The Heights' other Greek/Lebanese restaurant, lacking the boho ambience of Amy's Place but making up for that with food that, on the whole, is a good deal tastier. Shawarma, falafel, shish kabab and kofta, and gyros are available as either platters or wraps, and delectable Greek salads and fatoush are on hand for those in search of greener options (tabbouleh is on the menu as well, but never seems to be available). Though a good deal of the business done here is take-out or delivery, those enjoying their food at one of Venus' handful of tables are treated to a neverending stream of delightfully cheesy Lebanese music videos on the satellite TV.
Mon-Fri 11AM-11PM, Sat noon-midnight, Sun noon-10PM·$10-15
Lucky Koi down the street has the hipster tunes on blast, the sleek trendy decor, and the über-creative food menu. But if you prefer a comfier café that's better for lounging and lingering, hit up Cow — a place where the seating is cozy, the mood music is chill, and there are even board games on hand to pass the time whilst sipping on an ample variety of fruit- and milk-based teas, smoothies, and slushies. If you're indecisive, daily specials always hit the spot; if the opposite is true, you can customize your drink with your choice of fruit slices or compotes. And if you're hungry rather than thirsty, you've got an abbreviated but delicious slate of Vietnamese banh mi to nosh on.
Mon-Thu 11:30AM-10PM, Fri Sat 11:30AM-10:30PM, Sun noon-10PM
Even more so than Tandoori Hut down the street, Heart of India's menu represents another big step up in the steadily increasing quality of such eateries in the area. All your favorite Northern Indian curries, biryani, seekh kebabs, and fried appetizers make their expected appearance both on the à la carte menu and at the $10 all-you-can-eat lunch buffet, each bursting with authentic flavor and spiced generously but not excessively — but the main attraction is a refrigerator case stocked with by far the widest and most delicious selection of Indian sweets in the area. Definitely good enough to make you overlook the brusque service and the staff's somewhat limited English proficiency.
Sun-Thu 11:30AM-10PM, Fri Sat 11:30AM-11:30PM·$10-35
DoNorth Buffalo
Owned by Dipson Theatres, a local chain of movie houses, the Amherst Theatre is located at the University Plaza at the outer end of University Heights. It features three screens showing an interesting mix of indie and arthouse films, Hollywood blockbusters of the more high-concept variety, and the occasional foreign film.