Russ's Pastry Shop
I took a ride over to the West Side yesterday and was lucky enough (thanks to Bob Franke) to discover one of the Grant-Ferry district's true remaining gems. A walk inside Russ's Pastry Shoppe, in its 36th year, takes you back a few years to a time when Grant Street was a destination bustling with business. Now, the charming shop may be the only coffee shop in the area, but a look around the place reminds you there needn't be another.
The long blue-and-white counters at the front of the shop regularly host the crew of morning customers grabbing their coffee and pastry, in true Italian style. While I was enjoying my tea, some local patrons struck up friendly conversation, reminiscing about the good times gone by in the once lively neighborhood.
Now the company is great and the place is as genuine a corner coffee shop as ever there was. But the real reason to head down West Ferry is for their cannoli's. Any Italian I know would be proud to endulge of one of these bakery masterpeices, affectionately known around the neighborhood as the best in Buffalo. The crisp pastry shell is overflowing, and beautifully crafted, with the tasty filling. And if cannolli's aren't your thing, Russ's is stocked with shelves upon shelves with goodies made fresh every morning, before most of us can ever dream of rising from our beds. And it's worth noting that the cookies and eclaires are big enough to satisfy even the largest sweet tooth in town.
Russ's Pastry Shoppe 294 West Ferry (at Grant St.) open 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Rudy Watkins
Not to be a downer but I thought I had read somewhere that Russ's was planning on leaving this neighborhood? Wasn't that mentioned at some point in an Artvoice article on Grant street?
It'd be a shame if they left. We got the cookies for my sister's wedding there. Mmmmm.
-rudy
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fixitup
If they do stay, why not repaint that sign, and fix up the front end. Have some pride.
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Cozy Nook
Russ's has the biggest, best donuts in town and Grant street really does have a number (or at least a few) great businesses...it's too bad we can't remove the scum that congregates up and down this street and surrounding neighborhood.
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Jefferson
Rudy might be on to something - looks like the building is for sale.
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Buffalo Rox
Building and equipment are for sale. Follow link below to listing at Hunt Commercial for Russ' Pastry.
http://tinyurl.com/yf38ne
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M Rodgers - WVRG
Chucidati, Tatus, Gigilani, many more wonderful Italian cookies I only make once a year. I can buy them here! I remember Russ's when it was on Lafayette and Grant. Still the best in my book!
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