A father/son duo, longtime restaurateurs who owned the since-closed Luciano’s an Italian restaurant in Brooklyn, are behind Toastique, a gourmet toast and juice bar that’s opening its first New York state location in New Rochelle (it’s a Washington D.C.-based franchise) Dec. 14.
And though the doors aren’t open yet, Michael and James Simone hope to open five more in Westchester over the next five years.
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What is Toastique?
The fast casual eatery, with a modern, clean design, is all about healthy eats, specifically gourmet toasts, smoothies, acai bowls, overnight oats, and cold-pressed juices made with fresh and responsibly sourced ingredients. There’s also coffee and tea including iced collagen lattes such as the Blueberry Lavender Latte featuring collagen, almond milk, lavender syrup and blueberries.
On the website, the menu said the company believes “every moment is an opportunity to fuel your body, uplift your spirit, and savor life’s flavors.”
The franchise was founded in 2018 by former D1 collegiate cheerleader Brianna Keefe and has since expanded beyond D.C. to California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.
“Fast casual isn’t what it used to be,” said James. Which is why, when they were looking for a franchise to get involved with, Toastique appealed to them. They liked the health-oriented concept, with peanut butter, granola and energy balls all made in-house. And they liked that the concept didn’t exist in the lower Hudson Valley.
James Simone, a bartender at heart, also liked that the spot features cocktails where you can add liquor to the various juices. They’re the first Toastique nationwide, in fact, to offer espresso martinis. (The company started offering alcohol about a year ago.)
Healthy eats at Toastique
Menu choices include an Avocado Smash, featuring creamy avocado paired with marinated tomatoes, chili oil, and watermelon radish atop hearty multigrain toast; Smoked Salmon, layered with smoked pastrami salmon, herbed cream cheese, and vibrant toppings like pickled onions and arugula on sourdough; as well as PB Crunch, honey roasted peanut butter, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, berry jam, granola, peanuts, honey drizzle and mint on cranberry walnut raisin bread.
Toasts are available gluten-free as well and include add-ons like egg, prosciutto, lump cramp or avocado.
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There are also a wide variety of bowls such as the Black Mystique, a blend of activated charcoal, blueberry, strawberry, banana, and coconut water topped with kiwi, strawberry, coconut, goji berries, granola and honey; and the Mango Tango, a combination of mango, pineapple, lime, coconut water, and agave topped with pineapple, strawberry, coconut, dried mango, lime wedge, granola and honey.
Salads and juices are sold in a refrigerated grab and go section and there’s an area for merchandise like T-shirts and coffee as well as cookies and housemade granola in both regular and gluten-free.
And there are cocktails such as a mimosa, spicy margarita, crushes (with vodka, club soda and your choice of cold-pressed juice) as well as the aforementioned espresso martini.
If you go
Address: 604 North Ave., New Rochelle, 914-455-8011, toastique.com.
Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday to Saturday.
Good to know: There’s seating for 26 inside with room for 16 outside come spring. The Simones are also hoping, in a few months, to get on the Iona meal plan.
Grand Opening: Is set for Dec. 14 with the first 100 customers in line receiving $50 in Toastique reward dollars, granted with a minimum $10 purchase, to be used on future visits via their loyalty account. There will also be free samples and giveaways.
Got a food tip?
Know of an opening or closing? Email JRMuchnick@gannett.com.
Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: New Rochelle Toastique juice bar first location in NY, more to come
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