Who's going to Buffalo?

[RichardHead]

Taking our 4th trip out to Buffalo this weekend and we're thinking of changing things up a little on Saturday. Instead of heading to the Casino at Niagara Falls we're thinking of going to downtown Buffalo, any suggestions?

As for Sunday we plan on being in the same lot as before (Land Cruiser Lot 1) behind the stadium off Big Tree Road not too far for the field house. Everytime we've been there we've seen/tailgated with lots of other Patriots' fans.

 

[upstater1]

Taking our 4th trip out to Buffalo this weekend and we're thinking of changing things up a little on Saturday. Instead of heading to the Casino at Niagara Falls we're thinking of going to downtown Buffalo, any suggestions?

As for Sunday we plan on being in the same lot as before (Land Cruiser Lot 1) behind the stadium off Big Tree Road not too far for the field house. Everytime we've been there we've seen/tailgated with lots of other Patriots' fans.

Are you looking for restaurants? Or things to do? Bars?

I live on downtown Buffalo and will have friends coming in for the game. Best places to stay are the Hampton Inn downtown or the Hyatt. Avoid Adam's Mark. If you just want a hotel with a great bar and restaurant, try the Hotel at Lafayette.

Top restaurants upscale (all downtown):

Mike A's at the Hotel Lafayette
SeaBar on Washington Street
Rue Franklin on Franklin

Brewery & Bar Food: Pearl Street Brewery

Most Buffalonians hang out in the Elmwood Village or else Hertel Street, and they avoid the craziness of Chippewa Street in downtown Buffalo (sort of d-bag central). If you're not into packed bars, beer spilling etc., I'd recommend Elmwood Village and Allentown instead.

In which case you might want to stay at the Holiday Inn on Delaware which is within close walking distance.

Top restaurants in this area:

Tempo
LeftBank

My favorite Buffalo bars:

Allentown:
Hardware Cafe (packed with normal people)
Founding Fathers
Gabriel's Gate (great place for Buffalo wings)

Elmwood Village:
Blue Monk (best beer bar I've ever been to, anywhere)

Things to do:
The people who live in Buffalo are either Bohemian artists or else into elite culture. There really isn't anything like a Casino (other than a slot machine place by HSBC arena) or ESPN Sports Zone, etc. It's mostly theater, symphony, literary stuff, fine arts ( world renowned Albright Knox gallery on Elmwood). Otherwise, good music (jazz at the "Colored Musicians Club" or Hallwalls, rock all over downtown).

One good tourist-y thing to do is to drive up to Lockport for the Erie Canal lock tour. I did it with family, and normally hate to do these things, but it was great.

IMO, the absolute must:

**** Blue Monk ****

Blue Monk

We have people from Canada coming down in buses to this place. NYC friends of mine have raved about it. I don't know how they do it, esp. in little Buffalo, but they have 30+ rare beers on tap.

I'd be glad to answer any other questions.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Are you looking for restaurants? Or things to do? Bars?

The people who live in Buffalo are either Bohemian artists or else into elite culture.

May I suggest to the culturally elite the nearby "Canadian ballet"?

 

[RichardHead]

Thanks for all the info! We're staying out at the Hampton Inn by the airport (and the Walden Galleria mall like we have in the past), we always end up ending the night at Famous Dave's since it's right in the parking lot and we don't have to worry about walking/stumbling back to the hotel. Your list gives us some places we can definitely check out...I think the Blue Monk is calling

 

[Insomniac99]

Thanks for all the info! We're staying out at the Hampton Inn by the airport (and the Walden Galleria mall like we have in the past), we always end up ending the night at Famous Dave's since it's right in the parking lot and we don't have to worry about walking/stumbling back to the hotel. Your list gives us some places we can definitely check out...I think the Blue Monk is calling

Blue Monk is for when you want to feel self-important. It's all goat cheese and bread that costs 15 dollars. Avoid like the plague, stick to Allen st.

 

[StampedeCity]

Buffalo is packed with bars. I don't know how old you are but if you like the clubbing scene - Buffalo has a ton of clubs on Chippewa - all open until 4 or 5am. Thats the cool thing about Buffalo - there's always somewhere to go at all hours.

 

[upstater1]

Blue Monk is for when you want to feel self-important. It's all goat cheese and bread that costs 15 dollars. Avoid like the plague, stick to Allen st.

Yes, Belgian Beer on tap will cost you $8. If you want it, you have to pay a little more.

I can see why someone wouldn't want it, but avoid good beer like you avoid the plague?

This is the thing I don't understand about Buffalo. People here will drink Labatt's like its god's elixir, and don't even get them started on the pizza. For this New England boy (well, Connecticut) the stuff that passes for pizza here isn't fit for urchins. Thick doughy bread, sugary canned tomato sauce, gloopy cheese.

 

[Insomniac99]

Yes, Belgian Beer on tap will cost you $8. If you want it, you have to pay a little more.

I can see why someone wouldn't want it, but avoid good beer like you avoid the plague?

This is the thing I don't understand about Buffalo. People here will drink Labatt's like its god's elixir, and don't even get them started on the pizza. For this New England boy (well, Connecticut) the stuff that passes for pizza here isn't fit for urchins. Thick doughy bread, sugary canned tomato sauce, gloopy cheese.

I'm not a Labatt drinker. If I want good beer I'll go to Pearl street, Coulter Bay, or the rest of Allen. There's many other places as well that I just havnt been to since I'm a whiskey drinker. It's just Blue Moon is far too pretentious all over. It's not just the beer being expensive.
And our pizza is awesome, I dunno what you're smoking.

 

[drew4008]

I've been numerous times... prepare for piss-drunk Bills fans and a very dirty stadium/grounds. Oh, and people pissing in literallyy every corner of the bathrooms.

Never got heckled too much by Bills fans, as we killed them every time and they were more concerned with boo'ing their own coaches/players.

 

[VrabelJr]

30 "rare" beers on tap is impressive? ****, I'm spoiled out here in California...

Edit: Btw, I grew up in Buffalo and what upstater1 said is pretty spot on (in terms of what areas have what). But IMO the heart of Buffalo resides in those dirty ass bars. Not wannabe foo-foo artsy-fartsy "elitists" (wtf? Elitist in Buffalo?). It's a blue collar town. Go drink ****ty beer until you can't possibly fit anymore in your stomach. People there are nice as long as you aren't uptight. Sure, they might razz you a little bit but you won't get jumped like in Oakland or something.

 

[upstater1]

30 "rare" beers on tap is impressive? ****, I'm spoiled out here in California...

Edit: Btw, I grew up in Buffalo and what upstater1 said is pretty spot on (in terms of what areas have what). But IMO the heart of Buffalo resides in those dirty ass bars. Not wannabe foo-foo artsy-fartsy "elitists" (wtf? Elitist in Buffalo?). It's a blue collar town. Go drink ****ty beer until you can't possibly fit anymore in your stomach. People there are nice as long as you aren't uptight. Sure, they might razz you a little bit but you won't get jumped like in Oakland or something.

I think Buffalo has changed a lot since you left.

The pizza hasn't, it's still bloody awful. But the city has in terms of the people who live here. It is gentrifying.

 

[upstater1]

I'm not a Labatt drinker. If I want good beer I'll go to Pearl street, Coulter Bay, or the rest of Allen. There's many other places as well that I just havnt been to since I'm a whiskey drinker. It's just Blue Moon is far too pretentious all over. It's not just the beer being expensive.
And our pizza is awesome, I dunno what you're smoking.

Those places do not have the beers on tap that Blue Monk does. I guess I have to apologize for liking good beer.

As for pizza, have you ever been outside of Buffalo? I grew up in New Haven and here were pizza joints on every block practically that made pies Buffalo can only dream about.

 

[RichardHead]

I've been numerous times... prepare for piss-drunk Bills fans and a very dirty stadium/grounds. Oh, and people pissing in literallyy every corner of the bathrooms.

Never got heckled too much by Bills fans, as we killed them every time and they were more concerned with boo'ing their own coaches/players.

This will be our 4th trip out there, and yes I've seen the piss-drunk fans (in 2007 they shifted it to a night game, right above the sinks freshly painted were signs, "Please Do Not Urinate In Sink", sure enough there were people doing it). Last year was tough with the way the Pats lost at the end, walking out of the stadium with Sweet Caroline playing was actually kind of funny.

Anyway, most of the Bills fans we've met over the years were pretty good people, they realize their team sucks and they look forward to hockey season...guess it's not a good year to be a Buffalo sports fan this year.

 

[VrabelJr]

Yeah upstater you're a pretty terrible Buffalonian. As far as Buffalo gentrifying, allow me to introduce you to what's called the "Hipster Movement." It's happening every where.

 

[Jackson 2]

May I suggest to the culturally elite the nearby "Canadian ballet"?

I thought the NHL was still locked out?