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 Dobbs Ferry, NY - The new Half Moon restaurant at the former Chart House location on the Hudson River in Dobbs Ferry is now open.
With commanding review views stretching from Manhattan to the Tappan Zee Bridge and beyond, Half Moon is instilling new life in this same location that was home to the Chart House for more than 30 years.
Named for explorer Henry Hudson’s famous ship, Half Moon represents the most exciting dining experience in the region, featuring an American brasserie with international flavor. The 12,000-square-foot restaurant offers fresh seasonal produce, meats and cheeses from the Hudson Valley and fresh seafood from the North Atlantic off Montauk.
In addition to indoor seating for more than 200, the restaurant also features 100 seats for spectacular outdoor warm weather dining. Just in time for the summer season, the Beach Bar’s lineup includes specialty cocktails and sangrias. A private second floor dining loft, with seating for up to 250 guests, will be available for weddings, parties, family and business events.
Half Moon is owned and operated by Fort Pond Bay Company, a growing restaurant group that has made a specialty of waterfront dining locations, including the popular Harvest-on-Hudson at Hastings-on-Hudson on the riverfront a mile south of Dobbs Ferry. The company also operates Harvest on Fort Pond and East by Northeast two highly regarded restaurants in Montauk on Long Island. The casual beach atmosphere of Montauk is the inspiration for Half Moon.
Taking advantage of the locations of Fort Pond Bay’s four different restaurant locations enables the owners to take a “think globally, eat locally” approach to the menu. Half Moon features “small plates” and bar food, ceviches appetizers, salads, main course entrees and desserts. In addition, there’s a Montauk Clam Bake, grilled steaks and prime rib, and even burgers and lobster rolls.
A focal point for the new restaurant is its introduction of La Plancha style cooking. Planchas are a thick iron griddle for searing meats and seafood, utilizing very little oil to produce a clean and natural cuisine.
The restaurant’s decor captures the feel of a modern Hudson River loft, complete with Hudson River School paintings and circa 16th and 17th century maps following the discovery of the river by Henry Hudson in 1609. The interior design features natural bamboo floors and a Zebra wood bar to blend with natural colors and furnishings, while glass walls will offer panoramic views of the Hudson River and sunsets over the Palisades.
“This is without question one of the most incredible properties providing public access anywhere along the Hudson,” commented Bruce Bernacchia, founder and owner of Fort Pond Bay Company. “Virtually everyone enjoys the experience of waterfront dining. No matter what the season, there is an allure to being near the water. Our restaurants both on the Hudson and at Montauk are designed to offer diners truly unique waterfront venues. The ability to add Half Moon at Dobbs Ferry to our group is a tremendous opportunity and a perfect fit for us.”
Mr. Bernacchia, who grew up in nearby Yonkers, said Half Moon is taking a far more casual approach to dining than the popular Harvest-on-Hudson that he opened 10 years ago. “The two locations enable us to present two different dining approaches. At Harvest-on-Hudson, we offer a more formal dining experience, while at Half Moon the approach is more casual with a beachfront feel. Of course, all of our locations offer incomparable water views.”
Half Moon is open for dinner seven days a week from 5 p.m. to midnight. For more information or reservations, please call (914) 693-4130.
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