Poetic Asian food in Westchester

By Donna Christopher

My pad Thai loving daughter first suggested I try the noodles. Since then I can’t get enough of them.

Lately I ordered it for lunch at Haiku Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar in Cross River, N.Y.

Luckily I was in with a colleague and the mid-day budgetary menu offered noon to 3 p.m. daily meant two of us ate for $20 including tip.

Haiku, where I’ve eaten previously, is a place I’ll suggest when a family or friend is willing to drive up from New York and meet me “half-way.” Well sort of.

I’d guess my coworker drove 20-30 minutes, while it took me 15 from Ridgefield. Cross River for the uninitiated is minutes from Katonah and I-684 Exit 6.

Our meeting was social and lasted 4 hours – thankfully the establishment is open all day until 9:30 so we never felt rushed.

So if you enjoy Asian and want a suitable meeting spot (White Plains is about 20 minutes away) try Haiku.

Here’s what to expect.

Sushi foremost is from a menu exceeding any expectation, I am confident. And since I’ve eaten only that on previous trips I recommend any special roll on the board the day you go.

Meanwhile, there are dozens of varied dishes, ranging from Chinese, to Japanese to Thai. Some are ordinary, others exotic.

The décor is easy on the eyes, an unobtrusive color scheme mostly of cognac woods punctuated with red lanterns throughout. Soft lighting and background music are part of the experience and servers here too offer efficient, genteel service, nothing showy.

I learned Haiku poetry in 3rd grade and liked writing the short verses, sticking to the “rules” that words painstakingly chosen should evoke nature and the 5 senses. The name works well to describe this restaurant. Food plates are presented in an artsy-earthy way I usually think.

 My noodles, for example, were loosely piled across a pretty platter that included small pyramids sculpted of carrot curls as fine as thread and crushed peanuts generously plentiful as garnishes.

Prior I had enjoyed a small bowl of wonton soup I deem memorable because the tiny dimpled dumpling wrappers were paper thin and the mini meatballs peaked through.

 The lunch met my family/unemployed for now budget with sushi bar options, ranging from $10.95 to $18.95. Less expensive are the Asian lunch dishes that include three rolls for $13.95, inarguably a deal. Also priced nicely, $7.75 to $10.95, are typical Asian fare of chicken with broccoli in brown sauce, Szechuan peppercorn crispy white meat chicken, and prawns and vegetable tempura.

Up next to try would be appetizers, chicken or beef stay, Vietnamese style sashimi wrapped, and yellowtail jalapeno perhaps.

Haiku is at Cross River Shopping Center at the Route 35/121 intersection.

For more information, call 914-763-9120