Restaurant Spotlight: MP Taverna (Irvington, NY)

I’m excited to kick off our new Restaurant Spotlight series! In each post, we’ll share stories of restaurants in Westchester that are taking real steps to make dining safer for people with food allergies. To start, I want to share my recent experience at MP Taverna, a Greek restaurant in Irvington, NY, where the staff went above and beyond to accommodate my allergies.

A Proactive and Sensitive Approach to Food Allergies

From the moment I sat down, my server, Dave, demonstrated a proactive approach to ensuring an allergy-safe meal. He immediately asked about any food allergies, displaying a genuine understanding of how important this step is for diners like me, who navigate tree nut, lobster, and crab allergies.

Dave’s awareness of cross-contact risks was also evident. After noting my food allergies, he assured me that he would avoid cross-contact in the kitchen by informing the chefs immediately. Later, when my family was considering ordering the seafood paella for other members at the table, Dave reiterated that while the dish does not include lobster or crab, it does contain shrimp and ensured that the lobster and crab were placed far from where food for my table was being prepared. This gave me tremendous confidence that the food was safe despite the fact that it contained seafood, a reassurance that meant a lot while dining out with my family.

Not only was Dave proactive, but he was also willing to check whether a dish was safe when I was even a little bit uncertain. When I asked, he promptly went to the kitchen to check with three different chefs before delivering an answer to me.

Ultimately, his attention to detail allowed me to enjoy the food with peace of mind I wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Takeaways and Pictures

I really appreciate MP Taverna’s commitment to food allergy safety, and I want to shout out Dave in particular for his dedication to making me feel safe. Here are a few ways his attention to detail improved my experience:

• Asking about my allergies upfront

• Confirming that the kitchen takes steps to avoid cross-contact

• Checking diligently when I was unsure about potential allergens

I ended up really enjoying the food without having to worry about allergy risks. Here’s a picture of my chicken souvlaki (highly recommended!)

MP Taverna's Chicken Souvlaki

Closing Invitation

If you know of another Westchester restaurant that deserves to be recognized for its allergy-safe practices, let me know! I’d love to feature more places that are setting the standard for safe and welcoming dining.