Neighborhood Restaurants

Western New York, as I mentioned in my column today, is lucky to be endowed with so many good restaurants and perhaps the category we are best in is so-called neighborhood restaurants. Small, informal, mom-and-pop type places that still do most of their cooking from scratch. We mentioned a few like Mulberrys, The Place, Ulrich's, Creekview and Eckl's, but we have so many others. Anyone want to send in the name of a favorite or add a comment?

Comments

[Annamaria]

La Tee Da on Allen St. is my favorite neighborhood restaurant in this city. It's the perfect place for a romantic date, and just as fantastic for hanging out with friends. The food is unbelievable every time I go there. My favorite, the cormeal fried green tomatoes. Not only is the food amazing, and the back patio the best place to eat in the warmer months, but the owner, Mary is just about the kindest person you will ever meet. She treats every customer like they are part of her family. A truly amazing restaurant, and my favorite hidden gem of the city!

[Duke of Lakeview]

South towns best
pasquales, rte 5 derbY
jps pub lakeview
mckenzies, athol springs and rodneys

[Matt]

Might be a little too big to be called a quote-unquote "neighborhood restaurant," but I always liked Casa Di Pizza on Elmwood. It's one of the few things I miss about Buffalo. Their stuffed peppers are amazing.

Also can't forget the ultimate Buffalo neighborhood restaurant, Chef's. Didn't go there too much because it was on the other side of town from me, but I did go enough to know how awesome it is.

[David]

Ah Rodneys....best wings in town

[David B]

Kuni's
Lexington and Highland in the city.
The best sushi style in Buffalo
The owner does all the cooking

[Hamburg Mike]

Best of the Southtowns includes:

• Mammoser's Tavern in Hamburg
• JP's Pub in Lake View
• Mansard Inn in Orchard Park
• West End Inn in Hamburg
• Ilio DiPaolo's in Blasdell
• The Dove in Orchard Park
• The Dog Bar in West Falls

[Hodge]

Mythos on Elmwood, which used to be Mykonos. They moved into a larger space with gorgeous decor, but the food is still wonderful and the prices are reasonable. You never get attitude from the wait staff, everyone is always friendly and pleasant. I love it!

[foodie]

Ilio dipaolo's? Are you freaking kidding me? I'm not familiar with the other restaurants listed under Southtowns, but if that one's thrown in with the bunch, it shows a lack of credibility (or a palate).

I have to agree with La Tee Da, and Vino's is another great "neighborhood" option on the other end of Elmwood as well.

[Zach]

What about Grovers Bar and Grill in Amherst. Best Burger on earth

[chris]

Simmes in Lancaster. Get the "blackened", it's the best!

[sandy]

The best to me for decades is DiTondo's Tavern on Seneca street about 3 blocks down from Chef's. A fraction of the price at Chef's and 100% better. Only open for dinner on Friday and you have to order your dessert first as it always sells out. The outdoor patio is one of the best in the city

[Jordan]

"THE BUFFALO ROOM",on Delaware Ave. in the Village of Kenmore has the BEST Wings around!They have 21 gourmet flavors that will blow your mind.The owner is there to greet you and he also makes your meal. It's the personal touch that brings me back. He always identifies himself by name and shakes your hand after meeting you.Food is Food,where ever you go, but you must be treated as if you are important and with respect. ROCK ON "Buffalo Room".

[J P]

I'm surprised no one named Pano's Teh food is great, almost cheap, service is fine, and you can't beat the decor

[Mary]

There is a hidden treasure in the village of Angola that you have to check out...it's called Desperados BBQ....great food - small menu, but high quality....I had the best black bean soup I've ever had a few weeks ago...full of chunks of smoked brisket.
The restaurant itself is decorated beautifully...western decor. The bathrooms have to be the nicest outside the upscale places in the city. Definitely worth the drive. I've been there a few times, and would love to see them succeed!

[Dan]

There is a restaurant in my neighborhood that is in dire need of a reality check. The Havana House opened on Main Street within a space that had been previously occupied by both Vado Pazzo and Osaka. The restaurant boasts "authentic" Cuban cuisine and "the City's best Mojitos", and is owned and operated by a former real estate broker from Miami. The decor is wonderful (apparently it was designed by the owner), but the food (prepared and cooked by the owner/decorator) leaves nothing to savor. From the salad to the entree, everything was way over-seasoned with salt. The shrimp-appetizer special was very fishy, too garlicky, and suffered from a salt overdose. The main course was advertised as including mixed grilled meats and seafood, and included a caveat stating that this "traditional dish" would take 45 minutes to prepare. When it arrived, we had an overcooked piece of flank steak cut into large chunks (usually flank steak needs only about 10-15 minutes of cooking/resting time and should be shaved on the bias) and a large pile of the fishy, salty, garlicky shrimp from the appetizer fiasco. We were denied steak knives, as the meat was "so tender that it melts in your mouth and does not require a knife". We took a few bites and realized that the soles of the shoes we were wearing were more tender than the meat. The roasted root vegetable that accompanied this culinary disaster was overcooked and had the consistency of a garden hose. The canned black beans and overcooked rice served with the dish were both stone cold. Needless to say, we only finished a small amount of the $50 entree for two. I didn't complain to the staff, partly because the rest of the tables around us were doing a sufficient job at that, but also because I don't want to see another restaurant fail within this neighborhood. The bill came, and I told the waitress the truth about the foods' shortcomings and how to remedy it in the future. She tried to comp our watered down Mojitos but I refused. As we were leaving, the chef came out to ask why we didn't touch our food. I explained, in the most constructive way possible, that I am a serious cook/chef and I found serious issues/flaws with many aspects of the entire meal. I was informed that Buffalonians don't understand traditional Cuban food and are too picky because all we know is pizza and chicken wings. My wife and I are both transplants from New England but were not in the mood to argue. I think that this restaurant needs a head chef. I understand the art of wearing many hats, but, sometimes, you need to hang up the ones that just don't fit.

[CT]

I personally think Chef's isn't as "wonderful" as people think. The sauce is bland & everything is covered in too much cheese; masking the true taste - or no taste at all. There are far more better restaurants out there.

[MN]

I didn't see a post for Towne Restaurant at the corner of Allen St and Elmwood. I have not had a chance to taste everything on their menu yet, but their greek dishes are wonderful...I have had their breakfast souvlaki with lamb, the open souvlaki with lamb, and their open souvlaki with gyro meat. Everything was seasoned wonderfully and the meats were tender. They serve breakfast all day and another plus, they are open late!!!!