I would say my experience was more of 2.5 stars.
We came here with a living social voucher for a free dinner for two, including two entrees, an appetizer, and two glasses of wine. The restaurant is very cute on the outside and the interior looks like you're dining in someone's home with a bar on one side, some couches in some areas, and small dining tables in other areas. We were there on a Thursday night when they had live music, so that was enjoyable!
I'm no wine connoisseur, but there were four full pages of different types of wines to choose from so at least there is a wide, extensive wine selection. Three of those pages you would have to order by the bottle and one page you can order either by glass or bottle. I love my sweet wine, so I ordered my typical moscato-- Delicious!
For the appetizer, we decided on their highly-acclaimed Mediterranean nachos, a great twist and combination of  feta cheese, artichoke hearts, olives, and hummus over their pita chips and salsa on the side. Really good! If you were to come here to eat, I would suggest getting the Mediterranean nachos.
However, I would just stick to ordering just wine and caution when ordering the entrees. The Mediterranean nachos were great, but we ordered the lobster mac n' cheese and the ahi tuna salad, both of which were disappointing. Lobster mac n' cheese was fairly bland and requires maybe a sharper or some different type of cheese. Ahi tuna salad was alright, but I've had better.
Tiramisu is also something worth trying if you're already dining here. I would come for the wine but most likely not for the dine.
Parings has been on my "wanna try" list for a little while now and I was excited that we decided to stop in for a glass of wine. Â
Some restaurant decors are very linear and others more freestyle. Â For me it matters not if you prefer Frank Lloyd Wright or Diego Rivera - as long as it's comfortable and it looks good. Â I liked the intimate two-tops placed throughout Parings but didn't like feeling a bit lost when I entered and had to find my way to the hostess for seating.
We were seated at a table by the window and had a nicely attentive server. Â After deciding on our wine selection (she a Gewurztraminer blend from Chile and me a Garnacha from Spain) we ordered some light selections from the menu. Â
Sometimes the weather in WNY lives up to the name "The Niagara Frontier". Â And right now it's in the single-digits outside our window and I'm keeping my wine glass warm next to the candle on the table. Â My forearm touches down on the tableware and wow - like ice! Â I put my hand closer to the window and could feel a wall of cold and - after lifting back the curtain - saw the single-pane, steel casement window and felt, even more, the biting cold outside. Â I'm uncomfortable. Â The cold feeling is stealing away part of that warm and comfortable wine bar experience I came here to enjoy. Â Â Â
Parings, much like Sample and the seasonal Della Mostra by Mulberry, deliver smaller portions that give the diner the opportunity to experience a wider spectrum of flavor and texture across a broader menu (if they desire). Â But whether you're using a 20 inch charger to showcase a humongous, elaborate dish or 5 inch tapas plates - you still have to put in the effort. Â The dish still has to taste good; so as not to disappoint - and taste great if you want return customers. Â Sadly, I was underwhelmed with the singular noted soup and the uninspiring sampler plate. Â
I always ask myself: Was today an off day? Â Did all the staff show up? Â Did the inventory arrive? Â Was there a reason for the lack of inspiration, the low quality or shallow flavor profile in our meal? Â Why weren't we offered water (I would have declined but it should have been offered). Â Why was there a really cheesy wine coaster, t-shirt, wine charms sale display in the middle of the restaurant? Â It reminded me of a postcard rack at a Midwestern diner. Â Is there a plan to expand parking (perhaps there isn't a need for the circular driveway out front)?
Alphonso - if you read this - very nice wine list. Â I really enjoyed my selection.
Scott - if you haven't moved on - there should be as much quality and depth of flavor in a paring as in any meal you put forth.
Sheila - Â If you really do care. Â This is WNY and we welcome ALL things food. Â But we want to feel like you want us at your table.
I've been here many times for a glass of wine on the (beautiful!) patio in the summer. Heck, I live so close that if I have more than one (or two) I can easily walk home. Tonight, however, was the first time that I've ventured into the restaurant for a bite to eat.
It's kind of quirky in there. Â I realize that it was a house back in the day... and "Mill Medical" before it was a wine bar... but the redo of the space is kind of awkward. Â And the decor (although recently done) appears dated.
The menu has many, many choices of wines by the bottle, quite a few choices by the glass, and lots of specialty martinis. Â There are also small plates, entrees, salads, paninis, and flat-bread pizzas. Â
After sipping our wine and perusing the menu the two of us shared a bowl of the soup-of-the-day, a butternut squash and apple bisque. It sounds good, right? It looked good all garnished with a piece of toasted baguette topped with apple slices floating on top.  The first spoonful was pretty good, but then it quickly became boring. It tasted like little  more than a roux blended with (canned!!) chicken broth, apple juice, cream, and a hint of squash.  It had no texture and no layering of flavors.  And, it wasn't spiced at all.  Bland and blah!
Next we shared the "Italian Sampler" - garlic orange roasted olives, cheese, cured meat, and artichoke hearts. Â There were also a few slices of toasted baguette. Â It looked pretty nice... but nothing on that platter tasted very good. Â Seriously, we left more than half of it uneaten. Â The olives tasted like they were right off the olive bar at a supermarket and topped with orange marmalade and chili pepper flakes and then heated (yuck!) in the microwave. Â The artichokes were right out of a can. Â The meats were pepperoni slices and prosciutto (or was it ham?), and the cheese was two types of provolone (plain and herbed). Yuck! Â Seriously... that's the best cheese you're going to get in a wine bar?
The other odd thing about this place is that it's called "Parings", but no suggested wine pairings are listed on the menu. Â In my opinion a place like this should have fewer food choices. Â All of them should be top notch. Â And, all of them should come with suggested pairings. Until that happens, when (or if) I come back it will be ONLY for the wine.
We live in Cheektowaga, about a mile from Main St., Williamsville and have always wanted to stop by Parings, since it was so close to our house.
Luckily, My girlfriend and I met her coworker and her boyfriend out at the place, the other night. I liked what I saw and what I drank/ate, albeit with a few caveats.
We went on a Friday night, around 6:50. To our surprise, we got right in, without a need for a reservation. The bar staff (Two guys) were very friendly, jovial and courteous. They recommended a good sweet wine for myself, and a dry for my girlfriend.
Until 7PM, they run a happy hour special, with 1/2-off martinis and $20 bottles. We tried to partake, but were (very kindly) denied...even though at the time it was only 6:58, technically not 7. No biggie, but still.
Once the other couple arrived, we were taken to our table....which was located on the wall directly adjacent to the Men's Room. I found this pretty jarring, since there were plenty of open tables at the time. Â I (and the boyfriend of my girlfriend's coworker) would have sat on the side in front of the door. Not wanting to juggle the scent of wine/food with piss/fecal matter, we immediately relocated to a window table.
Doing this actually seemed to irritate our waitress, somewhat. It was as if she were personally insulted that we didn't want to dine next to a room where urinal cakes were surely in use. To get things out of the way, our waitress was pretty rude and inattentive, constantly walking away before we could ask a question. She only showed up to see if we wanted more wine and dessert.
Now that the bad is out of the way...onto the good. The wine selection was long and varied. Since the happy hour special was over, my girlfriend and I split one of the cheaper bottles, which was pretty good (dry/sweet balance).
In regards to food, the dinner menu is pretty concise and somewhat "Trendy." Items from the small plates/appetizers, panini, and entree sections were all appealing.
An earlier reviewer said the calamari was horrible. I agree and disagree with her. I was slightly disappointed that the calamari was of the "onion ring" variety (and not homemade, such as places like Left Bank), I was pleasantly surprised by the taste/texture of the appetizer. Although I've definitely had superior calamari dishes in the Buffalo area, the dish offered by Parings was not that bad, at all.
We all ordered from the panini menu. I personally ordered the turkey/bacon/cheddar panini. It came with sweet mayo which was downright delicious. On the side were tricolor chips (homemade, according to the menu). These were basically pita chips, lightly fried. While different, they were tasty. The paninis my girlfriend and the other couple ordered looked pretty good, as well.
All in all, I'd definitely visit Parings again. This time, I'll be sure to visit well within the confines of Happy Hour to exploit their 1/2-off martinis (which were pretty extensive, although not as extensive as Chocolate Bar).
I've been to Parings a few times but have never had a full meal, so this is a review based on those experiences!
My first visit was during Restaurant week in the year they opened. We opted for the cheese platter and bottle of wine special, because if you know me, you know I love a good stinky cheese. being a wine bar, i assumed I was going to receive some cheese that was chosen to be paired with the wine we chose... nope! It was a platter of mild cheddar cheese cubes and a messy pile of greasy, sweating pepperoni. Like, the appetizer you served at your first dorm room Superbowl party. Disappointing.
My visits thereafter were better - generally to see some live music (the Steve Balesteri band used to play there pretty often) or grab a drink with a friend. I was too disappointed in the aforementioned visit to venture into the menu, but the atmosphere is great and it's always a friendly crowd.
This was my second experience at Pairings. The first experience was terrific . It was quiet and the food and service was good. Â Our last experience was less than ideal. The service, once we ordered on a less than busy night, Â took over an hour. When I went to the bar to ask to speak to the owner, I was told she was busy, even though I could see her standing in the kitchen. She never came out to explain the problem. I found that not only unprofessional but rude. There are plenty of fine restaurants in Western NY and this is one we will not be back to because of the uncaring owner.
Review Source:Good wine, good food. Â But it only gets 3 stars because the menu isn't very exciting. Â Their entree list consists of 6 seafood selections, a beef, a pork & a chicken. Â YAWN. Â Don't get me wrong, everything I tasted (stuffed mushrooms, friend's fried calamari, friend's scallops, mahi mahi) was of good quality. Â But nothing was exciting. Â The rice pilaf that came with the mahi mahi was a bit bland. Â Sampled friends' desserts & all were good but again - nothing special.
Also, the bartender had no idea how to help me select wine. Â I asked if the Lagler Gruner Veltliner Federspiel Burgberg, Austria, 2010 was dry or sweet & he had no idea - said it was new. Â Gave me a taste - it's tart & too dry fo rme. Â I opted for the reisling, which was fine, but I found it odd that the bartender at a WINE BAR had little info.
Love the concept. Â I will admit, I only peaked in, and turned around because it was packed! Â But I was looking for a place to go with some friends, and this seems to be a good place to try. Â The menu looked great and the people I talked to said that the food was Yum, Yum, Yummy! Â
Being that I am originally from San Francisco, and my Father lives in Napa, I am very spoiled, OK snobby, about wine, but the selection here was great and affordable. Â I can't wait to make it a night out!
Nice ambiance and good scallops, but how dare you serve up Cheeto-shaped freezer section calamari as though it were prepared in-house? Absolutely unacceptable, especially in Buffalo! Take it off the menu if you can't make it fresh and from scratch!! For $10+ we expect far better than this in Buffalo.
Review Source:The concept is awesome. Â I love wine bars in the 'burbs! Â Something that Amherst has been lacking for some time. Â However, I can see this place turning quickly into a Frog Hair aka overrun with the social lites, however in the mean time you should definitely go to visit!
 A former dentist office, the front looks like a grand southern mansion, but the inside is way too packed.  Using only half of the downstairs, they tried to seat as many as possible, in my opinion there are a few too many tables.  It made it uncomfortably close and awkward to talk in.  The ambience is great though as we went during the week but I've heard the weekends gets packed.
 They serve food from apps to entrees, and it looked tasty however we just came for after-dinner drinks.  They had only a page of by the glass wine with good descriptions however none were from NYS, definitely disappointing. (Considering we have some of the best US wines in our backyard!)  They had 3 pages of by bottle wine, ranging from about $25-$160!!  My two reds that I ordered were great and reasonable at $8 a glass.
Sam, the bartender, almost made this experience a 5 star'er. Â You can tell this cat likes to flirt with all the women that walk thru the door. Smoozin' with them all. Â But he was tending several tables and the bar, he was making his money that day! Â He also introduced us to the world of japanese flavored kit-kats?!!?! Â Yeah, cheese flavored, go figure!
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