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The Bonefish Grill, founded in St. Petersburg, Fla., in 2000, became Yonkers' newest seafood restaurant when it opened in the Ridge Hill Shopping Center on Monday.
The Yonkers location is Westchester's first, and Ridge Hill was chosen to fill the void of quality seafood in the community, said Dennis Sarlo, managing partner of the new Bonefish Grill.
“We are thrilled to open our doors and become an active member in the Ridge Hill and Yonkers community,” said Sarlo. “We’re excited to show Yonkers what we do best, with knowledgeable and attentive chef’s-coat service that brings fun, inviting dining and a big-city bar to the area.”
The restaurant held a charity event two days before its grand opening that raised $7,500 to support Habitat for Humanity of Westchester's fight against poverty and homelessness throughout the county.
It’s efforts like this, and programs that the restaurant will continue to contribute to, that will set it apart from everyone else, said Sarlo.
“While our charity work will attract attention, our food will keep customers coming back,” said Sarlo. “The restaurant offers around eight varieties of seafood, and specializes in dishes cooked on an oak wood grill," he said.
"We consider ourselves fish experts, and we source fresh seafood from around the world for our menu," Sarlo said. "Because we’re a seafood business, we’re very conscious of sustainability, and also contribute to the Ocean Trust.”
Named “Top Overall Restaurant,” and “Best Seafood” in ZAGAT’s 2011 National Chain Restaurants Survey, Bonefish Grill has 170 locations across the country, with plans to open about 25 new locations every year for the foreseeable future.
Before the Yonkers restaurant could open, its interior needed a lot of attention in order to create a polished, yet casual atmosphere, said Sarlo.
"In carrying that out, we believe we’ve created a comfortable dining experience where friends can get some drinks, or a family can enjoy a three-course meal," he said. "What it comes down to is making the local residents happy. We’re going to take suggestions and really use them to maintain a place where people want to keep going back to for a good time and great seafood.”
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