Betty's, I Love You
It was a beautiful day for Sunday brunch, so the only choice was a restaurant that still had an open patio, where the food was going to be great.
Betty's it was. Not only was I able to have my Jack Russell terrier tableside next to the short, flower box laden fence, but I got to sit in the sun. The angle was steep for noon, a telling sign of shorter days, and if you don't believe me, look at the shadow the home fries cast.
Betty's is one of those places where you'll run into people you know, meet new people and have one hell of a time deciding about what to eat. Spinach and Potato Pancakes, thick Smothered Cornbread, Mickey's Casserole made of eggs, bread, sausage, cheese and cream, or Blueberry Almond French Toast Casserole?
I went for the Betty's Chicken Pot Pie. It was full of chicken, peas, carrots and parsnips in a creamy gravy with a flakey crust. It was served with a cranberry-applesauce and a side salad. As a kid, frozen pot pies were my only brush with pre-fab food. At Betty's, my nostalgia melded with a higher understanding of what a pot pie is supposed to be. Phenomenal.
My companion had the Eggs Benedict, which almost didn't get into the picture here, so they must have been great. Those hash browns were the crispiest I've ever seen (I order mine "burnt" everywhere else and feel lucky if they're browned), and I know they were perfect because I ate every last crunchy one of them.
We met people at the next table...again, a BR story. The gentleman in red told me about how he moved here from upstate because it's a college town and he knew he'd want to go back to school some day. Meanwhile, he managed to make rent working as a busser when he first arrived. Since then he's worked a series of jobs with better salaries, bought a house on Prospect for $30K, is fixing it up and getting closer to going back to school.
His sister, sitting next to him said, "Yeah, but you live really frugally."
He said, "Sure, but I can here."
About then the food came, the dog was making like castanets, going after end-of-season bees, and our two tables and one more watched and laughed, commenting as a bee went upside down in the orange juice and drank like mad--fighting the inevitable end of the season. We could relate.
I don't know if Betty's patio will be open next weekend or the one after that, but do yourself a favor and go there any day of the week for breakfast, lunch or dinner. In fact, don't even worry about the weather; the bitchier it is outside, the more you'll appreciate the home-cooked style of Betty's food. The atmosphere is always warm there, and the staff helps make it that way.
Betty's
370 Virginia Street
Buffalo, NY 14201
716.362.0633
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Comment Options
MEC
Mythos' patio was still open!
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mbhxam
Nothing more annoying than someone who brings their dog to a restauraunt. Kudos to Betty's. Excellent place to eat, but please leave the dogs at home.
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onestarmartin
3 times in a row, worst service I ever had. No place is that good that they can afford to ignore or keep customers waiting.
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sbrof
The service is often very slow, but the food is good. Just be aware that you are going to be there a while before going in. This isn't Arby's. Also just like K Gallagher's good food, slow service. Plan ahead for a two hour dinner.
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thinker
mbhxam, you beat me to it. Just because you have a dog doesn't mean others want to eat, shop and otherwise spend their free time around your stupid mutt. Leave it at home and out of public establishments like restaurants and outdoor markets, the two worst places where ignorant dog owners take their animals and force the public to deal with them.
Stop trying to be Paris Hilton and use your dog as some sort of fashion accessory. Did it ever dawn on you and other dog owners that people don't think your dog is as cool as you?
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allfit
The service is unnecessarily slow... There are basic expectations not being met, like the waitress checking back for drink refills or taking five minutes to take the drink order, an extra five minutes to bring the check, etc. I do not expect the speed of Arby's, but I do expect some sense of urgency from the wait staff.
I also agree with the dog comments. Not everyone shares your passion for your dog, it is rude and annoying to tie your dog outside a store or have him sitting next to your table, because my table is at the other side of that dog. Leave them home when you go out to eat or shop!
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dagner
When you choose to eat outside aren't you desiring exposure to more life forms? I am. So, although I'm not a dog owner, I rather enjoy having a variety of beings around. It's livelier, more of an urban experience. As long as they behave.
I've had only good service at Betty's.
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scooter
I've only had very good service at Betty's. Sometimes the line out the door is a bit longer then i care to wait for my bfast and morning coffee. But hey...it's a popular place.
Great food selection. If you want your traditional bfast, skip this joint. They offer a pretty unique selection on the menu. My favorite is the california breakfast burrito. Best home fries in WNY, crispy.
Fun place to go for bfast. Good addition to the Buffalo breakfast circuit. Different.
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CaptVonTrapp
Apart from an imposition on other customers, pets brought into a restaurant are illegal, that includes restaurant patios....
.... the exception being working dogs (sigh companions for the blind etc).
even the best behaved pet will revert to animal behavior at some stimulus.... particularly in a setting that is unfamiliar or in a crowd. An pet who unexpectedly goes feral does not come back to control easily.
And even the best groomed pet can carry microbodies that should not come near human food.
I love dogs, especially, and animals, in general, but they are not appropriate in human social settings... like restaurants, Shakespeare In The Park, Allentown Art Festival..... Sorry. Not pets, not livestock, not roving herds.
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Aloha
I too enjoyed brunch at Betty's this past Sunday, and I know exactly how you feel, ECB. It was bliss. And, by the way, I wasn't bothered by any dog on the patio, not in the slightest. I'd ban babbies and small children from peaceful places like this before I'd ban a well behaved dog.
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CaptVonTrapp
"I'd ban babbies and small children from peaceful places like this..."
Well, this goes without saying, Aloha. And people who use cell phones.... and people who had dull conversations... and people who read books and newspapers at their table.... "I have a little list," to quote from The Mikado...
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eliotspitzer
Like Yogi said, nobody goes to Betty's anymore, it's too crowded.
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crisa
About dogs and their paws:
As long as dogs are mentioned here, we hate to see dogs walking "barefooted" on hot, hot, hot or ice cold asphalt at outdoor festivals. That's cruel.
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Brette
Well, Client 9, we know you're more accustomed to secluded room "service"
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dpbflo
I had a feeling this story was coming. ECB when I was heading to work I saw you leaving with a huge smile. I LOVE me some Bettys especially breakfast. I do agree that service is sometimes slow which blows my mind being such a small place you would think they could whip around easy and turn tables fast. The problem may be in the kitchen? Either way the food is so good, the atmosphere is great, and the staff, slow or not is so damn friendly. I always feel like im in Grams kitchen with the family when I am there. And like ECB I have always left with a smile.
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eliz
Slow is one thing. At this place you're actually ignored for quite some time—not even a "we'll be with you in a minute," and this when it''s not even crowded. Everyone understands that it cam be hard when it's busy, but I would say service just isn't a priority here.
Worse than the old Cybeles, a place that I really miss.
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eating
I agree with eliz.
I like Betty's but find it hard to make it there knowing that my good (but expensive) coffee will not be refilled, my food may take 15 minutes and it may take 45, and the waitresses will behave as if they wish they were anywhere but taking care of customers--we know that most servers feel that way, but it doesn't mean we want to be treated as such.
Betty's prices are almost boutique restaurant prices, which means their service needs to be on point. This isn't San Fransisco or Portland where people will willingly accept bad service just because a place is trendy or artsy. I was surprised when they added a liquor license and dinner to their business model because I think they could make plenty of money (and work shorter days) serving breakfast and lunch alone if they could manage to turn tables at a reasonable rate.
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scottnorwood
Wow, i am truly shocked at the negative comments about Betty's. Not that it is the greatest place around, but Betty's is the type of restaurant you go to when you aren't in a hurry, don't mind other people being close to you, or perhaps a dog or two tied up outside by the patio, and are willing to pay an extra buck for a breakfast you can't find elsewhere.
If you want robotic service and a solitary experience, stay home and let your mommy cook for you. If you want really good food and a generally very friendly wait staff, then give Betty's a shot. They turned a unique building on a dead street corner into a place that looks beautiful, attracts a steady flow of traffic, and makes Allentown feel like a neighborhood instead of a Bar strip. I commend them and am not the least bit surprised by the usual off-base, whining, pathetic comments by those who couldn't have a good time anywhere in this city. The incessant nit-picking is getting old...but i guess misery loves company.
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vgs
scottnorwood - but there is a certain level of responsibility that comes with taking peoples money for service.
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ToughintheStreets
you can say "bitchier" but I can't say "{deleted- nope}?"
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ToughintheStreets
whats the difference?
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scottnorwood
VGS - If the food is bad, don't go back and chalk it up as a lesson learned. That place is packed most days so I'm guessing that is not the case.
If the service is bad, give a lousy tip or no tip at all and feel free to let the waiter/waitress know why they aren't getting paid. As a former waiter in Buffalo, I can tell you that nothing you could do or say on this thread is worse than that.
The above are the ultimate forms of criticism and don't require the pathetic whining that I read above.
Go Betty's and Go Bills!
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