Situated along the main thoroughfare is Cucina – a modern Italian spot located in a rustic farmhouse, favored by both locals and out-of-towners. As you approach the restaurant, it’s hard not to notice the spacious wrap-around porch, beautifully decorated with twinkle lights and ivy. Inside, the rustic farmhouse vibe continues and is accented with modern touches. You’ll find a well-stocked bar and additional dining. Outside, the tables were consciously spaced apart, providing a safe yet cozy vibe. As I looked around, I noticed Cucina is a restaurant that caters to all crowds, making it family friendly, a great spot for date night, as well as birthday dinners. The wait staff was friendly, welcoming, attentive, and knowledgeable – willing to offer their own as well as customer opinions on both food and wine selections.

Now let’s talk about the part you’ve all been waiting for…the food. The menu offers a robust array of various Italian dishes, from pizza to pasta to meat entrees – all moderately priced and made with seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients. Gluten-free requests can also be accommodated. I ended up going with the caesar BLT salad, rigatoni with sausage, peas, cream and spicy tomato sauce (a dish that came highly recommended by our waitress), and chicken milanese – and let me tell you, none of it disappointed. The portions were hefty and the chef was willing to split each dish in half if you choose to share amongst the table. And I don’t know about you, but if you’re like me and enjoy a glass of wine with your meal, they have an expansive wine list with multiple red and white selections in addition to cocktails and beer. 

Overall, it’s safe to say, I left feeling very content and pleasantly full, making this dinner a great way to end an already fantastic getaway. If you’re ever around Woodstock, I highly recommend Cucina – I know I’ll definitely be making a trip back in the near future.

Click here to see Cucina’s website. Or for more Woodstock recommendations check out this post on the restaurant Silvia.

The post Cucina – A Cozy Italian Spot in the Heart of Woodstock appeared first on Flavor Standard.

What I loved

The trendy atmosphere and hip decor are some of the things I loved about Silvia’s. In my opinion, it is the only restaurant in Woodstock that offers a chic mountain/city vibe – they’ve done a great job utilizing their outdoor patio space. The decor makes you feel at ease as you sit under twinkle lights, soft, lush greenery and the sturdy tables that are consciously spaced apart. From what I could see, the inside of the restaurant looked fancier than the outdoors, but I actually preferred the slightly more casual vibe of the outdoors.

The food was good- I really enjoyed the burger. I thought it was incredible and by far my favorite item on the menu. The Caesar salad and side of Smoked Beets were also delicious. Unfortunately, I didn’t love their Korean BBQ Beef lettuce wraps or SteelHead Trout entree. For the price of the fish, I had hoped it would have had a bit more flavor.

What I did not like

I usually don’t have this complaint, but I was not very impressed by my waitress. She did not offer any recommendations when I asked and when I decided to cancel my Trout entree, she informed me it was not possible even though we ended up waiting 15 minutes anyway. Another thing that took away from my experience at Silvia were the cocktails – they were really hit or miss. The Szechuan Peppercorn & Star Anise Moscow Mule was unfortunately watered down and not very flavorful, however, they had a pineapple tequila drink (no longer on the menu) that was absolutely delicious. I didn’t end up ordering any wine so I can’t speak to their selection. 

The last thing I want to mention is the high price point. I found Silvia’s a bit too pricey.

So how would I summarize Silvia?

I think if you’re in Woodstock for a few nights, it’s a must because it is the only restaurant in town, in my opinion, that will provide a trendy fun night out vibe. That being said, I would definitely recommend the burger, Smoked Beets, and Caesar salad because they were excellent. In addition, if I went again, I think I would order wine over cocktails.

Click here to check out Silvia’s website.
If you can only choose one restaurant in Woodstock, then I would recommend Cucina. For a full review of Cucina click here.

The post Silvia in Woodstock is a Tasty Contemporary American Restaurant appeared first on Flavor Standard.

What is acai?

Acai is a berry that taste sweet and tropical. It is high in antioxidants and fiber. It also has high heart-healthy fats like omega-9 fats and calcium. When you go to a acai bowl like Bango Bowls, they usually turn it into a sort of puree/ smoothie that helps prolong the fruit’s short shelf life.

So what exactly is an acai bowl?

The restaurants will take the acai puree/ smoothie and mix it with a number of ingredients. Usually the base is granola and then the acai is put on top. What they put over that is up to you. Usually they will put some strawberries, blueberries, bananas, coconut shavings, and sometimes they will add some peanut butter or Nutella. But again, this part is up to you, which is part of the fun and adds to the experience.

What do I think?

The acai that I tasted at Bango Bowls was one of the best I’ve had to date. I think it’s fantastic for breakfast or a midday snack. I think it’s delicious, healthy and you can enjoy so many different kinds of flavors. I don’t know if it’s ideal for lunch because you might still be hungry afterwards and it is slightly expensive. In conclusion, if you are ever in Westchester and want to treat yourself to a healthy breakfast with a trendy atmosphere- you should definitely go to Bango Bowls. They also serve Poke Bowls, but I have not tried one yet. If you need to digest afterwards, check out my Pomegranate White Tea post. And as always, please remember to check out the rest of my website and my social media!

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The post Acai- Bango Bowls! Westchester gets a flavorful acai restaurant. appeared first on Flavor Standard.