Review Blogs
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Ivan “Manito” Gonzalez leads family crew offering family-friendly meals Quesabirria tacos and broth at Manito Taco Shop. The list of things that make me thankful for the Covid pandemic is short. Manito Taco Shop is near the top. Before the pandemic, Ivan “Manito” Gonzalez, a native of Monterrey, Mexico, managed a restaurant. When the shutters came down, […]
Traditional vegan dishes plus souvlaki, spanakopita, and chicken lemon rice soup star Chicken souvlaki wrap, hummus, tabouli, and falafel at Natalie’s Mediterranean Eatery on Millersport Highway in Amherst. Over two decades, Natalie’s Mediterranean Eatery has earned a spot in Eggertsville’s hearts and stomachs. Its chicken lemon rice soup is reputed to have healing properties, fans say, its […]
In 20 years of service, Rob and Melissa Kudel have built a Niagara County destination If you remember potato skins, Bandana’s housemade skins might strike a chord. Rob Kudel was 26, running the kitchen at Cozumel, when the bandana became his signature look. Not only to satisfy health code while keeping sweat out of his […]
There’s smoked cheesecake with loganberry sauce for dessert, of course Large sampler at Yankee BBQ. There is nothing flashy about Southern barbecue, meat cooked long and slow in a woodsmoke atmosphere. After all, barbecue’s United States roots were in Southern plantations, where enslaved people made the best of gnarly cuts after hams, chops, and tenderloins […]
Patatas bravas, octopus carpaccio, and pan-seared cod highlight Andrew Berger’s menu Pan-seared cod with prawns, zucchini noodles, and pine nuts, at Iron Tail Tavern. Fielding questions from people hungry for specific cuisines shapes my list of world flavors Buffalo misses most. The list has gotten shorter in recent years. Sofra, a Turkish restaurant, opened in Depew, […]
Packet broth merchants can’t compete with Vathanathavone Inthalasy’s long-simmered elixirs There are dozens of Buffalo restaurants selling versions of Asian noodle soups, but only a few offer bowls that make me want to return for a second helping. The difference is in the broth, not the showy stuff floating on top. The banal broth found […]
Kyu Kyu Mar’s upgraded versions of Burmese standards deserves a standing ovation Kyu Kyu Mar’s version of own no khao swe is best-in-show Buffalo Burmese dining. Since Kevin Lin fed me my first bowl of ohn no khao swe in 2012, I have spooned up more than 30 versions of the classic Burmese coconut curry chicken noodle […]
12-seat restaurant greets diners with food, not barrage of dilemmas Warm foccacia, fresh vegetables and fruits, and a coterie of dips and butters greet FLX Table diners. Instead of providing blissful release from the concerns of the workaday world, most fine dining experiences start off feeling more like a stressy board meeting. Struggling with low-blood-sugar […]
People who grew up on government cheese didn’t experience what you might call fully fledged restaurants until adulthood. The first time a server put a relish tray of radish roses, pickle spears, and California olives in the middle of my white tablecloth, I panicked. “I didn’t order that,” I blurted, thinking of […]
Most Buffalo diners don’t know how good they have it. Manhattanites are jealous of our menu prices, and few cities this size boast such a diverse lineup of world cuisines. If you try to do your ABCs with nations whose delicacies are offered here, you’ll come up short only for X, Q, Z, and O. […]
Chicken fried steak with country gravy, green chile cheese grits, and fried okra at Southern Belle Diner. Southern Belle Diner has become an oasis of relief and respite for those of us who love chicken fried steak but cannot abide by the Cracker Barrel version. Cody Hix, a former Special Forces operator who grew up […]
Rodney Wilkinson spent his firefighting career finding ways into burning buildings. Getting into the restaurant business seemed like a logical next step. In the worst climate for independent restaurants since the Great Depression, the retired Buffalo Fire Department lieutenant opened The Fire Spot, his soul food and breakfast spot in Tonawanda. Over two years, Wilkinson […]
Brick-oven pies are at the core of Larkin Square menu, but Thursdays are for Mai Tai mavens Funghi hazelnut pizza, a special at Hydraulic Hearth The sit-down pizza parlor once roamed in great herds across America before being driven to the brink of extinction by the expansion of delivery systems and takeout spots. At Hydraulic […]
After cooking on two continents, Hla Thu get to feed people his favorites Thai beef salad at Bamboo Ridge Buffalo is a city made by immigrants. In the heart of Allentown, Hla Thu is staking his claim to his own American dream at Bamboo Ridge. Born on Ramree Island in Burma, Thu immigrated to the […]
Wondering if Buffalo can have nice things? This crew has answers, starting at $4 Waxlight gives me hope for the future, as in: I hope these chicken nuggets with ’nduja return to Waxlight in my lifetime. In the days since another promising Buffalo Bills season ended in disappointment, I’ve been hearing the traditional folksong of […]