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
Friday, May 21, 2010
Sue's NY Deli
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)