A Day in Port Chester

Writing and Photography by Justin Negard

Port Chester is changing so quickly; your favorite spot today could be a construction site tomorrow. It is a village in flux, reshaping street by street. And so, this is less of a story on what to do in Port Chester and more of a snapshot in time, showcasing where Port Chester is today and where it might be headed.

“We’re going to be the next Williamsburg,” says Rafael Palomino, chef and owner of Sonora Restaurant on Rectory Street. “They’re putting in 3,200 apartments—there’ll be more restaurants, businesses and foot traffic all around the train station.”

For decades, Port Chester was a working-class neighborhood. It served as a melting pot of cultures rooted largely by Italians, Peruvians, Ecuadorians, Mexicans, Colombians, etc. This village has a history of change, and today it is changing again. “I like seeing the new infrastructure,” says Omar Chuchuca, the manager at Sonora Restaurant. “I moved to Port Chester from Ecuador when I was in high school. Many of the buildings have gotten much older, and it’s nice to see new ones being built.”

Palomino opened Sonora Restaurant in 1999. His popular Latin fusion menu includes dishes ranging from Spanish to Argentinian to Palomino’s native Colombian. “Twenty-five years ago, someone asked me if I wanted to buy a restaurant in Port Chester,” recalls Palomino. “I said, ‘Port Chester, who?’ I used to joke that you could throw a bowling ball on Main Street and you wouldn’t hit anyone. Now all of that has changed, and it’s only getting bigger.”

Assembly of God World Vision.

Hints of change

Port Chester is conveniently located on the Metro-North Railroad New Haven Line and right off of Interstates 95 and 287. It’s conveniently sandwiched between Rye and Greenwich, and it’s not too far from White Plains, Stamford or even New York City. “In this neighborhood, we are many branches growing from the same tree,” Chuchuca says. “The people of Port Chester often work in nearby towns that are in need of labor. We all start here in the morning and return here at the end of the day.”

Yet some worry whether this way of life will continue. Amaryllis, a server at Panka Peruvian Bistro on Westchester Avenue, says sees trouble on the horizon. “Everything is getting more expensive for us. The rent is going up. The new apartments are very pricey. That will raise the cost of everything here.”

Carlos Santos has already felt that change firsthand. He and his mother, Olga, owned Aqui es Santa Fe, a popular Colombian restaurant across from the train station on Broad Street. This year, the restaurant was demolished to make way for new apartments. “My mom had that restaurant for 18 years,” says Santos. “It was well-reviewed by The New York Times and won every award that Westchester could give. More importantly, it was the place that my mom loved to meet the people. We tried our hardest to stay, and we even looked for new locations nearby, but everywhere we looked reflected the price point of the future.”

Despite the changes, Port Chester today remains a vibrant and exciting example of diversity in our region. It’s a community of food and entertainment that is not found elsewhere in Westchester and a place that should be enjoyed for as long as possible.

A food mecca

Port Chester is a food town. People from across the region visit this village to try the local mom-and-pop restaurants and high-end cuisine. Even Mario Batali had a restaurant here until it was shuttered (along with his career) in 2019.

For a casual experience that doesn’t compromise quality, Pollo a La Brasa—Misti Restaurant (or simply “Misti,” as the locals call it) is a Peruvian staple in the neighborhood. “Misti has a huge following around here,” says J.P. Portillo, a server at the 30-year-old restaurant T&J’s Pizza and Pasta. “It’s been around forever, and anyone who grew up around here knows what lomo is because of that place. “Lomo saltado, the universal favorite of Misti customers and staff, is a traditional dish prepared with stir-fried beef, rice and fries served with aji verde on the side, a spicy green sauce.

Panka Peruvian Bistro is another South American favorite, with a location on Westchester Avenue and another on Willett Avenue (named the Panka Grill in the latter case). Panka serves Peruvian classics like tallarin verde,  a linguini dish with basil and spinach (think Peru’s version of pesto) and papa a la huancaina, a potato dish coated in a spicy cream sauce.

Mexican cuisine also excels in Port Chester. “My favorite for Mexican is Coyote Flaco on Midland Avenue,” says Amaryllis. “Although Kiosko Restaurant is good, too.”

But if you’re looking for a good drink and a local crowd, Portillo recommends McShane’s on Main Street. While out-of-towners tend to flock to Bar Taco and The Colony Grill, especially during the warmer months, to enjoy the lively waterfront dining scene.

On the Italian side, Neri’s Bakery Products has grown far beyond the quintessential neighborhood bakery. Founded in 1910 by Paul A. Neri, this family-owned 370,000-square-foot building is an anchor in the community. While the Wonka-esque factory still includes a popular retail space for cookies, cakes and pies, customers are more likely to see the Neri’s name on the side of bread boxes in delis and restaurants across Westchester County.

Demolished buildings making way for new construction.

See a show, kick a ball

The heart of entertainment begins at The Capitol Theatre. This century-old venue attracts some of the biggest names in the county and serves as the unofficial ambassador for many visitors from surrounding towns and states. This summer celebrities including Andrew Dice Clay, Francis Ford Coppola, Bonnie Raitt and Joe Perry will grace the stage.

The village will also present a summer music series this year, with concerts in Lyon Park every Friday evening throughout July and August. The festivities will include songs for ‘80s lovers, classic rock, funk & soul and more. Grab a bite from the food trucks on site and enjoy a perfect summer evening that feels like a mini-vacation.

And locals, of course, have their own personal favorites. “Around here, you’ve got to go to Playland and the Tiki Beach Pier Restaurant,” suggests Portillo. “But we’ve also got great parks nearby. There are always softball and soccer games going on if you want to play, along with lots of fun small events and parties in the village every day. Take a walk, have a drink and you’re sure to find something fun to do.”

The Port Chester waterfront.

Change can be uncomfortable

We finish where we began—with a village in the midst of change. It’s not easy to predict where Port Chester will be in a year, much less five. Even the parking lot across from The Capitol Theatre is transforming into a luxury high-rise. And many long-time residents are concerned. “I’m worried about the changes to our schools,” says Chuchuca. “I’m a strong believer in smaller classes for the kids, and I’m concerned about our schools becoming overpopulated.”

“There are pros and cons,” says Portillo. “Traffic is a big con for sure. Especially downtown, where parking can already be difficult. But once everything gets settled in and worked out, it will be much nicer.”

Santos isn’t convinced. “What kills me the most are all the businesses built by immigrants that will be bought out and replaced,” he says. “Many of those business owners don’t have the funding to start again. That means those immigrants who became business owners and community leaders will go back to being employees—possibly for the new owners that replaced them.”

This concern is backed by many others in the community, including several immigrants who weren’t comfortable being quoted for this story. Whether they’ll be able to stay in this diverse community is still uncertain. For now, Port Chester remains what it long has been—Westchester’s melting pot. It’s a quick drive that transports you to a place filled with a variety of  foods and culture. “In Ecuador, where I’m from, we are all the same religion, we all speak Spanish, and we all share the same culture,” says Chuchuca. “Yet here in Port Chester, I was exposed to so many different cultures. You discover so many new things when you do that. Things you like and dislike. And you end up learning even more about yourself.

This article was published in the July/August 2025 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.