Who doesn't love comfort food? It's why the French onion short rib at Freddy's in Pleasantville, with gruyere potato gratin and onion rings — a must if you're going for that 70s vibe — is the best thing I ate this week.
I have to confess I've loved this restaurant since the minute it opened in July 2022. That's because, as a person of a certain age, I remember old-timey eateries with cheery red and white checked tablecloths topped with white paper, buttery soft red seats and Tiffany-style lamps.
Add globe pendant lighting, a white-tiled bar, exposed red brick walls, gold-plated antique mirrors and a hodgepodge of old family photos and I've caught the nostalgic bug before I've even ordered my entrée.
I love ambiance with my meal and this place has it in spades with a decor that tugs at your memory. I also love the fact that it's husband and wife owned. It's a theme that I've written about in the past, most recently this past February, but also in 2021 when I interviewed owners Christina and Matt Safarowic in 2021 when they ran The Whitlock and Jay Street Cafe in Katonah.
The two, now married 10 years, "met cute" at The Cookery in Dobbs Ferry (he was a cook, she was a bartender) so the restaurant business is in their blood and part of their family.
It's that family love that also plays into Freddy's which is named after chef Matt's Safarowic’s father. The restaurant is an ode to the dinners his family ate together every night back when his father mandated that everyone be home at a certain time, to sit down and talk about your day — no TV or hats allowed (back then there were no cellphones).
"It didn't matter so much what we ate, only that we were together," said Matt Safarowic.
It's a ritual I also had in my family growing up and tried to instill with my own (now grown) kids. "Matt is able to tap into comfort food and hit those notes that evoke emotions," said Christina. "And it's in every dish he conceptualizes."
Matt said the eclectic menu of "upscale tavern food" is inspired, in part, by his Italian and Jewish heritage.
That means you'll find devilled eggs along with pigs in the blanket, carmelized onion dip, wings and pork belly lettuce wraps, with pickled veggies, sesame vinaigrette and peanuts.
You'll also find grilled octopus with citrus German potato salad, gremolata and chili oil; tuna tartare; smoked chicken; salads and Ricotta Gnocchi Bolognese as well as a range of drink options. Dare I say my short rib dish went perfectly with the spicy margarita? The restaurant has also recently added to its non-alcoholic offerings with Mionetto One, alcohol-removed premium sparkling wine.
My picks aside, I was curious what Freddy Safarowic likes. His favorite? The ever-classic Bolognese as well as the Char Siu Heritage Pork Chop with kimchi and vegetable fried rice.
If you go
Address: 472 Bedford Road, Pleasantville, 914-408-0048, freddyspleasantville.com.
Hours: 12 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday; on Friday from 12 to 3 p.m. and then from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; from 12 to 3 p.m. Sunday and then 4:30 to 8 p.m.
Good to know: New for the summer — Patty Wagon where chef Safarowic (or another chef from his staff) comes to your backyard for a grilled meal featuring a selection of three sandwiches and two sides for an hour and a half. And yes, his famous chorizo and shrimp burger is among the entrée choices. Email info@freddyspleasantville.com for more deets.
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Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter.
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