I remember the first time that I ever stepped foot into The Barrel Factory, back in August of 2014. At the time, touring the site with Steve Bystran, it was hard to imagine that the building would one day become such a phenomenal destination in the Old First Ward. But over the course of almost a decade, I have witnessed a transformation that is fairly astonishing – from a building that looked as if it might not even make it, to a 100% unique multi-dimensional food, beverage, and entertainment hub.
A couple of weeks ago, I met up with Bystran again, to tour the reimagined facility. The primary reason behind my visit was that I had heard that – during the pandemic – a lot of things had changed. First off, instead of outsourcing components to other businesses, Bystran decided to bring almost all of food and beverage offerings in-house. He told me that the reason for doing this was to make sure that they had full control over the operational standards that they alone could set and maintain.
What does this mean? It means that Bystran and his team are now running a full service restaurant, called The Barrel Factory Kitchen. Not only did they hire executive chef Cornell Williams to create a resourceful house menu, they also reconfigured the restaurant setting in ways that make it much more conducive to grabbing a bite to eat (or something to drink). There are numerous seating options, including the new lobby dining room, and the distillery’s tasting room and bar (up a short level of stairs – with patio seating). There is also a second tasting room and bar in the back, affectionately called The Lab (with patio seating). When The Lab is not booked for private parties and events, it seconds as additional dining and drinking space. I would have to say that choosing the perfect setting to eat and drink is not as easy as one would think, because all of these dining options are expertly curated. Decisions, decisions…
“The building is the City’s last standing cooperage, brought back from the brink of oblivion,” said Bystran. “It’s an immersive hospitality destination that combines Buffalo’s circa 1903 industrial glory, artful re-use of materials, quirky artifacts, and nooks and crannies for exploration.”
In order to accommodate this restaurant growth, Bystran knocked down a couple of walls where Snowy Owl kombucha and Buffalo’s Best Cucina were once situated, and built out a complete kitchen. What was once akin to more of a food court setting is now a comprehensive dining experience, featuring the two tastings rooms and a connecting dining room. It’s all tied together via repurposed design elements that include timbers from the oldest barn in WNY circa 1811 (American chestnut), massive fire doors, flooring harvested from ceiling joists (old growth yellow pine), bricks salvaged from re-opening windows, and a barrel chute.
“We’re on a journey,” exclaimed Bystran. “There’s a new focus on food, which is not your typical pub grub. We now have all of the resources that we need in-house, to make this an amazing experience for diners. We incorporate our house distilled spirits into a number of our dishes, like the whiskey glazed brisket sandwich. Our piccata dishes (chicken, white fish, or cauliflower) are made with our Grain Canyon Vodka. And our grilled vegetable strudel is made with vegan cream cheeses and our maple whiskey. Vegan and gluten free menu items are not an afterthought. Other fan favorite items include the Buffalo beef Wellington, beef on weck egg rolls, our shareable deserts, and a number of interesting after-dinner drinks and coffees.”
As for the overall atmosphere of The Barrel Factory Kitchen, it’s considered “casual and upscale.” People should all feel welcome, no matter what sort of setting they are seeking, because there are so many seating arrangements, including secluded dining areas and lounges.
“We’re trying to achieve a more relaxed dining experience that is slower and more leisurely… we’re not just trying to ‘turn’ tables,” said Bystran. “The bar in the upper tasting room is intentionally TV screen free. There is a TV in The Lab that is primarily used as part of events and/or meetings, with an exception for Bills games (for example) when it’s not booked. There is also a large projection screen upstairs in the Event Center that airs popular sports events, when there is not a wedding or other function underway.”
Along with the new menu, The Barrel Factory tasting room offers signature cocktails, bottles of spirits for sale, ciders, seltzers, mocktails, and wines. New York State cideries, breweries, and wineries are all featured. And since Pressure Drop Brewing is the in-house brewery at The Barrel Factory, their beers can always be found on rotation on the 46 tap system!
The reimagined Barrel Factory is a lot of things to a lot of people. For some, it’s a place to grab some great food and drink. For others, it’s a venue to tie the knot (more on that coming soon). The facility is dog friendly, and kayak friendly (home to Elevator Alley Kayak). It’s a substantial restaurant for large groups of people, yet there are plenty of tucked away places for more intimate dining and drinking experiences. Best of all, it’s all set in a building that encompasses Buffalo history in an expressive and imaginative way. It’s not only a special place for Buffalonians, it’s also a prime destination for out-of-town visitors who are looking for an all-encompassing Buffalo wow-factor.
The Barrel Factory | The Barrel Factory Kitchen | Old First Ward | 65 Vandalia Street, Buffalo, NY 14204 | (716) 541-1454 | Instagram | Facebook
OPEN
WEDNESDAY 4-10
THURSDAY 4-10
FRIDAY 12 NOON – 10
SATURDAY 12 NOON – 10 PM
SUNDAY 12 NOON – 8 PM
Also featuring: Elevator Alley Kayaks | Pressure Drop Brewing