Pleasantville Restaurateur Partners With Friends To Open Oyster House

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Three Westchester natives with a love of food, family, and friends have opened KEE Oyster House -- the name comes from their initials - on East Post Road in White Plains. The idea was born with a desire to bring New York's oyster history back to life with a thematic focus on the Prohibition era.

Left to right Ekrem Xhemaijli, Elvi Hoxhaj and Kenan Neziraj, of KEE Oyster House in White Plains.
Photo Credit: *Submitted*

Jeanne Muchnick

04/04/2016 7:00 a.m.

Pleasantville resident Elvi Hoxhaj, Yonkers resident Kenan Neziraj, and Ekrem Xhemaijli, of New Rochelle, have worked in New York City restaurants almost their entire lives; each comes from hard-working immigrant families who came to the U.S. to live the American dream.

"Many people don't know that in the 1900s, people came from all over the world to eat New York City oysters," said Neziraj. "The history just fascinates us, remembering where we come from drives us, and we want to share that with our customers."

To that end, a lot of thought went into not only the menu, but the decor. The owners tried to stay true to their theme by using black and white, iron work, and dim lighting.

Diners will find an extensive raw bar where a shucker is stationed all day, along with fresh seafood brought in daily from New York City's fish market. Desserts are house-made and cocktails, such as the Uptown Manhattan, Ultimate Fresh Cosmo, Gold Rush, Pomegranate Martini and Espumante Mojito, are inventive and fun.

The restaurant has been open for about two weeks with a grand opening ribbon cutting set for Tuesday, April 5, at 11:30 a.m. with Mayor Tom Roach.

KEE Oyster House located on 126-128 East Post Rd., White Plains, (914) 437-8535, www.keeoysterhouse.com/.

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