Buffalo Rising Online

Jul 12th 2007, 11:06am By Courtney Bajdas

Snooty Fox Lounge is a wonderful addition to our burgeoning population of chic, upper scale hang outs most likely fostered by the influx of re-pats, ex-pats, and well, new pats. Its next door to Prespa, down the street from Stillwater and around the corner from Scarlet and Mothers. Snooty owner Salvatore Buscaglia refers to this area as Midtown Buffalo.

The natty new hot spot has been likened to a Buddha Bar, and is considered by its owner to be an Enoteca-style lounge. But disregard the labels and feel the vibe yourself.

The atmosphere is comfortable in a classy, “loungy” way, furnished with posh couches and plush ottomans. The environment is intentionally well-lit and therefore conducive to enjoyable group interactions- you can actually see and hear your friends! If you prefer, you can be as intimate as you'd like at the small tables tucked into the corners and the quiet back room. On the flip side, the bar is lively, as are the counters and barstools that line the walls. Anyway you look at it, Snooty Fox is social. In fact, Buscaglia has been playfully accused of staging the patrons because they are friendly, beautiful, and smiling.

Not exactly a restaurant, Snooty Fox has put a local spin on the trend of communal small plate dining. In the words of head chef Terry Rindfleisch “We've taken the tapas concept and beefed it up.” In a sense they've Buffalo-sized tapas.

The menu is extensive without being overwhelming. I was delighted by the strong showing of seafood. My guest and I shared a dish comprised of scallops, cherry tomatoes, and asparagus served in a saffron limoncello cream sauce and drizzled with truffle oil ($15). The scallops were fresh and the sauce presents a subtle front, the flavor blossoming mid-bite. One of the most popular items on the menu is the stuffed banana peppers ($10). The peppers that made up this Buffalo favorite were huge and especially enjoyable because of the moderate heat. But, the real show stealer was The Snooty Steak, an espresso rubbed 10oz filet, wrapped in prosciutto and topped with gorgonzola butter and a balsamic espresso dark chocolate reduction ($32). The sweet balsamic sauce provided a flattering balance to the pungent gorgonzola, and the steak was very tender.

Not found on the menu just yet are the dessert options, but I'm sure that your server will be glad to relay them to you. My companion and I shared the sorbet offering and a dessert called the Snooty Seduction. (I know what you're thinking, and yes, we were stuffed but it looked so good). The sorbet dish was made of raspberry sorbet sandwiched between others of mango and passion fruit. The cold, sweet treat was encapsulated entirely in white chocolate. It proved to be a light and wonderful summer dessert. The Snooty Seduction, the house's signature dessert, is indeed a luscious indulgence. A light and smooth canoli crème is served in a tall martini glass with chocolate covered strawberries and raspberries. It was fantastic, and though we were bursting at the seams, worth every last bite.

In addition to its lounge area, Snooty Fox is also equipped to handle parties and meetings up to 40 people. The back room has a large screen, projector and Wi-Fi- perfect for business meetings. Or, if you prefer a more intimate event, the upstairs VIP room offers European bottle service and a private setting.

The menu is reasonably priced with almost 3/4 of the items priced at $12 or less. The wine list is extensive, the signature drinks are fun, and the taps are cold. Stop by any Friday for happy hour and enjoy the live jazz by house band Winelight.

Want to know more? Another Buffalo Rising post you may find interesting can be found here.

The Snooty Fox Lounge
445 Delaware Ave, 14202
716.843.3699, call for hours

Photos by M. Barnhardt