Buffalo Rising Online

Sep 10th 2005, 9:51pm By buffalorising

By Anthony Cuellar, Jr.

I've got a plan. If the seagull eyeing my fish-fry makes a move I'm going to push my girlfriend, Jessica, into its path and rush the meal to safety. We're on the patio behind the Hatch and the food, surprisingly, is that good.

I say surprisingly because the Hatch is anything but upscale. More of a snack shack than a restaurant - you order at the counter and eat at one of the weather-beaten picnic tables crowed around the building and along the marina. The menu offers what Jessica calls "Boardwalk cuisine, Buffalo-style."Choices include grilled hot dogs, hamburgers, and the like as well as local favorites fried bologna and beef-on-weck.

Jessica's sandwich had a juicy piece of grilled chicken on it. Someone walked by with a sizzling sausage slathered in grilled peppers and onions that looked so good I briefly regretted ordering the fish fry. That doubt was alleviated by popping another steaming piece of tastily battered fish into my mouth.

Prices are very reasonable with the most expensive item on the menu being the fish fry dinner at $7.50. Most items range from $2.50 - 5.00 with a couple of bucks extra for a good-sized portion of fries or onion rings. On the patio is a clam shack where clams are sold raw, steamed, or casino for $5.25 - 6.50 per half dozen. For desert there are all kinds of frozen treats including ice cream, custard, and chocolate covered bananas.

It's hard to imagine a more idyllic setting. The patio overlooks Lake Erie and the view is postcard perfect. The Buffalo Lighthouse stands in the near distance, sailboats glide by, and the setting sun casts pink streaks across what is, on this evening, an unblemished blue sky.

Friday and Saturday nights feature karaoke and can bring out three to four hundred people. The atmosphere is festive with people getting up and dancing to even the most questionable renderings of classic tunes. The crowd is one of the most diverse I've experienced in Buffalo. People of all ages, races, and backgrounds come together to enjoy what MC Brian Anthony Smith calls "a free genuinely down home event happening in the heart of the Queen City."

To get to the Hatch, drive under the skyway and head toward the water. Parking is plentiful but the lot can get crowded on a pleasant evening.

The Hatch | Foot of Erie St | 716.851.6501 Open daily 7am - 9:30pm May 1 - Oct 15 Karaoke Fri-Sat 6-10pm thru Labor Day