One of the tough things about keeping up with restaurants is that while they open to big fanfare (with boasting, self-generated press releases), they close with barely a wheeze. So it went with Boe@324 www.boeat324.com, which packed it in three weeks ago, having not lasted long enough to make it into the bi-ennial Zagat guide. I’m afraid we’re going to be saying that a lot this year, folks.
In its place is stepping Spanish food/tapas bar, which makes it about the thousandth in Westchester. (Can’t you really blame them? It’s a great business model—lots of high profit drinking and small plates.) Boe@324’s replacement is called Ibiza, and it’s operated by the folks behind a well-received New Haven restaurant of the same name. Check the link for menu details, but prices for appetizers start at $10, while mains listed on the site start at $23. Ohy! We really don’t think this is the climate for pricey restaurants on Central Avenue.
BTW—did you see that Via Quadronno was blasted in the Times for its priciness? That’s another thing we’ll be hearing (and writing about) a lot in future. Our thinking is that the Times got it all wrong: they went for dinner. We suggest that you view VQ as the bar caffe that it is. Drop in for a tasty colazione of freshly squeezed o.j, cappucino and brioche, or pop by for panino and a glass of wine. Even better, visit at about four-ish for a caffe coretto—that’s espresso “corrected” with a shot of booze. (There’s nothing like alcohol made potent by caffeine.) The outdoor seating is in the thick of White Plains, so you’re sure to meet someone you know, plus, heat lamps will carry the sidewalk scene until late fall. To us, VQ is a welcome alternative to all the other chain stores nearby, and some of those paninis are delicious. But it’s true—they’re not cheap, folks.
