DINING OUT with Morris Gut
Jack & Jill’s are now serving in Westchester! Partners Ro Flanagan, Shane Clifford and Brendan Donohue have opened Jill’s Bar & Restaurant in Mamaroneck, just across from Harbor Island Park. Clifford and Flanagan, who are husband and wife, also operate the popular Jack’s Bar & Restaurant in Eastchester. It’s a dynamic creative matchup that is sure to bring Westchester’s Sound Shore communities good food and conviviality. Ro will be hosting daily meeting and greeting. The restaurant is her vision.
Jill’s is a colorful 90-seat environment. Walk inside the airy dining room and be lavished with a palette of colors: blue, green, pink, orange, yellow and flowery murals covering the walls. The daylight spills through large picture windows highlighting the long bar and marble mosaic tiled floors and artwork. Contemporary lighting and multi-color velvet cushioned high tops and tables surround the room. There is a semi-private banquette seating area for greater intimacy. It had been the site of a number of restaurants, including long running Lum Yen.
Talented Chef Brendan Donohue, who trained at IT Tallght Culinary School in Ireland, has been cooking for 20 years. He created a stir at Jack’s. According to Donohue, the eclectic menu at Jill’s is an ode to ‘new European’ along with popular Irish American specialties brought over from Jack’s.
The menu offers ‘Jack’s Staples & Snacks’: Short Rib Mac & Cheese, Grilled Lamb Lollipops, Birria Nachos, Jack’s Breaded Wings with choice of sauce. Or you can hunker down with new starters: East Coast Oysters, Crispy Duck Pancakes, Panko Crusted Burrata and a Mezze Platter for two.
‘Salads & Flatbread’ include Lobster Cobb, Ahi Tuna Bowl, The Mush Flatbread with oyster mushrooms, prosciutto, burrata, basil pesto, tomato sauce. ‘Handhelds’ include Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich; Veggie Sliders; and an American Wagyu Beef Burger. Hearty main courses: an18 oz. Black Angus NY Strip Steak with stilton spuds, overnight tomato, charred broccolini, green peppercorn sauce; Guinness Braised Beef Short Ribs with Jill’s roasties; Half Roasted Petite Chicken; Seared Scallops; and a Non-Traditional Fish & Chips, pan seared cod filet in caper butter, crispy beer battered twills, house tartar, mint pea puree and house fries.
A relaxing Weekend Brunch is served Saturday & Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Specialties include Egglettes, Benny’s, Irish Mammy’s Eggs & Soldiers, Kale Caesar Salad, and Chicken & Biscuits. There is a bottomless brunch option.
The house prides itself on a variety of curated specialty cocktails, draft and bottled beers, and vintage wines. The bar is a great place for networking. Happy hours feature specially priced cocktails and bar snacks: Tuesday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Jill’s Bar & Restaurant is located at 100 W. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck. Open 7 days for lunch, dinner & weekend brunch. Main courses: $17 to $47. Bar/cocktails. Happy hours. TVs Take out. Semi-private party facilities. Free parking & municipal parking, free evenings. Reservations accepted. 914-341-1776. www.jillsbarandrestaurant.com
(Morris Gut is a restaurant marketing consultant and former restaurant trade magazine editor. He has been tracking and writing about the food and dining scene in greater Westchester for over 30 years. He may be reached at: 914-235-6591. Email: gutreactions@optonline.net)
