Weekend brunch was great. Ordered mimosa, steak and chimichurri, and eggs with goat cheese. All delicious!

Excellent food and quiet enough for conversation. There was a table for 18 right next to us, and I would share a restaurant with them anytime. Service was excellent and food came in a reasonable time. read more

As always, this go-to resto near The Burns Film center never disappoints. The good is good, service good, atmosphere comfy and energetic and modern and it's clean. But like everything in life, it's not perfect: don't even try the bread in the basket ( which you have to ask for ) while you're waiting for your drinks; a daily or weekly special would be great since the menu is quite standard; vegan mains are lacking ( totally I think ? ). But I'll return whenever I can get a res, which is nearly impossible, due to The Burns. read more

This is a total foodie restaurant. Vela is a gem. Every dish is carefully prepared. Make a reservation and have a great meal. read more

New to the Westchester dining scene Vela Kitchen provided a memorable evening experience. Situated in a quiet comfortable dining room we reviewed the extensive dinner menu. The starter options are many and were difficult to choose from as they all looked interesting. We settled on the Tuna Tartare and Fried Calamari - both were winners. With avacado, spicy vinaigrette and wonton crisp the tuna selection was both fresh and tasteful - plenty for sharing. The calamari with ginger remoulade was perfectly prepared and enjoyed as well. We stayed with fish for our main selections. The scallops selection - ordered by my wife - was enjoyed. I'm not big on scallops but a portioned taste found preparation to be better than most I've experienced. The Salmon with Black Thai Rice and Coconut Mustard Sauce was portioned large and enjoyed as well. A shared pecan pie with ice cream finished off a fine meal. Main courses are pricey. A return visit may focus on the exciting appetizers alone. More to experience and smile about at a reasonable price. Service was polite and friendly all evening. We arrived at 5:30 to an empty dining area. By 7:00 the room was filled yet still reasonably quiet. Good - We hope to see Vela Kitchen around for quite some time. read more

I had dinner here with a friend this evening to celebrate my birthday. We both really enjoyed it. The food was absolutely delicious! I had the duck & she had a gnocchi special. We had the crème brûlée for dessert. We also each had a glass of wine. Everything was excellent and the service was good. The place was very busy so it was a bit noisy but we were still able to talk and enjoy it. We will definitely be back. We had a great experience and would highly recommend! read more

Went to Vela for some drinks and dinner with a friend and I must say the inside is very chic and reminds me of a few Hamptons restaurants I've frequented. The food was absolutely delicious! We had practically everything on the appetizer menu! The drinks were amazing and had cool names! I ordered the Pulpy Fiction which was so yummy. We ended the night off with Prosecco and incredible Chocolate Fudge cake with ice cream! Simply Delish! read more

We've had two dinners here before seeing a movie at Jacob Burns and both times the food and service was excellent. Tonight my wife had the special, clams oreganata, the vegetable soup, and the shrimp filled fried dumplings. She loved them all! I had the vegan sliders and the shrimp dumplings. The portion size at Vela's is very generous. There were three sliders in my appetizer portion, which was more than enough for a main course. My wife makes the best clams oreganata and she said these were just as good, something she has never said about any other restaurant. We shared a special desert, the lemon soufflé, that hit the spot. Last time I had their bread pudding, which was outstanding. We do agree with other reviewers that the chef does not add much salt or pepper, probably to keep the food on the healthier side. But you can easily add that to suit your taste. We drive 35 minutes from Stamford to see a special movie at Jaco Burns and now add to the evening a delightful meal at Vela's. read more

Great place to dine when in the area or planning a trip to the Jacob Burns Center, half a block away. More upscale than the majority of Pleasantville restaurants, but casual enough that you can walk in and not feel out of place. Friendly and attentive staff. read more

At first the waiters were not very friendly but then they warmed up which made the experience more enjoyable. We started with a Prosecco & a Syrah. There were 2 of us. We shared a starter of potato gnocchi w a duck ragu. The Gnocchi were light and pillowy and the duck ragu was tender and perfectly seasoned. We both had the braised beef short rib with mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts w baby carrots an topped w fried onions. The short ribs were tender like butter and the veggies were delicious too. We ended our meal with a french pressed Colombian coffee . To full, for dessert. We will definitely go back. read more

Vela Kitchen - New American Near Me - Pleasantville, New York

Everything was excellent, no negatives. The service was friendly, accommodating and quick. The owner was hands on and friendly. We shared mussels, fennel arugala salad, and salmon tartare apps. The mussels were as good as I have ever had,I would return just for them. The salmon was fresh and nicely presented. It needed slightly more seasoning for my taste but still good and the salad was fresh and nicely dressed. The portions were very generous as were the drinks. The entrees were excellent as well. I had a very nice trout with crispy potato pancake, greens ib a beet and horseradish sauce. Nicely seasoned, great dish! Other dished enjoyed were a risotto with chicken, sliders with fried hot peppers, an excellent short ribs and various salads! The place was clean, inviting and worth another visit or two, sooner than later! read more

I've been to Velas kitchen several times and it never disappoints. This past week I went with a friend and we were in a hurry. They delivered delicious Bronzino and a big Caesar chopped salad within minutes. The food was delicious, the staff was so helpful and friendly, and we really appreciated the ability to have a wonderful dinner before going to the movies. I love Velas kitchen and highly recommend anything on the menu, particularly the fish. read more

Two stars for nice ambiance, pretty well-chosen wine and spirits, and friendly if not particularly professional service. Zero stars for food. I can't for the life of me figure out how they manage to make everything so tasteless, even foods that are inherently flavorful. It all more or less looks OK, but tastes like movie props. I don't get it; I'd imagine a chef would have to work hard to produce such utter flavorlessness. Hey, it might work for their business model. It's a nice, warm place to spend 75 bucks before the movie, and if you're someone who doesn't require food to actually taste good (there are many such people), you should be fine here. read more

Love this place!!! This was a favorite spot for our family and we were super excited to hear that they are now offering take-away. The take out did not disappoint - food was packaged so well and absolutely delicious. The short ribs are amazing, salads are great across the board, fries are super crispy and the pork chop has a ton of flavor. The staff are always so pleasant - polite, professional and so kind. Five stars for Vela Kitchen!!! read more

Went in recently with a group of women and could not be more disappointed. The service was no longer courteous (the bartender was downright rude) and food not the same quality as when i last went. The beet salad seemed to be jarred beets with goat cheese that was more of a dip and really no greens to speak of. The tuna tartare was tasteless and my friend's filet still had the string on it. My main course the tuna was delicious but when i placed the order the waiter had originally told me 'we only have one left' and my friend would get the last one (this was at 7:30 on a Friday). Alone these are all little things, but i worked in restaurants for 5 years and know they should do better. read more

Had a delicious dinner with friends at this lovely restaurant! We chose to share 4 appetizers, followed by two salads (for 3 women). This was a perfect choice for us as we were able to share and sample several great dishes. We enjoyed the Calamari, Truffle Mac and Cheese, Mussels and Sliders! All delicious dishes with something special. We shared a nice bottle of wine, topped off by yummy desserts. Also, we loved the ambience here. We sat in a booth, and the whole place (bar and dining room), has a great vibe. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable. This place is a great addition to Pleasantville! We'll be back. Often! read more

Vela Kitchen - Calamari, Sliders, Truffle Mac and Cheese. - New American Near Me - Pleasantville, New York

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Had dinner tonight at Vela. Food across the board was very good. I am not a fan of cauliflower but the cauliflower fritter was not only pretty but very very tasty. Calamari appetizer was crisp with a wonder ginger remoulade, which set it apart from the traditional calamari appetizer. Main courses were all great, and beautifully plated (and we do eat with our eyes. Enjoyed a nice sidecar before dinner (a little confusing was one was rimmed with sugar and not the other). A nice crisp Landmark Chardonnay lent paired well with the mussels. Waiter was nice, fairly attentive but overall the service seemed a little slow on an evening where they seemed a little slower than usual. Definitely on the places to go back to! read more

Total renovation of space was nice. Although I went for the food not the decoration. Mussels were fresh and sauce they were cooked in was very good. We ordered the chicken breast and the cod both were done right. I had to special order the cod because of allergy's and they took it seriously and it was done perfectly. Pumpkin bread pudding fell short but it was tasty but to me it was more like a microwaved wet pumpkin cake. Service was ok waiter seemed at times not to be around and didn't wipe down the table in between apps and dinner and dessert which to me was annoying since he watched me do it myself after me ate mussels. Bottle of Red Zinfandel was a nice touch and we both enjoyed it. Waiter had nothing to add and was no help in ordering wine or food. He just stood around and took order and added nothing. I thought the prices for the food were reasonable but $48 for a bottle of wine was a bit high. After all I still left a $30 tip on a $130 tab. If the waiter is reading this...I leave good tips always. Get on your A Game...your service did not reflect the prices on the menu. I'll be back and I will update this review for sure. read more

I must give this restaurant a 5 star and recommend that you go there ASAP! The food was absolutely delicious along with the presentation, the service was outstanding! From entry to exit!!!!! read more

Went in around 5pm and was only customer in restaurant. Was by myself as had just come out of a movie, which seemed to cause confusion as several staff kept asking me how many people and if I had a reservation. When I was finally understood and given a table and menu, I then sat for a while waiting for someone to take my order. The soup arrived promptly enough and hot, but needed some kind of garnish to add texture and brightness. I then sat with my finished soup bowl in front of me for a good 15 minutes while the unoccupied staffers walked past me or peered at me from across the room (I'm still the only customer). Someone finally comes by and asks if I need anything, so I ask him to remove my soup plate and bring my entree. This duly happens and I receive my truffle mac and cheese and beef sliders. There was not a truffle to be found with only a slight layer of cheese on top of unseasoned pasta (hint: you must salt the water when boiling pasta). The sliders were well done on the outside and just above rare on the inside - I had asked for medium well. I asked for them to be sent back and the manager said he would have them cooked longer. I pointed out that would completely fry the outside at this point and would not be edible, so he agreed to get a fresh order. That took a little bit and arrived barely a shade above how it was cooked the first time and so over seasoned with black pepper I cam still taste it. The chips were massively over salted. No one came to refill my water until I placed the empty glass on the end of the table and held it there. For the $40 tab (without alcohol), you could get this meal better and probably cheaper at a Fridays or the local pizza and pasta joint. But if you have upholstered seats, chandeliers, and items such as wine braised short ribs and seared salmon on the menu you are obviously aspiring to something a bit higher. A big miss. read more

The food is tasty but rather skimpy. There were 4 of us and we all agreed the portions were tiny.

Excellent and friendly service. We walked into Vela near closing time however the staff made us feel very welcomed. The salmon tartare with avocado and grains was fresh ( I loved the fresh ginger and wasabi on the plate ). Several wines by the glass. The restaurant is larger than most in pleasantville so it would also be good for larger groups. read more

Great ambiance. Positive vibe. Accommodating, energetic server. Close to stale minuscule slices of flavorless bread. Well made margarita. My wife and I both enjoyed the fennel apple salad; generous portions. Wife had seared tuna over forbidden rice. My swordfish arrived, dry/ chewy. Wife agreed. Sent back, server returned and stated that chef wanted to know how I would like it cooked. Chef should not be asking that about sword. He should know how to cook. So nixed sword and requested tuna. Of course by time arrived wife and our companions had already finished eating. And tuna center was cold not room temp as should have been. Server did not return to make sure I was ok with replacement. Overall disappointing experience saved only by the conversation. Will not return. read more

Loved the decor. So pleasant and relaxing. Salads were delicious and I had the pan seared cod which was delicious and my boyfriend had the braised short rib. We really loved the food. Plan to go back and try all the appetizers on their menu. read more

I was super impressed by the service here ... stopped in for a drink and the bar was full; a gentleman who worked there but whom was off at the time saw us looking for a spot, came over, cleared a bar table for us and set us up! Bartender and other staff members were very friendly and helpful. The renovation of the place is beautiful ... looking forward to coming back and trying dinner! read more

We love the bar at this restaurant. It's a great place for an after work drink and dinner. The bartender is always friendly and the wine selection is wonderful and the food superb. Highly recommended. read more

Amazing food! The food was delicious and the service was friendly and attentive. I look forward to seeing this place again.

seems like they are looking for burns theater clientele not locals. No draft beer in a town that is the birth place of Capt Lawrence. No happy hour --even on Friday--8$ for a bottle of beer when every other place will be giving a break on a Friday at the bar seems unwise. Food nice presentation...atmosphere bit sterile...low couches in bar area too low for bigger person to be comfortable read more

My wife and I are foodies and we love this place. The Owner Michael always makes us feel like we are part of the family and that means a lot. Great food, service, staff, owner, chef and vibe. If you are looking for a new place to have a few glasses of wine and eat some food food, Vela Kitchen is a place you would enjoy. Tell Michael that Carlos and Pam sent you. read more

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We return to Vela Kitchen time after time & the food along w fine service did not disappoint. The cauliflower fritters, linguine w seafood, & grilled branzino fish were cooked to order. The meal was scrumptious. The comfortable & welcoming atmosphere provided us the chance to enjoy marvelous food w good friends. read more

Great food & Service. However, the restaurant is extremely loud and I could barely here my boyfriend speak. We both enjoyed the calamari & Sirloin Steaks. My steak was a little tough, Parmesan/Truffle fries were delicious! Very quick service, from ordering and through the kitchen our meal only took 40 minutes, I really appreciate that! Great Drink Menu, we'll be back :) read more

Absolutely delicious meal! Really enjoyed the bronzino with the crispy potato pancake and spinach. There was a beet horseradish purée that complemented the plate. If I were home I would have licked the plate clean. Service was great too read more

After being out of town for the last few weekends, we were finally able to try Vela tonight! We got there at 6:30 without a reservation for dinner. They were not able to seat us at a table and didn't offer a wait time for one even though the restaurant seemed empty at the time (after working in restaurants for years, I could only conclude all their tables were reserved for times between 6:45-7:30). We got seats at the bar and order food there, which was completely fine for us! We got the carrot ginger soup, beet salad, and gnocchi with duck ragu. The soup and gnocchi were delicious! The beet salad was fine, but missing some vinegar/salt/pepper to season. We can't wait to go back to try more (definitely with a reservation next time)! read more

Had a lovely meal before a film at the Jacob Burns Center. The space was cozy, the cauliflower fritters tasty, and our main courses (lamb and steak) were flavorful and delicious. Would definitely return. read more

Place has potential. Great ambiance. Beautiful bar area. Crazy that they don't have a cocktail menu or a wine list besides a few house wines. Seems like such a waste and something I hope they correct soon. First cocktail they made me "an old fashion" was so watered down it was not drinkable. To their credit they took it back and remade correctly. In the dinning room. Service needs help. Waiter did not introduce himself and clearly did not have command of the menu. They also had tons of bus boys yet our empty drinks were never taken away, water not refilled and bread only brought when we asked. I actually bussed our own drinks after they were just sitting on the table for 30 minutes. The food. The duck gnocchi was average at best. Very bland and needed something to lighten it up. The tuna appetizer was very nice. For the main course we both had the short ribs. That dish was good to very good. We will probably give them another try after they work out the kinks and fix service. read more

So glad that a new restaurant of this caliber opened in the area. My wife had the filet and I had the lamb chops. Hey he filet was really good. The lamb was a little tough but tasted good. Shared my thoughts with our staff and they offered a new dish. I really appreciated the offer but the food was still good enough to finish. In the end they didn't charge me for the lamb. Though that was really unexpected I really appreciated it. And that's where the place really shines. The wait staff was amazing and professional. Our waitress checked in at the right time and the other staff were on point clearing the table. Before I forget- we had the brussel sprouts and they were great. Cooked perfectly. Overall the food and service was GREAT. Looking forward to come back and trying their other dishes. read more

Bland, bland, bland. GF and I went on New Year's Day. They started with tasteless bread that would have been better left on the sale rack at the market. We got the cauliflower fritters, well recommended in other reviews. We found them lacking in flavor. The mixed green salad was pleasant but nothing special. For mains we got the branzino with kalamata olives and the pea-wasabi tuna. Presentation was very good for both. But the branzino had no detectable kalamata olives and generally lacked flavor. We had high hopes for the the pea wasabi tuna but it was surprisingly devoid of any zip. We decided to skip desert after so many disappointments. Service was good, not great. The ambiance is good (quiet). But we will not be going back. read more

Delicious and high quality food, excellent service, and nice ambiance. They are also super accommodating with food allergies and changes to dishes. The menu is really creative with lots of great options for small plates and entrees. I always get a fish dish- salmon, trout, halibut, and branzino have all been delicious regardless of preparation. Samantha is a front of the house extraordinaire and makes sure everyone is well taken care of. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would! Such a welcome addition to Pville... read more

Wonderful dinner last night at Vela's kitchen. Myself, my husband and daughter all loved our dinner and drinks. We don't normally agree on restaurants but we were all happy! read more

Just want everybody to know Michael and Joanne are fantastic. When we go to the restaurant we feel like family. I have been too all the great restaurants in the U.S. and Europe my favorite is Gorham Bar and Grill. New favorite is Vela Kitchens right in Pleasantville . Great addition too Pleasantville, NY. Night after night the ambiance, service, and food are excellent . MY wife and I have yet too have a sub par meal. I will spend almost anything for a great dinning experience . Vela Kitchen meets all my high expectations. HF read more