At the Melting Pot in White Plains, the business model includes fondue, soft lighting and, for the romantically inclined, two-hours on Lover”™s Lane.
The owner, Will Layfield of New Jersey, believes the new restaurant, which offers Monday night fondue instead of Monday night football, is the place to bring a woman “whether it”™s your date or your mother.”
“Fondue is a two-and-a-half hour experience,” Layfield said. “It”™s a very long night if you don”™t like who you”™re with.”
Layfield is responsible for bringing the Melting Pot franchise, which has 130 restaurants around the country, to the tri-state area.
Layfield tried to open in White Plains in 2002, looked at locations on Hamilton Avenue and Church Street then Center Ave (Route 100).
Since he couldn”™t find the perfect location in White Plains, he went to Bergen County, N.J., opening a Melting Pot in Westwood, followed by one in Darien, Conn.
Both restaurants are successful, he said.
“We have Melting Pot groupies,” Layfield said. “Very typically people spend two hours in our restaurant. What”™s really happening is, you”™re enjoying who you”™re with and slowing down.”
Layfield finally returned to White Plains and opened the Melting Pot on Mamaroneck Avenue.
“We”™re absolutely thrilled to be in White Plains,” Layfield said. “We”™re happy to be a small part of the regeneration and growth of this great city.”
Induction burners, which use magnetic energy and work “like a microwave” are built into each table, including the bar.
Layfield said the county health departments adore Melting Pots because the kitchen is clean; all cooking is done at the table.
And with nine different kinds of chocolate fondue to order, there”™s always room for dessert.
Layfield”™s favorite is the flaming turtle, made with chocolate, pecans and caramel.
“The chocolate is so popular, we have to have a separate menu,” Layfield said. “It”™s such a magical substance; it”™s very hard to resist.”
As for some of the fondue desserts, which can include Baileys Irish Cream, “you can think of it as Friendly”™s with alcohol.”
The restaurant also has a private dining room and a party room, which seats 50, and has audio-visual equipment. The Lover”™s Lane section has eight tables.
Layfield said he thinks the bar area will be very popular with the after-work crowd for appetizers.
He is always willing to put together a gift basket or certificate for a local fundraiser or charity.
“It”™s very important that we”™re part of the community,” Layfield said. “That”™s the advantage of an owner-operated business ”“ it”™s much easier to be a convincing member of the community.”
