“Come as Guests, Leave as Family.”
The Italian restaurant 25 North Ristorante could not have a more accurate slogan. When we arrived, we were immediately greeted by the grinning face of Jose, the manager (who turned out to be a former student of this teacher crew!). The staff ensured we were comfortable in our seats and allowed us to move out of the way of the glare of the setting sun on East Boston Post Road in Mamaroneck. And John, our waiter, was incredibly kind, attentive, and welcoming. The incredible service reflects the core values of proprietor William Vitale who opened the restaurant in 2014.
The restaurant has three levels; the lower level houses the bar, the second is the main dining room, and the top floor is a space for larger parties. And party people did! Even on a Wednesday night, the restaurant was filled with couples and families celebrating birthdays (out came a twirling flower candle and a song) and enjoying lively conversation.
With the glowy ambiance of a date night and accommodations like a section on the menu called “for the kiddos,” 25 North has something for everyone.
John made sure we knew that we could make changes to our dishes (“Do you like spicy peppers? We can swap out the angel hair for a vegetable!”) and eagerly offered up his enthusiasm for the quality of the options on the menu.
We sipped our half-priced bottle of wine (a Wednesday night special) while waiting for our plates to arrive, which came out quickly and were hot and tasty.
My chicken picante (a menu staple) was covered in gooey cheese with just the right amount of salt and a hint of tangy spice from the peppers. The meatballs we shared as an appetizer were well-seasoned, with a kick of heat at the end that a hunk of honey-drizzled pecorino from the antipasto plate could quickly abate.
We each enjoyed our meals immensely, and the best part? The portions are so generous we were able to take the rest home to enjoy again at another meal.
