Page 39 - 914INC - Q4 - 2013

The building itself, with a Mediterranean-style exterior and lodge- like interior, features 14,000 square feet of genuine hospitality, with an intimate main dining room, a mezzanine dining room with a bird’s-eye view of the kitchen, and spacious banquet facilities that can be configured any way you like (a dance floor perhaps?). A minimum group of 75 is needed to book a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, but on any other night, 50 is fine (the room holds up to 200 with no dance floor; 175 with dance floor). You can have it set up for buffet or plated dining. Most packages include a cocktail hour with cheese and crudité station; sit-down meal with a choice of three main-course options (chicken, fish, meat); a custom-baked and inscribed cake; and unlimited beer, wine, and soda. Though steak is the focus here, there are also plenty of other options including maple-glazed wild salmon and stuffed roasted chicken. The wine list is impressive, too, and is strong on US options from California and the Northwest, though France, Italy, South American, and Australia are also well represented.
Fine Print: For small groups of 36 or fewer (minimum 15), there’s a separate dining room off the main room, with a view of the open kitchen. The room is sunny and can be configured into three round tables or one large table. The proprietors, who also own Goldfish Restaurant in Ossining and Casa Rina of Thornwood, hope to set up a wine cellar on the second floor with a conference table and VIP tastings and events. Prices vary depend- ing on the package; there’s basic, premium, and platinum, as well as a buffet plan; most start at $65 per person for dinner. There is a $1,000 deposit required for the banquet room for weeknights; $2,000 for a Saturday night.
Reserve: 101 Saw Mill River Rd, Hawthorne (914) 703-4112; thestonemanor101.com
Mulino's of Westchester
For the Spirited Workplace:
Mulino’s of Westchester
Why It Works: This upscale Italian favorite has been serving Westchesterites for more than 20 years, and fans come to the restaurant for is its elegant setting and reliable, delicious food, from prime cuts of meat to top-notch Italian fare (e.g., osso buco, orange roughy, and black linguini with baby lobster tails). But what makes this time of year so special is the way Mulino’s goes all out for the holidays—think the old Tavern on the Green with it’s over-the-top décor: a full Santa’s workshop display, rows of sparkling lights, Christmas ornaments and trinkets, nutcrackers, and a dash of reindeer, not to mention colorful decorations and wreaths dazzling the front entrance as well as the outdoor water- fall area. It’s simply a gorgeous winter wonderland that’s bound to put even Christmas curmudgeons into the holiday spirit. The week before Christmas, there are carolers who come in to sing, and all month long there are roasted chestnuts served upon departure. An upper and lower dining room is available for corporate meals (there is no private room). The space ideally works for a party of 50 or fewer, though more can be accommodated.
Fine Print: There is a Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Ultimate Party package, with prices ranging from $65.50 per person to $129.50.
Reserve: 99 Court St, White Plains (914) 761-1818; mulinosny. com. Ask for Jimmy or Tommy.
Frequent 914INC Contributor Jeanne Muchnick (jeannemuchnick. com) is a big believer in memorable meals filled with chocolate, wine, and lots of leftovers.
westchestermagazine.com
75