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Vintage Bar and Restaurant as featured Stay Local, or Go South? It's the Geography, Cupid The New York Times Sunday, February 13, 2005
SIZZLING AFTER DARK Downtown White Plains has new lease on nightlife The Journal News Thursday, Feb 10, 2005 by Candice Ferrette, Susan Elan, and Richard Liebson
WHITE PLAINS -- Barbie Barile cocked her head back as she belted out the words to "I Hate Myself For Loving You," by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts at Vintage Bar and Restaurant on Main Street. "I go home, rest, get dressed and come out," said the energetic 37-year old from West Harrison, summing up her after-work routine when the song ended. |
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DAY IN THE LIFE
The Journal News, Tuesday, November 23, 2004 City's Sidewalks Aren't Rolled Up at 5 p.m. Anymore Collection of pubs, restaurants, testifies to its renaissance Brian J. Howard (excerpt) Over at Vintage on Main Street, attorney Kevin O' Dell is having drinks with clients. O'Dell comes here three times a week for business lunches or for drinks after work. The atmosphere is upbeat and the food is consistently good, he says. Co-owner Declan Farrell, a native of Galway, Ireland, who opened Vintage, 18 months ago, is enthusiastic about being part of White Plains' new downtown. "We pride ourselves on being an Irish establishment that caters to a casual, upscale clientele," Farrell says. White Plains Watch On Line The Community Website for White Plains Many Voices, Many Perspectives |
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By Betsy Rapoport [May 2003] When owner Declan Farrell and his partners took over 171 Main St., once the province of the Academy of Beauty School, he expanded his vision to fit the airy, high-ceilinged space. The name of the restaurant, Vintage, hints at what they lovingly preserved or restored - the original terrazzo floor entryway, cherry Art Deco interior columns, pressed tin ceiling in the rear, and the glorious clock out front. Blow-ups of vintage photographs recall the White Plains of yesteryear. But what makes a reservation worthwhile is the very modern touch from the kitchen. There was a lot of action at the handsome four-sided bar at the front of the restaurant as we walked in, but the noise faded as we were escorted to the booths and linen-clad tables at the back. Farrell, a warm, affable man, sat down to discuss Vintage and point us toward some favorites on the eclectic menu of American bistro food. His location scouting convinced him that the heart of the city needed more options for "high-quality food at an affordable price." "White Plains is the heart of Westchester," said Farrell, "but no one expects anything of downtown. We have a great restaurant to offer." Farrell and his innovative chef are making a delicious debut. Appetizers ($6 to $12) include old faithfuls like calamari and shrimp cocktail, but we sampled more exciting change-ups. The Beef Negamaki featured marinated filet mignon, sesame-inflected glass noodles and seaweed, and a tangle of mushroom-spiked Asian vegetables. Mesquite chicken came wrapped in a crispy wonton (I would have preferred a lighter spring roll wrapper) with a smoky burn of chipotle dipping sauce. My grilled shrimp were excellent, but I loved even more the bed of grilled, slightly caramelized corn, mango, pineapple and pepper salsa they swam on. The standout appetizer was a crisp spinach quesadilla filled with tender lobster, perfectly ripe avocado, and tangy goat cheese. While awaiting our entrees, we tucked into salads cunningly served in paper-thin ovals of zucchini (more substantial salad offerings include crabcakes, pepper steak, blackened tuna, and the ubiquitous chicken Caesar). Befitting an owner who trained as a butcher in Ireland, the entrée menu (priced from $12 - $29) tilts the scales with generous portions of sirloin, filet mignon, and porterhouse. My surf and turf came with half a pound of tender, very flavorful filet mignon and three large crab-stuffed shrimp (less stuffing next time, please) and an unusual turnip and parsnip medley. The chicken Portobello napoleon is a satisfying archeological dig of layers of roasted peppers, spinach, and chicken sandwiched between meaty mushrooms and a potato gallette, topped with porcini cream. The jerk pork tenderloin, New Zealand lamb, and crispy-skin salmon sound fabulous, but will have to await another visit. I'm also eager to sample the moderately priced wine list, with prices from $20 to $35 a bottle. Save room for dessert. Vintage does an excellent turn on the chocolate lava cake, the first forkful yielding a pleasing Vesuvial eruption of molten heaven. While the candied walnuts on the fried banana strudel were cruel to my molars, I loved the crisp puff pastry coddling layers of creamy banana filling and the cinnamon ice cream side. Open only seven weeks, Vintage is building a steady lunch business and its bar is already a favorite destination of the business crowd. Bar patrons can enjoy a pleasant meal of more typical pub grub (buffalo wings, burgers, ribs, etc.) or eat from the main menu. Kids might tuck into the standard chicken fingers, burgers, or pasta, but I'd ply them with the shepherd's pie or fish and chips from the bar menu instead. Vintage deserves a warm welcome to the neighborhood. I'm already plotting my return, passel of friends in tow, so I can take another run at the lobster quesadilla, sample the jerk pork tenderloin, and sneak in an empty bottle in my purse so I can take home the grilled pineapple mango salsa for a midnight snack. Call 914-328-5803 for reservations and visit Vintage at www.vintagebar.net. White Plains Watch On Line The Community Website for White Plains Many Voices, Many Perspectives Restaurant Openings in April 2003 Vintage Opens at 171 Main Street Declan Farrell and his partners have been exploring downtown White Plains for the past four years in search of the ideal location for an upscale bar/restaurant. They found it in the former Beauty School at 171 Main St., which they have transformed into a handsomely appointed space which easily accommodates a substantial bar area, well separated from the dining room. The menu includes porterhouse, filet mignon and New York steak as well as BBQ ribs, rack of New Zealand Lamb, and a wide choice of salad entrees. Call (914) 328-5803 or visit www.vintagebar.net. Open for lunch and dinner six days a week. Free buffet Thursdays and Fridays 5-7 p.m. ZAGAT SURVEY REVIEW Vintage Restaurant & Bar White Plains 171 Main St. (bet. William & Court Sts.) White Plains, NY, 10601 (914) 328-5803 Don't let the animated twentysomethings at the bar in front deter you from venturing to the rear dining room to try the Eclectic-American fare at this art deco entry featuring historic photos of Downtown White Plains and restored terrazzo floors; drawing office workers at lunch and for the free happy hour buffet (Thur.-Fri.), as well as couples and groups of friends at dinner for surf 'n' turf and homemade tiramisu, it's another example of the area's rebirth. SUBURBAN STREET COLUMNS (Excerpt from article) Food News by James C. Benerofe As White Plains continues to develop, a lot of new restaurants will pop up and some old restaurants will disappear. The Sea Star diner is a prime example. They sold their property to a bank and last week the building was demolished…. Recently, several new restaurants have opened up. On Main Street, there's the Vintage Restaurant and Bar and I've eaten there about three or four times. They've got really good food, and the hospitality is the best. There's one other thing I have to mention about this place. I am a big soup fan; they have potato leek soup on the menu and I had a bowl, and it was really, really fabulous. It had big pieces of potato in it and was served with a dollop of mashed potatoes in the center. You could make a meal out of that alone. The owner, Declan Farrell, spends a lot of time greeting his customers and another restaurateur from the area went to the bar recently and said that he thought that the bartenders there were some of the best he had come across.  |
171 Main Street White Plains, NY 10601 914.328.5803
Parking available at Galleria/Municipal facilities across the street
Full Lunch & Dinner Menu Monday - Friday 11 am - 10 pm Saturday 5pm - 10 pm
