Buffalo and the southerners

We included Buffalo and the Niagara Falls experience in our RustBeltTour2003 family vacation. We had a wonderful lunch at Ulrich’s Tavern (674 Ellicott St) in the downtown Buffalo Theater district. They’ve been operating continually since 1868. The latest decorating was done when JFK was a candidate. Being from the south it was our first taste of Beef on Weck so I can’t really make any comparisons. I can say it was delicious and my petite wife concurred by devouring her very generous serving. I had the Kaiser Platter (potato pancake, with a bratwurst and weisswurst sausage, German potato salad, red cabbage, sauerkraut). The pancakes were crispy and had great flavor. The sausage was grilled perfectly. They had Buffalo’s own Flying Bison 1st Ward Red and Barnstormer Pale Ale drafts on tap. Not the normal fare here in Raleigh, North Carolina. We arrived late and after chatting with the staff they kept the kitchen open and made up a fresh batch of potato pancake batter for us. A hearty recommendation. Check their website @ www.ulrichstavern.com

Steve’s Clam Bar (approx 731 Elmwood) was a hole in the wall clam bar with Imperial Malpeque oysters from Prince Edward Island. A real treat. The owner, Steve, talks a good oyster.

Every local we met eventually included this tidbit “…by the way don’t bother with the Anchor Bar. They may have invented them but it doesn’t mean they’re good.” That was followed by a variety of suggestions. Since we were near the zoo, Bob & John’s La Hacienda (1545 Hertel Ave) got the nod. Decent wings, a good slice of pie and nothing special. Would try somewhere else next time.