By Karen Talbot

April 17, 2024: One Pier Steakhouse has just opened on the Yonkers waterfront at 1 Van Der Donck Street (914-457-0222).

Longtime restaurateur and Yonkers resident Jimmy Rugova, the General Manager and part-owner, and his three brothers decided it was time for something new after 14 years.

The restaurant is handsome, with dark wood accents, a high black ceiling adorned with attractive globe lights, and a tiled floor. High-backed banquettes lend an air of privacy to your dining experience, and there is a very large bar gracing the main dining room.

For "Soup & Salad," French onion soup and five salad choices are offered.

For a "Starter," we chose Skewers, a succulent and flavorful mix of bite-size beef, shrimp, and chicken in chimichurri sauce.

In the "Signature Dishes" category, we had the Lobster Ravioli with tasty shrimp and asparagus in a vodka sauce and the Smash Cheeseburger, which was juicy and enjoyable. The burger consisted of two 4 oz. Pat La Freida beef patties with your choice of cheese, lettuce, tomato, and red onion, dressed in horseradish aioli. It was served with perfect french fries. The restaurant also offers sweet potato, truffle, and waffle fries.

If you are looking for a mouth-watering steak, you have come to the right place. You can choose from NY Strip, Ribeye, Flank, Filet Mignon, Skirt, or a 32-oz Porterhouse for two for $84. The other steaks range from $24 to $42. Seafood dishes are also available, including Shrimp, Salmon, Branzino, Chilean Sea Bass, Tuna, and Crabcake.

For dessert, the Carrot Cake is a divine choice with caramel sauce, whipped cream, candied carrots in a black rum syrup, and Longford's Espresso Explosion ice cream! The coffee and espresso served here are from Double Barrel Roasters of Yonkers.

The creative Chef, Manuel Saldivar, puts a delicious spin on all the dishes he serves. Service was efficient, and our waiter, DJ, couldn't have been nicer and more informative.

Upstairs is a private dining room that can accommodate 60 people for a sit-down and 100 for a cocktail event. Dining Al Fresco will soon be available in the outdoor dining space.

One Pier Steakhouse is open seven days a week from 11:45 am to 9:45 pm on weekdays, Fri. and Sat. until 10:45 pm, and Sun. until 8:45 pm.

Jimmy Rugova also owns the new Urge Burger next door, which offers take-out specialty burgers, sandwiches, and a "build-your-own Burger" option.