I've been coming to Buffalo Inn for the past 5 years. The big burger is delicious with a thick beefsteak tomato and a thick, juicy beef patty. I had it on sourdough and it was awesome that way. I recommend the Pomona Queen beer. It is very similar to Newcastle. I've always had friendly, attentive waitresses. The food is always great. It would be nice to have the food served on real plates instead of paper plates with a sticky plastic basket underneath. It would be better for the environment and make for a nicer experience given that this is a sit down restaurant and not a fast food place and is priced accordingly. I do love the atmosphere and the live entertainment. The Buffalo Chips are also amazing. It would be nice to have a small dance floor to better enjoy the live music. There isn't much room to dance with the present set up. All in all, the food and drink are very good and are reasonably priced compared to other places. I think Buffalo Inn could be a truly great place with real china and a dance floor.
Review Source:Two stars for outside seating area- lots of tables- so that was nice. The rest of the night however left me depressed and wishing for ear plugs.
1. The band was terrible. I do not know what they were called but honestly karaoke by drunken strangers would have been better. Not only was the music so loud ( and we were seated a good distance away) that we had to shout our conversations but when we asked the waitress to turn it down a little she even agreed. I'm only 25, I'm used to loud clubs and bars but this was kinda ridiculous.
2. The food. Oh lawd the food. Growing up in the 909 as a child I remembered this place differently. More exotic hamburgers and I guess just better tasting. A friend and I ordered the buffalo burger because why not. Another order the chili, one the chicken sante fe sandwhich, chicken wings, and a chicken Cesar salad.
- buffalo burger - thin patty of bland meat on a whatever tasting roll
- chili - wendys chili they bought before they opened
- chicken strips - the only good thing!
- chicken sante fe - got a "meh"
- chicken salad - returned
Now I know we sound like assholes right now, but this place isn't worth the hype. Â Also because it was overpriced for what you get. Good beer on tap though.
Nevahz again.
Had high hopes for this place as it looked cool from the outside and sits along the historic SR 66. What's more manlier than a place called the Buffalo Inn on Route 66?
I sat indoors in their dreary bar/dining area with a clear view of a guitarist playing live music in their huge outdoor dining area. It was kinda a cool atmosphere outside with the guy playing some acoustic classic rock and the So Cal sun.
I glanced at the taps behind the bar and 6-7 had cups on them indicating they were tapped out limiting my choice to about 7-8 they did have available. How does a bar run out of so many beers on tap in the middle of the weekend? Â At least they had my favorite Stone IPA on tap and available.
Service was ok, my waitress could have smiled a little bit more and been more friendly. Â ( I saw just her and another waitress pouring drinks/beers and tending to about 12 other tables so maybe the manager should hire a busboy. ) I ordered the Big Burger and the bun and patty broke up in my hand after about 4-5 bites but I still finished it. The homemade chips were ok. All served on a paper plate.
I came to the Buffalo Inn hoping the food, service, beer selection and atmosphere
would want me to bring some friends or family here. After today I won't be back myself. Place needs a new owner/management.
I must have driven by this place a few hundred times and barely noticed it, but it came recommended by a friend, so I took my 10-man (one woman) crew here for lunch and a beer. My team, sitting around a big wooden table in the "attic" talking about good times, with a great burger and a round (or two) of beers. Perhaps not everyones cup o' tea, but my definition of perfect. Even a little extra... excellent waitress, above-average pub food, and you can carve your initials in the table. I hear they have live music on the weekends. I'll be looking for an excuse to go back with friends real soon.
Review Source:Grew up in Upland and never came here. First Time was tonight. The steak was great...the whole restaurant setup is pretty cool. Should have come a long time ago. I didn't see any buffalo items on the menu...was really looking forward to having some buffalo meat that I heard about this place serving when I was a kid.
Review Source:I stopped by today, I enjoyed the place. A good mix of people. Yes there were bikers there Respect goes a long way. And remember most never start trouble it is the rest of the people that cross the line. The place has a good mix of people and the live band was good. the entire place was great to sit back and enjoy a beer. The waitress was great and friendly she cleared the table as I sat down and apologized for it this was good of her, The bar tender was good. They have plenty of beer on tap if your picky, parking may be a issue I did not have any problems with my bike. The place was crowded for a Sunday afternoon. it's a great place to kick back and enjoy.
Review Source:Foo fighters, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, Guns N Roses, SUBLIME, This place literally rocks ! Kim Martin Band and the Plus size models Band make this a  Grrreat place to enjoy out door dining, its an amazing, relaxing combo, we  have been enjoying for yeeearrrrrs !
The ambience and outdoorsy mood are killer ! Great place for a burger and a beer ..... If you like that sort o thing ! Â ; )
Even with out the live music, ( the pipe in in music on large outdoor patios )
its a very Zen place to hang out, feels far removed from the ... Office, jobsite, Salon, warehouse, etc. Peaceful.
Great place for a date ! Or get together with a large group of friends
Service lately is much better than my past experiences, new staff, Â All in all I highly recommend trying the Buffalo Inn
Everyone has a soundtrack to their lives, this place plays those songs while also enjoying a great dining experience,
Enjoy !
Peace and LoVe
John D.
Ambiance is interesting -- historic wooden building with lots of the stone work you find in old structures in the area. Â I understand they have live music, but we didn't hear any.
Now on to the food. Â Think carnival snack bar. Â We had a chili bowl, fish tacos, and child's chicken strips. Â If the chili wasn't canned they should have used canned -- it's better. Â My wife has never panned fish tacos until now. Â All dished server with home made potato chips but ones from a bag are better.
Maybe the place is good for drinks and music, but don't expect a good meal.
I have been going to the Buffalo Inn since I was little! Â Here is the thing about this restaurant: DO NOT GO THERE FOR THE GOOD SERVICE! Â I go to the Buffalo Inn for the atmosphere, music, food and historical content. Â The outside seating is a lot of fun with fire pits and bark on the ground. Â The music is always upbeat. Â The food is absolutely amazing! Â
If your planning on going during your quick lunch break, this is not your place. Â The service is slow and the waitresses are kind of stupid. Â Bottom line: If you go there expecting horrible service, but ready to have a fun time you will enjoy it. Â If you are a person who will can't stand bad service, don't waist your time.
Friend insisted we stop by here on our way up to camp and hike at Mt. Baldy...and was so thankful he brought us!! We filled up on luscious buffalo burgers with delicious chips and Potter beer. Loved the relaxed cowboyesque vibe of the place, my kind of place for sure. Jeff's dad had been frequenting this place since the 70's and glad to see it's still such a gem!
Review Source:I've read the previous reviews and I had to make sure I went to the same place as they did. Â
Last night, aside from the poor service that has been alluded to in other reviews, we were treated to bad food as well.
We ordered wings... (sorry, fryer's broken)... we ordered Cheesy chips... sorry, fryer's broken. (we noticed that everyone's plate however was showing up with chips.) 6 of us at the table got served two plates at a time 10 minutes apart. We asked for a side of ranch that never showed up. And one person at our table NEVER got served. We asked for a fork... that NEVER showed up.
When we mentioned this to the waitress, she took a pitcher of beer off our bill and also said she took the plate that never showed up off too. Â (isn't that generous that she didn't charge us for something that never showed up?) Her explanation was that the chef's were fighting with the waitresses. That's something we didn't need to know.
On the way out, the owner, Corona in hand, offered for us to come back. Sorry, you had your shot.
Treat each customer as if they're going to write a review on Yelp and things will be better for you but you lost us. Â
Oh and work on your Caesar salad. Â They dumped some iceberg lettuce on a paper plate and Caesar dressing. Really?
Stopped in here based on reviews by other Yelpers. Â
We both tried the Buffalo Burger, which came on an Italian roll with cheese, grilled onion, lettuce tomato and mayo. Â Catsup and Mustard were provided at the table. Â The rest of the plate was covered in large, freshly cooked potato chips.
When I see a place with this many motorcycles outside, I expect good beer and entertainment, but not usually great food.
I was surprised. Â The Buffalo burger was exceptional. Well-cooked, juicy with just enough condiments to add to it while still allowing you to taste the meat. Â
The chips were excellent.
I'd definitely go here again, though when we went by it at night, there wasn't a parking space left open.
I called and asked if my dog would be allowed on the patio and they told me yes but when I arrive the waitress with dark hair was completely rude and denied ever telling me that the dog was okay on the patio. I would never go back and patronize this business especially after the way we were treated.
~~~~~ THIS PLACE IS NOT DOG FRIENDLY ~~~~~
~~~~~ BAD PEOPLE ~~~~~
It's nearly 11:00 AM on a Sunday, and my kid and I are hurtling East on the 210 towards Big Bear. It's lunch time given that my clearly bored travelling partner insists on getting up at a slightly mean-spirited hour most days of the week (as he did this day), so I exit Mountain Ave., backtrack a bit, and here we are at The Buffalo Inn.
We're 20 minutes early. The Buffalo Inn opens at 11:30. We've got a dirt parking lot and a couple of stone walls to entertain us. (This is more than enough for an almost-five-year-old.) The staff can hear us on the other side of the patio entry: "We'll be open in 15 minutes," someone says, cracking the gate. "Seven more minutes or so," another says later. I break out the iPhone and set a timer for seven minutes. He's dead on.
Entering through the large wooden doors, I immediately notice the patio has been expanded since I was here last; it's twice as large (and by the time we leave, nearly full). I came here a lot with friends back in the mid-80's (and once even got a well-deserved kicking-out). Aside from the patio, nothing else has changed much, save an HD TV hung in a corner, and even that is on mute. In-tact from decades past is the generous helping of old-school Americana, unforced and unpretentious.
I order a Big Burger, while my kid orders the Chicken Strips. We also order a plate of Buffalo Chips and salsa to start. The burger's good, not spectacular. Chicken Strips? Fine. Buffalo Chips and salsa? Inhaled. But whatever; I'm not here for the food, am I? In an age of TGIF's, Applebee's and the like, The Buffalo Inn is a beacon of rightly-done quirk, so much so that I'm a little ashamed to have stayed away so long. After all, patronage is support, and this establishment deserves to be supported.
For food? Three solid stars. Not the best, but better than average. So why the extra star? If you've got good food, a stellar staff and an unimpeachable setting befitting old Route 66 (and you've managed, as a restaurant, to stay in business for 81 years), a four star rating is only fitting.
I love this place, i go every thursday!
BEST BUFFALO WINGS EVER!!!
buffalo burgers are amazing..
and for those of you saying the service is crappy...take a look around..THERE IS USUALLY ONLY ONE GIRL THERE WORKING THE ENTIREEEEE RESTAURANT. not her fault the owners are shitty.
this is a great place to TAKE YOUR TIME and drink a beer....dont take it out on the servers for the lack of management...
try the chili and the wings.. also the chick-a-doo is a great sandwich. i work at claim jumper, and THE BUFFALO INN is still my favorite place to eat and drink..
so to those with a bad review..suck it easy, go eat at Flemmings if u want top dollar, this is obviously a biker bar.
go on thursdays, ask for mandee. she's great :)
GREAT place to drink with a big group of people as the Buff serves gallon pitchers. Â Be prepared to be visibly drunk when you walk out of here.
The seating is on wood chips, the place smells a bit funky and there are some stray cats walking around - but it's hard to hold that against the 60+ year old owner, who looks like he's spent his whole life on a Harley. Â Though you can blame him for the constant lack of staff that the service suffers from.
Regulars are bikers from the Inland Empire and college kids on select nights (Wenesdays, Fridays and Saturdays).
Frankly, the food leaves a lot to be desired with the exception of the homemade potato chips and the buffalo wings.
Why do I like this place? Â Great atmosphere. Â Chill place. Â Don't expect great service or anything -and that's fine with me. Â The servers are nice, but I don't like being bothered by servers anyway. Â If I need something, I'll holla. Â I like their cheesy chips and their buffalo burgers. Â I've been here a few times. Â I remember coming here after a hike with 2 friends and a friend's friend. Â It was a good time even though my friend's friend was having a little personal crisis and talking about all sorts of negative things. Â So -this just goes to show that Buffalo Inn is an awesome place, despite some negativity in conversation! Â
I'd probably be here more often if I lived closer. Â I like this place because it's clean, nice and doesn't try too hard. Â The crowd ranges. Â 7$ domestic pitchers and some other happy hour deals. Â They have a live band on some nights.
Great if you like crappy beer, patrons who talk loud, motorcycles, testicle-trucks (a.k.a. "monster trucks"), and a very greasy, cheap casual atmosphere.
Awful if you like good food, and expect an interesting restaurant atmosphere. From the outside it is interesting...but when you walk in, it nearly feels like you are camping.
I really feel more like giving them one star, but I vaguely remember the servers being reasonably friendly, so that always deserves merit.
I ordered the buffalo burger...sounds good right? What I got was this pathetic white bread "burger" with a wafer thin, greasy as hell presumably buffalo patty in it. Buffalo is supposed to be on the leaner side I thought? One would suspect the beer guzzling, "I have a small penis, so I drive a big truck" atmosphere would have required appallingly huge portions to go with it. Bigger is better right? Not so. I ate it with the "better not waste food" sentiment, more so than out of any sort of enjoyment.
I easily could have had a better burger at the In n Out up the street.
SOOOOO NEVER going back there again. SOOO NOT my scene. It is very old fashioned Upland...and not in a quaint way.
--Anthony
This is not your typical bar/restaurant.
The first time I experienced Buffalo in was when a colleague brought in me to try the Buffalo Burger. Â It's got a very "down-home" feel to it and since that first time, I've always sat outside to enjoy the weather. Â They've got some decent beers and the burgers, buffalo or otherwise, are definitely tasty. Â So why am I a fan?
* The ambience is awesome. Â It's a great place to just chill with some buddies and have some beer and bar food
* The food is genuinely good. Â The Buffalo Burger is very flavorful and they have some other great options. Â My current favorite is the Cajun Chicken Sandwich. Â Also, the chili and homemade buffalo chips are awesome sides that go with the burgers very well
* The people are nice. Â Now I've seen some reviews that say service is poor, and maybe it's because my work often does business with the Buff, but they are always very pleasant and fun to chat with when I eat there. Â Janna (the owner's wife) is a lot of fun to talk to and will bend over backward to help make your events fun and affordable.
I always enjoy my trips to the Buff. Â If you want some good food with a different feel, this is the place to go.
Cheers!
Came here after a search through yelp to try something different!
Their buffalo burgers were really good, tender and moist! Â There wasn't too much or too little of anything!
The service here was a bit slow at first but right after giving us our menu, it picked up rather quickly!
There was a live band that was playing in the outside patio area which gives it a nice bbq feel and very homey like.
We also got the cheese chips which were simple but delicious! Â I would definately come here again!
I give this place four stars...maybe five stars.
 It's really a cool place.  I've been here several times. Brought my relatives here from Canada and they enjoyed it.  Love the Buffalo burgers, and those yummy chips.  Chili was great too.
 You can go upstairs and eat.  It's really super old fashioned upstairs like it was built in the 1800's.  I haven't sat upstairs since my friend said, "hey were sitting right over the cooking area, so where do you go if there is a fire.  The windows up here don't open and there is only one way down." Hmmm..sure made me wonder???
 Now we either sit downstairs or outside on the pation...Patio is very nice.
 Dirt lot for parking your car and even a dirt curbline on the street to park your vehicle.
 Service is OK
I had the best time!
It was here years ago hearing the wonderful band "One Drop Redemption" play "buffalo soilder" over a buffalo burger and cheddar chips, Â medittated in the fire pit and sadly kissed my yang self goodbye and embraced vegatarianism.. macrobiotically.. it was a lovely moment not soon forgotten.. but i still return for the chips (sans dairy).. Â but i'll always remember that moment.. a bit of upland history on a personal level. Blessings!
One Love
First hit this joint on a recommendation by a friend way back when i lived in the 909 (before the internet really exploded). Â
The sight of the wall o'spigots o' beer made me an instant fan.
Dark, windy stairs led up to some odd tables.
But the taste of the 'Bison burger' really got me comin' back.
(well, that and the smokin' staff).
Went back a couple of months ago to have the wife experience a bison burger - Â and to show her one of my old haunts.
Said she liked the taste - even tho she said it tasted gamey.
More tables mean more of a crowd now-a-days...but that's suppose to be a good thing, right?
Quite possibly the only thing I miss about the 909.
Outside, back yard style seating. Real fire pits. Great food..(meat meat and meat). Pitchers of beer. Live guitar jams......Definitely worth the trek, or stopping by if you're in the area....For reals.
To make it worth it, you can go to the Drive in a couple miles away for a movie....(2 movies for 7 dollars and you can byob)
I have the best date idea's and I will never use them so feel free to steal away!
This place is great! Â The atmosphere, the beer, and the food all impress at The Buffalo Inn. Â I love sitting outside next to the fire, listening to some live music, eating a delicious burger or sandwich and enjoying one of the many many beers on tap.
The service is so so. Â But the overall experience is great. Â I also went to a private party and it was held down below the main restaurant next to the parking lot in a real cool closed off area. Â I definitely wished I had my 21st birthday there...
I would recommend the Buffalo Inn to anyone in the area who wants great food.
This place scared the crap out of me for a long time. Â People actually eat buffalo? Â What, with a side of grilled rattlesnake and rabbit?
And then... I tried it. Â First in the chili. Â Then in the burger. Â Boy oh boy did I have another thing comin'. Â So tasty. Â So lean. Â So, so good.
The Buffalo Inn is a wonderful place to hang out for burgers and beer while listening to old men on guitars sing your favorite Bob Dylan song. Â The patio is awesome, even for the nonsmoker. Â
For non buffalo eatin' folks, there's other things on the menu that will fancy you. Â A BBQ chicken sandwich, for example. Â Salads. Â Homemade chips. Â Whatever, just go.
I must be honest. I am 5-starring this place not for the food ;) It's the atmosphere and the beer. Oh, the beer. It's a wonderful selection, both draught and bottled (domestic too, but I don't often drink domestic beers, for taste reasons of course!) and the prices I think are perfectly reasonable. They cost the same at Sprouts!! Or even less (see my review of Sprouts Market if you like), actually.
Wednesdays they have live music, which sounds really nice the few times I've heard it. Just some classic 70's Softies, done in their way. It's nice to sit outside, drink great beer, talk and listen to music. What they play over the sound system is similar to the song stylings of the artists that come to play. From Hendrix to Bowie to Gordon Light foot, lol, they play all kinds of things from the 70's mainly. Oh, I heard some Dead last night while there too.
The menu is humorous and silly, which can be nice, the salsa *I* adore, the chips are interesting and I enjoy them a lot. But as I said...it's not the food.
Oh, and it's the clientele! All types of people and ages, though I'd like to see more color around the place ;) Â The servers and the owner too, are different and interesting, and without the pretentiousness than one can find in Claremont. Eclectic. Fun. Simple. Easy.
That's it...the Buffalo Inn is simply easy. It helped reduce my very stressful week. Thanks you, and I shall come again!
I echo my daughter's comments below [on the Buffalo Inn listings]. Just 4 stars for me.....because I DO agree with her about the food AS WELL AS the ambience.
I couldn't help noticing a very very striking Asian lady at the table next to us.....[she no doubt noticed me noticing]...but more color would be better! ;-) Â ;-)
And...I can put my feet up on another chair to relax. Where else.....???
Oh...and the owner [I believe he's the owner] looks suspiciously like Billy Gibbons or Frank Beard -- you know....the wingmen in ZZ Top.
This place has some of the best burgers around. Â Especially the buffalo burger (which I think is half beef, half buffalo)
The chips are great too, especially when they make them thick. Â (depending on who is making them, they can be thin like potato chips, or thick like fries) Â I like them with the salsa. Â The beer selection is pretty good, and goes well with the food.
I generally like to sit outdoors at the Buffalo Inn. Â Even when it's hot out, they seem to get a breeze, and there's plenty of shade. Â I did sit indoors once though, and it had a nice rustic vibe.
Service can be slow, especially if they're busy. Â In the past few years they seem to have had live music pretty often, which can help you wait for the food, especially if you have a good beer.
Cute fire pit, nice outdoor experience, pitchers of beer, not very good food. This one time I went there, I was seated and I placed my drink order. I never received my drink and was clearly forgotten about for about 45 minutes and so I left. I've been back since then, but I've never really cared about the place.
Not much else to say about it than that.
I've been going to the 'Buff' since 1979 and, despite a couple of changes in ownership and many changes in the staff, the food has remained good, and the service is decent despite the sometimes crowded patio area, which has recently been expanded.
The atmosphere is always great, and there are tons of choices in imported beer to choose from, which makes it a great place to take a Saturday off with some freinds and go have a burger with chips & salsa and to some 'beer tasting'!
I really really like The Buffalo Inn. Â Outdoor restaurant with live music, what's not to love?
They have the most delicious potato chips ever! Â And with their salsa? Â Oh man, you almost can get full off of just the chips because they're so delicious! Â Their menu is pretty simple, burgers, sandwiches, chicken fingers and salads. Â I think the last time I was here I had the spicy chicken sandwich and enjoyed it. Â
I had the turkey sandwich and it was pretty good. Â Too much sprouts in it for me though.
The guy they have as their live music is pretty good. Â He takes requests and mostly plays the Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, the classic rock stuff. Â He randomly through in some Tonic. Â Cool.
Saturday afternoon on a warm March day with some of my favorite family members listening to some good live music having delicious potato chips. Â Perfection.
Upland's best kept secret. Â Buffalo Inn looks like nothing until you're inside. Â Have a fireside chat in the grotto about your fallen boatswain with your newest coxswain. Â
This is a Thursday night staple. Â Cheery females serve up home made chips (crisps for the saxon crowd) and buffalo burgers. Â Pretty good beer selection, live music, and take home a pint glass of the "beer of the night" when you go (frequently newcastle). Â If you want to do some housewarming for pint glasses, do it there.
If it is a Thursday night and you are wondering what to do, you'll want to go to this home where the buffalo's (meat) roams.
Wow. Â What a dump. Â It's great.
If you're into divey places with personality, this is a place to check out. Â I went there as a part of a "staff meeting" Â (basically lunch where co-workers and I decide it's okay to imbibe alcohol during the workday). Â The interior's got a rustic-Tom Sawyer-Disneyland quality to it, but with lots of neon beer signs. Â
Food's pretty decent. Â I had the chili dog. Â Yummy.
***UPDATE 12.01.06
Sadly, the Buffalo Inn's closed for renovations. Â I dunno... it looked as though it could get pretty drafty in there. Â Let's hope it doesn't lose any of it's kitschy-folkish-rustic character, otherwise I will have to say, Â "Boo to you, Buffalo Inn!"
***UPDATE 02.23.07
The Buff is back in business. Â It's hard to say what exactly's changed, if anything. Â Actually, there have been some minor changes and there's still some construction going on. Â Even the menu says so. Â The homemade chips are still there and better and greasier than ever.
***UPDATE 03.15.07
The bathrooms have been renovated. Â They're pretty clean, but the new mirror's already been tagged on. Â Yessss... that's the Buff for ya. Â
By the way, service could be better and faster. Â The cooks lost our order, then our waitress said we'd get our meal for half. Â Well, she went "on break" (she must have gotten lost we our order) and our proxy server gave us our bill with everything full price. Â Rather than spend another 20 minutes waiting for our new bill, we just paid and got outta there. Â I'm afraid I'll have to knock my rating to three stars. Â Sorry Buff.
I decided to give The Buff 4 stars, not so much for the food but the ambiance. Â It could be generously described as rustic, but the place has zero pretense and is just a great place to hang out with friends. Â When you first walk into the place, it has a huge patio area with a fire pit in the very center. Â When the weather gets cool at night, you and your friends can sit around the fire to keep warm and shoot the proverbial breeze. Â The burgers are pretty good, and they make their own potato chips! Â You have got to make sure you get their salsa which makes a perfect accompaniment to the chips.
It's been a few years since I've been, but I just recently received a gift certificate to the Buffalo Inn and it's seriously burning a hole in my pocket!!
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