This place should be WAY busier. Friends and I recently enjoyed dinner at the bar. Lisa, the bartender, was the perfect balance between knowledgeable, friendly and fun - without intruding on our night out. That's a rare combination. And the food? Simply amazing. The Branzino was incredible. If you're looking for a great spot for an amazing - yes, amazing! - dinner, make the trek to Lewiston to dine at Blue Cave. Love. In fact, my dining companions and I just made a plan to head their again next Friday! read more

My friend and I drove from Rochester to Lewiston for an evening at Artpark and were looking forward to a wonderful Italian dinner before the concert. Unfortunately, this turned out to be one of the most disappointing restaurant experiences I've ever had. The restaurant describes itself as a "rustic Italian eatery." Rustic can be charming, but in this case it felt more outdated than authentic. The dining room was very dark, and although I'd reserved an early table because the only available reservation times were 5:00 or 7:45, we arrived to find many empty tables. I never judge a restaurant by its décor alone. Some of the best Italian meals I've had have come from the most unassuming little places. Sadly, the food here never lived up to the promise. We were served two small slices of baguette that were so dry and stale they crumbled apart with the slightest touch. I honestly thought the crumbs on top were grated cheese at first. For an appetizer, we ordered the Panelle because neither of us had ever tried them before. The chickpea fritters were topped with a dollop of ricotta, a drizzle of honey, and what amounted to a single strand of lemon zest. Unfortunately, they were extremely bland and left neither of us wanting to order them again. Our entrées were close to $30 each. I ordered the Eggplant Parmigiana, and my friend had the Chicken Scaloppine. The eggplant was heartbreaking. There were only two layers, and they had broken down into a mushy texture that barely resembled eggplant. Had the skin not still been attached, I honestly wouldn't have known what I was eating. It came with a side of spaghetti that was dramatically overcooked, and the tomato sauce tasted flat and one-dimensional. As someone who is 100% Sicilian and has enjoyed Italian cooking my entire life, I found the sauce particularly disappointing. I couldn't finish it. My friend's Chicken Scaloppine looked attractive on the plate, and the chicken itself was tender, but the dish had almost no flavor. By the time dinner was over, our bill exceeded $110 before the concert had even begun. We left feeling disappointed that what should have been the highlight of our evening became its biggest letdown. Lewiston itself is absolutely charming, and it's easy to see why people travel from both the U.S. and Canada to visit this beautiful town. I only wish our dinner had matched the setting. Based on our experience, I can't recommend this restaurant. There are too many wonderful Italian restaurants in Western New York to spend your money here. read more

No clue why we did not come here sooner. Just WOW. Loved everything from ambiance to service to food. We sat at the Bar with Lisa and Victoria who were both amazing. We ordered a dirty martini and a lemon drop (great). Then we decided to just order 2 entrees even though the apps and salads were intriguing. My husband got the gnocchi bolognese, and I got the braciole. And guess what.... THE PASTA IS ALL HOMEMADE IN HOUSE.... The sauces were fresh and pasta perfect. Lewiston has so many great restaurants and this one should now be on your list. read more

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Cocktails, Appetizers, Pastas were enjoyed by everyone. Delicious desserts with a final win! Ask for Chloe, waitress, very accommodating throughout the evening. Thank you. read more

Blue Cave Restaurant - Italian Cannoli, Limoncello Marscapone cheesecake and Chocolate Mousse Cake - Sicilian Near Me - Lewiston, New York

The waitress was so attentive and the service was super quick. The food however was subpar. We ordered arancini and the center was luke warm, as was my meal. The serving size for the gnocchi appetizer was super small for the price it costs. The entree was also not super flavorful. They did have really awesome cocktails though. I would definitely give them another chance as they adjust into their new space. read more

Blue Cave Restaurant - Orecchiette Sausage Mushroom - Sicilian Near Me - Lewiston, New York

Went there a month or so ago, maybe a bit more. The "bread" was a crostini that was so old or overcooked it was not edible, I was unable to bite without feeling like it would break my teeth lol. Multiple tables we watched could not bite it, we sent it back and they sent another out equally inedible. The poor waitress understood but it was what it was. We ordered 2 apps, 4 entrees and a kids meal and all the food was really poor, bland, pasta undercooked, no flavor, the braciole was clearly cooked days ago or left out, not fresh, dry and crusty, basically inedible. One meal was especially bad and we sent it back immediately, we opted not to replace as even the meals we kept were really poor, made no sense to try something else. The woman in the back came out and attempted to justify claiming it was fresh made pasta and meant to be al dente (insane behavior, honestly, very aware of how pasta should be when fresh, this was not close lol) and made it seem we should be thankful they would refund the meal. No kidding lol. I spent well over 300, still tipped well for the waitress but it was by far the worst meal I've had in Lewiston. A massive disappointment. Also after dinner the same bottle of wine they served me for 42 was 14 across the street at the liquor store, i'm all for upcharging but this is laughable. I assume the chef was out since the woman that came out didn't seem to know what was going on and the entire place was staffed this day with younger kids. Avoid this place. I would have expected a full meal comp but it is what it is. read more

Acoustics were inadequate. As the restaurant welcomed more patrons the noise levels grew accordingly. Struggled to hear and finally gave up. Food was good, large portion. The waiter presented in a disorganized fashion. He needs some polish and finesse. This was not a first class experience. read more

Made a reservation for the bar, but it was full when we got there so they seated us upstairs by the garage door. I only took away a star because the garage door we were seated next too was very dirty and felt like we could blow dirt into our food from the ledge if we breathed too hard. We order the Arancini and Polpo Grigliato (squid) for appetizers. I loved both, but my husband said the char on the squid was overpowering for him. We ordered the Brasato di Manzo (short ribs) and Filetto di Cernia (grouper) for entrees. These were fantastic. Finally, we ordered creme brulee and cannoli for dessert, which we always do if they are on a menu somewhere as they are our favorites. Quite literally the best creme brulee and cannoli we have ever had. 5 stars there!!! read more

Blue Cave Restaurant - Creme brulee - Sicilian Near Me - Lewiston, New York

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The Blue Cave is fantastic. The service was great! Our server was so nice and friendly. We sat upstairs. If it's packed, it will be loud. The food was great. My husband and I got a salad to share as an appetizer. It had fried artichokes, strawberries and balsamic glaze. I got the grouper over risotto and it was a huge portion! My husband got the mushroom & sausage pasta, which is usually something I would get and I regret not getting it. It was delicious!!! For dessert, he got a cannoli and I had an espresso martini and we both loved our treat! Blue Cave deserves a solid 5 stars! read more

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Blue Cave is an absolutely adorable Italian restaurant. The blue facade sticks out and the open-air dining with their balcony window open makes it a perfect romantic eatery or place for a special occasion, The staff are incredibly welcoming and attentive. Our waitress in particular was lovely and made it an even better experience. And the food was delicious. I've always wanted to try arancini, and the time finally came. It was so good and the sauce is a perfect level of acidity and sweet and herbal. My boyfriend got the salmone and I was obsessed with the cream sauce. I got the braciole, which was good, but my only complaint is that the meat was a bit dry. It was still flavorful, but not quite what I was expecting. To finish it off, the tiramisu was perfect and balanced in flavor. I would absolutely come back. read more

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Blue Cave is always top notch. This is my preferred Italian spot in the city of Buffalo. It is fresh, cooked to order food. The flavors are bright and delicious. I recently came here with a couple friends to catch up. Ordered the bass and the panelle. You can't come here without ordering the panelle. It is magnificent. The food was outstanding and the service spectacular. Mario, the chef, is accommodating and great. My friend has celiac and he changed the oil so she could have some panelle too. read more

Blue Cave Restaurant - Bass - Sicilian Near Me - Lewiston, New York

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We enjoyed our dinner at Blue Cave on a Friday night. The food was good- large portions. Our drinks were good but nothing super special for the price. Overall good experience. Be advised- street parking only read more

Blue Cave Restaurant - Scallop and crab risotto - Sicilian Near Me - Lewiston, New York

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We had a 5:30pm reservation for 4 people and didn't get out of there until 8:30pm. I'm not going to go into a detailed review of the food but I will say that the dishes we ordered were all decent (though nothing to write home about), except the Braciole which was cut super thick. The flavor was still good but the beef was just sliced so thick it kind of ruined the dish. We hear the chef is originally from Sicily? So maybe that's authentic there? The biggest downer was service. The place isn't that big but it is a strange setup. There's a bar downstairs and I think the kitchen is also downstairs? but all the tables are upstairs. There were maybe... 10 tables of 2-4 people, and a table of a larger party of 8? But we were literally the second table that sat down so it really shouldn't have taken 3 hours because there were a lot of servers (4-6) so I don't think they were understaffed. Our tiny water glasses were never refilled and I had to flag someone down to get more each and every time. The last straw was waiting for our server to come and get the check. She kept walking by our table without stopping or even looking. So, we sat around for an extra 20-25min and I had to flag her down again just to get her to take our cards and run them! I'm giving it a generous 3 stars because I'm not sure how long they've been open and maybe they're still working out all the kinks. But given the mediocre food and the terrible service, we won't be back. read more

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Food was fantastic! Atmosphere was great and made for a very nice dinner. The bartender (ate at the bar) checked in regularly and made sure we had everything we needed. Cocktails were also just as good as the food!! read more

Every aspect of my experience at this restaurant was top notch. I had spaghetti puttanesca -my husband had the branzino. Both were excellent. Branzino was a bit dry, but not enough to hold back a star. I love the atmosphere I love the waitstaff- hardworking staff. I will make a point to frequent this restaurant. It is so much better here than what Buffalo normally offers. read more

Have you ever gone to Italy and feel disappointed when returning with our American options for restaurants? You need to try this place! We have been here several times in the past few months and each time we are completely satisfied with food and service. The homemade pasta is cooked perfectly...The marriage of flavors in the pear Gorgonzola salad...the bread...the octopus...all make me want to kiss my fingers and throw it to the sky. So thankful to get a fantastic Italian red wine that doesn't cost a fortune. The staff make you feel welcome like family and the vibes are cool. Thank you for bringing this to Lewiston! read more

Wow, i have to start by saying that when I saw the Blue Cave coming to lewiston, I thought a great another italian restaurant. Oh what a difference a meal makes. This is authentic, wonderful cuisine.The chef is a master. It was a difficult decision to make while looking at the menu. So many amazing things things to choose from. We started with the arancini, the best I've ever eaten. My husband decided on the lasagna, and I took one our wonderful server Peter's many suggestions and ordered the linguine with shrimp and a lobster tail. Everything was cooked to perfection and was just a delight to our taste buds. For dessert, we decided to indulge in the chocolate mousse pie, I highly recommend. Light and delicious. So many different, delicious entrees to choose from. We will be back!! Our compliments to the chef. And welcome to Lewiston. read more

Blue Cave Restaurant - Fettuccine with shrimp and lobster tail. - Sicilian Near Me - Lewiston, New York

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This is the worst restaurant I have ever been to. The owner/chef is unprofessional and rude. While at dinner I asked for extra salad dressing and I could hear him yelling at the staff about this request. Never again will I step foot in that place. read more

It's taken me a couple of weeks to write this review. The location is an interesting one. 90% of the dining room is upstairs. If you have any mobility issues be aware of this. Upstairs is cramped. Too much so. I understand trying to fill the seats during the time of a limited dinner service, yet for this reason alone we would be hesitant to go back. The food: The food was extremely good. However a very limited menu for those not feeling adventurous. It is a "upscale" adventurous menu. There is nothing wrong with that, unless you have people who are not that adventurous. I would highly suggest some more basic items on the menu. The cost is high, yet what isn't these days. I am finding going out to be less and less interesting for the value. Overall, try this place. You may love it! read more

Picked this place as our spot to hit before heading to sheas. Reservations are a must if you are attempting to go on an event night! The dining space is on the smaller side so it was full for most of our dining. That being said, tables are mostly located upstairs and it was so hot it was uncomfortable. It was about 45 outside and felt 80 inside. The food itself was beyond excellent. Absolutely ask for the free bread as well. It has oil and garlic and was a nice addition. The reason the blue cave lost a star was on the bar/service. The waitstaff just looked extremely overwhelmed. I had ordered a glass of procecco and the waitress had used a previously opened mini bottle and gave me about a quarter of a glass. She was training another staff member so I thought she may come back and bring the mini bottle I had ordered to the table but she did not. Looking at other tables, the bar seemed to be a persistent issue. Many tables waiting extended time for just a glass of wine. Food definitely saved this place and we will try again but hopefully they gain their footing!! read more

Blue Cave Restaurant - Salmon - Sicilian Near Me - Lewiston, New York

The service and food here are exceptional. I live in Lewiston and I dine out often, as we have many excellent restaurants and bars to choose from. Blue Cave is Italian, but southern Italian and as such, it is different from the other areas of Italian food. It is delicious, hearty and fresh. The staff is knowledgeable and well-trained so the experience of dining at this resis fun and relaxing. read more

Had another great visit here with my husband and best friend. We opted to start with the Antipasto Trinacria and it was absolutely delicious. The panelle are still my favorite app. I finally got to try the Risotto Nero and it was PHENOMENAL. So tasty. My husband did say his grouper was a bit fishy this time and not as good as last time but still very good. read more

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rarely am i impressed by italian food in buffalo but this one wins!! we got the squid appetizer (not pictured) and it was perfect. the seafood pasta and risotto were also made well, creamy and cheesy risotto well flavored unlike many other places i've had recently. the amount of seafood was generous especially for the price. overall a fancy dining experience for a very fair price. only critique (not the restaurant's fault) is that it's located on a busy street which takes away from the view and zen ambiance. read more

Blue Cave Restaurant - Sicilian Near Me - Lewiston, New York

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Probably the 1st to walk in today. Was greeted promptly by Cassondra who is very helpful with ordering and made a mean martini. First selection was Gemmelli con Salciccia and fungi or sausage and mushrooms in a cream sauce. The first bite was ok but after addition of black pepper,crushed red pepper and parmesan it was very delicious. That It went well with the Caruso e Minini Nero dAvola red wine. The filetto di cernia was a good mix of grouper filled and rice also very good that went well with the Produttori di Mandaria Fianow white wine. A good delicious fresh tasting selection. To top it off the canolo as which everything seems to be restaurant made fresh. Very good marks all around. Great service and food a return visit is in order. read more

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New restaurant in Lewiston everyone should give it a try. Menu is a bit pricey so be prepared but am sure you will enjoy your meal

The food is over priced for its quality. We recieved the wrong order and they wouldn't refund the price of that dish. Tried to say well this dish you did get is delicious just eat it... Absolutely HORRIBLE customer service. Will not be back as they clearly do not know how to run a business. read more

This was our first experience here. It wasn't the complete experience I would've liked to have had, but we will be back. The only real complaint I have is that they were out of multiple items we were looking at. It's already a smaller, select item-style menu, so I was surprised that, on a Saturday, they would be out of an appetizer, and two entrées. They were then also out of tiramisu, sauv blanc, and espresso, since the machine was down. It just seemed a lot to me missing in one evening. What we did get was delicious and well-prepared, and definitely warrants another trip back to try some other items. read more

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Visited for galentines. There was a sign to go upstairs to be seated so I did that and the waitress was very rude and told me to go back downstairs to talk to the hostess. Following the directions on the sign seemed to annoy the waitress for the rest of the evening because she was extremely rude. Also the kitchen was out of the single vegetarian entree (lasagna) and the waitress didn't tell us until we had been there for ten minutes. The food was ok, gnocchi was very gummy and obviously not homemade. Service was also slow even though it wasn't busy. read more

The restaurant is Italian and has a rustic European look - we were told the 2nd floor is normally used for parties of 8 and up. The patio is open for seating and is dog-friendly but it was too warm today so we ate inside. The bar and kitchen are in the center and there is seating on both sides. We started with drinks and complimentary focaccia bread. My husband had salmon wrapped in a puff pastry served with asparagus, his sister had Ziti alla Genovese (see menu photo), and I had Gnocchi Bolognese. We shared two desserts - lemoncello cake and a strawberries and cream gelato. The service was great (Gianni), the temperature inside not too cold or hot, and the bathroom was clean. We definitely recommend! read more

Best restaurant, amazing food. I highly recommend to everyone. immediately remembered how I traveled in Sicily in my youth! è buonissimo read more

Blue Cave Restaurant - Sicilian Near Me - Lewiston, New York

Very nice restaurant with interesting dishes. Atmosphere is cool and the staff is really friendly. You can tell that customers service is a priority. APPETIZER Polpo Grigliato (Grilled octopus , potato puree, lemon vinaigrette). Enjoyed this appetizer very u h. Char and spices on the octopus were terrific. PASTA Rigatoni Ala Norma (Pasta, eggplant, tomato basil sauce with ricotta salata) - Very good. Tomato basil sauce was tasty and pasta was cooked perfectly. MAIN COURSE Braciole (Rolled beef, herb and cheese stuffing tomato sauce, served over orecchiette pasta). Very good. I love braciole and this did not disappoint. DESSERT Tiramisu - fresh and delicious. Definitely worth a visit for interesting dishes and great customer service. read more

Blue Cave Restaurant - Rigatoni Ala Norma - pasta, eggplant, tomato basil sauce with ricotta salata - Sicilian Near Me - Lewiston, New York

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I've eaten here several times and the food and service has always been excellent. A very cozy atmosphere. The food is true Italian. Highly recommend dining here. read more

Dined in with a coworker on 11-14. I had the Pollo (chicken) Alla Milanese. It should have been called Pollo Tartar- it took me some time , but I realized 1/2 way through a very poor (!) rubbery dish, that my chicken was undercooked. At the least, it was my worst food experience in years & I travel extensively for work & pleasure & dine out 60-70 times a year. I really should have said something (I did not)- but what can you really say to that? Either way, it was bad. We also had Caponata (eggplant app) that wasn't great. We asked for bread with our dinner & we were served baked rollls- no oil, no butter. Words can't adequately describe how wrong this "bread" was for this restaurant. A friend recommended this spot over a nearby Italian favorite that is nearby- I need to report back my disappointment. Something I'd never, ever normally do- it was that bad. read more

This is a tentative review as Blue Cave is still in its freshly opened stages; the liquor license is not in place yet (coming vey soon). The potential is there for this to be a great addition to the downtown scene. I probably shouldn't make this review but there was a lot to like about this restaurant. The antipasti platter was terrific. The red sauce is exceptionally good. I could eat a bowl with some crusty bread and be very happy. The braciole was also excellent. The big disappointment was the spaghetti bottarga. The cream, crushed red pepper and alfalfa sprouts were all wrong. The flavor of the bottarga was obliterated. If you have ever had spaghetti bottarga you would probably not care for this preparation. Just give me some spaghetti, bit of olive oil and grate the bottarga on top. Please. I will definitely be going back to the cave...hopefully they'll have the octopus. That's what I went for but they were out. Next time, Blue Cave, next time! read more

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I have eaten here a couple times, and enjoyed both experiences very much! The food is fresh and delicious. The staff were wonderful. And, the owners, Mario and his wife, were especially warm and welcoming to us, engaging in friendly conversation. Highly recommend this spot! We especially enjoyed the polpo/octopus, grouper, and tiramisu! read more

Excellent service! I was seated right away and enjoyed the recommendations provided by our server. I went on a Tuesday evening for my birthday and the ambiance was lively for a week night. Music was relaxing, lights weren't too dim, and lots of space. I highly recommend the gnocchi bolognese :) great addition to downtown Buffalo. read more

Blue Cave Restaurant - Sicilian Near Me - Lewiston, New York

Are you kidding me? You haven't been here yet? Do you not like yourself? As a born and raised Italian/Sicilian American, it's basically sacrilegious for me to eat in an Italian restaurant... but this is no Olive Garden. First, The service here was amazing. I was even "yelled at" by one of the servers for not finishing my meal j/k I didn't actually get yelled that, it was very light and playful and reminded me of eating great food at my grandmothers house when I was a child. Secondly, OMG THE FOOD! They make fresh marinara every day. All of the food are from the owner's family recipes. One word to describe all of this, AMAZING. Five stars all around. We will definitely be coming back. And if you haven't yet, Get down there and get you some! Grazij Blue cave! Please never close read more

Amazing food and service , we enjoyed everything we ordered and the staff spoiled us.

I'm not big on Italian but my fiancée is, so I always like trying new Italian restaurants. With that being said. The Blue Cave was one of the best Italian places I've been too. The food was above excellent. The food tasted truly authentic. And the service was just as good. One thing I wondered is why we do not get any bread before our meal though? Typical for Italian restaurants but either way this place was absolutely outstanding. read more

We were greeted by the Italian Owner & Chef and staff as we walked in. We were very excited to see such interesting menu items. As appetizers and entrées arrived, they did not disappoint. As foodies, the charred octopus was the best we've ever had and we get ... More Alex Tzanetos 1 review·3 photos 10 months ago We came here to celebrate our anniversary. we split the octopus appetizer, i got the squid ink risotto, and my boyfriend got the braised short ribs. I got the house mojito and he got the house martini and both were delicious. I had high ... More 3 Blue Cave Italian Restaurant (Owner) 10 months ago Thank you for such kind words! We look forward to seeing you again! Nadia Shahram Local Guide·32 reviews·284 photos 4 months ago Everything was top quality including the service. But the best part was the presentation of each meal with unique aroma, colors and flavors. My company and I were intrigued especially with the variety of herbs and spices used on each of our ... More +8 1 Blue Cave Italian Restaurant (Owner) 4 months ago Thank you, Nadia, for your generous words. Chef Mario enjoyed talking with you as well. We look forward to seeing you again. Zachary Lopez 11 reviews·3 photos 11 months ago Chef Mario sat us at our table. That's se read more

Blue Cave Restaurant - Best charred octopus ever! - Sicilian Near Me - Lewiston, New York