By Henry Muzzy
On September 6th, 2025, I attended the soft opening for the new Italian restaurant in Irvington called Cifone’s. The restaurant is situated on South Broadway and is located in the same building where Club Car Grille was previously opened. Owner Matt Kay who previously owned the Club Car Grille partnered with Michael Cifone to open up the restaurant.
My experience started by being greeted by the kind hostess. As soon as I walked in, I noticed how the lights were dimmed and the music was soft. This gave the restaurant a cozy atmosphere. Upon arrival, my family and I were promptly seated at a table near the full service bar. We were served warm sourdough bread and water. The menu offered a wide range of dishes from Fish and Chicken to homemade pasta dishes.
The menus wide variety of options provides choices for many food preferences. I decided on the Spicy Rigatoni Vodka. We also got shishito peppers for the table. They came out quickly and were delicious. They were warm, crispy, and had the perfect hint of parmesan.
The price range for the appetizers were ($14-$19). After that our entrees came out. They were out relatively quick, about ten minutes after the appetizer. My pasta was delicious. It was spicy, flavorful, and the pasta was cooked to perfection. The waiter came around to offer us grated parmesan and red pepper flakes. My family had no complaints about their meals. The price point for the entrees were around $35, however some get up to $56.
After we finished off our food, our plates were cleared and we were given the dessert menu. The dessert menu was one of the largest I’ve seen with some traditional italian staples and some more american desserts. I opted for the tiramisu. It came out quickly and was amazing. Light and fluffy with hints of cocoa and espresso. The price range for the dessert was $12-$14.
P.E./Health teacher Mr. O’Sullivan was asked if he was excited for the new restaurant. “Yes, it sounds delightful,” O’Sullivan said, “Italian is my favorite cuisine.” I also talked to freshman Patrick Pressman who stated, “Yes, I’m so excited,” Pressman said, “I am definitely going to give it a try.”
My final thoughts on the experience were all positive. The food was great, the staff were kind and efficient, and the atmosphere was spectacular. If I had to give it a grade, it would be as follows:
Food: A (95/100)
Service: A+ (100/100)
Atmosphere: A (95/100)
Overall: A (96.67/100)
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