We originally thought this place didn't deliver after talking about it with several co-workers months ago. It's not within walking distance, but we looked into it again and they do deliver for catering. As we called the day before the order for almost twenty people, we found out they also deliver for individual orders so we went with that since most of the requests were different sandwiches.
They told us the delivery charge was $15 and that all went to the driver. They did however lower it to $10 but the driver could have got more money if it wasn't a forced tip. The delivery guy was right on time at noon and came with everything. The names were on the orders and for the first time from anybody, they printed out the orders along with the names on computer paper. It was like an exact transcript of the phone call including where our building is located. This goes to show how organized they are.
Everyone's meal was great and looked great... no real complaints for these meals. The menu is what you can expect from a BBQ place. They do have a strong reputation for their BBQ in this area, as well as their bar at night. Mostly everyone ordered some kind of sandwich and a side. The average cost was about $8 here. The Memphis Pulled Pork and Sliced Texas Beef Brisket were the two popular orders. The meat in everyone's order was delicious and juicy. The sides that were fried went unnoticed at how well they tried to keep it fresh. The fries, onion rings, hush puppies, and sweet potato fries were wrapped in aluminum foil keeping them the right temperature without being soggy. Other sides such as the collard greens were placed in side cups.
It's hard to give a review when there was nothing too unordinary about it, but here we go. The side of macaroni and cheese was not the standard mac & cheese appeal. Here, they actually were Italian penne instead of the thin pasta you can get from a box. We thought the pulled pork meat was spoiled. The hush puppies were rock hard. The collard greens weren't cooked thoroughly. The BBQ baked beans were very tasty though.
The price was slightly more than average, but worth it to most. They did seem like dinner prices and dinner portions. Overall though, this place is a unanimous choice to order lunch from again.
Final Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Fat Bob's Smokehouse
www.fatbobs.com
41 Virginia Place
Buffalo, NY 14202-1323
(716) 887-2971
Friday, May 28, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Fera's on Franklin
One of the main reasons why we ordered from this place in the past was that they deliver. We've had delivery from there a couple times, most recently on May 14, to mixed results. After finding out this place is no more than a 4 minute walk, one of us along with a guest personally went there to try it out in person to get a fair opinion on the place if there's any difference from their delivery to dine in.
For the delivery order, the Cajun Chicken Taco did not taste like Cajun and didn't really have any chicken in it. It was mostly lettuce and it was rather a plain taste for something that costs $4.25. The menu is also in a complete disarray. Most of us agreed it is very unorganized. You'll see subs and sandwiches all over it in any spot and there's nothing that stands out to define what they're about. It's really a sub place. They don't charge tax on the menu so the prices you see are what you pay for. It closes at 2:30 p.m and opened on the weekdays which similar to Sue's.
In the past for delivery, we found out a major size difference of foods between the orders. Some things can be more money than others but have lower quality and less quantity too, and vice-versa. The subs are also 8" instead of a foot and the price average is $6. The subs were so small that they could be eaten in less than 5 minutes. One of us got the Bacon Blue Burger Sub while the other got a Bacon Blue Combo Plate that comes with a third pound burger on a roll... and it was just the same as the sub right down to the bread that was used. Another one of us got the Lasagna and it was more than anyone could have expected... it was probably the biggest in terms of portion.
Now for today. The subs are made fresh, but we should have maybe preordered for this day. Today, it was packed as my guest with me said it was unusual. They do have an eating area to the side and front, but it is a bit tight in there while standing around for an order. We had to wait a while until we got ours since it was busy that moment.
They have something called ‘The Bomb’ for $6.75 as their most expensive sub. It's an 8" sub on their menu and all it says is, 'Please ask, it's hot & spicy.’ It has capicola, salami, and sausage. When ordered, the guy said, "I need a bomb!" When the order was ready, the guy yelled out, "Whose got a bomb?" The sub came with banana peppers and it was loaded with salami. This was actually a thick sub, super greasy though, with a ton of meat in it, but not as hot as it could have been.
We also noticed next door to this place there are five places that have lease signs as they are all vacant. There was a cafe and the Buffalo Room, but it is a shame to see on Franklin Street which has nothing in them like a Fera's, who has virtually no competition right now. It’s an okay place with an opportunity to walk to and get delivery, but there’s just nothing there too impressive to keep coming back.
Final Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Fera's on Franklin
http://www.buffaloplace.com/popupleaf/ferasonfranklin/252
168 Franklin Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
716-856-6577
For the delivery order, the Cajun Chicken Taco did not taste like Cajun and didn't really have any chicken in it. It was mostly lettuce and it was rather a plain taste for something that costs $4.25. The menu is also in a complete disarray. Most of us agreed it is very unorganized. You'll see subs and sandwiches all over it in any spot and there's nothing that stands out to define what they're about. It's really a sub place. They don't charge tax on the menu so the prices you see are what you pay for. It closes at 2:30 p.m and opened on the weekdays which similar to Sue's.
In the past for delivery, we found out a major size difference of foods between the orders. Some things can be more money than others but have lower quality and less quantity too, and vice-versa. The subs are also 8" instead of a foot and the price average is $6. The subs were so small that they could be eaten in less than 5 minutes. One of us got the Bacon Blue Burger Sub while the other got a Bacon Blue Combo Plate that comes with a third pound burger on a roll... and it was just the same as the sub right down to the bread that was used. Another one of us got the Lasagna and it was more than anyone could have expected... it was probably the biggest in terms of portion.
Now for today. The subs are made fresh, but we should have maybe preordered for this day. Today, it was packed as my guest with me said it was unusual. They do have an eating area to the side and front, but it is a bit tight in there while standing around for an order. We had to wait a while until we got ours since it was busy that moment.
They have something called ‘The Bomb’ for $6.75 as their most expensive sub. It's an 8" sub on their menu and all it says is, 'Please ask, it's hot & spicy.’ It has capicola, salami, and sausage. When ordered, the guy said, "I need a bomb!" When the order was ready, the guy yelled out, "Whose got a bomb?" The sub came with banana peppers and it was loaded with salami. This was actually a thick sub, super greasy though, with a ton of meat in it, but not as hot as it could have been.
We also noticed next door to this place there are five places that have lease signs as they are all vacant. There was a cafe and the Buffalo Room, but it is a shame to see on Franklin Street which has nothing in them like a Fera's, who has virtually no competition right now. It’s an okay place with an opportunity to walk to and get delivery, but there’s just nothing there too impressive to keep coming back.
Final Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Fera's on Franklin
http://www.buffaloplace.com/popupleaf/ferasonfranklin/252
168 Franklin Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
716-856-6577
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Salsarita's Fresh Cantina
A Salsarita's recently opened up in downtown Buffalo in the past few years. At its Chippewa location we went too, we could have also faxed our order form so they do pre-order. They have a big catering menu and to our surprise, they would deliver too since we were looking for a Mexican place around in Buffalo that would deliver. However, it was a really nice day out so we walked there to get the full experience which only took a couple minutes to walk to.
When we walked in, it reminded us of a Subway for Mexican food except it has more of a margarita bar atmosphere than it being too Mexican. There’s a line and stations to put fillings in your order. There’s an area for a bar serving alcoholic drinks though we were unable to review the drinks for lunch. They have daily specials calling them: Mad Mondays, Tasty Tuesdays, Wild Wednesdays, Thirsty Thursday, and Fun Fridays. One of us got the Wednesday special which were the Nachos and a fountain drink. They had pizzas but we weren't tempted at all to get any and we didn't see anyone else having pizza.
We also got a taco and a burrito to compare. It was $2.79 for a beef taco. However, the burrito was $6.29 and all for an extra 4 dollars was the size of the shell as the only difference... and that was the price of a small burrito. The nachos, priced at $7.29, were the highlight. In a Subway type of line, we could say what we want on them like grilled chicken, lettuce, jalapenos, sour cream, etc. in front of our faces and it was rather quick. Ours was so buried with toppings that it was hard finding chips underneath it all when we were eating. We ended up using our forks to get through most of it initially. The guacamole tasted homemade and not from a can and had a very fresh taste. The hot salsa we got was the best part. There was an excellent kick to it as how it should be hot without being disgusting, too light, or too strong.
The service was indeed fast. We were in a long line but it didn't feel like it and only looked like it. One of us didn't get a drink, but was offered water which was very thoughtful. It was the busiest lunch place we've ever been in at Buffalo. It was so packed with workers who all look like they were on their lunch break and the music was playing moderately loud. It's also another place that has Coke products only.
At first, the Salsarita's on Chippewa was a weird location to put it on. It feels like it should be in a mall. After seeing everyone enjoying the food and atmosphere, this place is here to stay there. Everything tasted fine and it didn't quite feel like food from a chain even though it is. We also wonder if they have drive-thrus at their other locations. There's two in the suburbs now including one on the eminent Transit Road. The downtown Buffalo one we went to should also find additional success with no Taco Bell or Mighty Taco places in the area and it is a definite option for catering.
Final Rating: 4.0 out of 5
Salsarita's Fresh Cantina
www.salsaritas.com
110 West Chippewa Street
Buffalo, NY 14202-2007
(716) 845-5237
When we walked in, it reminded us of a Subway for Mexican food except it has more of a margarita bar atmosphere than it being too Mexican. There’s a line and stations to put fillings in your order. There’s an area for a bar serving alcoholic drinks though we were unable to review the drinks for lunch. They have daily specials calling them: Mad Mondays, Tasty Tuesdays, Wild Wednesdays, Thirsty Thursday, and Fun Fridays. One of us got the Wednesday special which were the Nachos and a fountain drink. They had pizzas but we weren't tempted at all to get any and we didn't see anyone else having pizza.
We also got a taco and a burrito to compare. It was $2.79 for a beef taco. However, the burrito was $6.29 and all for an extra 4 dollars was the size of the shell as the only difference... and that was the price of a small burrito. The nachos, priced at $7.29, were the highlight. In a Subway type of line, we could say what we want on them like grilled chicken, lettuce, jalapenos, sour cream, etc. in front of our faces and it was rather quick. Ours was so buried with toppings that it was hard finding chips underneath it all when we were eating. We ended up using our forks to get through most of it initially. The guacamole tasted homemade and not from a can and had a very fresh taste. The hot salsa we got was the best part. There was an excellent kick to it as how it should be hot without being disgusting, too light, or too strong.
The service was indeed fast. We were in a long line but it didn't feel like it and only looked like it. One of us didn't get a drink, but was offered water which was very thoughtful. It was the busiest lunch place we've ever been in at Buffalo. It was so packed with workers who all look like they were on their lunch break and the music was playing moderately loud. It's also another place that has Coke products only.
At first, the Salsarita's on Chippewa was a weird location to put it on. It feels like it should be in a mall. After seeing everyone enjoying the food and atmosphere, this place is here to stay there. Everything tasted fine and it didn't quite feel like food from a chain even though it is. We also wonder if they have drive-thrus at their other locations. There's two in the suburbs now including one on the eminent Transit Road. The downtown Buffalo one we went to should also find additional success with no Taco Bell or Mighty Taco places in the area and it is a definite option for catering.
Final Rating: 4.0 out of 5
Salsarita's Fresh Cantina
www.salsaritas.com
110 West Chippewa Street
Buffalo, NY 14202-2007
(716) 845-5237
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Destini's Pizzeria
This pizza place was recommended to us by a couple co-workers and it's located a bit north of downtown. Their website left a bad impression on us as it is quite sloppy with words that are all in different colors and sizes that appear to be hyperlinks or not. There's also some ad banner at the top that makes it look like it was created in the nineties. Also, the menu might not load properly at first as it didn't for us a few times.
We ordered the Tuesday special which is a large pizza with a topping as we got pepperoni. We also got a side order of jalapeno poppers and a lunch special of a deep fried chicken whopper sandwich with fries. The delivery came on time and everything was there. The couple extra blue cheeses we requested though for fifty cents each were so small and it was probably the smallest extra cup of blue cheese we got from a pizza place. It's still much better than the lazy method of just a packet of Ken's blue cheese that Prima Pizza once gave us which isn't even that well. The jalapeno poppers were missing a certain hot flavor to them. They were hot in temperature, but it tasted like plain cheese poppers rather than having that jalapeno touch added.
The pizza didn't look like our usual Buffalo pizza. It looked different, but still fine. We've noticed lately pizzerias have been switching to using the square cut style, like this place, than the triangles. The pizza overall was very thin where you could fold it and eat it like a taco easily. It had a bunch of green colored spices on it and the crust was flat. It was so thin that two separate slices were sticking to the wax paper on the bottom and the cheese couldn't come off. It's a pizza where only two hungry men could finish... we've had pizzas, such as La Nova & Mister Pizza, where three men couldn't finish a large. After a while, we noticed the pizza filling us up and that there was more oil on it than sauce like at Casa-di-Pizza so it was harder to go down. The problem with most pizza places is that they forget one of the three main pizza ingredients. The dough and cheese are always present, but if there's just little to no sauce on it, then it isn't a complete pizza.
Aside from the pizza, this is actually a deep menu just for other things typically you can get else where. The whopper sandwich was a fine size and it had plenty of fries with packets of ketchup and salt. Plus, all the prices are cheaper than the casual deli and offer lunch and daily specials. Though we didn't explore the other parts of the menu in our mouths, it looks compelling enough to try their other foods from there another time. From pita sandwiches to cheap burgers to hoagies to the traditional deli sandwiches, the average cost is around $5. Think twice next time where you're ordering from because a pizza place might just work for other foods.
Final Rating: 3.0 out of 5
Destini's Pizzeria
www.destinispizzeria.com
900 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14202-1417
(716) 845-5555
We ordered the Tuesday special which is a large pizza with a topping as we got pepperoni. We also got a side order of jalapeno poppers and a lunch special of a deep fried chicken whopper sandwich with fries. The delivery came on time and everything was there. The couple extra blue cheeses we requested though for fifty cents each were so small and it was probably the smallest extra cup of blue cheese we got from a pizza place. It's still much better than the lazy method of just a packet of Ken's blue cheese that Prima Pizza once gave us which isn't even that well. The jalapeno poppers were missing a certain hot flavor to them. They were hot in temperature, but it tasted like plain cheese poppers rather than having that jalapeno touch added.
The pizza didn't look like our usual Buffalo pizza. It looked different, but still fine. We've noticed lately pizzerias have been switching to using the square cut style, like this place, than the triangles. The pizza overall was very thin where you could fold it and eat it like a taco easily. It had a bunch of green colored spices on it and the crust was flat. It was so thin that two separate slices were sticking to the wax paper on the bottom and the cheese couldn't come off. It's a pizza where only two hungry men could finish... we've had pizzas, such as La Nova & Mister Pizza, where three men couldn't finish a large. After a while, we noticed the pizza filling us up and that there was more oil on it than sauce like at Casa-di-Pizza so it was harder to go down. The problem with most pizza places is that they forget one of the three main pizza ingredients. The dough and cheese are always present, but if there's just little to no sauce on it, then it isn't a complete pizza.
Aside from the pizza, this is actually a deep menu just for other things typically you can get else where. The whopper sandwich was a fine size and it had plenty of fries with packets of ketchup and salt. Plus, all the prices are cheaper than the casual deli and offer lunch and daily specials. Though we didn't explore the other parts of the menu in our mouths, it looks compelling enough to try their other foods from there another time. From pita sandwiches to cheap burgers to hoagies to the traditional deli sandwiches, the average cost is around $5. Think twice next time where you're ordering from because a pizza place might just work for other foods.
Final Rating: 3.0 out of 5
Destini's Pizzeria
www.destinispizzeria.com
900 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14202-1417
(716) 845-5555
Monday, May 24, 2010
Emerson Commons
This lunch place is unique since it's a culinary arts school in the Buffalo School District and they serve lunch as part of their hands-on experience training. It's been around for over 50 years and they have about 400 students enrolled in the program.
Upon entering, we were impressed to see all the students in clean uniforms and wearing gloves with the restaurant itself was very clean. Behind the counters are students in chef uniforms cooking, carving, and serving in different stations and looking quite professional at it. There's also a back room where they do their official cooking in and they have a banquet facility. The soups you can serve yourself for $2.99 as well as the salad and fruit bar. The lunch operates like a cafe so it is quicker than having a waiter coming to you at a table. In opposition, you can't pre-order or have delivery and it's a bit of a walk than the norm. It's much nicer inside than City Hall but clearly not as spacey. Most people don't know it has lunch for the public despite being on Chippewa. They are open for lunch from 11:15 am to 1:30 pm.
Don't let a cafe served by students throw you off. At first the thought of using precious lunch time and venturing into having high school students make our lunch did not appeal to some of us. Their lunch menu is pretty classy offering what could even be dinner style entrees for affordable prices. One of us said the food might be too heavy for a lunch. On their site, they post the daily specials for that week. Besides their own website, there's hardly any mention on the web about them. Some of their specials just for this week are Italian Eggplant, Grilled Salmon, and Roast Lamb all for about $7-8. If you are a seafood lover they have different selections depending on the day. Herb crusted cod, Grouper Oscar, Grilled Salmon, Baked Haddock, Stuffed Rainbow Trout, and Battered Fish. If you are not a seafood lover, step up to the hot carving station. Their sandwiches are huge and tasty and you also get a cooked side or two with it. One of us had the hot carved turkey sandwich on a wheat roll and it was perfect. The turkey was extremely juicy and a plentiful amount with side items to choose from such as potatoes, salads, and more, all for $6.25. They also have a deep fryer unlike some places around here to cook up some fries. They also have pizzas by the slice for $2.55 and homemade desserts. The Butterfinger cheesecake was nice and soft without overbearing it with any flavor. It was more than meets the eye. We noticed in this restaurant is a common problem you will find at most restaurants; they only serve Coke products, as opposed to having the Pepsi or Coke option. We do in fact understand that they have contracts with the vendors, but personally we would like to see some soft drink choice.
We got the impression that everything here seems big and fresh, and it is. They carve in front of you, grill, and even put the onion rings or French fries in the fryer for you. It'll take some more time than usual, especially if you are at the carving station, but the end results are satisfying to try again.
Final Rating: 4.0 out of 5
Emerson School of Hospitality
www.buffaloschools.org/Emerson.cfm
70 West Chippewa St
Buffalo, NY 14202
716-816-3018
Upon entering, we were impressed to see all the students in clean uniforms and wearing gloves with the restaurant itself was very clean. Behind the counters are students in chef uniforms cooking, carving, and serving in different stations and looking quite professional at it. There's also a back room where they do their official cooking in and they have a banquet facility. The soups you can serve yourself for $2.99 as well as the salad and fruit bar. The lunch operates like a cafe so it is quicker than having a waiter coming to you at a table. In opposition, you can't pre-order or have delivery and it's a bit of a walk than the norm. It's much nicer inside than City Hall but clearly not as spacey. Most people don't know it has lunch for the public despite being on Chippewa. They are open for lunch from 11:15 am to 1:30 pm.
Don't let a cafe served by students throw you off. At first the thought of using precious lunch time and venturing into having high school students make our lunch did not appeal to some of us. Their lunch menu is pretty classy offering what could even be dinner style entrees for affordable prices. One of us said the food might be too heavy for a lunch. On their site, they post the daily specials for that week. Besides their own website, there's hardly any mention on the web about them. Some of their specials just for this week are Italian Eggplant, Grilled Salmon, and Roast Lamb all for about $7-8. If you are a seafood lover they have different selections depending on the day. Herb crusted cod, Grouper Oscar, Grilled Salmon, Baked Haddock, Stuffed Rainbow Trout, and Battered Fish. If you are not a seafood lover, step up to the hot carving station. Their sandwiches are huge and tasty and you also get a cooked side or two with it. One of us had the hot carved turkey sandwich on a wheat roll and it was perfect. The turkey was extremely juicy and a plentiful amount with side items to choose from such as potatoes, salads, and more, all for $6.25. They also have a deep fryer unlike some places around here to cook up some fries. They also have pizzas by the slice for $2.55 and homemade desserts. The Butterfinger cheesecake was nice and soft without overbearing it with any flavor. It was more than meets the eye. We noticed in this restaurant is a common problem you will find at most restaurants; they only serve Coke products, as opposed to having the Pepsi or Coke option. We do in fact understand that they have contracts with the vendors, but personally we would like to see some soft drink choice.
We got the impression that everything here seems big and fresh, and it is. They carve in front of you, grill, and even put the onion rings or French fries in the fryer for you. It'll take some more time than usual, especially if you are at the carving station, but the end results are satisfying to try again.
Final Rating: 4.0 out of 5
Emerson School of Hospitality
www.buffaloschools.org/Emerson.cfm
70 West Chippewa St
Buffalo, NY 14202
716-816-3018
Zetti's Pizza & Pasta
Almost a month ago on April 23, we ordered from the new Zetti's on Elmwood. This is Zetti's most recent opening after exiting from their Transit location in Williamsville that lasted only a few months during late 2009. This pizzeria has grown famously in Buffalo for having the best New York style pizza, which arguably they do have. The way to go is to get it by the slice there as one slice of their pizza is bigger than the average large slice. They also do a great job on their toppings.
We ended up ordering 6 XL pizzas, which looked liked they were in regular large size boxes.
· 1/2 Cheese 1/2 Pepperoni: never delivered!!
· Mild BBQ Chicken Pizza: enjoyed by most that indulged
· Buffalo Style Chicken Pizza: reported in as 50/60 split (some said "very good", another said "dry")
· Meat Lovers: good taste, sweet sauce
· Spinach Bruschetta: reported in as being "dry"
· Pepperoni & Banana Peppers: reported in as very good; peppers had a good bite and flavor
Overall the taste of the pizzas were fair and it was moist and sufficient enough with the toppings, but the temperatures were substandard. The delivery driver was also late by over 10 minutes. He parked down minutes away from where we are and we don’t know why. The order was shorted by 1 pizza and 3 sides of Bleu Cheese which were not even rung up.
The big question is, "Would we order again?" Normally no, but Lou, the manager, called us and was very apologetic about the experience being lackluster and offered if we ordered again, the whole order would be 50% off. Since they had a poor presentation, they ended up delivering another 2 pizzas that day (1 plain cheese and 1 pepperoni only) at no additional cost.
For having such a great New York pizza, they have maybe the worst customer service for a pizzeria in Buffalo. However, we are not the only ones who think this. It's amazing how a business can do so well and not appear to care. At times, you can come in there and see them drinking beer and cussing at each other. They are often rude to customers and make them wait at all their three locations. Their service drags down the rating, but people still go back because they enjoy their big NY pizzas.
Final Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Zetti's Pizza & Pasta
www.zettis.com
976 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222
716-882-2500
We ended up ordering 6 XL pizzas, which looked liked they were in regular large size boxes.
· 1/2 Cheese 1/2 Pepperoni: never delivered!!
· Mild BBQ Chicken Pizza: enjoyed by most that indulged
· Buffalo Style Chicken Pizza: reported in as 50/60 split (some said "very good", another said "dry")
· Meat Lovers: good taste, sweet sauce
· Spinach Bruschetta: reported in as being "dry"
· Pepperoni & Banana Peppers: reported in as very good; peppers had a good bite and flavor
Overall the taste of the pizzas were fair and it was moist and sufficient enough with the toppings, but the temperatures were substandard. The delivery driver was also late by over 10 minutes. He parked down minutes away from where we are and we don’t know why. The order was shorted by 1 pizza and 3 sides of Bleu Cheese which were not even rung up.
The big question is, "Would we order again?" Normally no, but Lou, the manager, called us and was very apologetic about the experience being lackluster and offered if we ordered again, the whole order would be 50% off. Since they had a poor presentation, they ended up delivering another 2 pizzas that day (1 plain cheese and 1 pepperoni only) at no additional cost.
For having such a great New York pizza, they have maybe the worst customer service for a pizzeria in Buffalo. However, we are not the only ones who think this. It's amazing how a business can do so well and not appear to care. At times, you can come in there and see them drinking beer and cussing at each other. They are often rude to customers and make them wait at all their three locations. Their service drags down the rating, but people still go back because they enjoy their big NY pizzas.
Final Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Zetti's Pizza & Pasta
www.zettis.com
976 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222
716-882-2500
Friday, May 21, 2010
Sue's NY Deli
We personally have tried about 90% of the menu items and various daily "specials" offered at Sue's, so we think we can adequately review such a lunch place. We personally have mixed reviews about Sue's. To start, there is no consistency with the food as in sometimes they have croissants, sometimes they don't. The soups are the same way too and it depends on how long it lasts throughout the week. If people order too much of it one day, it's gone that day.
They make a great chili, a variety of soups, wraps, salads, and sandwiches. The salads are always huge, but sometimes dry and needs a lot of dressing. Most of the food has a decent taste, however, they are overpriced compared to the area restaurants. Mainly, you get a small sandwich, some potato chips, and a pickle for $6-7. Sue's makes a fine BLT, but be careful, if you aren't paying attention; you will end up with a mouthful of mayonnaise.
The restaurant is crammed into the first floor of the 130 South Elmwood federal building. They do have another location on Main St, but the problem is they aren't open past 2pm or anytime on the weekend. People are confused if they are really a Greek place or not. They should also invest in a deep fryer for like fries, although they lean toward more of a health conscious crowd. You can call ahead of time to order and pick it up when you want and you can go there and pay for it ahead of time, which is always nice. If you don't order ahead of time, you're probably going to have to wait a few minutes in line, especially around noon, before they get to you. It is not handicap accessible by any means, nor is it a comfortable atmosphere to be able to sit during lunch. This is the place you eat at when you forget your lunch at home or a last minute thing, but definitely not somewhere you would make plans to go ahead of time.
Final Rating: 3.0 out of 5
Sue's NY Deli
www.suesnydeli.com
130 S. Elmwood Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14202-2465
716-852-0055
Jim's Steakout
Jim's Steakout always seems like the most popular choice for lunch. Where we work, it's the default location where to order from for delivery when we aren't creative, when another order goes wrong, or when we just want a great sub.
With ten locations around the area and the suburbs of Buffalo and even one in Hawaii, they seem to be expanding quite often. They are open every day until 5am for most of them... so it is popular among the late night crowd... and some deliver during 11am to 2pm. Although, they have raised their prices in the past ten years so it seems pricey for the amount of food you're given, Buffalo people are just so used to Jim's and know what to expect. Other area restaurants could learn a thing or two from Jim's when it comes to consistency. People are in their comfort zone with Jim's and it is one of the food places people miss most when they leave the city.
Jim's, however, is one of the most expensive lunch places and people really don't take notice. Compared to Subway, it's almost double the cost of one 12" sub, but the increase cost is more than worth it. Figuring tax and tip, the average hot sub order reaches $10. However, there are reasons why people keep coming back.
Since we had a large number of orders, and to make it easy for us to tell whose is whose, they wrote our names on each order. This means you don't have to open every sub to identify which one is yours. They even put the names on the receipt. None of the orders were messed up or skipped.
The item that was ordered most was their classic, "Jim's Bleu," which is a Chicken Finger sub (hot, medium, mild, or even BBQ) and bleu cheese, topped with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and a American-Swiss cheese on a fresh toasted roll. Four people ordered this and we were all pleased with it. This happens to be the best item on the menu too. Second most common order was the Poutine fries, which you can't get in Rochester, NY, smothered in gravy and colby cheddar cheese that were described as "heavenly."
This is where to start to find a sub place in Buffalo then go from here. They call themselves Steakout. Maybe back in the day they started out with steak. We had 14 orders and they were all pretty much subs. They are now famous for their subs.
Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Jim's Steak-Out
www.jimssteakout.com
92 West Chippewa Street
Buffalo, NY 14202-2011
(716) 885-2900
With ten locations around the area and the suburbs of Buffalo and even one in Hawaii, they seem to be expanding quite often. They are open every day until 5am for most of them... so it is popular among the late night crowd... and some deliver during 11am to 2pm. Although, they have raised their prices in the past ten years so it seems pricey for the amount of food you're given, Buffalo people are just so used to Jim's and know what to expect. Other area restaurants could learn a thing or two from Jim's when it comes to consistency. People are in their comfort zone with Jim's and it is one of the food places people miss most when they leave the city.
Jim's, however, is one of the most expensive lunch places and people really don't take notice. Compared to Subway, it's almost double the cost of one 12" sub, but the increase cost is more than worth it. Figuring tax and tip, the average hot sub order reaches $10. However, there are reasons why people keep coming back.
Since we had a large number of orders, and to make it easy for us to tell whose is whose, they wrote our names on each order. This means you don't have to open every sub to identify which one is yours. They even put the names on the receipt. None of the orders were messed up or skipped.
The item that was ordered most was their classic, "Jim's Bleu," which is a Chicken Finger sub (hot, medium, mild, or even BBQ) and bleu cheese, topped with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and a American-Swiss cheese on a fresh toasted roll. Four people ordered this and we were all pleased with it. This happens to be the best item on the menu too. Second most common order was the Poutine fries, which you can't get in Rochester, NY, smothered in gravy and colby cheddar cheese that were described as "heavenly."
This is where to start to find a sub place in Buffalo then go from here. They call themselves Steakout. Maybe back in the day they started out with steak. We had 14 orders and they were all pretty much subs. They are now famous for their subs.
Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Jim's Steak-Out
www.jimssteakout.com
92 West Chippewa Street
Buffalo, NY 14202-2011
(716) 885-2900
Vito's Market
We've been looking for a place that would deliver and cater and only cost us no more than 7 dollars a person. Vito's looked to be that place. Unfortunately, we didn't get enough people due to late notice for catering and people were also confused about their menu online if it's just all catering or individual items. We were stuck between catering service or not and we decided going with individual items.
Vito’s has a selection of sandwiches and wraps and they’re in the Main St. Fountain plaza. You can order online also which is neat. Looking at their menu, it doesn’t say much about what it comes with it like macaroni salad, fries, coleslaw, etc like some places do. They also charge eight dollars for delivery.
We were all set with placing the order for about a dozen or so co-workers and upon doing so, this is what happened:
1. Specials menu online changes EVERY DAY (soups and sandwiches). So Gumbo was not today's option, nor was Chicken Cordon Bleu.
2. Delivery DOES NOT accept cash.
3. Owner originally did not want to wrap orders individually; she wanted to place all orders on 1 platter.
4. Simple phone call took 16 minutes.
So, the order was cancelled on the day we were all expecting food from Vito's. This is poor business especially when dealing with a group of customers who are trying out the place for the first time... it's a bad first impression.
Since we didn't get a chance to eat their food because we didn't get past through the ordering process, this place receives a low rating.
Final Rating. 0.5 out of 5
Vito's Market
www.vitosmarket.com
40 Fountain Plaza
Buffalo, NY 14202-2229
(716) 858-5858
Vito’s has a selection of sandwiches and wraps and they’re in the Main St. Fountain plaza. You can order online also which is neat. Looking at their menu, it doesn’t say much about what it comes with it like macaroni salad, fries, coleslaw, etc like some places do. They also charge eight dollars for delivery.
We were all set with placing the order for about a dozen or so co-workers and upon doing so, this is what happened:
1. Specials menu online changes EVERY DAY (soups and sandwiches). So Gumbo was not today's option, nor was Chicken Cordon Bleu.
2. Delivery DOES NOT accept cash.
3. Owner originally did not want to wrap orders individually; she wanted to place all orders on 1 platter.
4. Simple phone call took 16 minutes.
So, the order was cancelled on the day we were all expecting food from Vito's. This is poor business especially when dealing with a group of customers who are trying out the place for the first time... it's a bad first impression.
Since we didn't get a chance to eat their food because we didn't get past through the ordering process, this place receives a low rating.
Final Rating. 0.5 out of 5
Vito's Market
www.vitosmarket.com
40 Fountain Plaza
Buffalo, NY 14202-2229
(716) 858-5858
Casa-di-Pizza
About a week ago, we faced the most disgusting food item we have ever ordered for lunch in Buffalo. The reason why we are spitting out this review now is because it is highly unlikely we will ever go back. This was our first time and probably last time with this place. No, it wasn't their pizza that was that bad.
We've been on a streak of trying to find hot chicken wings that are actually, well, hot. Almost always the hot wings from pizza places are borderline medium. We were in the mood again for hot wings so we looked at their menu and couldn't decide between the hot & spicy or the suicidal. When we placed the order for our pizza and wings, we asked what their hottest wings were and the guy said the suicidal were the way to go... and we very much regret that decision of picking so.
Aside from the wings, the pizza was fine, but real greasy. It didn't fit well in the stomach and felt like grease was going down rather than substance. This was noticeable after a couple slices. The thin cheese on it had that look like it was out in the cold for a while then warmed back up. More importantly, instead of discussing the pizza anymore, the reason why this place was a disaster was because of their chicken wings. The experience with the wings dragged down the pizza.
For some reason, we ordered twenty suicidal wings instead of ten and no more than five were eaten total. We had three people each try out a wing when we got them during lunch and neither of us could get through one of them. It was easily the most horrendous and appalling sight of wings ever seen… through television, Internet, person… anywhere.
The wings had this dark brown color like it was some crusty barbeque sauce. Once you touch a wing, most of it went on our fingers like we were grabbing it off and it was just awful. The wings weren’t even cooked long enough. They did though have some hot factor, but not in a tasteful manner. It wasn’t your traditional buffalo style sauce we’re all used to seeing... it was far from it.
The only thing redeemable from the box of chicken wings was the celery, but even those were hit with the damage of the sauce and smell. Since we had so many wings leftover, we ended up showing these wings to countless number of co-workers afterwards and they all practically ended up saying the same thing... that it looked like someone took a pile of crap on it. Please at all costs stay away from the wings at this place.
Final Rating: 1.5 out of 5
Casa-di-Pizza
www.casadipizza.com
477 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222-2013
(716) 883-8200
We've been on a streak of trying to find hot chicken wings that are actually, well, hot. Almost always the hot wings from pizza places are borderline medium. We were in the mood again for hot wings so we looked at their menu and couldn't decide between the hot & spicy or the suicidal. When we placed the order for our pizza and wings, we asked what their hottest wings were and the guy said the suicidal were the way to go... and we very much regret that decision of picking so.
Aside from the wings, the pizza was fine, but real greasy. It didn't fit well in the stomach and felt like grease was going down rather than substance. This was noticeable after a couple slices. The thin cheese on it had that look like it was out in the cold for a while then warmed back up. More importantly, instead of discussing the pizza anymore, the reason why this place was a disaster was because of their chicken wings. The experience with the wings dragged down the pizza.
For some reason, we ordered twenty suicidal wings instead of ten and no more than five were eaten total. We had three people each try out a wing when we got them during lunch and neither of us could get through one of them. It was easily the most horrendous and appalling sight of wings ever seen… through television, Internet, person… anywhere.
The wings had this dark brown color like it was some crusty barbeque sauce. Once you touch a wing, most of it went on our fingers like we were grabbing it off and it was just awful. The wings weren’t even cooked long enough. They did though have some hot factor, but not in a tasteful manner. It wasn’t your traditional buffalo style sauce we’re all used to seeing... it was far from it.
The only thing redeemable from the box of chicken wings was the celery, but even those were hit with the damage of the sauce and smell. Since we had so many wings leftover, we ended up showing these wings to countless number of co-workers afterwards and they all practically ended up saying the same thing... that it looked like someone took a pile of crap on it. Please at all costs stay away from the wings at this place.
Final Rating: 1.5 out of 5
Casa-di-Pizza
www.casadipizza.com
477 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222-2013
(716) 883-8200
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Carbone's Pizza
We never heard of a pizza place called Carbone's despite having a pretty strong knowledge on the pizza places in Buffalo. Not to get confused with the Carbone's in Rochester as this place is run by different owners. It was recommended to us by one of our superiors and we found out it is only four minutes away southeast of downtown as we called up our order for delivery.
Their main website has been and still is down for weeks since we first found out about it. It is always a bad sign when a website has a Gateway Timeout error. I mean, this is 2010. Every place should have a functional website by now. Not being able to find a menu or having a paper one in hand turns off people from ordering. After hard research, we found a menu online. The prices are probably outdated since we got a large pepperoni pizza ($12.85), which is very basic, and that alone came to about $19.80 dollars total, along with a couple bleu (or is it blue?) cheeses. Menu said 8 slices and we got it cut into 12 slices. After all that trouble of finding out about this place, we just got a large pizza... but you can tell a lot just by the most common pizza order. You can't mess up on that order and delivery for just a large. A large pepperoni pizza is what's compared the most between other places.
Apparently, one of us had pizza from Carbone's in Rochester the night before. Is the pizza similar to the one in Buffalo? The answer is yes… but actually very identical. The pizza box was different, but the pizza itself was pretty much the same. That person said, “This pizza is a taste of Rochester.” Just by lifting the top of the box, the look of the pizza was enticing and how it should look for a large. As requested, it was cut into 12 triangle pieces instead of squares. The pizza was not hard or burnt and had enough sauce on it. It wasn’t thick or thin on the dough and the crust wasn’t a problem.
What’s amazing is that another one of us has tried out at least 50 pizza places in Buffalo and this pizza is startling to wonder why aren’t they more popular around the area of Buffalo. Now, you know who they are and just how delicious their pizza is. Based on their pizza alone, it scores a high rating and it is always great news when you hear we'd be going back for some more again.
Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Carbone's Pizza & Subs
www.carbonespizza.com
http://www.allmenus.com/ny/buffalo/147370-carbones-pizza/menu/
568 South Park Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14204-2626
(716) 855-1749
Their main website has been and still is down for weeks since we first found out about it. It is always a bad sign when a website has a Gateway Timeout error. I mean, this is 2010. Every place should have a functional website by now. Not being able to find a menu or having a paper one in hand turns off people from ordering. After hard research, we found a menu online. The prices are probably outdated since we got a large pepperoni pizza ($12.85), which is very basic, and that alone came to about $19.80 dollars total, along with a couple bleu (or is it blue?) cheeses. Menu said 8 slices and we got it cut into 12 slices. After all that trouble of finding out about this place, we just got a large pizza... but you can tell a lot just by the most common pizza order. You can't mess up on that order and delivery for just a large. A large pepperoni pizza is what's compared the most between other places.
Apparently, one of us had pizza from Carbone's in Rochester the night before. Is the pizza similar to the one in Buffalo? The answer is yes… but actually very identical. The pizza box was different, but the pizza itself was pretty much the same. That person said, “This pizza is a taste of Rochester.” Just by lifting the top of the box, the look of the pizza was enticing and how it should look for a large. As requested, it was cut into 12 triangle pieces instead of squares. The pizza was not hard or burnt and had enough sauce on it. It wasn’t thick or thin on the dough and the crust wasn’t a problem.
What’s amazing is that another one of us has tried out at least 50 pizza places in Buffalo and this pizza is startling to wonder why aren’t they more popular around the area of Buffalo. Now, you know who they are and just how delicious their pizza is. Based on their pizza alone, it scores a high rating and it is always great news when you hear we'd be going back for some more again.
Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Carbone's Pizza & Subs
www.carbonespizza.com
http://www.allmenus.com/ny/buffalo/147370-carbones-pizza/menu/
568 South Park Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14204-2626
(716) 855-1749
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Hot Dog Guy
Trying to find a hot dog can in fact prove to be a challenge. If you are near the corner of West Huron and Delaware, you will find a food vendor that has not only a wide selection of foods to grill, but a good cheeseburger.
From Sahlen’s hot dogs to Italian and Polish Sausage, from Cheeseburgers to Sauerkraut and Junkyard dogs; this guy is sure to fill your stomach and not empty your wallet. The cheeseburger is an all ground beef patty topped with a Nacho cheese sauce, on a fresh tasty roll; all for $3.50. If you prefer the hot dogs he sells, he has an amazing special; 2 Sahlen hot dogs and a 12oz can of soda for $4.00. His condiment selection and his topping selection go without compare. For condiments he has mustard, ketchup, relish, diced onions, hot sauce, and Jalapeño peppers. For toppings he has Sauerkraut, Peppers and Onions, Nacho Cheese Sauce, and Chili Sauce. If you're up for something different, he's got a Black Angus Beef Dog for only $2.50.
The guy is always out there... wind, rain, and the cold, he'll be there for your grilling needs during the right season. You can count on him. He’s fast handling the money and the grilling while cooking up for the next customers in the line. It takes less than a minute for you to get your hot dog. The only problem is finding a garbage can when you’re done and maybe a sitting area. The food isn't fresh since it's a vendor so the patties were frozen and he only has Nacho cheese available. If you're ordering a lot, you'd have to be patient. Other than that, he gets a lot of costumers, especially when it’s sunny and warm outside, and be expected to get served within five minutes. He’s well-respected and customers continue to go back. This is a perfect summer option for a quick and appetizing lunch.
Final Rating: 3.5 out of 5
From Sahlen’s hot dogs to Italian and Polish Sausage, from Cheeseburgers to Sauerkraut and Junkyard dogs; this guy is sure to fill your stomach and not empty your wallet. The cheeseburger is an all ground beef patty topped with a Nacho cheese sauce, on a fresh tasty roll; all for $3.50. If you prefer the hot dogs he sells, he has an amazing special; 2 Sahlen hot dogs and a 12oz can of soda for $4.00. His condiment selection and his topping selection go without compare. For condiments he has mustard, ketchup, relish, diced onions, hot sauce, and Jalapeño peppers. For toppings he has Sauerkraut, Peppers and Onions, Nacho Cheese Sauce, and Chili Sauce. If you're up for something different, he's got a Black Angus Beef Dog for only $2.50.
The guy is always out there... wind, rain, and the cold, he'll be there for your grilling needs during the right season. You can count on him. He’s fast handling the money and the grilling while cooking up for the next customers in the line. It takes less than a minute for you to get your hot dog. The only problem is finding a garbage can when you’re done and maybe a sitting area. The food isn't fresh since it's a vendor so the patties were frozen and he only has Nacho cheese available. If you're ordering a lot, you'd have to be patient. Other than that, he gets a lot of costumers, especially when it’s sunny and warm outside, and be expected to get served within five minutes. He’s well-respected and customers continue to go back. This is a perfect summer option for a quick and appetizing lunch.
Final Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
City Hall Cafe
I had lunch at City Hall yesterday. Yes, City Hall offers food believe it or not. Not many people know there's a cafe inside City Hall. It's not easy to find if you're walking around it. In fact, the entrance to the cafe is behind City Hall. Not only is there nothing to give the slightest hint there’s food at City Hall from the building’s exterior, there is nothing that says cafe until you get in there. Once entering from the back on Elmwood, the cafe is down some steps into what is almost a basement area. Inside the cafe, there are plenty of tables, a hot plate service, tons of drinks, salad bar, soups, cakes, and wow now this looks like a fine lunch place.
There’s nothing quite like this open to the public for lunch. A lot of officers and businessmen in suits visit, but it is open to anyone. There's an open salad bar and a select few of soups where you can serve yourself. Premade sandwiches and wraps along with some potato salads and such are in a refrigerator. Best of all, there's a hot place like a real cafeteria style that offers hot meals as well as pizza, macaroni and cheese, and fried fish. People often ask where the best fish fry is. After trying a dozen or so places, City Hall's fish fry is right up there. The fish fry is so enormous that they have to break it in half for you to fit on your plate. However, you can't call ahead and pre-order and being on the bottom of city hall might turn some people off.
Even though their food is made for the mass numbers cafe-style, the fish fry along with their food should not be overlooked anymore. This place offers many options for food to go back and try out more and it’s big enough for many groups of people to go. Don’t be strayed away because it is a cafe and it is City Hall. It’s almost a hidden gem for lunch. There isn’t even a mention of its existence online... until now.
Final Rating: 4.0 out of 5
Buffalo City Hall
65 Niagara Square (enter from behind on Elmwood)
Buffalo, NY 14202-3392
(716) 851-5847
There’s nothing quite like this open to the public for lunch. A lot of officers and businessmen in suits visit, but it is open to anyone. There's an open salad bar and a select few of soups where you can serve yourself. Premade sandwiches and wraps along with some potato salads and such are in a refrigerator. Best of all, there's a hot place like a real cafeteria style that offers hot meals as well as pizza, macaroni and cheese, and fried fish. People often ask where the best fish fry is. After trying a dozen or so places, City Hall's fish fry is right up there. The fish fry is so enormous that they have to break it in half for you to fit on your plate. However, you can't call ahead and pre-order and being on the bottom of city hall might turn some people off.
Even though their food is made for the mass numbers cafe-style, the fish fry along with their food should not be overlooked anymore. This place offers many options for food to go back and try out more and it’s big enough for many groups of people to go. Don’t be strayed away because it is a cafe and it is City Hall. It’s almost a hidden gem for lunch. There isn’t even a mention of its existence online... until now.
Final Rating: 4.0 out of 5
Buffalo City Hall
65 Niagara Square (enter from behind on Elmwood)
Buffalo, NY 14202-3392
(716) 851-5847
Subway
I haven't eaten at a Subway in years. For a person who talks and eats food so much, Subway was never really a choice since I found their subs to be not filling or having an option on the menu for something Buffalo style... despite many Subways around the area. This Subway is pretty much the closest place to have lunch at which is weird for the middle of downtown Buffalo. This might be the only review of a commercial food service place and it happens to be the first one posted on here after visiting and eating from several in the area.
I didn't have any of their coupons or anything, but I was in the mood for a sub. I was reminded of their 5 dollar every day foot long subs so I ordered one of those. The two guys behind the counter were in two stations and the line was hardly existent at noon because of their speed. Standing in line and then moving across to tell what ingredients you want on your sub never stood out to me. I just want to order something and let that be that. However, from the time I ordered my Spicy Italian sub to finishing up at the cashier, it was no more than a couple minutes long. The sub was actually not that bad from what I originally had in the past... or maybe just because I had jalapeños on it which enhanced it.
I had low expectations for Subway, but the experience was just fine and I would be going back after a long hiatus. It was cheap, fast, and quite fresh... and with some time remaining in the thirty minute lunch break, I am glad I got a small cookie platter which had a dozen chocolate chip cookies. I'm someone who is against American fast food chains as my new year's resolution two years ago was not to eat any fast food and I've still kept up with it. I will be going back to test their consistency which is vital to every lunch place.
Final Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Subway
www.subway.com
120 West Chippewa Street
Buffalo, NY 14202-2007
(716) 856-0194
I didn't have any of their coupons or anything, but I was in the mood for a sub. I was reminded of their 5 dollar every day foot long subs so I ordered one of those. The two guys behind the counter were in two stations and the line was hardly existent at noon because of their speed. Standing in line and then moving across to tell what ingredients you want on your sub never stood out to me. I just want to order something and let that be that. However, from the time I ordered my Spicy Italian sub to finishing up at the cashier, it was no more than a couple minutes long. The sub was actually not that bad from what I originally had in the past... or maybe just because I had jalapeños on it which enhanced it.
I had low expectations for Subway, but the experience was just fine and I would be going back after a long hiatus. It was cheap, fast, and quite fresh... and with some time remaining in the thirty minute lunch break, I am glad I got a small cookie platter which had a dozen chocolate chip cookies. I'm someone who is against American fast food chains as my new year's resolution two years ago was not to eat any fast food and I've still kept up with it. I will be going back to test their consistency which is vital to every lunch place.
Final Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Subway
www.subway.com
120 West Chippewa Street
Buffalo, NY 14202-2007
(716) 856-0194
Friday, May 14, 2010
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide workers in downtown Buffalo alternates to making and bringing a lunch by offering criticism and reviews of places that serve lunch in Buffalo. Our focus is to bring out and discover the best places to eat lunch from for downtown Buffalo workers. These all don't have to be restaurants. Any place that serves food from a hot dog vendor to a hotel's cafe counts. An average worker also has a limit of a 30 minute lunch period sometime around noon. The places can either offer delivery or be within a walking distance of five minutes with the starting point being central downtown by the new courthouse. Given the opinion of the writers, each post will rate, suggest, and recommend lunch places.
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