Had an truly awesome evening here, from beginning to end. Was meeting a friend who lived nearby, and we wanted a place to sit at a bar and watch some March Madness. Given the choices available in the area, this one made the most sense, so we gave it a shot. In keeping with the night, it was tremendous from the opening tip. Bartender mixed a great drink...the managers/owners (couldn't quite tell, which actually made it better, given that I'm fairly certain it was an owner jumping in behind the bar when things got busy) were kind and funny and pointed us in the right direction on the menu...and the overall vibe was that of a perfect neighborhood tavern where virtually everyone who walked in was received as a beloved regular and where things moved at their own perfect pace. I can also recommend both the sea bass and the burger; both were cooked to perfection, and are more than worth returning for. If you're looking for a normal night in Pound Ridge, bypass the inn up the street and settle in for a helluva night.... read more

***3 1/2 stars*** For an impulse decision, this could have been worse. My top tier chum who literally went to the school of hospitality and I drove through here on Saturday after briefly considering a stop at The Inn at Pound Ridge and not liking the valet parking vibe. We had no idea there was a cute little main drag on our way and after squealing for about 10 seconds, quickly found a parking spot and explored (and kept an eye out for nearby resident Blake Lively). There aren't a ton of dinner options available but this one looked like the best outdoor ambiance situation, so we wandered in and procured a table out on the porch. I thought they should have either trimmed back or removed the bushes right next to the porch for a better viewpoint - my dining companion felt privacy was a bigger selling point than the view, so your mileage may vary. We'd had a legit meal a few hours ago so the apps and drink menus took center stage. I had a Manhattan (I think it was called a black one because it had rye/was on the darker side, but I could be mistaken), and we split the duck dumplings and calamari. The duck dumplings were amazing - my texture-based palate suspiciously noted a crunch, but the actual taste was off the charts. The apple rosemary puree paired perfectly with the duck confit, and it felt almost silky, which is not a word I typically use to describe an eating experience (an Evian drinking experience? Yes.). By far the highlight of the meal. The calamari was very mediocre and we ate maybe half. The texture was rubbery and the actual calamari was super salty (which was an interesting contrast to the bland marinara sauce that accompanied it). The Manhattan was okay - I actually got it at the last minute because a nearby table procured them for every guest in their party, which seemed intriguing. You could definitely taste the layers and the cherry on the bottom, but for me it just tasted like a nothing-special variation of an Old Fashioned. In hindsight I would have gotten something else, though the cocktail menu was surprisingly small - I think it literally only had four options. (There were definitely more wine/beer selections available) The service was fine; my chum hemmed and hawed a bit in selecting the perfect outdoor table, but the host was very patient/courteous with her deliberations. Our waiter stopped by pretty regularly and despite not being on a pressing schedule, we were probably in and out of there within an hour or so. I noticed a few reviews mentioned the dark interior, which I have to agree with - it was legitimately hard to see people when you were inside, and the bartender was very proactive in directing me to the restroom without my asking for assistance, which makes me think others wander in from the porch a little disoriented from the sudden loss of light, but maybe he's just that accommodating. Either way, I'm glad we were outside and could see each other; a little more lighting could go a long way in there. This is a a super bougie area, and you'd expect the restaurant situation to reflect that. It LOOKS like it belongs in an upper crust section of Westchester, but the overall quality ultimately doesn't get there. Pleasant enough though. read more

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The food is amazing here. We had the filet and salmon this time. Pear and endive salad was the best endive I have ever had. Salmon was perfectly cooked, crispy outside and delicious. We saved room for cannolis (outstanding filling) the banana crepe ( enough for 2 people) warm banana sauce, and key lime pie (perfect). Service is fast and friendly. This is our 2nd time here and the owner is front and center with a smile. Come see for yourself. David is one fine host and his food is always delicious. read more

Thursday night live music was so much fun. Great Band, good crowd, packed bar and friendly people. Well worth the trip from Darien. read more

Food is their strong point, however the restaurant is exceedingly dark and very low light, with dark brown shades seemingly permanently drawn down, so the ambiance is compromised. The dishes and drinks were well prepared; short list of wines by the glass were a good selection. On service our wines were served in dripping wet wine glasses which is not something I've ever experienced before. Also I had requested a specific type of table in the reservation notes and it was not read until after we were seated and getting our appetizers. It's a few steps from being a good restaurant. read more

$42 for a small piece of salmon in a chopped salad That's ridiculously expensive I sent them a note in Instagram and they ignored it Posted a message on IG and they deleted it. If you are embarrassed by your prices then change them read more

Love this restaurant. Great service, food and outdoor dining. Had the Tuna Tartare and the Wiener schnitzel - excellent. Finished off with the key lime tart! Will be back!! read more

Great service. Great food. Great ambience. Great bands on Thursday nights. Dave, the owner is a terrific gentleman who not only takes care of his customers with respect and kindness, but goes out of his way to accommodate them. read more

Very disappointing dinner. The turkey meatloaf was dense, chewy, and dry. Both of the beef steaks were overcooked, a request of "very, very rare" yielded medium rare and the medium rare request was mostly gray with a tiny bit of pink. The cauliflower steaks were not cut in a slab like a steak, they were half of a steamed cauliflower with very little flavor and zero visual appeal. The French fries were good. At no time during our meal did anyone stop by the table to inquire if everything was all right. Didn't they use to have a burger on the menu? The menu was quite small, fairly plain. I've had better food there in the past but not sure I would give it another try. read more

I like the place in that it's a cozy and charming room, it has a small but interesting-enough menu, and none of it is too fussy. And some dishes are good and satisfying. Listen, it's one of two sit down restaurants in Pound Ridge so I imagine at some point I will in fact go back. The issue is that the food is inconsistent, the plates are in some cases a little sparse, and the prices really are a bit stunning. And while it's not about the money - most people eating in Pound Ridge don't notice much difference - the combination doesn't feel great. And... it's not the warmest staff I've encountered. I can't put my finger on it. But they can be a little bit cold. Snippy, even starting with the guy at the door. It depends on who you interact with, obviously. They do have a burger that isn't on the menu. I love that you can ask for it and order it. But it's some amount over $20 and wasn't very good. Dry. That gives me pause more than anything. By and large the food here is solid. But it falls short of 'good' in some cases. read more

As always a very warm welcome. Heat lamps at the ready and guests comfortably social distanced. Wedge salad always delicious. My steak and fries better then any steak nearby! Heat lamps as eating outdoor in October did provide some comfort. I wonder if adding (beef) meatloaf to the menu or a hot open sliced turkey with mash and gravy? Only a friendly suggestion as both are comfort food. Either way great job and keep up the good work during these trying (Covid) times! read more

North Star Restaurant - Herat as always - New American Near Me - Pound Ridge, New York

I loved North Star. It's one of two nice restaurants in Pound Ridge (the other is the more expensive Inn at Pound Ridge, Jean Georges' outpost in the burbs). Generous pours of wine and good-sized cocktails. I didn't have entrees but the duck dumplings (12) were *phenomenal* and the portion was large. I wish I'd gotten an order to go for the next day! The crab salad (18) was also excellent. Large portion, fresh. Friendly service and like everything in Pound Ridge, everyone knows everyone. It's kind of like an upscale Stars Hollow in the Gilmore Girls. read more

Great food, cool ambience and some of the best live music that comes around town. Say hi to Dave. He's the man. Caters to every need.

Great food, a very friendly vibe, and a wonderful cast of characters managing, cooking, bartending and serving. You can't go wrong.

Good restaurant, but outside smells of cigarette smoke. Partly busy but not too bad on week days. Would recommend to people with medium standards. read more

It's just Too good! Went on a whim and was not disappointed. My friend, Clay bartends there once a week so I asked him what was good because I could not decide. Everything was the reply. No lie there. Schnitzel for my husband, bolognese for my daughter, sea bass for me; no one could finish. Very much a Cheers kinda spot where everyone knew someone. Highly recommend. read more

Good enough to go every once in a while to keep a wide variety. I have to say the bartender is a friend so biased by the fact that Marty pretty much rules. The owner is cool and hands on and no doubt cares about his business. Always nice to see him. Menu is ... different ... and thats good but it is a narrow menu ... probably because of logistics of a small kitchen in a building that likely was built in the late 1800's. Ambiance is dated "horse and carriage" timeframe ... and it works. Not knocking the ambiance .... just know that its old and quaint and I doubt that's ever changing. I would take Northstar over the Pound Ridge Inn any day of the week these days. I recommend give it a try. Bring your flashlight to read the menu! read more

Love the bartender, love the owner, love everything about North Star. Lots of love and passion in the food they serve.

I love this place. Food is consistently good, friendly staff and owners. It's small, i feel it never gets too crazy in there. They know my parents, so it's always pleasant to go there and be a patron. I Will always suggest it to people. read more

Horrible owners. Very rude and mediocre food. Only survives because it's one of 2 restaurants in town.

Stay away from this overpriced, poor service, dark and gloomy dining room/bar. First time for a birthday dinner and it was a huge disappointment The waiter had a chip on his shoulders and was not attentive. The drinks were skimpy and when a second round was ordered we asked for a little less ice and got half a glass with a few ice cubes. read more

Solid. Good food if on the hearty side. Great staff. Steak frites excellent but manhattan prices. read more

This is the kind of neighborhood restaurant you wish you had, except here we're actually lucky enough to have it. Exceptional food, from bar essentials like a great burger and buffalo wings to inspired appetizers and entrees that cover any craving from comfort food to exquisite seafood dishes and everything in between. The menu is creative, seasonal, well-prepared and wonderfully plated. Combine that with a friendly staff, warm ambience, a welcoming bar and live music on Thursday, and you have the perfect spot for a small town like Pound Ridge. read more

I used to think of North Star as my friendly neighborhood restaurant. The default place where we ate when no one felt like cooking and we had neither the time nor the inclination to seek out another place to dine. However tonight I had a meal there that was the equal of any dinner I have eaten out in Westchester in recent memory. We made reservations for two and called less than an hour before we were due to arrive to request a table for three. To my surprise, despite it being a busy Friday night, they accommodated us and had a table waiting when we arrived a good ten minutes late. This is typical of the service at North Star. The staff is very friendly, polite and efficient. Yet they are never intrusive. It feels like you are among friends. The apps were the star of the show. The Tuna Tartare, a ubiquitous dish now served on every menu save Wendy's was excellent. The fish itself was actually sashimi quality and dressed lightly, so as not to mask the taste. The textures vary greatly as the tuna is topped with soft avocado and placed atop a lightly fried, crisp wonton. We also had a beet salad that was a cacophony of different types and colors of baby beets. I hate it when I order a beet salad and for 15 dollars I get red beets that could have taken from a can. Not the case here, the beets were perfectly tender and not too sweet. We had three different fish entrees and all three were fresh and expertly prepared. The sides and veg were also creative, and tasty without competing or masking the taste of the fish. North Star is worth the trip, if you are not a local. I was happily shocked at how good this old neighborhood standby has become. read more

The food is outstanding and the service is as well. The atmosphere will transport you to a little tavern on your favorite back road. Live music on a couple of nights for those in the know is exceptional. read more

It's an exciting feeling to find a nice eatery so close by who has stellar food. I ordered the Vegan Grilled Cauliflower dish, and while you may think it is something you wouldn't be interested in (I did too), my mind is still blown. The flavors that came together on that plate was pure magic. I haven't been there in a few weeks, and I still think about it! Encourage everyone to try it out, when you're not in a hurry. This is not a fast food place, so please lighten up on the expectations that the servers will check on you every 5 minutes. :) The ambiance was nice, okay parking, great food. read more

We had dinner there a few weeks back.. This was the first time in. The service was amazing. The atmosphere was warm and friendly and lively. The food was great, I had the Sea Bass, that was so thick and perfectly white and tasty. The servers are well trained, very engaging and friendly. read more

A neighborhood gem! Warm ambience, friendly eclectic crowd, good creative food and quality music! Have enjoyed the talented Andy Aledort along with nice sea bass (potential music/food pun here?), tasty braised short rib with luscious mashed potatoes, a yummy super fresh salad with crispy bacon and delightful little goat cheese crostini, a delicious ravioli, and less exciting tuna tartare, duck dumplings, bay scallops, syrupy banana crepe and creme brûlée. Food ranges from good to excellent. The sauces and flavorings are outstanding, but sometimes it seems the fish could taste a tad more right-off-the-boat. Lots more great sounding dishes I'm eager to try. Service is friendly and can vary from too hovering to where'd ya go, but they aim to please, and it's all quite relaxed, which is just what you'd want up the road on a cold icy night. Can't wait to try North Star when it's warm outside, too! read more

I've been to North Star at least five times - and this is one of my favorite restaurants. It's a destination meal - that's for sure, it's a small restaurant with a mix of regulars and newbies... They have live music a few nights a week, but most importantly: the food is AMAZING! I mean really good. Their chilean sea bass is just fantastic - and I don't even like fish! They've got sort of a bar-lounge area if you want to have a casual snack or a burger, and they have a little dining room area if you want to be waited on like the little princess that you are. The waitstaff is well versed on their offerings and are attentive without being in-your-face. Also they serve some of the freshest ice-cold beer I've had outside of NYC. Anyways... I'm rambling, but I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for an eclectic restaurant in an unique setting with good service and excellent food... you know - if you're into that sort of thing. --------------- PS. Out of fairness (and because I've worked in the service industry) I thought I might address these reviews about people not getting a table or waiting for a table... the place only has maybe 45 seats... that's not a lot of seats, man. If they are packed on a Friday night you might have to wait a little while. Doesn't make the food or service worse, it means there's a whole line of other people who appreciate what North Star is providing and you'll just have to wait your dang turn! Over and out! read more

We really liked North Star. Service was very attentive, and all our meals were very good. One in our party has Celiac Disease, so she's serious about gluten-free. The kitchen took her very seriously, and she said everything she had was delicious. read more

I had the pleasure to dine at North Star with my boyfriend a few weekends back and the experience was both memorable and to say the least, divine. There was live music playing, a mix of 'bluesy' alt-rock, and we were treated to an incredible tasting menu compliments of the talented chef, Matt and the owner, Dave. All of the dishes we tasted were savory, perfectly prepared with a seasonally inspired backbone. My favorites were a tie between the first and last course, the former being a balsamic drizzled burrata on top of perfectly prepared eggplant, the latter being a sensational fig ice cream with large, soft chocolate chip cookies. On top of the mouthwatering food, the ambiance at North Star is one to be desired for any special occasion, a dim-lit drink with one of your friends or a romantic night out with your significant other. Thanks again for such an incredible experience! read more

When we spend the weekend at my in-laws in Stamford, we tend to go out to dinner in Stamford. Last weekend, we decided to change it up a bit, so we headed just up the road to Pound Ridge. Super cozy and lively spot. Older (50's) crowd, but rowdy and fun. We actually kind of felt like we were still in the city. Our waitress was adorable in that way that, even while she clearly flirted with my husband, I couldn't help but like her. I ordered the mushroom pasta and it was awesome. Packed with tons of mushrooms, all different types. My husband got meat, I just don't recall which dish. He was pleased with his choice. We split the creme brulee for dessert and it was awesome. All in all, we had a really nice experience here and encouraged my in-laws to give it a try for a change from their regular spots. read more

North star is the perfect blend of local town bar and sophisticated, high-quality eatery. It has the warm, small town Cheers feel where the owner and bar staff knows everyone's name, but the kitchen adds a menu chocked full of sophisticated home run dishes. Add in live music and you have a five-star restaurant. WHAT TO ORDER: You have to start with the truffle mac n cheese and / or the diver scallops. From there, go with the sea bass or John-boy's chicken. The burger is great and not always on the menu so you have to ask for it specifically. Desert: the ice cream cookie sandwich is fantastic. Live music on Wednesday and Thursday makes this a ton of fun. WHAT TO AVOID: Not much. The place recently added more quality beer options but this would be another area to enhance further. read more

I've enjoyed a good meal here 3-4 times in the past couple of years but this past weekend was an awesome surprise and superb. Called up last minute, around 7:30pm Friday night and was told they were busy but could seat us 8:15-8:30. Perfect. Showed up 8ish and the owner, very nice guy, looks around and says he can seat us now but has a table of 12 coming in at 9:30. I loved that he was completely up front about it and we were good with keeping to the schedule, left us 1:30 for a meal, no prob. Now then: I enjoyed a delicious duck confit pastry app, excellent! Wifey had the roasted beets/goat cheese which I tasted, excellent. Main course I had bay scallops over risotto. Risotto, one of my favs, was nicely cooked al dente and complex flavors. This is really a great local place for a better than average meal. To thanks us for keeping to the agreed time schedule, he gave us a bag of fresh cookies to go! North Star is a winner. read more

The food here is generally good. The truffle mac and cheese is on the menu usually and very good as is the calamari. The iceberg wedge salad is excellent. The pasta dishes are an excellent choice as a main dish. The mains change a lot. For an updated menu, go to their site. The ice cream cookie sandwich made with their homemade cookies is a good dessert choice. Thursdays are usually when they have live bands and it can get crowded. Band or not, the place gets loud quickly. read more

Love love love - always yummy and a good time. A little bit pricy but what isn't theses days?! Can't wait to go back and hear some great music there when things get better (Covid). read more

Lamb shank special was out of this world. The beet salad with goat cheese was wonderful

First time visitor. I live in the neighborhood so I figured I would see how the local guys are at making a burger. I do not know if this restaurant is known for it's burger but that is what I wanted. After my completion of the "not first date food" burger, I was very impressed. The meat was perfectly done, the bun was fresh, cheese good, onions good, and the fries were fries. I would add this spot to my list of good burger places. However, it will not be at the top. The only thing I found disappointing was the price, way to much for a burger and fries. read more

Had our first meal there tonight. Sat at the bar and really enjoyed it. Had wines by the glass that were above average, affordable and good pours. Steak with green peppercorn sauce was perfectly cooked to order and the sauce really worked. My wife had the Haddock which was also well prepared and delicious. Both plates demonstrated that the kitchen cared about the presentation. The owner was genuinely friendly and knew most of his customers. We'll definitely come back. read more

Rock. I drove 38 minutes to get to this place. Had to wait a few extra minutes at the bar for my reservation, but was pleasantly surprised at the pour of the Sancerre. Every interaction from bartender to maitre D to waitress to busboy was spot on. And the food was terrific. Pay no attention to the 3 1/2 stars on Yelp. North Star rocks 5 stars. read more