Some things are meant to be — or so it seems for Vincenzo Alaia. When the lease he had been negotiating in Greenpoint, Brooklyn fell apart, Alaia and his partner Nancy Rosner, went to check out 66 Garth Road in Scarsdale. The numeric entry code was exactly the same as the one that Alaia, a New York City restauranteur, had been personally using for years. It was surely a sign, and on December 1, Café Alaia debuted.

With high ceilings, exposed wooden beams, and a clean, rustic sensibility and thoughtful design executed by Rosner, the space is cozy and inviting. “Many of our customers tell me that it has a Brooklyn feel to it,” says Alaia, who already has regulars that he says come from all over the area. Indeed, the place has the makings of a little gem, with wooden tables nestled together and a small-ish but welcoming bar that seats 4. The menu, crafted by Alaia, features authentic Southern Italian cuisine that appears equally well thought out, as is the carefully curated Italian wine list.