10 Best Local Restaurants in Buffalo

Anchor Bar is inarguably one of the most iconic spots in Buffalo, NY, and is famous for its Buffalo wings, with people making pilgrimages to the city just to sample them. This spot is the place where the Buffalo wing was invented on a Friday night in 1964, and today, more than 50 years later, it's still the center of Buffalo's restaurant scene and world-renowned. If you're visiting Buffalo and you don't try the original Buffalo wing, you're cheating yourself out of a special dining experience.

It's not all about wings, though. This is a bar and family-friendly restaurant with a fine draft list, good cocktails and spirits, and a full menu of bar food staples, all quality eats right downtown.

Gabriel's Gate Restaurant is in one of the original Tift Row Houses and today still maintains an antique feel while serving up classic American fare in an exposed-wood décor. This is a restaurant that pays homage to the colonial days of North America while offering comfort food from straight-up burgers to wings to sandwiches and melts. The décor is softly lit with wood tables and wood on the walls and pays homage to the lives of settlers and Native Americans many hundreds of years ago.

This casual family eatery promises 2 things: a memorable outing and a delicious meal. It's located right in the heart of downtown Buffalo.

Fat Bob's Smokehouse is just over 20 years old but is already an award-winning staple of the local barbecue scene with mouth-watering meats smoked and served in casual surroundings. You can enjoy a broad selection of local craft beers on tap to pair with your ribs and chicken, a solid range of fine meats with house-made Southern-style sides, and service that's both joyous and welcoming. Naturally, the St. Louis pork ribs are the must-try menu highlight, but you can check out a range of other options including the Friday Bob's Fish Fry.

This restaurant has been serving up delectable Southern barbecue since 1999. It's a family-friendly establishment in the heart of downtown Buffalo.

Buffalo Riverworks is a full-feature family entertainment and adventure center with adventure sports, rope courses, and of course, a fantastic family restaurant right on site. Your options for dining here include the Ward Restaurant, a casual dining establishment with indoor/outdoor seating that runs across the complex right up to the base of the Riverworks Brewing Company, the world's first silo brewery. The menu here includes a selection of craft brews from the brewery as well as dishes like tater tot poutine, fried calamari, giant soft pretzels, buffalo cauliflower, a selection of burgers, build your own pizza, and a fish fry.

This one has something for everyone and the venue is family-friendly overall. It's about 10 minutes south of downtown.

Betty's restaurant is a newer entry to the Buffalo foodie scene, but this eclectic spot offers casual global cuisine in welcoming and vibrant surroundings for every meal of the day. The fusion cuisine here is inspired by culinary traditions from all over the world and the vibe is cozy and eclectic with the walls decorated by the works of hot and up-and-coming local artists. A breakfast highlight is the Luv Sandwich with Canadian bacon, cream cheese, and pickled onions. Later, try the black beans & rice with cheddar jack and grilled cornbread.

Pricing here is moderate, making it a solid spot to bring the family for a good meal that's something a bit different. It's in the heart of downtown.

Buffalo Chophouse offers an upscale, romantic vibe with outstanding surf and turf where everything is fresh and the options are endless served in luxurious, relaxed surroundings. The restaurant's feel combines rich red curtains and seats with crisp white linens and dim mood lighting for a truly upscale sense. The food menu has something for just about everyone, from lobster bisque to prime cuts of steak, tuna tartare, seared scallops, crab cakes, and seemingly endless other options.

While most don’t go to a steakhouse looking for vegetarian options, you can get things like broccoli crowns, mac & cheese, grilled asparagus, and the like in large portions. It's right in central downtown.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is an eat-in and delivery barbecue joint in the heart of the downtown theater district in a historic film vault location with plenty of delicious menu options. The building in which the restaurant is located was once a movie storage vault for Universal International Pictures in the golden age of film. Today, it's a new entry to the local dining scene offering classics like fried green tomatoes, BBQ sliders, chicken wings, shrimp boil, deviled eggs, poutine, pork ribs, pulled pork, chicken, and a wide range of other barbeque staples.

This is down-home Southern-style comfort food at its finest with good prices. It's also dog-friendly, so don't worry about bringing your four-legged friend with you.

Sophia's Restaurant is a family-owned and operated restaurant entering its second generation as part of the local foodie scene serving up Greek specials and homemade American diner standards. If you're looking for a classic "greasy spoon" style diner, this one has just what you're looking for, from fried bologna sandwiches to open-faced steak, to souvlaki and many other menu offerings. Breakfast includes such entries as rice pudding and apple cinnamon walnut pancakes. The Food Channel gives this one five stars, with one reviewer calling it "Buffalo's best-kept secret."

The combination of food, a buzzing local crowd, and ultra-friendly service where they treat you like family makes this one hit home every time. It's only 10 minutes north of downtown.

Big Ditch Brewing Company opened its doors in 2014 and has now become one of the most popular taprooms and brewpubs in Buffalo with great beer and fantastic casual dining. The crowd here is vibrant and friendly and the beer selection is off the hook, with just about every style you can imagine. When it comes to the food, you can have the expected bar eats, including a vegan-friendly fresh grilled veggie wrap, or more unique offerings like the Sunday brunch pancake lasagna.

Like many brewpubs, the décor is industrial chic and the vibe is straight-up chill. Big Ditch is in the heart of downtown so you can walk back to your hotel after having a few.

Pearl Street Grill & Brewery is a fun, laid-back, and vibrant brewpub in a historic building offering award-winning food and a broad selection of signature craft beers. This one has plenty of space with multiple indoor levels for seating and tons of outdoor patio space. It's a popular spot to gather before shows and sporting events. Menu highlights include the Buffalo Blue Burger, pizzas, and chicken quesadillas, plus chicken wings, giant pretzels, beer cheese soup, a fantastic Reuben, and a sausage sandwich as well as a selection of burgers.

For something a bit more robust, go for the beer-braised pot roast, the fish fry, or the 8 oz. sirloin steak. It's straight-up no-frills delicious American dining in downtown.