Written by Isabella Aranda Garcia
What is the first thing you do when you open for the day?
Make sure my employees are here.
If there were an award for your daily routine, what would it be called?
The Clean Award – I like everything to be clean. Everything must be clean – the glasses, the silverware, the tables, everything. I cleaned the ice machine for four hours last Friday night.
What’s something you do that seems small but makes a huge difference?
Be kind and respect each other. If you want respect from others, you have to respect them first.
What was your “I made it” moment?
Each time I have a big party of 150 people, I have one of those moments, especially when they write me a nice note after.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing instead?
Something to do with the law, like a lawyer or police officer. I like the concept of justice.
What’s the best advice you ever received?
Hire a personality and make them a waitress. You can teach a person how to do anything in the restaurant, but you can’t teach them how to have a personality.
Describe your business in three words.
Modern, inviting and family
If your business had a theme song, what would it be?
“New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra.
What’s the funniest customer request you’ve ever received?
I could write a book about this. One lady returned her food because it was too hot! We kept it in the kitchen for a few minutes and then brought it back out. Every so often, someone calls to make a reservation for a Saturday night and requests a quiet table. If you want a quiet table on a Saturday night, eat at home.
What’s your business’s unofficial motto?
Be kind.
What’s your dream customer reaction?
The first or second week after we opened, two couples sat at the bar and I thanked them for coming. One of them responded by saying, ‘Thank you for opening a great restaurant in Chappaqua. Now we don’t have to go to other towns to go to a nice restaurant.’
What’s something your business does differently than anyone else?
We have a large menu, and we change 20%-25% of the menu approximately every other month.
What’s the smallest detail your customers notice—or that you hope they notice?
The chandelier I designed and built and the wallpaper my wife designed.
What’s the one thing your business couldn’t function without?
Great employees.
What’s one thing people often say when they first walk in?
Wow! It’s been almost a year and a half, and they still say that, even if they’ve been before.
What’s a word or phrase customers often use to describe your business—and do you agree?
They love the ambience.
What is your most popular item?
Chilean sea bass—it’s a good fish that’s not too fishy. The sweet mango chili sauce, julienne vegetables and the spinach risotto is a perfect combination.
What is something you wish more people knew about you?
I like everything to be clean.
Address: 480 Bedford Rd, Chappaqua, NY 10514
Phone number: (914) 855-0123
Website: biaamericankitchen.com
This article was published in the January/February 2026 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.
To view all 2026 Connect to the Best winners, click here.
Isabella Aranda is a designer, writer and social media specialist with an M.A. in emerging media from the New Media Institute at the Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication. Driven by curiosity and inspired by timeless modern design, she blends creativity and strategy to craft compelling narratives that engage diverse audiences.
Her expertise spans digital marketing, content creation and UX design, with notable achievements such as co-creating the Georgia On Your Mind podcast and leading digital campaigns that significantly boosted engagement. A Venezuelan immigrant, Isabella brings a multicultural perspective to her work, enhancing her ability to connect with and inspire others.
