By Karen Talbot

May 23, 2018:  Vintage 1891 Kitchen serves contemporary American cuisine in a century-old building conveniently located on Post Road in Larchmont. 

The owners, Michael Madden and Amy Negri, renovated the space in 2014. As the restaurant name suggests, one of the specialties is the wine stored in two wine cellars; one is next to the main bar as you enter the restaurant, and the other, with just red wines, is behind the main dining room.

An inviting lounge with comfy seating on white leather sofas greets you as you enter. Ceilings are high, walls are dark gray, and chandeliers wrapped in sheer fabric make for pleasant and subdued lighting.

Our dinner started with excellent white and red wine by the glass, each served in sturdy and impressive glasses. Our starters were crostini with truffle-honey goat cheese and arugula pesto and caprese skewers, which consisted of a small mozzarella ball, a basil leaf, and a cherry tomato on a wooden skewer surrounding a generous mound of prosciutto and splashed with balsamic vinaigrette. The presentation was impressive, as were the flavor and texture. These are two of sixteen starters that are available on the menu.

A refreshing salad of mixed greens, jicama, orange supreme, toasted almonds, and dried cranberries in a raspberry vinaigrette was delicious and well prepared. Vintage 1891 Kitchen also offers three artisanal cheeses for $21 and an artisanal cheese and meat board with three cheese and three meats for $36.

Of the fish main selections, I highly recommend the pan-seared branzino with crispy potato-scallion pancake, sautéed spinach, sweet corn, and horseradish-beet sauce and grilled swordfish with cauliflower rice, mango salsa, and chimichurri sauce. Both of these were winners and perfectly presented on the dinner plates. 

Of the meat main selections, cabernet-braised beef short ribs served with creamy mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts, and crispy shallot was a winner. The chef, Felipe Velaquez, and sous-chef, Macedonio Torres, are clearly highly skilled and sticklers for flavor and presentation.

Our dessert was ricotta kisses, yummy small doughnut balls with chocolate for dipping and whipped cream.

I look forward to returning to Vintage 1891 Kitchen to sample other items on the wonderful menu. The service was fine; I can see that the restaurant might get noisy for dinner on a weekend night. There are two private dining rooms, one next to the bar wine cellar that can seat six to ten people and the cellar, a more formal room that can seat up to twelve people. In warmer weather, there is an outdoor patio that can serve 30 diners. The restaurant opens at 5:00 pm from Monday to Saturday.

Vintage 1981 Kitchen
2098 Boston Post Road
Larchmont, NY 10538
914-834-9463
http://www.vintage1891kitchen.com/

Pictured here: The inside of Vintage 1891 Kitchen.

Photo courtesy Vintage 1891 Kitchen