Bill Rapaport's Buffalo Restaurant Guide

Alphabetical Listing of Restaurants: A

Acropolis
[am] Adam's Rib
Albright-Knox Art Gallery
Al-E-Oops
Allegany Grill
Allen Street Hardware Cafe
Alton's
Amaryllis
Ambrosia
Amici Ristorante
[am] Amy's Place
[a] Anderson's
Antica
Antoinette's Sweets
Antonio's
Apple Granny's
Applebee's
[am] Arirang
Asa Ransom House
Athens Family Restaurant
Au Bon Pain
[m] Ava Cado's

Key:

[—], , ,	Bill's rankings
[XXX]	recommendation from contributor whose initials are XXX
[a+]	on UB Amherst Campus (in the UB Commons)
[a]	near UB Amherst Campus (within 2 miles)
[m]	near UB Main St. Campus (within 2 miles)

(For more info on locations, see Geography)

All phone numbers are in area code 716, unless otherwise indicated.

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Acropolis Family Restaurant.
708 Elmwood Ave. (near Ferry, between Allentown and Buff State), Buffalo.
886-2977.

[BP, 4/07] says: "One restaurant you cannot beat on the Elmwood Strip for price and quality is the Acropolis, owned and run by a Greek family. The diner décor is clean and warm. It is a breakfast haven on weekends, but serves home-style dinners that are cooked fresh daily. You cannot beat this place for quality at a reasonable price. Their open chicken souvlaki dinner is the best, not to mention the turkey dinner with all the fixin's. Great soups made by Effie, the owner. I rate it very good."

A long time ago, [MEL, 2/98] said: "Drab Greek-American diner, but the accent on the American; no real Greek stuff besides gyros and souvalaki and one or two other things."

[am] Adam's Rib.
4517 Main St., Snyder.
839-3846.

[AMB, 3/08] says: "A long-standing, classic Buffalo tavern-style restaurant. I am told my grandparents ate there every Saturday night for years, at the same table. I am sure the menu (and decor) has not changed much—but sometimes that is a good thing. On a recent Friday, the seating and bar area were packed (an old-fashioned bar, with a real bartender). If we hadn't called ahead for a reservation, I am sure we would have waited for a very long time. The menu is standard, traditional "American" food—steaks, chops, seafood, chicken. Not adventurous. Around the table, we ordered filet mignon, pork tenderloin (a whole tenderloin!), fish fry, and a strip steak. Beef was correctly prepared, tender, and very good, as was the pork; fish fry was fine (standard Buffalo fish fry). Twice-baked potatoes were an option (always a good sign!). Salads were typical, but adequate. This is not a cheap restaurant—petite cut of the filet was $20; a number of entrees were $25-$30. While it was my first visit, it seemed consistent with the experience of others we were with, who have been there over the years. A good choice if you want this sort of restaurant."

The Akron House.
15 Main St. (Rt. 93), Akron.
542-2280.

[JA, 2/00] says: "I read through your restaurant reviews, and, based on them, we tried the Akron House this past Saturday evening. I have to tell you it was possibly the worst dining experience that I can recall in the Buffalo area. The place aspires to be a sort of chic restaurant, but really it falls in the category of family restaurant. It is a large, noisy room with little ambience. My wife said she felt like she was dining in a cafeteria. The place was crowded with very casually dressed diners and certainly appears to be popular with the locals. The menus are very worn, but the descriptions of the local history were interesting. The wine list is inexpensive but is very sparse and has nothing of interest to wine-lovers. They offer only a couple of choices of wines by the glass. My first glass of Chardonnay was barely drinkable. I decided to try a glass of their Kendall Jackson, which was somewhat better. The service was appalling. Our waiter did not know what vegetables were served with the meals. He couldn't describe any of the courses beyond what we could read for ourselves in the menu. We waited over 45 minutes between our appetizer and our main course. The main course arrived as we began to discuss simply asking for the bill and leaving. We had to continually ask for cutlery, water, and bread. I would have complained to the host, if he hadn't disappeared. Our waiter seemed to be lost. We watched other diners get seated, get served their meals and leave, while we waited for the main course. I could forgive all of those things if the food was good. Sadly it was the biggest disappointment. We had an appetizer (for 2) of warm brie and fruit, which is hard to get wrong, but that's just what happened. The fruit was mostly strawberries imported from who-knows-where and pineapple. They certainly weren't fresh. Good restaurants simply don't offer a seasonal fruit when it is out of season or if it isn't fresh. It was absolutely forgettable. For the main course, I had a coconut-dipped shrimp dish that sounded appetizing. It turned out to be deep-fried shrimp that was overcooked and had the texture of rubber. There was no coconut flavor in evidence. There was some sort of nondescript shrimp sauce that at least had a fresh-out-of-the-jar flavor. The vegetables appeared to be canned baby carrots, which were smothered in some sort of industrial-grade cheese sauce. Yuck. The best thing I can say about the rice was that it was cooked. My wife had a raspberry chicken dish, which had the same rice and carrot accompaniment. It was mediocre as well. With the long wait, and what we had before, we skipped dessert and coffee. The waiter left us a coupon for a discount on our next visit. That must have been a subtle joke. This restaurant is very inferior to other family-type restaurants such as Carmine's or Lebros. I do not understand why it has garnered a better rating than say Fritz or Siena on your list."

To which I [Bill] can only reply: I disagree about its aspirations (it's very definitely a "family restaurant"); ambience is, I suppose, a matter of taste; I rank it "higher" than Fritz only because I've never been to Fritz and higher than Siena because, well, I've enjoyed more meals at Akron House than at Siena. Chacun à son gout. Though I admit that occasionally service has been less than desirable (see my comments below). However, having recently eaten here [3/00] with a largish party (there were 7 of us, including two teenagers and my 4-year-old son), I must say that we not only had a delicious meal, but the service was fine (well, the waitress did forget one soup and one coffee).

[11/98] [MER] had a delicious onion soup, and I had an excellent trout.

[6/98] Although our meal was great (I had a wonderful salmon in dill sauce), the service—unlike the last time—was abominable. I hasten to add that we've been back several times since with no server problems, so I guess that was an aberration (and I was impressed that the owner called us to apologize: The first time I was there, I filled out a "how did you like us" form, giving the Restaurant Guide URL; the owner saw the review and called).

[6/98] After our first visit the month before, we went back for dinner, which was great. I [Bill] had a special: lobster and mushrooms served over pasta (tasty, though the sauce was a bit thicker than I like); Mary had the "Charles B. Rich": boneless breast of chicken stuffed with a cashew-walnut dressing, served with raspberry brandied cream; she loved it. Desserts are great, too.

[5/98] This is my greatest new discovery. It's a pleasant 20-minute drive (via County Road (= N. French Rd. extension) to Rt. 93E (which goes south :-) or from Erie County's Main St. (Rt. 5) to Rt. 93W (which goes north :-)) from East Amherst (longer from elsewhere, of course). The outside of the building was not very inviting on our first visit (they've since redecorated), but the inside is absolutely wonderful, with impeccably clean and well-decorated restrooms (!). Unfortunately, they are not open for lunch on weekends (hours are: lunch and dinner, Tue.-Thurs., 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m., Fri., 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.; Saturday dinner, 3:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.; Sunday dinner 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.; they have a very inexpensive, all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch, too—call them for details). The menu ranges from informal meals (salad plates, burgers, etc.) to gourmet meals. We had a wonderful lunch here.

A long time ago, [C&LA, 6/98] said: "From the quaint and casual Victorian decor to the deliciously prepared entrees, this restaurant is a wonderful way to spend a relaxing Saturday evening. The menu is cleverly created around a historical perspective of Akron that makes even reading a menu enjoyable. Follow dinner with a stroll around Akron Falls Park and you have the perfect romantic evening. A four-star experience."

Al-E-Oops.
5389 Genessee St. (near Wehrle Dr.), Lancaster. 681-0200.

[DR, 3/99] says: "Lunch and dinner. This is probably the best place in WNY for BBQ! Huge portions; they could feed a starving nation. They smoke their own ribs, chicken, turkey, and hams. Great BBQ sauce, on the sweet side. Go there hungry, leave full and enough left over for the another meal."

Albright-Knox Art Gallery.
1285 Elmwood Ave. (in Delaware Park, across from Buff State), Buffalo. 882-8700.

See Muse.

Allegany Grill.
Belfast, NY.
585-365-8298.

[ASn, 2/03] says: "I recently visited the Allegany Grill, in Belfast NY. I had driven by several times, but hadn't thought anything of it, due to its exterior appearance. However, after reading a review, I decided to try it out. When I walked in the door, I found it to be quaint and charming. I ordered the 10 oz. steak, and my friend chose the chicken parmesan. When it arrived, I actually laughed in surprise, because I was shocked at how big it was. It was cooked to perfection and came with a baked potato, and salad as an appetizer. The service was excellent and fast. Our waitress was very polite and attentive. The only drawback was that the smoking section was just on the other side of the restaurant, so, when I left, my clothes and hair smelled slightly. Other than that, I was pleasantly surprised. I even took most of my dinner home with me and enjoyed it the next day."

[JGa, 9/02] says: "I recently had the pleasure of dining at the Allegany Grill. It's a newly opened little restaurant with a wonderful menu, beautiful decor, and friendly service. I had the shrimp scampi, which was out of this world, and at just $8.95 was a great deal as well. It certainly didn't taste like an $8.95 dinner. My friend had the Jack Daniels sirloin, which he raved about. What a tender steak he had for just $6.95! The restaurant came highly recommended, and we were not disappointed. Its a little bit off the beaten path, but it's worth the trip. We will definitely return when we're in the area. We read your reviews often and visit a lot of the restaurants you suggest. Now let us return the favor and suggest the Allegany Grill to you."

Allen Street Hardware Cafe.
245 Allen St. (in Allentown), Buffalo.
882-8843.

[RDM, 7/06] says: "My husband and decided to try the Allen Street Hardware Cafe for dinner and drinks before attending a concert downtown. The walls were done in a burnt orange, and what looked liked local artwork hung everywhere. There were candles on each rustic-looking table and the bar, which wrapped around two rooms, was inviting. I really liked the look of this place. The biggest problem we had was the service. We were told by the bartender to take a seat anywhere. He was very friendly, but we had to go back up to him after waiting quite a while for any sort of service. He sent our waitress over, and she took our drink orders. There were only one or two tables of diners when we sat down, so I wondered where she kept disappearing to. My husband and I both ordered the evening salad special to start. The mixed greens, tomatoes, and walnuts all tasted fresh, but I found the salad to be a bit bland. I didn't feel the vinaigrette had much flavor. The only thing that gave the salad much flavor were the dried cranberries sprinkled on top. We were only a few bites into our salads when our entrees came out. This was awkward, because it was almost like our waitress was trying to put our entrees right in front of us despite our salad plates being there. I ordered the swordfish special. The fish itself was very good. It had a caper lemon butter sauce. The accompanying green beans and potatoes were just bland. My husband had the flank steak panini with smoked cheddar cheese. This was the dish to order here. It was crispy, grilled, and just wonderful. They had quite a selection of different panini sandwiches. If we go back, I would order one myself. Finally, we had to bring our bill up to the bar to pay, since we waited over 20 minutes after receiving it. We were polite about it, and, once again, the bartender was very nice and took care of us. Needless to say, we left a small tip."

Aléthea's Chocolatier.
8301 Main St. (east of Transit Rd.), Clarence. 633-8620.

A wonderful candy store and soda fountain, with a display of delicious pastries.

[MER, 7/96] says: "Get your pecan turtles here!"

Alton's Restaurant.
2250 Walden Ave. (corner of Union Rd.), Cheektowaga.
681-7055.

[SR, 7/07] says: "I met a friend for lunch and had chicken Souvlaki. I got an "MSG headache" "

[JJBy, 1/07] recommends their breakfasts, saying "My parents love this place."

[NK, 10/06] says: "I grew up in Cheektowaga and used to go here all the time in high school. After finishing college and moving home, I started going again and was reminded of how great a restuarant it is. I am so in love with their dill dip, I once bought a bottle for $3! (They filled an old ketchup bottle up for me!) Their Greek salads are amazing, and their menu extensive (it rivals any classic diner in New Jersey even!). The waitstaff are pleasant, overly made-up older women who will almost always call you "sweetie" or "pumpkin", and their fries are great any time of day. Superb!"

[AFN, 8/06] says: "Alton's is a nice, clean, "family" restaurant with up-to-date decor and delicious food at very reasonable prices. The menu has quite a few Greek items, but much more—burgers, wings, a large variety of sandwiches and salads, etc. Yesterday, they had a $5.95 lunch special of soup (cream of broccoli) and sandwich (grilled chicken in a pita). Both were delicious."

Amaryllis.
675 Delaware Ave. (in the Westbrook Apartments, at North St.), Buffalo.
878-2741.

[12/05] & [3/08] Given 3½ (out of 4) stars by Janice Okun, Buffalo News restaurant reviewer.

[SMG, 3/07] says: "We dined at Amaryllis last night and had a wonderful dinner. After a short wait to order drinks (our server did ask initially, but we hadn't decided yet), we had a bottle of wine and a phyllo-wrapped, pear and Roquefort tart that was absolutely delicious. Our entres were also very good (salmon with a horseradish cream sauce and tuna with a port wine reduction) with excellent and flavorful sauces. The passion fruit crème brulé was extremely flavorful, and the center was not ice cold, as is usually the case at many restaurants that I've been to. Overall, the service was excellent, our waiter was very attentive, and our wine glasses were never left empty as long as the bottle was on the table."

[JoH, 12/06] says: "Dined on 11/29/06. Great Atmosphere, fantastic food, and especially cordial service: Not only were we greeted by the bartender but by the owner of the establishment as well. Portions were perfect, and a very nice wine selection. Best chocolate ice cream dessert of my entire life. Don't take my word for it or anyone else's; see the place for yourself and give it a try. Your guest will be very impressed that you know about this little hideaway gem on North Street. My personal favorites are the mushroom risotto for appetizer, duck breast for entre´e, and chocolat ice cream for dessert."

[KPa, 4/06] says: "I have read many reviews on your website, and this is the first that I have decided to send myself. We dined at Amaryllis last Saturday night, and we were overwhelmingly disappointed by the food and service that we received. The first thing we noticed was that it was quite cold in the restaurant; all six of us were actually shivering at one point. Our server was very nice, but I highly doubt he had any previous fine dining experience. The service was excruciatingly slow, to the point that we actually complained to the owner. (We had finished two bottles of wine and our entrees were still nowhere in sight.) He was instantly adversarial with us, and was non-apologetic. The portions were a bit small, yet tasty, and while our server was friendly, he was very unattentive. We decided to go to Le Metro for dessert, as we couldn't wait to get out of Amaryllis."

[KATS, 12/05] says: "After reading Janice Okun's review on December 16th, we decided to try out this new restaurant in the Delaware District. I simply do not understand how Ms. Okun gives this place the exact same rating as she gives a Hutch's, Tempo, or Left Bank. The space is a bit austere and, frankly, cold (temperature wise). It was an interesting layout, but the indoor-outdoor carpeting throughout really does not add any glamour. I started with a split pea soup (which was good but not excellent), a regular on the menu, and had pork chops for dinner. The pork chops were quite good, but not of the same level as the food at Tempo or the Rue Franklin (where I understand the chefs hail from). I might add that the service was excellent. I would compare this restaurant to Le Metro (Cite) and not to other 3 1/2 star restaurants in the area. A good restaurant with decent food, but not a top-notch overwhelming dining experience."

Ambrosia.
467 Elmwood Ave. (just north of Allentown), Buffalo. 881-2196.

[JSG, 7/06] says: "This is a restaurant that my friends and I, all of whom live in the city, frequent all the time. I could go just for the tzatziki dip there, which is light and delicious with a touch of dill and a zip from some flavor source I wish I could identify for when I attempt to make my own tzatziki. I always enjoy their moussaka, which has great nutmeg and eggplant flavor. I have a particular friend who always comes with me to Ambrosia, and she loves their spinach-and-feta-stuffed chicken; I have tried it, and I concur: delicious flavors. I love that dinners come with a Greek salad that has tomatoes, red onion, green bell pepper, feta, and Greek olives. We all love their Greek potatoes, and also they have excellent asparagus, which comes with dinners year round and seems to have a nice lemony flavor. Good desserts, too. The Manhattan style of the place is further enjoyed due to the menu's Buffalo pricing. I've never been for brunch, but I must say Ambrosia is one of my favorite neighborhood haunts."

[KATS, 9/05] says: "A weeknight favorite for a quick dinner, and always a scene for Sunday morning breakfast. My husband and I get to Ambrosia every Sunday morning, and the service is almost always excellent. We normally eat such pedestrian fare as an English muffin and breakfast sausage, although I have had the excellent omelettes on more than one occasion. They also have a great NY breakfast that my husband loves, with lox, capers, and a bagel. I must caution to stay away from the bacon—I really don't know what is wrong with it. Sort of soggy and never crisp, even when ordered "extra crispy". We eat dinner there every other week or so, and the simple entrees are the best. Good choices: chicken souvlaki salad, stuffed chicken breast, gyro salads. The long and varied menu is a bit more upscale than other Greek restaurants in the area, and they also have great Greek meze."

[EF, 8/99] says: "I would strongly encourage you to update the Ambrosia recommendations. Since the first two early, not so positive reviews from '93 and '94, Ambrosia is now quite a good restaurant. The food is always fresh, well-made, tasty, with good specialties and a pleasant ambience. While just a little bit more expensive than other Greek restaurants (Pano's, Towne, Mykonos), Ambrosia has much much better cuisine."

[MEL, 3/98] says: "A little more upscale than your other correspondents suggest. More expensive than a typical Greek diner like Mykonos or Towne, but much more variety, and better food. Even relatively ordinary dishes like chicken souvalaki compare favorably to their counterparts in other restaurants—but be careful to specify what you don't want on it, if you are a picky eater. My chicken souvalaki came with carrots (which I didn't expect) and more cheese than is good for me."

[AN&BS, 5/94] say: "Good cheap Greek place (better than, e.g., the Towne 'cos does non-soggy food). All the snack things and starters are good, and service fast and friendly even if you are in a hurry."

[J&AD, 1993] say: "A Greek-American restaurant offering standard Greek clichés, well prepared. Family owned, friendly service. Located in a neighborhood which is interesting to explore."

Amici Ristorante and Café.
2516 Elmwood Ave., Kenmore.
874-0143.

Takeout available from Takeout Taxi, 631-2222.

[JSG, 7/06] says: "Although this place is a bit pricier than other Italian restaurants in the area, the food is consistently top notch. I particularly enjoy the restaurant's effort to be sophisticated in regard to service while allowing for casual dress and a family dining environment. I wish at the prices they charge that a salad came with pasta dishes, but I suppose you can't have everything. I particularly enjoy their Alfredo here, which is very rich and flavorful. Friends of mine have enjoyed the Alfredo as well, and also the chicken parmesan and tomato sauce."

[J&NS, 3/05] say: "An Italian restaurant is only as good as its sauce. Those are words to go by!! This place is our favorite Italian restaurant to go to. Its sauce was voted WNY's best a few years ago by a radio station, and we decided to find out. We've never been disappointed!! Everything from the bread, wine suggestions, specials, and desserts are very tasty. For appetizers, the stuffed peppers are up there with Billy Ogden's peppers. If you are lovers of eggplant such as Parmisan or Riscolleto (sp?), both are excellent. The lasagna and spaghetti are very tasty as well. If you are a lover of any chicken Italian dish, you can't go wrong with any selection. The tiramisu and coffee was an excellent way to finish the meal. If you're not into fancy desserts, there's a Dairy Queen right across the street to enjoy the finishing touch in the night air (Spring/Summer). The service is attentive and timely, meaning the waiter or waitress give you some time to look over the menu. The dress code is casual; we've seen people there dressed up and, in the same room, jeans and nice shirts or blouses on other couples. The only complaint is the small waiting area, but, if you made reservations, the wait here is minimal, although I have heard from others that they have made reservations there and still had to wait a length of time before being seated. We've gone here by ourselves but have on occasion gone with other couples. It didn't matter on the number, since it was a great place for Italian food and enjoying the night. You can even buy a quart or two of sauce to take home. With appetizers, wine, main entree, dessert, coffee, and tip, it came to about 90 dollars. 3 stars!!!"

[am] Amy's Place.
3234 Main St. (between Heath & Merrimac, near UB Main St. Campus), Buffalo. 832-6666.

Lebanese, Middle Eastern.

[BMo, 9/05] says: "I was going through your restaurant review page and saw the review for Amy's Place. I have to disagree with your most recent reviewer of that restaurant. I was there last Saturday after going to the AB Knox's most recent exhibition (highly recommended) with my daughter. After hunting around on Hertel for some place to eat that was welcoming, we went to Amy's Place. We like the place because everyone who eats there is treated well, the food is very good, and they are vegetarian-friendly. It is not the cleanest place in the world. Just don't look at the floor after a breakfast/lunch/dinner rush. I have been going there almost since it opened and have always been pleased. [KATS] shouldn't wait too long for Amy's return."

That "recent reviewer", [KATS, 9/05] said: "We stopped in a for a quick lunch a couple of weeks ago. Our food was horrendous (greasy and flavorless), and the place was filthy. I'm surprised that I could finish my lunch. The food is usually better when Amy's around, but I'm not going to take my chances again."

Anchor Bar.
1047 Main St. (at North St., near Allentown), Buffalo.
886-8920.

[4/07] Listed as one of Buffalo's "27 Best Restaurants" by Buffalo Spree magazine.

The place that invented Buffalo chicken wings and, in my opinion [1988], have the best ones (my rating-stars are for the wings only). Their Italian food is OK (of the spaghetti-and-meatballs variety), but people come here primarily for wings.

[ChS, 10/07] says: "What happened to the Anchor Bar? Used to be a great place for food, especially before the Sabres games, but sadly not anymore. My family was always excited to be dining there. The wings arrived lukewarm with soggy celery, before the rest of our order, even before the salads. We got them within 5 minutes of ordering, when I can remember it usually took at least 10-15 minutes to get them served up (which makes me think they were already made and hanging around under the heat lamp for a while waiting for an opprotunity to get rid of them rather than throw them out), and bread was an afterthought. Everyone got their order at different times, in one case 10 minutes after everyone else. The pizza was better than what you can get in Rochester, at least, but the sausage had a bad aftertaste. Pasta was OK; forget the sausage again. The wait service has become increasingly abysmal; this time waited 15 minutes to place our orders and had to get up and find the waitress 20 minutes after we were finished just to pay the check (tip already figured in and definitely not earned). But, boy, she was right there to collect it, wasn't she. She breezed by once somewhere in the middle to inquire as to the condition of our food but didn't hang around long enough to find out the answer. We got the impression that we were an afterthought to our server. They weren't that busy at the time, either. This has been a trend we've noticed for our last several visits there, so it's not a "just caught them on a bad day" thing. Success has definitely gone to their heads and bred indifference at best, and arrogance at worst. We won't be going back, ever, which is really sad; nor recommend anybody else go there. The wait to be seated there sometimes, the declining quality of the food, and the very poor service just aren't worth spending the bucks for, nor compensate for the mystique of going to "The Anchor Bar". Momma Theresa would be sad if she was still alive."

[LC, 11/05] says: "I am stunned that your site gives the Anchor Bar three stars. [Bill responds: In my defense, let me point out two important things. First, I have not been here in a very long time. Second, just as with pizza, everyone's taste in wings is different.] I ate wings there twice, and still shake my head when I think of those puny, easy-to-forget, incredibly expensive wings. One word: shameful. You want wings? Go to the Central Park Grill."

[PH, 8/03] says: "Yuck. What a highly overrated hole in the wall. The person who sat us put us right next to the bathrooms—and was seriously irritated when we asked for a more pleasant setting. He literally pushed my mom (who is 72) over to another table, and nastily took our orders. The wings were dry—the sauce non-existent. I will never eat or drink at this rude establishment again. My daughter, asking for ice water, was totally ignored. When I asked, again, for water, I was presented with a mini-cup of lukewarm water, which, the daughter claims, had a 'booger' in it. I tend to believe this, as this was one of the worst 'dining' experiences I've ever encountered. Makes the waiters in Paris seem cordial. Take them off the 'Buffalo Dining Map'!"

[RJMu, 8/01] says: "Uh, what's a "weck"? Our cheerful waitron eagerly explained that it's a hard sub roll with caraway and salt sprinkles. O-kay. Pile on a massive pile of sliced roast beef and you've got ... a very dry sandwich. Ask for a bowl of jus on the side, however, and dip to your heart's content. Much better! The highly vaunted wings were decent, if uninspired. Do go early, since by 12:15 there was a 40-minute wait for a table (on a Friday afternoon)."

[RBC, 1/01] says: "While planning a trip to Buffalo this past weekend, I used your site as a guide to finding chicken wings. My girlfriend and I picked Anchor's as it's the originator of this favourite feast. My mild wings were 'coated' (not sure if a light batter or breading) served PLAIN/BARE—no sauce or anything. Fries were the routine frozen variety. My girlfriend had medium wings, which seemed a wee bit better. The fried mushrooms & sauce were, however, quite delicious. And, lucky for me, there was Sleeman's Honey Brown beer (most of my Toronto friends & I don't like American beer in comparison to ours :). We did have a lot of fun watching the other diners! Not sure where many of them put all the food they were being served. In comparison to Toronto's St Louis Bar & Grill (2050 Yonge Street, Toronto 416-480-0202—no, I'm not affiliated with them) & its sister location The Bistro, the wings were disappointing. At these locations, you get excellent wings, wonderful fries and a secret dipping sauce to 'die for' :)"

[RM, 5/00] says: "This is where it all started. Take someone from out of town. The wings are good, and the Italian is pretty standard. Nice to inhale the history with the sauce."

[JKi, 3/00] says: "We found the Anchor's wings to be rather poor: dry, extremely salty, and not at all what that establishment claimed. Better luck next time, I guess."

Anderson's.
6075 Main St., Williamsville.
632-1416.
And many other locations around WNY.

A Buffalo-area tradition, officially known as "Anderson's Frozen Custard", but also serving all kinds of fast food.

[RM, 5/00] says: "A nice place for some quick and decent food (roast beef and turkey sandwiches) and good ice cream."

Antica Pizzeria.
5785 Victoria Ave. (top of Clifton Hill; take a left, about 2 blocks down), Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. 905-356-3844.

[SMG, 8/96] says: "I went there on [GDT]'s recommendation and had the best brick-oven pizza I've ever tasted. Excellent for lunch, with a large selection of toppings. Owned by an Italian family from Naples."

Antoinette's Sweets.
5981 Transit Rd. (at the corner of French, just south of Genesee St.), Depew. 684-2376.

[JM, 9/99] says: "Love their chocolates and hot fudge ice cream sundaes."

Antonio's Restaurant, Banquet, and Conference Center.
7708 Niagara Falls Blvd. (in Quality Inn Niagara Hotel & Conference Center), Niagara Falls, NY.
1-800-508-8981.

[JCi, 2/03] says: "We've been to Antonio's several times and really liked it. It's perfect for a couple who's looking for a quiet, relaxing dinner. The atmosphere really lets you enjoy a one-on-one dinner, and the wine list has plenty of variety in all price ranges so you won't leave the place busted. We pretty much get the fried calamari as an appetizer every time; we're addicted. Plus, in case you order an entree that doesn't contain red sauce, at least the side of sauce that comes with this appetizer will introduce you to a great sauce. The chicken parmagiana is my favorite, and my girlfriend likes the colorful and fresh pasta primavera."

Apple Granny's.
433 Center St., Lewiston, NY.
754-2028.

[SAS, 9/07] says: "Positive—wife and I stopped in the other night and had a tasty meal. I had the filet mignon, and she had the meatloaf special. Both started with a simple, but tasty, salad. The filet was cooked as I ordered, and the meatloaf was also tasty. It is a casual place with a simple menu, but we would certainly return."

[AFN, 12/06] says: "My sister and I had lunch at Apple Granny's on Saturday, while attending the Lewiston Christmas Tour of Homes. I've been there a number of times previously, but not in quite a while. We both had haddock baked with tomatoes and feta cheese. The fish was fresh, but the dish was not very flavorful, and the accompanying French fries were obviously packaged, frozen fries that had been baked. Not worth the calories. The best part of the meal was the salad, which was mostly made with iceberg lettuce. I haven't had iceberg lettuce in ages, and it was better than I remember it being."

Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar.
2656 Delaware Ave. (between Kenmore and Hertel), Buffalo.
876-9153.
Also many other locations.

Part of the chain.

[PH, 8/01] says: "Having recently purchased a home in Kenmore, we wanted to try some of the local spots. Applebee's on Delaware came highly recommended from some young friends of mine at work as a great place for adults and kids. So I took my critical mother and expensive 8-year-old daughter there for a truly disastrous lunch! Our waiter, after plopping menus in front of us, became the invisible man. When he finally materialized and took our order, my onion soup (not bad) appeared, and then it took a whopping 40 minutes for chicken fingers and french fries (`freezing cold', cried the daughter); a grilled chicken salad on wet, soggy greens; and my mother's sandwich (which in one word was `ICK') to arrive. After getting up and hunting down the invisible waiter, after another interminable wait for the check, I asked to see a manager who would not come out of the back! I.W. tried to placate me, as I was now seething, by offering me some `hot fries to go'. We left in total disgust, and this luncheon debacle ran an almost staggering two hours. Never again!"

Arirang Korean and Japanese.
1416 Millersport Hwy. (in the Triad Apartments, next to the Marriot), Amherst.
639-7384.

[CJH, 3/05] says: "Price is not that cheap. Food is bad. Sashimi came out frozen!!! Food is overcooked. Side dishes are not good at all. Service is one of the best, though. They really need to get their food up to par. I give it 1.5 star out of 4."

Asa Ransom House.
10529 Main St., Clarence.
759-2315.

Given 3½ (out of 4) stars by Janice Okun, Buffalo News restaurant reviewer.

[AFN, 3/08] says: "Two friends and I went to the Asa Ransom House for lunch on Wednesday. The Thai peanut soup was very good, but the chicken salad sandwich was mediocre, at best. The chocolate cake we shared for dessert was excellent."

[WHN] says:

[2/07] "We made a return trip to Asa Ransom House on Saturday, 2/10, for their five-course, fixed-price, weekend menu. On this visit, there was a slight variation from last year in that the price for the dinner with two of the entrees—filet or and duck breast— was $45, while the rest remained at $40. This time, we sat in the more formal dining room (jackets required) in front of the fireplace, which felt great on this cold winter night. After the assorted hors d'oeuvres platter and house salads, my wife had salmon cakes with cucumber and carrot slaw. She said it was delicious and that the slaw was the best part of the dish. The rest of us had an excellent potato and bacon chowder. We all had filets with bearnaise sauce, accompanied by mashed potatoes and assorted vegetables. Mine was somewhat overcooked, but the others' were medium rare, as ordered. For dessert, my wife had black forest cake, and I had strawberry cheesecake. One of our friends had an apple-raspberry pie. Her husband had homemade vanilla ice cream. All the desserts are made in-house, we were told. Except for the ice cream, which was crystallized, as though it had melted and been re-frozen, the desserts were all very good. For wines, we had Dr. Konstantin Frank Finger Lakes Chardonnay, and Millbrook Vineyards Cabernet Franc from the Hudson Valley. The bottles were priced at $21 and $22 respectively, less than 50% over retail."

[3/06] "My wife and I went to the Asa Ransom House with friends on Friday, 3/3. There are two dining rooms—a formal one, where men are required to wear jackets, and a more casual, rustic room where jackets are not required. We chose the casual one, and were seated in front of a roaring fireplace. On Friday and Saturday nights, they now serve a five-course, fixed price dinner for $40 per person, that includes an assorted hors d'oeuvres platter (miniature Reubens, miniature egg rolls, mushroom duxelles in pastry, and a cream cheese and green onion wrap); a choice of several appetizers (squash and broccoli soup, stuffed mushrooms, or chicken quesadillas); a mixed greens salad; choice of six main courses (Caribbean roast duck with plantain salsa, Delmonico steak with wild mushroom sauce, grilled salmon with lime and cilantro, rack of lamb with creamy horseradish sauce, a chicken dish, or vegetarian pasta); dessert, all made in-house we were told (chocolate mousse, strawberry cheesecake, caramel and pecan bread pudding, chocolate cake, and several flavors of ice cream or sundaes); and coffee or tea. These are full-sized servings, not smaller "tasting menu" portions. For the appetizer, I had chicken quesadillas, while the others had the soup. My quesadillas were OK, but the soup was reported to be excellent. My rack of lamb was delicious and cooked medium rare, as ordered. The others had Delmonico steaks, which they said were good, but fatty, as Delmonicos (rib eyes) usually are, and the mushroom sauce was excellent. All the steaks were cooked to the varying degrees requested. The entrees came with smashed potatoes and assorted vegetables. The various desserts we chose were very good. As for wine, Asa Ransom House is the only WNY restaurant that I'm aware of to offer a large selection of NYS wines, including many from the Finger Lakes region and from North Fork of Long Island wineries, a few from the Hudson Valley, and at least one from Niagara County. We had a bottle of Lenz North Fork Chardonnay (retail $15) for $21, less than 50% over retail, and a bottle of Paumanok Grand Vintage North Fork Cabernet Franc (retail $49) for—hard to believe—$24. Both were excellent. All the wines here, including those from California and Europe, are very reasonably priced. Overall, service and food were very good—although the colonial-era costumes of the servers are a bit much."

[LS, 12/04] says: "I took my mother to the Asa Ransom House in October for Saturday tea. I hadn't been there before and wasn't sure what to expect—warmed-over food in a fake Williamsburg hell? It was wonderful and a big hit (and surprise) for my mom. We had the dining room to ourselves for most of the time, with a lovely view of Main St. and Fall foliage. We had tea, of course, and were served a three-tiered tray that included cucumber and cream-cheese sandwiches, scones, and cookies. We couldn't eat everything, and the leftovers were great."

[EPF, 12/95] says: "My brother and one of the guys at work have always said it was wonderful."

[RM, 5/94] says: "There is a big fuss about this and I don't understand why. It is a nice old place, and fun to see, but the food itself is just average and the prices a bit high." The "innkeeper" of Asa Ransom House replies as follows (5/96): "Since we entertain a healthy number of University dignitaries & visitors, they evidently do not rely on your publication for direction nor accuracy." (Concerning this publication, the owner of another restaurant on it says [5/96] "I enjoy using your guide and find it the most comprehensive one for WNY restaurants." :-)

Athens Family Restaurant.
2801 Harlem Rd., Cheektowaga.
892-5019.

[AFN, 8/06] says: "Athens is a typical Greek restaurant/coffee shop with a menu of basic Greek and American food. A colleague and I ate lunch there twice last week. A clean environment with good food at economical prices. Very good chicken souvlaki."

Au Bon Pain.
125 High St. (downtown, in the Doubletree Club Buffalo Downtown hotel on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus), Buffalo.
845-0112.

Part of the chain.

[WHN, 11/07] says: "I've eaten at several Au Bon Pain airport locations previously. At this local one, I had a smoked-turkey club with bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, and tomato, with a tasty herbal mayonnaise. It was very good. The menu is similar to Atlanta Bread Co. and Panera Bread—sandwiches, wraps, soups, and salads—but this location also offers a bistro menu that includes items grilled to order, pasta, pizza, and stews, among other choices."

[m] Ava Cado's.
3500 Main St. (in University Plaza, across from the UB South Campus), Amherst.
446-5080.

[AMSo, 2/08] says: "Excellent. K. and I went there last night, in hopes of some healthy, hearty, fast food, and it was all of those three. We each ordered vegetarian burritos. You have your choice of large or small tortilla (we went for the larges). Tortillas come in soft white or wheat, and you can also get hard-shell corn tortillas if you want tacos. My burrito was amazing and huge! I got: pinto beans & black beans (they also have refried), grilled peppers & onions, homemade guacamole, black olives, tomatoes, cilantro, lettuce, jalapeno peppers, green salsa (they also have baby corn & bean salsa, pico de gallo, and red salsa), lemon cilantro rice (they also have brown), and hot sauce. K.'s burrito was a similar, but more pared down, version of my own. The large burritos run about $6, but are well worth it. I was amazed at how well the guy behind the counter was able to fold my absolutely huge burrito! We also got chips & salsa (they make everything there, including the chips!), which were awesome. K. got mild salsa, and I got spicy, and it was wonderful! The place was clean, vibrant; the workers were very personable and friendly; and the music was cool, too. if you are vegetarian, go there!! If you're used to crummy burritos with old refried beans and some shredded lettuce, welcome to burrito heaven. They had veggie chili as one of their soups as well. And judging from all the meat-eaters who stopped in, I'm sure everyone will be satisfied if they give Ava Cado's a chance. We will definitely be back—and will encourage our friends to check it out as well. Their hours (courtesy of Buffalo First Marketplace) are Monday-Saturday 10:30am-9pm, and Sunday 11am-8pm."

[HK, 4/07] says: "My co-worker and I went to Ava Cado's during our lunch hour and found the service and food quality excellent! They have a choice of tacos, burritos, quesadillas, or taco salads. You then pick your meat, and you have a choice of beef, pork, chicken, and I overheard they were getting fish soon. You can then add whatever ingredients you want, kind of like Subway, but fresher in my opinion. Their salsa and guacamole were really fresh! They do offer combo meals daily, and more are on the way. The portions are huge! I had the Grande chicken burrito, and I was so full, I skipped dinner that evening as well! Great new place to eat!"

[ABi, 3/07] says: "I could do without the goofy pun of a name, but Ava Cado's (two words, like a proper name, ugh), is a refreshing offering for those desiring Mexican dishes. Everything on the simple menu tastes fresh. The theme is emphasized during preparation, during which one's order is made to order. Cado's used to be a Quizno's, and while the monolithic sub-toasting contraption has been removed, the rest of the setup remains the same, and Ava's minions assemble dishes step-by-step in front of the customer, asking what you'd like at each manufacturing stage; it's nice to be able to see what's being put on your order as well as what's being left off. Proteinwise, beef or chicken are standard-price choices, with steak, pork, and shrimp available for an additional sum. Veggie freaks can also order theirs sans carne. Prices are around six dollars per entree, and they emphasize quality over overwhelming portions; while not as filling as other Mexican tray service places per dollar, food is of a high-enough caliber to compensate. Everything I've tried has been good, with most of their salsas and other toppings seasoned with the invigorating taste and scent of cilantro. The only disappointment has been the chips accompanying each order, as we've often come across stale tortillas. Aside from that minor point, the vibrant flavors offered in the shredded meats and diced vegetables make it a welcome addition to nearby ethnic food offerings. I love Mighty Taco, (I'm from Buffalo, duh), and while I would never ever look for a replacement for a local icon that's earned its status, Ava Cado's would be a nice occasional alternative for those of us who Mighty cashiers recognize."