Nessa

Nessa is amongst my top 3 restaurants in Port Chester. I can still remember my first time going.

I went for my friend, Elinor's birthday and was told that Nessa had the best cocktails in Port Chester. Interested to know more I made my way to the bar where I was introduced to the head bartender. He and I spoke about my drink preferences for some time before he suggested a Mint Julep.

My family owns horses and I have been intimately acquainted with the sport and tradition for my whole life. Somehow, the Mint Julep has always eluded me. I quickly accepted and watched as he wasted no effort to craft a truly world-class drink. It was like nothing I have ever tasted before.

That day the Mint Julep became my signature drink. I soon found out, however, that there were few bars in Westchester that would even try to make one. The ones that did, failed. Even at Frankie and Johnny's (which is delicious, by the way), failed miserably at making one for me. Twice. The second time I even told the bartender the exact recipe and somehow got it with gin, sour mix, and garnished with a lemon. Absurd.

Nonetheless, I digress from the review of this restaurant. I also had the great fortune that day of eating at Nessa and trying their Carpaccio and Veal Rigatoni Bolognese. I was shocked. It was incredible and far too good for the price, I thought. Nessa is like that small, local, incredible Brooklyn restaurant that's cash only and you want to go to every day before people find out about it and oversaturate it.

Since then I have made Nessa one of my regular haunts and my go to for romantic evenings, business meetings, and just a casual dinner with friends and family. I have enjoyed the outdoor patio seating and garden, gone for a large party, for the bar, and of course for dinners. I have tried almost everything on the menu and can say now with confidence that it is, as of now, my favorite restaurant in Port Chester.

What a joke. 1st time and last time there. As a chef and a "foodie" take this with full confidence as it is true. Valet parking , nice. Great server. Belongs in a much better restaurant. There was no penalty in his tip for the rest of the establishments lacking. Carpaccio to start. a great cut of beef, drowned in mayo, truffle oil, parmesan cheese and baby artichoke hearts. Way out of balance and may have been better with 3 more martinis. Osso Buco was one of the specials. More like special ed. This cook, can't call him chef, wouldn't know Osso Buco if it slapped him in the head. It was surved on bed of overcooked wallpaper paste with mushrooms. Oh. sorry, I mean Risotto. It is a mystery how one could fowl up such good ingredients to work with. The veal itself was violated with lack of seasoning and true Osso Buco ingredients. There was no tomato harmed in the making of this dish, nor wine or herbs or any other flavor other than the veal boiled in water for a long time. So I'm thinking "Whatever" anyone can have a bad night. My wife had the short rib dish which was ok. When ordering an after dinner drink, the waiter seemed very unaware of what was available for ports. The tall bald bar tender with glasses yells to him "we have a 10 and a 20" I said ok, 2 glasses of the 20. As the waiter reports our order, I hear an "Oh Shit" which catches my attention. So as I watch the bar tender pour our 20 year old port into snifters, yes snifters, The second pour come up short. Now I know where the "Oh Shit" came from. He looks to his left, then right, he grabs the bottle of 10 year old and tops off both snifters and calls for the waiter to bring the drinks to us. Immediately when the waiter tries to put these drinks in front of us, I said whoooah. I just watched the bar tender top these both off with the 10 year old. Even the waiter didn't know what was going on. Then he says, "if they don't like it, they don't have to pay for it" Big Fat DUhhhhhh!. This was my wife's Birthday dinner. Sorry Babe. Next time er go to Char or Tarry Lodge where we get out money's worth. Beer Menu at Champagne prices .

Food was really excellent, had dinner, drinks and dessert. Not painfully expensive either. The owner happened to be outside the night we went, friendly guy.

Great service and a fun environment to have an excellent authentic-style Italian meal. The banana nutella crepe is a fantastic dessert option.

THE BEST