After 27 years, Mr. & Mrs. Orfino’s have hung up their aprons and retired. Orfino’s Café, the charming family restaurant in Briarcliff is now in the hands of their son, Michael Orfino, and his wife Linda. Michael and Linda are certainly not new to Orfino’s. Michael originally started the business with his mother. Linda, ran the front while Michael did the cooking on a grill. Linda recalls that her daughter Lina, now an adult, used to run around the restaurant in a walker taking French fries from the patrons. Now Lina is a teacher and works at the restaurant in the evenings.

When the business began, Orfino’s was just open for breakfast and lunch. Over the years, they added dinners Wednesday through Saturday. As the sole owner, Michael has updated the décor, and has expanded the menu and the Wine list. The menu not only features the Italian favorites Orfino’s is known for but also offers a lighter fare for health conscious patrons.

Credit cards are now accepted.
Douglas Tucci
Chef Doug Tucci came aboard in September 2010 and has added many dishes since his arrival. Entrée he has introduced include:

Tagliatelle Bolognese—pork, beef, and veal sauteed with celery, onions, garlic, plum tomato and a touch of cream ($18)
Pignoli and basil crusted Atlantic salmon rolled in crusted basil and pine nuts, grilled, and drizzled with homemade basil pesto ($21)
Expresso rubbed veal chop—tender veal chops with espresso rub, grilled, and served over mashed potatoes ($28)
He also introduced roasted spring vegetable polenta (pictured)—an appetizer priced at $9 that includes Pecorino polenta topped with roasted zucchini, eggplant, pepper and asparagus.

Tucci was formerly the owner and chef of Fiorentina's in The Bronx. He will debut still more of his work when the summer menu at Orfino's is introduced on July 4.

This menu is still in the planning stage, but Tucci says it will include Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine-style steak), sliced steak over arugula, soft-shell crabs over pasta, grilled swordfish, citrus salmon and calzone stuffed with banana. Sole with white beans has been well received as a special and if it doesn't make the summer menu it will continue to be offered frequently as a special.