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Last Update: Monday, 7 September 2015
Note: or material is highlighted |
Wah Sing Kitchen
(Buffalo/West Side)
Walden Galleria restaurants
(Town of Cheektowaga)
Waldens Restaurant
(Cheektowaga/near Walden Galleria)
The Warehouse (Pizza Co.)
(Town of Hamburg)
Wasabi
(Amherst/"Greater" Williamsville & Buffalo/Elmwood Village)
The Washington Market
(Downtown Buffalo)
Water Lily Cafe
(Lancaster/Bowmansville)
WaterStone Grill
(Town of Hamburg)
Water Street Landing
(Niagara County/Lewiston)
Water Valley Inn
(Hamburg/Water Valley)
The Waterline Cafe
(Buffalo/Downtown Waterfront)
Wehrle Family Restaurant
(Amherst/Snyder)
Webb's Captain's Table
(Chautauqua County/Mayville)
[]
Webster's Bistro & Bar
(Niagara County/North Tonawanda)
Wegmans
(North Buffalo & Amherst/"Greater" Williamsville)
The Wellington Pub
(North Buffalo-Hertel Ave.)
|
Bill's rankings | |
[XXX] | recommendation from contributor whose initials are XXX |
All phone numbers are in area code 716, unless otherwise indicated.
All locations are in Erie County,
unless otherwise indicated.
Wah Sing Kitchen.
238 W. Ferry St. (west of Grant St.),
West Side (City of Buffalo).
881-5125.
Walden Galleria.
1 Walden Galleria
(just east of the I-90/NYS Thruway,
between Galleria Dr. & Walden Ave.),
Town of Cheektowaga.
681-7600.
Waldens Restaurant.
2040 Walden Ave.
(in the Millenium Hotel Buffalo,
between the I-90/Thruway & Union Rd.,
near Walden Galleria),
Town of Cheektowaga.
681-2400.
Online reservations available via OpenTable.com.
[AFN] says:
[8/06] "A friend and I had lunch at Waldens on Friday. Since we arrived early, we were seated at a window looking onto the hotel's indoor courtyard, where preparations were underway for, we guessed, an Indian wedding reception. Women dressed in traditional saris were putting up very colorful decorations. Their activities added an interesting diversion to our luncheon. For my meal, I had a habanero wrap, which was grilled chicken, with a mixture of vegetables, and a very hot habanero pepper sauce. It was extremely spicy, but delicious. My friend had a "Roma Melt"an open-faced chicken sandwich with chunky tomato sauce and cheese. She said it was delicious, too, and said she hoped to take her husband on the next day they both have off. Because we used a $5 coupon from the "Entertainment Book", lunch for both of us was only $13 plus tip. We attended a conference all week, and had lunch at four different restaurants on five days. Normally, we rarely have the time to go out to lunch, so being able to do so was a real treat. Although all four restaurants were good, we agreed that Waldens and King and I were the best."
The Warehouse (a.k.a. "The Warehouse Pizza Co.").
4360 Milestrip Rd.
(between the I-90/Thruway & South Park Ave., near McKinley Milestrip Center,
just east of Blasdell),
Town of Hamburg.
823-5000.
[DBr, 8/08] says: "Recently, a friend and I checked out what we call "The Warehouse." We both live in the Southtowns but had never stopped in before. We were pleasantly surprised by the interior space. It's large and divided into different areas. This was perfect for us. The bar area is separate. We wanted a few cocktails while watching the Olympics, and this kept the families with small children away from our "adult time". Other seating areas were obviously created with families in mind. These areas surround the many video games available. My friend repeatedly commented on what a fun place to bring her 7-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter. The bar area had too many TVs to countgreat for my friend; she's a sports nut. We had our drinks, a little conversation, and decided to return next time there was a big game worth watching. I was with the same friend when we stopped back (quite soon after our first visit) for a drink and a snack. My friend is a waitress. She noted the poor service we received this time and counted 5 of the staff huddled in conversation near the kitchen while our drinks were dry. We had ordered a couple of appetizers that tasted "OK". Our spinach-artichoke dip was overly seasoned with garlic. The stuffed banana peppers were bland, tasting mostly of bread crumbs, and held little cheese or seasoning. While there were very few customers in the place, dirty dishes and empty glasses sat in front of us as we watched the staff deep in conversation. Needless to say, we weren't happy. Last night was my third visit to this place. I took another friend for a drink. I had to give it a shot. This time, the barmaid was rude. We thought about trying another appetizer. I asked the barmaid what was her favorite. She said to try the peppers. When I told her I had tried them and thought they were bland, she turned and walked away! My friend's comment was, "Wow, what an attitude." I'll echo [RDM]'s review: foodmediocre, placecool. However, if an establishment's staff/service is rude/poor on a regular basis, what's the point of going there no matter how many TVs they put in front of you?"
[RDM, 3/07] said: "Not much to sayless than mediocre. I had high hopes because the interior looked clean and modern. There were TVs everywhere for sports fans and a wide-open bar in the middle of the restaurant. The waitstaff uniforms were very strange: my first clue that something was off about this place. They had strange, white ruffled shirts on, and fedoras. The food was horrible. My side salad was extremely small, although it was made up of fresh mixed greens. My husband and son shared the cheese quesadilla for an appetizer. It was bland and tasted microwaved. The tortillas were soggy, not crisp. Our pizza was mediocre. It tasted like it was trying to be a Pizza Hut pan pizza, but the dough was too sweet and had too much cornmeal on the crust. My husband and I both agreed we felt a little sick to our stomachs after the meal!"
Wasabi. WARNING: WEBSITE TAKES A LONG TIME TO LOAD (AND MAKES ODD, BUT RELATIVELY QUIET, NOISES)
100 Plaza Dr.
(in Dash's Plaza, at Hopkins & W. Klein Rds., just west of East Amherst),
"Greater" Williamsville
(Town of Amherst).
689-5888.
752 Elmwood Ave.
(across the street from Spot Coffee, between W. Ferry St. & Lafayette Ave.),
Elmwood Village
green section (City of Buffalo).
887-8388.
Reviews of the original, East Amherst location:
[KH, 11/11] says: "My husband and I recently had an early dinner at Wasabi. We were greeted immediately and offered a booth. The server was attentive and polite the entire time we were there. My husband began the meal with an order of Gyoza, which are pan-fried, pork dumplings; he really enjoyed them. We decided to order some sushi rolls to split, and chose the crunchy-spicy crab roll, shrimp tempura roll, Christmas roll, and the Wasabi Lobster; every piece was delicious, fresh, and well prepared. We agreed that we had a very enjoyable dinner and will return."
[WHN] said:
[12/09] "We returned to Wasabi on Monday night [12/28/09]. The sashimi and sushi combo platter was good, except the yellowfin had a strange texture. It was stringy and very soft—almost mushy—and had little flavor. I only ate two of the three pieces. My wife liked her (cooked) spicy crab roll and teriyaki chicken. Next time, we'll drive a little further to Sake Café."
[11/09] "Last night, Saturday, 11/7, we went to Wasabi for the first time for dinner. The sushi and sashimi combo platter was excellent. It included a spicy tuna roll, yellow fin, albacore, and a third kind of tuna, salmon, a cooked shrimp, and two other kinds of sashimi, which I couldn't identify. My wife's chicken teriyaki was reported to be on a par with that of Sake Café. We had a reservation and were seated immediately, and the service was prompt. However, other people were waiting, both when we arrived and when we left. I assume they didn't have reservations, but aren't sure, so reservations are strongly recommended."
[LCo, 6/08] said: "On a recent visit to Wasabi's Williamsville location, I had an Oshinko Roll and a Sweet Potato Tempura Roll. Oshinko is pickled vegetable and makes for a roll with a great springy-firm texture. The Sweet Potato Tempura is Wasabi's best vegetable roll, hands down. The sweet potato is thinly sliced, so it cooks to a soft texture, and the tempura stays warm and crisp inside the roll. I had also tried the Miso Soup to start; it was standard as miso goes, but still delicious. Other than the horrible location that seems like it's in the middle of nowhere and way too far away for someone in Buffalo, [Editor's note: Speak for yourself! This place is practically around the corner from where I live, and quite near the UB North Campus! :-)] the sweet potato tempura is enough for me to go back."
[JFG] said:
[6/07] "We made a visit to a relatively new restaurant in suburban Amherst called "Wasabi". Our local restaurant critic had awarded it high marks and, always being on the lookout for good sushi or sashimi, since both Kuni's and Tsunami have closed, we decided to see if the high marks were deserved. We started out with an interesting variation on hot and sour soup prepared with a miso base and having shrimp, scallop tofu, and mushrooms. It was excellent. We also had yakitori and a pepper tuna wasabi salad. Everything was very good. I decided to try the Omakase for an entrée, and my companions had an assortment of sushi and sashimi. The quality was excellent, the presentation was very attractive, and the quantity was outstanding. All in all, we sampled the eel, toro, tuna, octopus, white tuna, salmon, mackerel, yellowtail, flying fish roe, a couple of rollsthe lobster and the eel-avocadoand there wasn't anything that I wouldn't order again. Adjacent tables had some good-looking tempura, which I want to try on my next visit. The menu is varied and extensive, and the sushi bar looked very well stockedexceptionally well, actually. Obviously, we'll be back. So far, with the possible exception of Kuni's To Go, this is the best local sushi restaurant of which I am aware. And by "local", I do not mean to include Canadian locations in Niagara Falls or Toronto. Try it; you'll really like itif you like sushi and sashimi or Japanese cuisine."
[ESi, 8/07] said: "I felt compelled to chime in after some of the negative reviews I read about Wasabi's. I will admit that the service can be slow, especially on the beverages, but the food is worth the wait. Ingredients are fresh, and the presentation is fantastic. My husband & I have dined there several times and look forward to our future visits to sample more of the chef's diverse menu. The Haru Maki is addictive, and the Lobster Wasabi Roll has become a favorite. For those who find it expensive, the lunch menu is a great alternative. For example, they have a special: your choice of 3 classic or hand rolls for under $10."
[HPK, 7/07] said: "I did not try anything except the sushi, and I could not eat it. Bad, bad, bad. Don't waste time or money."
[BMa, 5/07] said: "A positive review. After reading the negative reviews of Wasabi, I felt it was time to put in my two cents. It sounds as if the negative reviews are fans of another restaurant and feel it necessary to bash the newcomer. There is room for debate here, and certainly there is room for another sushi restaurant, especially of the caliber of Wasabi. Since a good friend of ours is a retired sushi chef, and another two friends own sushi restaurants in other cities, I have had the pleasure of eating fantastic sushi and learning a little about the art of Japanese cuisine. First and foremost, the quality of a sushi restaurant depends on the quality and freshness of the fish. Secondly, it is in how the chef prepares his fish. Third, I hate skimpy portions. I really don't like to read through the fish slices. I like a generous slice of fish when I'm paying a hefty price for the pleasure. Wasabi is a welcome addition to the East Amherst restaurant scene. Sleek and modern looking, friendly and attentive service, attractively-plated food, and very clean bathrooms make for a very pleasant dining experience. The food is fresh and very well prepared. I am not a fan of some of the rolls that are popular in American sushi restaurants, especially the ones with cream chese or surimi, so I usually order a sashimi platter or a combination of sushi and sashimi. I recently shared the latter with my husband on a Friday evening. The restaurant was very busy, but I found the service to be friendly, very efficient, and prompt. Once the restaurant was at full capacity, the waitstaff did their best to be accomodating. Our server was always ready to refill our drinks, bring another glass of water, and remove used plates, always with a smile. Sometimes you have to wait. In our case, the wait was short. The yellow tail is buttery and delicious. The fresh scallop (in the shell) was really a delight. Sliced thinly and placed back into its shell for presentation, it was accompanied by a citrussy sauce, which I think was ponzu. The assortment of fish was good, sliced generously, and artistically arranged on a long platter. I particularly liked the fresh salmon, which was rich and supple. This is one of the few restaurants that carry uni (sea urchin) on a regular basis. I prefer the uni from Santa Barbara, as it tends to be sweeter than the one from Maine, and, at this time of the year, it tends to be from Maine. We were fortunate that the one we had was still from Santa Barbara. Since I don't care for white fish or albacore tuna, I would have liked to see less of those fish on my platter, but since I didn't order à la carte, I suppose I can't complain. Some of the sushi bars in other cities I frequent know the fish I like and automatically serve only those fish in my order. I always find that a nice touch. The chef is knowledgeable when it comes to quality and freshness in seafood, and if you sit at the sushi bar, you can watch him slice the fish with expertise. Usually, the place fills up pretty quickly on weekends, so it is better to come early."
[KY, 4/07] said: "Review: Negative. We were a group of 4 that decided to give Wasabi a try on their grand opening. At that time, I couldn't find a website/forum to leave a review for this so called "sushi restaurant", so I figured I'd leave one now since I've one that exists. The decor was very appealing, but the food and service was absolutely horrendous. The four of us were seated immediately and then waited minutes before our order was taken. At that time, we had just finished our cup of tea and were not offered a refill for an hour. As time went on, we were averaging a cup of tea every half hour, and we needed to hunt down our waitress for a refill. With animosity building up, we requested our food that we had ordered, and kept being brushed aside. After waiting 2 hours, we finally got our food, and at that time we were so hungry we didn't even bark at the chef and waitress. The waitress then brought over what looked like leftovers from another table, said it was on the house and that they are so sorry we had to wait so long. It looked like beef, so we each gave it a try, and it was like chewing beef-flavored gum. It was by far the worst tasting and toughest beef I have had in my life. I was literally exhausted after eating that one piece. Needless to say, the sushi was awful; I had a bitter salmon sushi and tuna sushi. The chef does not know how to prepare sushi. The chef must have some an organ and have the bodily fluids leak on it. [sic] With all that said, this restaurant should close its doors. For those that are looking for a better place to eat sushi, go elsewhere. It's not worth your time and money. I would rather go to Wegman's, which is right down the street. If you're looking for a better place to eat sushi, I would prefer Fuji Grill. It's ironic that after chef Tony Kang (owner of Wasabi) left Fuji Grill, the quality and appearance of the food has much improved. I hope this review helps."
[RK, 4/07] said: "I have never offered my formal review of a restaurant before. However, after my recent experience this past weekend, I felt it was necessary. My wife and I and another couple visited Wasabi on Saturday evening, March 31st, for the first time. The four of us are sushi lovers and were looking forward to a new experience at a new sushi restaurant and some catching up. The décor was very pleasant, and the sushi, rolls, and wine selection were very good. The service was good also. The menu was very extensive but we really enjoy sushi and rolls so we didn't try any of the other menu options. The evening was very enjoyable up to that point. After paying the $135 bill along with $30 tip, we finished our wine enjoying each other's company for about 30-40 minutes at most; we weren't clock watching, and we do not make it a habit to occupy a table for an extraordinary amount of time after we are finished, and we certainly are not inconsiderate to anyone who may be waiting. Anyway, to our surprise, the waitress came up to the table asking several times if we needed anything else or if we were finished. After informing her we were fine and would be leaving shortly, she interrupted informing us that we needed to leave because they needed the table. She said people have been waiting for 30-45 minutes. I could not believe what was happening! I have been to many restaurants during my life from fast food to high-end restaurants and have never been treated like this. I thought it was a joke, certainly not [at] a place where the bill totaled $135! So, as we were walking towards the door, I noticed three tables that were completely empty, and there was only one group of three people checking in with the hostess. There weren't any lines at all inside or outside the restaurant; there wasn't even another person standing there. I was so irritated that I asked for the manager. I explained what had happened, stressed that I was not happy with the situation, and that I am in sales and would make sure that I would never recommend his restaurant to anyone. He asked me to point out the waitress, which I was glad to do, and he said he would speak to her, but I must admit, I got the impression that he was not all that concerned about what had happened. I must add that I have been to Fuji Grill in Amherst, and this has never happened even when it is clear that they were very busy. I must admit Fuji Grill's sushi is just as good if not better. Also, Kuni's on Elmwood was a very small restaurant with minimal seating. It was common for lines of waiting customers to extend outside to the sidewalk, and still this has never happened. I can say with conviction that I will never visit this restaurant again or recommend it to anyone, especially when there are places that are just as good and/or better and know how to properly treat their customers. Hopefully, others will strongly reconsider visiting Wasabi's after hearing about our unfortunate experience. Not a pleasant way to end what was supposed to be an enjoyable relaxing night out with friends."
[ALS, 3/07] said "Wasabi is an excellent Japanese restaurant. The sushi and sashimi are superb. So is the sea bass teriyaki that my wife ordered. Presentations are very nice. So is the restaurant's décor," and then he stopped by my office to emphasize the excellence of this restaurant.
[PT, 1/07] said: "Just-opened Japanese restaurant in an ex-Quizno's, owned and operated by a former chef of Fuji Grill, a few blocks away. Completely redone, so it doesn't look like a former sub shop. Very good sushi and sashimi in a wide variety, plus "kitchen menu" items like chicken teriyaki, shrimp and vegetable tempura, and more."
Review of the Buffalo/Elmwood Village location:
[LCo, 6/08] says: "After complaining that Wasabi's Williamsville location was in the middle of nowhere and way too far away from Buffalo, I was excited to see that an additional Wasabi was opening on Elmwood Ave. It's in the former Kirabashi, former Kuni's location. After eating at the new Wasabi, I was no longer excited and mostly disappointed. To start, I had Miso Soup and Edamame. The soup was fine, and the Edamame was lightly salted and delicious. I also tried the Oshinko, Asparagus, and Sweet Potato Tempura rolls. All of my vegetable rolls were cross-contaminated with Tobiko, a.k.a. flying fish roe, as if someone with grubby fingers or a grubby mat made my sushi. As a vegetarian ordering vegetable rolls, I was sad to have my food sullied with roe. The Sweet Potato Tempura was disappointing as well. It seemed dry and blander than the tempura at the Williamsville location. If the quality of the food at Wasabi is the trade-off for location, I might have to stick with Williamsville."
The Washington Market.
461 Ellicott St.
(between E. Tupper St. & E. Chippewa St.),
Downtown Buffalo.
362-3181.
[JoM] said:
[8/11] "The Washington Market is a great place to pick up soup and a sandwich for lunch or dinner. It's a very popular place for the downtown lunch crowd. All soups are made in house. Last week, I was in and enjoyed the Buffalo Chicken Chowder; this is my personal favorite soup on their menu: big chunks of chicken and potato in a creamy broth that has a nice Buffalo-wing flavor. I also had the Country Melt sandwich, which consists of turkey, thick-cut bacon, tomato, and swiss cheese on sourdough bread; the sandwich was excellent. Although The Washington Market has established itself as a great lunch and dinner spot downtown, it also has a small market in the back of the store. The market isn't large enough to do everyday grocery shopping, but it's a nice option to grab last-minute essentials for people living downtown. I recommend!"
Water Lily Cafe.
5354
Genesee St.
(west of
Harris Hill Rd.),
east of Martha Dr.),
Bowmansville
(Town of Lancaster).
288-9940.
[JKl, 8/13/15] says: "This is a brand-new restaurant that opened up in the Lancaster/Bowmansville area. I was driving by the other day and decided to stop in for lunch. I was quite pleased! Super clean, very pretty, and I loved the colors and decorating, plus it has an awesome front deck area for patio dining! I know that's a huge deal in our area during the summer months, so thought that I would definitely point it out. I overheard the owner talking to someone in the restaurant, and he had mentioned how they had a strong rainstorm the other day and everything stayed nice and dry out on the porch: another bonus. The service was great, and the food was excellent! A nice mix of items on the menu; even my picky friend was satisfied. It's owned by the folks who run the Thai Me Up food truck, whose food I have enjoyed multiple times at Food Truck Tuesdays at Larkin Square."
WaterStone Grill.
3679
Commerce Pl.
(at Camp Rd.
(Rt. 75),
right off the
I-90/Thruway,
just north of the
Village of Hamburg),
Town of Hamburg.
646-4400.
[WHN] says:
[10/22/12] "After a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Graycliff, we had our final Local Restaurant Week dinner at WaterStone Grill on Sunday, 10/21. The appetizer selection included portobello mushrooms stuffed with Italian sausage, spinach, and gorgonzola; ‘Buffalo Style’ calamari with bleu cheese for dipping; stuffed clams with lemon butter; and coconut-tempura shrimp. Available entrees were: stuffed chicken breast stuffed with walnuts and goat cheese, with pumpkin cream sauce and butternut squash; sirloin with cognac-peppercorn sauce; seared mahi mahi over a creamy avocado sauce, topped by corn salsa, accompanied by rice with black beans and pineapple, and fried plantains; and linguini with shrimp and asparagus. A house salad was also included. G didn't want an appetizer, so she ordered crab-stuffed sole topped by shrimp-bisque sauce, accompanied by rice and spinach from the regular menu. Her entree included a house salad, as did all LRW meals. I ordered the coconut shrimp to start, and the mahi mahi. I thought the shrimp was very good, but G, who sampled mine, thought it was too greasy. The mahi mahi was excellent. The service was very good, and the cost of both meals was about $75 with tax, including a $28 bottle of wine."
[4/12] "G and I went to WaterStone Grill for a light dinner on Wednesday night, 4/25/12. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that bottles of wine are half-priced on Wednesdays, so I ordered a bottle of Ménage à Trois California Red, a blend of cabernet sauvigon, zinfandel, and merlot, for $14, a few dollars more than the retail price of about $10. G ordered a chef's salad and a side of grilled asparagus. I had a Mediterranean salad with grilled chicken, comprised of mixed greens, artichoke hearts, olives, red onions, cherry tomatoes, and crumbled goat cheese, with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Both salads and G's asparagus were very good. The only negative was a pit in one of the olives, which I wasn't expecting, since all the other olives were pitted. Disaster was avoided, unlike a friend, who broke a tooth on an olive pit at a different restaurant and had to have the tooth reconstructed, which the restaurant's insurance ultimately paid for. Both the regular menu entrees and verbal specials sounded good, and we're looking forward to returning. The atmosphere is very nice, with booths along the walls and tables in the middle. The service was fine."
[KBr, 2/12] said: "My husband and I went to the Waterstone Grill in Hamburg, NY, with another couple. I think the place is new, and we heard that it used to be a Bob Evans. The interior is really nice, with great lighting, dark wood, and a fireplace. We had heard the food was good, so we decided to try it; we were disappointed in our dinners and the service, unfortunately. The meat included with our friends' meals (chicken Caesar salad for one and a strip steak and lobster tail for the other) were overcooked. My husband got the lobster macaroni and cheese, and there was not very much lobster included. The only meal that was decent was mine, and I got the lamb. The soup was so-so, and the quesadilla we got as an appetizer was ordinary, nothing special. In addition, our waitress and the service she provided were poor; she was slow with everything, seemed to get confused by one person's order and that person consequently did not get what they thought they were getting, and she never brought any bread or water. She also did not ask us if we wanted coffee or dessert. We almost wondered if the meats were overcooked on the chance they had been sitting for too long under a heat lamp as a result of her slow service. We most likely will not return, which is too bad, as the place is really pretty and comfortable inside."
Water Street Landing.
115 S. Water St.
(at Center St.),
Village of Lewiston (Town of Lewiston,
Niagara County).
754-9200.
[PT, 6/10] says: "Two friends and I went to the Lewiston Tour of Kitchens on Saturday (June 12th). Each house on the tour featured a dish from one of the local restaurants. The food was generally good, but my favorites were delicious pork sliders with homemade relish from Carmelo's, excellent corn chowder from the Youngstown Village Diner, and wonderful Brunswick stew, made with chicken, pork, beef, and vegetables, from the Brickyard Pub. I've seen Brunswick stew on restaurant menus in the south, but never had it before. If I see it again, I would order it. Other dishes included Jamaican jerk pork sandwiches from the Niagara Falls Wegmans, rice balls from Casa Antica, and wine and desserts at Water Street Landing. There were several other dishes from restaurants that I can't remember or didn't try. It was a fun day."
Please note: In the interests of full disclosure, [AFN] has told me [Bill] that she is related by marriage to the owners of another Lewiston restaurant, Carmelo's Coat of Arms. Of this rival restaurant, [AFN] says:
[12/05] "My sister, her daughter, and I had lunch here during Lewiston's Christmas Homes tour this weekend. My sister and I both ordered a daily special, chili-coated shrimp over a corn-meal-encrusted rice cake with corn and black bean salsa. It was tasty, but...there were only two shrimp on each plate. Not large, jumbo shrimp, but teeny, tiny, baby shrimp...for $11 per serving. Not worth $11."
[JKl, 6/09] says: "We dined at this restaurant for Mother's Day. We had a party of 9 and made reservations for 11 a.m. Only 1 person in our party had ever dined at this restaurant, and, even though it was ‘only’ for a buffet, every single guest agreed that we would come back in the future for a more intimate and romantic dining experience. The rounded ‘booths’ facing the windows looked amazing and would be perfect for a late evening dinner celebration with someone special. We were seated at a long table near the windows and had a nice view of the gorge. Our waiter was extremely attentive, and our water glasses were consistently filled throughout the meal (a gold start for them, as I only drink water at my meals). Drinks were brought quickly for those who ordered them. The Mother's Day brunch was $19.99 per person and well worth it. The buffet was extensive, with plenty of items covering both the breakfast and lunch menus (unlike most brunches that serve mostly breakfast foods and a couple carved meats). The dessert display was breathtaking, and everything sampled was delicious. We particularly enjoyed the omelet and Belgian waffle station. All buffet items were hot (a hard thing to accomplish) and well-supplied throughout our visit. A simple Mother's Day brunch has led to 9 people pledging to return to this restaurant in the future—I'd say job well done!"
[WHN, 9/05] said: "We've dined here twice over the summer, and on both occasions found it to be exceptional, both in terms of service and quality of the food, as well as offering a spectacular view of the Niagara River and the Canadian shoreline. (For the best view, request a tablewhich should be comfortable for four peopleat the windows when making a reservation.) My wife and I had steaks on both visits, and they were perfect. The main restaurant has outdoor dining on a patio overlooking the river, as well, and there's a more casual bar and indoor/outdoor restaurant on the lower level, which, I think, serves mostly sandwiches, wings, and the like. On our second visit, with another couple, we all ordered salads to start. The waiter told us they were really large, and we should probably order just two and split them, which we did. The half-salads were enormous, so his honesty was most appreciated. One of the owners also owns the Le Metro restaurants on Elmwood Ave. and in the Walker Center plaza on Main St. in Williamsville."
[KATS, 9/05] said: "Beautiful restaurant from the folks that brought us Le Metro. Overall, the menu is very similar to Le Metro's, with a few notable exceptions, one being the price. One of my favorite entrees at Le Metro is the chicken paillardpriced at $13. Here, it's $18. I understand that you pay a premium for the view and the seasonality of the restaurant, butand this is a big butthe food is not of the same quality as Le Metro, not even close. After begging my husband to take me to Lewiston for dinner for months, we were both extremely unsatisfied and disappointed. My steak was ordered raw, and came out "pan seared". I'll eat almost anything, but this steak was raw and the sides were pedestrian. The other entrees were fair to average. One diner was happy with one of the specials, but the other three of us were all disappointed."
Review from more than 10 years ago:
[SMD, 6/05] said: "I took my partner here for his birthday, based
on the recommendation of a friend. Although there was no signage, we
knew the place from its previous
incarnation as the Riverside Inn. They've really done some beautiful
updates to make the place comfortable, yet sleek. And who can argue with
that view! The Niagara River is practically your tableside companion! Being
a Tuesday night, it was not very busy, so we were promptly seated by the
windows. Spectacular! The delights did not end there. The service and food
were both excellent without being pretentious. We shared the bruschetta
appetizer, which featured olive tapenade, herbed goat cheese, and chopped
tomatoes on grilled ciabatta bread. It was very tasty, and we finished
every last
bit. I was undecided about my entree, so our friendly and knowledgeable
waiter suggested that I try the shrimp scampi. It was the best I've
ever had. The shrimp and linguine were both cooked to perfection and perfectly
seasoned. My partner chose the lemon chicken and was also very pleased.
It came with polenta and sauteed baby spinach and a preserved lemon sauce.
It was tangy and wonderful. We shared an ice cream dessert, which was
fine.
I give this place very high marks, and, based on our experience, I will
recommend it to all my friends. Our dinners, appetizer, drinks and
dessert came
to less than $75. Certainly reasonable for such an excellent meal."
Water Valley Inn.
6656 Gowanda State Rd.
(Rt. 75)
(at the southwest corner with
Riverview Dr.,
south of Stevens Rd.,
north of
S. Creek Rd.,
just southwest of the
Village of Hamburg),
Water Valley
(Town of Hamburg).
649-9691.
[LRM, 7/10] said: "Positive review: I really like this place. It is an old restaurant, and I believe it has been around for over 100 years. Everything is homemade and very good, with friendly service. It reminds me of other old, tavern-style restaurants that I remember going to as a kid. It has the same kind of atmosphere that the old Hoaks Armor Inn had, or the Deer Head Inn. They give you a bread basket that includes individual wrapped crackers, which I think is so old-fashioned, and I love that. Also, all the desserts are homemade and fantastic. This restaurant is located just past the Village of Hamburg on Rt. 62, and it is especially cozy in the winter. This place has consistent, good, homemade food. The steak is great, and it also serves a fish fry daily, which I think is another plus."
The Waterline Cafe.
50 Lakefront Blvd.
(in Waterfront Village Center, at La Riviere Dr.),
Downtown Waterfront (City of Buffalo).
464-3432.
[3/10] Listed as one of 41 "Restaurants We Love" by Buffalo Spree magazine.
[9/21/12] The Waterline is located in the lobby of Waterfront Village Center. You can eat in the cafe, in the lobby, or outside (in good weather) in a nice location near the Erie Basin Marina. MER and I got two take-out salads for lunch: A daily special Marinated Caprese Salad: "Vine ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, artichokes, kalamata olives, croutons & sweet basil tossed in extra virgin olive oil, cracked pepper & sea salt over greens drizzled with a balsamic reduction", and a (daily?, but not listed on their online list of daily specials for today) special "Skinny" Chicken Souvlaki, with kalamata olives, feta, and a spicy tzatziki dressing. Both were very good. Our salads averaged just over $8.50 each with tax (we supplied our own beverages).
Wehrle Family Restaurant.
29 Wehrle Dr.
(at Kensington Ave.),
Snyder (Town of Amherst).
837-0050.
Webb's Captain's Table Restaurant.
115
W. Lake Rd.
(Rt. 394/S. Erie St.)
(in Webb's Resort,
just a bit north of the Chautauqua Institution),
Village of Mayville
(Town of Chautauqua,
southern
Chautauqua County).
753-2161.
Online reservations available via OpenTable.com.
[JoM, 8/17/14] says: "We stopped in for lunch with a group of 6 on 8/7/2014. It was a nice day, and we asked to be seated upstairs on their outdoor patio overlooking Chautauqua Lake. The restaurant was about half full, and there was a 6-top table on the corner of the patio that a server had to clean before we could sit down. We waited about 5 minutes while it was cleaned, and then we were seated. It took several minutes before our server came to ask our drink orders and tell us about daily specials. After another several-minute wait for our drinks, our server returned to take our order. For my entree, I chose the Southwest Pocket, which contained Cajun chicken breast, jalapenos, tomatoes, and lettuce, topped with colby-jack cheese. When the Southwest Pocket arrived, it was overflowing with cheese falling out of the pita. It was a very sloppy meal as the moisture from the veggies began to make the pita pocket crumble apart halfway through eating it. It had decent flavor, but wasn't the best Cajun chicken sandwich I've ever had. Other people in our party tried the hamburger; turkey-grill sandwich; spicy, black-bean, veggie burger; an order of the spring rolls; and a roasted vegetable sandwich off the daily specials menu. The overall consensus was that everyone was satisfied with their meal but not impressed to the point of looking forward to a future visit. With a combination of slow service and average fare, I wouldn't go out of my way to return."
[WHN, 6/07] said: "Their upper level deck, overlooking Lake Chautauqua, is a nice place for a casual meal. The indoor dining rooms are very large and somewhat dark, probably OK at night, but the deck is the place to sit in the summertime for good burgers, sandwiches, etc."
[]
Webster's Bistro & Bar.
102
Webster St.
(at Goundry St.,
west of Main St.,
about a half block north of the
Riviera Theatre),
City of North Tonawanda
(Niagara County).
264-4314.
[Bill, 6/18/15] says: Five of us had dinner here on a Thursday evening. We had 6:15 P.M. reservations, arrived on time, and were seated promptly (in the very nice, covered, outdoor patio). However, even though we ordered reasonably soon after we were seated, our entrees didn't arrive until 7:50 P.M.! Some of us considered this to be fine, leisurely dining; others of us considered it to be glacially slow. A server offered each of us two very small slices of either baguette or olive bread; much later, another server brought a large platter of both kinds of bread, along with butter. But the food was wonderful! Appetizers included French onion soup (which came in a large, café-au-lait bowl with gobs of melted cheese; it looked delicious), the soup du jour (which was "sweet corn chowder"; this was my choice—it was very good, but it was very spicy, not "sweet"), crab cakes (which some found very good, although others thought that they had too much filler), and coconut shrimp (thought to be very good by those who had them). Salads included the roasted beet salad (said to be delicious) and two house salads; all salads are very large, so be warned. Entrees included the strip steak, the steak au poivre, the "surf and turf skewers" (from the specials menu: Angus skirt steak, gulf shrimp, accompanied by salad with strawberries), and (my choice) the salmon Wellington (which was perfectly cooked; the mushrooms were wonderful—it could have had more of them, and a bit more of the dill sauce, but I'm not complaining!). Most meals were accompanied by tender carrots and wonderful haricots verts. Everyone thought that their meals were excellent. We skipped dessert, because it was getting late and some of us were getting impatient. (Because I was a guest, I don't have pricing information.) In sum, I'd say that the food was excellent, the atmosphere was excellent, and the service left something to be desired. I also have to add that, for an allegedly French-inspired restaurant, it would be nice if their menu-writer knew a bit more French. As one small example, a salad containing carrots and tomatoes is not a "salade verte" (carrots and tomatoes are not green!). More egregiously, lamb chops are not "cotes d'agneow" (which sounds like something that a cat might say)! (They are "côtes d'agneau".)
[KaB, 3/3/14] said: "We had dinner at Webster's Bistro with friends on a Friday night. We were seated immediately, and our server was very attentive throughout the meal. We ordered two appetizers: fried oysters from the nightly specials, and Mushroom Napoleon from the regular menu. I ordered the seafood stew, which included ‘mussels, shrimp, white fish, scallops, and lobster in a rich seafood broth served over linguine’. The others ordered the ‘Black & Bleu Rib eye, a Delmonico steak smothered in caramelized red onions and crumbled gorgonzola, in a red-wine demi-glace’. When our appetizers arrived, we were surprised to see that the oysters had been pounded flat and fried in a heavy batter. It could have been anything inside the heavy breading; it was a major disappontment. The Mushroom Napoleon, which was described as ‘layered puff pastry with a trio of fresh and wild mushroom duxelles’, was very good: The pastry was light and flaky, and the mushrooms were silky and flavorful. The entrees were generous portions: My seafood stew had approximately 20 pieces of seafood in a light tomato broth over pasta; the seafood was nicely cooked, and the broth was slightly spicy. My husband was not happy with his steak: He felt that it was overcooked and gristly. Overall, our meal was mixed: It was not bad enough that we would not go back, but we would be more careful to understand the preparation of the specials and stay away from the steak. With one drink each, our bill came to $95/couple."
601 Amherst St.
(between Elmwood Ave. & Grant St.),
North Buffalo
(City of Buffalo).
877-0500.
5275 Sheridan Dr.
(between Evans St. & Essjay Rd.,
just northeast of the Village of Williamsville),
"Greater" Williamsville
(Town of Amherst).
631-4300.
Reviews of the Williamsville/Amherst location:
[AFZ, 7/10] said: "I could write pages about Wegmans, but I wish to comment on their sub-shop component, specifically their hot subs. They're bad. Go to any pizzeria/Italian/steak place in Buffalo, and you'll find filling, warm subs that are stuffed with meat and ooze cheese. Now imagine that with one of Wegmans's huge sub rolls. That would be a feast for a king, right? Their bready rolls might be sufficient for cold turkey or tuna, but not for steak, hamburger, or chicken finger. I ordered one of each last night and found them very under-par in fillings and taste. The steak sub isn't something you would find in Jim's SteakOut. It is cold roast beef with mild, A1-like sauce. The chicken fingers are more like small nuggets. And the burgers were extremely-thin ‘McDonalds-esque’ patties (in taste). None of them overflowed the sub roll as you would expect. You pay more for the roll itself than you do for the meat. Cold subs are all right. (Remember the times before they used to weigh out the meat portions?…Wow.) Next time, I'll go with a $6 burrito."
[AFN, 1/10] said: "My sister and I had lunch at Wegman's today. After looking over their offerings, we decided on the Indian buffet. We had Chana Masala and another vegetarian dish, curried cauliflower. They were, somewhat surprisingly, very good."
[MZ, 2/08] said: "I had checked in with you earlier to see if there were any kosher delis or restaurants remaining in Bflo; here's the only thing, aside from the carryout you referred me to [i.e., Takeout Taxi, 631-2222], that I've found. There's a small location in Wegman's deli section that has a breath of memory of Barney Greengrass or Zabar's, and which is treated as kosher. I have been looking for good chopped liver, and theirs is exceptional here. Don't bother, how ever, with their potato pancakes, which taste more of matzo than potato. (They do carry some good frozen p'cakes in their kosher section. Check for NYC or NJ origins. Also in their ethnic section, they have Streit's egg noodles, which, if you typically can't find frozen fresh egg noodles, are an exact substitute if you parboil them in chicken stock.) They also have some various smoked fish, which I haven't yet tasted."
[BL, 9/07] said: "We have been to Wegman's now and then for lunch, eating upstairs in their Paris-cafe-like setting. Friday, we used a gift certificate and had dinner at the Sheridan location. What a wonderful time! The food is good and creative and offers a lot of choices at the Market Cafe. I had the Chinese buffet, and my spouse had one of the meal offerings for the evening: pork loin with potatoes and green beans. With drink, came to $24, so it is not fast-food cheap, but fast-food very good and no different than most casual restaurants in price. What was great was the place had a very healthy crowd on a Friday night with all kinds of people, and there is live entertainment. The group that night was Babik, playing Eastern European jazz swing popular in the 30s. Oh, it was great, and the people loved it. Wonderful way to spend the evening from 6-8:00pm and an alternative to our usual Friday destinations. Wegmans knows how to bring in the people."
The Wellington Pub.
1541
Hertel Ave.
(east of
Wellington Rd.,
west of Parkside Ave.),
North Buffalo
(City of Buffalo).
833-9899.
[5/15] Given an average of 4.1 (out of 5 "No Jacket Required" points) by Wendy Guild Swearingen in Buffalo Spree.
Bill says:
[3/8/14] A group of 6 of us, including MER, SLD, and
our granddaughter, had an early dinner here on a Friday, just before the
Nichols
School
Cabaret, which our son was performing in. The
restaurant is much larger than I expected, with two big dining rooms in
the back, once you get past the very crowded bar in the front. And the
menu is quite large, too. Two of our party began with bowls of French
onion soup, which they enjoyed. I had a cup of the seafood chowder
("with fish and crab"); it was terrible: So thick with potatoes that
there was almost no broth; I couldn't find any fish or crab; and it was
overly salty. MER had the fish fry, with coleslaw and an extra-cost
dinner salad instead of the potatoes; they did not deduct for the
missing potatoes, despite the fact that it was the waitress who made the
substitution suggestion. And the salad came with the entrees, not with
everyone else's soups! (I suppose that might make sense if the salad was
considered as a potato-substitute; still, it was a bit odd.) But she
did say that the fish fry was very good and not greasy.
SLD had
the Cajun grilled haddock, also with an extra-cost side salad in lieu of
potatoes (also delivered with her fish instead of with everyone else's
appetizers);
I can't vouch for SLD's dish (she said nothing about it either way).
I had the lemon grilled haddock;
it was merely so-so: The fish seemed a bit underdone, but at least
did not have a "fishy" flavor; the accompanying pasta salad and coleslaw
were tasteless—they could have used some of the excess salt from
the chowder. Other guests had a roasted turkey sandwich,
a bacon cheeseburger, and (for our granddaughter) chicken fingers with fries.
Again, no complaints, no special praise.
Our granddaughter also had a
peanut-butter pie with chocolate sauce for dessert, which she seemed
to like.
Service was friendly, but slow. With drinks and tax, our meals
averaged a bit over $19 per person. Personally, I have no desire to return;
other members of our party might feel differently.
[8/16/15] MER and I had a quick lunch on a Sunday. Although the
interior and the mens' rest room leave something to be desired, I had a
very good turkey-club wrap (a kind of turkey salad with bacon and
cheddar, in a garlic-herb wrap, with a very nice avocado mayo and chips.
MER had a Greek chicken salad, which she said was very good, too. With
drinks and tax, before tip, our lunches averaged under $17 per person.
[CW, 8/08] said: "One of the most reliable and satisfying places to eat. Great pub fare: one of the best fish fries in Buffalo, served both Wednesday and Friday, lunch through closing. Burgers are also very good. Ample portions, friendly staff, appropriate for families, friends, casual dates. Full bar, patio seating."
[AJT, 4/07] said: "Unpretentious, simple fare. Sandwiches plus the usual appetizers of wings, etc. I had their Reuben on rye with an order of Cajun fries, which are thick fries dusted with seasoning. Companion had a burger and Curly Q seasoned fries. The Reuben was done properly, with freshly sliced corned beef (as opposed to "parts is parts" loaves of corned beef). The burger was done to expectation, which was "well". The Curly Q fries were OK, but a few of the Cajun fries were not thoroughly cooked. Both were served with potato chips, as well. Reuben was $5.75; burger was $5.75; fries were $2.75. Beer was $2.25; a drink was $3.75. Service was good, since the dining room was largely empty at 9:45 P.M. on a Sunday. Orders, with drinks, were filled promptly. It's a comfortable neighborhood place, and recommended."
Wendy's.
Numerous locations; click on this link for store locator.
The Western Door.
310 4th St.
(in the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel,
between Niagara St. & Rainbow Blvd.),
City of Niagara Falls
(Niagara County), NY.
299-1100 or 1-877-8SENECA (1-877-873-6322).
[WHN] says:
[12/05] "The Western Door is first and foremost a steakhouse, and an excellent one at that. A friend and I went here for dinner without reservations, and there was a long wait for tables, but we were able to be seated in the bar area immediately. We split a "Deluxe Seafood" appetizer ($25) that was really hugeloaded with shrimp, lobster, crab, clams, and oysters. I had a 24 oz. Prime Rib ($32) and he had an 18 oz. NY Strip Steak ($30). Both were cooked to perfection and very tender. The sides are a bit expensive$5 for a baked potato or rice, for example. There's a decent selection of beer, and a very limited choice of wines by the glassall from New York State."
Whiskey Joe's.
4723 Transit Rd.
(between French Rd. in Cheektowaga & Clinton St.,
in the southwest corner of the town, north of Blossom),
Town of Lancaster.
668-2210.
The White Inn.
52 E. Main St. (Rt. 20)
(at White St.),
Village of Fredonia (Town of Pomfret, northern Chautauqua County).
672-2103.
Reviews of its previous management:
[WHN, 6/07] says: "Several friends, who have been here a number
of times, recommended
the White Inn recently, so we went for lunch. The crab cakes my wife
and I both had were excellentall crab meat with little or no
filler; almost like being on Chesapeake Bay."
[6/99]
I [Bill] began with Thai Crab Cakes, which were good but not very Thai-tasting;
[MER] had a good onion soup, though the croutons were a bit tough.
For the main course, I had sea scallops in a Dijon mustard sauce with smoked-salmon cakes; quite
tastybut accompanied by tasteless green beans. [MER]'s Chicken
Grand Marnier was OK, but nothing to rave about. We did have a
wonderful chocolate mousse cake for dessert. I would
certainly come back when I was next in the neighborhood; the menu is
quite appealing, even if our choices were less than ideal. I should add
that it's on the expensive side.
[]
Excellent continental cuisine in an 1868 hotel restored by former colleagues
of mine. (They no longer own it, however.)
White Linen Tea House & Restaurant.
6610 Shawnee Rd.
(south of Mapleton Rd.),
Shawnee
(Town of Wheatfield,
Niagara County).
731-1685.
Whole Hog Food Truck.
various locations, usually:
Washington St. between S. & N. Division Sts. (daytime),
Downtown Buffalo
and
233 Allen St.
(Holley Farms parking lot at College St., nighttime),
Allentown (City of Buffalo).
638-0810.
Wiechec's Lounge.
1748 Clinton St.
(at Matejko St.),
Kaisertown (City of Buffalo).
823-2828.
Wild Bill's Hickory BBQ.
• Facebook page
9840
County Rd.
(east of Goodrich Rd.,
west of Strickler Rd.,
just north of
Clarence Center),
Town of Clarence).
908-5263.
[JoM] says:
[2/18/14] "Wild Bill's is only open late spring through early fall. He serves from a truck and has picnic tables for customers who choose to eat in. By far, this is the best brisket in the WNY area, head and shoulders above any other (with Dinosaur coming in 2nd). He also has excellent pulled pork and chicken. Not a fancy place, but serious BBQ lovers will fall in love."
Williamsville Place.
5395 Sheridan Dr.
(between International Dr. & Essjay Rd.),
"Greater" Williamsville
(Town of Amherst).
1-877-225-5337.
Willowbrook Restaurant.
4200 Lake Ave.
(in the Willowbrook Golf Course & Restaurant,
between Ridge Rd. & Old Niagara Rd.,
north of Highland Park
and of the City of Lockport,
south of
Newfane/Wrights Corners),
Town of Lockport
(Niagara County).
434-0111 x 22.
Wilson Boat House Restaurant.
57 Harbor St.
(at Ontario St.),
Village of Wilson
(Town of Wilson,
Niagara County).
751-6060.
[HPK, 7/10] said: "Response to the recent review: I have been here now twice this summer, and plan on going back in a couple of weeks. This has been great food. I have been with very picky eaters, very picky. Their Seared Tuna was excellent; service great and no problems at all. Even my kids loved it there; they had kids' food as well as very expensive food. The atmosphere is good, and it has become one of my favorite restaurants. I urge people to give it a try!"
[PT, 7/10] said: "On Friday, 7/16/10, we decided to go to the Wilson Boat House for lunch. We have not been there for several years. When we arrived around 1 P.M., there was no one to greet us or seat us, and we had to search for the hostess. We wanted to sit outside, and were, after several minutes delay. They weren't very busy, but it seemed like the servers were all working inside, so service at our outdoor table was slow. We ordered sandwiches, which were good, but not great. I would say that the food and service under the previous management was much better."
[WHN] said:
[5/09] "We had lunch at the Wilson Boat House on Sunday, May 17. They had just reopened for the season earlier in the month and had begun serving lunch on Friday. The restaurant is under new management, and the menu has changed quite a lot from what I remember. My wife and I both had white fish burritos with rice, black beans, roasted peppers, jack cheese, and shredded cabbage. They were delicious, and the accompanying home-made potato chips, with minimal salt, were also excellent. The website doesn't show the lunch menu per se, but many of the sandwiches, salads, and appetizers offered at lunchtime are shown on the banquet menu, but the luncheon menu prices are somewhat lower and don't include soft drinks, tea, or coffee.
[AFN, 6/09] said: "My visiting daughter, grandson, and I had lunch at the Wilson Boat House on Wednesday. My daughter and I split a Caesar salad and a grouper sandwich with chipotle mayo and what was described on the menu as a sweet bourbon sauce. My grandson had a beef on weck. The food was very good, as was the service, but the restaurant was chilly, even though it was a warm day. Someone told me they are only open in the summer because it's not heated. I don't know if that's true, but it's been very cool on our last two visits."
Wine on Third.
501 3rd St.
(at Ferry Ave., south of Main St.),
City of Niagara Falls
(Niagara County), NY.
285-9463 (285-WINE).
Wine Trail Italian Bistro.
5949 Campbell Blvd. (Rt. 270)
(at Lockport Rd.
(= Robinson Rd. west of Bear Ridge Rd.),
on the border of the Town of Pendleton),
Town of Lockport
(Niagara County).
434-5290.
Winfield's Pub.
1213
Ridge Rd.
(west of Orleans St.
& Abbott Rd.,
east of Lynn St.
& S. Shore Blvd.;
southwest of Abbott Rd. Plaza,
southeast of
Holy Cross Cemetery),
City of Lackawanna.
821-0700.
[RDM, 10/3/14] said: "I've been to Winfield's Pub twice now, once for lunch a few weeks ago, when I had their amazing lamb burger, and once this evening for dinner. Everything I've tried has been wonderful. My husband loved my recommendation of the lamb burger; it is seasoned with cumin and coriander (according to the menu), served with pickled carrots, shallots, and feta cheese, and served on their luscious, homemade, potato burger-roll. Tonight, I tried the duck poutine as an appetizer; it was a large plate of crispy fries topped with chunks of duck breast, duck gravy, and goat cheese: amazing flavor, and, although a bit on the heavy side, my husband and I finished the plate. I went lighter and enjoyed the Steak-in-the-Grass soup as my entree; the base was a flavorful but light beef broth filled with mushroom slices, shredded carrots, spinach, scallions, sliced sirloin, and homemade peppery noodles. Service is friendly and attentive. It's a little hard to spot at first, but is worth seeking out. It is one of my new favorite go-to places!"
[] Wing City Grille.
273 E. Fairmount Ave.
(west of Chautauqua Mall),
Village of Lakewood
(Town of Busti,
southern
Chautauqua County).
763-1930.
10450 Bennett Rd. (Rt. 60)
(south of Vineyard Dr. & the I-90/Thruway exit),
Village of Fredonia (Town of Pomfret, northern Chautauqua County).
679-1116.
Review of the Lakewood location:
Bill said:
[7/31/13] We returned to the Lakewood Wing City with a group of 6 people
for dinner. The table shared an Appetizer Sampler (pizza logs, mini
tacos, mozzarella sticks,
and fries, served with
marinara sauce, salsa, and sour cream) and Pretzel Stix (soft pretzels
served with nacho cheese and garlic butter). Not liking any of those
things, I didn't try them, but everyone else liked them. For our
dinner, we ordered various combinations of wings, onion rings, salads,
vegetarian quesadillas, and fries. Two items stand out: My son ordered
wings with Raspberry Inferno sauce, not knowing exactly what that would
be. It turned out to be a raspberry-flavored, habanero-pepper sauce,
and he said that it was the hottest sauce he had ever had, but he said
that he liked
them (despite "complaining" throughout the meal). I had the Wing City
Sampler: 15 wings with 3 different sauces; I opted for medium, garlic
butter, and Signature City Sauce. The mediums were excellent, the
garlic-butter wings were mild and good, and the Signature City Sauce was
an interesting combination of sweet, spicy, and smoky. With drinks and
tax, before tip, our meals averaged a bit over $22 per person.
[8/12] Five adults (a friend from NJ, [LDS], [MER], our son, and I)
and two of our grandchildren (ages 2 and 4) tried the new, Lakewood
location for dinner on an early, Sunday evening. (An important
fact is implicit in that statement: There's a (good) restaurant that's
open for Sunday dinner in the Jamestown area!)
We began with a plate of potato skins stuffed with nacho and cheddar
cheeses, bacon, and chives, as well as a plate of Spinach & Artichoke
Dip; the former was said to be good by those who ate them, the latter was
very good, but non-standard:
The dip was not
the usual blended mixture that you might find at, say,
Chili's
but contained large chunks of artichokes and spinach leaves in a cheese
sauce.
[MER] had the Wing Trio: a huge plate of five jumbo wings (medium
heat), a single order of boneless wings (ditto), and a single order of
Chicken Lips (ditto). (The latter are pieces of chicken that, unlike
the boneless wings, are neither breaded nor fried.)
She thought everything was very good (although she still
prefers the crispiness of
Duff's Sheridan Drive wings). Our son
had the Wings & Rings: seven jumbo wings accompanied by onion rings; he
ordered them hot, and enjoyed them (especially the rings) but thought
that "hot" here was like "mild" at Duff's
(next time, he'll probably try X-Hot here).
Our NJ friend had a Wing City Sampler: 15 jumbo wings with a choice of
up to three sauces; she chose "Boom Boom", Jack Daniels Bourbon, and
teriyaki, and liked them all. [LDS] also did the Sampler, with hot
sauce, hot garlic sauce, and Pineapple Express; she also liked them all.
Servings are huge: We had plenty of wings and lips to take home.
The grandchildren had Homemade Macaroni and Cheese from the extensive
Kid's Menu; they seemed to enjoy them (as much as any 2- or 4-year-olds
would).
I decided to try "the rest of the food" (as I remarked in my [11/11] review of
the Fredonia location) to see if it was as good as the wings; it was: I
had the Tropical Salmon: grilled salmon with strawberries, pineapple,
and mandarin oranges, served over lemon rice; it was excellent, on a par
with a dish I would have expected from, say, Scallion Bistro, a 3-star
restaurant in Lakewood. The salmon was not at all "fishy", the sweet fruit
contrasted nicely with the savory salmon, and the sauce had just a
very tiny hint of heat.
Service was excellent.
With drinks and tax (before tip), the bill averaged just over $21 per
adult (the kids' meals came to under $5 each).
I am awarding them an initial star.
[10/11/13] MER and I decided to have a quick lunch here on a Friday
afternoon. The place was busy, and there seemed to be only one
waitress, who was being helped by the manager. We got there around
12:40 P.M.; our order was taken at 1:15; but
our food didn't arrive till about 1:40 despite their "15-minute
lunch" promise (if you don't get your lunch within 15 minutes of
ordering, it's supposed to be free; it wasn't, but we didn't complain,
because it
certainly wasn't our server's fault). MER had the chicken and spinach
"panini" with fries; she said that it was merely OK. I had the
chicken florentine pizza (with artichokes) (one reason for
the delay was that the cook had
prepared a chicken florentine flatbread by mistake, and our server
had told
him to fix it before she even brought it out to me). In any case, the
pizza dough was more like cookie dough, there were only a few pieces of
chicken, and only a few slices of artichoke; there was lots and lots of
gooey cheese, however. MER found a piece of string in her
sandwich, for which our server gave us a 10% discount. Not our best
meal here; maybe lunches are best avoided. With drinks, tax, and
discount, our
meals averaged a bit over $14.50 per person, before tip.
Reviews of the Fredonia location:
[LSS, 1/10] says: "In the Dunkirk/Fredonia area last night and in search of a place to eat, we stopped here at the recommendation of a former Silver Creek resident. What a great find! While it doesn't look like much from the outside (it was dark, but the restaurant was illuminated with tiny white lights—pretty), the inside is spacious, clean, updated with brick accents, and very comfortable. Our party of five enjoyed some of the best restaurant service ever, provided by the lovely Vanessa. We were all impressed by the extensive menu: There are well over 10 different wing sauces (Key Lime, anyone?), along with pasta dishes, burgers, sandwiches, appetizers, pizza, and inventive salads. Several of us tried the Buffalo-style mac and cheese. I should have asked: It does contain chicken, though the menu doesn't mention it. All entrees, including the famous mac and cheese, come with salad. I was saddened to hear the Concord vinaigrette dressing was unavailable on my visit (I'll return during grape season, perhaps). The Greek dressing I chose was very good, and the salads were just fine. You can even order a side portion ($1.95) of the mac and cheese. I'll be back. This is a great place for families, though, be warned, there is a video game room. Bonus!"
Wok & Roll.
5467 Sheridan Dr.
(in Williamsville Place,
between International Dr. & Essjay Rd.),
"Greater" Williamsville
(Town of Amherst).
631-8880.
[WHN, 2/1/14] says: "Wok & Roll was featured in an article on Asian foods in the current issue of Buffalo Spree, and also received a very positive review on buffaloeats.org. So, on Friday 1/31 (which coincidentally was Chinese New Year—the year of the horse), I decided to have take-out dinner with two of the Cantonese dishes mentioned in Buffalo Spree: mini juicy pork buns and crispy shrimp with walnuts. Despite the name, which as Don Burtless pointed out in his Buffalo Eats blog, sounds like something in a shopping-mall food court, the food was very, very good. I had the juicy pork buns dim sum with soy-ginger sauce for dipping, served over a couple leaves of steamed bok choy; and crispy shrimp and walnuts, with a mayo-based sauce, served with steamed broccoli and white rice, over shredded lettuce. My meal was $17, with enough left for another dinner. I did take-out, but it's nicer inside than the Chinese take-out places that are on almost every corner in Amherst. They have the usual Chinese restaurant items, as well as Cantonese specialties. They don't have a liquor license. I didn't ask about BYOB. Definitely a keeper."
Woo Chon Korea House Restaurant.
402 Evans St.
(south of Sheridan Dr.),
Village of Williamsville (Town of Amherst).
626-5980.
[BMcWS, 2/09], in our first review for February 2009, says: "We were excited to try this after reading a review in Buffalo Spree. We ate at an incredible Korean dumpling house in NYC recently and were hoping for something similar. We made reservations, because there are only 4 grill tables. Some of the earlier reviews here talk about the attitude of the staff. We experienced good and bad while there. One server was older and seemed to be an owner and was a little difficult. The other was younger and friendly and helpful. He helped us decide what to order. I did not appreciate being told that we had to order two grill items or they would move us to a non-grill table. That was a little pushy and rude. We ordered a grill combo (twice as much as a regular item, so we were "allowed" to stay at our table). It included beef, chicken, scallops, one small rib, and pork. The beef and chicken were delicious. The scallops and pork were too spicy for our palates, and the rib was just too fatty and tough. The server cooks the items on the grill at your table and continues to come back and reach over you to work on it constantly, so that is disruptive and uncomfortable. You don't feel like you can talk or eat easily with someone's elbow in your face. The meat comes with rice, lettuce leaves, and about 8 toppings or combos, including kim chee, radish, sprouts, broccoli, green pepper, soy sauce, some sort of paste, and some pickled vegetables. Anything with a sauce on it is spicy. You are supposed to wrap meat, rice, and some toppings in a lettuce leaf and eat it like a roll. These were good. The meal also came with a very delicious soup#151;an almost-clear broth with only sprouts in it but with the most intriguing and tasty flavor. We were also served cups of tea with clumps of rice in them, which was very delicious. We ordered a plate of dumplings, which were a big disappointment. They were deep fried and not very flavorful. They did not come with any sauce to dip in, which would have helped them. We also ordered a scallion pancake, which was good. The waiter recommended a seafood pancake instead. The menu said it contained oysters and squid, along with other items. He insisted it did not have those ingredients. We decided not to order it, because we didn't want to find out for ourselves if it had ingredients we did not want! The scallion pancake was good, but it was even better when eaten with the meat. The friendly waiter good-naturedly laughed at me for doing that and said you're supposed to eat it plain. I liked it with the meat. When the owner was not turning our meat, she sat at a table directly behind us (even though the place was just about empty), so we felt uncomfortable, as if we were being watched. Orange slices were brought when we finished our meal, and we were given a small box to bring home our leftovers. The bill comes, and, after you put your credit card in the folder, the owner comes back and asks you to write the tip on the bottom of the bill (there is no line to put it on, and this is before you get the credit card slip)and stands there watching as you write it in! This was fun, but I don't think I would go back very soon. Maybe if you were at a non-grill table where you could actually talk and enjoy your meal, it would be more relaxed."
[BaR, 12/08] said: "A good place to start if you're not familiar with Korean food. They even have the BBQ tables where you can cook your own BBQ if you choose. It's a bit pricy, but in my opinion worth it. The staff is more than happy to answer any questions you might have; the little appetizers before the meal are very good; and it's not all hot and spicy, though it can be."
[WHN, 12/05] said: "We have eaten here a number of times over the last several years, and found the food to be very good, especially the Korean barbecue. We usually ordered a variety of meatschicken, pork, and beefthen cooked it ourselves at one of the tables with a built-in barbecue pit. The servers had always been pleasant and helpfuldescribing the side dishes, asking if we knew how make the wraps, bringing extra rice, side dishes, sauces, and lettuce for the barbecue wraps, etc. However, on our last (and I do mean last) visit, when my wife asked our waiter what some of the side dishes were, he replied: "It's all edible". It was downhill from there, with the staff either ignoring us, or giving us looks that suggested we were intruding on their personal agendas. Even the woman who, I think, is one of the owners, or at least the manager, acted as if we weren't welcome and they would like us to leave. (It was only around 8:00 PM when we finished our meal and left). We felt like they no longer wanted non-Korean customers. As far as we are concerned, they will get their wish. All in all, an unpleasant experience that spoiled an otherwise good meal."
Reviews from more than 10 years ago:
[HPK, 12/03] said: "I have now been to Korea House twice, and
both times it has been extremely
enjoyable! The latest time, I ventured in to the Authentic Korean
Barbecue.
Now, yes, there are Korean specialties such as Cow Stomach that I stayed
away
from, but we did try the Chicken and Steak options. Absolutely
delicious.
Plus, it's a lot of fun to cook your own food. Go and enjoyand if
you
have been afraid to try Korean food, don't be. They have an extensive
menu.
The tables could have been cleared throughout the meal better, and
don't ask
for too much of a description of some foods, as the waiters don't know
all
the answers. But I will go back many times."
[EC, 12/02] said: "I went to Korea House for the first time last
night for a work-related
party. Being a relative neophyte in Korean cuisine (the only other
Korean food I've had has been at UB's
Korean Express), I wasn't sure
what to expect. I was in for a very pleasant surprise. The atmosphere
was clean & friendly, and the service was excellent. The menu was very
extensive. Our waiter was extremely patient & sensitive to the
Americans in our group. He made sure we knew about our orders (if they
included raw fish, super spicy sauce, etc.). Although our order was big
(about 10 people), the food was brought out very quickly. The array of
sauces, side dishes, vegetables, and soups was wonderful. The food was
delicious. I ordered the Bulgogi (marinated beef), & the portion was
surprisingly big (not to mention delicious!). Everything was reasonably
priced, too. For our big group, the total was $150. I recommend this
restaurant highly for everyone who's in the mood for something special &
esoteric."
[RJMcC, 9/98] said: "The Korea House Restaurant
has become one of my
favorite restaurants in Western New York. The dining area is very
brightly lit, and blends tasteful decorative touches (wood, plants,
earth tones) with less subtle elements (a full-length wall mirror,
silent TV sets with karaoke text on screens, poster art featuring
the likes of Magic Johnson, Las Vegas, etc.). Try to get one of
the longer tables at either side of the dining room, because
immediately
after sitting down you will be served several small bowls of kim
chee and other foods (ranging from marinated bean sprouts to dried
anchovies) that may be consumed before and during the meal. The menu
has scores of items on it and thus can be overwhelming, but my partner
and I always order two or three dishes we already know, and a third or
fourth dish that is new to us. Some of the standard items to order
include bulgoki (put some of this marinated, cooked beef onto one
of the fresh lettuce leaves you get, add some bean paste and kim chee,
roll up and enjoy!), manduguk (pot-sticker-like dumplings in broth),
scallion pancake (a huge and delicious treat), and spicy beef noodle
soup. If you choose to sit at a longer table on the north end of the
floor, you may BBQ your own bulgoki (also commonly called Korean
Barbecue). We love the way the kitchen cooks the bulgoki (tender and
juicy), however. The service is usually attentive and, if you're
trying to navigate the menu, helpful. This is truly a fabulous
restaurant."
[AN] said:
[4/97] "Has changed owners = no liquor licence,
but even more delicious samples of side-dishesstill one of my
favourite
restaurants."
[CJH, 3/05] said: "Prices are a little high for Buffalo area.
Nice environment, and
service is OK and could be better. Food is good, and, with two orders
or more grilled food, you get to grill your own dishes. Tastes great
and always walk out happy. A must try. I give it a 2 out of 4 stars."
[1/98] "My favourite place
is the Korean barbeque place in
Williamsville. I
love the food, especially the barbeque, which is fun, too, because you
can fry
your own meat, and the side dishes are delicious (and you will be served
seconds
of them if you clean up everything)."
Woodcock Brothers Brewing Company.
638 Lake St. (Rt. 425)
(between Ide Rd. & Young St./Wilson Burt Rd.),
Village of Wilson
(Town of Wilson,
Niagara County)
333-4000.
[ALKu, 11/26/12] said: "Went to the new brewery in Wilson: Woodcock Brothers Brewing Company. Had really high hopes, as we have been driving by for 2 years wondering when they would open. Very impressive use of space: re-use of so many wonderful aspects of this old, cold-storage facility. Beer was very good; tried the amber & IPA: both delicious and nice & cold. Cold is a key word in a negative way, too! We were seated in the dining room and were freezing, really freezing the whole time (the place was totally packed & should have been warm just from all the bodies). Saw one of the owners mess with the thermostat once, & he clearly turned it down, as the other room where the bar & cooking area was was warmer. Many people had their coats on. Food: Stuffed, hot pepper app was very good—nice cheese filling, crisp (not mushy) pepper was great. Served with their spelt bread, a by-product of the beer-making process. Bread was OK, but the same bread is used on all their sandwiches. It has a funky flavor, and that flavor ran through everything we ate; kinda got tired of it. The beer was used in the French onion soup broth, too. Also had the dry-rubbed chicken sandwich (choice of dry rubs here); I had the garlic pepper, which was really nice. The sandwich was served with potato wedges that were grilled (kinda like a sliced, baked potato). I did not care for these at all. Very nice people and OK service, considering that they were packed on a Saturday afternoon. It took a long time for the beer, and food was a bit quicker. I will go back!"
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