The updated rooftop at Tomat is now open year-round and regularly features live jazz, and events like trivia and game nights.
Summer evenings in Westchester are made for eating outside, catching up with friends, and enjoying a meal as the sun sets over the neighborhood. Tomat’s new rooftop menu makes it even easier to do just that, offering a relaxed experience while maintaining the creativity and attention to detail that have quickly made the restaurant one of Westchester’s favorite dining destinations.
Perched above the neighborhood, Tomat’s recently refreshed rooftop patio–new shading, TVs and heating– offers sweeping views of Westchester with the familiar sight of airplanes climbing into the evening sky from nearby LAX. It’s a setting that feels distinctly 90045 and an ideal place to settle in for dinner with friends, enjoy a date night, or simply linger over cocktails on a warm summer night.
While there is some cross-over with the downstairs dining room, the rooftop menu has a more casual feel, and Executive Chef Harry Posner hasn’t changed his cooking philosophy. Tomat’s commitment to quality is evident throughout the menu. Bread and grains are milled in-house, select fish is carefully dry-aged to develop flavor and texture, and ingredients are sourced from local farms and trusted producers. The award-winning beverage program follows the same philosophy, offering an impressive selection of wines, handcrafted cocktails, local beers, and creative zero-proof drinks.
Tomat is the shared vision of husband and wife duo Harry Posner and CEO and wine director Natalie Dial, whose family’s deep Westchester roots go back four generations through the Drolinger family and have helped shape the restaurant from the beginning. That connection to the community is reflected not only in the welcoming atmosphere but also in the restaurant’s nearby urban garden and support of local farmers, artisans, and producers.
We began our dining experience with Tomat’s signature Barbari Bread & Butter, and I’d recommend ordering it every time. The warm, house-made loaf has a beautifully chewy interior and crisp crust, served with airy whipped butter that the table can’t get enough of.
The Market Green Salad, tossed with roasted yeast dressing, sunflower seeds, and seasonal greens, was fresh, vibrant, and packed with flavor. Equally enjoyable was the Tomat Cheese Board, featuring a well-balanced trio of American cheeses—creamy Lake Breeze goat cheese, nutty Prairie Breeze aged cheddar, and the bold Bayley Hazen Blue—offering something for every palate.
The beverage menu is equally impressive. A friend sampled both the Guava Lemon and Huckleberry zero-proof drinks and found them bright, refreshing, and full of fresh fruit flavor. Their probiotic base gives them an added layer of complexity.
For those looking for something stronger, the Naughty Dog is unlike anything else on the menu. Made with Royal Standard Dry Rum, G&W Bourbon, house coffee liqueur, Leopold’s Absinthe Verte, house-made root beer infused with hoja santa, cinnamon, vanilla, allspice, ginger, cardamom, Earl Grey tea, and anise, then finished with house Irish cream. It’s a rich, aromatic cocktail with layers of flavor that reveal themselves with every sip.
I chose the Sunset, a beautifully balanced combination of Campo Azul tequila, a cherry vermouth float, and tastes of orange, and apricot. Lightly sweet with bright citrus notes, it was refreshing and easy to enjoy while watching the sun go down from the rooftop terrace, which by the way, is dog-friendly.
For our main courses, the kitchen balanced creativity with comfort. The Tomato Galette, layered with pistachio pesto, celebrated the best of fresh summer produce. The Half-Pound Burger, topped with raclette cheese, house-made pickles, and a spicy house 1000 Island dressing, was an elevated take on a classic without losing what makes a great burger satisfying.
The Shoulder Roast, served with H.P. sauce, Tomat’s signature sauce, and roasted potatoes, was hearty and deeply flavorful. My favorite dish of the evening, however, was the Black Cod. Delicately poached in a fragrant Kayal curry sauce with chive oil, the buttery fish was perfectly cooked, while the aromatic curry added warmth and complexity without overwhelming its delicate flavor.
Dessert was the perfect ending to the evening. While Tomat’s signature Sticky Toffee Pudding remains an undeniable favorite, the seasonal Eton Mess stole the show at our table. Layers of crisp meringue, fresh berries, and ripe summer fruit came together in a dessert that was light, refreshing, and the perfect finish to a meal. Every bite tasted as though the berries had just been picked at the peak of summer.
Since opening in 2024, Tomat has become integral to the neighborhood’s dining scene, and the new rooftop menu gives community members yet another reason to stop by. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or craving a memorable place to enjoy the night air, the rooftop offers exceptional food, inventive drinks, and one of the neighborhood’s best views.
Check out Tomat’s menu and make a reservation at tomat.la.
By Cory Birkett