Where to eat / Restaurant reviews in brief
Following are some restaurants visited by News restaurant reviewers. New restaurant reviews generally appear the first Sunday of every month in Niagara Weekend.
Yai-Yia’s Diner ★★★½ 6124 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls. Offers “The best breakfast value in the city,” according to our Niagara restaurant reviewer. It’s also open for lunch Sunday to Tuesday, and for lunch and dinner the rest of the week. Think comfort food that tastes good, at a reasonable price.
Carson’s Country Deli and Bakery ★★★★ 5668 Old Saunders Settlement Road, Town of Lockport (433-2248) If you’re looking for top-notch beef-on-weck and homemade meatloaf, you can get both at Carson’s. Our restaurant reviewer declares the beef-on-weck here is the best he’s had in the area.
Murphy’s Cafe on Third ★★★½ 250 Rainbow Blvd., at Third Street, Niagara Falls (205-8341) One of the newest restaurants in the Falls is worth seeking out inside the Jefferson Apartments. Gourmet coffee, solid breakfast fare and great lunchtime wraps and sandwiches should soon make this a city staple.
Ridge Family Restaurant and Tavern ★★½ 4494 Ridge Road, Cambria (433-9741) This is a good place to go for comfort food, especially the cabbage rolls, and especially if you’re a grown-up. The restaurant sits alongside the tavern part of the establishment and colorful language filters into the dining area.
Bandana’s Bar and Grill ★★★½ 930 Lake Road, Youngstown (745-1010) The place is pretty standard looks-wise, except that there are a lot of pictures on the walls of stars sporting bandannas. The food is a solid, the portions more than ample, and the prices quite reasonable.
The Meeting Place Restaurant and Lounge ★★½ 2469 Niagara Road, Bergholz (731-3662). Some of the meals can be hit or miss, although our restaurant contingent loved the fish dishes. Something all agree on, however, is that the restaurant’s specialty dessert, “Pizzookie” is worth a visit all on its own.
The Silo ★★★½ 115 N. Water St., Lewiston (754-9680). This spot, overlooking the Niagara River, is reopened for the season and may have the best view of any restaurant on the Niagara Frontier. It certainly has one of the top signature sandwiches, the Haystack: a concoction of thinly sliced ribeye steak topped with melted mozzarella, slathered with crispy shredded hash browns and stuffed in a sub roll.
Sandi’s Family Restaurant
★★★ 2065 River Road, at Williams Road, Wheatfield (283-5257). Wheatfield residents may never see a Land of Oz theme park in their midst but this town staple can be counted on to provide good quality, affordable food. Try the apple pie a la mode French toast and understand— there’s no place like (near) home.
Wine on Third ★★★★ 501 Third St., Niagara Falls (285-9463). This upscale spot, with reasonable prices, sticks out in the Falls bar district for it tantalizing food and beverage of choice. Worth the change of Third Street pace.
The Nook ★★★ Young Street and Lake Avenue, Wilson (751-6388). A nice side stop for breakfast or lunch, this place offers sound fare on a menu that tops out at $8. Try the Eggs Benedict.
Steelhead Irish Pub ★★★½ 453 Center St., Lewiston (754-8181). This spot offers a slice of the Emerald Isle, whether it be with its music, decor or food selection. Great for a sandwich or heartier fare, and don’t forget to try the Dublin Stout Onion Soup.
Brickyard Pub and BBQ ★★★★ 432 Center St., Lewiston (754-7227). The restaurant has become the staple of the blues and barbecue set, with ribs, chicken and brisket to die for. This place smokes.
Shorty’s Ultimate Sports Bar and Grill ★★½ 2626 Pine Ave., Niagara Falls (205-0378). Former Gov. Eliot L. Spitzer made calls from this establishment to a high-priced call girl ring that helped seal his political downfall. The bar sells “Client No. 9” T-shirts— and also makes a pretty good burger.
Pyung Taik Housez420 Niagara St., Niagara Falls (285-8529). This Korean Restaurant has a limited menu that is a delight to the tastebuds, even when we’re talking about dishes like barbecued eel.
Eddie Jay’s Family Restaurant ★★★½ 8881 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls (236-0730). Whether you sit on chairs or high stools, your bound to enjoy the homemade soups and other fare in this spot along the Little Niagara River.
Salisa’s All American Diner ★★★½ 2214 Niagara Falls Blvd., Wheatfield, (731-5616). Top-notch sandwiches and daring menu items like stuffed sweet pepper soup underline the notion that sometimes it’s good to be cheap. This place spares the expense.
Lighthouse Grill-n-Spirits ★★★ 5885 E. Main St., Olcott (778-5580). Nestled in a waterfront hamlet near a lighthouse, of course, this spot offers a simple, satisfying menu anytime of year.
Suzanne’s Fine Dining ★★★½ 2843 Niagara Falls Blvd., Wheatfield (694-6562). This friendly place pulls off elegance without excessive stuffiness, and the prices are reasonable considering the fine quality of the food.
Country Roadhouse ★★★½ 2989 Ridge Road, Ransomville (791-4316). This affordable restaurant is worth hunting for and includes such hearty fare as Hungry Man Platters and the Roadhouse Omelet. Closed Mondays.
Old Falls Sports Bar and Grill ★★★ 300 Third St., Niagara Falls (285-3361). Soup, sandwiches and plenty of sports are on the menu at this plush new hot spot in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, and there are beer specials during Buffalo football and hockey games.
Serafim’s Greek American Cuisine ★★½ 2298 River Road, Wheatfield (743-5477) This is a small, plain place with a similar attitude. They’re not trying to be world-beaters. They just do a lot with what they’ve got.
China Garden ★★★½ 722 Portage Road, Niagara Falls (282-8100). This Asian restaurant has given a nod to American cuisine, including knocking down the spice that comes with some Chinese food. Jumbo shrimp and steak kew are among the tastier dishes.
Tuscana Ristorante ★★★½ 515 S. Transit Road, Lockport (434-6151). The chef doesn’t skimp on garlic in this Italian-style eating spot, located poolside in the Lockport Holiday Inn. Create-your-own pasta was our reviewer’s recommended menu choice.
Hideaway Grille ★★★½ 399 Division St., North Tonawanda (694-2710). The sweet potatoes alone are worth the search for this indoor/outdoor establishment, which specializes in ribs and offers nightly specials at a reasonable price.
La Cascata ★★★½ 310 Fourth St., Niagara Falls (877) 873-6322. The service and understated decor in this Italian restaurant in the Seneca Niagara Casino&Hotel will make you feel at home. The food will make you feel like you’re in a fine restaurant. You’ll be glad you ordered dessert.
Tina’s Place ★★½ 5835 Buffalo St., Sanborn (731-2444). One of few dining options in Sanborn, this breakfast and lunch spot also serves dinner on Fridays. Pancakes, omelettes and French toast are on the menu. Nothing fancy that’s going to break the budget.
Koi ★★★½ 310 Fourth St., Niagara Falls (877) 873-6322. This Pan-Asian restaurant in the Seneca Niagara Casino&Hotel, which means “brocaded carp” in Japanese, presents an ambitious menu, including Malaysian satays, Japanese sushi and sashimi, Hong Kong-style dim sum and traditional Szechuan and Hunan-style Chinese dishes. A couple can easily enjoy a luxurious dinner with appetizers and dessert for less than $80—if they don’t go wild on the sake.
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