Dining Destinations by Train II: Nino’s Restaurant

Editor's Note: A couple of Fridays ago, we brought you Karen Benvin Ransom's restaurant series, "Dining Destinations by Train" that's part cultural tidbits and part food. Today, she highlights Nino's Restaurant in Bedford Hills. 

Nino's Restaurant at 13 Adams St., Bedford Hills—directly across from the Bedford Hills train station—is a great place to meet after a day's work in the city or after a day of enjoying our area.

I met the famed Nino while dining with friends the other evening, and learned that this is his 24th restaurant. The others are in Candlewood Lake in Connecticut, Vero Beach in Florida and in New York City. His experience is very much in evidence with the excellence and high quality of the ambiance, menu, and attention to detail.

The restaurant is inviting with the warmth of wood and wainscoting. The glow of the fire from the brick oven is also visible as you enter. Dishes other than pizza are also finished in that oven. Pizza is also available for takeout along with the full menu.

There is a very elegant bar and an attractive wall of binned cases of their wine collection. There was a TV at the bar, which is great for those who just like to enjoy a drink and perhaps an appetizer. There is a granite island for the spillover crowd from the bar. The lighting is subdued and the fixtures, stunning. The music was light and not obtrusive.

Albert greeted us and offered us one of the two tables in their own nook in the front window just up off the sidewalk of Bedford Hills—great for watching people.

We were then served a basket of fresh bread with a plate of olives in a pool of virgin olive oil drizzled with a swirl of reduced balsamic vinegar and a small mound of freshly grated parmesan cheese.

What a wonderful and unique start!

The menu has a wide selection and the specials were extremely enticing.

We started by sharing an elegant plate of wild mushroom ravioli with a veal reduction for its sauce. The rim of the plate was dotted with a confetti sprinkling of finely minced red and green peppers. The texture of the pasta had a bite to it so we savored each nibble carefully in order to enjoy the flavors and textures.

We then opted to plunge right into our main courses.

The three entrees we shared were the Veal Al Limone, which is veal scaloppini sautéed in lemon and chardonnay served over a bed of fresh spinach. The pounded chicken breasts were grilled and served with a mound of fresh arugula tossed with tomatoes and fresh mozzarella with a lemon olive sauce.

I had sentimental reasons—a life/food connection as a reason for our third dish—the Gnocchi Al Pomodore Romantische. The sauce was superb—a fresh tomato basil sauce with roasted eggplant and fresh mozzarella.

The verdict on all three entrees was fresh, fresh, fresh! The meals were not stripped down—entrées had their own complements—the veal the mound of fresh spinach and the tossed arugula salad over the Paillard of Chicken. The sauces were unique to each dish and there was not even a mention of the possibility of a doggy bag! The wide selection of desserts was tempting but we had to pass since we were well sated with the fine meal.

Nino's has an elegant neighborhood feeling. We knew people at several of the tables. Reservations are suggested for weekends. There is a lovely back room for dining and can be reserved for private parties. So, come home to Nino's or top off your day to our area with a memorable meal. They are open from Noon till 10pm daily except for Sundays.

Ninos Restaurant
Location: 13 Adams St., Bedford Hills, NY 10507-1819
Phone: 914- 864-0400

About the writer: Karen Benvin Ransom is a longtime resident, business leader a realtor with Houlihan Lawrence. Her Web site is: Karen from Katonah.