A New Restaurant Aims to Become A Go-To Neighborhood Spot in Riverdale
If you’re not paying attention, it’s easy to miss The Hill Bistro on Riverdale Avenue. The restaurant and cocktail lounge, dishing out New American cuisine and signature drinks quietly opened in late September, but owner Iggy Khoury and Chef Guerrieri are working towards making the place a neighborhood favorite.
“I wanted to do something different in the neighborhood,” said Khoury, who has lived in Riverdale for more than 40 years. “I think people have been craving a spot like this.”
With its hip ambiance and lounge, restaurant and bar seating, Hill Bistro welcomes you in, whispering to settle down and stay awhile, but at the same time, the vibe of the place transports you out of the suburban feeling neighborhood.
Open 7 days a week for dinner, beginning at 5 p.m., and brunch starting at 11 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, the dishes created by Guerrieri are simple at first glance—chicken leg, veal chops, meatballs—but influences from across the U.S., Portugal and more elevate the cuisine to something unexpected.
“I call it Ameriterranean it’s American with a European feel,” Guerrieri said.
Take that chicken leg for instance, they debone it ahead of time and stuff it with Portuguese Alheira, a sausage that has been made by the Portuguese for centuries and then add a sweet wine reduction. The veal chops have a reduction of port wine which gives it a little perfume and that European touch.
When they were researching opening a restaurant, Khoury and Guerreri knew they wanted to do something different so they woke up early and drove around Riverdale, ‘we were the hounds of Riverdale,” Guerrieri says with a laugh. They did the same with the food. Doing several tastings until satisfied that they had created the right experience.
At its heart Hill Bistro is meant to be a neighborhood spot where people will come back year after year and that means it has to appeal to a variety of customers—people out on dates, to parents with kids, to old friends catching up, and the food and drink choices reflect that.
Take for instance the signature cocktails created by their mixologist, Louis Fata. The JFK made with Barr Hill Gin, lavender, Pineau Des Charentes and sage or the Fieldstonwith Crop Organic Tomato Vodka, tarragon, lemon, Pernod and Absinthe, and more make the place ideal for both an after work drink or a nightcap.
Another draw is their interesting take on classics like the meatballs on the menu, which include Fried Beet and Kale served over Cream of Spinach or Chicken with Escarole Broth, White Beans, Kalamata Olives and Dried Cranberries, traditional and more.
“All kids know meatballs, we want to give them a special meatball” Guerreri said.
Between the space, the food and drink options and late night hours, it seems likely The Hill Bistro will become a new destination for Bronxites, both in Riversdale and beyond.
3541 Riverdale Ave, Bronx, NY 10463
News 12 Bronx featured The Hill Bistro on Boogie Down Bites
