Buffalo Rising Online

Mar 24th, 10:14am By Nancy Vargo

It’s the place where everybody knows your name. It’s the place where the experience of being there is as intriguing and welcoming as the food. It’s Bertha’s, and it’s a gem of a breakfast and lunch spot on Hertel’s increasingly popular dining and entertainment strip.

If you’re looking for hearty portions of consistently good, home-style dishes prepared right before your eyes, you’ve come to the right place. Even before you walk in the door, you can catch a sneak preview of your meal with a stop at the front window where dishes are prepared for all to see. And once you step inside, you’ll immediately see and hear why Bertha’s atmosphere is as much a reason to return as the food. Authentic ‘50s diner memorabilia line the walls and friends you know and those you’ve yet to meet provide endless entertainment and conversations spill over from table to table.

Depending on the day of the week and time of day, you’ll find an incredible range of patrons. On Friday mornings, a group of up to 25 Nichols students and their instructors fill up the back of the place, while regulars jockey for one of the other 15 seats in booths, at a table or along the counter. At other times you’ll find police officers on a break, business people on their way to work, public works employees gearing up for the day, hospital staff coming in from the night shift, neighbors who walk from home to meet a friend and many others.

Typically fast service is expedited by the ever-ready menus mounted on the wall with breakfast offerings on one side and lunch on the other. A board of daily specials is posted in the front window and at the entrance. On a recent visit, the list of specials included banana walnut pancakes, chicken minestrone and mushroom barley soup – all home made.

Henry, the cook who’s often seen working his magic at the grill, reports that the most popular item on the menu is the ’57 Chevy – eggs, home fries, toast, and bacon or sausage. While breakfast is served any time, Bertha’s burger is the number one favorite with the lunch crowd. Open from 5:30AM to 2PM, Henry says that the busiest time is from 12:30 to 2 and, if you need a little quiet, you may want to stop in at about 11:30 in the morning.

Owners Dave and Pat Murphy’s restaurant is famous for its homemade specials including quiche and meatloaf. The incredible aroma wafting through the place early in the morning is likely one of Pat’s amazing homemade pies baking in the oven. On a recent visit, it was fresh cherry pie that was tempting Bertha’s first patrons of the day.

Did I forget to mention the corned beef hash? Homemade by Liz, another one of Bertha’s multi-tasking, multi-talented staff, the corned beef hash is better than anything you can make at home.

My personal favorite is the Brenda. Named for one of Bertha’s regular customers, the Brenda is a bowl of old-fashioned oatmeal overflowing with fresh and dried fruit and nuts, with milk and brown sugar on the side. It’s healthy, hearty and out-of-this-world.

My family is torn between several favorites. Depending on mood or time of day, they’ll be found enjoying the Puzzler (Canadian bacon, scrambled eggs and other goodies on top of greens); a Belgian waffle; Breakfast burrito, or Sitting Pretty, a dish that features an egg nestled in a piece of toast. For lunch, they often opt for the Marilyn Monroe (roasted turkey breast with tomato, spinach and Swiss cheese) or the Buddy Holly (chicken fingers, with mozzarella, lettuce, tomato and mayo on a grilled Kaiser roll).

Bertha’s is a welcoming step into the past packed with friendly folks, old-fashioned comfort food and lots of great memories.


Bertha’s
1430 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, 14216
716.836.3100