Today was the perfect day for a summer splash of fruit smoothies (regular, fusion and fortified) and pressed juices. And what better place to get you fix than Ashker’s in the park? The eatery has everything that you need to enjoy a day of this nature. There’s shaded umbrella seating, plenty of sun for the sun worshippers, cool drinks, pita sandwiches (banh mi, BLT, shawarma, etc) and salads (Greek chickpea, tofu banh mi, Moroccan chicken, etc), and there’s even a refreshing bowl of water for the pooches.
This afternoon my wife and I stopped on over for a quick pick-me-up of cold pressed juices. My wife got the last the ginger zinger (our collective favorite), while I ended up with the basil, lemon limeade (almost as good). More than the refreshing drinks, we loved sitting out under the umbrellas, in real chars (no cheap plastic chairs), listening to the soft music playing on the speakers, and watching all of the activity in Delaware Park. There were dog walkers, cyclists and joggers, despite the balmy weather conditions.
Ashker’s in the park should be replicated throughout the city. There are plenty of places to duplicate this effort – especially at the Rumsey Road shelter house and the Prospect Park shelter house. These types of park amenities add so much life and vibrancy to places that are otherwise underutilized.
While visiting Ashker’s in the Park, we ran into Donna Kostrzewski – chief baker for Four Legs dog treats. Donna was replenishing the stand with with her gluten free dog biscuits (our dog was the beneficiary of a sample). The only thing that was missing was a splash pad dedicated to dogs – a heavy lift for sure. There are so many great places for children to cool off in Buffalo – I’m not sure why our four-legged friends are neglected in this category. Canalside should consider adding a water feature for dogs (and their owners).
Speaking of kids, Ashker’s at the Park also has a kids’ menu, featuring a grilled cheese pita, PB&J and a junior gyro. There’s also lemonade. On cooler days there’s hot chocolate for the little guys and coffee for the parents. For the early birds, Ashker’s serves up a breakfast sandwich.
Usually, when I’m looking for a patio in the summer, I have a beer in mind. That’s because there are not more places like Ashker’s in the Park, where people can sit out on a patio in such a relaxing atmosphere, with dogs and kids in tow. Hopefully we see some more places like this pop up in our parks in the future.
Ashker’s in the Park | Delaware Park | Corner of Meadow Road and Nottingham Terrace | 716-955-0211