Jason M.
Yelp
I first heard of Zuppa when my parents dined here a couple of weeks back. They had good things to say and suggested I try it out when I had the chance. I was making plans to catch up with one of my friends and since we were at a stalemate as to where to dine, I suggested we try Zuppa out - so off we went.
Zuppa is located in Downtown Yonkers, adjacent Getty Square among a number of other businesses. Street parking can be a challenge, but they offer valet and there's a municipal lot right next door. Walking in, you're almost immediately welcome by the main dining area with a smaller room off to the side that I assume can work for private parties. I wouldn't say the space is super big, but the high ceiling makes it feel super spacious. The bar in the center serves as a focal point, and the exposed brick throughout gives the restaurant an upscale yet approachable aesthetic.
The menu features a good variety of Italian dishes, with sections dedicated to bites, apps, salads, pastas, and mains. Before food, though, we got a drink. I decided on their Zuppatini cocktail which had good summer flavors and set a good tone for the meal ahead. We were looking to get some apps but nothing too heavy, so we decided to explore the bites section and chose the arancini and the cocoa puffs. The arancini were just okay - they were the cheese kind but I was struggling to find flavor. The cocoa puffs were better - there's no cocoa to be found, but in its place were flour-coated chickpeas and fava beans tossed in a truffle oil. I thought these were a good bite - the oil wasn't heavy so it was good to eat with your hands, and they had great flavor.
For my main, I decided on the Chicken Palermo. This was a panko and parmesean-crusted breast served with string beans and mashed potatoes with a light lemon-based sauce. I really enjoyed the dish - the chicken had good flavor, and the potatoes were a good complement. I appreciated the fact that the sauce was light, since a heavier one would have pushed the dish over the top.
Service was good - everyone was friendly and the food came out at a good pace. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at Zuppa; the solid food, combined with the aesthetics and service make it a place I would return to if the opportunity arose.