A father/son duo, longtime restaurateurs who owned the now-closed Luciano’s, an Italian restaurant in Brooklyn, are behind Toastique, a gourmet toast and juice bar opening its first upstate New York location in New Rochelle ( it is a franchise based in Washington DC). ) December 14.
And while 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?
This fast-casual eatery, with a modern, sleek design, is all about healthy eating, especially gourmet toast, 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, like the Blueberry Lavender Latte with collagen, almond milk, lavender syrup and blueberries.
On its website, the menu said the company believes “every moment is an opportunity to fuel your body, uplift your spirit and enjoy the flavors of life.”
The franchise was founded in 2018 by former D1 collegiate cheerleader Brianna Keefe and has since expanded beyond DC 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,” James said. That’s why Toastique spoke to them when they were looking for a franchise to get started with. They loved 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 through and through, also liked that there are cocktails where you can add spirits to the various juices. In fact, they are the first Toastique in the entire country to offer espresso martinis. (The company started offering alcohol about a year ago.)
James Simone and his father Michael Simone, co-owners of Toastique, a gourmet toast and juice bar in New Rochelle, December 11, 2024.
Healthy eating 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 such as 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.
Toast is also available gluten-free and contains additives such as egg, prosciutto, lump cramp or avocado.
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There is also a wide variety of bowls, such as the Black Mystique, a mix of activated charcoal, blueberries, strawberries, bananas 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 ‘takeaway’ section and there is an area for merchandise such as T-shirts and coffee, as well as biscuits and home-made muesli, both regular and gluten-free.
And there are cocktails such as a mimosa, spicy margarita, crushes (with vodka, soda and cold-pressed juice of your choice) and the aforementioned espresso martini.
An acai bowl at Toastique, a gourmet toast and juice bar in New Rochelle, December 11, 2024.
If you go
Address: 604 North Ave., New Rochelle, 914-455-8011, toastique.com.
Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Good to know: There is room for 26 people inside and outside there is room for 16 people in the spring. The Simones also hope to get the Iona meal plan in a few months.
Grand opening: Scheduled for December 14, the first 100 customers in line will receive $50 in Toastique reward dollars, awarded with a minimum $10 purchase, which can be used on future visits through their loyalty account. There will also be free samples and giveaways.
Do you have a food tip?
Do you know 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 food 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 New York, more to come
