Four serious hounds from Toronto, equipped with car and GPS would need help with one great lunch in the Buffalo area. Any food except BBQ, Asian and Chinese. Something not readily available in Toronto would be great. eg., Good Puerto Rican, great Southern Fried Chicken?
Initially thinking of trying out Southern Fried Chicken at 'Shango' (?) but noticed they only open for dinner. Nett's may be?
We are open to both casual or fine dining ideas.
Also, apart from 'Whole Foods', which is the biggest and best super market and/or grocery store in the Buffalo area that stock the most varied selection of products? Looking for cool stuff not readily available in Toronto eg., Award wining BBQ sauces, Crab meat and crab cakes from Maryland...etc
Thanks in advance!
Definitely go to Wegmans for groceries. Great cheeses, beer, unique marinades, wide selection of local/specialty products you wont find elsewhere. Whole Foods doesnt even exist in Buffalo. As a Buffalo native now living out of town, I would go to Ted's for a sahlen's hot dog, La Nova for grilled BBQ chicken wings, Charlie the Butcher for roast beef, Scharf's for german food, Jim's for chicken finger sub, ETS for tacos and subs, souvlaki at Kostas or Family Tree, or burmese at Sun. Bertha's Diner and Nette's are well known for fried chicken and would be open for lunch. Michelle's Caribbean Cafe for great Carbbean food or Niagara Cafe for Puerto Rican food (both very casual). Not a lot of table service type places open for lunch that are differentiated from what you'd find in Toronto, but I've heard good things about Oshun downtown.
I'm lukewarm on Wegman's in general. Lots of stuff, but I don't find most of it to be of exceptional quality. You might check out Premier Gourmet on 3904 Maple Rd. (Amherst?). They used to be in Kenmore, but moved since I was last in Buffalo. They also have a great beer selection and are attached to a huge wine and liquor store. I'll let the locals fill you in on lunch places....
I liked the Lunch Room in Lackawanna the couple of times I was there for lunch (it's just down Ridge from the enormous white basilica and across the street from the ugly orange city hall). If you want to try the local specialty, beef on weck, and don't mind an excursion, Bar Bill in East Aurora is good (and East Aurora's a nice little town for walking and shopping: stop in at the Roycroft Inn to admire their craftsman furniture); Schwabl's in West Seneca is also known for its beef on weck: it's like stepping back into the 1930s (except for the prices).
I don't get the Wegman's hype. The one in Amherst was OK, the one in South Buffalo was not. Check out the local farmers' markets if you get a chance: there's actually a lot of agriculture in the area, and apples should be just coming in. Canada may not let you bring fresh produce back, but many markets sell cheeses, wines, and packaged products such as cider, jams and jellies. I try to stock up on horseradish when I'm there.
My wife and I always like going to Wegman's. Ya, it is very much like a Loblaws but we find it much better. There is always enough different stuff to fill the cart. Yes, pass on fruit & Veg and fresh meat. They will likely get you stopped at the border.
Trader Joes - 1565 Niagara Falls Blvd Buffalo, NY 14228
Like Whole Foods, but different. Lots of unique items you won't find in Toronto.
Beef on Weck at Schwabl's is an experience. But have not been back since their renovation / reconstruction.
I know I am replying to a slightly stale post but I feel compelled to correct this. It is the US that has near zero-tolerance on personal importation of fruit, vegetables, and meat products. Canada does not operate the same way at all. I have brought groceries of all kinds from the US for 20 years to Canada and have never had a problem. If the customs officer asks me to say what sort of goods I have with me, I usually just say grocery store items, and I don't believe I have ever been asked to break this down by product line.
Here is the official answer: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/info...
The simple thing to remember if you don't want to read the detailed rules is to keep quantities reasonable for goods that are subject to agricultural supply management in Canada, i.e. cheese and other dairy products, chicken and other meat, and potatoes. A few pounds of any or all of these for personal use is very, very likely to be no problem. Large quantities that could start to look like commercial importation, even if it is just personal supply, could be a problem, and you should read the rules.
My error - it's the Mess Hall in Lackawanna. I think I've got confused because I've only been there for lunch.
Thank you all for the helpful inputs!
Right now, deciding on whether to have Beef on Weck at either Schwabl's or Charlie the Butcher.
Question: Which of the above offers a tastier product especially the 'Au Jus'.
Will be heading to both Wegman's and Trader Joes. BTW, any of them have Fried Chicken for take-out like Publix in Florida?
Beef on Weck is not typically served au jus: the kummelweck bun is soft enough it doesn't need it - it would just gum things up.
Schwabl's is traditional to the point of being old fashioned. I wasn't impressed with their side dishes earlier this year, but they get points for having draft birch beer, and for being halfway between the airport and my relatives.
I was not too impressed with Charlie the Butcher. It was more out of interest to see an institution.
As for Schwabl's - again not knowing what it is like since they had to renovate after a car flew through the front of the building. It was so old fashioned, you really feel like it is the 1950s again. Oh, and you have to try their hot drink. Can't remember what it is called. But it is booze and raw eggs. Tastes like a hot cup of shaving cream, but it is traditional and again takes you back. I am going to be banned from Buffalo for saying the above I am sure! LOL
Thanks for the tips! We'll try out Schwabl's then. May be grab a box of Fried Chicken from Nett's for the road?!
Scwabl's after the crash is pretty much the same as it was before the crash: one side of the building has new siding and a paint job, but the interior looks the same (and is still not friendly to the mobility-impaired) and the menu doesn't seem to have changed.
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