Bill Rapaport's Buffalo Restaurant Guide

Alphabetical Listing of Restaurants: M

Macri's Italian Grille
Magruders
Mandarin Buffet
Mangia Ristorante & Caffe
Manhattan's
Mansard Inn
Manzella's
Marcia's Place
[a] Marco's Italian Deli
Marco's Italian Restaurant
[am] Marie's Restaurant
[a] Marinaccio's
Mariner's Pier
Marotto's
Mattina's
Max on the Lake
[a] Maybeck's Deli
Mazzariello's Restaurant & Bar
McKenzie's Bar and Grill
McPartlan's Corner
The Melting Pot
Merge
Le Metro
Metzger's Pub
Michael's
Middleport Inn
Mighty Taco
Mike's Homemade Candies
[m] Milano's Pizzeria
Militello's
[m] Ming Cafe
Ming Teh
Mississippi Mudd's
Mister Dee's
Mode Urban Bistro
Moe's Southwest Grill
Molinaro's Mom's Coffee Shop
WJ Morrissey's Irish Pub
[a] Moscow Nights Cafe
[am] Moti Mahal
Mr. Bill's
Mr. Pita
Mulberry Italian Ristorante
Murphy's Cafe on 3rd
--> Murphy's Tavern on the Green
Muscoreil's Bistro and Dessert Gallery
Muse
Mustachio's Pizza
My Little Margie's
[am] My Tomato Pie
Mythos

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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MacDuff's.
317 Pine St., Jamestown.
664-9414.

Given 4 (out of 5) stars by Janice Okun, Buffalo News restaurant reviewer.

[MCH, 3/05] says: "A birthday supper was a most pleasant experience. The decor was relaxed, and it was nice to listen to Mozart while dining. Filet was exquisite. My daughter tried the Breast of Chicken with almond stuffing. Her first bite and her eyes went all agog..."this is wicked good!". Dessert: I had the homemade Orange Ice Cream with crumbled chocolate. My wife took a taste, and it was "dueling spoons" from then on. They offer an excellent choice of wines and single malts. It was a little pricy, though; the meals for 3, two glasses of wine, $140.00. Not an everyday eating establishment, but, my birthday, 'tis okay."

[5/04] Previous editions of this guide began this entry as follows: "I may be mistaken, but I seem to recall eating here often and loving it when I lived in Jamestown in the late 1970s." Well, I was not mistaken! [MER] and I ate here when we were in Jamestown for the Lucy-Desi Days festival run by the Lucy-Desi Museum (Jamestown is Lucille Ball's birthplace and home town). The restaurant is even better than I remember it, and is clearly one of the finest in Western New York (and beyond!). It's small (8 tables) and owned by the chef (Gary Templin) and his wife (Donna Templin), who is the maîtresse d' and waitress. There's no menu; Donna Templin recites and explains it from memory (and her memory is excellent: She actually remembered me from 23 years ago!); you can, however, see a menu online. By intention, you dine leisurely here (our meal lasted a full 2 hours). It is also on the expensive side: Dinner for two with wine and tip cost us about $130. They have an extensive wine list, as well as wide offerings in single-malt scotches. [MER] began with Shrimp de Jonghe: warm shrimp in a garlic sauce with breadcrumbs and sherry; I began with Lobster Cocktail with Pesto Mayonnaise, which was smooth and light. For our main courses, [MER] had Char Broiled Filet Mignon with a Horseradish Crumb Crust, while I had Sea Bass with a Ground Pecan and Lemon Zest Crust; both were accompanied by the best broccoli we have ever tasted (being served with a lot of butter helped!) and red potatoes. The meal was accompanied by warm, homemade rolls, almost like popovers. For dessert, [MER] opted for a cheesecake with strawberries; I had Homemade Orange Ice Cream with Bittersweet Chocolate bits, served in a brittle chocolate shell. So: Visit Jamestown, enjoy the Lucy-Desi Museum, and have dinner at MacDuff's! (But not on Sundays, when they're closed :-(

[KGR, 7/02] says: "I would definitely give it three stars on Bill's ranking system. I currently live in Jamestown, NY, but have lived in Boston, New York City, San Francisco, and Paris, and I have to tell you that not since my days in France have I had meals like this. Fantastic! Homemade hard rolls, a generous and well-thought-out wine list, an impressive collection of malts and the Lavender Crème Brulé is to die for. Totally worth the trip to Jamestown (perhaps on your way to or from Chautauqua Institution). The atmosphere, though charming, could use a little upgrade, but the meals have always been superb. The menu, delivered orally, is ever-changing, and, since it's only the two owners doing the preparations and serving, make sure to leave plenty of time to relax (in the true European style). Meats are always done perfectly to order, and their Coquilles St. Jacques, which have been on the `menu' the past 7 or 8 times we've been there, made me really homesick for a stroll along the Breton coastline. Be prepared to be impressed by the food, the malts, and the fact that you've found this surprisingly quality European eatery in, of all places, Jamestown!"

[EL, 12/00] says: "My husband and I ate there in '98 and had a great meal. Their wine list was quite good, and they have an extensive selection of single malts. Not only that, the owner/operators told us all about the ghost legends associated with the building (an old house, where they also live). It's the only decent place in Jamestown in terms of fine dining, so it's worth knowing about."

Macri's Italian Grille.
810 Center St., Lewiston.
754-4500.

[AFN, 9/09] says: "My sister told me that Macri's reopened in Lewiston over Labor Day weekend. They dined there on Tuesday night. She and her husband were looking forward to the opening, because they loved the old Macri's, and Lewiston really needed a moderately priced ‘red sauce’ Italian restaurant. She reported that the menu is pretty much the same as the previous location in the defunct Summit Mall, but that they've added some of the steaks, chops, seafood, etc., from the old Clarkson House menu. She said the food was very good, but the place was mobbed. PS: The web link is for their former location, and doesn't list any of the new menu items."

[DMcI, 7/09] reported: "We went to Lewiston tonight to get some custard at Hibbard's, and I noticed that the former Clarkson House now sports a Macri's sign; it didn't appear to be open yet. Keep up the great work!" [Thanks!]

Reviews of its previous incarnation in Niagara Falls:

[AFN, 4/08] said: "My sister and I had lunch at Macri's on Friday, 3/28. She has been there many times and loves it. It was my first time. One of their Friday luncheon specials was, of course, fish—haddock—either as a fish fry, sauteed, broiled, or Italian style. For $7.99, it includes a choice of soup or salad, and potatoes or vegetable. We both had salads, while my sister had the mixed vegetables, and I had French fries. Our only complaint was that the salad was served on the same plate as the fish and super-hot French fries, so it was warm and somewhat soggy as a result. Overall, the meal was very good."

[PT, 12/07] says: "Macri's is a good Italian restaurant that used to be located in Niagara Falls's Little Italy, but moved to the Summit Mall a couple of years ago. The menu is mostly standard Italian fare, but there are a few unusual entrees. I had Shrimp Abruzzi in a white wine and lemon sauce with garlic, tomatoes, onions, and Feta cheese over linguini. My husband had Veal Levesque—breaded veal scallopini layered with spinach and mozzarella, with linguini in a red sauce. Both dishes were excellent. The house salads and Italian bread that are included with the entrees were also very good. The prices are very reasonable; most entrees range from $10.95-$17.95."

Magruders Restaurant and Pub.
4995 Broadway, Depew.
685-4400.

[DMa, 6/09] says: "Ate here for the first time. It was a friendly, family atmosphere, with a pretty diverse menu. I had the appetizer sampler, and my partner had ribs and wings. The food was good (the crunchy crust on the wings was excellent) and reasonably priced. Congenial waitstaff, and you can eat out on a patio as well as in one of the inside rooms. Twice a month, you can watch an improv show here, as well as eat! ComedySportz appears the first and third Thursday. For a relaxed atmosphere with decent, well-priced food, we're definitely going again."

[MEL, 8/99] said (based on his visit to Taste of Lancaster): "I had a perfectly acceptable chicken with pasta here. I can't say it is worth a long drive, but, if you happen to be in Lancaster or Depew, you could do a lot worse than Magruder's."

Mandarin.
7555 Montrose Rd. (in the Niagara Falls Shopping Centre at McLeod & QEW), Niagara Falls, ON, CANADA.
905-358-7000.

Chinese buffet; part of a chain.

[A&JF, 6/09] say: "This is a buffet restaurant that has been open at this location for just under 4 months. Having dined in many Chinese restaurants through the years, including Chinatowns in San Francisco, Vancouver, and Honolulu, I believe I can give an honest assesment of the Mandarin, and I would rate it one of the best Chinese restaurants I've dined in, particularly on a dollar value. On entering, my wife and I reflected on how extremely clean the surroundings were. The washrooms are large, modern, and gleaming. We were introduced to our server, Shanyn, a delightful young lady, who took pleasure in serving us in a very pleasant and efficient manner. The buffet has over 150 items, incuding 3 different soups. I enjoyed my sum dum with fresh, wholesome, bread and butter. They also have N. American fare: roast beef and roast pork; the roast pork was particulary good, glazed in honey and very tender, along with peas, carrots, and mashed potatoes. The salad bar is extensive: The greens were crisp and fresh; the snow peas and baby carrots were mildly sauteed and are worthy of mention. The lemon chicken appeared to be the most popular item, and with good reason: not too spicy, with a hint of lemon (my wife's favorite). The Gen. Tsao chicken is a little more adventurous, with a good spicy bite (my favorite). The spring rolls are another outstanding item: deep fried with fresh filling. I'll just touch on 3 more outstanding choices: the teriaki meat balls, Peking noodles, and the chicken balls. The dessert bar has an assortment of dishes from pies to fresh-baked waffles, fruit tarts (real fruit), various flavored ice creams, etc. They even have a sushi counter (no raw fish). It's important to finish with good coffee, and theirs was good, served with cream and brown sugar, if you desire. At the end, the server will present you a damp, warm napkin to wipe your hands and mouth, an excellent touch. Overseeing the restaurant's operation is friendy yet unobtrusive Mr. Jeff Ge. The prices as posted: Mon. to Fri. lunch $11.99; Sat. to Sun. $16.99. Dinner Mon. to Thurs. $18.99. Fri. to Sun. $23.99."

Mangia Ristorante & Caffe.
4264 N. Buffalo Rd., Orchard Park.
662-9467.

[JJa, 7/07] says: "This was my first visit to Mangia Ristorante & Caffe, although 2 of the 3 people whom I dined with have been there several times. We didn't have a reservation, so we stopped at the bar for our very brief wait for a table. I indulged in a Manhattan, and it met my high standards. We were seated at a table in the window; nice touch. The restaurant is "cavernous": large rooms, high ceilings, but lots of windows. Our server was young, reminded me of Monica/Courtney Cox of "Friends". She was knowledgeable about the menu items and evening's specials. As is my habit, I narrowed my entrée selections down to 3 and asked the server her opinion on the items. She didn't hesitate to recommend the Penne al Gorgonzola: pasta with chicken, sundried tomatoes, spinach, and a Gorgonzola sauce. She explained that the Cinque Cipolle was not a "traditional" French onion soup, but five caramelized onions in a chicken broth served with parmigiano crostini. The selected Caesar salads were offered with or without anchovies. I was minorly disappointed that my chosen anchovies were not mashed into the dressing but lay across the salad. Bread basket contained a good, crusty Italian, as well as a well-seasoned focaccia, served with seasoned olive oil for dipping. Additional bread was offered as basket was emptied. Entrees were very generous, and my Penne Gorgonzola was excellent! Other diners at the table had Penne Siciliane, pasta sautéed with eggplant in a light tomato sauce with melted fresh mozzarella; Linguine Bolognese, a tomato sauce with beef, pork, and veal served with a linguine noodle; and Pork Milanese, a breaded, pan-fried pork cutlet on a bed of greens. Service continued to impress throughout the meal. I watched the diners at the next table enjoy cannoli and some sort of chocolate layered torte. Even though I took at least half of my entrée home, and I have an infamous sweet tooth, dessert was deferred. Might like to go back late some night just for coffee and dessert. Not the typical red sauce, spaghetti, and meatball or sausage place, Mangia Ristorante is recommended by this reviewer!"

[LMC, 9/05] says: "Orchard Park was in dire need of a new and different restaurant, and do we have one now! Mostly Italian but also offers seafood dishes, pork chops, etc. I've only had the Italian entrees, but my husband can't get enough of their pork chops. I have yet to be disappointed with my choices (veggie ravioli, vodka penne pasta) and last time had to force myself not to finish the ample serving of penne. It was just as good for lunch the next day! The atmosphere is casual yet sophisticated, with a great bar, which makes any wait for a table pretty painless. Service is great—food is delivered pretty quickly after you're seated and have placed your order. Summertime offers limited bistro tables outside with a great view of the summer activity at the Four Corners in OP. They are getting busy enough now that reservations are recommended. Almost hate to put out the word and just keep this Orchard Park's best kept secret!"

Manhattan's.
4206 Lake Ave. (Rt. 78), Lockport.
433-7060.

[CR, 12/06] says: "You must try a new restaurant in Lockport called "Manhattan's". Great menu, and very affordable. Everything was a 10/10. I had the Chile Diablo, which has a seasoned cheese blend stuffed in a banana pepper, breaded, sautéed and topped with a green tomato chutney. For my entrée, I had the Veal Margarita, which is sautéed veal, layered with crispy lasagna noodles, breaded eggplant, and buffalo mozzarella balls, baked and topped with a delicious light sauce. For dessert, I had Manhattan Cheesecake, which is made at the restaurant: cherry vermouth cheesecake with a chocolate bourbon crust topped with cherries and vermouth-infused whipped cream. My wife had the San Marzano Tagliatella, which is brandy seafood cream sauce, consisting of crab, lobster, and shrimp, saut&eacue;ed with vegetables, over tomato tagliatella pasta. She loved it! The dining room holds approximately 50 people, and quite busy the Saturday night we were there, I would definitely make a reservation. It was a very comfortable and warm environment. The staff was very pleasant as well. I highly recommend."

Mansard Inn.
3365 Abbott Rd. (north of Milestrip, not far from McKinley Mall), Orchard Park.
828-1115.

[WHN, 10/05] says: "About once a year for the last 10 or so years, we have gone to the Mansard Inn with friends from Hamburg. The Mansard Inn has been there for many, many years, so I was surprised to see that no one has ever reviewed it. It's not gourmet dining, but the food is very good. Their breads include freshly made corn bread, rolls, and muffins. My wife and I have never been able to get past their Chicken Almondine (about $13.00 including soup or salad). It may sound old fashioned, but it's delicious—sauteed and served with a creamy sauce with, of course, slivered almonds. Side dishes include a choice of several vegetables, and rice or potatoes. Their home-made potato chips are delicious. They aren't on the menu, but will usually be made upon request. Our friends tell us their lamb chops (about $25.00), prime rib, and steaks are also excellent. There is a lengthy list of evening specials, too."

Manzella's.
3347 Delaware Ave. (not "Delaware Road", as their website has it!), Kenmore.
874-1133.

[GOw, 4/08] says: "I've been meaning to go to this restaurant for years. Recently, 4/4/08, we went here for dinner and really enjoyed it. This is your typical small, locally owned, typically-decorated, Italian restaurant. We were there pretty early, 5:45 pm on a Friday, and the bar was full, but only a couple tables were occupied. My wife and I were seated promptly and started off with a couple of martinis. We chose the fried calamari for an appetizer. This was rather standard/traditional...not really a complaint, just got what we asked for. My wife ordered the eggplant parmesan, and I went with the chicken asiago. Both were very good, with ample portions. The chicken was served with artichokes and red pepper; tasty. Salads are fine, and bread is a nice (ordinary) Italian. The prices are fair, service very good, and all in all a very nice meal. Check it out; standard, well-made, Italian food."

Marcia's Place.
10971 Main St., Clarence.
759-6235.

[CCh, 6/09] says: "I have been eating at Marcia's Place for the last 18 years. The atmosphere is very casual, and the service is fast and courteous. Breakfast is the meal I most often eat at Marcia's Place, and my favorite breakfast items on their menu are the grilled danishes and the eggs Benedict (please note, eggs Benedict is available only on weekends). If you're out that way and are in the mood for great food at a reasonable price, I highly recommend them."

[NH, 5/09] said: "We go to this little restaurant quite often for breakfast. The food there is terrific, especially the eggs Benedict. They are the best I've ever had. The eggs are done to perfection, not hard cooked like some you get, and the hollandaise sauce is excellent. We've had other breakfast food there, and everything is great. The staff is very friendly and efficient also, which is a plus in my book."

[a] Marco's Italian Deli.
960 Maple Rd., Amherst.
688-1936.

[BL, 6/09] says: "This was our second visit to this Marco's casual dining location. We have enjoyed the Hertel location also. It was late Friday afternoon and quiet, with one other couple. Maybe this location is more a lunch or take-out place. What we always like at Marco's is their expansive list of good-tasting, fun-named "sangwiches" & homemade salads—potato, pasta, or slaw. At this location, they have a decent eating area that is not frigid; AC temps too low when you are dining or waiting for your meal are not great. Also, the man behind the counter was pleasant. Our concerns: About $25 (incl. tax) gets you two "sangwich" combos (sandwich, pop, and a salad). Anything like a pickle is extra. With the entertainment coupon, it was down to $20 but still seemed pricy considering this is a very casual place. The sesame-roll sandwiches are good and are about half the size of a sub, or you can have a variety of panini. Maybe we are wrong to question the price. Good meat, creative mayos, or salads could be driving up the costs. The service is good; could be faster. It was slow the last time, also. More help or a larger cooking area might help. The Hertel location seems faster. Knowing the combo price ahead of time (price is not listed) would help us decide whether to add a salad, chips, or neither. Finally, for $25, a paper cup with ice option for your drink is better than just a bottle out of the cooler. This is not my biggest concern, but, for $25 or even $20, a cup should be a given. Choosing their $8.99 Friday fish fry or just ordering a less costly sub to go might be an option."

[WHN, 10/08] said: "Other locations on Elmwood Ave. in Tonawada and Hertel Ave. in Buffalo. I had read somewhere that Marco's opened a deli-type restaurant on Maple Road, but found it by accident. It is nothing like the original Marco's on Niagara Street [see below]—no pasta, no sauce, no wine or beer—but they offer a wide selection of subs, sandwiches (which they call sangwiches for some reason), and burgers. Very good food. Sub-shop atmosphere."

Marco's Italian Restaurant.
1085 Niagara St., Buffalo.
886-8776.

[BL, 10/09] says: "We had a late afternoon dinner at Marco's but were disappointed because the main entrees lacked seasoning or good flavor. The salads and bread were fine. The Chicken Marco pasta entree ($16) had no flavor, even though it arrived swimming in what was supposed to be a garlic wine sauce. Eventually, I figured the pasta was sitting in a lot of very hot water, probably due to the linguine being reheated in unsalted boiling water and then not drained before being plated. I could not eat it easily because of the heat from the water and initially missed the fact that I was trying to pick up watery noodles and digest food that lacked garlic wine sauce flavor. Maybe they had forgotten the sauce all together. The chicken pieces were flabby and, like the other ingredients in this entree, were bland. Normally, I say something, but the extreme heat made me overlook the obvious. But it was mentioned later to our waitress, who was sympathetic. My spouse had the spaghetti/meatball plate ($13) with sugary sweet sauce and ho-hum meatballs. Some people like sweet tomato sauce, but, among moderately priced Italian restaurants, we like Carmine's for its red sauce and meatballs. The portions at Marco's are large, and, since we also ate very little, we reinvented the pasta the next few days with homemade sauce. The service and atmosphere is fine at Marco's. Still, we felt we paid much too much for this meal. Was it an off night for the kitchen? [Note: We enjoy Marco's Italian Deli but don't foresee a return to the restaurant.]"

[BaS, 10/08] said: "I took my cousin there 10/10/08 for her birthday. It was wonderful! The service was great, the waitress very friendly. We started with the toasted ravioli, which were crispy and loaded with riccotta cheese. Then we had the antipasto. Huge!! We each had a generous serving and took home the rest; I got two more servings out of my half! The antipasto was a nice mix of greens, meat, and cheese. I had the Eggplant Parmesan, which I have to say was the best I've had in a long time. The eggplant was sliced thin, fried crispy, layered with a nice amount of cheese. The sauce was very flavorful, on the sweet side, which I love. Big portion, enough for 3 meals. My cousin had the seafood marina, and she was quite pleased with it. We ordered a piece of cake to share for dessert, and the waitress put a candle in it, as I had mentioned when we sat down it was my cousin's birthday. All around, a great dining experience. I can't wait to go back."

[LCo, 1/08] said: "For dinner at Marco's recently, a friend and I shared the Fava Beans appetizer, which is fava beans with greens and garlic. The portion was large, easily enough for four people. It was a little under-seasoned, but still good. I also tried the Veggie Marco: broccoli, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and a wine sauce, all served over linguine. The dish tasted good, but it seemed like the vegetables may not have been fresh. Overall, the service was great, and I enjoyed the casual atmosphere."

[AFN, 3/07] said: "After school, a group of us went to Marco's for dinner, before heading back for an evening activity. We have been here several times in the past, and the food has always been very good. This time, I had delicious chicken parmigiana. Everyone else enjoyed their dinners, too. Among West Side restaurants, it's hard to choose between Marco's and Faso's because both have excellent Italian food." A few months later, [AFN, 8/07] reports: "While attending a seminar downtown, our group went to Marco's for lunch. My eggplant parmesan sandwich was delicious, as was the accompanying salad with tomato basil dressing. (French fries are also an option, instead of salad.) One friend had a hot stuffed pepper sandwich with mozzarella, which she said was very good. For only $5 or $6, it's hard to beat the price (and tastiness)."

[FR, 7/02] said: "They serve traditional Northern Italian fare. I found the food to be quite good; the service was good, and the atmosphere and prices relaxed. The ingredients were very fresh and well chosen—all the flavors blended well. My companion and I shared an order of garlic bread and stuffed hot peppers as a starter. The peppers were a bit too hot for my companion, but perfect for me. Salads next—too much dressing but not overpowering (just wet). The dressing was a nice house of oil/vin and well spiced. My entree was Sausage cacciatore—very good; well balanced and full of flavor. Companion had NE clam chowder—very good; not too creamy, fresh ingredients, great overall. Half the food came home, as the portions are very large. With all that food and 2 glasses of a decent red wine, the bill was $40 including tip! For excellent N Italian food in a casual atmosphere that won't set you back too much, try Marco's! I'd give it 2 out of 4 stars."

Marie's Restaurant.
1927 Eggert Rd., Eggertsville.
833-6967.

[MCl, 9/06] says: "I will never go there again after the rotten plate of heaped grape leaves they delivered to my table a few months back."

La Marina Seafood Market and Grille.
1503 Hertel Ave., Buffalo.
834-9681.

[WHN, 11/09] says that La Marina "is now called Rosalie's La Marina Ristorante. Location, phone #, and web URL are the same. Menu (online) seems to be more standard Italian fare than the previous seafood oriented menu."

[a] Marinaccio's Steak and Seafood.
5877 Main St. (near Rinewalt St. and near Highland Dr.), Williamsville.
633-7755.

Under new management as of 3/20/06, now specializing in steak and seafood.

[4/06] The new steak/seafood incarnation has been given 3½ (out of 4) stars by Janice Okun, Buffalo News restaurant reviewer.

[DJTH, 11/09] says: "Two weeks before a planned, surprise, 90th birthday party (80 guests) for my father, I learned that the owner of the restaurant had basically fired much of the old staff, which included the head chef and banquet manager, and brought in fresh blood. I was a tad nervous to learn about this change. However, the new banquet coordinator (Cassie Costanzo) and the new head chef (Bobby Anderson…the Bobby Anderson from Hell's Kitchen season 4) did an absolutely phenomenal job. The service left nothing to be desired, and the food was excellent. Our family had three other parties (weddings) within weeks of this surprise party, and everyone commented that the food at Marinaccio's was so much better than the other three restaurants. Bobby and Cassie went out of their way to make sure that my fears were unfounded. I thank them both for a great job. I think that the restaurant owner made the right decision in shaking up his staff!! We had New York Strip Steak (not one overdone piece of steak), Asiago-&-Spinach-Stuffed Chicken Marinaccio (maybe a little salty but still delicious), and Maple-Glazed, Pecan-Encrusted Salmon. The staff even made sure that vegetarians were taken care of by preparing a meatless soup. People also raved about the hors d'oeuvres."

[EMW, 10/07] said: "We visited Marinaccio's on a Friday evening in October for the first time (we had a gift certificate from restaurant.com, which I unfortunately forgot to bring, so now we will have to go a second time). We had made reservations, expecting the restaurant to be packed around 6:00PM, but that was not the case. It was nearly empty! Maybe this should have been our first clue as to our experience. We had a few drinks at the bar to wind down from the week, and they offer 2-for-1 well drinks from 5:00PM to 8:00PM, which was a great special. The dining room is decorated beautifully, and, based on the appearance, I figured we were in for a special meal. I agree with the previous post—a poor selection of wines by the glass (all from one winery), but my glass of Merlot was actually tasty. We each started with Caesar salad, which was delightfully delicious—a real Caesar salad with anchovies, not a plate of wilted romaine drowning in thick creamy dressing. About halfway through the salad, my dinner partner realized that when he ordered his entree (filet of sirloin), the waitress neglected to ask how he would like the steak to be cooked. We figured she would realize the mistake after giving our order to the kitchen. Not so! Our meal arrived, and upon our query as to the doneness of the steak, she realized her mistake and sort of mumbled that the steak was cooked medium and he would enjoy it. The steak was in fact closer to medium well, which is not how my dinner partner preferred, and, while the steak was good, for a $30 entree in a restaurant that calls itself a steakhouse, you would think one would be able to choose the doneness of the meat (or at least bring it out medium rare!). No offer to recook the steak was extended. I ordered the Zuppa di Pesce, which was described as a selection of seafood prepared in a "fish fume", with sides that evening of asparagus and herb risotto. It sounded delightful. What I received was a large bowl of clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops, salmon, and tuna, in a sort of tomato broth. The seafood itself was amazingly good. However, it was served with brocollini (not asparagus) on top of the seafood, and there was no risotto in sight. As I began eating, I think I located the "risotto"—it was actually orzo pasta floating around in the broth, much like rice in a soup. It was very odd, and not at all what I expected (risotto as a side with asparagus). We split the tiramisu for dessert, which was edible, although not outstanding. For a $100-plus meal at a steak and seafood house, the meal did not live up to our expectations, but, since I still have that gift certificate, we'll give it at least one more chance."

[WHN, 4/07] said: "My wife and I, along with two other couples, ate here on Saturday night, 3/31, for the first time since it changed from Northern Italian cuisine to Marinaccio's Steak & Seafood. Besides a variety of steak cuts and seafood, they offer numerous other choices including veal and lamb chops, duck, and several pasta entrees. We all had Caesar salads to start, then steaks—four filets, a rib eye, and a NY strip. All the steaks were excellent—tender and cooked to the degree ordered. Entrees come with a choice of baked potato or steak fries, but everything else is extra, including a choice of several sauces for $2. It strikes me as incredibly chintzy for a restaurant to charge extra for sauce on steaks that cost $37—$42. That said, the $2 green peppercorn sauce was very good. My only other complaint is a very limited selection of wines by the glass—three red varietals, two whites, and a rose, all from the same winery. (These days, most upscale restaurants have equipment to preserve opened wines using inert gases, such as nitrogen, to keep oxidizing air out.) The bottled selection is somewhat better but still quite limited. And their wine list states: "Vintage subject to change", even though they don't list the vintages. That is unacceptable, especially since the wines cost up to $100 per bottle. The service was very good. Overall, I would give it one star on the Rapaport scale."

Mariner's Pier.
140 Boulevard Ave. (at Avon Ave., in Holiday Harbor Marina on Chautauqua Lake), Celoron.
665-2285.

Greek and Italian. (Owned by a relative (brother?) of Jamestown native Natalie Merchant, and located in Lucille Ball's hometown.)

[6/08] [MER] and I had a very nice dinner here, with a great view of the lake and marina. I had Scallops Concasse, sauteed with grape tomatoes, scallions, basil, white ine and garlic, accompanied by Greek potatoes and a string beans and carrots. The scallops were nicely done in a delicious sauce. [MER] had chicken souvlaki, which she liked; it was accompanied by a Greek salad, a delicious hummus, tzatziki, and pita. For dessert, we both had a very good strawberry bundt cake. The service was very friendly. We'll definitely return.

Marotto's.
3365 Delaware Ave., Kenmore.
873-0551.

Seafood.

[LY, 1/08] says: "My friends and I go out every month. This year, we decided, instead of the chain food restaurants, we would start enjoying the local dining fair. In addition, we decided to eat foods outside of our normal eating cuisines. Yesterday, we tried Marotto's Restaurant, and I have to say it was quite good. For appetizers, we had the scallops cooked in butter, garlic, and Romano cheese. I have never eaten scallops before, and now I have to say that, if I ever do again, I can't help to compare them with these. That's how good they were! We had their spinach bread, and that, too, was very good. The bread was stuffed full of spinach and cheese. My only problem is that the French onion soup was a bit weak for me. For our main dish, I had one of their specials, a fish named Tralfle (sorry if the spelling is off). Again, not being a fish person, I was absolutely amazed at how well I enjoyed it. It was coated in bread crumbs and Romano cheese, then pan fried in butter, lemon, and garlic. Yummy! Finally, dessert; I had a small Hot Fudge Sundae that was made with homemade hot fudge and peanut brittle. The atmosphere was nice, and our server was great. I have to say I will defintely go back."

Mattina's Pizzeria.
3744 Delaware Ave., Kenmore.
877-5949.

[TMr, 11/04] says: "I have always really enjoyed Mattina's wings, especially the BBQ variety. The pizza is also good, though it tends to be too dark on the bottom for my wife. I've not had any trouble with service until recently. Back a few months ago (actually, the same weekend as the wing festival downtown), I called in an order that included pizza, BBQ wings, and a chicken taco. I arrived just a bit early from the 20 minutes I was told it would take to complete the order. The pizza was done, and the wings came shortly after. However, the taco was late. When it finally came another 20 minutes later, it was unceremoniously dumped on the counter with a grunt of "there you go" from the guy that served it up. I found out that "the guy" was the manager for the night, which surprised me, given the fairly rude way in which he was treating me and the other customers. Given that I normally don't order tacos, I asked if there was something about them that took longer to prepare (so I would know in the future). He told me very curtly that they were busy, so it took longer. I responded by telling him that in the 20 minutes I was there, I only saw about 4-5 other customers come to the counter, so clearly the issue was not that they were busy. Most of that time, I saw the employees standing around chatting with each other. He obviously didn't like that I was calling him on this fact, and told me essentially to take my food and leave. I replied by suggesting to him that I would have preferred that he give me the real wait time on the phone so I would not have had to wait 20 minutes in the restaurant (after the original 20 minutes I was told) to get my food. He then flatly told me to leave, turned and walked away. I told him that I was the customer, that I had a valid and reasonable question, and to not turn his back on me. He responded by telling me to leave, or he would call the police! Apparently, Mattina's believes that their food is of such exceptional quality that they need not provide any customer service whatsoever and, in fact, can act in an abusive manner. Given the wealth of other pizza joints in the area, I think they need to rethink that policy. I can tell you that I will never return to this restaurant or any of their other locations as long as I live."

[MEL, 7/98], based on a tasting at the Italian Heritage and Food Festival, says: "The sheer awfulness of Mattina's pizza motivated me to send [you] this e-mail. The pizza has an unspeakably bitter taste that I cannot describe; I can say only that it is easily the worst pizza I have ever had outside the South."

Max on the Lake.
770 S. Main St. (in the Inn on the Lake), Canandaigua.
585-394-7800; 1-800-228-2801.

[WHN, 8/09] says: "Returning from the Seneca Lake wine region, we stopped at the Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion in Canandaigua, then had lunch at Max on the Lake. We had planned to dine on their outdoor patio, but the hostess said they had a ‘bee problem’, so we ate inside, but our table was at a window and provided a great view of the lake. I had a Kobe beef cheeseburger with French fries. My wife had a Reuben with homemade potato chips. She asked if they had cole slaw. They didn't, but the waitress brought some fresh fruit at no charge. The food was good, but the view was the best part of the meal. The hotel is owned by the Hart family, who run several hotels in the Buffalo area, as well as David's Grille in Orchard Park."

[m] May Jen.
47 Kenmore Ave. (near UB Main St. Campus), Buffalo.
832-5162.

Cantonese & Szechuan.

[LCo, 5/08] says: "I was really disappointed with my recent visit to May Jen restaurant. I tried the Vegetable Tempura to start. Tempura is supposed to be light and crispy. This tempura was heavy and chewy, almost like battered onion rings but not as tasty. It was served with a heavy, sweet-and-sour sauce that would have overwhelmed the tempura even if it had tasted good. For entrees, I tried the Bean Cake in Hot Sauce (Vegetarian Style) as well as the "house specialty" Yu Sheng Style Fresh Eggplant. The Bean Cake in Hot Sauce wasn't very remarkable, just your typical squishy tofu simmered with hot sauce and scant vegetables. If only they had fried that "bean cake" with as much vigor as the tempura! The Yu Sheng eggplant did have a sweet and tangy garlic sauce that tasted good, but the eggplant was stewed to death. May Jen doesn't seem to be giving any special consideration for "mouthfeel". I don't think I'll be going back. The food I had didn't taste good, and the rest of the menu's vegetarian options don't seem any more appealing."

[CJH, 10/02] says: "I am from Hong Kong, and my taste buds are suited for South-East Asians. I can't believe how nasty the food tastes here at May Jen. Not only the food is nasty, but their service is bad too. What makes a dumpling at May Jen? Thick pancake-like wrappings for the outside, and dry, nasty, frozen meat on the inside. What makes a real dumpling? Thin wrapping with a little chewy and teeth-bouncing feel for the outside and delicious, juicy, fresh meat on the inside. Fried rice is just like MSG plus salt plus last night's vegetables plus tons of soy sauce and rice. This is not Chinese food but some sort of food you serve for people you don't want to come again. Never ever step foot into this place. Worst experience and worst food ever. I'd rather have you buy yourself a real Chinese cookbook imported from Hong Kong. Please. Don't torture yourself."

[GI, 9/02] says: "This is by far the best Chinese food that I have ever eaten! Each dish is visually a piece of art and can be customized for desire. The wait-staff is very friendly as well as professional. The atmosphere is very clean and peaceful. Thank you May Jen for always providing me and my company a wonderful place to dine."

[JKu, 7/02] says: "I have a few words of advice when passing by May Jen: DO NOT ENTER. I have actually never had bad Chinese food, until I ate at this establishment. I ordered the Sesame Chicken, which in my experience is pretty popular at any Chinese restaurant. Well, when I took my first bite, it tasted as if they had never even made the dish before; it was that terrible. I will never go there again, and neither should you."

[HS, 11/99] says: "Your restaurant guide has been very helpful in the past, usually pointing towards a good meal in Buffalo. However, I must add my input on a recent trip to May Jen/University Plaza. My wife and I had quite possibly the worst Chinese meal ever. The seafood with mushrrom snow-caps, etc., tasted like Birdseye frozen vegetables in a watery slurry sauce with a chunk of imitation lobster. The chicken lo-mein: 75% onions, 20% chicken, and 5% La Choy crunchy noodles. I hope you get a chance to re-visit this restaurant. May Jen presents [itself] as a very clean and elegant restaurant, but the food leaves a lot to be desired. The wait-staff did not even care to ask why a majority of our dishes were untouched. I hope you pass this on to your faithful readers."

I [Bill] used to think this was far superior to its more elegant sibling, now closed, formerly in the Allentown/Elmwood Ave. area, but my last meal here was not as good as my last meal at the Elmwood Ave. location; maybe they've switched chefs. Outdoor dining in summer.

[MEL, 2/98] says: "One of the area's better Chinese places at both locations."

[a] Maybeck's Deli.
1598 Niagara Falls Blvd., Tonawanda.
835-9115.

They do take-out, too.

[TMa, 4/08] says: "I felt compelled to write up Maybeck's because I find myself ordering lunch from there on a regular basis. Their service is fast, and their menu includes lots of lunchtime staple items (fries and onion rings, as well as mixed veggies, deep-fried mushrooms, poppers, and excellent wedge fries). They serve all kinds of sandwiches, from the typical (BLT, tuna, ham) to the not-so-typical (cappicola, filet of fish). Their fish sandwich is a huge hit here in my office, and their BLT is top notch—their bacon is substantially crispier and juicier than anyplace else I usually order lunch from. They also have decent pizza and tacos, as well as chicken wings. Essentially, they have all "standard" lunch fare and then some, and it's all really well done. They make their own gravy, and, while it's not available every day, it's an outstanding garnish for their wedge fries."

Mazzariello's Restaurant & Bar.
114 Bloomfield Ave. (intersection of Bloomfield, Penora St., & Broadway (Rt. 20)), Depew.
206-0562; 989-6225 (catering).

Italian.

[JSc, 10/09] says: "I wrote up a lengthy critique but decided to make it short. Don't believe the menu on their website. It's not correct at all. Also, when they offer appetizers/drink specials, that special rate only applies at the bar and not if you are dining (sez waitress), although the website advertises that it's good for the restaurant. Do not use the reservation/email process on their website! They do not utilize it at all. If I hadn't called them up to verify, they wouldn't have had our reservation, which in hindsight would've sent us to another restaurant anyways!! LOL So, before you sit down at a table and you want a drink or two with appetizers, go to the bar. But then again I don't know if they will ‘honor’ their website happy-hour rates, so you better ask before ordering!!! Their menu at the restaurant only has four entrees and not the extended list on the website. Also, know your wines, because the bartender was asked for a sweet red wine and gave my wife a pinot grigio. When I sipped it, I could've sworn it was a merlot. A merlot is not a sweet wine. When we noticed that the menu was severely limited and the specials weren't honored, we had one drink, finished the appetizer we ordered, and left for another restaurant. We won't be going back."

[REV, 7/09] said: "Positive A+++: I've been going to this establishment since they opened a couple years ago. I remember what it used to be (The Clover Bar), and it is nothing like its predecessor. As they bill, it's a little bit of the city in the heart of Depew. Chic and trendy, the intimate atmosphere will have you hooked. Brick walls, rich woods in the bar area: It is definitely not what you'd expect in Depew! The bar area is expansive and fully stocked with all your top-shelf liquors. Initially, the bar focused on absinthe and still does carry it upon request. (This is one of my personal favorites, since to get absinthe prepared appropriately at a bar is unheard of!) Ask to see their huge drink menu, full of specialties. The favorite martini hands-down is the Jenna Jameson, which contains X-Rated Fusion Liqueur, Hpnotiq, pineapple juice, etc.; it is a fruity must that will have you feeling, well, Jenna-like! The menu is ever-changing, too, for the seasons. When I first ate there, they had a special Summer Sushi menu: very nice for those hot summer days. The following time, I indulged in the veal chop, which was very flavorful and cooked to order. At about 2 inches thick, this was a beautifully prepared piece of meat! This time I brought my in-laws from out of town. Based upon their comments, it has turned into a must-go whenever they are in the area! The last few times my wife & I have been to Mazzariello's, we've gotten the fresh made pasta! That's right, kids: no boxed macaroni here! The pasta is not to be missed! And the creative sauces that they come up with: incredible! They also have a to-die-for linguine with clam sauce, which is perfect for that Lenten meal! Lastly, since this is Buffalo & WNY, the prices are amazing! I've taken my entire family here and never blow a budget on a meal & drinks! And the quality is bar none! Trust you me: This place is amazing! The only thing I'm missing, since my memory is not its best, is to ask for our usual waitress. A family member of the owners, she is always ready to serve, and very pleasant. I guess that's what Mazzariello's is: good people, good food & drink, and just a great hidden gem of the area!"

McKenzie's Bar and Grill.
4151 Lake Shore Rd., Hamburg.
627-9752.

[RDM] says:
[6/09] "Here's an updated review of McKenzie's. Too bad it's not a good review. Love your website!!! [Thanks!] I have to downgrade my enthusiasm over McKenzie's after returning for dinner last night. A lot has changed, and I believe it's under new ownership. The menu has changed, the chalkboard is gone, and the evening's specials did not seem up to par of what they used to be. We tried the sautéed artichoke appetizer, which was simply canned artichoke hearts sautéed in tons of garlic. I guess when we ordered it we were thinking it would be fresh artichokes. My Caesar salad was bland and needed to be salted. My husband enjoyed his French onion soup but hated his dinner off the specials menu of veal parmesan. He took a few bites and could not eat any more, because it was bland and mushy in texture. I enjoyed my baked half-chicken and the garlic cheddar mashed potatoes but had to add salt and butter (from the bread basket) to my vegetables. Once I did that, they were delicious and fresh, but I don't understand why they would serve veggies without a drop of olive oil, butter, or seasoning of any kind. Our waitress was polite and attentive, so we decided not to complain and just decided not to return. It's just not the same restaurant we used to enjoy."

[11/05] "Just wanted to send this review of McKenzie's. I'm surprised no one has reviewed it yet. A Southtowns staple! McKenzie's is a casual bar and grill with an upscale menu. The chalkboard in the main dining room shows the night's specials. I always enjoy dinner here, since it has a wonderful atmosphere and most of all great food. Last time I ate here I enjoyed the Roma stuffed tomatoes for an appetizer. They were stuffed with a luscious mixture of spinach and blue cheese and served on a bed of mesculin greens. My husband enjoyed the French onion soup. Both our Caesar and garden salads were fresh and delicious. For the main course, I enjoyed the strip steak topped with mushrooms and cheddar cheese and the horseradish smashed potatoes. The steak was perfect. My husband ordered the Mahi Mahi special, which had a light sweet sauce. McKenzie's just added an outdoor patio this season. There is also a great view of the lake in each dining room. Always great food!"

McPartlan's Corner.
669 Wehrle Dr. (near Union Rd.), Cheektowaga.
632-9896.

[PT, 11/08] says: "Some friends recommended McPartlan's for fish fries. We went there for lunch. The fish fries were delicious, but the place, and the very elderly clientele, reminded us of a nursing home."

The Melting Pot. —WARNING: WEBSITE PLAYS LOUD MUSIC!
1 Walden Galleria Dr. (in the Walden Galleria mall), Cheektowaga.
685-6358.

Part of the chain.

[KaB, 11/09] says: "We went to the Melting Pot on Sunday night [11/1/09] after a movie. We were a little early and were asked to wait at the bar. My husband had a chocolate fontini, which was excellent. We were seated promptly, but our waiter definately had a bit of a superior attitude, especially when we chose not to order the ‘Alpine Night Out’ at $80/couple minimum. The Night Out included appetizer fondue, salad, entree fondue, and dessert fondue, which was too much food for us. We asked questions about the entree selections, because we did not understand how you could have cedar-planked salmon fondue. Isn't cedar planking a cooking method? After ordering, our salads were quickly delivered to the table. We then waited over 20 minutes for our entrees to arrive. I can understand when they are cooking the meal, but, when plates of raw food are delivered to your table, why did we have to wait? My husband's order was supposed to have filet mignon, sirloin steak, shrimp, chicken, and ‘cedar planked salmon’. It only had the filet and shrimp. When we questioned the waiter, he argued that this is what was ordered. When we pointed out, why would we ask about the salmon and not order it?, he walked away. He came back and dumped a plate of salmon in front of my husband and left. No sirloin or chicken were added. The food itself was excellent, and the sauces were very good. The side of red potatoes needed a lot of cooking time, and eventually we gave up on them. Our waiter never returned to our table. Eventually, we were forced to hunt down the hostess for a refill of our water, and she alerted the waiter to check on us. The bill, when it arrived, reflected the cheaper entree that we were served. Overall, I would not be in a hurry to return to the Melting Pot, but I would not recommend that you avoid the resturant based on one bad server."

[HPK, 3/09] said: "Good; my only comment is that this is not a place for large groups. For a small, two-person, maybe three-person, dinner: no problem. More than that, it's too hard to keep reaching over everything to get to certain foods and the pots that cook things. Makes for a very confusing, chaotic experience."

[MTe, 1/09] said: "I had a less than satisfying experience at the Melting Pot on a recent visit in Jan. 2009. I should say that I am not a chain-restaurant type of person, but my friend wanted to eat there. We did not have the full 4-course experience, because it sounded like too much food for 2 women, and the thought of having raw meat on the table to cook myself was not appealing. So we had a cheese fondue (traditional gruyere), 1 salad (tomato and gorgonzola, which was OK but somewhat overdressed), and a milk-chocolate fondue. Along with a bottle of wine (I was pleased to find a Konstantin Frank chardonnay), the bill came to $95, not cheap. The actual fondues were quite good. However, the bread was rather sweet, rather than a traditional baguette, which was disappointing. More disappointing was the fact that the chocolate fondue came with a couple small pieces of banana and strawberry and a lot of extremely sweet stuff like Rice Krispie treats and marshmallows! It was far too sweet for 2 adults to eat, so we didn't finish the chocolate, even though it was very good. I don't know if they would give you just fruit, but that would have made the chocolate fondue much more enjoyable. The service was not good at all. The extremely young waiter kept interjecting himself into our conversations, popping up multiple times to ask if everything was OK, but never once refilling the wine glasses, and refilling the water only when asked. The decor was very stark and modern, not what I would have expected given the country-French type of food. I would not be eager to return."

[RA, 7/08] said: "Having visited two other locations of this fondue restaurant chain, my wife and I were excited to find and try one close to home in Buffalo. We started off with the Cheddar Cheese Fondue, which was prepared at the table and was flavored with beer and garlic (there is a ceramic cooktop built into the table). It was accompanied by breads, carrots, celery, cauliflower, and apples to dip. The apple dipped in the cheese fondue is the best! Our salads came out as we were finishing the cheese fondue: Spinach and Mushroom salad for my wife and House Salad for me. For our entrees, my wife had the Seafood Trio (shrimp, scallops, and tuna), and I had the Teriyaki-Marinated Sirloin. We chose the Bourguignonne cooking style, which means we fried everything there at the table in canola oil. There are other cooking-style choices that include different variations of wine and broth to cook your food in. Our entrees came with potato wedges, broccoli, and mushroom caps, along with dipping sauces, batters to dip the meats and veggies in before you fry them, and a cream-cheese-and-herb blend (you stuff the cream cheese in a mushroom cap, dip it in batter, and fry—my wife's favorite). We ended the meal with a Dark Chocolate Fondue flavored with Grand Marnier. We were served brownies, Rice Krispies treats, strawberries, bananas, cheesecake, and more to dip and drizzle with the chocolate. All the food was fresh and delicious, and you can only blame yourself if it's not cooked right. The whole meal took about 3 hours; worthwhile for the unique experience. The Melting Pot has an extensive wine selection that is on display at the restaurant. Besides waiting for water glasses to be refilled, service was good. All in all, we had a great evening, and we are really looking forward to going back! (Bill Thanks for this great website. It is a great tool. If it had a web browser, it would probably be my homepage. Thanks again." (And thank you for the kind words. :-)

Merge.
439 Delaware Ave. (just north of downtown, near Allentown), Buffalo.
381-8502.

[AWr, 4/09] says: "My boyfriend and I recently went to Merge. I was thoroughly impressed. The atmosphere, right away, was delightful and relaxing; I had a headache, and was not at all uncomfortable by the lights or noise, and the waitstaff was particularly helpful and enthusiastic. We started with a bowl of the vichyssoise, which was excellent. I cannot tell you how delicious it was. The only thing that would have made it better was some more bread, though we did show up quite late and on a weekday night (an hour before closing or so). This was by far the highlight of our meal. Then we had the polenta medallions appetizer, because they were out of the Brussels mussels (the waiter told us that they're changing their menu for spring in a few weeks, and they didn't order any more mussels or something). That was also excellent. One other review here said that the tomato sauce was bland, but I thought the exact opposite—it was very flavorful. In fact, my boyfriend commented on how good it tasted, since we went at the beginning of April and he was impressed at the quality of tomato-taste at this point in the season. The mushrooms and polenta were also great, and it was topped with a balsamic reduction that was very good as well. He got the sweet potato calzone, and I got the chicken/brie/spinach/cranberry wrap, and we weren't too impressed with the main courses. The wrap could have used more cranberries (though they were generous with the brie) and some sauce, and the calzone was too doughy. Though I think that, after the amazing soup and appetizer, our expectations were high and unreasonable (seriously, that's how good the soup was). His calzone was served on a bed of spinach, which was very fresh and generously portioned. The dressing for that dish was also great: really flavorful. I had the mac and cheese, which was not the right choice—I should have gotten the sweet potato fries, which I saw at the table next to us after we were served. They looked delicious; just thick enough to not have the flavor of the sweet potato fried out of them, but not so thick that the middle wouldn't be cooked. The mac and cheese wasn't good at all, but I think I might have gotten the vegan version instead of regular, and there's really no comparing vegan cheese to proper, dairy-laden cheddar (sorry, lactose-intolerant folks and vegans). I got a beer, which was quite good. They also had a bunch of organic wines, by the glass and by the bottle, red and white. They also had an organic port or sherry (can't remember). I get migraines, and cannot drink any wine that isn't organic, and it's been hard to find a variety of good organic wines in Buffalo at places that aren't out of the price range of a graduate student, so I was so pleased to see how many they had. They had more organic options than I've ever seen at the Wine Thief, and they were inexpensive as well. I can't speak to the quality, but I'll be going back soon to check it out. I honestly gasped in joy when I saw the wine list, because it has totally been depressing to be unable to drink red wine when I go out to dinner—imagine, a(n aspiring) foodie who can't have red wine! But this place has so many options that any migraine-sufferer will find something they like that won't give them any pain. I fully recommend this place, especially the soups. I'll be going back soon. I really hope it does well, not only because of the wine list and soups, but also because it seemed like a place that was really dedicated to running a conscientious, ethical restaurant. They use local and organic food whenever possible (they even labeled one beer as "Local" to encourage people to order it), and they are dedicated to helping local artists. All in all, a wonderful experience!"

[AMSo, 2/09] said: "K. and I came to try out Merge on Valentine's Day. They opened back in January, but we wanted to wait until V-Day to make it special. Merge advertises their vegan (as well as gluten-free and some raw) cuisine, and that was pretty exciting for us. When we stepped in, we felt like we were in NYC or Toronto—it just looked so trendy and cool! They had a DJ spinning tunes, and wonderful art all over! K. got a soy latte, and I a soy mocha, which I thought was very good, but she felt the espresso tasted weak. We also ordered the vegan broccoli cheddar soup (the special), which was good, but didn't taste @ all like cheddar or have that type of consistency. It could have just been called "house broccoli soup" or something. Also, the itty-bitty heel of bread served with the soup was really hard! We joked a bit about if I'd lose a tooth if I tried to bite through it. We got the polenta medallions to share (the only vegan appetizer), which were good. I liked the mushrooms! We also ordered two of the lasagne, and thought that it was definitely a unique taste, although the consistency—crunchy—took me by surprise! The broccoli served with it was tasty—like it was sauteed with Braggs or something. It did look kind of puny, however, esp. when served over some limp spinach, which was stuck to the plate. We would have loved to see a decent serving of broccoli on the side or something more festive. For dessert, we were disappointed to find out the only vegan dessert on Valentine's Day was a peanut butter, Rice Krispy treat served warm (it was like a rounded scoop on a plate with a syrup garnish). Please, cake or pie next time! So many things can be made vegan and taste just as good (or better) than the "real thing". Maybe @ lunch time a lackluster dessert would have been OK, but on Valentine's you gotta give the vegans a dessert to luv. Anyhow, neither she nor I are planning to come back to Merge any time soon—it just wasn't the awesome experience we were hoping for, for $55 including a good tip to our waiter (and we were actually still kind of hungry after). I am intrigued by the Tease vegan cheese, so maybe we'll stop by sometime down the line to try it out, but, as a first impression, we thought that while the atmosphere and art were hot, our vegan dinner experience was not."

[KE, 2/09] said: "I've been twice to Merge, a new place on Delaware; once was for my birthday party. The atmosphere is great, and there is a lot of art everywhere, as well as a plethora of art supplies (markers, pencils, crayons, watercolors(!), etc.) and plain, white-paper placemats for eaters to get their creative juices flowing; they also have live music on stage, and screen movies nightly; they have also said they will be offering art classes). As of this writing, they don't yet have their liquor license, but it should be in any day now. The food is all organic and is mostly vegetarian or vegan. There are a couple of fish and chicken dishes. All vegetarian dishes are prepared on separate surfaces from the meat and fish. They seem better at the starters, wraps, and panini than the entrees. I've had a hot Ukrainian borscht as well as a hot vichyssoise, both of which were very tasty. They also have a sweet-potato-and-peanut-butter soup I'd like to try. They have a number of smallish salads to which you can add chicken, fish, or tempeh. For appetizers, we had the fried pickles both times (great—crunchy, and the dill in the batter brings out the dill in the pickle). I've also tried the fried ravioli (decent) and the pollenta medallions (swimming in a bland tomato sauce). Both times, I've been, they've been out of the Buffalo eggplant. I've also had the "tease" vegan grilled-cheese panini (with added tempeh). This was very flavorful, and the side of mac & cheese was actually penne with three melted cheeses on top. The second time, I had the ambrosia's lasagne, which was pretty disappointing: The pasta was very mushy, and I didn't think the whole thing was very flavorful at all. I also tried some of my friend's sweet-potato calzone, which was also on the bland side, even though topped with caramelized onions in balsamic vinegar. The others in my parties were also mixed, with the general consensus being that the starters and light fare were better than the entrees, which need more seasoning and perhaps they need to be rethought a bit. Still, the food is inexpensive, and the atmosphere is great."

[BK, 2/09] said: "This past Friday evening, a friend and I decided to try downtown Buffalo's newest culinary destination, Merge. The restaurant specializes in vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and raw food, but also serves as a venue for local musicians and artists to showcase their work. Neither of us are vegetarian/vegan, but we certainly appreciate the novelty of a venue specializing in this cuisine in the Buffalo restaurant scene. They just opened last month, so they're still in the process of ironing out a few growing pains; nonetheless, our overall experience was extremely positive. Upon entering, we were promptly greeted by a friendly waitress who was serving double-duty as hostess. We were directed to sit wherever we pleased and were immediately asked whether we'd like something to drink. Since they're still in the process of acquiring a liquor license, we both opted for water; however, they currently offer a variety of juices, coffees, and teas. The food menu contained a series of soups, salads, wraps, panini, and more substantial dinner entrees. None of the items on the menu were priced above $12, and vegan/vegetarian/gluten-free/raw items were noted as such beside the title. We both decided to start the evening with soup, which was served within minutes of being ordered. I opted for the "hearty chicken noodle", which was quite flavorful and certainly lived up to its namesake. My friend opted for the sweet-potato and peanut soup, which he also found to be quite tasty. For an appetizer, we ordered the "bruchetta trio", which consisted of French bread and a medley of dips, including olive tapenade, classic tomato, and artichoke/asiago. The classic tomato was forgettable, but the olive and artichoke-based spreads were quite palate-pleasing. For dinner, I ordered the "Sherri" wrap, which was comprised of Italian-marinated chicken, cranberries, brie, and spinach on a whole-wheat wrap. The portion was substantial, and the flavor combination proved delightful. The wrap was also served with a green salad, which was included in the cost as a side item. I also decided to order an additional side, macaroni and cheese (offered as regular, gluten-free, or vegan), which turned out to be the only disappointment of the evening. The regular version consisted of lukewarm penne, drizzled with bland cheddar cheese; unfortunately it was tantamount to something I'd expect out of a certain "blue box". My friend ordered the peppercorn-poached salmon, a gluten-free option. The dish was served with a dill-fennel risotto, asparagus, and a pink peppercorn and beurre roux. He found the dish to be well executed, flavorful, and worth the modest price of $12. I'm not sure if they serve dessert, as it wasn't listed on the menu or offered by the waiter. However, this really wasn?t a problem, as we had previously decided upon visiting nearby Chocolate Bar for an after-dinner drink. In the end, our overall experience with Merge was quite pleasurable, and the staff was extremely eager to please. Although the restaurant was empty when we arrived at 6, all of the tables (~15) were full by 7. We definitely plan on returning in the future, perhaps during an open-mic night or for an art class."

[a] Le Metro Bakery and Café.
[a] 5110 Main St. (just off the I-290, in the Walker Center plaza), Williamsville.
631-2725.

Note: The former Allentown/Elmwood Ave. branch is now called "Mode Urban Bistro".

[SR] says:

[3/09] "While in Buffalo for a visit, I met some friends for lunch at Le Metro. We all had some sort of salad. I had one with chicken, pears, nuts, greens, etc. It was very good, but very small, with a miniscule amount of chicken. At Panera Bread, you can get a similar salad that's twice as large for about half the price ($13 vs. $7). I thought it was a rip-off."

[7/07] "I had dinner with a friend at Le Metro while visiting my parents and friends in Buffalo. My scallop dish was very good; although the menu said the scallops were "seared", the outside wasn't really browned at all."

[WHN] said:

[4/08] "We had an uncharacteristically bad luncheon experience at Le Metro on Sunday. It started off poorly when our waitress practically threw our water glasses onto the table. It continued downhill when my wife's water had a decidedly brown tinge to it, probably residue from whatever was last served in the unwashed glass. I hate to think what it might have been. (Our server brought a clean glass with clean water when this was pointed out.) We probably should have left then, but didn't. Our waitress never brought bread, although she served it to tables all around. For lunch, my son and my wife ordered cheeseburgers. I ordered a turkey club. My daughter ordered a blackened grouper sandwich. In a few minutes, our waitress returned to say they must have had a big run on burgers because they were out of them. My wife switched to the blackened grouper sandwich; our son switched to chicken and black bean chili. Being Sunday, not a good day for fish deliveries, we found out that the grouper was frozen and, therefore, should not be spoiled. My turkey club was huge, tasty (it's hard to spoil a club sandwich), and I took half of it home. My only complaint was that the accompanying French fries were just warm, not hot. My wife's and daughter's grouper sandwiches skimped on the fish—both women combined the two small pieces of fish onto half of the bread. My wife said hers tasted "fishy", was greasy, and perhaps had been cooked previously, then re-cooked. My daughter thought hers tasted all right but agreed the fish was much smaller than usual. Both thought the accompanying mixed green salad was not as good as usual, with brown lettuce and missing ingredients. Both have had Le Metro's blackened grouper sandwich with a side salad before, so know what it should taste like and what the usual serving size is. My son's chili arrived with a dirt-encrusted spoon and, he said, tasted as if some ingredient had been burned. As the table was being cleared, my wife asked our waitress (who had never come back to ask how everything was, or if we needed anything else) if they had a different chef on duty on the weekends, to which she replied, to paraphrase: "The food's not as good on weekends." If that's the case, maybe they should just not open on weekends. Anyway, she said she would see what she could do about my wife's meal. In fairness to her, I saw her talking to someone, presumably the hostess/manager, through the open kitchen door, but apparently her superior's answer was "nothing", as she brought the check with no adjustment and no comment. My son, who had not been to Le Metro before, said he had always heard good things about it and was surprised at how bad it was, and said: "They better get their act together". We will absolutely never go back on a weekend, since they knowingly serve inferior food, and will think hard about going back at all."

[10/07] "Had lunch here on Friday, 10/12. First time at this location. The blackened grouper sandwich with mixed green salad and French fries was delicious."

[DaK, 1/08] said: "Dined at Le Metro yesterday evening and have nothing but good things to say. Started the evening with some mussels in a tomato and leek broth; for a person who is not big on shellfish, even I had to admit that these were very tender and flavorful. My husband enjoyed one of the night's specials, a steak pot pie, which he said was wonderful and couldn't even finish the entire portion, it was so large. I had the Mediterranean Tuna salad, which consisted of mixed greens, olives, capers, some cherry tomatoes, and a nice piece of tuna steak cooked to my liking (medium rare). With 2 beers and 2 glasses of wine, the entire meal was around $70.00, a small price to pay for great food and good service."

[AFN, 1/08] said: "My sister, niece, and I had lunch at Le Metro today, Wednesday, 1/16. We all had some variation of chicken salad—a sandwich for me, a chicken salad platter for my sister, and a chicken salad/tuna salad combination for my niece. The lunches were all very good."

[12/07] [MER], one of our daughters and son-in-law, and I had lunch here. MER had a "classic" chicken-salad sandwich with almonds, celery, and romaine on country wheat, accompanied by red-colored taco chips; she loved it. Our daughter had a "classic" turkey club, with bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and fried; she declared it the "best ever". Her husband had a "specialty" Philly cheesesteak sub: shaved rib eye, lettuce, tomato, onion, on a sesame sub roll, with fries and Provolone; he was amazed at how delicious it was and how non-sloppy (compared to the run-of-the-mill Philly cheesesteaks he has had on the road). I had the vegetarian pho: Vietnamese hot pot with basil, mint, lemongrass-infused broth, rice noodles, sprouts, red peppers, broccoli, celery, napa cabbage, and (tasteless) crispy tofu; it was very good, but a bit messy to eat.

[JAK, 3/07] said: "My wife and I stopped into Le Metro on Main St., Tony Walker Plaza, in Williamsville last night. This has always been a reliable standby, but we noted that they have changed their menu to more of a bistro style, which looked interesting (especially cheese plates, charcuterie, pates) but more limited. Requiring a gluten-free selection, the new menu has some challenges. We were seated promptly in the main dining area, and, aside from the menu, nothing else had changed. Decor, layout, and loud-sound reflective ceilings are still the norm. Now to the changes. I hate to put too much emphasis on the service based on a single server, but it was clear that she was not well trained. The wine list was described as "just printed", and wines by the glass were practically nonexistent on the list. The waiter had to physically bring out bottles for us to see to understand what wines and producers were available. My first choice was not available, despite being on the menu. Bread (for those of us not gluten-challenged) was great as always. We did find that some of the Asian-inspired dishes do not seem to fit with the new theme—the "Japanese Beef Barley" soup was thick and overly sweet-spicy. The duck confit salad was more of a deconstructed salad with seared duck and not what was expected from the description. The crab cake appetizer was OK tasting, but overwhelmed by the chipotle-adobo flavor. They were also burned on one side. I pointed this out, and the waiter, upon returning, said that the kitchen indicated that they were told they "cook up weird". Fine on one side, burned on another, is not weird but careless, and never should have been sent out. And they were burned-side down. I will note that, without making a fuss, we were discounted two glasses of wine and a free loaf of ciabatta, but this is certainly not enough for a return visit any time soon. A tried-and-true has some explaining to do."

[MDB, 2/96] said of the Williamsville branch: "Outstanding breads, soups, and pastries."

Metzger's Pub.
4135 Seneca St., W. Seneca.
674-9897.

[SAS, 7/09] says: "Mixed—My wife and I stopped in last Tuesday night. I had been here often for wonderful lunches, but we were in the area and looking for a late dinner. Tuesday night is Bike Night, and some of the parking near the building was roped off, making it a challenge for handicapped diners. Plenty of additional parking existed across the side street, however. Wings and clams (in season) are discounted Tuesday nights, so we shared two dozen steamers, a small clams casino, an order of wings, and a spinach salad with chicken and hot bacon dressing. First of all, we never received setups until we asked…after our food arrived. The steamers and casinos arrived first. The steamers were outstanding and a terrific value! The casinos are not prepared as they used to be there. They were nearly entirely breaded with a touch of herbs and (in most cases) a clam. I would never order them there again. The wings only come medium on discount night, which I understood, but were definitely served mild by anyone's standards. They were, however, cooked well and very meaty. Next time, I'll just ask for some extra hot sauce. The biggest disappointment of the night was the salad. It was of generous size, but the chicken, though tasty, was served cold, and the hot bacon dressing arrived icebox cold. When the dressing was sent back for heating, it seemed to have gotten lost somewhere. Our server, understandably busy on such a night, was delayed in checking back with us. When she did, we had to remind her of the lost dressing, which did arrive shortly after that…finally. So, this pub is still on my list but is in danger of being dropped, if my next visit is not more satisfactory."

Michael's Restaurant.
3011 Pine Ave., Niagara Falls, NY.
282-4043.

[AG, 3/05] says: "The best family restaurant in Niagara Falls, hands down. Huge, deep-fried calzones, gnocchi with pesto and Parmesan, plus a zillion sandwiches, pastas, and pizzas. If "beans and greens" soup is on the specials board, enjoy an excellent version of this Italian classic. When you look at the prices, and look at the plates that the scampering waitresses are rushing to tables around you, it won't surprise you to notice people are standing, waiting for a table to open up."

Middleport Inn.
28 S. Vernon St. (off Rt. 31), Middleport.
735-6052.

[JHa, 8/04] says: "I recently experienced the Middleport Inn as a result of seeing it on your site. Thanks; it was worth the trip. Here is my review. This restuarant is a delightful discovery. The old building's exterior keeps the decor, ambience, and dining experience a surprise. The food, or "Cuiseine" as the cheff calls it, is really totally unexpected in this area. The menu has a selection bound to please everyone in your party. It appears that everything is made from scratch, with the experience and passion of the chef clearly showing. I started with the shrimp appetizer to please my husband; guess what: I was pleased with its light, fluffy succulence. Then the soup, a squash gumbo...wow; just that, wow. I topped this off with the beef Wellington: homemade puff pastry, vegetables cooked to perfection. I was done at this point, until my pleasant waitress seduced me with the surprising array of delicious deserts. A great experience that has me vowing to lay off food for at least a couple of days. The surroundings, great. The service, great. The food, a truly vibrant experience. The trip, about 45 minutes, absolutely well worth it."

[DKL, 2/04] says: "The quaint location of this off-the-beaten-path restaurant makes the excursion well worth the trip, 40 minutes north of Buffalo, off Rt. 31, in the quaint canal town of Middleport, NY. Coupled with the award-winning, 4-star chef's talent, Zeff Bonsey, and the peaceful, canal-town atmosphere, one is sure to be pleased with the fine dining experience to be had at The Middleport Inn. The grilled salmon dish alone is well worth the trip—tender, light, and tasty—certainly a delight. Menu features a wide selection of freshly made entrees. Great for intimate banquets, private parties, and social functions. We enjoyed our first visit to The Middleport Inn, with its pleasant atmosphere and friendly staff. You will too!"

Mighty Taco.
2363 Delaware Ave. (near Hertel), Buffalo. 871-8670.
5495 Sheridan Dr. (1 block east of Hopkins Rd.), Williamsville. 565-1954.
9360 Transit Rd. (near Casey), East Amherst. 568-1143.
Also: many other locations.

Part of the (local) chain. Tacos, burritos, fajitas, "roastitos".

[BL] says:

[1/09] "Better chips are back! Thank you, Mighty Taco, for returning to your better-tasting, original chips over the past several months. We still would like to see a more mild salsa, as this one is always a bit too spicy for our stomachs. Nevertheless, we love having Mighty Taco in this area."

[4/06] (about the Sheridan Dr./Hopkins location) "We like Mighty Taco, and always order our usual favorites. Use several of the locations. Last time at the above we noticed a change in the chips and salsa. They used to sell a tasty rectangular chip a few weeks ago and now have resorted to a brand in a bag. Not good at all. Bland and commercial. Also they used to have a milder salsa, but, over the last year, we noticed a very spicy one that can do wonders on one of our family member's stomach. Too bad...bring back the better chips and the milder salsa, Mighty Taco. We would pay a little more for a good product."

[WHN, 4/08] said: "I don't know how they stay in business, let alone keep expanding. We used to go to the Sheridan Drive location on a regular basis, but switched to the one at Transit near Casey (which has some sort of Mighty Taco training center behind the store), hoping it would be an improvement. It was not. The "Nachos Deluxe" are soggy from the excessive amount of sauce, meat, and cheese. If you ask for jalapenos, they will probably not be drained, so you'll get a dose of vinegar as well as the peppers. The burrito's filling has gotten noticeably smaller. And if you ask for sauce, it seems like the only difference between mild, medium, and hot is they put on more of the same sauce, to the point where everything else is drowning in sauce. Burrito Bay on Millersport in Getzville is a huge step up in quality, and even Taco Bell, as awful as it is, is better, in my opinion."

[10/01] [PH]'s 8-year-old daughter said of the Delaware Ave./Hertel location: "I thought the Mighty Taco bombed because, when me and my mom went there to eat, I ordered a meat and lettuce taco. When the food came, I took the taco and unfolded it—OK, maybe they got half the order right. Oh it had the meat and the lettuce, but under the lettuce there was cheese! My mom also got a chili, and it was freezing cold. And so far I've always ordered for myself and mention, no cheese please!"

Mike's Homemade Candies.
2110 Clinton St., Buffalo.
826-6515.

[BaR, 12/08] says: "Although Mike himself has long since passed, his legacy lives on with love in this chocolate shop housed in a modest store front. This place is a throwback to the original Greek candy shops that thrived long ago in Buffalo, such as the Garden of Sweets. You will find many things here to tempt your palate—hand-dipped chocolates that I feel surpass in quality any other candy store/chocolate shop in this area. Their sponge is to die for (then again, so is pretty much everything in the shop). You can find this melt-in-your-mouth delight in many flavors: dark chocolate, milk, orange chocolate, raspberry, and even on occasion white chocolate. They even make their own marshmallows. Even their diabetic chocolate tastes wonderful. You know you have found the real thing when you enter the shop and sometimes find the owner answering the bell with their hands covered in chocolate (yes folks—it is all hand dipped; no machines here. If you try this treasure, I will guarantee you that you will be back. The only bad thing about Mike's is that they close for a short period during the summer months."

[m] Milano's Pizzeria and Family Restaurant.
529 Englewood Ave., Kenmore.
834-4110.

[ABi, 1/06] says: "Limp, aggressively bland, grease-laden pizza. It has that cooked cardboard quality pioneered by Bocce Club, which a small percentage of you embrace for whatever baffling reason, so maybe devotees of that bizarre crescent-shaped pie will enjoy this. As for the rest of us, we can do better than food consumed solely as energy for the body. This is the kind of pizza other cities have to tolerate, not us. I'll be fair and acknowledge they have decent, crispy wings."

[PS, 11/99] says: "Best pizza in Western New York, hands down!"

[m] Ming Cafe.
3268 Main St. (near UB South Campus), Buffalo.
833-6988.

Reports of its closing were greatly exaggerated! My apologies for not checking more carefully. It shares a building and address with Kabab and Curry Express.

[GMK, 5/08] says: "I just wanted to chime in that Ming is the finest Chinese food I've had in years. Possibly ever. It's expensive for Buffalo, where I am used to feeding two for the price of one, but it is such high quality, it is worth it. The squid appetiser is fantastic, the Mongolian beef is mouthwatering, and everything we've tried has left us happy. This has become my mother's favorite restaurant in WNY, and every excuse she can find, we go. It is a friendly, relaxing place, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone. As the previous reviewer said, bring cash, as they do not take charge cards, and call before you go to make sure they are open."

[MS, 9/05] says: "Ming Cafe is a tiny but cozy Chinese restaurant in the University Heights neighborhood, just across the street from UB's South Campus. The restaurant has about ten tables and features carved woodwork and tasteful art throughout. But the real attraction of the place is the food—absolutely wonderful. I am convinced that this is the best Chinese restaurant in the Buffalo area (which admittedly isn't saying too much, but it puts the other supposed contenders to shame). The ingredients are uniformly fresh, from the never overcooked vegetables to the beautiful handmade dumplings. The hot and sour soup is delicious, perfectly spiced and filled with goodies. Favorite dishes include the double cooked pork, which can be spiced to order (hot is blazing hot, not for the faint of heart), and the crispy beef with ginger sauce. The restaurant also has a tea menu, with a good selection of loose teas including Oolong, Jasmine, and green teas. I have been to Ming many times over the past year, and have never had a bad meal. The few drawbacks to Ming are unrelated to food—the service can be on the slow side, as there is only one waitress and only one or two cooks (I think the restaurant is owned by a husband and wife team—the waitress and the cook). This arrangement can also make for weird hours—they were closed for well over a month in the summer while the owners went on vacation. They also only accept cash, which has caught me off guard a few times. The prices are slightly higher than typical Chinese restaurants in town, but the quality of the food makes it more than worth it. All in all, a great restaurant worthy of a star or two at least."

Ming Teh.
126 Niagara Blvd., Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada.
905-871-7971.

[7/09] Given 3½ (out of 4) stars by Janice Okun, Buffalo News restaurant reviewer.

[LCo, 5/07] says: "I ate dinner at Ming Teh for the first time recently. I had a vegetarian spring roll to start; it was deep fried, and the sauce that came with it was bland, but the filling tasted fresh. My main course was the New Pa Pao Chai which is dried bean curd, bamboo shoots, mushrooms and fungus, and some freshly chopped vegetables. Somehow, the menu description of this dish fails to mention the 25 (approximate) cloves of garlic that are also included in the mix. The dish had a great texture, and the sauce seemed good, but the garlic taste was so overpowering that it became nauseating. All that I could think about was how many days it would take me to sweat it all out. The stir-fried broccoli and deep fried bean curd was another dish we tried. The sauce was again overly garlicky, but the bean curd was delicately fried so that it was still moist on the inside, and the broccoli was fresh. The others in my group had the Hot and Sour Fried Rice (medium), and they said it was delicious but were happy that they decided on medium. The service was slow, and our server brought the dishes out one at a time, with painful waits in between each one. The ambiance was nice, and we were seated in the back with a view of the river."

[JWa, 11/06] says: "Yes, they have had a change of ownership, but this time it's for the good. The dishes have been brought back to their previous expectations with some improvements. There are some new dishes like crunchy chicken in ginger, which is mouth watering, as well as some others. Now for their old dishes. The one dish not to miss is their chewy beef strips in ginger and garlic. Their other standards like double cooked pork and kung pao shrimp are also much improved. As well, their escargot dish is back to its former youth and a nice accompaniment to some hot and sour fried rice. Another benefit to the new ownership is that they now have a lunch special. There are a variety of new dishes on the lunch special with one of those being the crunchy chicken with a side for around the ten dollar mark (Canadian). Lunches run from 11:00 till around 3:00pm. In conclusion, this is the phoenix of Chinese cuisine in the region."

As of [5/06], under new management; Janice Okun withdrew her previous near-perfect stars rating but has since reinstated it.

Mississippi Mudd's.
313 Niagara St. (River Road), City of Tonawanda.
694-0787.

Seasonal.

[WHN, 9/06] says: "It's your basic hot dog stand, also serving burgers, beef on weck, etc. What makes it special is an upper deck with a great view of Niawanda Park and the Niagara River. Sunday, my wife ordered a Maryland Crab Cake sandwich that was mostly bread crumb filler. I had a cheeseburger that was good, as were the French fries. Nothing special, but since there are so few places on or near the water despite our miles and miles of coastline, it's worth a visit on a nice day. It's run by Berrafato's, which also operates a similar, but larger restaurant in Clarence, and Old Man River, another hot dog stand a block away."

Mister Dee's.
450 Beach Rd. (near the Kensington Expy.), Cheektowaga.
634-1298.

[MSc, 7/09] says: "As a frequent customer of Mister Dee's, I felt the need to provide some balance to the prior negative review. I will admit that the décor and ambience are rather plain, and service sometimes becomes an issue when it is extremely crowded, but, on the whole, I have consistently experienced competent service at Mister Dee's. I would also point out that, although Mister Dee's does not specialize in every food item on the menu, what they do specialize in they do very well and at superior value. Case in point: On our last visit, I ordered the beef on weck cooked medium rare. The quality of the beef on weck at Mister Dee's is at least the equal of more well-known establishments specializing in this dish, such as Schwabl's and Bar Bill Tavern (both of which I have dined at and enjoyed), but Mister Dee's offers this at a much lower price. The beef is tender and succulent, served generously on a perfectly seasoned kimmelweck with French fries. As always, my French fries were served piping hot. One thing that irritates me is luke-warm French fries, which I have experienced all too often. Never at Mister Dee's; the fries are always served fresh and hot. My wife ordered a bacon cheeseburger medium rare, and again cooked perfectly as ordered. She found the quality of the beef to be outstanding. The restaurant is close to the Buffalo Airport, and I would advise any visitors in nearby hotels to visit Mister Dee's if they are in search of Buffalo specialties such as wings and beef on weck (but not the fish fry). Mister Dee's offers a superior combination of quality and value."

Our first review for March 2009 (a leftover from February)—a new listing but an old restaurant—is a bit of a downer: [LMR, 2/09] said: "Friday, Feb. 27th—Terrible is the word that comes to mind to describe the awful food and bad service we received. Boyfriend ordered a fish fry. He said the sides were from a container—not homemade. The fish tasted old and dried out, the beer batter was hard, and he peeled it all off. My quesadillas were bland. They basically took a bag of already-cut onions and green peppers, threw them together with tasteless, non-seasoned-in-any-way chicken breast, threw them in the tortilla shell with cheese, and warmed it through. The sweet-potato fries, though very tasty, were soggy and limp. And the service left a lot to be desired! Just terrible; will never go back again and will never recommend anyone go there for any reason. The good food and good service they had years ago is long, long gone!"

Mode Urban Bistro.
520 Elmwood Ave. (formerly, 284 W. Utica St.; just north of Allentown, at Utica St.; near Children's Hospital), Buffalo.
885-1500.

The name seems to have changed from "Mode" (simpliciter) to "Mode Urban Bistro", and the address seems to have changed (from Utica to Elmwood), but the phone number remains the same. Of the new incarnation as "Mode Urban Bistro", on Elmwood:

[3/09] Given 3½ (out of 4) stars by Janice Okun, Buffalo News restaurant reviewer.

Of the old incarnation as simply "Mode", on Utica, reviewers said:

[MaSt, 2/08] says: "My husband and I had dinner at Mode on Valentine's Day; we will definitely go back! We began with appetizers: My husband ordered calamari, lightly battered and fried and served with a garlic mayonnaise. I ordered from the evening's specials: a cheese and pate plate. It was a generous portion of pate, crusted with chopped pistachios. Accompanying it were three slices of toasted Tuscan bread; roasted red pepper strips; a small wedge of Brie, perfectly softened; and some artisanal Gouda croquettes, all on a bed of field greens. Both appetizers were served in very generous portions (about ten dollars each). For dinner, my husband ordered a sea bass special ($26), which was pan-seared and served with roasted fingerling potatoes and haricot vert. He loved it and polished off every bite. I ordered the Beef Bourguignon ($21)—braised short ribs of beef with pearl onions, carrots, and mushrooms served over chive mashed potatoes. It tasted just like my mother's pot roast—succulent and tender; absolutely delicious. We shared a bottle of cabernet ($28) and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Our waitress was attentive, gave us great advice about what we should order, and even noticed that our table was wobbly and fixed it for us. It was a perfect evening, and we enjoyed every minute—the dining room was candlelit and cozy—just what you'd want for a romantic dinner for two."

[JCr, 12/07] says: "This is my first return visit here since my previous review, and my latest experience here was far different. We had a reservation for 4, Sunday at 5pm. We were seated right away, and the service was good; the food on the other hand really was lacking. A couple of the diners chose to start with a roasted tomato soup, I believe, which was reported to be good. I had a mixed greens salad, with gorganzola, crispy fried leeks, and a maple vinaigrette type dressing. The gorganzola was basically flavorless; the crispy fried leeks were way over cooked, which is very very easy to do. Basically just a plain salad with a hint of maple, not something I would order again. For our entrees, I chose off the specials menu, Monkfish medallions in some sort of pomengranate beurre blanc sauce, along with truffled roasted Fingerlinger potatoes. This entree was pretty disappointing; the monkfish, naturally bland, wasn't even seasoned and the sauce basically non-existent, the truffled fingerling potatoes undercooked, truffled?, and not seasoned as well. My father-in-law ordered the 22oz. blackened rib-eye; may have been a Delmonico but a similar cut none the less. Regardless of the exact cut, I'm glad I didn't order it; it appeared to rival a steak you would get by paying $3 dollars extra at the Ponderosa buffet. 22oz I think not, prob. not even 16oz. The piece of meat was about 3/4" thick max, and overcooked, which wouldn't be hard with a cut this thin. My wife orderd the gnocchi in a garlic, basil, olive oil type sauce, with seared scallops. The scallops were reported to be good, but the rest of the entree tasted extremely bland and hardly seasoned; the gnocchi, which was said to be made in house, didn't seem to be. My mother-in-law had a boneless chicken breast dish with grilled veggies; this was reported to be good. Overall, a disappointment of a meal; everything seemed to lack flavor, and nothing appeared to be seasoned. I'm not sure if the regular chef was off that evening, but seeing how we were one of the few tables at the time, there is no excuse to send under- or not seasoned food and an overcooked steak out of the kitchen. With so many other great restaurants in the city that have never failed me, and plenty more I have yet to try, it will probably be quite a while before I even contemplate returning to Mode for dinner."

[WHN, 2/07] reports: "Per today's (2/2) Janice Okun review in Gusto, Le Metro at Elmwood and Utica is now called "Mode". One of the owners bought out the other one and changed the name."

Moe's Southwest Grill.
5063 Transit Rd., Clarence. 634-7200.
3231 Southwestern Blvd., Orchard Park. 677-6600.

Part of the chain. Takeout available from Takeout Taxi, 631-2222.

[LCo, 5/07] says: "I recently ate dinner at Moe's Southwest Grill. It's a casual restaurant whose aim seems to be creating the perfect burrito and getting everyone to eat one of them. I opted for the "Triple Lindy" burrito, which has rice, beans (your choice of black or pinto), your choice of protein (chicken, steak, ground beef, fish, or tofu), cheese, salsa, and guacamole. I had black beans and tofu and further customized it by asking for no cheese. All of the burritos are also served with a side of tortilla chips, and there are various salsas on a self-serve bar to accompany them. The burrito itself was huge—more than I could eat in one sitting—and the serving of chips was generous. I was also happy to see that tofu was a choice, given that most Mexican or Southwest style dining doesn't offer it. The taste was at least on par with other restaurants like this in the area (Salsarita's, Ava Cado's), but the portion size and tofu option won me over. The tables looked a little grubby, as did the salsa bar, but I wouldn't go to a glorified fast-food restaurant expecting too much more. Though I did somehow manage to block the greeting when we came in, the constant "Welcome to Moe's!" during a dinner "rush" did become somewhat grating, but not enough to be a compelling reason to stay away. As for the restaurant's self-conscious quirks and the absurd naming of the dishes, roll your eyes, acknowledge the arbitrary nature of language, and eat a burrito anyway."

[ABi, 5/07] says: "The slogan over the counter at the Transit Road location reads "Moe's knows burritos", and I don't entirely agree. It's more accurate to say Moe's sort of knows a little about burritos. Our lunch there leads me to conclude they have middling food, especially for a company whose commercials, web site, and vibrant interior all attempt to portray the eatery as fun and offbeat. For example, they do self-consciously quirky things like only playing the music of deceased artists on the store's sound system and making employees shriek "Welcome to Moe's!" whenever someone walks in, the latter of which I found more irritating than endearingly peculiar. They also designate their food in an allegedly wacky manner with non-sequitur-type names. My burrito, which featured rice, beans, meat or (gagging) tofu, cheese, and salsa, was randomly dubbed the Joey Bag of Donuts. Um, OK. My girlfriend's, the same lineup plus guacamole, sour cream, and lettuce, was called, why not, the Homewrecker. The names were the most interesting part, as the food was wholly unexceptional. The rice was okay if a little underdone, the other fillings were fair, and the most memorable part was the worst: The steak was Caterpillar Boots leather-tough. I had relatively low expectations for the protein I would get in a seven dollar burrito, and even they were not met; I've gotten more supple cuts of steak at Taco Bell. My girlfriend's chicken was a little better, although it tasted like it had been marinating for too long. The tortillas that came alongside were good and crunchy, and there was a small toppings area where one can spoon out the heat and flavor of salsa one would like for one's chips. There were five or six options, and it's nice to have a choice, be able to try a few, and not be straitjacketed by condiment portion control as long as you don't mind salsa slopped everywhere, as was the condition of the bar when we visited. The help were slow to clean and also remarkably unfriendly. I've never had a burrito made by a surlier employee, with a pronounced frown and contempt underneath simple questions like what meat I wanted, belying and counteracting the obviously forced welcome their corporation dictates they offer customers; my girlfriend's lunch assembler was similarly churlish. In fairness, our cashier was nice, but that didn't overcome the rotten attitude of the two workers who made our food or the mediocre food itself. The food wasn't horrible, but it was barely OK, and it certainly isn't worth the trip to either Transit Road or Southwestern Boulevard if you don't live near either. Those in the mood for a mid-priced burrito would be better served by visiting Ava Cado's, which has similar offerings but better food and nicer workers. I'd be willing to go to Moe's three times between now and November 1st, which is exactly how many coupons it has in the Entertainment Book."

Molinaro's NY Pizza & Caffe.
90 Walnut St., Lockport.
438-0631.

[AG, 3/05] says: "Above-average pizzas and pastas. Offers three pizza tomato sauces: sweet, semi, regular. We took regular. The thinner dough and lighter hand with mozzarella made it more of a New-York-style pizza than the bready Western New York standard. The sauce tastes of quality tomatoes and rosemary. Huge chicken fingers."

Mom's Coffee Shop.
8420 Niagara Falls Blvd., Niagara Falls, NY.
297-6031.

[BI, 4/09] says: "I have had breakfast a number of times at Mom's, and this place never misses. The food is great, and so are the prices. I highly recommend the blueberry pancakes. Mom's has a nice local atmosphere. Stay away from the chain restaurants, and try a nice, friendly place with excellent food!"

[a] Moon Chinese Buffet.
3206 Sheridan Dr. (at Bailey, in Piccadilly Sq. Plaza), Amherst. 836-9988.

[MEL, 3/98] says: "Chinese buffet that is not great but slightly better than China Express. They actually have a few things that aren't fried!"

[a] Moscow Nights Cafe.
964 Maple Rd., Williamsville.
691-5797.

Russian.

[5/07] Given 3½ (out of 4) stars by Janice Okun, Buffalo News restaurant reviewer.

[WHN, 6/07] says: "My prior experiences with Russian cuisine were having chicken Kiev on a business trip to London a long time ago, more recently at the Russian Tea Room in New York, and having excellent beef Stroganoff some place, somewhere that I can't remember. So that is the limit of my first-hand knowledge of Russian food. Based on Janice Okun's 3-1/2 star rating, we decided to try Moscow Nights, which is in half of McMahon's former location, next to Russian-American Market & Deli, apparently run by the same people. We each started with a bowl of borscht, which was delicious, with lots of cabbage, a few turnips, and chunks of beef, but not the beet flavor expected. You don't find chicken Kiev on many restaurant menus in Buffalo, so I decided to have that. The chicken Kiev was a big disappointment: a flat piece of pre-formed chicken ("Parts is parts"), with no butter or chives in the middle. The beef Stroganoff was greasy and mostly ground beef, with a few pieces of beef. The side dishes—rice pilaf and home-style potatoes—were good. 3-1/2 stars? I don't think so, but the entrees were only $6.99 each. Edible, reasonably tasty, but we won't be back."

Mother's Restaurant.
33 Virginia Pl. (in Allentown, between Virginia and Allen, 1 block east of Delaware), Buffalo.
882-2989.

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

[10/06] Given 3½ (out of 4) stars by Janice Okun, Buffalo News restaurant reviewer.

[BeM, 10/09] says: "Mother's has been one of my husband's and my favorite restaurants for years, but after dinner this weekend I felt the need to submit a review, if for no other reason than for Mother's to read it and fix the problem! While the service was great as usual, and the wine list still remains strong, I have to agree wholeheartedly with [JCr, 6/09], when he said ‘basically every item on my plate was lacking seasoning…I don't believe my dish was underseasoned; I don't think it was seasoned at all.’ We started out with the shrimp fritters—I was very disappointed. They were gooey on the inside and overcooked on the outside, were much too large for a fritter, and lacked flavor. The corn inside was also so gummy that it stuck to my teeth. After the fritters, I had a house salad, which was OK, and my husband had the clam chowder, which he described as ‘watery’ and thin. My husband ordered the ribeye special with bleu cheese butter. The steak itself was excellent, but the side dishes were, as noted above, significantly underseasoned. Normally, I would order off the specials menu also, but it seemed lacking that night, so I went with a menu item, which one would assume was a stong dish if it made it onto the regular item. I order the pan seared scallops with black linguine and saffron cream sauce. The scallops were only seared on one side, and lightly at that, so I didn't get that delicious seared flavor that you usually get with scallops. The linguine was cooked well, but the sauce was painfully bland—almost as though there was nothing but unsalted cream on my plate. Neither I nor my husband finished our meals and, still hungry, decided to order dessert. We split the cappucino chocolate mousse layer cake, which was thankfully a very good dessert. All in all, had this been my first trip to Mother's, I would definitely not be returning. I share the sentiment of several people I've spoken with that hopefully the flavorless dishes will turn around, and I'll visit again next year to find the Mother's I've loved for years back to its old self."

[JCr] said:

[6/09] "This past Saturday evening, 6/27, my wife and I had a late dinner at Mother's. To start, we shared the Southwest Shrimp Fritters with a chipotle mayo-type dipping sauce and a cabbage slaw; these were really delicious, as always. Up next, we both had the house salad, but were both disappointed, because there were none of the pickled onions that always come on the salad; these are really great and make the salad more than a basic, boring, house salad. For our entrees, my wife had a salmon entree with coconut rice, which she reported to be all right. I ordered the prime-grade, strip-steak entree. My dish was O.K.; basically every item on my plate was lacking seasoning: the steak, mashed potatoes, and the buttermilk fried onion rings, which were the most bland I have ever had. I don't believe my dish was underseasoned; I don't think it was seasoned at all. This has been our favorite restaurant for years and years, but our last couple visits, it has just been O.K., which is not something that is going to keep it our favorite. I'm not sure what has changed, but the nightly specials seem to lack the imagination they used to, and the execution seems to have dropped off as well. We will probably take a longer break between visits than usual, but hopefully next time will be better that just O.K."

[1/09] "Recently, my wife and I made another trip to our favorite restaurant, Mother's, and had another excellent meal. We had 8 p.m. reservations on a Saturday evening and were seated upon arrival. For starters, we split an order of the Southwest Shrimp Fritters served with a chipotle-mayo-type dipping sauce and a refreshing slaw. House salads were next, served with the house balsamic dressing and crumbled bleu cheese. For our entrees, both ordered off the specials menu: My wife chose the potato gnocchi; I went with the flank steak. My wife's selection was off the appetizer list but was large enough to eat as an entree; she greatly enjoyed it. My flank steak was sliced thin and complemented with a mushroom-Worcester "gravy" atop a serving of mashed potatoes, and accompanied by two very large, deep-fried shrimp and a crown of broccoli. This was a great entree and certainly did not disappoint. To round out our meal, as always, we each ordered a Courvoisier stinger (an after-dinner drink consisting of 2 parts cognac, 1 part white creme de menthe; usually these are made with brandy instead of cognac, but we feel it's much better with the cognac. We also decided to split a piece of the chocolate cream puff pie, which was delicious. The service as always was 1st rate, and the bill after 20% tip came to $115. A++"

[10/06] "Last evening, we enjoyed another great meal at Mother's restaurant. We both started out with their house salad (mixed greens with pickled onion) with their house dressing (balsamic vinaigrette with crumbled blue cheese). This evening, we both ordered our entrees off the specials menu. My wife ordered the Yellow Fin Tuna, ordered medium rare and cooked more like medium, along with wasabi mashed potato and steamed baby bok choy. Although the fish was a tad overcooked, she said it was still very enjoyable. For my entree, I chose the twin 8oz. oven roasted Lamb Chops with a balsamic syrup, crispy leeks, and ratatouille. This entree was excellent and was served with asparagus and roasted baby potatos with goat cheese. A couple stingers to round out the meal, and this was just another great dining experience had at dear Mother's."

[2/06] "Saturday evening, 7 of my friends and myself embarked on a journey to my favorite local dining establishment, Mother's. I was excited; it has been about 6 months since my last visit. As usual, the specials list, which 6 of 8 of us ordered from, was as long or longer than their standard menu. We all started with the standard mixed greens salad with their standard house dressing on crumbled bleu and balsamic. For my entree, I went with the filet of Opakapaka, which was served with a couple gulf shrimp as well as sticky rice and baby bok choy; everything on the plate was delicious. Other entrees that were ordered consisted of lamb chops, pork tenderloin, t-bone steak, strip steaks, and the other seafood special, which was a John Dory filet. Everyone else reported their meals to be superb. Just another great experience at Mother's; the next one surely will be as well."

[SK, 8/08] says: "We visited Mother's this past Friday with another couple for a late supper (approx. 8:30 or 9) and were seated within minutes in a nice corner table in the back. Personally, I would've preferred to sit outside in the patio, as it was a beautiful night. I'd heard of Mother's over the years, but had a picture in my mind of a dirty, college-type dive (being open so late), so was very impressed with the interior and the service—both far exceeded my expectations. I found the music to be a bit loud, but not so much that we couldn't hear one another. If anything, it gave the place a bit of big-city hustle and bustle. We had already had drinks and appetizers in another establishment, so we skipped on that and went straight for our dinners. Sometimes I feel as though you're judged if you don't partake in the full menu, but our waiter made us feel most comfortable even when we ordered waters all around. I had a wonderful cup of soup—asparagus and mushroom—as did one of our companions. We both enjoyed it. My husband and our friend ordered salads and enjoyed those; everything was gone quickly. The bread was served warm and went well with both the soup and salad. My husband had a special entree: It was fish, and he could barely finish, the portion was so large. He thoroughly enjoyed what he did eat. I ordered a pasta dish off the menu, which featured asparagus, beets, and chicken. It was delicious (and would've paired nicely with a crisp chard)! One of our companions ordered this, as well, and enjoyed it, too. Our friend also had a steak, and that received high marks. Although we didn't do all the courses and (sadly) didn't enjoy a bottle of wine from what looked to be a nice listing, we enjoyed every second in this quaint building. The bar area was crowded with an interesting mix of people (I suppose this could be annoying if you're looking for a quiet, romantic meal), the waitstaff was friendly, and the food was reasonably priced. I feel like we just made a long-overdue discovery, and my husband and I can't wait to go back again. Frankly, I was surprised at some of the negative reviews below. Granted, we didn't have drinks or appetizers, but, even with all of the rest of the food, our bill came to under $80. Pretty impressive for such a unique dining experience."

Bill said:

[4/08] [MER] and I returned for an after-theater get-together with a 10-person party on a Saturday night around 10:30 p.m. We had reservations merely for "after the show", no specific time; although they asked for a credit card to hold the table and told us there would be a $20 charge for a no-show, there was no problem with our arriving later than expected, and we were seated near another group of people who had invited us to sit near them, but who had not yet made their reservations when we did, so I was impressed with the care that the management made to fulfill our wishes. The place was hopping. The service was excellent. [MER] had the roasted garlic and white bean hummus, which I found to be a bit dry. I had bluepoint oysters with a mignonette sauce, which were excellent.

[1/05] [MER] and I ate here with a party of 9 people on a Sunday evening. The food and service were superb. The location is fantastic, too: You feel as though you have traveled back in time to the turn of the 19th century, since the restaurant's Allentown location is surrounded by late-19th-century buildings. There were 2 equal-length menus, one of daily specials, one of their standard fare. (Because we were a large group, we also had two waiters, taking our orders in parallel!) When the bread plates arrived, they already had a pat of sweet butter on each. I began my meal with an appetizer of roasted garlic and white bean hummus, accompanied by Greek olives and roasted red peppers, served with wedges of pita: excellent. Each meal is accompanied by either a house salad or a soup of the day; I opted for the latter, a deliciously spicy sweet potato and peanut soup (the other option that night was a white bean and Andouille sausage soup). For my main course, I had one of the specials: a baked whole rainbow trout stuffed with crawfish and shiitake mushrooms, accompanied by roast potatoes and delightfully tender asparagus: again, excellent. [MER]'s appetizer was Chinese barbeque ribs, followed by the house salad (minus the bleu cheese) in a buttermilk garlic dressing. For her main course, she had the Dijon peppercorn tournedos of tenderloin with wild mushrooms in a sauce of veal stock and red zinfandel; she liked it, but thought it wasn't anything very special. For me, the highlight was dessert: the very same, famous white satin tart that I used to love at Just Pasta. The service was attentive, excellent, and friendly.

[NC, 12/07] said: "Last night, accompanied by another couple, my boyfriend and I went to Mother's on Virginia St., where we had made reservations weeks ago. After first being told that we had to leave a credit-card number or else we would be charged $20.00 per person that did not show for the reservations, we were adamant about making it there on time. Fifteen minutes prior to our reservation, we walked through the doors only to be greeted with the repulsive smell of sewage and/or just a bad night for someone in the bathrooms, which are located near the entrance. Upon seeing our friends at the other end of the bar, we quickly moved towards them, so our stomachs would not turn any longer. No such luck, as the smell seemed to have penetrated the entire bar area. Moving on, we were promptly seated and ordered our apps and dinner. All very pleasing and well made—the stuffed portabella mushroom made me wish I had ordered my own, and the brie was gone quite quickly, too. I had the escular, a Hawaiian fish, which was delicious, and the other diners had regular menu items: scallops with fettucine and the porterhouse—all were enjoyed. After finishing our meals, declining dessert, and paying our bill with a substantial tip that the waitress thanked us twice for, we sat for approximately 10 minutes to chat and digest a bit, only to be told by the host that there were people standing at the bar that had 8:00 reservations and could we please move to the bar. It was 8:05, and there were 3-4 empty tables surrounding us. We graciously moved from the table immediately, only to agree in unison once we hit the front walk that we would not be returning to Mother's again."

[APS, 10/07] said: "Went to Mother's around 8 o'clock on a Friday night (Oct 6). When we entered, there was no host to seat us, and it wasn't obvious what we should do. We waited around the front for a couple of minutes. We then decided to sit down outside, where there was plenty of seating. After a few more minutes, the host emerged telling us all seating outside was reserved, and advised us to be patient and wait. We went back to the front of the restaurant. Again, after waiting there for a another five minutes, I approached the host (who was running around towards the back of the restaurant) if he had a system, and if we could put our name in. He told us that he'd be with us in a few minutes and we had to be more patient. He said if we were, he would seat us by 9:30-10:00pm. The host was very disorganized and terribly rude, and so we left."

[CSC, 9/07] said: "My guest and I walked into Mother's just as the thunder clouds rolled overhead, and so chose to eat in the dining room, as opposed to the always enjoyable patio. As usual, the music was loud to the point that normal dining room voices had to be raised slightly, but, as I've come to expect this at Mother's, no harm, no foul. We were promptly seated and provided with menus and a wine list. Sadly, the Riesling for which I had been hankering all day was sold out, so we selected the Pouilly-Fume, reasonably priced at $27. Both the wine and bread were presented in short order. The companion's first-course salad was fairly ordinary, dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette, of which there was a watery pool remaining when the salad was gone. That being said, it's nice to see a house salad comprised of more than iceberg, carrots, and red cabbage; these mixed greens were arranged with onion, cherry tomato, garbanzo, walnuts, and crumbled bleu cheese. My corn chowder was very nice, buttery, and rich, though it was improved by the addition of some salt. For the entrée, both my guest and I ordered from the specials list, which is larger than the standard menu and changes with fair regularity. The guest enjoyed his roast duck with Grand Marnier sauce, finding the portion generous and meaty. The duck was served with wild rice, which was acceptable, and some lovely green asparagus. I found my salmon with an Asianesque sweet chili glaze to be cooked perfectly, and the accompanying coconut rice and steamed baby bok-choy to be a wonderful compliment. These entrees, which included soup or salad, were approximately $25 each. It was still pouring outside, so we opted for coffee; it was around 10PM, and the waitress informed us that she would brew a fresh pot. We also shared an enormous slice of chocolate-cappuccino mousse cake, which was rich and satisfying, with just the right amount of cinnamon to drum up feelings of its namesake beverage. Desserts are made by a local pastry chef, who supplies a number of restaurants, and are a steal at $4.50. Overall, as an Allentown resident, I am frequently thankful for Mother's. Where else in Buffalo can one find a meal of this quality until well past midnight?"

[BMcWS, 6/07] said: "We were surprised to find Mother's an unpleasant experience. The bar scene was so loud it was impossible to carry on a conversation at the table. When we entered the restaurant, we were faced with a wall of people at the bar and no hostess in sight. Eventually, we discovered that she stands at the other end of the bar, behind the crowds, but there is no way to know this when you walk in the door. The clam chowder was thin and not at all thick or satisfying. I ordered a smoked trout spinach salad as an appetizer. Served on the plate were hot potatos, which just seemed weird. The rest of the salad was tasty, but too large a portion. The fried oyster appetizer was overcooked. The cornmeal coating was not tasty. We did not receive bread until we asked for it. Service was extemely slow. The Gorgonzola penne dish was overpowered by the cheese, and the accompanying beets were too heavily seasoned with cloves. My sole entree came breaded and deep fried—completely overpowering for the delicate flavor of the fish. It came accompanied by the same potatoes that had graced my salad plate. The dessert selection was small, with several items unavailable that evening. We won't be going back."

[RSw, 12/06] said: "Ate at Mother's on 12/15. Dining early, we were the first to be seated and the first to order. To our surprise, a couple two tables away was served first. Because the restaurant was still relatively empty, we heard him tell his companion "This isn't what I ordered". We looked over and he was using his utensils to move things around on the plate. He summoned a waitress and made his complaint. The waitress removed his plate and returned in less than one minute with another plate of food. She returned to the kitchen and immediately came out with two plates which she put down in front of us. The plate that was removed from the other diner was piled high with something white and the plate in front of my wife was a filet with lightly fried onions piled high on top of the filet. Thinking that the waitress wouldn't do something like re-serve food we sat there for a minute wondering how they could have produced another meal for the other table so quickly. We asked to speak with the maitre d' and explained our concern. He was extremely apologetic and offered several alternatives. My wife decided to shrug it off and accepted his offer of a new meal. He quickly returned to inform us that the manager said my wife could eat what she was served or she could take it home. He now said that no mistake had been made and that the other diner got a second meal so quickly because they "pre-cook" their steaks. The diner from the other table came over to our table and said that he, too, was thinking about it. He said that the waitress asked him if he ate anything on the plate. He told her no but wondered why she asked. We then asked to speak with the owner, who was present. We explained everything again, and he simply said "OK" and walked away. We paid the full bill, and I left with a hungry wife. We stopped at Leo's Pizza on Seneca St. (good review to follow) for a few take-out slices. We won't ever return to Mother's, but, the next time you're dining there, you can ask yourself... Whose food am I really eating?"

[WHN, 12/06] said: "We've heard a lot of good things about Mother's, including the above reviews, but had never dined there. My wife and I finally went on Saturday, 12/9. (Our daughter and the chef, Matt Conroy, had dated during college, and he and our son shared an apartment for a while. Matt frequently cooked for our family, and the meals he prepared were always very good, although his formal culinary school training came later.) Back to Mother's... to start, we ordered two glasses of house chardonnay and Southwestern shrimp fritters. This was accompanied by a spicy remoulade sauce, and cole slaw seasoned with sesame oil. Both the fritters and the slaw were excellent. When Matt learned we were dining in his restaurant, he also sent us a complimentary appetizer of shrimp, fresh oysters, and lump crab meat with cocktail sauce. Next, we enjoyed a house salad of mixed greens and cherry tomatoes. The salad, or soup, is included with each entree. The house balsamic vinegar and oil dressing with Gorgonzola was very good. For the main course, I chose an evening special—lamb chops with pine nuts, garlic, and black currants in a marsala-based demi-glace. The chops were perfectly cooked, and the sauce was delicious. My meal was accompanied by mashed potatoes, french fried onions, and green beans. My wife chose an entree from the regular menu—tournados glazed with Dijon mustard in a cabernet wine sauce. Her filets were cooked to perfection, medium rare as requested, and accompanied by oven roasted baby potatoes, and mushrooms. With our entrees, we drank a bottle of Raymond Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet. The wine list has a wide variety of low cost wines by the bottle, ranging from $22 to $42, with most in the $20 to $30 range. Most of the wines are about double retail, but the Raymond Reserve cabernet was priced at $36, about the same as, or maybe a little less than, the retail price. But... one of my pet peeves about restaurant wine lists is that they are usually inaccurate as far as vintage dates and descriptions. Mother's wine list is no exception. The menu lists a 2000 Raymond Reserve, but we were served a 2003. It also said the Raymond was the only Cabernet rated at 90+ by Wine Spectator selling for under $40. Actually, the out-of-stock 2000 was rated at 87 (very good), not 90, and dozens of 2000 (and 2003) Cabernets rated at or above 90 by WS are priced at $40 or less. After sharing two appetizers, plus salads, she could not finish both tournados, so we asked to have one packaged to take home. We didn't have room for dessert, either. Our server, Justin, did an excellent job throughout the evening. One negative note: My wife reported that the ladies' rest room had no hot water, just icy cold water. Altogether, the meal and service were excellent, and I've expanded my list of favorite Buffalo restaurants to include Mother's. Worthy of three stars on the Rapaport scale."

[BA, 6/06] said: "Had a very nice, very late dinner at Mother's last week. Service was friendly, warm, and knowledgeable. Quite helpful with a wine selection for two people whose favorites are 180 degrees apart. Food looked great, tasted the same, good-size portions. Creative entrees. Fresh fish excellent, simple salad looked fine and tasted better. Late night dinner, not too heavy, hit the spot—will go back again and again."

[LC, 11/05] said: "OK, now I am absolutely astounded. One star for Mother's? Mother's is one of the best restaurants in which I've ever eaten outside of New York City, from the imagination and originality on the menu to the superb service, the consistently outstanding food, and the reasonable prices. I have a business acquiantance with whom I dine often, and he has eaten in the best restaurants in the world (we first dined together at Daniel Boulud's in NYC). I often squeam when taking him somewhere new because of his mile-high dining standards. Where do I take him and know everything will be absolutely perfect? Mother's. Unfortunately, I'm beginning to think that your one-star rating says more about you and your taste in restaurants than it does about the quality of Mother's." [Bill's reply: No, it says more about not reading the ratings key. My single star merely reflects only having eaten at a restaurant that I liked one time.]

[ST, 3/03] said: "I'm visiting Buffalo from New York City, performing with the Buffalo Philharmonic. A friend and I were looking for late supper after a performance at Kleinhans. We stopped by the Pearl Street Brewery, which is near the hotel, where a waiter steered us to Mother's, which serves until 3 AM. We found it positively delightful. Rather than a "dive" as described on your site, the restaurant has a classy loft feel to it, with friendly staff and a very attractive crowd having a great time. The food warrants a star or two. It's creative, well thought-out, and well executed. It's worth a visit for the wine list alone—great, less-than-obvious selections at prices that would be fair in a retail store. I highly recommend Mother's."

[A&NP, 4/99] say: "Arrived early—we had the pleasure to sit at the bar. Dinner was excellent. Scampi Fritters with Southwestern accent and Chipotle sauce. Porterhouse steak cooked exactly as asked. Friendly bistro atmosphere. We found the prices very reasonable and give it an excellent review!"

[HL, 6/98] said: "I agree with two comments the previous writer made. The food is excellent, and it does look like a dive. I think, however, that the food prices are extremely reasonable, and the wine list is imaginative and inexpensive."

[JK, 3/98] said: "The place looks like a dive, but the menus, food, and service are excellent for an almost decent price."

[am] Moti Mahal.
3545 Sheridan Dr., Amherst.
837-3038.

Takeout available from Takeout Taxi, 631-2222.

[WHN, 1/06] says: "I thought I would express my opinions on the four south Asian restaurants that we have tried in the area. Tandoori's is the best, with Kabab and Curry and Taste of India tied for second. Moti Mahal is a far distant fourth. Everything they serve tastes almost the same."

[KATS, 1/06] says: "Since my brother had never tried Indian food, I wanted to take him to a buffet for his first time. We had planned on Taste of India, but mixed up our days and ended up at Moti Mahal. While it wasn't awful, it wasn't very good. The meat dishes were a bit suspect—the tandoori chicken had a weird smell, so I didn't try it. The spinach/cheese dish was good; the Indian meatballs were fine (if a bit processed tasting). Everything else was of mediocre quality. Next week I'm taking him to Taste of India so he can try excellent Indian food."

[EC, 6/04] says: "I went here a year or 2 ago, and it was OK (although I think it was owned & run by eastern Europeans, not Indians!). I never went back until recently, when an Indian friend told me that the management changed & it was very good now. We went down for the lunch buffet, & I was very pleased, indeed. They have a very decent selection of food (not super-extensive, but tasty & well-labeled), service is quick & courteous, and it's only $4.99!!! Although it's a good experience (and a good value), the best part is the fact that they have a large-screen TV which plays a loop of Indian music videos. These might be considered kind of campy & kitschy by U.S. standards, but they're extremely entertaining to watch. I can sum up each one: A man and a woman have some type of romantic relationship, and they travel to all kinds of scenic & exotic locations to embrace, dance, and pout with the aid of many brightly-dressed backup dancers. The Moti Mahal is a must: Good food, good value, good entertainment!"

[FJ, 12/01] says: "I was just looking at the guide on line and was wondering about the kind of contributors you have. I was personally outraged by the Moti Mahal rating. It is by far the best Indian food in Buffalo, and I think that opinion should be known to balance the bad review. It has a faithful following of people who are more wowed by authenticity and taste than decor. The best Chicken Makhani and vindaloo and best vegetarian specials going ($5 on Wed. for entree and naan or rice). Better Indian food than you can get in Toronto, as well. Many would vouch for that who have any idea about what Indian food is supposed to taste like."

[JPM, 9/00] says: "Passable, but just keep driving in one direction or the other on Sheridan and go to Taste of India or Indian Clay-Oven. Both are better. Tandoori Lamb was tough, but nicely spiced. The place was kind of dumpy."

Mr. Bill's.
1500 Cleveland Dr. (near Cayuga Rd.), Cheektowaga.
634-0783.

[DY, 9/02] says: "Great food, but has gotten a little pricy in recent months. Their prime rib may not be as big as some, but it is juicy, flavorful, and cooked just right. The atmosphere is both casual and "nice"; you'll feel equally at home stopping for a snack after bowling, or going to dinner for a special occasion. I always give bonus points to places where the owners work harder than the employees, and you'll never see Bill or Nancy stop long enough to cast a shadow.:-)"

Mr. Pita.
7500 Transit Rd. (across from Eastern Hills Mall), Williamsville.
204-8065.

Part of the chain.

[BMcWS, 2/09] says: "We stopped into the newly opened Mr. Pita (directly across from Eastern Hills mall) on a Saturday for an early dinner. We were disappointed to learn that they have a big, one-price buffet, but it's only open Monday through Friday 11-2. The regular menu contains lots of different pitas, including some lite selections, pita pizzas, and a children's menu. I ordered a turkey pita, which included Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, and "house dressing", which we later learned was just light mayo. I needed to ask for some honey Dijon to spice this up, since it was bland. My husband ordered the Greek pita but substituted the gyro meat, which was on the menu for the meat in it. He enjoyed that. Our daughter ordered a club pita, which was good. Our son got the kids' chicken-tenders meal. It contained about 4 tiny chicken pieces and fries (pretty sparse). It came with a cookie (peanut butter or oatmeal raisin) and a drink; however, the soda machine was broken, so he got to choose from the case of bottled drinks. It was also supposed to come with a toy, but they were out, so they gave him another cookie. The fries were good. They are described as "healthy", which I think means they are baked. They do sell some bagged snacks —baked potato chips and Doritos. There is cole slaw and potato salad in the case. It took quite a while for our pitas to be made, but we were generally pretty pleased with them. All pitas come with a pickle as well, which was nice. This is a nice alternative to fast food, if you want a cheap meal. Our total came to $19.78 for 4 people. We will definitely come back to try the buffet. If you go, be sure to pick up one of the brochures on the counter—there are coupons in them you can use."

Mulberry Italian Ristorante (a.k.a. Mulberry Café).
64 Jackson Ave., Lackawanna.
822-4292.

[CMo, 3/09] says: "I'm from Ft. Erie and on a six-day culinary whirlwind with my wife. Just finishing up on the shores of the Niagara, and I felt compelled to note what an excellent find I had at the Mulberry Restaurant in Lackawanna. It was only about a 10-minute drive from the Peace Bridge. I must say I was a bit skeptical when I looked at the exterior of the restaurant, and I wasn't sure if I was going to the right place when I entered the neighborhood, but I left the Mulberry as the happiest man in town. Unbelievable! First, when you walk into the place, you become engulfed with its beautiful red walls and contrasting, vintage, black-and-white photographs. The service was attentive, and the food was out quick. Now, about the food. Canada has many fine Italian restaurants; I have never tasted better meatballs and red sauce in my life! I was completely blown away. The homemade mozzarella was certainly homemade, as the chef brought us a sample while it was still warm, drizzled with a little extra-virgin olive oil. The fried mozzarella was different from anything we've had. It wasn't the frozen variety you get at other places. This was some mozzarella (homemade) in between some fresh Italian bread that was breaded and fried and served with that fantastic, fresh-textured tomato sauce. We also had the homemade manicotti, and that was absolutely to die for. For dessert, we split the ricotta cheesecake, and it was marvelous! 5 stars to the Mulberry! This will be a regular stop for us during each visit to the States."

[RDM, 7/08] said: "Loved this place! My husband and I stopped in for a quick lunch and found this place to be as wonderful as the "buzz" we've been hearing about it. The atmosphere was welcoming, the service prompt and friendly, and the food was way above average. We both enjoyed the baked onion soup, which was the soup of the day. It differed from French onion soup, as it had pancetta, roasted garlic, herbs, and was topped with smoked mozzarella cheese. My crabcake Caesar salad was topped with the biggest crabcake I have ever seen. It looked bready, but was completely filled with seasoned fresh crab. My husband also enjoyed his chorizo burger with salsa off of the lunch specials menu. I cannot wait to go back for dinner!"

[WHN, 10/07] said: "We went to Mulberry for dinner with two other couples on Saturday, 10/6. Two of our friends from the Southtowns have been here frequently and like it a lot. The restaurant has a New York City theme, with walls decorated with Yankees sports memorabilia, street signs, and the like. The background music is a combination of primarily Sinatra, Luciano Pavarotti, and other singers of Italian descent. For dinner, I and one friend had an evening special—veal cutlet rolled and stuffed with cheese, peppers, and mushrooms—with potatoes au gratin and broccoli. It was good, although the meat could have been more tender and hotter. Two diners had veal parmesan with a side of pasta. Both said their meals were very good. Another friend had eggplant parmesan, also with a side of pasta, which she said was delicious. Finally, one of our Southtowns friends had a sixteen-ounce rib-eye steak with French fries and vegetable. He said it was excellent: "like Smith and Wollensky, but there you would pay $48 for the steak, with everything else extra". All dinners come with a salad, with a choice of house-made dressings. The entrees range from around $15 to $21 for the most expensive item on the menu—the steak. With two bottles of wine (Ruffino Chianti, $20 per bottle), the dinner cost less than $60 per couple including tax and gratuity."

Murphy's Tavern on the Green.
8230 Wehrle Dr. (in the Wehrle Golf Dome), Williamsville.
633-1662.

[GS, 1/04] says: "Excellent fish fry with all the usual accoutrements. The roasted red pepper bisque is to die for. Arrive early, or the wait can be (+/-)30 minutes, but a dalliance at the spacious bar with numerous televised sporting events (and other programming) on about 20 television sets in evidence. Prices are reasonable."

Muscoreil's Bistro and Dessert Gallery.
3960 Niagara Falls Blvd., Wheatfield.
692-9081.

[SAS, 10/08] says: "Positive—for lunch: had a wonderful lunch there with a friend today; their lunch menu contains a page of panini, another of wraps, and another from the grille. My guest had a cup of cream-of-mushroom soup with a spinach salad. She thought both were very good but would have enjoyed the salad more if the hot bacon dressing had been hotter (or even warm). I had the Mexican wedding soup with a salami, capacola, and ham panini with roasted red peppers and onion. Both were very tasty! We, of course, finished our meal with dessert...not the only reason to visit here...but certainly an excellent one! Just be aware...they don't take reservations, so arrive before noon or significantly later, because they always seem to fill up!"

[GMG, 9/08] says: "I visited Muscoreil's with [MDB] on 8-13-08 and had a fabulous meal. What a quaint restaurant: cozy, not too large, nice atmosphere, and polite hostess and servers. He had the chicken stuffed with Asiago cheese and prosciutto with asparagus and whipped potatoes, and I had the NY strip steak with baked potato and mixed vegetables. Both were presented nicely and tasted fantastic! My steak was cooked to perfection and juicy. The wine suggestions were good, as was the service. The dessert suggestions were even better; [MDB] had an almond raspberry cake, and I had a chocolate raspberry mouse—to die for! [Editor's note: Had it really been a mouse—instead of a mousse—you might really have died for it! ;-)] We took one of their "personally delivered by God" brownies home, and it was heavenly. I have just learned, however, that Muscoreil's has now reduced both its menu and its hours. The restaurant is open no later than 7:00 p.m., and the most you can get are sandwiches and wraps—basically lunch fare. No more fantastic dinners to be had. One can only hope that they bring back the fabulous meals once again (perhaps a seasonal change of menu?). The dessert selection, however, remains the same and is still decadent and delicious!"

[EMW, 11/07] said: "Muscoreil's has always been our favorite bakery for cakes and desserts, but they now have a restaurant that serves lunch and dinner. As you enter Muscoreil's, you walk past a case of the most beautiful, sinful desserts that you must keep in mind when ordering dinner! There are two intimate dining rooms with probably 10 tables each. While they don't have a full bar, they do have a decent wine list, and we started with a bottle of Riesling. We split a Caesar salad and the crabcakes for an appetizer (although the waitress brought us one crabcake, which we pointed out as a grammatical/false advertisement on the menu). The salad was good, and the crabcake, while it wasn't jumbo lump crab, was served with two delicious sauces that complemented it nicely. For dinner, I had the Penne à la Vodka with Chicken. I normally don't order pasta at restaurants, but it just sounded good, and with artichokes, asparagus, roasted bell peppers, and spinach in a creamy, tangy sauce, it didn't disappoint. However, the serving was ridiculously large, and I probably only ate 1/3 of it. My partner had the salmon, which was served over spaetzle, spinach, and corn, with a ginger sauce on top of the grilled seasoned salmon. I thought the seasoning was a little much, but my dinner partner loved it and said he would have trouble ordering something else the next time we visited. Unfortunately, we hadn't saved room for dessert, so we took it to go (Pistachio Mousse Tulip and Cappuccino Mousse Cup), and, bar none, it was the best dessert of any restaurant in Western New York. We will definitely return again!"

Muse.
1285 Elmwood Ave. (in the Albright-Knox Art Gallery), Buffalo.
882-8700.

Same management as Le Metro and Sole.

[9/06] Given 3½ (out of 4) stars by Janice Okun, Buffalo News restaurant reviewer.

[AAB, 3/09] says: "My companion and I went to this restaurant as part of a night of art. I wish that the people who ran this restaurant saw food, and the presentation of food, as an art. This is a plain room, with bad chairs, bad lighting, bad service, and mediocre food. The night we came to eat here, there was a loud party taking up one half of the dining room. Instead of seating us away from this party, we were placed up against a window, in the thick of it. We could not hear each other; we could not hear our waitress. We had to ask to move. Our waitress was too busy with this party (which had a buffet) to pay attention to us. The food was uninspired and not very well cooked. I got sick afterwards. The price is too much for the quality of the restaurant. This is too bad, as this could be a very interesting dining experience, surrounded by art and culture, if the people who managed it actually had a passion for, and cared about, what they do."

[ZR, 12/08] said: "Mediocre food and disappointing service from management at Muse; not recommended (12/14/2008). I live in New York and love to frequent the Albright Knox Art Gallery when I visit Buffalo. I used to love the restaurant in this gallery, but, since new owners took over, brunch is no longer the delicious and perfectly cooked smorgasbord of items like poached salmon, mini waffles, etc. The menu is à la carte, which would be fine if the food were flavorful, but my guests and I found the entire experience disappointing. Additionally, we were charged for something that we did not receive, and it has been a challenge getting the charges reversed. As customers, we felt unappreciated and ignored. It is very unfortunate that I have nothing kind to say about Muse or its management team, especially since the Albright Knox Art Gallery is one of my favorite places."

[ADa, 5/07] said: "Sunday brunch at Muse on May 20, 2007. According to the website, hours for the Sunday Brunch are 10:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m., and "All guests may enjoy the continental buffet and one of the entrees listed below. $16" (emphasis mine). Yesterday's Sunday Brunch was possibly the most disappointing dining experience I have ever endured! Sadly, it was downright embarrassing, as we were celebrating my mother-in-law's 81st birthday. It began as soon as we arrived for our 1:00 p.m. reservation. Our table for 4 was not ready. The bus girl seated us at a larger table but never removed the 3 extra glasses or chairs. When we went to the buffet table, we had to ask for plates to use. The offerings at the buffet table were not labelled and were paltry at best: no sliced fruit in the fruit bowl, 5 slices of kiwi left (some unpeeled) on a plate, one bunch of grapes, potato salad drowning in mayo, extremely salty green peas(?), bagels (only 6 left in the basket), lox, croissants, and ordinary pastries. Our waiter arrived some time later to take our orders: 4 coffees, 2 Wild Mushroom Omelettes, 1 Crab and Asparagus Eggs Benedict, and 1 Stuffed French Toast. Simple enough.... He returned with 3 omelettes—2 Wild Mushroom as ordered, and 1 Feta. No! When asked if the fruit bowl had been replenished, the waiter said that the kitchen does the food, but he would check. No, there was no more fruit. The restaurant was out of sliced fruit by 1 p.m., although they were still serving for 2 more hours! He mentioned that someone else would be bringing coffee. No! We had to ask the bus girl to heat up our coffee. She came a third time, served 1 person, and abruptly left. We also had to ask to have more water and for the used small buffet plates to be removed from our table. Disturbed by the awful service, I returned to the buffet table area and was able to express my concerns politely and in private to the manager. She said there was a problem with staffing (obviously!), but she was not particularly apologetic or the least bit anxious to try to remedy the situation. When the waiter brought the bill, he tossed it on the table while talking over his shoulder to someone else, never saying anything to us. I can say that the egg entrees were delicious—one bright spot in a dismal afternoon. There were so many disasters; not only did the waiter bring the wrong entrees, he also brought the wrong beverages. Instead of 4 coffees, he brought 3 coffees and 1 tea. The coffees were lukewarm. As for the decor, it was nothing more than a plain rectangular room with a view of a sculpture in an atrium. I suppose it would be pleasant to eat outside in good weather. It was noisy closed inside on a rainy day. My comments have ended up being more of a customer complaint than a restaurant review. The service was such an overwhelming negative, it was hard to be impressed by anything else. Clearly, The Muse was not any source of inspiration for yesterday's Sunday brunch at the Albright-Knox."

Mustachio's Pizza.
2701 Elmwood Ave., Kenmore.
874-8909.

[JKl, 7/07] says: "This restaurant is located on the corner of West Girard and Elmwood Ave. in the heart of Kenmore. It is located where Mystic Pizza was formerly located. The owner is a sweet guy—throws around a lot of "pals" and "sweethearts" and "huns" and "buddies". He can be brash, but he gets his job done—and done well. We have had several pizzas from this location, all pepperoni. If you like your pizzas a little sweet and a little greasy, you'll like Mustachio's. There is always a good amount of cheese on top, without being so heavy that it's unmanageable. The subs are also to die for. Lightly toasted roll, piled with ingredients. We got the Italian Sausage sub, and it was one of the best we had ever tasted. They also feature cut-out coupons on their pizza boxes—collect 10 and you get a free large pizza of your choice. Highly recommended local pizza joint!!"

My Little Margie's.
5044 Broadway (at Penora), Depew.
684-6556.

[BaS, 7/09] says: "My husband and I went 7/3/09 with his brother, sister-in-law, and niece. There is a quiet bar in front, medium-sized dining room packed with tables. My husband and brother-in-law had the fish fry; I had the seafood platter; my sister-in-law had a turkey Reuben, and my niece had chicken fingers and potato skins. My husband and brother-in-law started with the Manhattan clam chowder, which was obviously homemade. It contained large chunks of potatoes and carrots. The men said the soup had a nice clam broth. The fish fries were very large. They and my seafood platter were served with cole slaw, potato salad, macaroni salad—all fresh and delicious—and French fries. The seafood platter came with a large piece of fish; 5 fried scallops, which were sweet and tender; breaded, fried, clam strips; and 2 fried shrimp. The turkey Reuben was made with carved turkey breast, or ‘real turkey’ as we like to call it, and placed on grilled sourdough. My sister-in-law said it was delicious. The chicken fingers were large, the potato skins loaded with cheese and bacon. Our waitress was a sweet woman with a great sense of humor. We are definitely going back."

[DY, 9/02] said: "This is a classic "gin mill". Margie's homemade soups are great, the sandwiches are generous beyond compare, and if you like classic chicken-in-a-basket, you can't miss!"

[MP, 1/96] said: "Has some of the best food in the area; you usually cannot finish it because the portions are very big. Prices are decent, too."

[am] My Tomato Pie.
3085 Sheridan Dr. (Northtown Plaza, near Bailey), Eggertsville.
838-0969.

[MRT, 5/05] says: "My friends and I have considered My Tomato Pie one of our favorite inexpensive restaurants in town for years. Very often, my husband and I will share a Caesar salad to begin. It is large enough to share between two people, and good tasting. My husband and his best friend simply adore the My Antonio pizza pie. They share a large one, which is covered with steak and caramelized onions. In truth, the steak used to be of better quality a few years ago, but they still consider it a great pizza. I always get their vegetable calzone with a side of sauce. If we have room, we order an apple crisp to share. Their apple crisp is homemade, and as good as my own. They do have a wine list."

[SMD, 2/03] says: "I have been a fan of My Tomato Pie for about 5 years now. They specialize in pizza, sandwiches, salads, and "lighter" fare but do have a few Italian specialities on the menu as well. Don't miss the Fried Green Tomato appetizer. Delicious green tomatoes breaded with cornmeal and fried to a crisp (not greasy!) crunch, served on a bed of greens with balsamic vinaigrette and both a creamy, roasted-red-pepper dip and ranch dip on the side. Other notable dishes are the Homemade Vegetarian Minestrone, Foccacia sandwiches, and Pizza Salad, but all of the food is of good quality. I have honestly never had a meal there that I wasn't pleased with. They have a large variety of vegetarian dishes, designated with a little red tomato, and they also indicate dishes that contain nuts, for those with allergies to such things. The service can be a bit leisurely at times, but always friendly. I recommend this place to all my friends, and no one has ever been disappointed. They are currently expanding to add about 20 tables and a small banquet area."

[MJH, 8/98] says: "Soups are very good, and the Tomato Basil has a different taste, great with the hot sandwiches. Menu is full of pizzas; they call them Tomato Pies."

Mythos.
510 Elmwood Ave. (just north of Allentown, between Utica and Hodge), Buffalo.
886-9175.

Greek.

[LFo, 7/08] says: "I have been to Mythos a few times and just recently went with my sister and her friend. All three of us enjoyed our meals. My sister and I always get the Spanakopita (spinach pie) dinner. It also comes with a Greek salad, pita bread, and your choice of potato (we chose the Greek potatoes). It costs $10.99. My family is Greek, and, ever since I was young, my mom has made Spanakopita for Christmas and Easter. For years, I have been trying to find a restaurant where I like their Spanakopita. Finally, I have found one. Mythos has really good Spanakopita, and it comes in the form of a spiral. My sister and I both liked our meals. My sister's friend got the Mythos pasta, which she enjoyed. Another item that I get every time as an appetizer is their Spinach Artichoke dip. Everybody thought it was tasty. The people sitting behind us were looking at our dish and thought it smelled good, so they ended up ordering one as well. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming; the prices are reasonable. Next time, I'll have to get their Chicken Souvlaki or maybe breakfast, since they serve it all day long."