I visited Ramiro’s 954 restaurant as I was excited to try a Latin fusion eatery with a stellar reputation.  Located over the border of Northern Westchester in Mahopac NY, the restaurant is warm and inviting with bright colors and wood trim and ceiling beams that create the a Latin atmosphere. Ramiro’s 954 has a lovely menu with a contemporary of blend of cuisine from Spain and Latin America.

The bar offers a nice selection as well of cocktails and wine.  The White Sangria that I tried was one of the best I have ever had. Light, fruity and sweet and it made me feel like I was on vacation.  The classic Mojito is a perfect choice and was served in a tall glass with muddled mint leaves, lime, club soda and white rum and was delicious.

Ramiro’s offers a large selection of appetizers and it is hard to choose which one.  We sampled several from the menu.  Standouts for me are the Empanadas de Picadillo, a crispy turnover filled with ground beef, garlic, onion, pepper, red wine and served in a sweet chipotle cream sauce.  Everyone at the table thought they were fresh and fantastic.

Another nice choice is the Platano Relleno, a great dish comprised of fried sweet plantain stuffed with chicken, peppers and served with a black bean puree, queso fresco, and avocado sauce. A real knockout dish and great to share with your fellow dinner guests.

If you are a taco lover, try the Tacos Dorado, crispy corn tacos filled with BBQ pork, chipotle, mango salsa and queso fresco.  This was a big hit with the combo of BBQ and fresh ingredients.  There are 15 items alone on the appetizer menu.  Some of the appetizers are available in vegetarian form.

There is also a Ceviche menu and I highly recommend the trio tasting, which consists of Ceviche de Camaron: blanched shrimp, roasted tomato sauce and orange juice, onion, jalapeno pepper, avocado and cilantro. The other sample was Chifa de Atun, which is tuna in lime juice with seaweed salad, jalapenos and soy-habanero sauce.  The last of the ceviche trio was sliced salmon in lime juice with wasabi avocado sauce.  This innovative ceviche menu was delightful and was beautifully presented.

 

Main Course:  It was a challenge to narrow down our entree course as there is such a unique and interesting selection of dishes. There are 20 selections from which to choose.

The filled Mahi-Mahi (Dorado con Risotto) is a stellar pick.  Fresh grilled Mahi-Mahi is served with mushroom risotto, lime blackened sea salt butter in a sour orange reduction.  The fish was lightly grilled so that there was a perfect balance of grill flavor blended with the fresh tender fish.

 

 

If Paella is your favorite (as it is mine), go for the delicious traditional Spanish dish with saffron rice, and a healthy portion of shrimp, scallops, mussels, chicken and chorizo.

For shrimp lovers, try the Cameron Enchilado– seared shrimp served in a mild tomato sauce, diced grilled pineapple, rice and zucchini salad. This dish is a true masterpiece with a delectable blend of tastes and a nice presentation.

The meat lover in our party was very happy with the Grilled Skirt Steak served over morita chiles sauce, carmelized onions, green beans, and white rice.  There are quite a few beef and chicken choices as well as dishes for vegetarians.

Dessert:  Save room for the homemade desserts!  A unique selection is the  Bananas Fritas, crispy bananas coated in cornmeal and cinnamon served with caramel sauce with cinnamon cookies.  Tasty and creative!    Chocolate lovers will find the Torta de Chocolate the correct choice.  A chocolate tart served Latin style with vanilla ice cream and raspberry sauce.  The chocolate chip cheesecake is light and creamy and the perfect ending to this great meal.

 

I tried the Coconut Martini which can be enjoyed prior to you meal or as I did at the end.  The drink was cool and refreshing and gave me a taste of the tropics.

Ramiro’s is quite popular with the locals.  However, I felt that I was eating in a top Latin Bistro in New York City or Westchester.  Chef and owner Ramiro Jimenez has created a friendly, top quality restaurant, with great service, and an innovative and interesting menu with something for everyone.  He has also written a cookbook called the “Daily Feast Cookbook” and is passion for cooking is apparent.

So take the few extra minutes and cross over the Westchester border into Mahopac and taste the great menu at Ramiro’s 954

 

Ramiro’s 954

954 Route 6 Mahopac New York           tel: 845-621-3333

website :  http://www.ramiros954.com

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