Bill Rapaport's Buffalo Restaurant Guide

Alphabetical Listing of Restaurants: B

[—] Buttery

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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Bacchus. —WARNING: The website is accompanied by loud music!
54 W. Chippewa St. (downtown), Buffalo.
854-9463.

Wine bar and restaurant. Bacchus, Calvaneso, and City Grill have the same owner.

[3/06] Given 3½ (out of 4) stars by Janice Okun, Buffalo News restaurant reviewer.

[CP, 11/07] says: "Six friends and I had dinner here last Friday. The Mahi Mahi special I ordered was out of this world. Another friend agreed she would lick the plate if she were home :o) The only complaint was that the filet was served a little rare for having ordered it medium. It was delicious, though."

[12/06] [MER] and I stopped here to pass some time with other parents while our son was at the Maria Love Charity Ball. I tried the seared scallops with apple hash, onion marmalade, and chili oil, while [MER] had the grilled pizzetti with wild mushroom, proscuitto, reggiano cheese, arugula, and truffle oil; both appetizers were scrumptious. But the restaurant is almost unbearably noisy.

[PMR, 2/03] says: "We dined at Bacchus in January 2003. We found the restaurant to be almost empty; it was a Tuesday evening, so that may have been the reason. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the food and the wine. The food is served in smaller portions, meant for ordering a couple dishes and sharing amongst the dinner guests. The food was of excellent quality, and they were more than willing to adapt the menu, which is slightly limited but had enough choices to please all four of us. They gladly altered a couple dishes to be vegetarian friendly. The wine list is exhaustive. The prices for the wine are very fair; we liked one of the wines our waiter recommended, and, at a later date, we purchased a bottle at a local store and found the price to be only slightly less than what we were charged at the restaurant. Our waiter made excellent wine suggestions, and we enjoyed 3 different bottles of wine over the course of our meal and desserts. The waiter was non-intrusive and allowed us dine and converse at our leisure."

Bagel Jay's.
100 Plaza Dr. (in Dash's Plaza at Hopkins Rd. and W. Klein Rd.), Amherst. 639-1000.
2730 Delaware Ave. (near Amherst St., in North Buffalo), Buffalo. 874-1800.

The best bagels in the area. My 11-year-old son insists on stopping off at the Amherst location after school every day for a plain, untoasted bagel with butter, a bag of chips, and chocolate milk. When the servers see him coming, they ask him if he wants his "usual":-) We've been to both the Amherst and the North Buffalo locations, which are equally good.

[HPK, 9/07] says: "It is strange to me that in this day and age there are still places that have no idea what customer service is. My family and I have always been fans of Bagel Jay's. Recently though things have been "weird" at the Hopkins Rd. branch. The last two visits, the order has been wrong. The wrong bagels, smears, coffee, etc. The 1st time we let it pass, thinking mistakes happen. The last time, though, we called them up once we realized that our order was wrong again. Wrong bagels, smears, and the coffee had the wrong items in it. Upon calling, this was their response: "Bring them back and we will fix it; we can put your bagels back and give you new ones." Put them back??? Yuck. I would not want to get someone's else's bagels. We explained that we could not come back at the moment but would be more than willing to come back in a couple of hours. Making a special trip would not be worth the gas money, and we did not have the time. They said, "unless you bring them back now, there is nothing we can do for you." What??? We questioned this only to be told the same thing again. We were not rude; in fact, when placing the call, we said, "We want you to know so the mistakes don't keep happening." If this was my place, I would have said to my customer, "Please keep what you have now; enjoy them. We have written your name down, and, when you can come back in, we will make it right. Any day." I hope whatever is going on gets better; we do like the place."

On the other hand, [WHN, 2/07] says: "In addition to excellent bagels in about twenty varieties, they serve a wide choice of sandwiches, either on bagels, rolls, or in wraps (but a very limited choice of rolls and wraps). The roast turkey is excellent, especially on a jalapeno-cheddar bagel. I wish they had pastrami, but the closest they have to that is corned beef. For those who have been in the area for a while, this restaurant is owned by one of the Bagel Brothers, who sold their local chain to Manhattan Bagel years ago. Open for breakfast and lunch; eat in or take out."

Baja Fish Taco.
7600 Southwestern Blvd. (Rt. 20), Evans.
627-7526.

[RDM, 7/05] says: "Authentic Mexican. Great food. I had the chicken tacos. Wonderful flavor wrapped in a corn tortilla that was soft and crumbly. My husband had the shrimp tacos and loved them, too. Both were accompanied by Mexican rice, which had corn and what tasted like corn muffin mixed in. I usually skip Mexican rice but could not pass this helping up. Also, beans accompanied both dishes. Pretty good with an unusual cheese on top. We'll be back here. Good place for take out, but you can dine in a booth or outdoors. A sign on the door said, "Margaritas and Beer coming soon." "

Bandana's Bar and Grill.
930 Lake Rd., Youngstown.
745-1010.

[AG, 3/05] says: "Inside what looks like a scruffy country bar is a chef serving unusually artful comfort food. We loved the jerk chicken sandwich, topped with Swiss cheese, grilled pineapple, and red onion, and banana aioli. Great chili cheese fries. We wished we had more room, because there were more things on this menu that deserved investigation. Blackened chicken chili? Red potato bacon salad? Steak quesadilla? The Friday catfish po' boy sandwich special?"

Bar Bill Tavern
185 Main St., E. Aurora.
652-7959.

[DwH, 3/08] says: "Has become a favorite place when I get to visit Buffalo. Great wings and wonderful beef on 'weck. The beef on 'weck is carved right there behind the bar—the small size is adequate; the large size is downright necessary for a sandwich this good. Damn the calories! Full speed ahead! So-so beer selection but always friendly staff and enough large-screen TVs to microwave you. Busy, but the food is so good that it's worth either waiting or going at off-times. No credit cards, but there is an ATM."

[KAS, 3/06] says: "Having recently moved to East Aurora (from another Western New York town), my husband and I were in search of new restaurants/bars/cafes to explore. After several circuits of the village, we finally settled on the Bar Bill Restaurant right near the circle. It was very crowded, very friendly, and very fun! Since it is a very small place in ratio to the number of customers who congregate there, getting a table on a Friday or Saturday night takes time and patience, but it is worth the wait! We ordered their famous beef on weck sandwiches and an order of their Sicilian chicken wings. We were absolutely delighted! I have to say, the best I've ever had. We told family members from surrounding towns, and the Bar Bill is now one of their favorite places to eat as well. My parents' favorite wings to order are the wasabi/barbeque ones. Talk about something different! On busy nights like Fridays and Saturdays, your best bet is to come early if you want to eat right away, or be willing to have a drink or two at the bar and wait. The wait staff, for the most part, also tends the bar, so they are busy folks, but very friendly. Other nights during the week, when not as busy, you are able ask the bartenders if a table is available, and they will point you in the right direction. It is best to ask, rather than just seat yourself, as there are probably hungry people ahead of you waiting for the table. It's a very casual atmosphere, and no one ever seems to be in a hurry (except the people carrying food to the tables!). Some nights, when it's not so busy, the cooks will send out chicken wings to the bar so you can try out a "new recipe". Just a note, they do not accept credit cards, so be prepared with cash! We ran up a hefty bill one night for 6 people (drinks, dinner, and generous tip) and presented a credit card only to be informed, very apologetically, that they don't accept credit cards. Fortunately, we had the cash, but be forewarned or they'll have you washing dishes in the back! We have been very happy with the Bar Bill and feel as though we have found our watering hole away from home. We hope you enjoy it as well."

[JSt, 4/00] says: "I now reside in Weatherford, Texas, where Beef on Weck is unheard of, but grew up in East Aurora. You need to go to the Bar Bill on Main St near the traffic circle there for the best beef on weck in WNY (even better than Schwabl's)."

The Basket Factory.
2 Watson Ave., Middleport, NY.
735-9260.

[WHN, 8/06] says: "I was introduced to The Basket Factory several years ago, when I did business with a company in Middleport. More recently, my wife and I had lunch on their outdoor deck overlooking the Erie Canal. At lunch time, they have good, basic food—burgers, wings, sandwiches, pasta dishes, salads, etc.—and good service—at very reasonable prices. Their dinner menu sounds much more ambitious, with a variety of seafood, chicken and duck, steaks, veal, and more."

Bel Cibo.
929 Elmwood Ave. (between Allentown & Buff State), Buffalo.
883-1841.

[AMB, 3/08] says: "Bel Cibo is located in the old Elmwood Soda Bar location (the seating area is still up a small flight of stairs, which may be important to some). We've eaten there twice, and both times had good-quality, moderately priced, pasta dishes (less than $15)—including carbonara, lasagna, and a multi-cheese ravioli. There were several sauces to pick from for the latter, including a very good basil cream sauce. The other dishes were also well prepared. There are other typical main dishes available (e.g., chicken piccata, parmesean, etc.). Since our first visit, they added a soup and salad bar—with sufficient and fresh offerings, and (at least for that evening) an excellent broccoli soup. The service is friendly, and they have a full bar available. This is not a fancy restaurant, but an excellent choice for a cozy, tasty, low-key meal."

Bella Pizza.
3330 South Park Ave. (1 mile north of Ilio DiPaolo's), Lackawanna.
822-6242.

[DE, 12/05] says: "Bella is by far the best pizza in WNY."

[m] La Bella Sicilia.
2909 Genesee St. (east of Harlem Rd.), Cheektowaga. 896-6692.

Italian.

[AFN, 3/06] says: "Six friends and I returned on 3/22. I had a delicious dish called "Chicken Margarite"—sauteed chicken topped with sauteed eggplant, cheese, and a lemony sauce. Everyone else thought their choices were excellent as well. A friend who also ordered the chicken asked for red sauce, which they brought to her on the side. A choice of salad or pasta comes with each entree. My dinner cost $14, including two soft drinks, tax, and tip. Very economical and very good."

[DWS, 5/95] says that he was taken here "when we first came to Buffalo and it is still excellent. They have great linguine and red clam sauce and their pizza is excellent. I still eat there. Also their antipasto is great."

Benjamin's Restaurant and Inn.
430 King St. N., St. Jacobs, ON, CANADA.
519-664-3731.

[WHN, 10/06] says: "The town of St. Jacobs is close to Stratford and is the center of the Mennonite community in Canada, so you're likely to see quite a few horse and buggy conveyances. We had lunch at Benjamin's over the Canadian Thanksgiving/Columbus Day weekend. Most Canadian restaurants seem to have their regular menus, as well as the traditional turkey feast, which is much better than the limited menus or buffets that most Buffalo area restaurants seem to serve on holidays. (We gave up eating out on holidays or holiday eves years ago, but that's another story.) That said, I had an excellent turkey wrap with cheese and cranberry mayonnaise, and my wife had a seafood crepe that she said was absolutely delicious. Other menu items included burgers, Reubens, chicken and pasta dishes, and a couple of vegetarian choices, as well as a turkey dinner with all the trimmings."

Betty's.
370 Virginia St. (in Allentown, west of Elmwood Ave.), Buffalo.
362-0633.

[JJa, 2/08] says: "I've been to Betty's for brunch 2 weekends in a row. Waited about 10-15 minutes for table first time, 25 minutes second time, but it was close to noon. Our waiter was friendly, staff kept us refilled with water and (great!) coffee. Coffee is deep, dark roasted, and rich. I had "Smothered Cornbread", light cornbread topped with scrambled eggs and black beans and fresh salsa, with a dollop of sour cream, side of home fries, and garnish of fruit. Divine!!!! I splashed a little of the Frank's hot sauce that is on every table, but didn't need it. My companions both had tofu hash, with sweet potatoes, onions, eggs, and homefries. The "hash" was well seasoned and very good. Second trip, I asked the server's advice; thought I might try something new. He steered me back to smothered cornbread. Friend had Smoked Salmon Benedict, and was very pleased. Good refills on coffee and water. Will have brunch here often, but I can't wait to try dinner some night after work."

[BMcWS, 1/08] says: "We had never heard of Betty's until we heard it advertised on NPR's Morning Edition. One cold winter night, we decided to give it a try. Betty's was welcoming from the moment we pulled up. Somehow, it just glowed in a welcoming way as we walked to it through the snow in the dark and cold. The inside was just as welcoming—cozy little kitchen-style tables made the place feel very homey. We were pleased with the menu selections as well. There were a lot of things that were comfort food—meatloaf and pot pies and soups—but there were exciting and adventurous things too: an Asian vegetable soup, for example. We started with the dinner salad, which was a breath of fresh air. No white lettuce and pink tomato awaited us here. Instead, we got a bowl with green lettuce and other greens, radish, cucumber, red tomato, sunflower seeds, and sprouts. It was a welcome sight. All dressings are homemade, and both the ranch and lemon garlic herb were delicious. Our entrees were delayed a long, long time—over 45 min. Our server was friendly but subdued, and we didn't quite understand his mumbled apology about something getting mixed up. Once the food came, it was delicious. I had a special—boneless chicken breast stuffed with brie and blueberries with a vanilla cream sauce, accompanied by a pear risotto. The chicken wasn't quite cooked all the way through, but most was, and it was tasty, although there was little flavor provided by the brie. The risotto was wonderful. My husband had the meatloaf and mashed potatoes, which was hearty and wonderful. Our son ordered the children's buttered pasta, which was a tad greasy, but came with fresh apple slices, so that was a definite plus. We will definitely go back to Betty's." [ASe, 2/08] says: "Recent visit for Sunday Brunch—12/2007. Formerly one of our favorite brunch stops—Betty's had great food, friendly (if very slow) service, and a relatively kid-friendly atmosphere (we have a newborn and a two-year-old). Terrific omelettes, good coffee, fresh fruit and vegetables, nice decor, skilled chefs, but slow waitstaff. Not a cheap breakfast—usually north of $30 for two, including coffee and juice. After two incidents of very slow service (following very long waits for tables), we've decided to cross Betty's off our list. One waitress in particular would ignore us almost completely, and the very apologetic manager's response (1/2 off the bill and a free dessert) was nice but not quite enough for us to chance it again. Food was often served lukewarm to nearly cold (not very appetizing for eggs Benedict), table waits were way too long, waitstaff could be inattentive to the degree of being rude. A pretty place and a clearly talented kitchen—but often way overbooked and with some very poor servers."

[RRo, 11/06] says: "I've been to Betty's several times. Fresh iced tea, amazing lunches, and they are "kid friendly"—my 3.5 YO daughter had a blast playing with their abacus while awaiting our meal. I agree with all the other reviewers but need to add a word of caution: If you need to wait for a table, consider leaving. Last time we went, we had a slightly bigger group (7 of us). They said it'd be a little bit, but made no effort to keep us informed or even move tables to accomodate our group; after over an hour waiting and the curly-haired guy-owner/mgr just watching our frustration grow, we left very disgruntled, hungry, and disappointed. ARGH...not a nice way to treat your customers, guys."

[AFN, 5/06] says: "What a great place! Two friends and I had lunch here today (5/3). They had both been to Betty's before, but I had not. Since it was a beautiful day, we opted to eat at the "sidewalk cafe", but the restaurant looked nice inside, too. The first thing our waitress asked was how much time we had, because, she said, some people want a leisurely lunch and others need to get back to work quickly, which was our situation. My grilled chicken with red pepper sauce was perfect, and the salad with house miso dressing was terrific, too. One of my friends ordered coconut cream pie, which she said was the best she ever had, for dessert. Excellent (and fast, as we asked) service, also."

[RTC, 1/06] says: "A lovely restaurant within the bounds of Allentown. Art pieces are displayed on the colorful walls, most of which have been created by employees of the restaurant, who are all too eager to show them off. It is easy to see that everyone at the restaurant cares about the food and providing good service. Waitresses seem to enjoy their jobs. The menu contains a creative variety of modern American foods, all of which look delicious. I've not had a complaint about any item I've had there. Every visit there has been thoroughly enjoyable."

[BL, 12/05] says: "Baked goods, soups, salads, hot plates, desserts. Allentown addition to the quality restaurants in the city. Restored building with a bright and friendly atmosphere and very good food. We had lunch, but popular for brunch, breakfast, dinners, desserts. Delicious scones (we bought some and took home). Suggest a roll or some kind of bread to go with the lunch salads. My husband's jerk grilled chicken with pineapple and banana mayo was excellent and filling. Good soups also. Popular by the number of people arriving. We will definitely come again. Not sure of the hours, but believe they are open daily except Mondays."

[am] Big John's Submarine and Pizza.
546 Niagara Falls Boulevard (at Decatur, between Kenmore Ave. and Eggert Rd.), Tonawanda.
836-4881.

[MZ, 3/07] says: "I was pleased to see the Big John's review; it is my favorite pizza (of its kind) from anyplace I've lived in the U.S. (NYC, Chicago, Boston, or other "travel" cities in the US), though I'm sure Italy has its great ones. Perfect, yeasty, fresh dough, a very slightly-sweet sauce, the perfect amount of mozzarella cheese (too much is like a used-car salesman, overbearing and greasy), and fabulous pepperoni, which I don't typically like in other pizzerias (this is high quality; no red filler, which is so common). Caveat: Get the large size, even if you are alone. The ovens don't do the right job on the small. Another caveat: Don't reheat; let it get back to room temp if you have leftovers...which, done that way, are as good as the original and still better than anything you've ever had elsewhere. Been going there my whole long life. I save up my pizza chits for Big John's."

[MEL, 10/99] says: "A good little neighborhood restaurant. I had some moist, delicious baked haddock here one Friday night, as well as acceptable pasta."

Bijou Grille.
643 Main St. (downtown, next to Market Arcade Cinema, across from Theater Place), Buffalo.
847-1512.

Once self-described as "California-style bistro dining." Informal, nice place to eat downtown. Also, good desserts; wine by the glass. Outdoor dining in summer (downtown Buffalo really looks good from here). I had not been here in a long time, but MER and I found ourselves downtown on a Friday evening [12/07] and stopped in here for a light dinner. It was warm and welcoming. I had the seared scallops in olive oil and tomato beurre blanc with spinach, risotto, and green beans (the beans were a pleasant surprise, not listed on the menu); the meal was excellent. MER had a pecan-crusted chicken salad, which normally comes with goat cheese, though she requested that it be omitted; it also comes with red onion, tomatoes, and honey mustard vinaigrette; she pronounced it delicious, very light, and very nice. For dessert, we shared a warmed apple cobbler with ice cream. Bijou is definitely still worth its two stars. Now if only more people came downtown in the evenings!

Had no one eaten here in nearly 10 years? It would seem so, but here's a more recent review from [LS, 4/07], who says: "I had a fine, pre-theater dinner here in January. I must note that the servers are laid-back, yet friendly and professional. The bartender (I need to get his name) is a gem and lightens the mood on a cold winter's night, and not just by the booze he pours. My guest enjoyed his cioppino, and I had a grilled vegetable pizza. I recommend the Bijou for its great location, good food, and excellent ambience and service."

[MEL, 4/98] says: "A yuppie-oriented Theater District bar; worse than most of its ilk. Ordinary (not bad, not great) food, lousy service, high prices."

[MLS, 1/98] says: "Besides the excellent food, the service is friendly."

[J&AD, 1993] say: "This 50s' style popular downtown night spot features sandwiches, salads, a few entrees, and flavorful single-serving pizzas."

Bing's.
1952 Kensington Ave. (near Harlem Rd.), Amherst.
839-5788.

[PZT, 3/08] says: "My husband and I went to Bing's this past December for dinner. The service was very slow, the portions were small for the price, and the food was mediocre. I had a chicken dish; he had stuffed shells. The waitress never refilled our water glasses despite being asked twice, and when we ordered soda we received them in small rocks glasses filled to the brim with ice (very little soda). We couldn't help but notice that we received our meals before the people at the next table had even received their bread&151;and they had arrived before us. We had an Entertainment coupon, and, when we received the bill, it didn't appear that the discount had been applied. I mentioned it to our waitress, and she pointed out to me that she had seen the coupon, and that I had not looked at the back of our bill. When I did, I was shocked to find that we were charged $12 for 6 sodas. We had only ordered 4, and the only reason for that is that nobody ever brought us any more water. She did correct the bill, but I was still pretty annoyed. I wonder if we would have received "free refills" had we not had a coupon, since it was obvious that the drinks had been added to the back of the bill at the last minute. I waited for a few minutes, planning on asking to speak to the manager or owner, but we finally gave up & left when the waitress never came back. We won't be returning to Bing's."

[ALJ, 8/07] says: "We recently found a great restaurant—Bing's Restaurant & Catering—and have enjoyed two meals there over the past couple of months. The first time we ate here, 7/07, I enjoyed their house salad with a garlic vinaigrette, and my fiancé had the Caesar, which was a little heavy on the cheese but otherwise tasted good. We shared the risotto appetizer, which was phenomenal. I had a chicken scallopini entree, which is not on the menu but, upon request, was prepared for me and was very flavorful and served with linguini. My fiancé had their chicken parmesan and said it was the best he's had in Buffalo. They have a nice wine list, which we ordered from. The service was great—our waitress was very attentive and pleasant. We returned again 8/07 with my fiancé's parents and again had a wonderful meal. We started with house salads, which were very garlicky but nonetheless delicious. We shared two appetizers; one was a special baked polenta topped with marinara and artichoke hearts, which was very good, and the other was a fried calamari, which was tough and chewy. The entrees were again wonderful; both my fiancé and his father ordered the chicken parmesan; I had pasta primavera, which again was not on the menu, but the kitchen was happy to accommodate my request, and my entree came chock full of vegetables cooked to perfection atop linguini, with a chunky marinara sauce. My fiancé's mother had a penne dish with broccoli, spinach, and roasted red peppers in garlic and oil, which she enjoyed as well. We ordered drinks to start, and I have to say that Bing's martinis leave something to be desired—my chocolate martini was overly sweet and syrupy and had to be sent back. However, our waitress was very nice about it and, after having the bartender make another one for me, removed it from the bill and offered us a coupon at the end of the meal for a free entree when we returned, which we certainly will! Bing's really aims to please their customers! Additionally, this is the first Italian restaurant we've found in Buffalo where I actually like their red sauce. Being Italian myself, I am extremely picky about red sauces and usually stay away from them at restaurants, because I am usually disappointed. However, at Bing's, I can order whatever I want off the menu, knowing I will be pleased! We can't wait to go back this weekend! Note: Reservations recommended, especially on weekends, because the restaurant is fairly small and does not have a lot of tables."

[WHN, 8/07] says: "We've only been to Bing's twice. Several years ago, we sat at a table in the bar area, which was very quiet that night, and had an excellent meal. So we told some friends about Bing's and went there with them on Saturday night. We all had very good Caesar salads to start. For my entree, I had Osso Bucco, which was delicious, although I would have preferred that the accompanying risotto parmesan had been served on the side, instead of underneath the meat and broth, so the flavor was more distinct. My wife had veal Marsala, which she said was very good, and our friends had steaks, which they also said were very good. The only negative note was the high noise level in the main dining room, which made it nearly impossible to carry on a conversation. If you want a fairly quiet meal, I would recommend sitting in the bar area (and hoping it's not a busy night at the bar)."

[a] Black and Blue Steak and Crab.
5493 Sheridan Dr. (in Williamsville Place plaza), Amherst.
839-2525.

[1/08] Given 3½ (out of 4) stars by Janice Okun, Buffalo News restaurant reviewer.

[CP, 3/08] says: "Mostly negative review: I dined here 3/14/08 with 9 friends. First the positive: 7 of our party ordered steak. I believe all were filet; I heard no complaints and some positive comments. I personally feel a good tenderloin is one of the simplest meals to make, and make good. So, giving the restaurant credit for a good steak doesn't mean much in my book. Negative: A friend and I shared the "black and blue" salad described on the menu as baby spinach and bleu cheese in warm bacon shallot vinaigrette, topped with blackened seared tenderloin tips. Not only was there no bleu cheese to be found, but the tips, which I ordered medium rare, came out well done. No pink whatsoever. The dressing was incredibly salty, and the pieces of bacon did not look or taste like bacon. I actually couldn't identify what the crunchy salty bits were until I went back & looked at the menu again. It was absolutely not worth $14.00. For my entrée, I ordered tilapia over a crab couscous and garlic greens. Generally, I wouldn't order tilapia at a "fine dining" restaurant, but the description was enticing. Because it was a special, we weren't told the price. Even if it was $25.00, which it was, I thought the amount of crab served with it would make up for the very inexpensive fish. Wrong! I found the tiniest piece of crab in the cold (not even room-temp) couscous. Lastly, 2 girls at our table had the macaroni and cheese during their last visit. They raved about it and ordered it again. They both agreed it was very dry this time and couldn't finish it. Overall, I wouldn't recommend eating here."

[SC&PM, 2/08] say: "Thank you very much for your website. We refer to it regularly for new restaurant reviews as well as all other reviews. Here is our experience (very recent) from Black & Blue restaurant. (Monday, February 11th, 2008 8:20pm) I made reservations for my sister's birthday. We were there for a nice evening dinner celebration on her birthday. We were seated promptly after our 8.15pm reservation. We started with a bottle of German Weber Riesling. Bread and butter was brought to our table before the wine arrived. After 10 minutes, the waiter returned with our bottle (uncorked) of Riesling, only to have him place it on our table for him to return because he had to deliver another bottle of wine to the table behind us and to take orders at another table. We ordered the Grilled Trout, special of the day Beef Medallions with Portabello and Grilled Asparagus, Lump Jonah Crab, and the 20oz Porter House with Lump crab with Red wine demi-glaze served with a side of sweet potato dumplings. Before our entrees arrived, a waitress simply leaned in to us to retrieve our salad forks (seeing that none of us were having salad) without a mere "excuse me". We thought that was rather rude and unrefined, seeing that she simply reached across us to retrieve the fork. Our entrees arrived, and the Lump Jonah Crab as well as crab on the Porter house was fresh and delicious. The grilled trout served on a bed of lemon risotto topped with fried onions was not bad. The lemon risotto was rather bland, but the grilled flavors of the trout somewhat compensated for the unflavored risotto. The Beef Medallions were decent—the side of asparagus was nicely grilled, but the asparagus was rather old. Service for the rest of the evening went downhill from here. The waitress who reached in for the fork came back to refill our water glasses, clumsily hitting our plates loudly, and appeared to be in a rush to just clear whatever she could while we were in the midst of eating. The waiter who took our orders stopped by very shortly to check on us and moved to the table next to us to "chat". The same goes with the "clumsy" waitress, who came later to clear our plates. My sister, who ordered the Beef Medallions, had only managed to finish half her meal. As the waitress was clearing all our plates, my sister requested that her unfinished portion be packed up. Without asking or anything, the waitress simply stacked on our side plates onto her unfinished portion and cleared our table leaving our water glasses behind. We were in utter shock!! If the waitress had not heard my sister's request, she could have also inquired if the unfinished portion was to be packed up. Instead, she took it upon herself to just clear everything up. Again, the waitress cleared our table in such a fast and clumsy manner as if she was in a rush to get out of what she was doing. We asked for our check; it came some time later, and I left zero tip. I asked to speak to the manager and relayed to him our bad experience. Before I was done complaining of our service, he interrupted me to go retrieve our check. He returned with our check and with our waiter. Now I have the manager and waiter in front of me, and I had to repeat my complaints. The manager had me fill in a comment card. As I was filling the card, our waitress stormed up to confront us. She claimed she did not hear the request to pack up the unfinished portion of the meal. Offers from the manager, waiter, and waitress to recook the unfinished portion of meal was made, to which we declined. We were already on our way out the door, and there was no point waiting for the chefs to recook the discarded meal. The waitress was unapologetic over her actions and was very confrontational about what had happened. Another shocker was that we felt the manager could have handled the communication portion of this bit with his serving staff instead of having us explaining again and again what had gone wrong. We were assured that our complaints will reach management of Black & Blue, but I doubt that a small comment card coud have documented all that went wrong. I commented what I could on the few measly lines provided and hope that no one else will receive such bad experience as we did."

[ECB, 1/08] says: "My wife took me here for my birthday. The evening didn't start out well. With an 8pm reservation, we weren't seated until after 9pm, though they were very apologetic and treated us very well once we were in the dining room. My wife and I shared the Small Oyster Sampler, which was a variety of raw oysters with a number of sauces. Eschewing the condiments, we thoroughly enjoyed the oysters, vowing next time to get the large one. My Crab Cakes were delicate and succulent, melting in my mouth, with just the right amount of sauce, while my wife's She Crab Soup was rich and flavorful. My wife got the Porterhouse with Truffle Butter and Vidalia onion rings. The steak was fantastic, so much so that the sauce was a distraction, and she ended up not using it. The onion rings were fairly mediocre. I got the Lump Jonah Crab, which was luxurious and decadent. It came with drawn butter, garlic aioli, and a drizzle of spicy pepper sauce. I found the latter to be particularly nice. I got the Orzo "Mac and Cheese" that Janice Okun recommended, and it lived up to the praise. We were offered dessert for free, because of our wait, and enjoyed the Chocolate Creme Brulee and Banana Cream Pie with coffee. Overall, the food and service were wonderful and made up for the irritation of the long wait, which we were assured was uncharacteristic. We intend to visit again next month for my wife's birthday."

[WHN, 1/08] says: "My son took us to the new Black and Blue Steak and Crab restaurant for my birthday. It was Monday night, but the place was very busy, maybe as a result of Janice Okun's 3-1/2 star review last Saturday, January 5. The cheese-flavored rolls offered after we were seated were hot and very flavorful. For an appetizer, I had she-crab soup, which was excellent. Other appetizers ordered were crab cakes and an evening special of fried calamari with a chili/tomato sauce. Both were said to be very good, although my wife said her crab cakes (made with back-fin lump crab meat) are better. The steaks—one filet, the rest, rib steaks—were very good, cooked medium rare as ordered. The truffle butter and wine sauces were quite tasty. For sides, the server said the cheddar fries were delicious, so we all ordered them. They were good, but after a few fries, the cheddar flavor (sort of like on cheese-flavored popcorn) got to be a bit much. I would say that the included side dishes are large enough to share among two to four people, depending on how hungry they are, so suggest ordering different sides and sharing them, rather than getting all the same one. The service was excellent. There is a decent selection of wines by the glass, and a large by-the-bottle wine list. When visiting their website, use the Rochester link to check out the menu, as the Buffalo one is not online yet. But, note that the prices in Buffalo are $1 or so higher than indicated on the website."

[KPa, 12/07] says: "Thanks again for your fantastic website. I utilize your it religiously, and it has been a while since I have sent in a review. That being said, I will give one good (Black and Blue) and one bad (800 Maple). Now let's get to a great restaurant: My wife and I went to Black and Blue for our Christmas Eve dinner, and we both thought it was fabulous. The atmosphere is very nice, and everything is aesthetically pleasing. We were greeted by a very friendly hostess and opted to sit right down at our table. It was not the most inexpensive restaurant I have ever eaten at, but the food was worth every penny. My wife ordered the Beefsteak Tomato w/ Mozz for her appetizer, and she loved it. She is picky about her salads, and she is still talking about that salad a week later. I had a shrimp cocktail that was very good, along with their pretzel rolls, which are delicious. They have a pretty impressive menu and a very extensive wine list. My wife ordered the Jonah Crab Entree ($26) with a side of asparagus (included). I ordered the 8 oz Filet ($25) with a side of Jonah Crab ($7) and their orzo Mac and Cheese (included). I also went with the red wine demiglace, which was out of this world. You can also order a 1/2 lobster tail with any meal, for $12, and a side of blue crab for $6. I suggest the Jonah crab, because it is very, very tasty. Both of our meals were phenomenal, and we can't wait to go back again. We are very psyched to have a restaurant like this right in Williamsville. Great ambience, good service, and great food. The only negative thing to say is that they served their red wine in white-wine glasses."

[KBr, 12/07] says: "It just opened. My husband and I went there for dinner this past Saturday (Dec. 22) and it is wonderful. Try it out."

Black Forest Inn.
255 King Street E., Hamilton, ON, CANADA.
905-528-3538.

[BL, 12/06] says: "We highly recommend this German restaurant with its comfortable European atmosphere and well-flavored foods. Detailed web site includes recipes. We have been going to the Black Forest over the years whenever we drive to Hamilton. Reservations are not needed. We were there Friday afternoon and enjoyed two of their favorites, Vienna Schnitzel (Wiener Schnitzel) with spaetzle, and Roast Pork with Potatoes and Sauerkraut. Pork is in a wonderful gravy. Good flavor to the kraut. Choose German potato salad, home fries, or rice for spaetzle. Soup or salad accompany both meals. (Salad includes delicious carrots and cucumbers. House dressing is creamy herb.) The portion of Wiener Schnitzel is very large. Only recommendation would be slightly smaller size and add red cabbage similar to how Scharf's Schiller Park does it. There are no potato pancakes (husband's favorite), but the menu is extensive with German favorites. We have never been disappointed. You can practice your German with the owners. With a beer and soda for drinks and two desserts (hazeltorte and apple strudel), our meal was $38 (32.60USD) before taxes; $43.75 (37.50USD) with tax. Afterwards, we walked across the street to Denninger's to explore all their worldly foods. It is similar to Premier Liquor Food/Gift store on Delaware. Parking is on street or in public lots and metered but will accept US coins ($1.00 = 2 hours of parking)."

Blackthorn Restaurant and Pub.
2134 Seneca St. (South Buffalo), Buffalo.
825-9327.

[HPK, 4/08] says: "I visit this restaurant often; always great food at a good price. Really friendly people. For those who think a local pub may not have a large choice of foods—wrong. Salads, sandwiches, clams, hot food. I highly suggest this place."

[JJa, 3/08] says: "I'll start by confessing that 25 yrs. ago I worked at the Early Times Tavern, the previous incarnation of The Blackthorn Pub; some of the current employees are friends; and I have a certain sentimental attachment to the spot. But I had not been here for quite a while. Small parking lot adjacent to the building is often full, but plenty of parking in lots across the street. The owners have just laid the base for an outdoor patio that rocked on St. Patty's Day and should be a hot spot this summer! As in any good pub, the owners and waitstaff present smiling friendly faces (I was even offered my old job back!). A nice variety of draft beers, and they make a great Manhattan, compete with "sidecar", so it's almost like 2 for 1. Since it was Friday, I opted for a traditional fish fry, as did my companion. Crunchy beer-batter (breaded and Cajun-broiled are other options), fish hanging off the plate, surrounded by crispy French fries, homemade cole slaw and macaroni salad. A personal disappointment was that the bread was not rye, but I quibble. Evening specials included more sophisticated swordfish and salmon entrees. Of course, wings and sandwiches are also on the menu. Bottom line: friendly service, good food and drink, and a soon-to-be-opened outdoor patio."

[DCa, 1/05] says: "Buffalo has many, many wonderful restaurants, and I am determined to try them all! The Blackthorn Restaurant and Pub was recommended by a co-worker. The beer and cheese soup is delicious. They also have a wonderful fish fry. It gets very busy and noisy on a Friday night, so be prepared to wait if you don't have reservations. I have been there on several occasions now, and they are very consistent...and the servers are very friendly and knowledgable. I highly recommend it for a casual dining experience at reasonable prices. Dinner for two, including soup, drinks, and appetizer, usually runs us about $50.00."

[MEL, 6/98] says: "It is probably about as close to a `nice' restaraunt as South Buffalo has (dinner entrees around $10). It's a mix of generic American food and a few Irish specialties. I had a beer and cheese soup that was quite tasty, and some rather ordinary french fries."

[m] Bob & John's La Hacienda.
1545 Hertel Ave., Buffalo.
836-5411.

[LCo, 7/07] says: "Bob & John's is a casual restaurant that offers American and Italian cuisine; it's a great place to eat if you just want a quick, simple, and relatively inexpensive meal. On Tuesdays, they have all-you-can-eat spaghetti for $2.25 after 4 p.m. It's a great deal even if it's not the most mind-blowing plate of pasta with marinara sauce that you've ever had. I recently tried the portabella sub, which is sliced portabella mushrooms and red peppers, sautéed in oil that is seasoned with balsamic vinegar and Italian spices and served on a 12" toasted sub roll. I'm not sure what comes on the sub, but I had it without any cheese or mayo (the menu says that these are standard on the subs) and added shredded lettuce and tomato. Overall, the sub tasted great, and at about $5 I would definitely order it again."

[MEL, 2/98] says: "Pizza and pasta place; good, but uneven. Loved their pepperoni, but thought their specialty pizzas (e.g., white pizza) were drab."

Bob Sharky's Saloon.
105 Kennedy Rd. S., Brampton, ON, CANADA.
905-453-7117.

[TR, 6/05] says: "It is a surprise to me that this is a bar, because I had the best noodle dish (Asian fusion) prepared so deliciously and included many different fresh veggies on a cold wintery afternoon. While there, I noticed a multi-level deck overlooking a marina or river or?, which would be delightful on the warm days of summer with a cold drink in hand. The interior is slick and modern—very nice."

[am] Bocce Club Pizzeria.
4174 Bailey Ave. (north of UB Main St. Campus), Eggertsville. 833-1344.
1614 Hopkins Rd., Williamsville, 689-2345.
8214 Transit Rd., Williamsville, 689-6662.
630 Clinton St. (South Buffalo), Buffalo, 856-7023.

A long, long time ago, I used to consider this [i.e., the old Bailey and the new Transit locations] the best pizza in Buffalo, but no longer. Their pizza is thick and soggy.

[WHN, 1/06] says: "Apparently the owners of the "original" Bocce Club on Bailey Ave., now on Transit Rd., are not connected to the other locations, that go by the name Dino's Bocce Club. The Transit Road location was recommended by friends. We've now had their pizzas several times, and they have been consistently quite good; better than the Bailey or Hopkins locations with (almost) the same name."

Bogey's Grillhouse.
4 Windward Dr. (in the Casablanca Winery Inn), Grimsby, ON, CANADA.
905-309-7171; toll free: 877-446-574.

[WHN, 5/07] says: "Based on the recommendation of friends, we had lunch at this casual restaurant in a hotel off the QEW. The sandwiches—my wife had a chicken Caesar wrap, and I had smoked turkey with jalapeno cheese and spicy mayonnaise on ciabatta bread—were fine, but the house Chardonnay and Merlot from nearby Kittling Ridge Winery both had a strange taste, unlike any Chardonnay or Merlot we've had. In fairness, our friends stayed overnight and may have eaten in their Casablanca Steak & Seafood restaurant, which is only open for dinner; and they do have other wines that are probably better. Nevertheless, once was more than enough for us."

[] Bollywood Bistro.
UB Commons (520 Lee Entrance), UB North Campus, Amherst.

Indian cuisine.

One of 2 new restaurants at the Commons (the other is Oh Bento) with a great view of Lake LaSalle. I've been here twice [4/08], and each time had a very good meal. The food is served cafeteria/food-court style, and you can get two dishes with rice and a beverage for around $8 and change. A welcome addition to campus cuisine.

[ECB, 4/08] concurs: "I was excited to discover that they'd added a couple new restaurants to the Commons while I wasn't paying attention. A huge fan of Indian food, I had to give Bollywood a try. I was cautiously optimistic but prepared to be disappointed. Turns out, I was pleasantly surprised. The food wasn't bad at all. I had rice, aloo biryani, aloo gobi, and roti, and all were quite serviceable. My companion tried the palak paneer, which she spoke well of. All in all, an excellent option on campus."

[a] Bonefish Grill.
1247 Niagara Falls Blvd. (attached to Boulevard Mall), Amherst.
833-6106.

Part of the chain, with a name and logo guaranteed to turn off fish-haters and even some fish-lovers.

[ABi, 2/07] says: "They may as well go a step further and call it the Heimlich Cafe. Or they could reinforce other negative fish stereotypes and name their business the Stinkfish Grill or the Not As Good As Steak House. Any of these names, the real off-putting one or otherwise, would reflect the fact that dinner at the Bonefish Grill wasn't great. The first thing one notices upon entering the restaurant is that, oddly, the servers and bartenders all wear chef's coats, and, considering that dinner dragged on for one hour and forty-five minutes, perhaps our dawdling waitress was also prepping and cooking our food. We had an interminable wait to order, an epochal phase before our entrees arrived, and a third eternity waiting for our check. While pleasant, she did everything in her power to prolong our meal, such as reciting the side dishes and sauces that were listed right on the menu, a practice traditionally limited to unlisted specials; we had already read what she said, and her redundant listing added a few minutes to the marathon. For some baffling reason, this particular seafood establishment doesn't offer clams or oysters, so we got slightly underdone mussels and overbreaded, excessively crunchy calamari as appetizers. Both were preferable to my mahi mahi dinner. It was seared well, almost like a steak, but it was barely a bait-sized portion, and the flavor of the meat was somewhere between bland and bitter. The lemon butter sauce doused over the top was as plain as vanilla ice cream served on Wonder Bread, a sentiment echoed by the forgettable scoop of garlic mashed potatoes neighboring the fish. Maybe I'm just a yokel who usually orders fish fried, not by species, but the Bonefish was at best unremarkable. They have a limited menu, and, based on what I tried, fewer choices doesn't mean better quality. If I get dragged back here, I'm ordering the token sirloin and one of their fruity, girly martinis (they offer a dozen of the latter, and the drinks list takes up about a third of the menu, space that could have been used to offer more, you know, seafood). That way, if I'm stuck in their blandly generic space seated immediately adjacent to the restrooms as we were (thanks, hostess), I'll at least have beef and booze to pass some of the 105 minutes."

[JAd, 1/07] says: "Positive review: New chain restaurant (same company as Carraba's and Outback). Nice atmosphere, sort of loud but OK. Good service. Menu mostly seafood, grilled fish. Full bar with special martinis, several beer varieties. We had the calamari appetizer served with marinara and a Thai sauce—it was served fast and really good—crisp and fresh—we liked the Thai sauce a lot—sweet but with a bit of spiciness. We had the corn chowder with lump crap—also good and rich—needed some salt, but tasted fresh and not from a bag like most chains. Served with warm bread and a pesto olive oil dip. I got the Chilean Sea Bass with lemon butter sauce (each fish offered comes 4 ways—with a lime tomato garlic sauce, pan Asian style, with warm mango salsa, or lemon butter). The fish was fantastic—buttery and cooked to perfection—large portion, too—I'd guess 8oz. The sauce did not overwhelm and was a nice compliment. The Au Gratin Potatoes served on the side were great, too—rich and cheesy. My date had the single lobster tail. Though it seemed small, it was enough to fill him, and tasted really good—the butter served with it was perfect, and the texture of the lobster was good, too. The entrees being served around us looked inviting. The prices were reasonable for the quality of food—two beverages, an appetizer, soup, and two higher-priced entrees ($22 for the lobster and $23 for the sea bass) brought the bill to just under $65—we thought it was a good deal."

Boomerang's Bar and Grill.
995 Niagara St., Buffalo.
883-0408.

[MMo, 9/07] says: "Recently, my brother and I had the pleasure of dining at Boomerang's. The restaurant came highly recommended to us by two of our "foodie" friends, and with the two of us being 20+-year veterans of the restaurant trade, we are always game for new dining experiences. The restaurant sits on the old site of the Port of Call restaurant, Niagara Street, downtown near the Peace Bridge. Although off the beaten path for us, we made the extra 3-minute trip from the Elmwood Village last Saturday for lunch. We were overwhelmingly surprised and delighted at the meal that was to follow!! The place was pretty busy; we caught the tail end of the lunch rush. Despite this, we were seated promptly and given menus; a couple of minutes later we ordered our drinks. I was sticking with pop, but my brother had a "drink of the day", which was a passion-fruit martini. Oooohs and aahs from the other side of the table tempted me into a taste...oooh, if only I wasn't nursing a hangover, I would have ordered a couple myself. Delicious. Our waitress, Jen, returned, and we asked our usual slew of questions about the menu. She was very informative and knew everything we asked and then some. We loved her immediately, as we could tell she was a lifer like the two of us. Completely professional and efficient, but completely full of personality and an obvious love for her profession. With questions answered and food ordered, we settled in for our "dining experience". The decor was clean and minimal, overall very comfortable. The lighting was nice and subtle. No bright fluorescents blinding me, thank goodness!! Our appetizers came, and we were immediately awed by the size of my stuffed mushrooms. Four huge caps of white mushrooms (the kind you would use at home to stuff) stuffed with spinach and artichoke and baked in a white wine and lemon butter sauce. Amazing!!! The mushrooms were cooked perfectly, not mushy, not raw, piping hot, and just right! Did I mention they were $5? The portion would have been plenty for a meal itself (well, for someone who delights in only one course. Me and the bro tend to be multi-course diners!). My brother ordered the clams casino elegante, which were a wonderful twist on a classic favorite. Littleneck (I think; small, tender) clams stuffed with homemade stuffing (but not too much), baby shrimp, and topped with melted, bubbly provolone cheese. The menu description didn't really pique my interest, but the dish was absolutely delicious. Clams were cooked perfectly; stuffing had just the right amount of flavor without overwhelming the delicate flavor of the clams. Again, the price was right at $7!! Are you noticing a theme? Well, that is Boomerang's intention: nothing on the menu higher than $10!! One exception: The 14-oz. black Angus strip steak is, gulp, $12!! And it is actually served with a potato. Where am I??!?! I cannot recall the last time I saw prices like this, unless you count Jim's SteakOut. Anyway, entrees were next, and I had the fish fry. On a Saturday. Leftovers, you may ask? Nope; fish fry served fresh every day. A beautiful thing, if I do say so myself. The fish was huge, beer-battered, and flash-fried to absolute perfection! It was accompanied by a huge pile of piping hot crispy fries. Cole slaw finished off the plate and was OK. Nothing spectacular. Fish fry was $8. Brother had shrimp scampi: 6 or 7 large shrimp on a bed of pasta with a creamy version of a scampi sauce. Not quite as lemony or winey as we may have liked, but delicious nonetheless. The scampi was $10. Our service was flawless. Refills (free) for my pop came without asking for them, extra napkins at the quick, to-go boxes appeared when it was obvious we could not eat one more bite. All in all, an incredibly pleasant experience. We have already planned to take Mom and Dad for their anniversary instead of one of the pricier places we usually frequent. As you can tell, we have nothing but good things to say (and lots of 'em) about Boomerang's! Please give them a try, ask for Jen to wait on you, and tell her Maria and Kevin sent you. You will not be disappointed!! PS: Monday Madness is their Monday special that includes $5 dozens of steamed clams, clams casino, or lobster dainties; what a deal!!!"

Borders Books, Music, Café.
2015 Walden Ave. (near Walden Galleria Mall), Cheektowaga. 685-2844.

Sandwiches, coffees, desserts, occasional entertainment, in one of the more interesting chain bookstores in the area.

Boston Hotel.
9373 Boston State Rd., Boston, NY.
941-5271.

[JR, 6/07] says: "My family and I recently visited the Boston Hotel in Boston, NY. It was my daughter's birthday, and she wanted seafood. I had heard about the Boston Hotel being known for their seafood, so we decided to try it. I can't say enough about the excellent service, food, and low prices. I was very impressed. The place was busy, but the waitress was on top of things constantly. All the extras—things we usually need to ask for in a restaurant such as extra napkins, coffee refills, etc.—were given to us before we had to ask. The food was out of this world! Everything tasted so fresh, and the portions were big. The prices were very reasonable. It's not a fancy place, but usually the non-fancy places have the best food. It was a very clean and comfortable place for our family to gather and enjoy our food and enjoy each other's company. I highly recommend the Boston Hotel for high-quality service, food, and reasonable prices."

[am] Boston Market.
4185 Maple Rd. (next to Pizzeria Uno, across from the University Cinema), Amherst. 834-2320.

Part of the chain.

[DN, 8/96] says: "Better than average food, heavily leaning towards roasted chicken (you get to choose from a wide variety of side dishes), but now also offering a variety of sandwiches. A good break from regular burger-type fast food."

Boulevard Family Restaurant.
2455 Niagara Falls Blvd. (near Ellicott Creek Rd.), Amherst.
564-2025.

[AH, 6/04] says: "When we lived out in Amherst, we ate here quite regularly. While it gets no (or negative) points for ambiance, the food is actually quite good. It falls into the "hole in the wall" category, but their beef souvlaki is very good, and the prices are very reasonable. A great place for above-average American Greek food. I like their food better than Salonika's or Spilios, and their prices are better. I haven't tried that much of their menu, because when I got to the beef souvlaki, I stopped, but their chicken souvlaki is also tasty. One star."

Bova's Deli.
7th and Philadelphia [?!], Buffalo.
884-1506.

[JAZ, 7/07] says: "Just wanted to comment on a local gem I found here in Buffalo: Bova's Deli. As a U.S. sailor from San Diego now serving in Buffalo, New York, I found that I wanted to get to know some great places to eat in Buffalo, already having fallen in love with the wings. I was introduced to a little place on 7th and Pennsylvania called Bova's Deli. I went to Bova's Deli and found the owner, Mark Manzella, making the seasoning for his deli sandwiches. On his menu, you'll find that "All have special seasoning", and it is usually a good sign when you find someone making it themselves. He wouldn't tell me what was in it, but I wanted to try it. I got the same thing my buddy got: cappocola and provolone with extra onion, extra seasoning, and light dressing. Not only was the sandwich huge (and delicious), but it came with a bag of chips and cost a mere $5. I was very impressed. Everyone here at the Navy/Marine Corps Reserve Center gets it...including seasoning. Some light, some heavy. I would wholeheartedly recommend Bova's deli sandwiches, but that is an unfair statement: I wholeheartedly recommend Bova's Cap & Provolone sandwich, because it is so good that I haven't even tried any of the other sandwiches Mark Manzella makes, even though my commanding officer swears by the roast beef!"

Bravo Cafe & Catering.
5781 Seneca St. (near Transit Rd.), Elma.
677-4003.

[BL, 7/07] says: "Quality food, good cookin'!, at reasonable prices. From the salad dressings to the main entrees. Nice atomosphere, excellent ingredients, excellent presentation, good service, and, as noted earlier, decent prices. Extensive menu selections. Works well for a casual Friday evening or more special event. We will return!"

[ARo, 12/06] writes to tell us that they have: "Bravo has moved to its new location on Seneca St. near Transit Rd. Still the same fantastic food and great service. Really nice atmosphere, but they should really think about opening up their banquet room to regular restaurant patrons. Because the food is so good, the restaurant fills up quickly, and there's not much room to wait around for a table."

[DLB, 1/06] says: "One of the best-priced restaurants around! I took a friend there for dinner, and she has not stopped going back! The specials are always excellent, the service great, and the portions perfect. I can't believe the price of their desserts! The ice cream sundae is the best value around. I would recommend this place to anyone."

[ARo, 10/05] says: "My wife and I have gone to Bravo several times since it opened. It's a very small restaurant with limited seating and no waiting area. Every time we've gone there, the place is packed, because the food is really good. I have had several different items on the menu—Fucilli with pesto, chicken, and sundried tomatoes; a chicken sandwich with gorgonzola cheese; assorted soups; etc. Everything has been consistently good—the quality and flavor of the food, the service, and the atmosphere. They also make their own potato chips that are perfectly fried and salted. We buy a bag to take home each time. Overall, an excellent restaurant with excellent prices. I hope they move into a bigger space, though, because they really could use a waiting area."

Bravo Cucina Italiano—WARNING: WEBSITE HAS LOUD MUSIC!
1 Walden Galleria (next to Cheesecake Factory), Cheektowaga.
684-4595.

Part of the chain.

[PT, 1/08] says: "Hated it! The sauce reminded me of Chef-Boy-Ar-Dee."

[HPK, 11/07] says: "I was nicely surprised by this restaurant. I am not at all a fan of its neighbor Cheesecake Factory and had not eaten here, thinking it must be the same, boring, expensive thing. It is not. Plus, comparably, it's cheap! Wait...I should take that out of here. A cheap, good restaurant at the mall? Stay away! Anyway, I also do not like malls, so getting me to come here was a big deal. The food is very good. This is not "fancy fancy" Italian, rather some traditional servings such as lasagna (huge serving) and chicken Marsala, all types of pastas, etc. Nothing is over-spiced. We had an appetizer of the bruschetta, which was just terrific! Three adults and three kids; many, many drinks; $120."

Brennan's Bowery Bar and Restaurant.
4401 Transit Rd. (in the former Ames Plaza, next to Eastern Hills Mall), Clarence.
933-9630.

[UL, 7/07] says: "I recently went to Brennan's Bowery Bar and Restaurant to celebrate a friend's birthday. All of the food was quite good. Portions were generous, so that five of the six of us brought home leftovers for lunch the next day. We ordered Irish Potato Skins and Classic Calamari as appetizers to share, and both were quite good. I had the "Clancy" sandwich, which is a French-dip roast beef with provolone. The meat was tender and delicious, and it was served on garlic bread rather than a plain roll, which was delicious. We had bought a little birthday cake and were able to eat it there without them charging a plate fee. There was a magician who was going from table to table, performing tricks and making balloon animals, something I've never seen before at a restaurant that caters to an adult crowd. [Editor's Note: The late, lamented Dakota Grill had a magician, too, as did Forks a long time ago.] It was a nice, fun touch. Service was good, and there was no problem when we had to move our reservation back by an hour at the last minute. Also, one of our party uses a wheelchair, and this was one of the better restaurants for accessibility that I've been to. Completely flat, a fairly open layout for easy maneuvering, wide doors at the restroom, and a good size handicapped stall (at least in the women's restroom.)"

[WHN, 7/06] says: "We went to Brennan's for the first time in ages on Friday, 7/7/06. My daughter was visiting from Phoenix and wanted to have a traditional Buffalo fish fry. The fish fries were very good, as was the New England clam chowder."

[MPM, 10/05] says: "I attended dinner at Brennan's on 10/04/05, and it was without a doubt one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. I was there with about 10 out-of-town guests to introduce them to some Buffalo cuisine, as we were all going to the Bills game the next day. Every single order was burnt, overcooked, or unappealing. My wife got a beef on weck, and it was so well done and tough looking she didn't want it. Kids' grilled cheese were so overdone they would not eat them. We were served about 90 minutes after the waitress took the order. It was so apparent that they had way too many customers and not enough staff. If they cannot accommodate serving a quality product to all of the restaurant guests, then they should limit their seating."

[MEL, 8/99] says, after visiting the Taste of Williamsville: "Pretty good BBQ and jerk wings, which appeared to have been baked or broiled rather than fried. Of course, with skins on, they still aren't heart healthy."

Brick Oven Bistro.
Eastern Hills Mall, Transit Rd., Clarence.
Mall phone = 633-1600.

[MF, 2/07] says: "Enjoyed dinner at Brick Oven Bistro in the Eastern Hills Mall. Unlike the [BMcWS]'s review above, I have found the food to be quite enjoyable on each of my five visits. They serve one of the best thin (very thin) pizzas in town. In addition to the usual pizza offerings, they have a Signature Pizza, which is a delicious tomato-free pizza with pesto, chicken, and feta. Another favorite entree is the Chicken Francese ($11.95) served with broccoli and garlic mashed potatoes. There is an Antipasto Bar ($3.95 with entree) with an interesting selection of salads. The prices are very reasonable, with all entrees, except one, priced at $11.95 or less. They offer good quality house wines for $3/glass and premium wines for $5/glass. Plus there is an inexpensive children's menu. I recommend Brick Oven Bistro for their delicious food at very reasonable prices served in a casual atmosphere."

[RMi, 2/07] says: "We went just to look at the new restaurant at Eastern Hills mall while shopping, but, after going over their menu, we decided to have lunch there. I had a turkey sandwich with avocado on wheat, with a side salad, for $7, and Debbie had a portabella mushroom panini; both came with a side salad or fries. We couldn't pass up the house wine for $3 a glass. The food and service was all very good."

[BMcWS, 1/07] says: "Negative. We tried out this new place with the family one night before Christmas. It was almost completely empty. They have an interesting antipasto bar with a cold pasta salad, green salads, and different things like pureed pumpkin and stuffed tomatoes. One person ordered a pizza—they have a brick oven, after all. The bottom of the crust was completely black. Other than that, it was good. Another person ordered a pasta bowl. You choose the type of pasta, the type of sauce, and the protein item. Penne with Alfredo sauce and shrimp yielded a somewhat tasteless dish. The shrimp were rubbery, and the sauce was bland. A request for extra cheese took quite a while. The three mini burgers from the children's menu were good. Chicken fingers were OK. This place is fine if you're at the mall and don't want to go to the food court, but, if you have a choice of restaurants, go elsewhere."

Brickyard Pub & BBQ.
432 Center St., Lewiston.
754-7227.

[HHFK, 7/07] says: "Finding ourselves in Lewiston at dinnertime, my companion, our son, and I decided to try the Brickyard Pub & BBQ. First, let me say that the name does justice to the establishment. The draft beer spans from local micro-brews (including their own Brickyard Brown Ale and a seasonal pick) to the commercial standbys. They also have an outstanding stock of bottled beer and bourbons (more on that in a moment). The first good sign we had was the trickle of smoke coming from the back of the building and the scent of BBQ. My companion had the traditional platter (pulled pork, sliced brisket, St. Louis ribs) with sides of mac & cheese and coleslaw along with the seasonal pomegranate wheat beer. All of the meats were, in my companion's wording, "brilliant". The coleslaw had a lot of paprika, which was different, but good. The mac and cheese was typical, not great—as such, it was probably the low point of the entire meal. I had the Big Blue Plate Special of brisket with sides of sweet potato fries and the house bourbon along with a glass of the Blue Moon ale. That's right, one of the choices for sides is a shot of Evan Williams' bourbon. The brisket's initial rub was very mild, so it wasn't very salty. It was also done to perfection, tender and juicy. The additional barbeque sauce was a wonderful blend of sweet and spicy that didn't overpower the flavor of the beef. The sweet potato fries were soft and tender inside and firm but not crisp on the outside. Servers were pleasant and attentive, and the building itself was clean and pleasant. Overall, this was a great restaurant experience that's got us looking for reasons to find ourselves back in Lewiston."

[PT, 12/06] says: "Their combo platter—a small rack of ribs, pulled pork, and beef brisket—is excellent. You get plenty of meat, corn bread, and a choice of two side dishes for $12.99. The ribs are meaty, moist, and very flavorful. Much better than Kentucky Greg's, where I found the ribs had very little meat and were extremely dry."

Brodo Soup and Wine Bar.
765 Elmwood Ave. (near Ferry, between Allentown and Buff State), Buffalo. 881-1117.
Also at: 4548 Main St. (east of Harlem Rd.), Snyder; 635-1117.

[KATS, 5/06] says: "My review of Brodo in the suburbs should read like my thoughts on Brodo-Elmwood: slow service, mediocre food, always rushed in and out (even with the slow service). My experience at suburban Brodo was a nice surprise. First off, excellent, prompt service. I have walked out of Brodo Elmwood because the servers were too busy chatting at the bar to even come over and ask me if I wanted a drink. I've timed on my watch and sat for 10 minutes between being seated and being asked if I wanted a beverage—on an empty Tuesday night. Wait, I forgot I was reviewing suburban Brodo and not bashing Brodo Elmwood. Food was great at suburban Brodo, too (though those window seats looked mighty uncomfortable)!! Pretty much the same menu as downtown, as far as I could tell. I'm in walking distance, so I'll definitely be back!"

[WHN, 3/06] says: "Stopped for lunch at their location on Main St. in Snyder. The turkey Reuben was different from the usual corned beef, but very good."

[SMD, 11/04] says: "What a great little spot! Stopped by there for lunch on a Friday afternoon. The noon crowd was just starting to clear out, and we were seated pretty quickly. All meals include some nice sesame bread and olive oil for dipping. Yum! I opted for the pumpkin soup with walnuts, and a chicken salad panini with basil aioli. My date had a roast beef panini. All of the food was of excellent quality, and the service was attentive and efficient. We finished our meal by sharing a slice of the ricotta cheesecake, which was light and smooth, just as it should be. If you're on Elmwood, I strongly suggest you stop in and treat yourself. Delish!"

[MRT, 9/04] says: "Brodo is owned by the same people who [used to] own Just Pasta. [Note from Bill, added [11/04]: [AD] tells me that it is really owned by the fellow who founded Just Pasta, as well as the Garden Restaurant at the Albright Knox.] It is a small restaurant just across the street from my favorite Globe Market. Their menu is divided into appetizers, salads, pannini, focaccia & combos, entrees, and desserts. From their menu, I have enjoyed their soups (excellent!), their panko crab cake, avocado and tomato-basil corn sala cruda (excellent!), their warm breaded goat cheese over arugla, field greens, and tomato, aged balsamic vinegar (exellent!), their roasted marinated vegetables, feta, tapenade on pita (excellent!), their salmon, sweet pea risotto, chive beuerre blanc (excellent!) and the most amazing old fashioned dark chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. I want the recipe for this cake, it was so incredibly good. The restaurant does have a wine list. They do not take reservations. We are blessed to have two restaurants with great food, Brodo and the Globe Market right across the street from each other."

Buffalo Bean and Leaf.
1300 Hertel Ave., Buffalo.
875-3510.

[LCo, 10/07] says: "A friend and I went to Buffalo Bean and Leaf on a Saturday morning. The only thing that really drew us to it was that they offer Tofutti soy cream cheese and soy margarine as bagel toppings. I ordered a sesame bagel with soy cream cheese and a coffee. My friend had some type of hemp poppy seed bagel, also with soy cream cheese, and a soy mocha. Being able to get soy cream cheese at a place other than home was probably more appealing than the bagels themselves. I didn't really notice anything so remarkable about my coffee. The soy mocha could have used an extra pump of syrup, but other than that it was pretty standard."

[AMSo, 9/07] says: "Current hours: M-F 7am-7pm and Saturday 9am-4pm. We stopped @ Buffalo Bean & Leaf last night. I wanted to surprise Kim with a new place to "get her java on". We stopped in around 6:15 or so, and found parking easily on Hertel, but we crossed @ Colvin, because Hertel is too busy, and you really risk your life trying to cross anywhere but a stoplight! We both chose to get an espresso drink—a mocha made with almond milk and poured over ice. It was really good. I asked the barista, Amanda, if the white mocha was vegan, and she knew that it wasn't, and showed us the Ghirardelli bottle that mentioned milk in the natural flavor. She herself is an aspiring vegan, having been vegetarian for a while, and it was cool to have someone as a server who understood us. :) When we got there, there were no longer any bagels, but they did still have some slices of homemade breads available for toasting. For toppings on breads or bagels, they have soy margarine, garlic hummus, and tofutti soy cream cheese. They also have vegan cookies, French twist pastries, and some other vegan prepackaged treats available. Amanda echoed what the owner had told me about the future change to vegan scones and banana bread but was unsure when that change would take place. Along with espresso drinks, they had multiple brewed teas and coffees available, as well as some soda-type beverages. What was more impressive was the "wall of coffee"—lots of coffee beans available for purchase. We purchased two 1/2-pound bags of coffee that's actually grown on a volcano. It had a wonderful deep aroma. The coffee is moderately priced—about $5-$6 for a 1/2 pound, which is similar to what I've paid @ Buffalo Coffee Roas