Highbrow, lowbrow, fast and slow, today's Americans eat food from all over the cultural food scale everyday. When in history has your average urban dweller easily jumped from brioche for breakfast, a hotdog from a street vendor at lunch and a big plate of sushi for dinner?
Buffalo has always had a good grasp of ethnically influenced blue collar cuisine, and in the last fifteen years the variety of gourmet and eclectic eateries in our city has increased a thousandfold.
As I stated in December's issue of Buffalo Rising Magazine, our staffers and contributing foodies are anything but food snobs. We eat at and feature restaurants that fall within all of the our country's ethnic and economic categories.
When I told my BRM editor that I was going to write a post about the cafe at Delta Sonic he had a good-hearted chuckle. Not many food editorials would choose to showcase the chow served up at the local gas station, but that's one of the many things I love about BR. However, I would like to assure you that I,Aeom not alone in my surprising discovery of the great product currently being served at your local car wash.
Delta Sonic is a Buffalo-based business that's locations reach into Pennsylvania and Illinois. Not only can you buy reasonably priced groceries, a tank full of gas, a squeaky clean car and a box of Dunkin,Aeo Donuts, their cafe offers a variety of delicious foods- many of which are prepared in their authentic brick oven.
Pictured is a munchkin enjoying two giant slices of cheesy brick oven pizza (she didn't come close to finishing them). A full pizza, at only $7.99, consists of eight of these ample slices. For a little more money you can add pepperoni, mushrooms, onions or peppers.
I have had several panini and wraps from here as well. Though the term panini often translates to an over-priced grilled cheese, their addition of items like roasted vegetables has upped the ante. The cedar-planked salmon wrap, served with soy-wasabi glazed salmon, cucumbers, avocado, sunflower seeds, red onion, greens, tomato and vinaigrette, is a solid and healthy lunch option at only $4.99.
Last Friday I was more than happy to partake in a Memphis-style pulled pork sandwich ($3.99). I generally stage food before shooting a picture, but this one was too tempting to bother. Topped with coleslaw and served with a side of BBQ sauce this sandwich was loaded with tender, moist, roasted pork. I ordered mine with a side of potato salad ($.89) and macaroni and cheese ($2.49). There is a lot of bad potato salad and mac and cheese out there- a lot. But this potato salad was good and the macaroni and cheese was divine. Made from scratch with 5 cheeses, a full-sized portion of this hearty treat is a steal at only $4.50.
There are a number of specials everyday and lots of good items on the standard menu. Roast beef and turkey sandwiches ($4.99-$5.99) are made with freshly sliced beef and poultry- there are no processed deli-meats here. The salads are made to order and comprised of very fresh veggies ($4.40 without the addition of meat, fruit or salmon).
The dining area is pleasant and during the lunch hour the tables are packed with people that have discovered the joys of the Delta Sonic cafe. Open from 11am-7:30pm Monday through Saturday, it is not only a good lunch spot, but also a great place to grab a quick dinner on the way home.
Delta Sonic 1264 Main 541-2300