There's a lot of 'frank talk' at White Plains' Dog Den

Jeanne Muchnick | Rockland/Westchester Journal News

Show Caption Hide Caption Video: The Dog Den in White Plains Dennis Rubich, the owner of The Dog Den in White Plains, talks about his new establishment and the more than 58 hot dog combinations.

There's a lot of "frank talk" going on at The Dog Den at White Plains.

Much of it revolves around puns, fun and the owner's height. At 7'1", he says any customer taller than him can eat for free.

Let's get a few things out of the way: Dennis Rubich, the very tall man behind the new hot dog eatery — it opened June 10 — studied architecture at Pratt, played basketball overseas, and did engineering work for a few municipalities (and still does architectural design). He opened his new spot, with six seats inside and 27 outside, in the former White Plains bus depot as a way to merge his passions for old buildings with "new tricks." Rubich also plans to build a deck that will add another six tables.

Pardon the pun but the old saying "Old Dog, New Tricks" lines the eatery's wall and is also on select T-shirts.

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Most recently, he owned the Irvington train station building, which dates to 1889. He sold that and came across the old bus station, owned by the Westchester County Parks Department, whom he said were extremely helpful during the build out process.

"The building had been abandoned for 40 years so it took a lot of sweat equity to bring it back," Rubich said. His brother, Tommy, who is also his business partner, did all of the electrical work.

"I think it was in everyone's interest for this building to succeed and for this gem to shine again," he said.

To preserve the depot's history, some of the tables in front are reclaimed wood from the building's collapsed roof.

"It's always great to have someone come in and say how they used to come in as a kid and then enjoy what I've done," said Rubich. "Customers always leave happy. I like to think it's because of the hot dogs, but I'm sure the memories that flood their hearts helps, too."

Speaking of those dogs, Rubich offers 58 different combos with creative names like The White Plains Tiger (tortilla strips, chili, pico de galo and jalapeños), The Spicy Is Oh So Nicey (chili, raw red onions, shredded Jack Cheese, siracha sauce, pepper flakes and jalapeños), The Hawaii 5-Oh Yeah (bacon bites, pineapple chunks, crushed potato chips, aged cheddar) and The Fancy Schmancy (spice pimento cheese and crushed Ritz crackers).

He said the choices are truly limitless since everything is customizable.

Proving popular so far:

Dog Den (chili, chipotle mayo, bacon bits chopped tomato, crumbled blue cheese, and fried onions),

(chili, chipotle mayo, bacon bits chopped tomato, crumbled blue cheese, and fried onions), CALI D-O double G (guacamole, bacon strips, chopped tomato, ranch dressing and celery salt)

(guacamole, bacon strips, chopped tomato, ranch dressing and celery salt) The Bob Ross (red chopped tomato, yellow sweet corn kernels, green scallions and blue cheese crumbs with a honey drizzle on top)

(red chopped tomato, yellow sweet corn kernels, green scallions and blue cheese crumbs with a honey drizzle on top) Sweet Mary (carmelized onions, fig jam and sharp cheddar crumbs),

(carmelized onions, fig jam and sharp cheddar crumbs), Fat Elvis (peanut butter, grape jelly and sliced bananas)

(peanut butter, grape jelly and sliced bananas) Bill Murray (cole slaw, musard, dill pickle, chopped tomato, shredded cheddar).

What makes the hot dogs special, said Rubich, is that he uses all beef certified gluten-free Sabrett hot dogs in a natural casing. "Diners have a choice to have their hot dogs, boiled, grilled, or deep fried as well as if they want them split or whole, and their buns toasted." Rolls are Martin's potato buns.

In keeping with the "fun on a roll" theme, he has a wall of Famous/infamous "Franks" photos with which he takes certain liberties with. There's Aretha Frank-lin, for example, as well as the fictional Frank Underwood (from "House of Cards"), Bethenny Frank-el, James Frank-o, the Frank-en Weenie, and Frank-enstein.

"If anyone can think of more Franks, let me know," he said. "I'm happy to add to the wall."

His whole theme — which is also on the T-shirts he sells — is to "be frank." There's a sign inside that states that very fact along with his mission "to offer the community and all fellow hotdoggers a quality all-beef hot dog with fresh toppings in unique combinations that are quite frankly not available elsewhere."

And fun is a big part of the experience. Instagram alert: Rubich has a giant cardboard hot dog with room for one's head and provides chalk for kids to draw on the sidewalk outside.

There's also a decent amount of parking — 13 spots, including one reserved for "American heroes," i.e. veterans, active military, police, fire and EMT.

Go: 1 Main St., White Plains, 914-328-3288. Take note: The building is accessed by turning on Bronx street off Hamilton Avenue. Follow him on Instagram thedogden_whiteplains