First Look: Finalmente in Sleepy Hollow
Finalmente, a trattoria and wine bar, is one of two new restaurants in Sleepy Hollow (the other is Bridge View Tavern). The restaurant is very sexy, and the brick walls, heavy curtains and low lighting all feel rather Renaissance-boudoir.
I tried two appetziers and two pastas. The lamb ragu — described on the menu as a “Mediterranean meat sauce,” perhaps to tempt people who don’t normally eat lamb — was terrific. After the jump, photos of my meal, and a 20-picture slideshow of the interior with several other dishes from the menu, too.
Here’s my orecchiette with “Mediterranean meat sauce”:
Rich and sultry, like the restaurant.
This other pasta was good but not as complex:
(I’m so sorry… I spaced on the name of it.)
We also tried the stuffed mushroom appetizer (very nice) and a salad with bitter greens and cherry tomatoes (good but could have done without the tomatoes).
The crowd was mixed. There were some regulars (already!) at the bar, and a few couples there on dates, but there were also big family groups and one table that seemed like a reunion of a daughter, her mother and a million great aunts.
It’s definitely the sort of restaurant built to handle any of those diners: you can stop in for drink, go for a romantic evening or book a 10-top with your friends.
Here’s a slideshow by Maureen Fleming, who photographed the restaurant for Hudson Valley Metromix: (click on the little bubble on the left to see the captions):
Have you been yet? What do you think?
The 411 is coming soon. Til then: 31 Beekman Ave., Sleepy Hollow. 914 909 4787.
cant wait to check it out looks nice took a really long time to open over 2 years
At the top of this post, there is a rating of 1 star out of 5 for this restaurant based on 3 votes.
Is this indicative of the quality of the restaurant? I was thinking of going this weekend with 5 people, but now Im leery. Help!
Michael, I don’t rate the restaurants — the readers do. They’re anonymous votes. Take them with a grain of salt. The restaurant is very comfortable and very good looking. The food I had was good, not know-you-down-crying. Not one star, but not five either.
I just called the number. They do not take reservations. Thats a problem for me for a party of 5 on a weekend night.
If im going to come from Rockland at 830pm, I’d like a reservation so I know we have a table.
Im not going to come that far to find its an hour wait. Perhaps they should reconsider the policy. They just lost 5 diners.
Michael, don’t be leery—they don’t take reservations on a weeknight, but you will have a table. Even on weekends, when they are slammed, you will get a table in short order. Readjust to think NYC and you will feel fine. They have a bar where they will let you wait if there is a wait. The food is great and I’m a really picky sort. Also, and this isn’t something that came out in the review, their prices are fabulous. I got a very drinkable bottle of Primitivo for $20. At some point the price will rise, but enjoy the great food and insanely low prices while they last.
My husband and I enjoyed the most wonderful dinner last evening. We arrived at 8pm (no wait and a few empty tables). The service was informative and efficient. We had a glass of Merlot, the Rossa salad (a beet and radichio mix wiht soft cheese) was fabulous, then the entree mussels in a spicy red sauce that wasn’t marinara like it actually had a nice red pepper kick to it. I can’t wait to return to try some other dishes. This is a wonderful place for our community.
I’ve been to Finalmente twice: the first time on New Years Eve. The food is wonderful – There were 4 of us on New Years and we each ordered something different so everyone could have a taste. Everything was excellent! It has the look (and the taste) of a NYC restaurant.
The second time I went was on my birthday and everything was still wonderful! It’s definitely worth the trip!