BUtterfield 8
White Plains residents and those working in and around the city are in for a treat with the recent opening of a cool new American gastropub called BUtterfield 8.
The restaurant, located on Mamaroneck Avenue, is one of several co-owned by White Plains native John Gazzola
The others include Mulberry Street Italian Kitchen on the corner of East Post Road and Waller Avenue, two other BUtterfield 8 restaurants in Stamford, Conn., and New York City, Lola’s Mexican Kitchen, also in Stamford, and another soon to open next door to BUtterfield 8 in White Plains. He is also a partner in 12 other restaurants located in Philadelphia, Maryland and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Growing up in the restaurant business no doubt influenced Gazzola as he embarked on a career in the restaurant industry. His family owned the Beechmont Tavern in New Rochelle and Gazzola admits to doing everything from washing dishes to bussing tables and eventually managing the restaurant.
During his days as an undergraduate student at Loyola College in Baltimore, Gazzola worked part-time for East Coast Saloons, which provided him with an entrée to the larger restaurant/food services business. The company owns the popular McFadden’s group of restaurants, among others.
After acquiring a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing, along with a master of business administration and management, both from Loyola, Gazzola was hired full-time by East Coast Saloons. He served in its New York City office as director of sales and marketing, supervising a team of 20 people and overseeing all marketing and promotional strategies for the company’s bars.
To be sure, his time at East Coast Saloons was the perfect training ground for Gazzola, who got his high school education at Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle. “I really enjoyed it and realized that it was what I wanted to pursue,” said the affable 31-year-old.
Seven years ago, Gazzola opened the first BUtterfield 8 in New York City, a reference to the 1960 film, “BUtterfield 8,” starring Elizabeth Taylor, but also to the old telephone exchange names that were prevalent in the U.S. and Canada at the time. The BUtterfield 8 exchange in Manhattan provided service to well-to-do residents on the Upper East Side.
Being a son of White Plains, Gazzola had always wanted to set up a business in the downtown area, but had difficulty finding the perfect location. Obtaining a space on bustling Mamaroneck Avenue is, he believes, the ideal spot for both daytime customers and those who want to kick back in the evening hours and enjoy the gastro pub cuisine, in addition to the restaurant’s myriad of craft beers and cocktails.
Gazzola chose the gastropub theme, which originated in England in the 1990s and was brought to America in the early 2000s, because he wanted a place where customers could get good quality food in a comfortable, pub-like setting.
Complimenting the restaurant’s wide selection of food is a casual environment that sets the right tone for either lunch, dinner or even a few bites at the 80-foot island bar, which seats approximately 30 people. The remainder of the restaurant caters to approximately 120 additional customers.
Because the restaurant’s open kitchen is a focal point of the 5,000-square-foot eatery, diners can watch executive chef Matt Safarowic, formerly of The Cookery in Dobbs Ferry and Zuppa in Yonkers, prepare the delicious fare that BUtterfield 8 is known for.
Take, for instance, the “Dirty Chips,” an unusual but delicious dish that Safarowic creates from fried potato chips, smoked bacon, bleu cheese fondue, crispy chicken livers, tomatoes and green onions. Or the Creole Shrimp & Grits that include tiger shrimp, coarse ground grits and smoked tasso sauce, already a favorite, said Gazzola. Even the Mac & Cheese is different, with a combination of smoked gouda, guanciale and panko crust.
There’s plenty more to choose from, including brick oven pizza, a selection of mussels and a delicious array of sandwiches, including the House Chicken Griddle, the Pork Belly sandwich and the Free Range Turkey Burger, to name a few.
Gazzola, who lives in Stamford with his wife, Danielle, has also created a “daily supper” menu, meaning that all of the dishes on a particular day, between the hours of 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., will revolve around a specific theme. So for instance, on Mondays, customers can expect “Southern Cooking,” a mix of Cajun and creole stews and braises, batter dipped delights and pan fried classics.
Tuesday is expected to be “Shuckers Anonymous,” featuring summertime favorites from coast to coast, while the Wednesday’s menu is coined “Weekly Roast,” a combination of whole roasts, lamb legs, suckling pigs and prime rib.
Thursday’s menu will pay homage to barbecue lovers under the title “Homesick Texans,” and on Fridays, lovers of seafood will delight in a selection of dishes coined “On the Hook.” On Saturdays, Gazzola intends to offer “BU8 Steak” meals, reminiscent of a classic steakhouse butcher and including selected prime steaks and chops.
If Gazzola is pinching himself with the success of his restaurants countrywide, the hearty reception he’s received in White Plains has been great, he said.
“I guess I was fortunate enough to get involved with really good people right from the start,” he said. Referring to his latest White Plains venture, Gazzola is thrilled to have made an impact on the city’s commerce. “The feeling here is business professional meets social scene, which I think is an appropriate fit for White Plains.”
To learn more about BUtterfield 8, visit the restaurant’s website at www.butterfield8wp.com or call 914-358-4881. The restaurant is located at 147 Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains.
Colette Connolly is a copywriter and p.r. expert. She owns Connolly Communications, which is based in Bronxville, New York. Colette specializes in providing content-rich, SEO-optimized press releases, articles, newsletters, brochures, and customer success stories.
