Following three months of intensive renovation, Harper's Bar & Restaurant, a contemporary American eatery, has opened on Main Street in Dobbs Ferry in the space formerly occupied by Mimosa. Co-owner Justin Montgomery is general manager and gracious host for the new 90-seat restaurant.

The spiffy looking restaurant is named after Rose Harper, the great-aunt of executive chef and partner Chris Vergara; she passed away this year at the age of 98. She was a colorful character and author of a popular marketing book printed in many languages.

Vergara won't guarantee that all of his dear great-aunt's stories are true, but here are just a few:

• She drank at least two glasses of Scotch every day from age 19 to 98
• Her collection of shoes numbered in the thousands
• After accumulating 51 percent of her employer's stock over 10 years, she fired her chauvinistic boss
• She worked in Rockefeller Center and married one of her office building's elevator operators.
• She played the piano for notables such as the King of Siam. 

More details about her life are available at the restaurant.

All entrees on the dinner menu created by Chef Vergara cost $25 or less. Prices begin at $14 for a burger — add $1 each for cheddar cheese, grilled bacon or onions.

Seafood fanciers can choose from shellfish stew (clams, shrimp, mussels, chickpeas and tomato) at $19, sauteed locally caught fluke at $22, or roasted striped bass for $25.

The entree list also includes:

• A couple of potential signature dishes: Pan-roasted duck breast,  accompanied by frisee, mache, apple, pomegranate and duck fat potato. Braised beef short ribs, which comes with vegetables, potato puree and horseradish. Both dishes are priced at $25.
• Roasted free-range chicken with mushrooms, potato, bacon and whole-grain mustard jus at $22.
• Roasted pork with leeks, brussels sprouts, squash, bacon and cider butter at $22.
• Risotto with pumpkin, mushrooms and herbs at $18.

Dinner appetizers include chicken liver toast with marsala shallots and walnuts at $6, Duck Rillette at $7, Sunchoke Soup (roasted mushroom and truffle) at $9, and Shrimp Cappelletti at $10. Linguine is available as a side  dish for $5.

Montgomery was formerly a co-owner of Madison's in Dumont, N.J., and a catering manager at Great American Barbecue Company in White Plains.

Vergara, schooled at the Culinary Institute of America, honed his trade in the kitchens of Picholine in New York City and La Panetiere in Rye before becoming chef/owner of Meritage in Scarsdale. Vergara, who is also a skilled butcher, contributed part of his collection of steel meat-cutting tools for framed wall art (don't miss seeing this array of kitchen cutlery).    

Harper's is open for lunch and dinner every day except Monday. A la carte brunch service begins at 11 a.m. on Sunday; lunch service starts at noon. The restaurant seats 90; an additional 30 can be accommodated on a back patio when the weather permits.

Harper's, 92 Main St., Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522. 914-693-2306.