Pull up to Pete-n-Paul's and you might think you're at an old-fashioned drive-in or snack bar, and you'd not be entirely wrong: there is indeed a variety of burgers, hot dogs, milkshakes and frozen treats on the menu. But appearances can be deceiving: the backbone of the menu is actually a long list of sandwiches wrapped in healthy, cholesterol-free pita bread (hence the "pockets" part of this place's name). Chicken souvlaki, Italian sausage, beef Stroganoff, and fried bologna are only a few of the delights available here. Elsewhere on the menu you'll see wraps, tacos, salads, and entrees including Greek souvlaki platters and a killer fish fry on Fridays. Service is fast, and the food is delicious and cheap: what's not to love?
Mon-Sat 10:30AM-7:30PM·$5-10
With a clientele that's resolutely local and an ambience that falls somewhere between sports bar and neighborhood dive, Avenue is a good place to go if you want a real South Buffalo bar experience without the grunginess that can sometimes entail. It's also a place to go if you like bar games to go with your drinks: the game room's stocked up with a pool table and multiple dartboards, and out back there's even a horseshoe pit and a sand volleyball setup. At the bar you'll find a decent selection of beers and mixed drinks served with a friendly efficiency — including a few craft brews from the likes of Great Lakes and Southern Tier, but nothing too outlandish — and a food menu where wings are the standout.
If all you want is a beer (or maybe a game of darts, pool or shuffleboard), Talty's will serve you just as well as any of the other Irish pubs in the old Triangle. But where this place distinguishes itself is with its event calendar: live music is a specialty, with open mic on the first Monday of each month and local rock, blues, and acoustic bands playing three days a week.
Wayside has legions of rabidly loyal fans in South Buffalo, many of whom have been swearing by this place for decades and come so often the staff knows them by name. Why? Because, simply put, they serve diner food done right: classic, all-American comfort food; no frills, but service is lightning-fast and among the friendliest in town. There must be two or three dozen sandwiches on the menu to choose from, a build-your-own burger basket that's a hit with regulars, and a few nods to Buffalo's storied Greek diner tradition (all sandwiches, not just their delicious chicken and beef souvlaki, are available on pita bread for no extra charge). There's a modest selection of heartier dinners, too, including beef and turkey roasts, steak, stuffed porkchops, grilled or fried chicken, and a beer-battered fish fry every Friday.
Daily 7AM-11PM·$10-25