Nine-Eleven Tavern
11 Bloomfield Ave
(716) 825-9939
Yelp 4.5 stars, 30 Reviews
Across the U.S. wings are wings, but in Buffalo they are an institution. Trying to get three locals to agree on the best wing joint is futile, so just cut through the crap and hit up the Nine Eleven Tavern. Order a double (20 wings) and don’t feel obligated to share.
Bocce Club Pizza
4174 Bailey Ave
(716) 833-1344
Yelp 4 stars, 52 reviews
To get a sense of what Western New York brings to the pizza table, picture Buffalo-style as the cheesy lovechild of Chicago deep dish and New York City thin crust. To put it in Buffalese: the city has got pizza on lock.
As with wings, there is a timeless debate in Buffalo as to who is doing pizza right. When the chips are down, head to Bocce Club Pizza. Their pies have it all. Not-too-thick, chewy crust, tasty sauce, a generous layer of cheese and piles of pepperoni—and all on a “medium” that any other spot in Buffalo would deem a large.
Allen Street Hardware Store Cafe
245 Allen St
(716) 882-8843
Yelp 4 stars, 75 reviews
Allen Street Hardware is a life-saver in a sea full of wings and pizza. Chef Ted is revolutionizing the way Buffalo thinks about bar food. He’s causing a stir with his inspired creations using things like pan seared sea scallops and the culinary world’s latest greatest mistress—asparagus.
If you are looking to eat, get a seat early because this place can tend to fill up rather quickly with people interested in perusing the extensive beer list. The menu looks like your typical bar-fare, but the flavors are a real upgrade. The Portobello Panini is huge and comes with smooth goat cheese plus roasted red and hot peppers that are the perfect combo of sweet and spicy.
Here’s the thing, save room for fries. They are crispy and delicious and come with an array of dipping sauces that will please any palate.
Shango Bistro and Wine Bar
3260 Main Street
(716) 837-2326
Yelp 4.5 stars, 137 reviews
Shango injects a bit of Creole soul into the Buffalo scene, like a warm breeze in an otherwise chilly market.
Just like the city that inspires it, the atmosphere at Shango is light and fun, while the food and drink is as serious as a heart attack. Keep your eyes peeled for southern specialties like the alligator appetizers or fried oysters po-boy, but let’s talk about their mac-and-cheese (and-cheese-and-cheese). Here is an entrée that should be served with a pillow. Penne smothered in the perfect threesome of cheeses (gouda, goat and cheddar) with a crispy potato chip crust. Add the Andouille sausage and you have the recipe for the perfect food-induced coma.
Sun Restaurant
1989 Niagara St
(716) 447-0202
Yelp 4.5 stars, 147 reviews
Sun is one of those places where the owners are so present and attentive that you forget you’re in a restaurant and not at your incredibly talented chef friend’s house. The menu blends the best of Burmese and Thai cooking while not overwhelming unseasoned diners.
The Tea Leaf Salad (Le Peth Thoat) is a Burmese specialty that is light and has just the right amount of kick. The Thai food is just as impressive and the Pad Kee Mao—a Thai food benchmark—is executed with such precision and it, too, can have quite the kick.
Here’s the thing, don’t be afraid to go spicy because the Mango Sticky Black Rice will put out any fire.
Left Bank
511 Rhode Island St
(716) 882-3509
Yelp 4 stars, 125 reviews
Left Bank takes the Buffalo food scene and kicks it up a notch. Their take on bourgeois will have you re-thinking appetizers with gems like spicy banana peppers baked in sweet yet tangy San Marzano tomato sauce and topped with asiago cheese or the tuna tartare which could stand on its own, but comes with cilantro, ginger and and a Sriracha aioli.
The Delaware
3410 Delaware Ave
(716) 874-0100
Facebook: 4.3 stars, 231 reviews
At The Delaware the décor is industrial modern and the dishes are classics spun with a little fun. Have a B.L.A.S.T (bacon, lettuce, avocado, grilled salmon and tomato) and you’ll wonder why you’ve left salmon off your BLT’s all these years. Or, the Ton I Wanna, a thick beef burger topped with pulled pork. Just don’t limit yourself to sandwiches, the soy-glazed bone-in pork-chop with bleu cheese spaetzle is enough to tremble any tongue.
And no meal at The Delaware is complete without a bag of donuts. Hot, fresh and just the right amount of sweet.
Blackthorn Restaurant and Pub
2134 Seneca St
(716) 825-9327
Yelp: 4 stars, 55 reviews
Saying Blackthorn Restaurant and pub has a welcoming atmosphere is selling the place short—you really feel like part of the neighborhood from the moment you step in the door. It has a great history and an overall great feel.
Their specialties include Irish pub favorites like corned beef, shepherd’s pie and beer soup, but the real winners here are their phenomenal French Onion Soup and the jalapeno tots. The soup is caked in gooey cheese and overflowing with flavor and the house-made jalapeno tots are perfect spuds stuffed with spicy jalapeno cheddar.
Charlie The Butcher’s Restaurant
1065 Wehrle Dr
(716) 633-8330
Yelp: 4 stars, 87 reviews
Another of Buffalo’s gastronomic staples is the Beef on Weck. Don’t get your fancy-pants in a bunch, we’re talking roast beef on a kummelweck roll. This dish isn’t exactly brain surgery, but Charlie ‘The Butcher’ has it down to a science.
First off, the beef is hot, rare and packed with juicy flavor. The buns are fresh and soft, but with just the right amount of chew. And the horseradish (don’t skimp on the horseradish) is fresh, bright and packs a punch.
Blue Monk
727 Elmwood Ave
(716) 882-6665
Yelp 4 stars, 194 reviews
Holy gastropub! Does Blue Monk know what’s up when it comes to good food and good drink. Much of the menu is composed of traditional European and Belgian-focused pub fare which not only pairs well with their extensive beer selection–many of the items actually contain the beer as well.
If the Duck Frites, potatoes fried in duck fat, sound like they’re up your alley, then you are going to love the Duck Confit Reuben. Marble rye is stacked high with tender, juicy duck meat, red sauerkraut plus Gruyère and Dijon-mayo. You’d have to be daffy to not order it.
Hutch’s Restaurant
1375 Delaware Ave
(716) 885-0074
Yelp: 4 stars, 62 reviews
Hutch’s Restaurant rests atop the Buffalo culinary scene for a number of reasons. It has set itself apart with a refined, fine-dining atmosphere that takes Buffalo’s other attempts at class to school. It’s ritzy without feeling intimidating and somehow cozy but not low-brow.
The portions are generous, so make sure to bring someone along to share a large plate with. There’s a lot of fun to be had on this menu, which ranges from eggplant to bison. With the Chilled Lobster Salad featuring avocado, heirloom tomatoes, hearts of palm and mango drizzled with Avocado-buttermilk dressing you can easily fill up without feeling weighed down.
Torches
1141 Kenmore Ave
(716) 447-7915
Yelp 4 stars, 41 reviews
If the Olympic-style torch on the sign says anything at all, it’s that these guys get the gold medal in creativity. Torches specializes in transforming familiar flavors into extraordinary fare. Ribs roasted in root beer and meats crusted in in coffee or cocoa are just a few examples of what to expect from these eclectic chefs. You can taste the quality ingredients and the innovative preparations make for a dining experience that is not to be matched.
Pano’s Restaurant
1081 Elmwood Ave
(716) 886-9081
Yelp: 3.5 stars, 127 reviews
Though they’re open for three meals a day and have an extensive menu that deserves exploring, it’s hard to beat getting the Chicken Souvlaki for lunch. Tender marinated chicken resting on top of a Mountain of salad with plenty of warm pita and creamy dill sauce, this is guilt-free Greek at its finest.
Pano’s has been a bastion in the Buffalo scene for over 30 years and the reason is consistency and quality. This is one of those meals that you can count on week in and week out.
English Pork Pie Company
1176 S Park Ave
(716) 823-3772
Yelp: 5 stars, 16 reviews
Flaky crust stuffed with piping hot meats, what more could you possibly want?
Somehow Buffalo is home to the best British staple outside of England and the shop has actually been voted best in the world twice. EPPC is churning out home-made British pies that have consistently proven better than pies actually made in England.
The Chicken Tikka has tender and juicy chicken bathed in rich, curry-infused broth for supreme flavor. But the real star of their lineup is the Farmhouse Pork Pie. This little bugger is Christmas dinner wrapped in a flaky blanket and yours to savor any time of the year. This pie is just plain delicious with pork and turkey along with a generous helping of stuffing and a sweet touch of applesauce.
The best part is they ship all over the country, so no matter how far you roam, you’re never far away from an award-winning meat pie.
