Bill Rapaport's Buffalo Restaurant Guide

Alphabetical Listing of Restaurants: N

9-11 Tavern
99 Fastfood
Nadia's Taste of Soul
[am] Natalie's
Neapolis
[] Nektar
Nelson's Ridge
[m] Nette's Fried Chicken
New Star Chinese Buffet
New Yorker Pizzeria
Niagara Café
Niagara Culinary Institute
Niagara Fallsview Casino
Nick Charlap's Ice Cream
Nick's Place
Niko's Big Fat Greek Restaurant
[a] Nina's Custard
Nine-Eleven Tavern
Nissan's Kosher Deli
Nite Cap Grill
NoNoo Ramen Bar
North
(Guttuso's) North End Trattoria
Nosh Cafe
La Nova Pizzeria
NovelTea Bistro

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.

---

[m] 99 Fastfood Restaurant.
3396 Bailey Ave. ( University District), Buffalo. 836-6058.

Japanese and Vietnamese. (Formerly called "Pho 99".)

[DJM, 1/12] says: "(Thank you, as always, for providing such an invaluable service, Bill!) [You're welcome; thanks for the kind words!] There seems to be a lot of current chatter about this place, so I thought I'd weigh in on my recent experiences at 99 Fastfood (have been there twice in the past two weeks). Intro: From my perspective, the food was amazing, but the service was lackluster at best. Patrons benefit from the best of both ‘take out’ and ‘true restaurant’ worlds. The prices are on par with quick take-out, but it is without question a sit-down restaurant, complete with: seating for ~40, saltwater fish tank(s?), music, and hardbound copies of their menu (no food items listed on a wall or computer print-off menus). Food is delicious. A slightly dated photograph of their menu can be found at: urbanspoon.com [and a slightly different menu can be found by clicking on their name, above]. Food: Both times, I ordered identical, size large, sub-$9.00 bowls of Pho Dac Biet. (NB: The dated menu, linked to above, states S, L, XL are size options for pho; now they have condensed into S- and L-sized portions [as shown on the alternative menu that I [Bill] mentioned above] —not sure if the sizing correlates to their old sizing, as I am a new customer.) It comes with beef, tripe, and ‘meatballs’ that don't resemble ground meat (but are still very good). As [MTC, 1/12]'s review states, the broth is rich, flavorful, and full of great herbal notes, without being even close to salty tasting. Each table has a rack of miscellaneous spices and sauces to add as needed, and the pho itself comes with a plate full of fresh: herbs, bean sprouts, and lime. (As an aside, I'm an adult male with a very healthy appetite, and the bowl alone presents a challenge to finish; definitely consider the smaller sized bowl (sub-$7.00) if interested in appetizers or dessert.) First-trip companion had the same type of pho as I did, and also really enjoyed it, for the same reasons I just mentioned. Second-trip companion ordered spicy, lemongrass chicken. I tried the chicken, and it was delicious; it was moist and flavorful, yet firm. It did not succumb to a pile of ‘mush’ from the plentiful amount of sauce it was served with; the sauce was very pleasant tasting, with a great amount of unknown herbs and spices added. It had just the right amount of heat for my liking. The chicken came with a good, unassuming portion of rice. I'd definitely order it myself in the future. Service: It was virtually non-existent both times I visited. The place is staffed with what appears to be a couple of college students (UB-South is within easy walking distance). They're polite and friendly, but it's obvious they don't have food-service skills or a desire to remain in the industry. For example, I ordered iced, jasmine tea; it's sold as ‘with refills’, and I wanted a refill after I consumed the contents of the first glass. Our server passed the table several times without offering to refill (or perhaps even noticing that the glass was empty). I had to literally flag him down for a refill after he took his standing position 10 feet away and began a protracted conversation with the other server. Neither the first-trip nor second-trip server brought bills to the table or even inquired into whether we would like dessert; it was as though, after food was served, our tables were on their own. (NB: I did notice other tables receiving bills and check-up service.) Both times, we waited at the table for a while, before walking up to the register to: (1) discover what our total bill came to, and (2) pay the same—with a smaller-than-average gratuity—at that moment. Summary: If eating ‘on the cheap,’ this is definitely an amazing place, as the value is outstanding for what is provided. Regardless of price, the freshness and quality of the food is on par with much more ‘glamorous’ eateries serving varied Asian cuisines. Service (of the kind that is normal at all restaurants I'm familiar with) isn't great, or even good, but the high-quality food, low cost, and reactive service (the servers are very friendly and quick when something is brought to their attention) more than make up for it. I believe they're open for lunch, and, if so, it would be a great, hearty meal most any time of day!"

[MTC, 1/12] said: "Service: The service was fairly poor, and that was with low expectations going into the meal. There were many small things that occurred throughout the evening, but the topper was upon completion of the meal about fifteen minutes passed without receiving a check, so I had to go to the counter to pay the bill. [But see CSS's comment, below.] Appetizer Item(s): Beef Short Rib B.B.Q. ($2.85): While the beef short rib packed a good amount of flavor in a little bit, I would never order this item again. The order was comprised of three extremely thin slices of meat with bone (think like a bone-in ham steak) that were literally the thickness of a piece of cardboard (~1/8") with combined weight being ~1 ounce, and that might be a little generous. I know you can't get a lot for $2.85, but this item left me wanting something else. Vietnamese Egg Roll ($1.50): The Vietnamese Egg Roll was very good; it had a crunchy, golden brown exterior while maintaining a moist, flavorful interior. The Egg Roll was served with a sweet fish sauce featuring a nice blend of sweetness, acidity, and umami. Entrée Item: Pho Dac Biet [beef, meatball tendon, and tripe] ($8.50 for a large): Description/Opinion: The Broth:  The broth is generally the star in a pho dish, and 99 Fastfood delivered with a rich, flavorful broth. A good amount of cilantro and other herbs were present, which added another dimension to the flavor profile. The Meats: The different meats in the Pho Dac Biet added various textural elements to the dish. The tripe and meatball were both very soft and creamy, while the beef and tendon added a little ‘chew’, which contrasted the noodles. The only real issue was that several pieces of beef were hard to eat, because they were a little too large. It proved to be a challenge to ‘cut’ the meat into smaller pieces with the utensils provided (chop sticks and soup spoon). The Toppings and Noodles: The soup had an ample ratio of noodles to broth, which kept one satisfied until the end of the dish. The other toppings included bean sprouts, Thai basil, fresh jalapenos, chili sauce, plum sauce, and fresh lime. Overall: The Pho was very good, and 99 Fastfood is definitely worth a trip."

• [CSS, 1/12] said: "A comment on MTC's recent review of 99: I have been going to 99 for nearly as long as they have been open. In my experience, we have always taken our bill to the counter to cash out. I suppose that's what makes it ‘fast food’, so I'm not necessarily sure that should count as a strike against the service."

[JeL, 8/08] said: "My wife (a Vietnamese) and I are coming from Houston, TX, which has some of the best Vietnamese restaurants. We found that this one is a respectable Pho house with quick service and a neat environment. The cafe sua da is good, not too sweet. For appetizer, we had the spring rolls (Goi Cuon), which were the only disappointing part. They had not enough herbs, too much vermicelli, were rolled too thin and long, and their dipping sauce was oversweetened. Whoever rolled them had no hand in the Pho! We each had Pho Dac Biet. The broth was not murky and had very little MSG (if any at all). The tripe, flank, and meatballs were all fresh and tasty. I approve of the herb side, because the basil was fresh, and there was Ngo Gai (sawtooth herb), which is essential but often left out at Pho restaurants. I will be coming here often to study."

[AG, 11/06] said: "The surviving sister restaurant is still turning out great pho (beef noodle soup), grilled pork over rice, and great Vietnamese egg rolls. A limited but highly consistent menu keeps the place full of UB students and soup-seekers looking for the best pho in town."

Reviews below are for the original location downtown, unless otherwise noted.)

[AJB, 11/03] said: "You may have read in The Buffalo News recently about Ho Van Nguyen's 99 Fastfood, which stands in the shadow of City Hall and is in the way of the new Federal Courthouse. Donn Esmonde did a piece about Ho, and there was also some news about Senator Schumer stepping in to help the businesses on Ho's block, all of whom are to be condemned by eminent domain to make way for that new Courthouse. The only problem is that those business are supposed to be offered fair market value for the properties, but they're getting lowball offers from the Federal GSA instead. Anyway, Ho does plan to move to a new location further up Niagara Street when he is forced to move, but since he'll need all the help he can get, go eat his wonderful food. I always order the Pork Spring Roll, which is served with a delicious peanut sauce. I usually opt for the ginger chicken & broccoli or one of the Pho soups. Simply put, you cannot go wrong in this place. Everything they make is delicious, and served hot & fast. The place is so popular now that the lunch rush between 12-2 often finds people waiting in line for a table. In my opinion, it is the best, heartiest, tastiest Asian food (non-sushi) in the area. And how nice that it's in downtown Buffalo, and that it's open for both lunch and dinner."

[HPK, 10/03] said: "My co-worker and I have been on a never-ending quest to try every Asian-type restaurant in Western NY. Our most recent visit was to 99 Fastfood, downtown Buffalo. What a great treat. This is not a place where you get dressed up or, for that matter, a place where you sit down to fine linens. But it is a place where you can get some of the best Vietnamese food we have ever had. I had the Pho Shrimp—a wonderful ginger broth with tons of shrimp and many side dishes to put into the soup. My co-worker had Seafood and Vegetable Teriyaki, which he enjoyed immensely. I felt like I was eating real Vietnamese food, authentic—not changed for the American palate. When you go there, try the chili sauce in the glass containers on the table—hot and tasty."

[AC, 8/02] said: "One of the few places my friends and I are willing to drive to for dinner. The service there is not your high-class restaurant type, but they get their job done right and promptly. Seating is immediate if available, and the prices are good for college students. If you order the right dish, you will leave that place full. My recommendations are #35: Vietnamese Barbecue, Pork Extra Large, and #29: Noodle Soup with Beef and Tendons, Extra Large. The price is fair, and you get your money's worth. Other dishes are also good and filling. My rating: I go there whenever I can for dinner."

[6/01] I [Bill] had a very tasty "rice vermicelli combo" (Bun Tom, Thit Nuong, Cha Gio) consisting of rice vermicelli, pork skewers, egg rolls, and charbroiled shrimp, with a sauce that I used as a dipping sauce until the waiter came over near the end of my meal and told me I was supposed to pour it over the whole thing. I had a Conchita milkshake: a milkshake-like, fruit-flavored beverage (other varieties include Jack, Avocado, and Durian).

[MEL, 5/99] said: "One of the few ethnic restaurants in downtown Buffalo. This new restaurant specializes in pho (Vietnamese beef noodle soup), though I also had a very good salmon teriyaki here. Service is not quite fast food, but still pretty fast. A truly welcome addition."

Nadia's Taste of Soul.
69 Allen St. (in Allentown), Buffalo.
884-0482.

Soul food.

[RHa, 10/11] says: "Was looking to catch a bite to eat in Allentown after a dessert soiree at The Mansion, which had left us looking for something on the lighter side, and wandered into Nadia's, which has been open for five weeks. What a treasure! The menu features lots and lots of carbs—jerk and barbecue with the standard beans and rice, collard greens, mac and cheese—but, because of the flexibility of the menu, we managed to walk away with just what we wanted, for a reasonable price. We just got home from a week in Texas, where we ate barbecue all across the state. It's important to understand that Nadia's serves the soul-food variety and not the Texas stuff. You don't get that smoky taste, but it's flavorful just the same. I had a pulled-pork dinner with cole slaw and mac and cheese (I know, I said I wanted something light, but I'm a real sucker for mac and cheese). All were good, served quickly with adequate, not over-the-top-I-need-to-take-this-home portions. I think I liked the cole slaw the best: not too much mayo and definitely tasting home-made. The menu offered jumbo shrimp. When my partner asked how these would be prepared, he was told that the standard way was to bread and deep fry, but that the cook was open to suggestions. When we asked about a sautee, perhaps with a jerk seasoning, we were told there was no problem. When it was served, the shrimp came with a lovely assortment of veggies, sort of a jerk stir-fry. The new dish was pronounced menu-worthy, and, by the time we left, we were told that the dish would be included on the new menu coming out next week; look for the ‘Twister’ (named after our dog!). The shrimp concoction was served with sides of collard greens and rice. The collard greens seemed to be especially good; my partner agreed with the Artvoice reviewer's assessment that they are the best in Buffalo! All in all, Nadia's seems to offer sensible portions at appropriate prices. They seem to be especially sensitive to what their customers want, and willing to go that extra mile to send customers away satisfied. The atmosphere is clean and friendly. The only suggestion I might have had was to turn the television off, especially when the music is playing from the next room. Nadia's is working on a lighter menu, with salads, wraps, and other healthy offerings. They are open every day but Monday. Sunday hours are 1 to 8 P.M., with a Sunday-night, family-oriented, open mic for poetry reading. No language inappropriate for children permitted. Seems like an honest, hardworking vibe going on here, trying to serve a quality product in a wholesome atmosphere. A great place for a lunch or a quick dinner. We will be back."

Natalie's Café and Deli.
807 1/2 Millersport Hwy., Amherst.
446-9715.

[KE, 6/08] says: "After three years in Buffalo as a vegetarian, we finally got take-out from Natalie's today for lunch, after having looked back at the vegetarian options on this list. We have definitely been missing out. This is more of a lunch or quick dinner place, given the metal-swivel chairs and attached table seating. But the menu truly has an impressive collection of creations that are hard to find at other area Middle Eastern restaurants. The eggplant vegi burger was quite substantial (if a bit mushy) and complemented by some tasty spices. The spinach and leek (with feta) wrap was also tangy and hit the spot. I'm looking forward to going back and trying the vegi kibbe (spelled "Kibby" there) and vegi souvlaki (although I'm not sure what that would contain). Everything seems to be made fresh, and it is definitely a family establishment."

[AMSo, 9/07] said: "Very veggie-friendly. It's in a strip plaza. Look for the CAPUCCINO sign in the window. K. and I decided to find it and try it, and boy, were we impressed! There is lots of seating—and the son of the restaurant owner pointed out that the tables can be moved together (they are set up in tables of 4) for larger groups. K. had the megaderra sandwich, which consisted of lentils and other tasty stuff all wrapped up in a pita with hot sauce on the side. I had the ratatouille sandwich, and we also ordered a plate of stuffed vegetarian grape leaves. We also got waters, and I think our bill was under $20 for two people. The food was good, especially the grape leaves—they were served piping hot!—and were so tightly wrapped and not as oily as other places. The owner's son explained that it's because his mom prepares them fresh at every order. The food was really, really good, and there were so many vegan options! Along with what we ordered, they had literally five different kinds of handmade veggie burgers, baba ganoush, falafel, at least 3 different vegan soups, tabouli, and more. Everything is fresh, it's a family business, and, when we left, we felt satisfied but not stuffed, which is a nice feeling. You know how you'll get dinner and then leave, feeling like you have a lump of concrete in your belly? You'll definitely not get that feeling @ Natalie's. We felt very healthy and very content. And we'll most definitely be back there in the future. Unfortunately, I don't have the menu with me, but I believe they are open till 8pm on weekdays, and are also open on Saturday. Your best bet would be to call them personally to inquire about hours. Like I said, more than ample seating, lots and lots of options (both veggie-friendly and omnivore-friendly), and an extremely knowledgeable family staff who can answer questions and make recommendations about what to choose when you have a dietary restriction. (But we sure didn't feel restricted with all the choices, I'll tell ya!!)"

[AG, 9/02] said: "Solid Lebanese deli that ought to be a favorite for felafel-seekers, vegetarians, and vegans. The roasted eggplant burger, one of eight homemade veggie burger options, outshines McDonald's. Nice zippy hummus, tame babaganoush, satisfying chicken shawarma (with French fries in the pita with the meat and salad)."

[DH, 4/97] said: "An excellent Lebanese restaurant just down Millersport from the Amherst campus. They catered the [Conceptual Structure, Discourse, and Language] conference last spring. They're cheap and good, though they aren't the quickest to get the food on the table, and the atmosphere leaves something to be desired."

Neapolis Family Restaurant.
1389 Bailey Ave. (in the East Lovejoy area), Buffalo. 895-8467.

[MEL, 8/98] says: "I had a nice chicken souvalaki from here — not comparable to Ambrosia's but pretty good for a place off the beaten path."

Nektar.
451 Elmwood Ave. (just north of Allentown), Buffalo.
881-1829.

Southern Mediterranean; martini bar. Seafood, lamb, beef.

Online reservations available via OpenTable.com.

[1/11] Given 3½ (out of 4) stars by Janice Okun, Buffalo News restaurant reviewer.

[LGr, 9/11] says: "My husband and I had dinner at Nektar on Saturday, September 10, 2011. We began our meal with the chorizo, cheese, and warm-olive plate. The waitress also brought us warm bread with a bowl of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. We enjoyed the appetizer very much. We asked for water and, unlike previous reviewers, were not given a choice of tap or sparkling. The water that was served was infused with cucumbers and lemon; it was very refreshing and free. Things were looking very good for Nektar, until the entrees arrived. My husband chose one of the entrees off the special menu: snapper with gnocchi and fresh peas. The snapper was terribly overcooked; cutting into it was like trying to saw through a tire. I also chose from the special menu: I had the Caribbean chicken and shrimp with coconut rice and mango chutney. The first thing I noticed was that there was no coconut rice on my plate; it was replaced with a rice-and-kidney-bean mix that I swear was straight out of a Zataran's box. That was not even the worst of it. I think the chef may have confused the salt for the jerk seasoning, because my chicken and shrimp were saltier than the Dead Sea. I was very grateful that the service was so good, because the waitress probably filled my water glass about 8 times over the course of our meal. Needless to say, we will not be eating at Nektar again."

[1/05] [MER] and I [Bill] had an excellent dinner here (including the service and the tap water (see below ;-). I had one of the specials: a delicious mahi mahi in a spinach cream sauce over bright-orange red-pepper couscous, accompanied by a 1/2-ear of corn on the cob (a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds). [MER] began with a delicious mozzarella salad with breaded eggplant and blackberry balsamic vinaigrette, followed by a chicken curry with apricots and grapes, which she enjoyed so much she wouldn't let anyone else taste it (and she doesn't like curry!). Dessert was a berry crepe; a pleasantly unusual surprise, but it could have been a tad warmer and sweeter. All in all, a good experience. Definitely a 1-star experience at the very least; I hope to return.

[HPK, 1/05] said: "After reading the posting below, I must add my two cents to this discussion. Last year, I took my wife there for Valentine's Day. What a big mistake! Not only were they over an hour late with sitting us, all our food was either cold, wrong, etc. The meal for two people took almost three hours to get through. Our waiter was nonexistent, and one thing I hate is having to ask for my water to be re-filled. They did not try to pull the "flat" or "sparkling" thing that the reviewer below mentioned, but that is happening in more and more places."

[MPr, 1/05] said: "I had a strange experience at Nektar last night. We had a party of fourteen and ordered plenty of appetizers, bottles of wine, and mixed drinks. Our waiter or busboy offered us two types of water: carbonated or plain. One was in a stylish blue bottle, and one was clear and said "Voss" on the side. He refilled our water a few times over the night. The bottles he was pouring from were already opened with no cap. Our bill was over $700, and the food was fine. I really loved the stuffed bannana peppers. However, we were charged $40 for water; what a slick scam. We were never offered or presented free tap water. I am aware of the new trend in "artisan waters". I would appreciate a little more disclosure that this is not the "house" water and is à la carte. I will never go back unless they change their "water" policy."

Nelson's Ridge.
2723 South Park Ave. (at Ridge Rd.), Lackawanna.
783-7217.

[1/12] Given 3½ (out of 4) pennies by Anne Neville, Buffalo News "Cheap Eats" restaurant reviewer.

[m] Nette's Fried Chicken.
3118 Main St. (near Highgate), Buffalo.
715-9592.

[RAS, 12/11] says: "In recent weeks, I have visited Nette's Fried Chicken twice. Both times, I walked out with a product good enough to inspire me to write this review. Nette's, which recently moved from Bailey Avenue, caters to take-out orders. There is one table in the window and a long counter with stools, if you prefer to eat there. Nette herself is behind the counter where your order is placed. If you insist on a spotless restaurant with gleaming stainless steel equipment, go elsewhere: Nette's is pretty basic. This is not fine dining, but it is fine chicken. Large pieces, moist inside with a very flavorful and crunchy coating. Two breast halves and a wing were about $8.00. Side orders, which I did not try, include mac and cheese, yams, and greens. If you limit yourself to eating fried chicken only a few times a year, Nette's is the place to go."

New Star Chinese Buffet.
1999 Elmwood Ave. (in the same strip mall as the Elmwood Regal Cinema, between Kenmore and Hertel), Buffalo.
873-8439.

[PH, 10/01] says: "My husband wanted to try this place, and though I usually avoid buffets (read barf-fet), I agreed. When we first entered, I was really repulsed by the overall smell of the place. But I doggedly followed the husband to a table near the steam tables. I could not find a single thing that appealed to me. My husband and several obese women filled their plates. My daughter took her cue from me, and we both refused to eat, which really pissed off the husband! You pay as you enter, so the meal was a bust, and a silence between my husband and myself ensued for several hours. When the odor of a restaurant is foul, that is usually a good clue. I wanted to ask for a refund for me and Danielle, but husband was so aggravated that we left with a rank smelling cold over our heads. Never again!"

[MEL, 8/99] says: "This Chinese buffet should do brisk business, because it is the only restaurant in the same strip mall as the Elmwood Theater, which in turn is the only first-run, non-art-film-oriented, movie theater in the city of Buffalo. The food barely met my extremely low expectations; a few things were execrable (most notably the chicken balls and most of the desserts) but most were tolerably mediocre."

New Yorker Pizzeria.
160 Allen St. (Allentown), Buffalo. 882-0222.

[MEL, 5/99] says: "Nondescript pizza; not bad but why would you eat here when Just Pizza is two blocks away?"

Niagara Café & BBQ.
525 Niagara St. (between Jersey & Pennsylvania), Buffalo.
885-2233.

[9/10] Given 4 (out of 4) pennies by Andrew Z. Galarneau [AG] Buffalo News "Cheap Eats" restaurant reviewer.

[JeS, 10/09] said: "Niagara Cafe does Puerto Rican food right, and quickly—at that."

[GBr, 4/06] said: "Living in Spanish Harlem, I have eaten at plenty of Spanish restaurants, but Niagara Cafe & BBQ is by far one of the best that I have been to. The food is great. Most of the Spanish restaurants that I have been to serve you dry chicken, and the beef in the stew isn't very tender, but that wasn't the case here. The service is great, and I couldn't believe how fast I received my food. The staff was extremely friendly. I told them that I was in there doing a project, and they answered every question I had with no problems. Niagara Cafe & BBQ is a small restaurant with a warm, family feeling. I definitely see myself eating at Niagara Cafe in the near future."

[MEL, 10/97] said: "Solid Puerto Rican food. Stewed chicken was excellent. Goat stew was adequate, but not as good as other P.R. places I've eaten (specifically, a place called Lozada's in Cleveland; if you are ever in Cleveland, I recommend Lozada's with every breath in my body!). Note that the selection here is broader (and healthier) than at El Fogon, which just has half a dozen entrees, all beef, pork or fried. (...after living in Miami 2 yrs., I have a soft spot for this kind of food)."

[CC, 5/95] said: "A good place for Latin-American food—more specifically Puerto Rican/Cuban-style food, not Mexican or Caribbean (the kind you can get in thousands of places in the NYC area): ropa vieja, carne asada, bistec, black bean soup, yellow rice, etc. Only Gino's pizza place in the Rainbow Mall...makes me feel as much like I'm in NYC (culinarily) as this place ;-)."

[PF, 1994] said: "This is one of two restaurants serving standard but very good Puerto Rican food."

Niagara Culinary Institute Dining Room.
135 Taylor Rd. (at the Niagara College NOTL Campus), Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, CANADA
905-641-2252 x 4619.

[WHN] says:

[5/07] "We had another excellent 3-course, C$29 fixed-price lunch at the Niagara Culinary Institute over Memorial Day weekend. I had smoked trout with edamame to start. My wife had an escarole and endive salad with spicy walnuts and "Benedictine blue" vinaigrette. We both had grilled beef entrecote, cooked perfectly to medium rare, topped with a mildly curry-flavored butter and accompanied by spring vegetables and sauteed cannellini beans. With the main course, we each had a glass of NCT Winery merlot. For dessert, she had a pear tart with a spicy gelato and berries, while I had white, milk, and dark chocolate mousse. The meal and service were excellent. Note: I don't recall if this is a schedule change, but they are closed Mondays and are open only for lunch on Sundays."

[11/06] "My wife and I had lunch at the Niagara Culinary Institute on Friday, 11/10. At lunchtime, they offer a 3-course, fixed-price menu for C$24 (C$29 with a glass of house red, white, or rose wine from Niagara College Teaching Winery). For an appetizer, we both chose mussels steamed in Niagara Pale Ale, and for the main course, beef short ribs braised in NCT Winery Shiraz. Among the other appetizer choices were soup, salad, and bresaola (air-cured beef). The mussels were excellent, such that I asked for a spoon to finish the broth, and my wife asked for more bread (a crusty sourdough) to soak it up. The short ribs were excellent, too—melt-in-your-mouth tender, served over mashed potatoes with assorted vegetables. Other main course choices included locally made sausages, quail, pork tenderloin, rainbow trout, and a vegetarian pasta. There was no choice of desserts, but the plate of three "seasonal sweets" consisting of pumpkin and currant toffee pudding, a chocolate truffle tart, and apple crumble were all delicious. The dining room is staffed by students of Niagara College's Hospitality and Tourism program, and the service was very professional. The atmosphere is very nice, too, with a view of the Niagara Escarpment from many tables. Note: Since we want to return soon, we asked about their schedule, and learned that the Dining Room closes for about two weeks during the Christmas-New Year holiday season; this year the closure is from 12/22/06 through 1/7/07. Other than that, they are open all year."

[CLHe, 9/06] says: "My husband and I dined here on September 28, 2006. What a sweet deal! The prix-fixe dinner is $37 Canadian without accompanying house wines made at the school or $46 dollars with 2 glasses of their wine. My husband had the house white and red as part of his dinner and enjoyed both thoroughly. I started with Grilled Monforte Dairy Haloumi Cheese with Local Field Tomatoes and Petit Herb Salad while husband had Smoked B.C. Salmon on a Pickled Beet, Feta Cheese, and Baby Arugula Salad. Delicious! The Haloumi is from a local sheep's dairy and was a really different tasting cheese; I really enjoyed it. The hubby enjoyed the salmon and, after tasting, it melted in the mouth. We also had the Cavatelli Pasta with Truffled Mushroom Cream and Sweet Green Peas as a second starter. I enjoyed this more than he did, but he is more a red-sauce kind of guy. I could have licked the extra sauce that remained in my bowl, but I managed to control myself. For the main courses, I chose Northern Lakes Pickerel Fillet on Oven Dried Tomato and Fennel Tapenade Grilled Creamer Potatoes and Basil Lemon Beurre Blanc, and he had the Grilled Rib Eye Steak "Café de Paris" with Pommes Frites and Grilled Summer Vegetables. Wow! My fish was perfectly cooked, really mild, and the fennel tapenade complimented it perfectly. The steak was also cooked perfectly, medium-rare, and was very tasty. The dessert consisted of three tastings of Lavender Scented Crème Brulee, Summer Berry Compote with Triple Cream Brie, and Vineland Cherry and Almond Financier with Niagara College Pinot Noir Paint. The creme brulee was by far my favorite, with the triple cream brie and compote to follow. The brulee was not overpowered by the lavender and had a really unusual taste; very good! I have to mention that the service here was excellent, very attentive but not intrusive at all. The waiters are part of the hospitality program at the school, and attention to detail is paramount. All plates are served at exactly the same time, and you did not have to ask for anything; it appeared the second you even thought about needing it. Their menu changes 4 times a year seasonally, and the Fall menu comes out in two weeks. I cannot wait to return!"

Niagara Fallsview Casino.
6380 Fallsview Blvd., Niagara Falls, ON, CANADA.
1-888-325-5788.

See 17 Noir, Canyon Creek Chophouse, Golden Lotus.

Nick Charlap's Ice Cream.
7264 Boston State Rd., Hamburg.
312-0592.

[BL, 6/07] says: "Is anyone noticing problems with their favorite ice cream places lately? Or is Charlap's the only one that we really notice? Most places may have some increased prices but still generous servings with the exception of Charlap's. Charlap's Dairy was a long time WNY favorite famous for huge cones, delicious ice cream, and reasonable prices. If you had visitors, you always took them to Charlap's for a real ice cream experience! Around 2002 or so, it changed hands and reopened under Nick Charlap, a relative, we believe. Ice cream was there but more bland in taste for quite some time. Taste slowly improved over the years as the original full flavors returned and the crowds. (My favorite was always the cashew caramel crunch.) This past summer, we noticed major changes over 3 visits within 2 months. First time, same huge cones and decent flavors and the large crowds. Price for two medium cones came to about $5.00 including tax. Mediums were two generous scoops that went to the bottom of the cone. Second time, about 3 weeks ago, same price for the two mediums but one cone was its usual size and other was small, very restricted scoops. I don't know how else to say it..."restricted" seems right. Clerk indicated they are supposed to be giving smaller portions now, but some of the workers were still giving traditional larger scoops. So one cone was large and the other minute. Very weird that the servers were not on the same page. Yesterday (6/29/07), we paid $4.57 (includes tax) for one restricted single-scoop cone ($2.07) and one restricted double-scoop ($2.50). The single scoop appeared a baby cone. (Now there was still a baby cone...wonder what that looked like!) Both small cones shocked us. We were told they had to reduce the size in order to maintain the price. Sorry Charlap's. You have lost us again. The mood was pretty somber among the other ice cream lovers that evening. Would not mind hearing where the rest of you take in your summer ice cream. We have one other summer one and could use additional suggestions."

Nick's Place.
504 Amherst St. (near Bush St., in Black Rock), Buffalo.
871-1772.

[RAS, 10/10] says: "I probably eat at Nick's 7 or 8 times a year. I have never been disappointed with the quality of the food, the service, or the price. Nick's is very much the typical, Greek-American diner, not nearly as fancy as Pano's, or Ambrosia, or the other places on Elmwood but more like their poor cousin. You walk in to the kitchen, which has a lunch counter with stools and a few booths. The back is also a dining room. Today, a Sunday [10/3/10], I got there shortly before 12 noon and had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. I ordered the gyro breakfast. The eggs were cooked as ordered, the home fries were crispy and more than I could possibly finish, and the gyro, which tastes the same no matter at what Greek restaurant I order it, was plentiful. The crowning glory of Nick's breakfasts is the bread. You can have the usual pita, or wheat, or rye toast, or you can have the ‘homemade’ toast. I'm told it's made by the owner's mother or by the owner himself. (Nick, by the way, is the owner's son, who cheerfully waits on tables.) There's no doubt that this flavorable bread with a chewy texture is homemade, and it alone is reason to come back. My companion ordered the bacon, eggs, and home fries, and had no complaints other than that the portions were too large to finish. The 2 meals with a cup of tea set me back $14 plus change. That's about $5 less than they'd cost you at Pano's, and Pano's doesn't even have grandma in the back baking bread!"

[AFN] said:

[10/09] "I returned to Nick's Place for lunch with friends from school for the first time since a fire forced their closing last spring. The place has been spiffed up with freshly painted walls, new windows, and some new furnishings. I had chicken souvlaki, but I thought the chicken was of really poor quality, and I didn't eat much. I took the leftovers home and threw them in the garbage. Nick's food—at least my souvlaki—wasn't anywhere near as good as I remembered."

[5/06] "We often go here on the rare occasions that we have a lunch break. We're always greeted by "The teachers are here", which, I think, is meant as a warning to the kitchen that we need to be fed quickly, so we can return to school. It's a tiny restaurant in "downtown Black Rock" with typical and good (especially the souvlaki) Greek food. So small that you might have to stand up to let delivery people pass by. Grungy looking, but the food has always been fine. Breakfast and lunch only. Ultra cheap."

[RL, 7/09] said: "I've been a longtime reader of your restaurant guide, though as of yet I haven't contributed any reviews. It's really an excellent resource, [Thanks!] and I consult it frequently. As a resident of the Elmwood Village area, I thought I would offer an update on one of the restaurants in my neighborhood. Nick's Place on Amherst Street was closed for a couple of months due to a fire, as mentioned in your guide. They've since reopened, as of June."

[WHN, 4/09] warned: "May be closed due to a fire."

Niko's Big Fat Greek Restaurant.
537 Division St. (in Budwey's Plaza), N. Tonawanda.
743-1410.

[LG, 2/08] says: "We just finished a Friday evening meal at this new Greek restaurant. This place just opened (1/08) and replaced Anderson's Ice Cream in North Tonawanda. As with any new restaurant (especially on a Friday), it was packed, and it took a few minutes to get a table. The service was very fast thereafter. It is a bright, clean, diner-style atmosphere with some soft Greek music. This place serves breakfast (all day), lunch, and dinner. The dinner menu is a bit limited, but we quickly found some things to try. We started with the Tzatziki w/pita appetizer ($4.95), which was a great lite starter, with a homemade cucumber and garlic dip and pita bread. My wife had the fish fry, which was excellent and quite inexpensive at $8.50. Her fish was served with very fresh pasta salad with feta cheese, tangy cole slaw, and homefries. I had the Buffalo chicken wrap ($6.00) and mashed potatoes. All the food arrived quickly, considering the amount of people seated at the time. Our waiter was fast and friendly. They do not serve alcohol, but the coffee was excellent and refilled often. All told, this was a great meal at a small price. Their breakfast menu looked great, and I'm sure I will stop by some morning to try it. I highly recommend this place. Our bill was dropped off at the end of the meal without having to ask for it. There was nothing at all to complain about."

[a] Nina's Custard.
2577 Millersport Hwy., Getzville.
636-0345.

[WHN, 9/07] says: "Since it was a beautiful summer-like day today (Sunday), we decided to have hot dogs for lunch at Nina's. When I was 3/4s through mine, I noticed green mold on the bottom of the roll. I was going to just throw it away, but my wife said I should tell them so they didn't serve moldy rolls to anyone else. I told the kid at the counter that their rolls were moldy and they should check them or they might make customers sick. He said: "OK. Do you want another hot dog". Duh...no!"

Nine-Eleven Tavern.
9-11 Bloomfield Ave. (South Buffalo), Buffalo.
825-9939.

[1/12] Given 4 (out of 4) pennies by Anne Neville, Buffalo News "Cheap Eats" restaurant reviewer.

Nissan's Kosher Deli.
3980 Maple Rd. (in Tops), Amherst.
515-0075.

Delivery available from Takeout Taxi, 631-2222.

I don't know how I've managed to be ignorant of this place for so long, especially since I've known about Takeout Taxi's service, but—although I have not yet tried it—I'm listing it here as a public service. If anyone has tried it, please send us a review!

Nite Cap Grill.
675 Sheridan Dr., Tonawanda.
877-9527.

[MaSt, 1/08] says: "My sister and I stopped in after reading a review in the "Cheap Eats" column in The Buffalo News: At the Nite Cap on Saturdays, the bartender is also the waitress. Ordinarily, I would drive right by a place like this—it looks like a "biker bar" from the outside. The inside is dark and dated, and the menus are pretty much just placemats—soiled, no less. Don't let that deter you: The food is very, very good and inexpensive. The costliest item on the menu (a steak sub) will set you back about $8.00. They offer pints of Labatt's for $1.50. We started with salads ($1.20), which were little bowls of tightly packed, shredded, iceberg lettuce adorned with chopped American cheese and slices of tomato. Nothing exceptional, but perfectly fresh. My sister ordered the meatloaf, and I had a "King" roast beef sandwich (under $4.00). Both were accompanied by chips and a dill pickle spear. Her meatloaf tasted homemade, although she found the gravy a little too peppery. My roast beef, however, was sublime. Thinly roasted, with jus on the side—delicious. I savored every bite. I have been back a few times and have enjoyed my roast beef sandwich on each occasion. My kids have ordered chicken finger subs and raved about them. If you enjoy a dining experience offering quality food at discount prices and aren't concerned about ambience, you'll enjoy your meal at the Nite Cap Grill."

NoNoo Ramen Bar.
480 Elmwood Ave. (in Elmwood Village, near Hodge), Buffalo.
[no phone yet]

[DGe, 1/12] says: "NoNoo just opened and does not yet have a business phone. They have tentative business hours posted on the website, for now dinner only. No liquor license yet, but working on it. They have only been open 2 days as I write this [1/5/12]. This is not college-dorm, 79-cent, hot-water, soft-noodles, and lots-of-salt ramen. It's very good, hearty, Japanese-style soup, made with savory, big flavor broth, lots of thick, homemade noodles, and plenty of hunks of non-traditional ‘soup stuff’. There were 7 of us, and we were seated quickly on Thursday, 1/5/12, at 6:00; that may not be easy as this place catches on. The waiter was attentive, knowledgeable—we had questions—and polite. The kitchen/food-prep area is open to the restaurant making the chef available for conversation. The decor is simple, the kitchen and restaurant clean. We had bacon ramen: bacon in smoky chicken broth and loads of garlic chips; for croutons, they add pork rinds: unusual to say the least, but hearty and savory. The YesYes ramen (YesYes at NoNoo) was pork broth with slabs of pork—sandwich-sized slabs—and shrimp wontons, bok choy, and a seafood cake. The pan-fried wontons were full of pork, in a soy-sauce-based sauce drizzle: equally delicious, but not as unusual as the ramens. The taco is a pork in a ‘roll your own’ with a nori shell. The nature of the preparation, and the beautiful presentation, seems to concentrate the spices unevenly in the dish, and the noodles come in a tangle in the center of the bowl; a quick stir is needed. The entrees, and the ramen soups really are an entree, are in the $10-to-$12 range. Definitely worth the stop; NoNoo will be a hit in the hipster Elmwood strip. Oh, and be ready to eat soup with long noodles and slabs of pork with chop sticks; they probably have forks and spoons if you ask, but you eat can eat with those at home. Cash only right now."

North.
140 North St. (in the Lenox Hotel, in Allentown), Buffalo.
884-3106.

[BMK, 3/11] says: "An avid reader and user of the site [Thanks!], I was quite shocked to see a negative review (albeit a bit outdated) posted for one of my favorite restaurant lounges in Buffalo. I frequent North for drinks and meals with friends and family. I have never once had a bad experience—the worst I can think of is a few French fries on the soggy side and not as crisp as they usually are. In terms of my review, I will choose a few of my more recent visits. My friends and I decided to go to North for our New Year's Eve celebration. We arrived at about 9:00, were seated in the dining room promptly, and quickly began what would be one of our best nights out in a long time. Most of the the group, including myself, had the steak entree served with a beautifully presented, large, side salad with the chef's own creamy balsamic dressing, a large bleu-cheese-encrusted strip steak, and a large, twice-baked potato. I hope you notice my use of ‘large’, because, as with most of the portions at North, this meal was large! Another member of the party had a pasta dish in a tomato-and-meat sauce. There was not one complaint about anything we had to eat—everything was delicious. We accompanied our meals with a few glasses of wine and comfortably finished our food before changing venues to the relaxed and dimly lit bar at the other end of the establishment. We shared a few beverages while ringing in the new year with the other customers and the very friendly staff. In addition to that meal, I have recently had various burgers and chicken fingers—all are fantastic; the North fries are usually nice and crisp and require no additional seasoning, and the mac & cheese is the best ever. The menu consists of the regular bar fare, but also includes other favorites, such as French-bread pizza, crab cakes, meatloaf, awesome roaster wings, and nightly dinner specials. Don't let your preconceived notion of the building it is housed in sway you away from trying this place. If you are in the mood for good food and service, a nice beverage, or an inexpensive evening out of the house, North is the way to go."

[CE, 1/07] said: "I'm writing in regards to our New Year's Eve experience this past Monday evening. We had seen the ad in the Artvoice for the dinner special at North and made reservations shortly afterwards for a nice, big dinner out. Many of us had been there before and assured everyone else that it was a great new place; a real positive change from the previous state of the Lenox hotel. Our night started out as a fantastic time, with just under 30 of our close friends and family together in the bar area before our dinner reservations at 10:00 p.m. Everyone was in a great mood, and everywhere we turned was another friendly, familiar face. We were full of smiles and fully expected a great time together. Unfortunately, there was a substantial delay with our tables, numerous mistakes with our meals, and the way the situation was handled by the management left us all with a very bad impression of the establishment. We had reservations for one big table, and 2 separate reservations for smaller tables made by others in our party. When we asked if we could all sit in the same room, at 2 big tables, we were told that it would take another 25 minutes, which was perfectly understandable. If it had in fact actually taken only that amount of time, there wouldn't have been a problem. However, by the time we were actually seated, it was over an hour and a half past our 10:00 reservations, and we had just barely gotten our salads when we rang in the new year. The party that was seated at the table we needed were given no indication that they couldn't stay as long as they wanted, and in fact their 8:00 reservations lasted until after the stroke of midnight. We were all split up as a result, not to mention having waited for so long to even get seated. Another unfortunate aspect of our night was that one older woman in the 8:00 party thought it was appropriate to respond to an innocent and honest inquiry regarding their reservations in an extremely aggressive and threatening manner. This was highly inappropriate and juvenile, and I was personally shocked, not only that someone would act in such a ridiculous manner, but also that they would remain welcome at a high quality restaurant. I fully realize that the establishment itself has no control over what customers might do; however, the way it was handled was poor at best and insulting and highly unprofessional at worst. The management staff should be prepared for both unruly and lingering customers and know how to properly diffuse any issue so that no party feels they have been treated unfairly. Instead, nothing was done, and our entire party felt mistreated and taken advantage of. When we voiced our discontent, we were met with weak, disingenuous apologies and the offer of a couple bottles of free champagne, which would have been nice, although still not appropriate compensation by the end of the night's problems. I still doubt that anyone even received any of the so-called free champagne, since over half of our big table didn't even have their own flutes (let alone a filled one), and we had to request one for everyone to toast at midnight, which was supposed to have been included in the dinner special anyway. Even worse and unbelievably unprofessional was when some of our dissatisfaction was expressed to the manager himself, and he reacted with anger towards us, as if we were in any way being unreasonable or demanding. He snapped, "I already gave you 2 free bottles of champagne; what do you want, another bottle?". There are almost no words to express the shock of this unbelievably nasty and unprovoked attitude. If the manager in question is North's highest authority, then I am certain that this place will fail miserably. You cannot treat customers in such a way and expect to stay in business in such a small city, where word of mouth and reputation are especially crucial. I do want to note that the waitstaff themselves seemed to be doing their best under the circumstances. They were friendly and apologetic, and much more sympathetic than their manager. Unfortunately, because of his inaction, their hands were tied. There were just so many mistakes throughout the night, including a rare steak cooked to very well done, a raw chicken that had to be sent back, numerous incorrect orders, and candlewax dripped all over a suitcoat that was on the back of a chair (we were begrudgingly offered reimbursement for the dry cleaning bill, only after telling us how easy it is to get it out ourselves and barely hiding the annoyance that we didn't want to have to do that). But the very biggest mistake was the casual disregard of our grievances and the fact that there was no real attempt to make up for all of the other problems. Had we been adequately compensated, our experience might have been able to be salvaged, and we wouldn't have walked out vowing to never come again. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened, and what could have been a fine Buffalo establishment has lost the business of previously fairly regular customers and everyone we'll talk to about it. What a disappointment."

Nosh Cafe.
7900 Transit Rd. (in Premier Liquors Plaza), Williamsville.
633-8417.

Kosher deli. Their Facebook website calls them "".

[MIL, 6/10] says: "My wife and I visited the Nosh Cafe late this Sunday afternoon [6/6/10], when it was not at all busy. As noted by others, you order at the counter, pick a table for yourself, and then are served. There is a large painting of a 19th-century Paris street scene on the wall, alongside a couple of posters about learning Yiddish, and lite jazz was playing in the background. The overall impression is a couple of notches above a typical sandwich shop. There is a regular (paper) menu plus a number of specials on a whiteboard. Going traditional, my wife and I split a bowl of matzoh-ball soup ($3.99) and a 6-oz. corned-beef sandwich ($9.99; they also serve 4 oz. and 10 oz.) on rye. The woman at the counter asked if we wanted fresh dill on the soup, which we decided to try. We also got Russian dressing, and a ‘shmear’ of chopped liver ($0.75; a reasonable portion), and potato salad on the side. We both picked up cans of Dr. Brown's cream soda ($1.29 each). We did not have to wait too long for the food, and the servers were pleasant. The dill on the soup was interesting, but overpowering (and I blame myself for agreeing, not them for suggesting). They offered a choice of clear broth or broth with vegetables and/or noodles. Aside from the dill, everything was a bit bland for my taste, but my wife disagreed. The size and texture of the single matzoh ball ($1.29 for a second) was fine. The rye bread was fresh, thick, and doughy. The corned beef was not remarkable. The potato salad had a lot of egg in it, which I liked. The chopped liver was chopped very fine, with little or no onion, reasonably moist but not especially tasty. On the way out, we picked up a couple of fresh cookies from the counter, which we enjoyed a bit later at home. Overall, it's no Carnegie Deli, and it's not good enough to make me want to drive 40 minutes round trip on a regular basis (I live in Buffalo), but it's not at all bad."

[MGo, 7/09] said: "I got takeout for a friend and myself on a Monday evening. We split the regular-size corned-beef sandwich, and each had a cup of matzo-ball soup. I also got the chopped-liver appetizer. Everything was delicious. The matzo balls seemed handmade, and the chopped liver, which was a surprisingly large portion and came with an insufficient amount of Triscuit-like crackers, was like Grandma's. Our total for the above, along with two bottled waters, was about $26&mdsah;perhaps a bit more than I would have expected, but not outrageous. It took a while for our order to be assembled, but I suspect this is a training-and-experience issue that will dissipate if they keep the staff consistent. I saw meatloaf and stuffed cabbage in the deli case, and there is a freezer full of pre-made food including noodle kugel, which I'm betting is really good. Recommended!"

[JG&LGe, 6/09] said: "Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday. It is closed on Saturday. I (LG) went with a friend for lunch to Nosh Cafe and found it to be the closest thing to the traditional Jewish delicatessen of my NYC youth that I have found in Buffalo. I shared a corned beef sandwich on rye with mustard with my friend, and it was really delicious, with relatively lean meat. In addition, they had great homemade salads, including a great ratatouille salad and potato salad. Although the salads verged on the ‘nouvelle’ side of American cooking, I was willing to accept going outside the deli box, since they were so delicious. You order at the counter and then wait for your order at the tables in the eating area. I have to go back to try the chicken soup and everything else. There's also kosher meat products for sale to bring home. This place was just rated 3 pennies out of 4 in the ‘Cheap Eats’ section of Gustoin the Buffalo News. I'd give it almost 4 pennies."

La Nova Pizzeria
371 W. Ferry St. (between Allentown & Buff State, on the West Side), Buffalo. 881-3303.
[a] 5151 Main St., Williamsville. 634-5151.

[WHN, 6/07] says: "The pizza from the West Ferry Street location used to be among the best in Buffalo. We have not had it for at least 15 years, so I don't know what it's like now, but the pizza and wings from the Williamsville location are quite ordinary."

[RMo, 12/03] says: "I often eat home; I enjoy preparing my own meals; so, eating out is always a treat. I recently ordered a pizza from La Nova. After working a long day, I was happy to enjoy a greasy treat. To make a long story short, I was halfway through my first piece when I bit into a huge piece of glass-like plastic about an inch long! La Nova is usually the only pizza place I order from. When I called La Nova to return the pizza and get my money back, I was greeted with an extremely rude manager who basically told me that it was impossible and that they were too busy to send a driver over to pick the pizza up. Some service, huh. Needless to say, I will never order from there again. Please be warned; ordering from LaNova is dangerous, if you want to keep your teeth."

[MEL, 5/99] says: "Though I think the pizza here is not as great as some think, I strongly recommend the BBQ wings."