Siete Ocho Siete is a Rhythmic Puerto Rican Feast!
POSTED: JANUARY 2012
After more than 25 years as Mamma Francesca and 4 months of renovation, owner Nick DiCostanzo surprised the Queen City and went Latin with the opening of Siete Ocho Siete, ‘Irresistibly Puerto Rican’ says the logo. It is named after the area code for Puetro Rico and it’s off to a hot start.
DiCostanzo has partnered with Lucas Lucido, a young dynamic veteran of the restaurant and nightlife scene in Manhattan and Westchester.
The 125-seat multi-faceted restaurant, with seasonal outdoor seating in the front and an enclosed sea-motif greenhouse in the rear overlooking New Rochelle’s boating clubs and Long Island Sound, offers traditional and contemporary Puerto Rican cuisine served in abundance with touches of the surrounding Caribbean. Multi-color cocktails are available from the sparkling new bar/lounge area, while rhythmic Latin music is filtered throughout the premises. Alternating multi-color lighting keeps the dining rooms awash in pastels all evening. DiCostanzo and Lucido serve up a rhythmic ode to the sights, sounds and flavors of Puerto Rico. It has plenty of salsa going for it in the kitchen and in the dining room. There are special events going on every night and the food, served with pizzazz, can be very tasty.
Check out such tempting starters and small bites as: delicious stuffed Chicken Empanadillas; Cigarros Puertoiqueno, pork and cassava rolled cigars with dipping sauce; Tostones Sol y Mar, green plantains topped with beef, pork, shrimp and cod fish; and refreshing Siete Ocho Siete Salad, with organic baby spinach, manadarin, cranberries, candied walnuts and tomatoes in a mango dressing.
Signature main courses include: traditional Mofongo, mashed green plantains filled with beef, chicken, shrimp or pork; giant bowls of Paella Siete Ocho Siete, yellow rice with seafood, chicken and chorizo; Pernil con Arroz y Gandules, roasted pork served with yellow pigeon pea rice; Pargo Entero al Volante, fried whole red snapper stuffed with seafood; traditional Ropa Vieja, braised shredded skirt steak served with black bean rice and sweet plantains; and Camarones en la Playa, grilled jumbo shrimp served with coconut rice. There is also a special La Mesa del Chef (the chef’s table) menu available nightly. A group of us recently shared a giant tender Pork Shank with all the trimmings. There’s even a Hamburguesa 787, a juicy 10 oz. burger with cheese, lettuce and tomato.
Save room for such signature desserts as: Tres Leches, 3 milk pound cake; Flan de Queso, Arroz con Leche de Coco, or Pudin de Pan de Chocolate, chocolate bread pudding. Portions are large so bring a hearty appetite, for sure!
Happy Hours run from 4 to 7pm. Monday to Thursday, buy one get one free. And there is a weekly entertainment schedule that includes free salsa lessons, live DJs, rotating salsa bands and Karaoke. The colorful bar/lounge will transport you to modern San Juan. Check ahead for details.
Siete Ocho Siete, 414 Pelham Road, New Rochelle. The restaurant is open 7 days a week. Lunch is served Monday - Saturday, noon to 3pm. Dinner starts at 5pm. Price range for starters: $6. to $18. Main courses range from: $14. to $48. Sunday buffet or a la carte brunch: 11am to 3pm. Bar/lounge. Specialty cocktails. Happy Hours: Monday - Thursday, 4pm to 7pm. Catering. Entertainment. Major credit cards. Proper casual dress. Free and valet parking. Reservations: 636-1229. www.sieteochosiete.com
(Morris Gut is a restaurant consultant and former restaurant trade magazine editor. He has been tracking and writing about the dining scene in greater Westchesterfor over 25 years. He may be reached at: 914-235-6591. E-mail: gutreactions@optonline.net)
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