Katonah has welcomed its newest eatery, The Whitlock to the neighborhood.  The Whitlock is a wonderful addition to the area and seemingly has already been warmly accepted by locals and foodies who are filling the establishment each evening.   The Whitlock takes its name from the first business in old Katonah which was a mill and a tavern owned by Whitlock and Wood.  The village would grow up from these humble beginnings to create a community.  The Whitlock is continuing in that tradition.  Operators Matt and Christina Safarowic have opened a restaurant that creates a warm and inviting place to drink and dine.  Food is locally sourced and the menu has been crafted to focus on flavors unique to each dish as well as a simple but elegant presentation.

Upon entering you feel instantly comfortable and at home, a  unique feeling in a new restaurant.  The Whitlock is small with three separate dining areas, two with tables and the bar room with seating at the bar and at cozy pub tables.  The design is upscale tavern with dark painted wood,  and softened by art work decorating the walls.  A recent Saturday night was filled with families, couples and groups of friends enjoying the fun atmosphere and food on a chilly January evening.

We started with cocktails and the Whitlock provides a full bar with 15 beers available including 9 craft beers.  Wine is available by the glass or bottle with fine selections from Italy, France, Spain, Argentina and California.   A pleasant selection of craft cocktails awaits including two we sampled, Strawberry Fields Forever with Tito’s Vodka, strawberry and other flavors and the more potent Maria Maria, a tequila based cocktail with raspberries, lime, prosecco and agave.

For appetizers there are four salads available (full or half) and 12 other appetizers with pork, seafood, chicken, beef and veggie selections.   We choose the Fish Tacos ($14) and the Tuna Tartare ($16).  The fish tacos come three on a plate and are filled with seared cod, cabbage and a mango jalapeno relish.  A fantastic dish to enjoy on your own or share.  The fresh cod and relish combined to create a unique flavor that lingers on the tongue.   The Tuna Tartare was served in a bowl featuring a vibrant and flavorful medley of fresh tuna, avocado, cucumber, grapefruit, jalapeno, and coconut milk.

For entree’s The Whitlock offers 8 different items including seafood, pork, beef and chicken and  a veggie burger as the sole vegetarian option.  We ordered the wonderful Wild Salmon ($26) and the Organic Chicken ($26).    The salmon was delicious, cooked to perfection and served with wild mushroom farro, citrus and celery root salad.  So often salmon can be served under or over cooked and here the chef was spot on, delivering a dish full of healthy flavor.

The Organic Chicken was served french cut (chicken breast with the wing attached) which is an attractive cut.  The herb roasted organic chicken was a delight, and was served with a comforting helping of grits, honey, and spinach.  The perfect dish on a cold winter’s evening (and probably anytime).

 

If you desire dessert, The Whitlock offers seven selections and we sampled the Apple Crumb Cake served with Longford’s (of Rye) ice cream, and almonds.  A nice and comforting dessert to round out our dining experience.

The Whitlock has already opened its doors to the community and has created a fun place to gather with friends and family  and enjoy  a wonderful menu of New American cuisine and drink.  It is only a matter of time before word spreads that Katonah’s  newest eatery is the place to be.

The Whitlock

17 Katonah Avenue Katonah NY

tel. 914.232.8030          web:  https://www.thewhitlockny.com

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