Everyone in Western New York has shuttered spots we still dream about. Whether it was a late-night diner you hit after closing The Old Pink, a fine dining spot where you had that anniversary dinner, or craft beer spot that served addictive duck fat fries with Belgian ales, Buffalo’s culinary past is packed with absolute legends.
Step Out Buffalo is the leading destination for the best food, drinks, and things to do in Buffalo and WNY. Over the years, we’ve covered a lot of spots that we were devastated to see close. While our dining scene continues to grow, we’re taking a walk down memory lane to celebrate 20 now-closed proper restaurants that defined our food culture across the decades.
Iconic Blasts from the Past
Rue Franklin
341 Franklin St., Downtown Buffalo
Established as a French fine dining spot in 1980 by Andrew and DeeDee Lippes, this downtown staple pioneered French culinary technique at a time when opening a corner bar in downtown Buffalo seemed like a crazy idea. Beyond the exceptional wine list and seasonal menus, dining in their serene rear courtyard garden remains some of the dreamiest local dining memories ever created. Happily, a killer French bistro has taken over the space with a more approachable concept.
Photo courtesy of Pano’s
Pano’s
1081 Elmwood Ave, Elmwood Village
What started as a modest 24-hour Greek diner evolved into a massive, multi-level Elmwood Avenue destination. Pano Georgiadis started by building a neighborhood diner known for cheap 4 a.m. breakfasts, as the go-to spot for grabbing a late night bite. A massive physical and conceptual overhaul made “the new Pano’s” into a hip two-floor spot where you still get a cheap breakfast, along with cocktails on the upper balcony.
Photo courtesy of Scharf’s
Scharf’s Schiller Park Restaurant
34 Crossman St., Schiller Park (and later 2683 Clinton St., West Seneca)
German immigrants were one of the first waves to hit Buffalo, and for decades Scharf’s carried the torch for old-world German comfort food in the city. From crispy potato pancakes and sauerbraten to house-made schnitzel and cold German lagers, it was a warm nod to Buffalo’s now-fully-integrated Teutonic heritage.
Spaghetti Warehouse (later Sensationz)
301 Ohio St, Downtown Buffalo
If you grew up in WNY during the ’80s and ’90s, you probably went to the Spaghetti Warehouse or at least heard the commercials during BIlls games. In addition to great pasta and sauces, you could dine inside a renovated trolley car surrounded by vintage antiques. After it closed in 1996, the space became the sprawling Sensationz nightclub, which was an essential part of late ‘90s downtown nightlife.
The Park Lane
33 Gates Cir, Delaware District
With its Tudor architecture, big banquet space, and location on historic Gates Circle, The Park Lane was both a midcentury escape and epicenter of formal celebrations in Buffalo. Yes, it was a go-to for traditional fine dining, but it’s probably best remembered by countless couples as the place they celebrated tying the knot.
Gigi’s Restaurant
257 E Ferry St, East Side
Local legend Blondine “Gigi” Harvin ran this East Side institution for more than 50 years. Famous for sweet potato pie, fried chicken, collard greens, and other soul food staples, Gigi’s was much more than the plates it served. It was also the gathering space for the East Side, hosting everyone from neighborhood regulars to visiting national figures.
Viking Lobster Co.
366 Tonawanda St, Black Rock
Known as much for its top-notch seafood as for being blissfully unpretentious, you went to Viking Lobster Co. to tie on plastic bibs and dive into massive steamed king crab legs and fresh catches in a dive bar setting. Late owner Jeff “Viking” Benjamin was one of those old school Buffalo guys who relished the gritty days of the past, when the city had a low-key Wild West vibe about it.
Solid Grounds
431 Elmwood Ave., Elmwood Village
Basically Buffalo’s IRL equivalent of Central Perk from Friends, Solid Grounds was a quintessential Gen X coffeehouse with a full espresso bar and menu of cafe classics. It was also an intimate cafe that provided warm, welcoming space for students, musicians, poets, and neighborhood organizers. For many years, it anchored a somewhat desolate stretch of Elmwood Avenue that has since seen massive commercial growth.
Le Metro
520 Elmwood Ave., Elmwood Village
A charming French-bistro concept on Franklin Street, Le Metro offered an approachable yet refined dining experience. It gained a devoted following for its classic French influence, quiet ambiance, and excellent wine list. We didn’t know it at the time, but Le Metro heralded a new wave of elevated dining spots in Buffalo that serve refined food without the stuffiness.
Did we miss an iconic closed Buffalo spot? Join the conversation on our Instagram and Facebook pages to tell us which restaurant you wish you could visit one last time!
Visionary Game-Changing Spots
Photo courtesy of Seabar
Seabar
475 Ellicott St., Downtown Buffalo
Chef-owner Mike Andrzejewski’s Seabar is largely credited with kickstarting Buffalo’s modern restaurant renaissance. Offering classic sushi fare alongside chef-driven Asian fusion, it showed that a bold culinary vision could be successful in the city. The legendary status of Seabar was fully cemented by the chef’s three James Beard Award nominations and defeat of Bobby Flay in 2018.
Scallops with herbed gnocchi, spring green pesto, berries, radish, carrot oil / Photo x Shawna Stanley
Vera
220 Lexington Ave., Elmwood Village
Cozy, dimly lit, and intensely focused on the craft of drink-making, Vera was a pioneer of Buffalo’s modern cocktail renaissance. Alongside meticulously crafted cocktails, Vera served sophisticated, comfort-forward pizzas and small plates in an intimate space that made every visit feel like a secret club.
The Black Sheep
367 Connecticut St, West Side
Steve and Ellen Gedra’s West Side neighborhood sanctuary pioneered farm-to-table cuisine in the city. Things like house-cured meats and nose-to-tail butchery were on the cutting edge and executed with culinary precision. The couple were nominated for a James Beard award in 2017, and then there’s that legendary sticky toffee pudding. Sadly, The Black Sheep was one of many great local spots that couldn’t escape the devastating impacts of the pandemic.
Toutant
437 Ellicott St, Downtown Buffalo
Chef-owner James Roberts brought authentic Louisiana bayou cooking to downtown Buffalo with Toutant. But more than that, he brought serious culinary chops that made Toutant part of that essential wave of new school spots. It was the place to go for cast-iron fried chicken, Gulf shrimp and grits, and an extraordinary whiskey selection.
Blue Monk / Step Out Buffalo
Blue Monk
727 Elmwood Ave, Elmwood Village
Considered a flagship spot for the craft beer wave of the late Aughts, Blue Monk fundamentally changed how we thought about beer. In addition to serving European imports and hip American craft brews, it also offered brasserie fare like moules-frites and duck fat fries. Like a few other spots in this category, it was also a place to see and be seen during its heyday.
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Culinary Diversity Lost
Sato Brewpub / Photo x Christopher Lestak
Sato Brewpub
110 Pearl St., Downtown Buffalo
Tucked into a basement space inside the iconic Dun Building in downtown Buffalo, Sato Brewpub blended a Japanese izakaya with Belgian-style brewing operation. It offered custom house-brewed beers paired with steaming bowls of ramen, yakitori skewers, and small plates.
Taste of Siam
810 Elmwood Ave, Elmwood Village
A centerpiece of Elmwood Village dining for a decade, Taste of Siam earned a fiercely loyal following for its cozy atmosphere and Thai flavors. We still pine for its pungent curries, tom kha soup, and perfectly-seasoned pad thai.
Root and Bloom
423 Elmwood Ave, Elmwood Village
Fiercely creative and plant-based, Root and Bloom proved how dynamic vegan comfort food could be. It even got a review from the New York Times. From addictive nachos to inventive seasonal plates, it left a lasting memory despite its brief run.
Bistro Europa
484 Elmwood Ave, Elmwood Village
Located in a former Subway, Bistro Europa delivered guests to the heart of Europe with its authentic Polish, German and French comfort fare. Add a beverage program to match, and it became a true Elmwood Village destination.
Before moving on to open The Black Sheep, Steve and Ellen Gedra took over this cozy Elmwood space from chef-owner Mike Pijanowski. There, the couple would workshop more ambitious Bistro Europa dishes ahead of opening their own visionary concept on the West Side.
Lagniappes French Quarter Cafe
220 Allen St, Allentown
Tucked into a tiny takeout spot on Allen Street, Lagniappes brought a true taste of New Orleans straight to Allentown. Known for spicy gumbo, jambalaya, crisp po’ boys, and spicy Cajun flavors, it brought authentic NOLA cooking at a very approachable price point.
Yey’s Cambodian Cafe / Photo x Christopher Lestak for Step Out Buffalo
Yey’s Cafe
3225 Main St, University Heights
Named in honor of the Cambodian word for “grandma,” Yey’s Cafe brought deeply personal, authentic Southeast Asian comfort food to Main Street near UB South. Founded by Jenn Lay, Yey’s evolved from being a popular pop-up into an exciting fast-casual spot slinging build-your-own rice bowls. While those were good, we found Yey’s Cambodian chicken wings — made with hot sauce and aromatic kroeung paste — were a revelation. The loss of Yey’s hits harder given that regional Asian food is enjoying a moment right now.
While these empty storefronts and former dining rooms leave a giant, nostalgia-filled void in our local food culture, they also set the baseline for what makes Buffalo’s restaurant scene so incredible today. The pioneers on this list paved the way for a new generation of chefs, bartenders, and restaurateurs who keep pushing our local food scene forward.
The best way to honor the legacy of these legendary spots? Go out and support the new classics being built right now across Western New York!
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