Sunday night had the chance to go to eugene’s diner - I chose not to go. I went to Portchester to see Joan Baez on her farewell tour. It was a fairly last minute decision so i hadn’t really thought much about dinner. I decided to have a burger and at $12 eugenes was not out of line, but with no side(?), it wasn’t that appealing and fries were$6 - all of a sudden $18, so i went to coals,which i enjoyed $14 burger & fries - not a tremendous savings, but i felt that the pricing at eugenes was not “honest” with (almost needed) fries a $6 up-charge. Btw, the concert was very good, but also depressing- I don’t think i saw 10 ppl. under 60 y/o.
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Joan Baez, wow. Yes, you do wonder what all those old folks are doing at a concert you are attending! Eugene’s sounds like a total skip to me.
I’m afraid I am one of those old folks in number of years, but only sometimes in feeling. As far as Eugene’s - nostalgia for 70’s tacky diner - might as well save a few $$ and find a friendlys (if any exist anymore).
Wow, that review is uncharacteristically negative for Westchester magazine! I notice it’s not written by Julia Sexton,who seems to have a crush on David DiBari (not that I blame her) that makes her blind to any faults he may have. I also was very unimpressed with the Rare Bit and I found the portions were pretty meager. The fish and chips referenced in the review, for example, definitely could NOT serve two. It was two small pieces of fish. I was so excited about the concept but it seems like it’s all flash and no substance. Oh, David, please don’t spread yourself too thin and dilute your trademark badass chefery!
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Hadn’t seen that review, but had even less desire to try Rare Bit- a stylized knock-off of a (generally agreed) cooking that is not highly regarded? Why would that be appealing? TBH, I have only been to the parlor one time and foundit pricey for what it is (I wouldn’t mind so much) but i was served one of the most dreadful pizzas ever. Iirc it was supposed to be traditional w/pepperoni (maybe sausage), but it was some sort of crumble, that tasted horrible. So I’m not a big fan
lol … agree with all of what you wrote, I wonder how much his partner from the west coast is influencing these two new ventures
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I hate when they do that. What a shame. I have not heard anything good about the Rare Bit either.
BTW here’s an interesting article about DiBari from 2014:
https://www.valleytable.com/vt-article/david-dibari-cookery-five-years
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Details?
Julia does not write for Westchester Magazine anymore. She is editor-in-chief of Edible Westchester.
http://ediblewestchester.ediblecommunities.com/julia-sexton
And yes, I was really surprised that it was so negative. Maybe they cut back on their advertising.
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I can’t get into the article now, it’s behind a paywall
2018/12/10
“The Rare Bit: Cookery chef opens English gastropub in Dobbs Ferry”
if you just google Dave Dibari partner you should find it, link here probably won’t work. Partners name is Scott Broccoli
https://www.lohud.com/story/life/food/restaurants/2018/12/10.../2189522002/
Thanks… I know the name but didn’t know the history. Here’s a much better (and free) article. Also, checking his Linkedin profile, it seems like he’s just the partner for The Rare Bit.
Bottom line is the Broccoli (who was originally from Dobbs Ferry) had purchased the old Cedar Street Grill space and then partnered with DiBari. In fact, I remember talking to a restaurant consultant and telling her that I heard that David was taking that space, and she told me that she had heard that someone else had bought the restaurant. Turns out we were both right.
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Thanks
And now he’s no longer associated with The Rare Bit.
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