I had the opportunity to experience dining at The Thorn Restaurant and Bar in Thornwood, NY. The restaurant is becoming a new Westchester hot spot due to its innovative take on Mediterranean classics and more.
My husband and I were excited to have a mid-week date night in our neighborhood, and The Thorn was the perfect spot. Upon entering, we were greeted with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The staff is friendly and attentive, ensuring the entire experience is memorable.
The Thorn opened in the Fall of 2022 when owners and brothers-in-law Mario Kacaj and Tonin Syku came together to bring a taste of the Mediterranean to Westchester. Both have an abundance of experience working in the restaurant and bar industry, and it was during the pandemic that they came up with the idea of bringing their exquisite vision to life.
Since the Mediterranean is known for its vibrant flowers and medieval waterfront castles, Kacaj and Syku wanted to incorporate this old-time history and florals into a restaurant name with a bigger meaning. The Thorn plays off the name of the town in which it’s located (Thornwood), and its name is also a perfect representation of the Poison song lyrics “Every Rose has its Thorn.” Incidentally, Poison is one of my husband’s favorite bands from childhood, and we happened to be seated beneath beautiful pink cherry blossoms – one of my favorite flowers.
The owners say, “We want people to walk in and be taken away by what they see: that an exterior Thorn can be accompanied by interior beauty.”
Syku and Kacaj’s vision is to offer diners a new experience by bringing them Mediterranean dishes not yet well-known in Westchester. The partners have tailored an unforgettable menu of food and drinks that will have diners booking their next flight to the Mediterranean. When asked what three words they’d use to describe The Thorn, they offered quality, service, and hospitality. All three truly shine through in the dishes and the atmosphere.
As for their signature dishes, everything we sampled was delicious. My husband enjoyed homemade Gnocchi featuring a fresh take on pesto using broccoli rabe and pine nuts with zesty lemon ricotta. My meal was comforting – a tender braised short rib with a tomato confit, mashed potatoes, and carrots.
Unfortunately for me, I didn’t save room for the homemade baklava, but there’s always next time. Some other popular dishes at The Thorn are the grilled branzino, the beef kofte, livornese mussels with sausage, and the pistachio falafel, featured in the Journal News Top Eats.
Check out The Thorn for your next date night, girls’ night, or family meal. Located at 607 Columbus Avenue, Thornwood, The Thorn is open for lunch daily from 12-3 p.m. and dinner from 5-9 p.m. (10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday). They are closed Mondays.
