The Way We Eat |
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Look at at the Best of Buffalo issue as a kind of pep rally. It functions as a reward for our city’s old-timers, a shout-out to the newcomers, and a continuation of a winning streak for many others. (Yes, at this stage, a nominee is considered a winner).
There is no better category to illustrate this than the food and drink competition. Some win by a landslide, some by a nose, and while there aren’t many surprises among the final outcomes, what is often surprising is who didn’t get nominated.
We always blather on about how great the food is here in Buffalo, what a great selection there is, and how Buffalonians just love their beer (and wine, and whiskey…). One need only skim through the categories to be reminded of those things. What tends to slip our minds is the sheer hard work that goes into opening, owning, and maintaining these sorts of businesses. The stress, the endless hours (owning a business can be like having a baby; when it needs you, you have to be there for it), the physical labor, the sales tax pile-ups, insurance, employee troubles, etc. In general, owning a business in the service industry means living with the uncertainty of being at the whim and mercy of your clientele, which is not always a comforting prospect—especially now.
Here is where the clientele has spoken—at least, those who talk to us— and what follows should bring pride to all the names on the list regardless of the final outcome. (The businesses that got the most votes will be announced in two weeks, Artvoice issue of May 7, but if you don’t want to wait to read about the first placers come to the Best of Buffalo Party at the Town Ballroom on Monday, May 4, at 6pm. It’s free.)
New to the list this year are of course the “Best New Restaurant” nominees (in alphabetical order): 31 Club, Encore, Merge, Tabree, and the Wine Thief. (The latter two are right next to each other on Elmwood—does that help business or hurt it? It’s an age-old debate.) We also have a few surprises from out-of-the-way neighborhoods in the form of nominees Sweetness 7 Cafe on Grant St. (“Best Coffee”), and Poppyseed Restaurant in Blasdell (“Best Salad”).
Always on the list are the venerable institutions we need not even name but wil anyway, like Mother’s and the Rue Franklin for “Most Romantic Restaurant;” the Anchor Bar and La Nova for ‘Best Wings;” Amy’s Place and Towne for “Best Diner;” Cole’s and the Roycroft Inn for “Best Brunch;” the Hamlin House and the Wellington Pub for “Best Fish Fry.” All of the above have been open for upwards of 20 years.
And not on the list this year? There are too many to mention, that for whaterver reason didn’t make our top five or simply didn’t get voted for at all. Think of all the little Latin places on the westernmost West Side, some of which make the best pastelillos and roast pork to be found. Or what about the terrific Cajun/Creole restaurants, like elegant, epicurean Shango (Main Street in University Heights) and spicy, speedy take-out joint Lagniappes (Allen Street)? Both are deprived of a nomination this year simply because we forgot to include the category. (Note to selves: next year, “Best Cajun.”)
Well, live and learn. And continue to support your candidates even after the “election” by patronizing these establishments. That’s first and foremost. Then go around telling everyone you know how great the place is.
Here’s to hoping not a single one of these nominees has to shut its doors in the next year. Or the next 10 years. Or the next 20…
—k. o’day
Best BagelWegmans SPoT Coffee Bagel Jay’s Manhattan Bagel Lexington Coop Best BBQFat Bob’s SmokehouseBW’s Barbecue Suzy Q’s Barbecue Shack Kentucky Greg’s Hickory Pit Brickyard Pub & BBQ Best Bar MenuCole’sMother’s Allen Street Hardware Pearl Street Grill Allen Street Bar and Grill (heretofore referred to as The Old Pink) Best Beef on WeckAndersonsSchwabl’s Charlie the Butcher Bar-Bill Tavern Steve’s Pig & Ox Roast Best BrunchLeft BankBetty’s Cole’s Shanghai Red’s Roycroft Inn Best BurgerGrover’s Bar & GrillCole’s Ted’s Jumbo Red Hots Vizzi’s Gabriel’s Gate Best Cheap EatsAmy’s PlacePano’s Mighty Taco Jim’s Steakout Louie’s Texas Red Hots Best ChineseGreat WallChang’s garden Taste Good Red Pepper Ming Teh Best CoffeeCaffe AromaSweetness 7 Cafe SPoT Coffee Caz Coffee Comfort Zone Cafe Best DeliGlobe MarketMarco’s Italian Deli Guercio’s Joe’s Deli Wegmans Best DessertDolciSweet Tooth Butterwood Desserts Chocolate Bar Dessert Deli Best DinerTowne RestaurantLake Effect Diner Amy’s Place Pano’s Bertha’s Best Fish FryPalladino’s PizzaPapa Jake’sWellington Pub Hamlin House Charlie O’Brien’s Best FrenchTabreeLeft Bank Rue Franklin Daniel’s Hutch’s Best French FriesElmwood Taco & SubsLouie’s Texas Red Hots Ted’s Jumbo Red Hots Papa Jake’s Jim’s Steakout Best GermanScharf’s Schiller ParkBistro Europa Ulrich’s tavern Prosit Rose Garden Best Greek/MediterraneanMythosFalafel Bar Kostas Pano’s Towne Restaurant Best Hot DogTaffy’sRed Top Hots Zorba’s texas Hots Ted’s Jumbo Red Hots Louie’s Texas Red Hots Best Ice Cream/Frozen YogurtAnderson’sSweet Tooth Fran Ceil Custard Charlaps Antoinette’s Sweets Best IndianKebab & CurryIndia Gate Tandoori’s Taste of India Star of India Best ItalianFrank’s Sunny ItalyChef’s Santasiero’s Ristorante Lombardo Sinatra’s Trilogy Best Japanese/SushiSeabarFuji Grill Kuni’s Wasabi O Best Kid-friendly RestaurantPizza PlantCasa Di Pizza Mythos Betty’s Pano’s |
Best Late-night EatsMother’sTowne Restaurant Pano’s Jim’s Steakout Mighty Taco Best LatinVargasSole Niagara Cafe Toro Havana House Best Mexican/Tex-MexLa ToltecaGramma Mora’s Cinco De Mayo Cozumel Mighty Taco Best Middle EasternAladdin Market & CafeByblos Falafel Bar Amy’s Place Sahara Grill Best New Restaurant 31 ClubMerge Encore Tabree The Wine Thief Best PatioCozumelCecelia’s La Tee Da Mother’s Frog Hair Best PizzaBocce ClubCasa Di Pizza La Nova Just Pizza Mister Pizza Best Place to Discuss BusinessChef’sSPoT Blue Lantern Lounge Pano’s City Grill Best PolishPolish VillageBroadway Market Bistro Europa Ulrich’s Tavern Prosit Best SaladKostasPoppyseed Globe Market Le Metro Towne Restaurant Best SausageSpar’s European SausageScimes Mineo & Sapio Johnny’s Meat Market Hanzlian’s Homemade Sausage Best SeafoodLa MarinaSeabar Hayes Fish Co. Boston Hotel Black & Blue Steak & Crab Best ServicePano’sPalladino’s Pizzeria Left Bank Rue Franklin Hutch’s Best Soul FoodGigi’sLagniappes Soulfabulaous Mary O’s Fat Bob’s Smokehouse Best SoupThe PlaceWegmans Danny’s Restaurant Brodo Globe Market Best SteakKennedy’s CoveFiamma E.B. Green’s Black & Blue Steak & Crab Buffalo Chop House Best SubJim’s SteakoutWegmans Mike’s Subs DiBella’s John & Mary’s Best Takeout/DeliveryPalladino’s PizzaLa Nova Just Pizza Kuni’s Jim’s Steakout Best Thai/VietnameseTaste of ThaiSaigon Cafe Pho 99 Jasmine The King and I Best VegetarianMergeAmy’s Place Falafel Bar Betty’s Pizza Plant Best WingsLa NovaGabriel’s Gate Duff’s Anchor Bar Palladino’s Pizza Most Romantic RestaurantMother’sLeft Bank La Tee Da Salvatore’s Italian Gardens Rue Franklin |
Best of Buffalo 2009 NominationsMysteries of Buffalo • The Way We Eat • The Way We DrinkWhere We Shop • Our Kind of Music • These are Our People Our Culture, Great and Small • This is Our Town And the Winners Are... |
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Reader Comments
lisa 24 Apr 2009, 15:47
kentuckty gregs hands down has the BEST bbq in WNY
Max Planck 26 Apr 2009, 18:03
Solid list to which I'd only add Ulrich's to the 'Beef on Weck' category;
for the true essence of our City it needs to be experienced accompanied by
a Buffalo Bison '1st Ward Red' from the tap - pure heaven! It makes up for all of the heartbreaks we've endured....
Ricerurouni 16 Jun 2009, 12:12
MERGE, Good food, HORRIBLE SERVICE!!!! I went to Dinner there with some
out of town friends who were vegans, after viewing this list. It was a
Monday. We waited Ten Minutes for the server to get there. After we
placed out entire order, we waited another 10 minutes just for our drinks.
We then waited an hour for our appetizers! (At this time a table had sat
down behind us and and they had received their drinks apps, and entree, all
before we just got our apps) I called a random server that passed by
explained the situation, he apologized, and two minutes later our entrees
were out. there is actually more to this story but I'll skip ahead to when
the owner comes over. The owner comes over and said that she understood
that there was a problem with the service, I explained to her the
situation. Her response was shocking, she claimed that "the ticket times
were off in the kitchen". now I work in the restaurant industry, and it
was quite obvious that the server forgot to ring in our ticket to the
kitchen. I knew that and she knew that, but she blammed it on the kitchen,
not to mention the ticket time backed up what I was saying. I told her
"that was fine but the server then should of come over and told us that it
would be a while instead of ignoring us for an hour". she said nothing.
She defended her server. she gave us our bill and took off one app. the
hummus. so instead of a $120 bill it was $115. wow! (sarcasm) and she told
us to "make sure that we do tip the server because it was the kitchens
fault." I don't think so. I'm not one of those people who are out to get
meals comped. but this person did not do enough to rectify the situation.
she did not make these customers happy. and you know the restaurant saying:
you lose ONE customer you loose FIFTY.
mike 09 Aug 2009, 16:26
this list is a joke!!! how can you not have lone star fajita grill on your
best mexican food list?? it is bye far the best! Oh and mighty taco is
just gross!
Kate
22 Aug 2009, 14:06
Lock City pizza, formerly Pontillo's, should be mentioned for best pizza.
It's in Lockport, but so good its worth the drive.
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