Buffalo Rising Online

Dec 3rd 2005, 9:04am By

In its many incarnations, the restaurant space in the lower level of the Westbrook Apartments has been everything from a tie-and-jacket fine dining favorite to a beer-and-burger sports bar. The beautiful new Amaryllis Restaurant is somewhere deliciously in between.

The new owners, Jen Stainrook and Matt Harrington are excited to share their love of food with Buffalo. Jen attended the California Culinary Academy and got her start in West Coast restaurants where the emphasis was on using fresh ingredients from local farmers. While working at Andreis French Restaurant, one of Las Vegasi finest, Jen learned how to use unique ingredients and elevated her technique. But the distance between her and her family in Buffalo was difficult so Jen returned to begin three years of work at Rue Franklin.

It was at that venerable Buffalo establishment where she met Matt, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. Like Jen, Matt had been learning alongside the best chefs in America: at internships in New York City and under a certified master chef in Houston.

The decision to open their own restaurant came from the pairis desire to create an innovative and comfortable dining experience. They take pride in using fresh, local products to inspire their seasonal menus. Jen and Mattis presence at Amaryllis ensures that customers will receive individual attention and information about the creative offerings.

On the fine dining level, Amaryllis serves excellent cuisine such as the seared Hudson Valley fois gras with grapefruit marmalade appetizer and the striped sea bass with coconut lime curry broth and eggplant chutney entrEe. iI will customize a menu to accommodate any dietary needs,i adds Jen. Yet there is a whole other side to the menu.

Amaryllis also serves a wonderful, more casual ibar menui including tuna sashimi appetizers and Lowline Angus burgers on homemade foccacia. The hand-cut fries with homemade spicy ketchup and mayo are a special treat, while the reasonable prices are the best surprise. The Carolina BBQ Pulled Pork is Mattis specialty. iWe smoke our own meats to ensure the flavor profile is not too sweet,i Matt explains. Residents of the Westbrook units above may use the bar menu as a sort of a iroom servicei so a great meal is just a phone call away.

The attention to detail evidenced by the kitchenis creations continues into the dining space dEcor. Camel colored suede chairs complement the original gleaming mahogany bar refurbished by Mattis talented father. From the candle-lit reception area to the custom-built wine rack to the contemporary local art on the walls, the entire space has been reborn with the love of quality that Jen and Matt envisioned for Amaryllis. iWe want to share what we have learned,i adds Matt, ito bring new life to dining in Buffalo.i

Amaryllis Restaurant 675 Delaware (Corner of North) 716.878.2741 amarylliswestbrook@yahoo.com

Open: Tues n Sat 5n11pm later for drinks and bar menu. Weekend valet parking available