The Founding Fathers was excellent. We both got burgers and they were really tasty and cooked to perfection. Nora was the only employee working and she had it all going on. The free nachos and popcorn were loaded. There were plenty of patrons and she was easily handling everyone. She was there when it was needed and nice  not to mention she was the waitress, bartender and cook all in one. Great job Nora. The decor was really cool especially if you are into history!  I would definitely recommend trying it out. I hear they have trivia onTuesdays. We will be back.
Review Source:This is a great bar with great staff, ambiance and food. Â It is a favorite of mine after hitting some of the livelier bars on Allen Street. Â The inside is decked with flags with low-light making it a relaxing place to be. Â The bar itself has an old wood feel to it and the bar staff are very attentive. Â
Of course, everyone loves the free nachos and popcorn but I've eaten here twice and have to say that the ordered food is delicious. Â They really know what they're doing here.
Go here at the start of the night or the end of the night and expect a friendly atmosphere. Â If you are some one who doesn't like the regular bar scene too much (me!) you shouldn't count this one out as it is one of those secret places in Buffalo that will really rock your world.
Two words: Free popcorn! Bars in Raleigh, NC take note!! This was not the first place I experienced this incredible delight in Buffalo, but any bar with it gets bonus points from me. Founding Fathers also offers free nachos (chips and cheese, nothing fancy). A couple of friends were staying nearby and mentioned they had been there the night before and liked it so we decided to try it out.
It was late and we were just out for drinks. We came from a place closer to where we were staying which had a similar atmosphere, but was much more, um, lively. Founding Fathers was more what we wanted: a casual, laid back, neighborhood bar. I kind of wanted to try some of the food, but was pretty full from the wedding reception we had been at earlier in the evening. If I lived in Buffalo this is definitely a place I would frequent.
I don't go to bars often, but when I do, FF is exactly the kind of place I like to go. Â It's a little bit divey, the decor is great and there is free vegan popcorn and the chips, salsa, jalapenos, and beans are vegan, too. Â Why they put out BBQ beans with nachos I will never know...
I like that they serve off brand soft drinks, but know that there are no free refills.
They have a waitress/bartender/sometimes cook named after Gilbert Perrault, the great Sabres player. How cool is that?
It can get pretty hot in the summer. Â There is no outdoor seating and no windows.
A few tips if you go:
- Trivia is the first Tuesday of the month. Tip your servers well.
- If you don't eat eggs, steer clear of the grilled cheese because it is made with mayonnaise instead of butter.
- The current president has a large picture on the presidential place mat. Â You won't find him with a tiny photo shown next to the last guy. Â So, don't complain your placemat is out of date.
- They serve food, so you can come or lunch or dinner.
- Don't order drinks at the bar and take them to the tables. If you want to sit at the table, order at the table. Otherwise you are screwing the waitstaff.
- Don't sit eating free nachos and popcorn without ordering anything, unless you're the DD for a group.
- The popcorn is vegan.
- The owner often bartends, so you don't have to tip him. Save your tips for the staff. Â No matter where you are, you don't tip the owner.
- Don't puke in the sink. Please use the toilet or garbage.
- Don't accept soft drink refills that you did not order. They are not free.
- You might see celebrities who are in town for performances who are staying at the Mansion.
-They're closed most major holidays, so don't try going there for Presidents Day or 4th of July.
I hesitate to spread the word about Founding Fathers because I ( like most of it's patrons, I presume) like to think of it as my secret spot. This place is a great, solid pub. If your lucky enough to be quizzed by the owner/bar tender with trivia it is even better. The bar is in a cool old building, and the place is filled with all things presidential. The food is solid bar food, and they usually have a good selection of brews.
Review Source:This place rocks! It has a ton of historical memorabilia that adds to the reputation of this as a neighborhood bar with its own distinctive character. This place will get pretty loud on a Friday night, but when I was here the waitress remained super professional when dealing with our huge party of 20+ people. I was impressed.
I ordered a burger, which was cooked perfectly to order (medium-rare) and delicious. I paid, saw some other friends at the bar and left with a great impression of this place. As others have mentioned, they host great trivia as well.
So I can't say anything about the food.. BUT WOW the shots that they have are soo good I can only go their once a year on my birthday!! Because once you have one you want to try them all and boy are they worth trying!! Just make sure you have a DD because there is no way you can walk away after trying them all!! And don't forget to grab your cell phone and purse (I speak from experience). Â OH AND THE BARTENDER!! Ask him for quiz questions!! It really is a fun place, and for your DD they have free popcorn and Nachos!! What more can you ask for??
Review Source:James K. Polk.
That should be the review. The 11th president. A taciturn man, unloved by the majority. He ran on a simple platform. He would annex the land from Mexico. He would force England to give up her holdings on on west coast. He would reform our banking system. After all that, he would choose not to run again, retire, and fade away. A god damned American hero.
The only bar to honor this man is Founding Father's. They share a great deal of similarities. Both are smart. Both are simple in their goals. One has a trivia night on the first Tuesday of the month and free nachos, the other is our 3rd greatest president.
Both are unappreciated.
Both should be loved. One for reshaping our nation, the other for giving us free nachos and a hell of a friendly staff.
Oh, and come the first Tuesday of every month I'm totally going to kick your butt in trivia.
Founding Fathers is a classic pub atmosphere, where noise volumes are low and lights are up - making it a perfect place to have conversations over some free nachos, free popcorn, and a delicious (albeit small) number of draft beers. Â McSorely's, in particular, is a beer I do not often find on tap - making this place a shining star among others.
The bar changes nightly, with different crowds coming in throughout the night. Â I've been there when I'm the only table, when it is packed to the brim (a historically themed bar on election night = shoulder to shoulder, but awesome), and all inbetween. Â On quiet nights, it's perfect for reading and relaxing. Â On busy nights, the noise level never gets too loud, you never have to shout.
Mike, the owner, is a trivia master and will quiz you while you're at the bar. Â The rest of the wait staff are wonderful, each with a lot of personality and all very attentive.
While the food options are limited, especially for vegetarians, I would recommend the Boca Burger - or just going crazy with the free nachos, including black beans, jalepenos, cheese, and salsa.
Was looking for a "new" lunch spot within walking distance from the office, and found this joint online.
I walked in and was promptly and very kindly greeted by the barkeep -who I will venture to guess is also the proprieter... a smiling man with the gift of Trivia knowledge that kept me entertained my entire stay.
My lunch was, in a word: Fantastic - the Philly was *nothing* like I anticipated but so much better.... Â I'm going back to try something different very soon!
The ambience and decor of this place is so special and unique.... I look forward to my next visit - OUTSIDE of working hours.
Feel like I fulfilled some rite of passage by watching the last presidential debate here. Nice crowd that was, except for one obnoxious table in the corner, quite engaged with the debate.
About 8 beers on tap including Southern Tier IPA, Sam Adams Octoberfest, and McSorley's.
Had the Philly Cheese Steak sandwich. It's not the shaved steak you might except, but sirloin tips grilled to perfection.
Bummer that they don't have a fryer - ruffles with your sandwich just isn't the same, though $8 for a really tasty real steak sandwich is a bargain.
Yes there is free food, BUT, the nachos always taste stale and the cheese is super thin. That said, I still eat piles of the stuff when I'm there.
Where to start with Founding Fathers? Well I'm there around 2 or 3 nights a week so that should tell you my opinion of the place.
As the other reviewers say, there is free popcorn and free nachos. The potential nacho toppings are liquid cheese, jalapenos, beans, and salsa.
The beer selection on tap is pretty much always McSorley's, Blue Light, Blue Moon, Southern Tier IPA, Sam Adams Seasonal, and Guinness. The bottled beer list is much more extensive and the bottles are displayed behind the bar. Draft beers are $4 and I think Guinness is $4.50 or $5. Bottle beers I'm not sure. In terms of cocktails, I would guess they are good, I never get them so can't comment on them.
A little tip, the Black and Tan made with McSorley's and Guinness is excellent and only $4.50.
The atmosphere is fantastic there. We typically get a table as there are usually four of us so we don't bother with the bar. The noise level is never such that we can't carry a conversation, and we never need to shout to be heard or lean awkwardly across the table so we can hear one another. We may miss out on the at the bar trivia but the wait staff makes up for that. They are all generally very nice and efficient. We have our favorites since we are always there but all of them do a great job.
The food isn't great that's true. I've rarely gotten food there, and have been happy with it. I'll leave it to you about the food. It isn't so bad that it should turn you away but just don't expect stellar cuisine either.
The monthly trivia night that actually has prizes is every first Tuesday of the month. You'll have to get there early, and fight us for a table, it get's very crowded very fast. Don't expect to win much though, most of the teams are regulars who run away with the main competition. But when it comes down to the "shout out an answer get a prize" round you will have your chance.
Overall great bar, don't go if you're looking for a crazy night out, but I can't think of a better place to spend a Tuesday night with some friends.
It was the Saturday before Halloween and my posse and I were bored with Elmwood (sorry Elmwood, its not you, its the siren call of free nachos and patriotism). So we (meaning I) decided the best way to end the night dressed up as a historical figure was to go to the only place where historiphiles know how to get down, and chow down. We got to Founding Fathers later in the night and were able to snag a table immediately, which is a plus because the posse has been burned with table snagging before. I ordered the turkey and bacon on rye, and it hit the spot with a pile of turkey big enough to make the pilgrims blush, and crispy bacon that upped the yum factor to the max.
Review Source:This is such a fun place for an intellectual crowd. They say trivia night is Tuesdays but every night is trivia night with Mike behind the bar. There are always complimentary nachos and popcorn available and who doesn't love free snacks?! The actual menu is small but I've ordered from it twice with good results. Despite what another reviewer said here about the quality of the burger, I ordered mine medium and received it done perfectly. Perhaps there were different cooks on?
Review Source:This is the best bar in buffalo for the 21-32 crowd. It's very casual and friendly. It's not pretentious as most Delaware/Elmwood places are. It's a great place to start your night or end your night. The bartender/owner is very friendly as long as you're friendly to him.
Oh, did I mention FREE popcorn and nachos!!! Who cares how long it's been in the warmers. It's free and it's awesome. Rest of the menu isn't impressive....you go there for drinks though.
I wish I lived closer to this place.
When I came to this place I was out with one of my friend's father, as he wanted me to try this restaurant out with him because he had a hunch I would like it. First thing I did when I walked in was made myself some Nachos with cheese (it's free!). If you're not a nacho lover, they also offer free popcorn! The place wasn't packed, but it wasn't dead either. To me there was a good sized crowd and the level of noise was medium yet respectful and was around happy hour time after work.
Anyways, everyone that I engaged in conversation with here that evening including the bartenders, were very nice and made you feel welcomed. The beer on tap is nice and cold, which is a rare thing these days in Buffalo, unfortunately. The walls are decorated in presidential memorabilia, sticking with the theme of this great place.
If you want to test your trivia skills then you can do so in one of two ways, ask the bartender which is usually the owner who is a retired history teacher. He will challenge you with different difficult levels of trivia which is a fun time. Since you're drinking and learning a history lesson at the same time, you'll find that the time flies by fairly quickly here The second way is to show up on trivia night which is on the first Tuesday of every month from 7pm - 9pm.
This place is a great place to go and meet a great group of people, order some really good food, and enjoy a nice cold beverage. Stick around and you'll learn a lot of history. Where else in Buffalo can you say you learned something (that has an educational value to it that is) each time you walk into the same restaurant/bar that can stick with you for the foreseeable future? No where, that's where! Cheers!
i think the disparity of the reviews lies on that people who rate this place high, enjoy it for its bar atmosphere. Â it does have cool stuff on the wall and the people there are friendly, but the food is pretty terrible. Â everything is frozen. Â the popcorn tasted stale. Â i have no idea how long the nacho condiments have been sitting out for, i feel that i could have been a health violation. Â
i would go back though, mainly for drinks, but wouldn't eat there again.
One of my favorite bars in Buffalo. Great staff, fantastic atmosphere. Free popcorn to the left, free nachos to the right.
Many folks have mentioned the trivia. I can say I've never partaken in the trivia itself, but on the less busy evenings, I have heard many a discussion on many topics pertaining to American history, most often led by the owner. What is nice is that the conversation fits the bar atmosphere. It's fun. Informative, but never didactic. The passion for the US and its history shows through loud and clear; this is a guy who loves American history and has found a great way to share that passion with the city.
If you're coming for food, it should be noted that the pub doesn't have a fryer. So you won't find fried foods (read: french fries) on the menu. They do serve chips with their burgers and sandwiches, though, so you don't get a bare plate by any means. It's only really a gripe if you REALLY wanted fries with that.
After picking up my friend from the airport we came here for a pint while trying to figure out where we wanted to go to give him his first true Buffalo Wing experience. This bar has a great decor and theme and I can see why it's a local favourite. There is free nachos and popcorn but also a full menu. While the nacho station didn't look that appetizing you can't really complain about free.
I went with a pint of Blue Moon which is generally my go-to beer when I'm in the US since we can't get it in Canada and it's a really darn good beer. While waiting for our drinks we ended up in a conversation about American history. With me being a Canadian and my friend being a Canadian ex-pat it was interesting to try to fill in the holes of what we couldn't remember based on our place-mats of presidents and the various things on the walls.
About half way through our pints the server came back and we hit her up for her opinion of where to go for wings. She gave us the answers for where tourists go and where locals hide out. We grilled her a little more on each and decided to go the tourist route. She was really quite helpful.
Free nacho heaven!!!!! I love this place, from the great, low-cost food, free snacks, and strong cheap drinks to the friendly, prompt service and funky themed decor. Such a great hole-in-the-wall-but-not-scary-or-crusty Buffalo staple. One of my favorite places to get a little sloppy *ahem* and have a pig out session with my boys.
Check out their portabello mushroom or buffalo chicken sammies, tortellini salad and rotating specials. Great, relaxed place to come early for food or hit up later when the bar is CRAZY to get drinks. A cool, mixed crowd. No dude-bro action like Chippewa but less hipster than the west end of Allen.
This is a bar only review. I ate no food, but the free food. And yes, they really do have free food.
I had heard great things about this place. When we first walked in, it was a bit early in the evening, and we were surrounded by disappointment. The place was pretty empty. I was too timid to ask about the free nachos and popcorn. And the server, although sweet, was not what I had heard about.
But then, oh man and then, the owner/server/trivia master showed up, and the fun began. The place is covered in presidential pics and memorabilia, but to me this place didn't shine until I was getting trivia fired at me every few minutes. I loved it. And then after watching the regulars serve themselves nachos and popcorn, I had the (liquid) courage to do the same. The drinks were reasonable $4 beers & $5/6 for bottom tier (non-well) liquors. I can't wait to take out of town guests here, but I will definitely only come when the trivia man is working since he makes the place awesome.
If ever there was a bar that I wish I could take with me to whatever city I may be in, Founding Fathers is it. The place has a great atmosphere, tiny, but not too cramped, awesomely unique decor, and overall is just one of the most comfortable bars you've ever walked into.
I have a love affair with fake cheese, and they offer free nachos with plenty of it!! As well as peppers, salsa, and beans. Free popcorn, too. The most tasty chicken ceasar salad I've ever had was at FF, and their burgers aren't too bad either.
The staff is great as well. The owner hosts trivia night the first Tuesday of every month (which I witnessed once, and let me tell you, that was a hardcore group to compete with), and on any other given night if he is working he will practice by asking patrons questions. I felt especially smart one night when I got four answers correct in a row.
The drinks are not pricey, and they are not weak. The perfect balance.
This has become my new favorite place to sit on a bar stool and drink whiskey.
Remember me? Yeah, I was that nerdy girl in elementary school who memorized all the state capitals. I grew up on "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego" and afternoon "Jeopardy" with my grandparents. I still enjoy listening to NPR specials on esoteric episodes in Civil War history as I drive down the 33. And boy, do I love free nachos and beer.
Thus, Founding Fathers is one of my favorite watering holes. Where else in Buffalo can you arrange yo'self a platter of free nachos with gooey fake cheese and peppers, belly up to the bar and order a McSorley's, and talk U.S. History with the owner/bartender?
A former teacher, this guy is constantly quizzing the bar patrons: which President came before Lincoln? Of what country is Caracas the capital? And when he stumps you, he sidles over to the other end of the bar and says loudly, "Uh, the remedial side of the room needs a little help. Does anyone know the answer?"
Of course, there's no prize to win, other than your pride. But for millenials like me, that's enough to keep us at the bar, buying beers and trying to use our increasingly impaired logic to figure it out. The non-free food's pretty good too: the Blue Balls (meatballs with bleu cheese) are a pretty awesome Buffalo-style appetizer, and the Blackened Bleu chicken sandwich (spicy and doused similarly in stinky cheese) is bomb too. Bonus points for the Presidential place mat that comes with each one (It helps you with the questions).
Spend enough time here, and you might even start firing off your own questions, like "Which state consumes the highest amount of green Jell-O?" (Utah, for the record.)
If I ever move away from Buffalo, I will miss only two bars. Â The Pink and Founding Fathers. Â Not only does Founding Fathers have a great location (the decorations are worth a trip alone), a great crowd (college kids who don't like doing shots) but they have the most entertaining bartender in Buffalo and a great burger. Â Not to mention free popcorn and nachos with cheese and chili. Â Sure it's nothing special but when you've had a couple drinks, they taste amazing and did I mention its FREE?
If it's a slower night, Mike will ask you trivia questions spanning all of US History and perhaps dance behind the bar and even throw your drink in the air. Â Their beer selection isn't anything special (a couple seasonals, McSorely's always on tap) but they have some interesting drinks for the ladies (a S'mores shot). Â
If you plan on sitting at a table, don't place an order at the bar since the waitress usually keeps track of your tab. Â If you are looking for a chill night, this is hands down the place to go.
Just a quick little review to toss in my two cents in to the pot.
I've been here so many times, and who hasn't? It's a great little bar to get away from the hipster crowd now and then. Everyone loves the free nachos and popcorn. Drink prices are very reasonable. Service is usually on point. The crowd is unpretentious. And the decor is arguably the best in Buffalo. The only interior that comes close to being as cool as FF is the "dog wall" at the Chophouse. That's the bar portion.
As so many have said, the food is terrible. And I hate to say it, because I really like FF, but I've never had good food there. Last night I had a special which was the pepperjack jerk burger. Portion size was good, but the burger was charred so bad on the outside that it tasted bitter and ashy. The inside was pretty rare, which I was fine with. But there was no balance. There was no taste even hinting of jerk. It could of been a good burger if it were cooked properly and was seasoned better. But like every thing I've ordered from FF it was just shy of being a good meal. It takes the same amount of effort to cook it wrong, so why not cook it right?
In the end, we reported our findings to the waiter and we went away with full, unsatisfied bellies. All for under $25, considering we had two drinks and free apps. Not a bad deal. In the end...bad food, good bar.
I should say I like the idea of free-flowing popcorn and nachos. It makes you drink more. With the interesting historic-inspired decor, it definitely is an awesome place to bring some friends over, pull together a couple of tables, and enjoy an evening of beer.
That being said, I suggest staying away from the food. I ordered an Independence Burger, and when I asked how I like it, I said I wanted it medium-rare (I'm a fan of pink). But it came out charred, so well-done, quite tough, and honestly, bitter to the taste. For the price, I have had better burgers elsewhere. My food was definitely not worth it. Overall, I suggest coming here just for the drinks, and have dinner elsewhere.
Okay, I love Founding Fathers, as a bar. The food is terrible! Keep in mind, the person who serves you is most likely the person cooking your food, so I guess is could vary. I had a simple Caesar Salad and it was soggy and I'm pretty sure the chicken component was some sort of rubbery meat bi- product.
The bar is a great place to enjoy seasonal beer. They have a medium sized selection of craft brews. Bartender, owner Mike is sure to entertain with playful anecdotes and history trivia. Founding Fathers has a laid back environment that has earned it the title of Buffalo staple.
I went here for the first time on Monday. It was absolutely great and I am recommending the bar to my friends. The owner of the bar is fantastic and the bar tenders are really friendly (and are not shy with making drinks strong!).
Not only will you have a great time here but you'll probably learn something too. Be sure to sit at the bar and ask the owner for some trivia questions.
Definitely will come back.
My first ever time here was just last week. Â It's a super-fun place that was dead at 10pm but got really busy as we were leaving at 1am. Â Gotta love Buffalo!
Free snacks, friendly service, and presidential decor makes this place a win. Â Check out the horseshoes-in-cement on the outside entrance stoop.
Founding Fathers is - without a doubt - my favorite bar in Buffalo. Â I always make it a point to hang out with my friends here when I visit home. Â There's a pretty wide beer selection, and the food is great - delicious burgers!
I'm sure that part of my allegiance is that we came here almost every Thursday in college, but It's definitely more than that. Â It's Mike, the best bartender with the most American history knowledge around. Â It's the friendly waiters (who you get to know pretty well over the years). Â It's the decor (AMERICA!). Â It's the free nachos and popcorn. Â And it's its location on Edward (away from all the other crazy bars). Â Honestly, I could go here every night and be happy.
Definitely a great bar for the professional and semi-professional scene in the Buff. Â I haven't noticed the hipster quotient...but my bar for hipster is WAY higher than most, so if someone is sort of quasi-hip in a not terribly ironic way? Â Meh.
So, um. Â They have free nachos. Â With the fake melty cheese and jalapeno peppers that make you poop for weeks. Â OMFG, did I just type that? Â Free popcorn too! Â The drinks are good and strong and cheap and they have the requisite sambuca shots.
One of my favorite hidden bars in America. Great historic atmosphere and a great bar owner who knows how to make a drink. I have gone years without going into the bar and Mike always remembers my name. Kind of shocking really, in a world were we all use psuedonyms and communicate via this inter-web.
Great greasy bar food perfect for late at night and good stiff drinks. The kind that put hair on your chest. So be careful ladies.
Founding Father's, the site of my mis-spent 20's. Â Â Mike Driscoll opened this bar back in 1985 and it became a staple for me and my co-workers on the second day it was open. Â Â We all went back last night for a mini-company reunion and it was like walking back into 1985 - the place looks exactly the same! Â Â Â Same presidents plus a few, a few more flags but still fantastic.
As one of the other reviewers noted, Mike will do trivia with you all night but be warned, he's very good and he'll be the sober one so don't put any money on the game!
I hadn't been here in a very long time and I'd forgotten how much I loved hanging out here. Â Â Will definitely try to make it back soon!
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