City December 24, 2008 9:21 AM

Holiday Wish... No, it's not an iPod

Holiday Wish... No, it’s not an iPod
Over the last couple of years, I've heard nothing but positive things regarding Pizza Plant Italian Pub. Beer lovers have praised the beer offerings. Pizza lovers have raved about the pizza pods. I've even heard vegetarians talk about the vegetarian and vegan options. That's why I finally had to get check it out for myself yesterday. I wanted to see first hand what fans of Pizza Plant were talking about.

Upon stopping in for lunch, I immediately knew why the city needs a Pizza Plant of its own - it's super family friendly while being a fun hangout for college students at the same time. While we waited for our pods to arrive we found ourselves talking about urban lunchtime spots that attract a similar crowd... and nothing came to mind. Of course there are some amazing lunch spots in the city that attract a bustling clientele (like the two Globe Markets), but when it comes to a pub-like atmosphere where you grab a booth and hang with friends and family, the city could certainly benefit from a homegrown business such as this (current locations are Walker Center and Transit Road).

I hear that Pizza Plant will soon be looking to open up a third location. From what I understand, that location might be in Orchard Park. If that is the case, then business is doing well. Hopefully, as the business grows, the city might one day land one as well. I believe that the pub would become a destination for the city's college students, and the pizza pod business would attract thousands of families that are really in need of a kid-friendly pizza joint. So that's my wish for the holidays - please consider opening a Pizza Plant somewhere in the city of Buffalo! 
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This place is solid. Food is consistently good and they have a great selection of beers. Like you say, it's very family friendly. It's one of the places we've frequented since having a child. Would love to have a location in the city.

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I love Pizza Plant. I wish I was there to see Queenseyes in the Suburbs. Hahah like a Vampire in the Sun!

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Two words: Cask Ale

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Is it privately owned? A franchise? Maybe an urban entrepreneur can make this happen?

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pizza plant rules so much. i grew up close to the transit road location and ate there many time, never having a bad experience.

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I agree the beer selection and the variety of offerings are pretty large, however their Pizza is very average at best.

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Being vegetarian myself I can tell you first hand that their selection of vegetarian items is outstanding and if you want to change things up a bit they have no problems accommodating your requests. My wife and I have eaten here plenty of times and have never had a bad experience. I think it would be great to have a Pizza Plant in the city and it would do very well. I would think that if they opened one up in the Southtowns they would do good as well.

If you have never eaten here you definitely have to in the near future!

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Great pizza, would be awesome to have one in the city. Try Bob and Johns on Hertel Ave for a kid friendly pizza place.

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While you're waiting for the City restaurant you can always get it delivered by take out taxi!

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I agree. I would probably go to Pizza Plant if it were located in The City.

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I grew up near the one on transit, and remember the one (and formally only in the area) that used to be on Sheridan Dr. (now My Tomato Pie)... Always loved this place and have never understood why they didn't have at least one in the city. Certainly one in the EV would be successful, and I'll bet if they opened one on Main St. downtown just for lunch service, and maybe before and after Sabres games it would do well too, particularly if it delivered to the offices downtown... Perhaps it should be one of the restaurants tenants to go after in the new Canalside project?

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Why does it have to be inside the City Limits? The Pizza Plant on Main Street is not that far from the City Line, it is easily accessible by metro, bike, and car. What is the drive to move viable businesses from other areas of WNY inside the city limits? Whatever happened to our push for regionalism and seeing WNY as a whole instead of separate towns, villages, and cities?

I love Pizza Plant and would love to have a location right near my house, but there is something to be said for making the trip to Williamsville to enjoy it. I typically stop in to the Stereo Advantage and a couple other stores in the Walker Plaza while I am there. This is no different than stopping in to the various shops on Elmwood when I go there for lunch or dinner. Sometimes we need to maintain the unique feel of a restaurant, and that includes the location.

I know it drives a lot of the city cheerleaders crazy to think that there is something unique or non-sterile about the much maligned suburbs, but there are many stores and restaurants in East Aurora, Amherst, Orchard Park, Clarence, Tonawanda, and other areas that are as unique and kitschy as our beloved Elmwood Village. Maybe you should venture beyond the city limits once in a while.

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Amen. Pizza plant in the city PLEASE!

Drew- from what I understand 2 local owners... brothers I want to say??? I have only had the pleasure of speaking with Bob Syracuse in the past. An amazing person, very involved in Buffalo First and boosting the local economy, as well as contributing to communities in various other ways. A true inspiration.

BOB- if your reading this a pizza plant would really take off in the city! Do it!

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PIZZA PLANT!!! , what's next chucky cheese on chippewa? look around folks, there are more quality, personally owned pizza parlors in the city than there are days of the year. savor the city flavor you may have never tasted.inside the city i have always gone to a pizza parlor not a plant/(factory). thats why the HUTs aren't in buffalo either.

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meanoldman- clearly you know nothing about pizza plant. It is "personally" owned and delicious.

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Pizza plant rocks. I just wish they would expand the one in the Walker center; it can't handle the throngs.

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whynot - I see your point about regionalism. But, regionalism does not work without a strong city core. I am someone who supports The City 100%; I enjoy supporting those businesses within the city lines.

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Great company - one of the more solidly run 'local' establishments in the area. Could/should franchise it and put one in every strip mall in America - bring the $$ to BFLO!

Make the trek to the 'burbs, well worth it (and also to support the owners...!)

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Great food. And I would just as soon frequent one in the city as I would Walker center or Transit

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Well, the food is not as good as Pizza Plant, nor the decor, but good ol' Casa di Pizza on Elmwood certainly offers the bouncy-booth experience - and there is a bar adjoining.
Pizza Plant on Elmwood would be amazing.

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whynot> Why does it have to be inside the City Limits? The Pizza Plant on Main Street is not that far from the City Line, it is easily accessible by metro, bike, and car. What is the drive to move viable businesses from other areas of WNY inside the city limits? Whatever happened to our push for regionalism and seeing WNY as a whole instead of separate towns, villages, and cities?


I agree. Still, I think part of it is that the powers that be somehow don't recognize that there's still 300,000 potential customers in the city. Many have a disposable income smaller than that of the norm for, but still, there is disposable income out there. It's not just Pizza Plant, but also long-time Buffalo favorites like Ted's (no city locations), Mighty Taco (one North Buffalo location, but a slew in the Northtowns), and many others, both local and national.


There's a pattern when it comes to opening multi-branch businesses in the Buffalo area: six in Amherst, one in Cheektowaga or Lancaster, one in Hamburg, and maybe, years later, they'll think about Buffalo. It's really kind of insulting, in a way, as if certain businesses believe Buffalo is like Detroit, or that the city's 300,000 residents don't even equal a part of an Amherst Zip code when it comes to spending power.

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Jay> Great company - one of the more solidly run 'local' establishments in the area. Could/should franchise it and put one in every strip mall in America - bring the $$ to BFLO!


Buffalo's businesses are so short-sighted when it comes to expanding home-grown institutions beyond the city limits. Within a mile or two of my home in Austin, Texas, there's Buffalo Wild Wings, Buffalo Wings and Rings, Wing Stop, and other chain wing joints - NONE of them based in Buffalo. Wings were invented in Buffalo, but all the money goes to Columbus, Ohio, where so many of these chains are located. I don't know why Buffalo's homegrown businesses seldom expand; lack of venture financing, peer pressure to "keep it real" by the anti-chain crowd, or what. Not even Anchor Bar is expanding, despite talk of doing so for years. Why can I get a Dibella's Sub in Cleveland, but not a Bocce Club pizza or Duff's wings?

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