Dinner and Donations: Infusion Lounge in Pelham

Infusion American Tapas Music Lounge slipped right under my radar. Opening in June, I missed the grand opening of this corner spot on Fifth Avenue in Pelham. Tucked neatly into a street with cute shops, neighborhood pubs and gourmet grocers, this restaurant emerged as a local hot spot—a place where ladies could frequent on a Thursday night and families could grab a bite Tuesday through Sunday.

The concept between Infusion is simple—they’re pairing good food with good works, with plans on giving back to the community through charitable donations once they’ve turned a profit.

It’s a business model that’s certainly unusual to the restaurant industry, but one step inside this contemporary lounge and you feel the energy. Stop by and chat with Jack Mungovan, one of the faces behind the eatery, and his enthusiasm catches on. You’ll want to help any way you can, and here, all that involves is a good meal (and maybe one or two of those cocktails…). Click here to read more about their socially conscious efforts.

When it comes to the food at Infusion, think American grill—there are chicken wings to start that have a spicy kick and a thin crust Margherita pizza that’s big enough to pose as a light meal.

The skirt steak is cooked to perfection and plated with potato puree, Chimichurri sauce and a mountain of steamed broccoli.

A can’t miss—the salmon (served medium rare) topped with an orzo salad. The flavors of torn basil, olives and olive oil were certainly a treat alongside the perfectly-portioned fish.

{IntoxiKate Tip}

Save room for dessert! The pumkpin cheesecake, topped with walnuts and berries, was a sweet (and surprisingly light) end to the meal.

{Infusion American Tapas Music Lounge: 600 Fifth St., Pelham, 914-235-3700, www.infusionny.com}