Today is Father’s Day, so if you haven’t had a chance to show appreciation to the contributor of half your genetic quirks, I bring you good tidings: There is this thing called a gift card.
Also, after extensive research, your correspondent can state with certainty that no law, federal state or local, bars showing just a little more love.
From steak to vegan Southwest chicken salad to Brontosaurus-sized beef ribs, here’s a dozen places any dad could love
Moriarty Meats and Cafe Bar Moriarty
1650 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo NY, moriartymeats.com, 716-239-8465
Cafe hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Closed Sunday-Tuesday.
Butcher shop hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
French-trained butcher offers diverse cuts of local beef, lamb, and pork, as well as homemade sausages, smoked meats, and prepared foods. Here’s where you find the picanha, guanciale, duck confit, and more, of your carnivore dreams. Or grab a packet of marinated meat from the freezer for a quick, classy meat built on local protein. Cafe offers soulful small, medium, and meal-sized plates, including its best-in-show boeuf on weck, my favorite version yet.
185 Allen St., Buffalo NY beacongrille716.com, 716-413-3630
Hours: 4:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. dinner, 10 p.m.-midnight late night menu, Tuesday-Thursday, 4:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. dinner, 10 p.m.-2 a.m. late night menu Friday, Saturday. Closed Sunday, Monday.
First-class dining from skilled veterans driving a purpose-built, fire-centered kitchen. Local produce and meat handled with care, touched by fire in subtle and transformative ways. Capable servers, advanced cocktail program, and housemade charcuterie make for a topflight experience.
10651 Main St., Clarence NY, thislittlepigeats.com, 716-580-7872
Hours: 5 p.m.-9 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday, 4 p.m.-9 p.m. Friday, Saturday. Closed Sunday, Monday.
There’s lots of barbecue on Jeff Cooke Jr.’s menu, and a bevy of all-American desserts. But notions from the rest of the world, like a chicken-based version of Moroccan bisteeya, appear as specials. Standouts include piggy pipe bombs, smoked sausage-stuffed chiles , and shaved brussels sprouts salad with smoked peanuts.
295 Niagara St., Buffalo NY, stronghearts716.com, 716-635-1777
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday.
Vegan diner with uncanny animal-free menu started in Syracuse. Mac and cheese, milkshakes, cupcakes, Santa Fe chicken salads with ranch, burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, wings, and cheesesteaks, the whole gamut, all plant-based. Plus tasty enough to satisfy carnivores, a rare feat.
365 Connecticut Ave., Buffalo NY, southernjunction716.com
Hours: 4 p.m.-9 p.m. Monday, Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m. -3 p.m. Sunday. Closed Tuesday, Wednesday.
Ryan Fernandez invented a cuisine that merges Texas barbecue and Keralan Indian influences, getting national recognition. Traditional barbecue joints start with a line, where you wait to make your selections from available meats and sides. It’s worth the wait.
27 Chandler St., Buffalo NY, waxlightbaravin.com
Hours: Kitchen 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday, Saturday. Bar open later. Closed Sunday-Tuesday.
Creative restaurant with first-class service and James Beard award-winning eats and drinks. Craft in every plate, from two-bite appetizers like anchovy toast with horseradish vinaigrette, to big kahunas like dry-aged beef coulotte “bourguignon,” cremini mushroom, beef bacon, with pommes dauphine. Expert drinks staff will help you find a new favorite. Thursday’s tasting menu, above, would be a good place to start.
40 E. Niagara St., Tonawanda NY, prescottsprovisions.com,716-525-1260
Hours: 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Closed Sunday, Monday.
Vincent Thompson has made Prescott’s a destination for steak lovers, but seafood like halibut with smoked potatoes and saffron rouille keep up. Premium proteins done right, wood-fired pizza, and housemade pastas like gnochetti with pork and beef ragu make it easy to splash out in sight of the Erie Canal.
707 Kenmore Ave., Tonawanda NY, findfranknow.com, 716-322-5933
Hours: Noon.-7 p.m. Monday, noon.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Closed Sunday.
Best-in-show burgers and fries, snazzied-up hot dogs, and a fish fry so popular you have to schedule pickup. Follow on socials to catch wind of coming limited-time attractions like Frank’s save-me-a-pound pastrami, or Midwestern-style pork tenderloin sandwiches the size of Frisbees.
3785 South Park Ave., Blasdell NY, iliodipaolos.com, 716-825-3675
Hours: 3 p.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, noon-9 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday, Tuesday.
Wrestling champion Ilio DiPaolo’s restaurant has its own legacy now, after his children fed another generation. Chicken parinello (prosciutto, roasted red peppers, spinach, asiago) caught my fancy here. If you have the guts to consider tripe, the tender, funky bites in tomato sauce are simply soulful.
797 Broadway, almandirestaurant.com, 716-853-1090
Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.
Yemeni family restaurant offers grilled chicken and fish, and lamb haneeth, oven-braised to lushness, traditionally eaten by the handful on a platter of rice. Saltah and fahsah stews arrive bubbling, topped with fenugreek foam, best eaten with fresh bread. Enjoy complimentary broth, a traditional welcoming gesture, and “red tea,” made of black tea, cardamom, and lots of sugar.
1500 Cleveland Drive, Cheektowaga, amiraskitchenny.com, 716-428-3000
Hours: noon-9 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday.
Rotisserie chicken, beef kofta over rice with toasted almonds, and beef-stuffed kibbe fritters are some of the main meaty reasons to visit this grandmother’s restaurant by the airport. Vegans and vegetarians can thrill to a full slate of vegan staples, like hummus, babaganoush, and a pickle-forward falafel plate.
4572 Clark St., Hamburg NY, yankeebbq716.com, 716-768-4991
Hours: 4 p.m.-9 Tuesday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. brunch, then dinner to 9 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. brunch, then dinner to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Smoked-then-fried wings and smoked beef cheek ramen are just two of the specials, along with ribs, pulled pork, smoked turkey, and more meats. Known for dinosaur-sized beef ribs, loganberry pork belly burnt ends, and smoked scalloped potatoes in Blasdell, the operation moved to a roomier spot in Hamburg with a full bar. It’s been rocking ever since. Smoked fish fries, smoked cheesecake, and more delicious ideas have joined the menu. Plus Saturday and Sunday brunch featuring BBQ hash and Benedicts.
REVIEW: The Knicks were finishing off the 76ers, and I was really appreciating moves I hadn’t seen in a minute. Boxing out, catching the eyes of your teammates. That was just getting into the Fieldstone Country Inn in Lockport. I was happy to battle a crowd for everything the veteran family restaurant had to offer, especially after spending five minutes ogling the pie case. Saying hello with warm, housemade bread, then sending out the potato skins of my dreams made me a fan before we even got to the all-you-can-eat soup bar with snackable croutons. (For patrons, later this week.)z
MEET THE COOPS: Meet some of the people working together to make Buffalo better in a cooperative fashion at Coop Fest, Saturday June 27 at Five Points Bakery.
From 3 p.m.-6 p.m., there will be Extra Extra Pizza salad and pizza for sale, along with beer, wine, and nonalcoholic beverages. Music from Stephen Babcock, face painting and the Buffalo Toy Library, lawn games, and a basket raffle. Get tickets here.
ASK THE CRITIC
Q: Where can I get some of those cute Japanese “sandos” that are all over TikTok?
– Helen K., Buffalo, via email
A: Helen, it’s your lucky week.
By my records, you are the fifth person to ask me for Japanese sandos in Buffalo in the last five years.
For the first time, I can say: Yes, I know where you can get a faceful of righteous Nipponese sammies: At Kuni’s Japanese sando popup Monday, June 29, at 226 Lexington Ave., 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The Japanese sushi star is usually closed on Mondays, but has launched a series of summer pop-ups.
“Here we will be exploring the Japanese convenience store foods that have become a worldwide sensation, done in our unique style. Come see why people rave about Convenience store’s egg salad sandos, or crunchy katsu sando. Japanese milk bread, black pork sausage hot dog, You can even try the super rare, gut busting, Japanese favorite, double-starch, yakisoba bun.”
More local food and restaurant stories compiled by Michael Chelus of Nittany Epicurean:
- Mr. Galarneau told us about the great Pakistani cuisine to be found at Clay Handi in Kenmore [Four Bites]
- Andrew also told us how BreadHive has become a community success story [Four Bites]
- Try things new and old at this year’s Taste of Buffalo [Buffalo News]
- Brian’s Buffalo Beer Buzz told us about the return of Waldfest, Buffalo Barrel & Brews at Butera’s and more [Buffalo Beer League]
- Francesca told us why Duende at Silo City is special, especially during the Word Cup [Buffalo News]
- Jamie wrote about some of the meals she enjoyed during her staycation including stops at Ranchos Tacos and Raha Coffee House [Open till Four]
- Indigo Chapel has now opened in the space for fomerly housed the Tabernacle [Buffalo Rising]
- Drink a Pollinator Pils from from Smoldered Society while exploring Gardens Buffalo Niagara’s summer season [Buffalo Beer League]
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