Buffalo Street Grill

Though the food was tasty the portion size was ridiculously small for the prices being charged. The ambiance was welcoming, a bit crowded.

Not the same old Buffalo Street. New owners have CPRed this tired old relic back to life. First taste, scallops perfectly sautéed, accompanied by bacon-corn risotto - cheesy grit-like consistency. My companion's burger came rare as requested and the calamari with its sweet and tangy drizzle got things off to a great start.  Looking forward to working my way thru the menu. Welcome back to the Grille!

I'm a burger man. I love burgers. Always have, always will. I'm always on the lookout for a better burger, and I found one -- appropriately enough -- in Hamburg, NY (though I highly doubt the village originated this superior sandwich variety).

Borrowing from "Devil's Advocate," the first bite of this burger was like that first step into a stranger's bedroom. That's the only way I can adequately describe it. Afterwards, I just had to go back, and several visits can be condensed into a single review since the experience has always been the same. I'm not complaining. In fact, I want this to be my first review because I find myself so rarely impressed by burgers.

First, a word of warning: the large front windows of Buffalo Street Grill face west, and each time I've been there, the setting sun was blinding and uncomfortable. Even with the curtains drawn, you must choose your seat carefully. A C would be the best grade I could give for the comfort offered by the dining room.

That said, the food gets a B+, an excellent grade in a region with such exceptional dining establishments and for a restaurant with a fairly typical menu. For an appetizer, I chose an entirely predictable artichoke and spinach dip. The dip was excellent -- it's good everywhere -- but the pita chips with which it was served were delightful, the best companion I've ever had to an artichoke and spinach dip. During my next visit, I had the same pita chips with a special offered that night -- a sea food dip. Though I wasn't a fan of the dip (my date was), the pita chips made all the difference in the world.

Now, down to business. For the main course, I opted to build my own burger, and the options they provide are numerous, creative, and brilliant. I went with gorgonzola cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, bell peppers, and bacon. What emerged from the kitchen was one of the best burgers I've ever had in my life. The quality of the ingredients was exceptional -- the sun-dried tomatoes were perfectly chewy and tasty, the cheese was plentiful and in wonderful clumps, the bacon was thick, and the yellow and orange peppers came in big, juicy slices.

Bravo to the Buffalo Street Grill. It is obvious their ingredients are of a high caliber, and that they put a great deal of effort into them and into their dishes.

One final note: the burger was accompanied by a heaping pile of crispy, fried, homemade potato chips. We couldn't get enough. I also liked the beers they had on tap. I never opt for bottles, and it was nice to find a pleasant variety to choose from.