Skip to content
Locrawl

Buffalo

The largest city in New York State's Niagara Frontier, Buffalo is a city full of surprises. Though Buffalo is sometimes the butt of jokes about chicken wings, its long-suffering sports teams, and the mountains of snow under which it is supposedly buried each winter, those in the know tell a different story: one of vibrant nightlife, world-class museums and cultural attractions, tight-knit neighborhoods with strong community spirit – and the sunniest summers in Northeastern United States.

See
332
Do
363
Eat
860
Drink
412
Buy
397

Banner: AndreCarrotflower, CC BY-SA 3.0

860 places match

  1. EatIce creamNorth Buffalo

    Lake Effect Artisan Ice Cream

    Out of Hertel's trio of ice cream shops, Lake Effect is by far the most popular. Why? For one, it doesn't hurt that they were a known quantity already; since 2008, Buffalonians had been buying the stuff in supermarkets and making the trek to the original location in Lockport. Moreover, Lake Effect doesn't divert any attention to poutine, tacos, or other such culinary distractions: here it's all ice cream, all the time. All two dozen or so varieties are locally sourced and manufactured, and many draw inspiration from the unique elements of local cuisine: the Paula's Glazed Donut flavor incorporates chunks of its namesake ingredient into a honey glaze-flavored ice cream, the Loganberry ice cream reflects Buffalo's soft drink of choice, and the Icewine Sherbet is an homage to the signature vintage of the Niagara Peninsula.

    Daily 11AM-10PM$5-10 · Outdoor seating · Wheelchair accessible

  2. EatItalian restaurantDowntown

    Osteria 166

    Osteria 166 is a "casual Italian eatery and pub" that walks a fine line between the humble "red-sauce Italian" restaurants of Hertel Avenue and what's left of the Italian West Side, and the upscale establishments more typical of downtown. Entrees trend heavily toward the former, with classic favorites such as spaghetti and meatballs, shellfish fra diavolo, and an Italian sausage sandwich all making appearances on the menu. However, the appetizers are far more imaginative, with the creativity of the offerings in that category exemplified by grilled octopus, pork confit, and stuffed pepper risotto cakes. An impressive wine list caps off Osteria 166's menu in grand style.

    Mon-Fri 11AM-9PM, Sat 4PM-10PM$15-45 · Takeaway

  3. EatThai restaurantNorth Buffalo

    Yummy Thai

    If you're looking for the authentic flavors of Thailand, definitely head elsewhere, but if you're a newbie looking to dip your toes for the first time into the world of Southeast Asian cuisine, Yummy Thai might serve as a good introduction: the menu (identical to the one at the original location in North Tonawanda) doesn't venture far beyond the basic standards of pad thai, red, green and penang curries, pad kee mow, tom yum soup, and the like, and the recipes compromise with the American palate to a greater degree than pretty much anywhere else in town. Portions are ample and the place never gets crowded, but don't expect that to necessarily translate into fast or attentive service, which is a weak spot here.

    Mon-Thu 11AM-9:30PM, Fri Sat 11AM-10PM, Sun noon-9PM$15-40 · Takeaway

  4. EatItalian restaurantEast Side

    Chef's

    Since 1923, Chef's has been serving hearty Italian cuisine that is comparatively adventurous for neighborhood family-style establishments of its kind. Entrees range from familiar fare such as veal and chicken parmigiana, chicken cacciatore, lasagna, and spaghetti to more elegant selections such as dandelion salad. Reasonable prices and generous portions. Buffalonians love this place.

    Mon-Sat 11AM-9PM$15-40 · Wi-Fi

  5. EatMexican restaurantElmwood Village

    Aguacates

    This location of a growing Upstate New York chain serves a range of Tex-Mex standards that's slightly wider than what you could get at Agave, its predecessor in this location — fajitas, burritos, tacos, enchiladas, and various combo platters thereof — plus a modest range of simple non-Mexican main courses such as burgers and Philly cheesesteak sandwiches but minus the pozole, menudo, and other more authentically Mexican fare favored by the former owner. The decor is largely unchanged too, with its bright, warm colors and Mexican knickknacks adding a nice bit of flavor without going over the top.

    Mon-Thu 11AM-9:30PM, Fri Sat 11AM-midnight, Sun 11AM-10PM$15-40

  6. EatAmerican restaurantNorth Buffalo

    Amy's Place

    A popular dive where the latest indie tunes can be heard on the soundsystem and people-watchers can enjoy a clientele that trends heavily toward bohemian urbanites and other alternative types (not to mention students of UB's nearby South Campus), Amy's Place is among the hippest eateries on Main Street. By day they serve a range of Lebanese and other Mediterranean fare of respectable quality, including abundant options for vegetarians and vegans. However, Amy's Place is perhaps best known for their substantial, delicious and reasonably priced breakfasts. Cash only.

    Daily 7AM-9PM$10-25

  7. EatRestaurantAllentown and the Delaware District

    Betty's

    Betty's opened on Virginia Street in 2004 and quickly won the hearts of Allentown's hip community of bohemian urbanites with their friendly and funky staff, their cheerful ambience, and — of course — their fine food, including a legendary breakfast and Saturday and Sunday brunch. For dinner, Betty's serves a wide variety of entrees with a Mediterranean bent; the lentil salad plate is a personal favorite. Sandwiches, salads, and a kids' menu flesh out the offerings.

    Tue-Thu 8AM-3:30PM and 4:30-9PM, Fri 8AM-3:30PM and 4:30-10PM, Sat 9AM-3:30PM and 4:30-10PM, Sun 9AM-2PM$20-35

  8. EatPizza restaurantNorth Buffalo

    Bob & John's La Hacienda

    A newly remodeled dining area boasting several high-definition flat-screen TVs which are inevitably tuned to the big game (this place is understandably popular during Bills and Sabres seasons) is the setting where patrons of Bob & John's La Hacienda enjoy simple yet delicious items such as subs, wraps, burritos, a small selection of salads, pizza, and stromboli. A particular specialty at Bob & John's is the chicken wings, which come in a wide variety of delicious sauces including classic Buffalo, barbeque, Cajun, and Jamaican jerk (boneless "wingdings" are also available). A modest range of simple entrees, comprising mostly pasta dishes as well as a locally renowned fish fry that's available on Fridays, is also on offer; at lunchtime, a buffet is offered featuring pizza, soup and salad.

    Sun-Thu 11AM-11PM, Fri Sat 11AM-midnight$10-25

  9. EatBakeryWest Side

    BreadHive Cooperative Bakery

    BreadHive first made its name with delicious fresh-baked bread (the flagship "West Side Sourdough", multigrain, deli rye and Danish-style rugbrød) and bagels (eight varieties, all baked with locally-grown organic flour and wild yeast). But with their expansion from a mere walk-up window to a full-size restaurant has come additions to the menu in the form of delicious sandwiches all named for the owners' favorite female musicians — favorites include "The Robyn" (their version of what Jewish delis call the "Rachel", with beet caraway sauerkraut sourced from the West Side's own Barrel + Brine) and "The Bjork" (a vegan-friendly concoction with tempeh "bacon"). In the morning there's a somewhat smaller range of breakfast sandwiches, plus locally-roasted Public Espresso.

    Tue 8AM-6PM, Wed-Sun 8AM-3PM$10-20

  10. EatMexican restaurantElmwood Village

    Breezy Burrito Bar

    Now moved to its own freestanding location after a three-year stint at the EXPO Market in downtown (the latter is now permanently closed), the Breezy Burrito experience is closer to Americanized fast food à la Mighty Taco than the Fresh-Mex cuisine it aspires to, despite the presence of pickled onion as an optional topping which now seems to be de rigueur for taco places in Buffalo. The menu has expanded along with the physical space, but at its core is the same slate of build-your-own burritos, burrito bowls (with Mexican rice and black beans), tacos (two to an order on hard-shell, soft flour, or soft corn tortillas), and taco salads, along with nachos, chicken tortilla soup, and other simple Tex-Mex favorites. Portion sizes are nothing to write home about, but prices are fair considering.

    Tue-Sat 4PM-2AM$15-20

  11. EatIndian restaurantAllentown and the Delaware District

    Buffalo Tikka House

    At Buffalo Tikka House, the operative question is: how flexible are you? That is to say, if your waiter served you something different than what you ordered, and your protestations were met with only a vague promise to "take care of you next time", would you take it in stride? If not, that's understandable; normally it would be hard to recommend that kind of place under any circumstance. But it's tough to complain when the food is so good; miles ahead, in fact, of any other local Indian restaurant. Options range from the usuals (the namesake dish comes in a sweet-ish iteration perfect for those with tender palates) to specialties available nowhere else in Buffalo (fiery Chicken 65 packs an authentic flavor straight off the streets of Chennai), all 100% halal.

    Mon-Thu 11AM-10PM, Fri Sat 11:30AM-11PM, Sun noon-9:30PM$15-40

  12. EatRegional restaurantNorth Buffalo

    Burning Buffalo Bar & Grill

    The rule of thumb on Burning Buffalo's short but sweet menu is pub grub brought a bit upscale, but not too far — Burning Buffalo is not a dive by any means, but it's no cooler-than-thou "new Buffalo" hipster hangout either — with an emphasis on bison and other game meat. For example, check out the bison meatloaf, which comes in a delicious gravy made with stout beer, and the build-your-own burger option, wherein you can mix-and-match over 20 cheeses, vegetable toppings, condiments, and a patty of either premium ground steak, bison, or a daily selection of wild game (anything from alligator to wild boar to ostrich).

    Sun-Thu 3PM-midnight, Fri Sat 3PM-2AM$15-40

  13. EatAmerican restaurantAllentown and the Delaware District

    Café 59

    Though the heart and soul of the menu is still elegant yet affordable Italian fare, the slate of offerings at Café 59 has diversified considerably of late: rubbing shoulders with the pasta-and-sauce mains are delightful specialties such as salmon niçoise salad, a ratatouille tart, and Moroccan spiced chick peas. Lunch features a range of specialty sandwiches, burgers, and wraps. The ambience is airy and minimalist, and there's an ambitious range of local craft beers, imports and microbrews available at the bar, as well as a modest selection of Italian wines and locally bottled Johnnie Ryan sodas.

    Mon-Thu 8AM-10PM, Fri Sat 8AM-midnight, Sun noon-10PM$15-30

  14. EatNorth Buffalo

    Café on the Avenue

    Café on the Avenue hops during the morning hours with a full menu of breakfast sandwiches and (huge!) burritos, omelets, pancakes, French toast, and egg-and-breakfast meat platters, but the flagship item here is homemade donuts, prepared by what is proudly cited as "the first Donut Robot in the Buffalo area" and available in quite a few more varieties than you'll find at your average Tim's or Dunkin. At lunchtime, the slate of options transitions into classic American diner fare: no surprises on the menu, but everything's reliably good. Service can be hit-or-miss, but the price is right, the ambience is spacious and airy, and the kitchen is open, with all the food prepared freshly before your eyes.

    Daily 7AM-3PM$10-20

  15. EatRestaurantDowntown

    Chez Ami

    Back in the 1940s and '50s, the original Chez Ami on Delaware Avenue was Buffalo's hippest, swinging-est supper club, and today the Curtiss Hotel pays homage with its identically named restaurant, featuring a replica of the original's revolving bar (which, fun fact, was the first in the U.S.) "Casual upscale" is how the website describes the place, and the latter is certainly accurate vis-à-vis its ambience, price point, and culinary ambitions (a moderately creative take on the steak-seafood-pasta template). As for "casual", that seems more like a euphemism for inconsistent-quality food (burrata salad is a hit at lunchtime and the "Chez Burger" is said to be among the best in Buffalo, but many of the heartier mains tend to be bland and unimpressive) and mediocre-at-best service.

    Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30AM-2:30PM, dinner: Sun-Thu 5-10PM, Fri Sat 5-11PM$25-85

  16. EatPizza restaurantElmwood Village

    Daniela

    When it comes to pizza in Buffalo, the recent diversification of local offerings has been good news for visitors who don't care for the ubiquitous local style — and another benchmark was reached with the 2019 opening of Daniela, where the specialty of the house is pinsa, a variant native to Rome with a thicker but airier crust and only a light spread of cheese on top. The most popular of the five signature selections seems to be the pinsa capricciosa topped with artichokes, olives, shiitake mushrooms and ham. If that's not to your liking, the menu is chock full of other upscale Italian specialties too (how about linguine carbonara or a dessert of house-made gelato?) Downsides include steep prices and thunderous piped-in music, which combined with the chatter of ample-sized mealtime crowds makes quite a din.

    Tue-Thu 11AM-8PM, Fri Sat 11AM-10PM$15-40

  17. EatMexican restaurantDowntown

    Deep South Taco

    If you're a taco lover for whom ambience is more important than authenticity, check out the Ellicott Street cantina helmed by Richard Hamilton, here making a clean break from his haute cuisine background both in terms of the food he serves and the acid-trip environment it's served in: at the entrance psychedelic lights and visuals surround a giant lucha libre mask; indoors garish multicolored LED lights are punctuated by the eerie greenish glow of illuminated heating ducts and bar taps. Tacos come à la carte on homemade tortillas that draw mixed reviews: fresh as can be, but a bit too fluffy and prone to falling apart in your hand. Other options include a nacho platter smothered in melted cortija cheese, sides of Mexican street corn that are as authentic as it gets, and several vegetarian options.

    Sun-Thu 11AM-11PM, Fri Sat 11AM-midnight$15-30

  18. EatRestaurantElmwood Village

    Elmwood Taco & Subs

    Since 1978, Elmwood Taco & Subs has served tasty and cheap fast food that's popular with Buffalo State College students and other on-the-go Elmwood Villagers. In addition to the items that gave the place its name — tacos, burritos, chimichangas, nachos and other simple yet hearty Mexican fare, and an assortment of hot and cold subs — ETS also serves chicken fingers and wings slathered in its own homemade "Diavolo" hot sauce, and a few other items as well. Drive-thru service is available, too.

    Sun-Thu 11AM-midnight, Fri Sat 11AM-5AM$5-15

  19. EatRestaurantWest Side

    Essex Street Pub

    Five Points' favorite hipster watering hole, now serving a full menu of pub grub. Barbecue is the specialty of the house at the Essex Street Pub: Texas- and Memphis-style platters of house-smoked brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and wings served with cornbread, coleslaw, baked beans, or mac & cheese, with just the right amount of sauce to accentuate but not overwhelm the flavor of the meat. And they make their own pastrami and corned beef, too: try their "PLT", where the former serves as a replacement for the bacon in the classic recipe. Downsides include the service, which can be slow and gruff; also, no one would call this place the most comfortable in the world (seating is at the bar on high stools, or at one of the few wobbly tables if they're free).

    Mon-Sat 11AM-4AM, Sun 3PM-4AM$10-20

  20. EatThai restaurantWest Side

    Family Thai

    If you've been to the West Side before, you may remember Family Thai from their lengthy stint in the West Side Bazaar's International Kitchen a couple years back. If so, you know the drill: the menu does not stray far from usual standards like pad thai, tom yum soup, red and green curry, and the like, but rest assured that the flavors are far more vibrant and the preparations far more authentic than your average American Thai joint. Sadly, it's not completely the same experience — many popular favorites from the Bazaar days (including the spicy yum nua beef salad) have been axed from the menu — but there's now a selection of Burmese specialties on offer that rivals the Thai ones in deliciousness. Service is friendly, portion sizes are huge given what you pay — what more could you ask for?

    Mon Wed-Sat 11AM-9PM, Sun 11AM-6PM$10-25

  21. EatRestaurantElmwood Village

    Forty Thieves

    While it can't hold a candle to Blue Monk, Forty Thieves still delivers when it comes to reasonably priced, down-to-earth pub grub. On the menu is a decent selection of appetizers and salads including mountainous nacho platters and a not-half-bad chicken bacon avocado Cobb salad, but almost inarguably the dominant feature is sandwiches, sandwiches and more sandwiches: classics like turkey club, fried bologna, and grilled chicken come with just a hint of upscale foodie pretension. Dim lighting, dark tones, and framed historic photos of old New York on the walls (an homage, like the restaurant's name, to Manhattan's first street gang which terrorized the Five Points slum in the early to mid-1800s) bring character to the dining room.

    Kitchen open daily 11AM-midnight, bar stays open until 2AM$15-35

  22. EatItalian restaurantDowntown

    Frankie Primo's +39

    Frankie Primo's +39 (the suffix refers to Italy's telephone calling code) features specialties from owner Jay Manno's ancestral homelands of Sicily and Campania served in an old-school, Little Italy-esque ambience where exposed brick abounds and the tin ceiling is original to the building. The menu boasts a wide range of brick-oven pizzas, pasta dishes (including the Roman specialty cacio di pepe, the only place in Buffalo where you can find it), sandwiches on house-baked ciabatta bread, and main-course salads (particularly interesting is the cavolo toscano, a huge mound of kale topped with currants, toasted pine nuts, pecorino romano, and lemon vinaigrette) at prices that aren't half bad considering the ample portions. An encyclopedic wine list is the cherry on top.

    Mon-Wed 11AM-11PM, Thu-Sat 11AM-midnight, Sun noon-9PM$15-45

  23. EatRestaurantDowntown

    Fresh Catch Poke Co.

    It was at the Williamsville location of Fresh Catch Poke Co. where the Buffalo area was first introduced to the namesake Hawaiian specialty, and locals took to the dish with enough zeal that they opened a second outlet only a year later, attached to the Aloft Hotel downtown. The menu is the same at both locations — a wide variety of specialty or build-your-own poke bowls with varying grain or veggie bases, proteins, toppings, sauces, and sides; numerous options for vegans or those on other restricted diets; ingredients all fresh and sustainably sourced and served in generous portions to offset the high-ish prices — but exclusive to the downtown location is the Galley Lounge, a full bar where the emphasis is on healthy "mocktails".

    Mon-Thu 11AM-9:30PM, Fri Sat 11AM-11:30PM, Sun 11AM-7PM$15-35

  24. EatItalian restaurantAllentown and the Delaware District

    Giacobbi's Cucina Citta

    Giacobbi's is not a cooler-than-thou hipster hangout by any stretch of the imagination, but also not out of place in the Allentown restaurant scene: the overall rule of thumb is casual Italian with a few upscale flairs here and there, and favorites on the menu include magnificent takes on chicken parmigiana and Milanese, an "Italian Nacho" appetizer (a flat pasta sheet fried crispy and topped with Italian sausage, hot peppers, olives, cheese and spicy marinara sauce), copious pasta dishes available either in individual portions or "family style", main course salads, and — above all — a slate of a half-dozen specialty artisan pizzas (or create your own). A decent selection of craft beers, wines and cocktails are available at the bar, and service is topnotch.

    Mon-Thu 5-10PM, Fri Sat 5-11PM, Sun 5-9PM$15-40

  25. EatMexican restaurantNorth Buffalo

    Gramma Mora's

    Owned for over 30 years by the Mora family, there's perhaps no Mexican restaurant in Western New York about which local opinions are more polarized. Pretty much all anyone can agree on is that Gramma Mora's food is as far from authentic as it gets: some Buffalonians continue to sing the praises of this place's pleasantly mediocre Tex-Mex comfort food; others curse it as bland, uninspired, overpriced dreck. Since Buffalo's introduction to bona fide Mexican cuisine courtesy of places like Rancho La Delicias, La Divina in Kenmore, and Cheektowaga's Taquería Los Mayas, the balance has been tipping more and more toward the naysayers — but Gramma Mora's still packs 'em in on a pretty consistent basis, so who knows?

    Mon Tue 4PM-9PM, Wed Thu 11AM-10PM, Fri 11AM-11PM, Sat 11AM-midnight, Sun 2PM-9PM$10-20

  26. EatIndian restaurantElmwood Village

    India Gate

    The Elmwood Village's longest-standing purveyor of Indian cuisine, India Gate prides itself on serving upscale yet reasonably priced food with an accent on healthy ingredients and cooking methods. They offer a wide range of vegetarian selections as well.

    Daily 11:30AM-2:30PM and 4:30PM-10PM$15-35

  27. EatItalian restaurantElmwood Village

    Inizio

    "Inizio" in Italian means "beginning": a brand new start for the building once home to the Elmwood branch of Joe's Deli, and a brand new experience for Buffalo pasta lovers. The Northern Italian dishes on the menu here, featuring noodles scratch-made in house daily, are really bursting with creativity: the house specialty cacio e pepe is beauty in simplicity, finished off with a drizzle of black truffle oil, and the potato gnocchi with braised short rib is just the thing (along with the dimly lit, cozy ambience) to warm you up on a cold Buffalo night. A persistent complaint is middling portion sizes, though, so don't come to Inizio ravenously hungry; on the other hand, in the words of one reviewer, "for first dates and people on diets, this is the place".

    Mon-Thu 5-10PM, Fri Sat 5-11PM$25-50

  28. EatDelicatessenNorth Buffalo

    Joe's Deli

    Neighborhood old-timers still know the building as the former Mastman's Kosher Deli, once an iconic linchpin of Jewish North Buffalo, and you'll still find the old Mastman's sign perched above the corner entrance. But Joe's hasn't stayed completely true to the identity of its predecessor: this food isn't Kosher, and traditional Jewish sandwiches such as corned beef, pastrami, and Reuben are joined on the menu by a range of others such as muffuletta (the best in town according to a wide consensus), cubano, and a host of creative specialties such as the "Johnny Be Good" (a concoction of grilled vegetables and herb cream cheese on a hoagie roll).

    Mon-Sat 10:30AM-8:30PM, Sun 10:30AM-4:30PM$10-15

  29. EatGreek restaurantNorth Buffalo

    Kostas

    Of Buffalo's many, many Greek diners and family restaurants, Kostas has one of the most interesting and extensive menus: they've been serving familiar standbys such as souvlaki, gyro, and Greek salad since 1977, as well as harder-to-find Greek specialties such as tirokafteri and taramosalata. Sandwiches, burgers, pasta, and other such fare is also on offer, as is a modest selection of wines.

    Mon-Thu 6:30AM-midnight, Fri Sat 6:30AM-1AM, Sun 8AM-11PM$10-35

  30. EatSushi restaurantElmwood Village

    Kuni's

    After several decades, word is that Kuniyuki Sato is imminently preparing to hang up his chef's hat and apron and is busily training a team of apprentices to take over for him at his semi-eponymous sushi restaurant, Buffalo's first and still best-loved. Will the next generation be able to maintain the high standard Kuni's has set over the years? That remains to be seen. But for now, enjoy not only an innovative slate of sushi and sashimi, but also a full menu of authentic Japanese cuisine in an ambience that is trendy and upscale, yet comfortable. Beer, wine and sake are served too.

    Tue-Thu 5-10PM, Fri Sat 5-11PM, Sun 5-9PM$15-35