Doubling up on the Buffalo media mentions (see last week), Toronto theater critic Richard Ouzounian recently descended upon six urban eateries, and is spreading the good word that Buffalo is more than just a great place to grab wings. He started with Sample in Allentown, Buffalo’s favorite small plate restaurant with a simple modern decor. From there he headed to Organic 3 Cafe, one of the newer Elmwood Village hotspots that specializes in healthy dishes served in a clean, vibrant environment. Next on his list was Trattoria Aroma, a lunch and dinner spot that touts local organic food sourcing, and a cozy West Side neighborhood vibe. I was happy to see that Richard added Globe Market to his punch list – Globe has become a destination for anyone looking for that social indie market atmosphere, while the food offerings pay homage to unique and delicious NY delis. In true Buffalo tradition, one of the city’s most popular Greek destinations made the cut – Ambrosia serves up awesome breakfasts and lunches and is a fun place to catch up with neighbors and friends. Finally, for the Torontonians who want nothing but the best Buffalo wings in the world, the writer points to Anchor Bar. Fortunately, instead of raving about the wings, Richard also directs readers toward the more traditional Italian dishes that the Main Street joint was founded on.
These culinary suggestions should keep Torontonians busy for a while… now if we can just get them to shop Elmwood and Hertel before or after they hit the malls. At least these food suggestions will help to filter visitors into the city. I would have been nice to see a Hertel restaurant on the list – hopefully Richard will choose six more favorites sooner rather than later. The good news is that he has just started to get a taste for the food that Buffalonians are now fairly accustomed to. Plus, there have been a number of Torontonian writers who have highlighted some of the other yummy finds. Let’s hope that The Star readers can break some of their redundant habits built around preconceived notions that the malls are solely worth the relatively short trip. A little directional signage from the Peace Bridge would also help!
Photos: Buffalo Rising