Every neighborhood has places that become part of its story. Maybe it’s the restaurant where families gather after a school event, the place friends meet for dinner on a Friday night, or the familiar spot where longtime residents recognize the people behind the counter. In Tarrytown, NY, those connections are part of what makes dining along Main Street feel so special.

For us at little b’s, that sense of connection has always been personal. Before our restaurant became known for customizable burgers, creative bites, and a welcoming bar, we operated under another name that some longtime Tarrytown residents may remember: Jack and Dyl’s.

Although our restaurant has evolved over the years, the story behind it has remained rooted in family, community, and a genuine love of food. From the people who inspired our original name to a beloved dog named Riley, our history explains why we wanted to create more than another place to eat.

We’re proud to be a locally owned restaurant in Tarrytown, NY, where familiar faces and first-time visitors are equally welcome. And while our menu has developed its own personality, the values that inspired us from the beginning continue to shape the experience we share with our guests.

Where It All Began: Remembering Jack and Dyl’s in Tarrytown

The story of little b’s begins with Jack and Dyl’s, our original restaurant at the same Main Street location in Tarrytown. Named after our son and dog, Jack and Dyl’s reflected something that has always been important to us: keeping family at the heart of our business.

For longtime residents who remember Jack and Dyl’s Tarrytown, the name represents an earlier chapter of our restaurant’s history. It was a reflection of the people and personalities closest to us, and that personal connection helped establish the foundation for what would eventually become little b’s.

Chef David Thomas opened Jack and Dyl’s in 2004, bringing his extensive restaurant experience to the village. Rather than building a business around an impersonal concept, we wanted to create a place that reflected our family and our appreciation for good food.

As our restaurant evolved, we saw an opportunity to introduce a different dining experience while preserving that original spirit. The name would change, and the menu would take on a new direction, but our connection to Tarrytown and the people who visited us would remain just as important.

That’s one of the things we appreciate most about being part of this community. Restaurants can evolve over time while still maintaining the relationships and memories that made them meaningful in the first place.

How Our Dog Riley Inspired the Name little b’s

The name little b’s was inspired by our beloved dog Riley, whose affectionate nickname was “Little B.” When we were thinking about the identity of our restaurant, that familiar family nickname became the inspiration for a concept that was both personal and perfectly suited to the dining experience we wanted to create.

Of course, there’s another meaning behind the name. The three central ideas that define our restaurant are Build Your Own Burger, Bites, and Bar.

Build Your Own Burger

Our build-your-own burger concept puts guests in charge of creating something that fits their appetite. Rather than limiting everyone to a handful of predetermined combinations, we offer choices that allow diners to customize their meals.

From selecting a protein and bun to choosing cheeses, toppings, and sauces, the experience is designed around personal preferences. Some guests stick with familiar combinations, while others enjoy experimenting with flavors they might not ordinarily try.

Bites

We also wanted our restaurant to offer more than burgers. Our menu includes wings, sliders, sandwiches, shareable appetizers, and other dishes that reflect our love of creative, satisfying food.

Whether you’re stopping by for a quick lunch or gathering with friends for dinner, there’s room to explore different flavors and find something that sounds good.

Bar

The bar brings another dimension to the little b’s experience. With craft beers, ciders, and other drink options, it’s a comfortable place to catch up with friends or enjoy a beverage alongside your meal.

Together, these three ideas define the restaurant we’ve become. And the fact that the name originated with Riley makes it even more meaningful to our family.

Sharon’s Tarrytown Roots and Our Neighborhood Atmosphere

Our connection to Tarrytown runs especially deep through Sharon, our co-owner, who was born and raised in the village. Growing up in a large, close-knit local family helped shape her appreciation for community, familiarity, and making people feel welcome.

That connection has influenced how we’ve approached our restaurant from the beginning.

Tarrytown is more than a place where we happen to operate a business. It’s a community with its own traditions, history, and generations of residents who care about the village they call home.

We love being part of the collection of independent businesses that give Main Street its personality. From neighbors stopping by for a familiar meal to visitors discovering the Hudson River villages for the first time, we enjoy seeing different people come together around the table.

For us, being a Tarrytown neighborhood restaurant means creating an environment where people can settle in and feel comfortable. Families can enjoy dinner together, longtime regulars can return to their favorite dishes, and new residents can discover a place that feels connected to the community.

We also welcome guests from nearby Sleepy Hollow, Irvington, Elmsford, and other Westchester County communities. Whether someone has lived in the area for decades or is spending an afternoon exploring Tarrytown, we want the experience to feel relaxed, friendly, and personal.

Meet Chef David Thomas: The Culinary Experience Behind Our Menu

Chef David Thomas brings an extensive culinary background to little b’s, with experience at celebrated restaurants in New York City and California. His career includes work at TriBeCa Grill, Union Square Cafe, and Lark Creek Inn, along with a guest-chef appearance at the James Beard House.

Those experiences have played an important role in shaping how we approach food.

From Acclaimed Restaurants to Tarrytown’s Main Street

Before opening our restaurant in Tarrytown, David developed his skills in professional kitchens known for their culinary creativity and attention to ingredients.

His experience at Union Square Cafe and TriBeCa Grill exposed him to influential New York restaurant environments, while his time at California’s Lark Creek Inn contributed to his culinary development.

David also worked at Bridge Street in nearby Irvington, where his cooking received notable recognition from The New York Times.

These experiences helped shape a culinary approach that values technique, thoughtful preparation, and bold flavors. However, bringing that background to a neighborhood restaurant doesn’t mean every meal needs to feel formal or complicated.

Creative Food in a Comfortable Setting

At little b’s, we believe an approachable meal can still reflect considerable culinary experience.

A burger can be more than a basic combination of meat, cheese, and bread. A sandwich can bring together unexpected flavors, and a plate of wings can offer plenty of variety through carefully prepared sauces.

Our menu reflects that balance between familiar comfort food and creative combinations. From build-your-own burgers to signature sandwiches and weekend specials, we want guests to enjoy dishes that feel satisfying without losing the personality behind them.

It’s one of the ways we’ve carried David’s culinary background into the next chapter of our family’s restaurant story.

What Has Changed and What Has Stayed the Same at little b’s?

The biggest change from Jack and Dyl’s to little b’s has been the restaurant’s identity and menu concept, while our family connection and commitment to welcoming guests have remained central to the business. We’ve embraced a more customizable dining experience without losing the personal atmosphere that inspired our original restaurant.

Our Build Your Own Burger concept gives customers a chance to make their meals their own. Meanwhile, the Bites and Bar portions of our identity allow us to offer more variety for different tastes and occasions.

Some guests visit because they’re craving one of our signature burgers. Others stop in for wings, a creative sandwich, a drink with friends, or a weekend special.

And because our restaurant is located on Tarrytown’s Main Street, we’re also a convenient stop for people exploring the village or heading to an event at the nearby Tarrytown Music Hall.

However, what matters most to us hasn’t changed.

We still value the familiar faces who have supported our restaurant over the years. We still appreciate the opportunity to welcome families, friends, and visitors into our dining room, and we still believe that a neighborhood restaurant should feel like a place where people want to return.

The little b’s restaurant history isn’t simply about a new sign or a different menu. It’s about allowing our family business to grow while staying connected to the community that helped make it possible.

Why Locally Owned Restaurants Matter to Tarrytown

Locally owned restaurants help give Tarrytown its distinctive character by connecting food and hospitality with the people who live and work in the community. Unlike dining concepts that are identical from one location to the next, independent restaurants often reflect the experiences, personalities, and interests of the people behind them.

That individuality is something we value.

When guests visit us, they’re not just choosing a burger from a menu. They’re visiting a restaurant whose name was inspired by a family pet, whose history includes an earlier Main Street business, and whose kitchen is guided by a chef with decades of culinary experience.

For longtime customers, that history may bring back memories of Jack and Dyl’s. For newer residents, it offers a chance to discover the story behind a familiar neighborhood storefront.

And for visitors exploring the best local restaurants in Westchester County, we hope our family story adds another reason to spend time in Tarrytown.

There’s something rewarding about knowing the people and experiences behind the places we enjoy. We want that connection to remain part of little b’s for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions About little b’s in Tarrytown, NY

1. Was little b’s previously called Jack and Dyl’s?

Yes. Before becoming little b’s, our restaurant operated as Jack and Dyl’s at the same Main Street location in Tarrytown. The original name was inspired by our son and dog, reflecting the family connections that have always been central to our business.

2. Where did the name little b’s come from?

The name was inspired by our beloved dog Riley, whose nickname was “Little B.” It also represents the three main parts of our restaurant concept: Build Your Own Burger, Bites, and Bar. That combination of family inspiration and creative dining defines our identity.

3. Who is the chef at little b’s in Tarrytown?

Chef David Thomas leads our kitchen and brings experience from restaurants including TriBeCa Grill, Union Square Cafe, and Lark Creek Inn. His background also includes a guest-chef appearance at the James Beard House and culinary recognition for his work in Irvington.

4. Is little b’s a family-owned restaurant?

Yes. We’re a locally owned, family-oriented restaurant with strong personal ties to Tarrytown. Co-owner Sharon was born and raised in the village, and our history, restaurant names, and welcoming atmosphere all reflect the importance of family to our business.

5. Does little b’s serve anything besides burgers?

Absolutely. Although our customizable burgers are a central part of our menu, we also offer wings, sliders, signature sandwiches, shareable appetizers, and rotating weekend specials. Our Bites and Bar concept gives diners plenty of options beyond traditional burgers.

6. Where is little b’s located in Tarrytown, NY?

We’re located at 49 Main Street in Tarrytown, within walking distance of the Tarrytown Music Hall and other village attractions. Whether you’re a local resident or visiting from Sleepy Hollow, Irvington, or elsewhere in Westchester County, we welcome you to stop by.

Come Be Part of Our Story on Tarrytown’s Main Street

From the early days of Jack and Dyl’s to the restaurant we’ve built as little b’s, our story has always been about more than what’s on the menu. It’s about family, the people who inspired us, the community where our roots run deep, and the enjoyment of bringing people together over good food. We love that some guests remember our original restaurant while others are discovering us for the very first time. Every visit gives us another opportunity to share the atmosphere and flavors that make little b’s special to our family.

Whether you’re looking for a casual lunch, planning dinner with friends, or exploring local restaurants in Tarrytown, we’d love to welcome you. Stop by little b’s at 49 Main Street, settle in, and discover the creative burgers, signature bites, and friendly neighborhood experience that continue our family’s story.