business for over 30 years!
We started with a Spaghetti Carbonara, which we split, given their generous sized portions. This was a delicious and tasty first course that we both enjoyed immensely. The spaghetti was served with a delectable blend of bacon and sliced onion sautéed with parmigiano and pecorino cheese. And topped with more freshly grated parmigiano cheese!
I ordered the Veal Scaloppine Excelsior, aptly described as veal sautéed with mushrooms and asparagus in a delicious blend of lemon butter and white wine sauce. It was equally on point.
Ben ordered the Pollo Alla Scarpariello, described as morsels of chicken breast sautéed with garlic, wine and rosemary. Beautiful presentation with a rave review from my son.
The waiter also brought us a dish of mashed potatoes, which he offered on the house. Another lovely gift. Soft and fluffy, with a sprinkle of parsley to dress it up. My son wasted no time in digging in!
There was more than enough food for us both.
And yet, somehow my son found plenty of room for dessert. He ordered the famous Mulino’s Homemade Italian Cheesecake. I ordered a cappuccino. His cheesecake came beautifully garnished on a pretty plate. He devoured every bite, exclaiming it was the best cheesecake he ever had!
My cappuccino hit the spot. And we both came away from this meal feeling fully satiated and satisfied, with enough time to continue enjoying the decor before heading back to Ben’s apartment.
A perfect celebration. Another lovely memory.
Mulino’s is open seven days a week.
Lunch: Monday-Friday, 11:30am-3pm
Dinner: Monday-Friday, 4pm-9:30pm, Saturday, 4pm-10:30pm, Sunday, 4pm-8:30pm
Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling Mulino’s directly or through Open Table.
Mulino’s of Westchester
99 Court Street,
White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 761-1818
