Riddle Me This: Tango Grill, White Plains

What the heck is up with the windows at Tango Grill in White Plains? Every time I walk by this place, between 2-4 windows are ALWAYS BUSTED OUT, and they're not always the same windows, so obviously they ARE being repaired.

Sometimes it looks like a bullet hole; other times it looks like someone just hammered into the window shattering it in its pane.

Sure, they have a valet...
Sure, they require reservations...

I feel confident in speculating that the food there could very well be delightful.

However! (And this is a BIG however), it doesn't matter how nice the food is, or how lovely the ambiance, or how attentive the service is, if, while you are there paying $29 for a pork chop entree, some crack-addled derelict decides THAT night is the perfect night to do a drive-by or terrorize diners by bashing on the nearest window with a hammer or a rock.

Can someone explain why their windows are consistently busted out, and/or, why after the first 20 windows they've replaced, why they have not had their windows replaced with bullet proof glass?

Note to the web designer for Tango Grill: Please give folks a button to skip out of the flash animation. It's so passee. Even Steve Jobs thinks it's an outdated technology.

White Plains: A Bit of Old News & Some New

It's been a while!

Let's see, what's happening in town:

Closed:
Meme Bakery (been closed a few months, lost track of how long it's been). Wish I could say I missed the place, despite its promise, I wasn't impressed.

Expanded (Now Closed):
Manna Foods
http://www.mannafoodsonline.com
171 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601-5302
(914) 946-2233

As of May 13th, the store re-opened after expanding into the adjacent space, thus doubling the size and breadth of the store. I can't wait to head in there for my vitamins and browse the new shelves!

A note for some folks who don't traverse to the depths of the back of the store: there is prepared food available (soups, and other items for lunches, all vegetarian if my memory serves me correct). I need to head there ASAP!

Been Open a While:
Melt
http://www.meltsandwich.com
277 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
(914) 358-1364

How or why is it, I JUST RECENTLY realized this shop opened? Apparently it's been open since 2009!

It's about a block further than I normally walk during lunches, but I figured I'd give it a try. So the first sunny day after I realized this shop exists, I popped in.

Considering I'm only four months out from weight loss surgery, and being wooed by the smokey smell in the shop, I opted for one of their half salads, the Wedge, which had some bacon on it. I had them add some chicken to it so my nutritional need for more protein were met. With a large ice tea, lunch came to about $9. A little pricey for a half salad, but worth it.

Mmmmmm.... smokey meat! I'm coming to get you. Next time! Next time!

Everything was fresh and tasty. Not a wilted leaf in the bowl. The iced tea was good and didn't taste like instant dreck, always a plus.

I'm ogle-ing their menu right this moment, and day dreaming of what else I might have at my next visit.

One request (if the owners are reading): Nutritional info please! I'd love to know calories and protein counts of the menu items. It helps a lot to negotiate what I (and no doubt other folks, too) can have for lunch!

They even have a blog http://meltsandwich.blogspot.com/ ! And thanks to them, I didn't know about the existence of the 914 Magazine:)

Good luck to the folks at Melt! Hope you're around for a while! Good food, plus a good excuse to get a little extra walk in my day!

Note: My links are not hyperlinking. Hope to fix this once at home tonight. But I'm so ready to hit publish post, RIGHT. THIS. MINUTE!

*PUBLISH!*

Today's Fortune

As I'm gearing up to be out of the office for four weeks recovering from WLS, I have also been clearing out my desk so when I return, I hope invigorated and with new energy and perspective.

In going thru my things here, I discovered a fortune cookie that I had not yet opened. Until today. I tossed the cookie and read the fortune:

"Today is your day to call the shots; so you should."

Today's Fortune

An aim in life is the only fortune worth finding.

Closed & Coming Soon

Closed: Sea World, corner of Martine & Court, White Plains (evicted September, 2010)
Coming Soon: Cheeburger Cheeburger, Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains

Jury is still out on if it'll re-open or not: Bengal Tiger.

Another Stray Fortune

You make people realize that there exist other beauties in the world.

Ganked From White Plains Patch: Bengal Tiger Update

The White Plains Common Council opted to purchase the former site of the Bengal Tiger restaurant, and not Ridgeway Country Club Monday.
By Dina Sciortino

The White Plains Common Council approved the issuance of $1.4 million in bonds Monday, to purchase .23 acres, at 134-142 East Post Rd., to potentially use it as a temporary parking facility. They also opted not to bond $15 million to purchase and renovate Ridgeway Country Club.

The property is located at former site of the Bengal Tiger restaurant. A July fire destroyed the store and six others leaving a massive ugly hole on East Post Rd. and Court St.

"What we don't need is a hole in the ground there for five years," said Council President Thomas Roach. "This will help the local merchants, while at the same time we are receiving revenue for the parking. We will have control of that land and in the future, and will have control of much of that block."

Mayor Adam Bradley said the property could be used temporarily for parking and that long-term plans for the site have not been decided.

"I'm not prejudging saying what we should do, or when we should do it, but I do think that given the essential nature of that portion of our city to the future development of our city—it's wise to take action at this point," said Roach.

Roach explained that the City already owns much of the block. Though the former Bengal Tiger site abuts a City owned parking lot, Roach said there is a lack of parking in the area.

"This is a parking lot. Running a country club is something the City is not equipped to do," said Roach.

Though a bond ordinance to issue $15 million in bonds to acquire and renovate Ridgeway Country Club was moved from Nov. 5 to the Dec. 6 agenda, the council did not approve the issuance of the bonds.

"The issue with Ridgeway you got to remember—the was council seeking some kind of business plan or study that could show it could of supported itself, but that was never provided to us," said Roach. "That really is the underlying basis for the council's failure to move forward with that purchase."

Bradley said that it was "very clear" that the bids Ridgeway received to purchase the site are sealed. Officials for Ridgeway Country Club did not immediately return phone calls from White Plains Patch.