The Cookery

The story

The Cookery in Dobbs Ferry, NY | Italian Gastropub & Bib Gourmand

The Cookery: Soulful Italian Cooking in Dobbs Ferry

In Dobbs Ferry, New York, The Cookery is an Italian gastropub where Chef/Owner David DiBari and his team apply soulful Italian cooking principles to all that inspires them. The mission is simple: cook great food and have fun doing it. The menu changes daily and has very few boundaries, reflecting a kitchen that treats Italian-American cuisine as a starting point for creativity rather than a rulebook.

The atmosphere is high-energy and inviting, a fitting backdrop for a menu that ranges from hand-rolled pastas to whole suckling pig dinners. The Cookery has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025, a recognition that underscores the restaurant’s commitment to good quality, good value cooking. It’s a place where the kitchen’s enthusiasm is evident in every dish, from the bone marrow rigatoni to the crispy fried octopus.

The Man Behind the Stove

Chef David DiBari is the driving force, bringing a passion for nose-to-tail fare and bold flavors to the Dobbs Ferry dining scene. He is also the chef/owner of The Parlor, a Neapolitan pizza spot in the same town, and DoughNation, a mobile wood-fired pizza truck. At The Cookery, his approach is straightforward: “joyously carnal dishes” in a space where the soundtrack might swing from Pearl Jam to Method Man.

What to Eat and Drink

The menu is a daily document, but certain signatures hint at the kitchen’s style. Starters like the whipped ricotta crostino with truffle honey or the duck liver cannoli with pistachio and smoked cabbage marmellata set the tone. Pastas are a highlight, with options like the radiatore with lamb bolognese or the rigatoni bone marrow with caramelized onion and madeira. Mains range from a roasted half chicken with giambotta to a market steak alla plancha, and the whole suckling pig dinner—served tableside by the chef—is a special event in itself.

The drink program is equally thoughtful, with cocktails like the Dragon’s Blood Spicy Margarita and a Black Manhattan, plus a selection of non-alcoholic options. The atmosphere is cozy and comfortable, the staff attentive, and the experience one that rewards a willingness to explore.