Anchor Bar
History has never tasted so good. Anchor Bar is the original home of the original buffalo chicken wing, invented and perfected in 1964 by Frank and Teressa Bellissimo. Buffalo memorabilia and elevated booths make this Main Street location a family-first establishment. Feel free to order wings by the plate or by the bucket (25, 50 or 100). While the wings aren't overly spicy, their medium is closer to hot than mild. Of course, you can't have wings without pizza. The fresh toppings and homemade sauce may be just as appetizing as their wing sauce, which can be bought by the bottle or the gallon right at the restaurant.
1047 Main St.
Buffalo, NY 14209-2305
(716) 884-4083
anchorbar.com
Polish Villa II
Western New York is home to one of the biggest Polish communities in the country. The Polish have made countless impacts on the area, but perhaps none is bigger than their culinary skills. The Polish Villa offers the most authentic Polish food in the region. The golabki, pierogi and kielbasa plates sizzle with pure Polish flavors, while the Polish platter overwhelms you with generous portions of all the favorites. It will surely leave you asking for a takeout box. The Villa attracts both young and old for the lunch and dinner rushes. All it takes is two visits to this place before the ridiculously friendly staff greets you by your first name the moment you walk in the door.
1085 Harlem Rd.
Cheektowaga, NY 14227
(716) 805-8915
polishvilla.org
Aunt Millie's Kitchen
If the hustling, always-say-hello staff doesn't bring a smile to your face at this family-owned restaurant, the six-foot dessert case staring you down near the entrance surely will. Pastries and cakes serve as a backdrop to the throwback, sit-and-eat diner countertops up front. Grab a quick, but gigantic, pastry or any one of the dozen or so homemade pies. You can also settle down in the main, two-room dining area for a real, down-home, this-is-better-than-what-my-mama-makes meal. Their daily specials range from spaghetti and meatballs to mile-high meatloaf, all reasonably priced for less than $10. The line starts to go out the door for the Friday Fish Fry, but they do a remarkable job of getting folks in and out, so you're wait time won't be longer than 15 minutes.
Route 5 & Route 20
Silver Creek, NY 14136
(716) 934-2525
About The Author
Sean Quinn is a writer and editor based in New York City. He has spent the last decade covering major sporting events from the NFL playoffs to the U.S. Open. He has written for the Kansas City Star and ESPN, among others. He is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
