I'm a big fan of the small butcher shop. I recently discovered Valint's when a friend told me to…read morecheck it out. I drove a half hour--and I'm really glad I did. I had a chance to talk with the owner, and he's completely dialed in and clearly knows his product. The shop itself is great and offers more than just meat--utensils, barbecue supplies, vacuum sealers, and even video games, which is a fun touch. You can hang out, grab a beer, and relax on the front porch. I'm especially a fan of chorizo sausage, and I cooked some up today--it was fantastic. I'll definitely be going back.

Best meats around. Fresh and ready for the grill. Friendly and helpful butchers. The quality is…read morewell worth it for a little extra $. Love the unique door handles made out of meat cleavers!

Come along with me while I tell you about this little ice cream adventure Bambi and I had in the…read moreVillage of Lancaster. The village is so romantic with all the lights, and Bambi was riding along enjoying all the attention she got in her stroller while we made our way to the ice cream shop. It honestly felt like such a cute little Friday evening outing. This was my first time coming to Big Papa's Creamery, so I asked one of the employees, Joey, which flavors were the most popular and which one was his favorite. He recommended the Peanut Butter Cookie Monster, Signature classic peanut butter with hunks of cookie dough and Oreo piece. Joey was ind and helpful, and I really appreciated the recommendation. But I decided to go with the Cookie Dough. You can taste that this ice cream is homemade. The vanilla ice cream is creamy, rich, and incredibly smooth, with these tiny sugar crystals that add just a little bit of texture. It was absolutely divine. I'm not exaggerating when I say this might be the best ice cream I've ever had. I took my video... And then I started eating it. And I literally could not stop. The Cookie Dough was a ten out of ten for me. The ice cream itself was so good that it didn't need to be overloaded with mix-ins. The flavor and texture really stood on their own. One little boy was so excited when he found out that Bambi was 6, then he told me that his mom Was 37 The shop itself was so cute, too. Everything is pink, blue and adorable. There are pink and blue tables and long benches outside, and it would be such a fun spot for a first date, intimate birthday party, family outing, The service was excellent, the line moved quickly, and everyone was friendly. After Bambi had her little walk, we continued down the sidewalk through the Village of Lancaster. And then you have to listen to this. The live music was playing on an outdoor patio, and it had the best beachy, vacation-like vibes. The music, the lights, the people sitting outside, and the beautiful village atmosphere all came together so perfectly. For a little while, it honestly felt like I was on vacation. That's what made this visit so enjoyable. It wasn't just the ice cream. It was the entire experience. The homemade flavor. The adorable atmosphere. The friendly service. The outdoor seating. The beautiful Village of Lancaster location. The kids playing outside. Bambi getting to meet people. And the live music that made the whole evening feel so relaxing and fun. So if you're in the Village of Lancaster, I definitely recommend stopping by this ice cream shop. It's located at: 20 West Main Street,, Suite 600 Their hours are: 12pm - 10pm everyday As for me, the Cookie Dough was absolutely the right choice. Ten out of ten. Maybe the best ice cream I've ever had. And yes... I ate the whole thing. Absolutely no regrets. It was divine.

On a beautiful evening in August, after grabbing dinner in downtown Lancaster, I made sure to save…read moreroom for dessert. After walking around downtown for a bit, I saw Big Papa's Creamery. I remembered seeing them on the local news stations and had read they make their own ice cream, so I had to grab a couple scoops to try them out. What a delicious way to round out the day! I walked into around 8:30pm on a Wednesday to a bright and trendy interior with several tables and chairs, as well as a table that ran along the windows with stools to sit at. And if there wasn't a spot inside, there were tables and chairs outside in front of the shop as well. There was a line that wrapped near the entrance but it moved surprisingly quickly since there were only two young women scooping and cashing customers out. I had enough time to look over their flavors and narrow down the two that I wanted. The young woman who prepared my order was friendly and pleasant and did an excellent job scooping - My scoops were plenty big; they did not skimp on portions. What did I order? I went with a medium (two scoops) with the bottom scoop flavor being their Cookies & Cream and the top scoop flavor being their Salted Caramel Crunch (homemade crunch pieces folded into their signature salted caramel base), in a waffle cone. The ice cream lived up to the hype! It was so creamy and jam-packed with Oreo cookie pieces and crunchy caramel pieces. Both flavors were excellent, but if I had to pick one that I liked more, I'd say Cookies & Cream. The ice cream itself was like a cookies & cream base with HUGE Oreo cookie pieces rolled into it, the flavor was crazy good! The waffle cone tasted fresh and held both scoops with ease, worth the slight upcharge. For the high-quality ingredients, homemade flavors, and generous portion size, I felt the price I paid was reasonable. Big Papa's Creamery was an excellent experience! Pleasant staff, a happy & bright shop, and amazing homemade ice cream, I couldn't ask for more. I'm already thinking about what flavor I want to try next with my scoop of Cookies & Cream when I stroll through downtown Lancaster again.

Found at the North Tonawanda farmers Market on Saturdays is this (new to me this year) table/booth…read more I think it may be Pickle Annie herself manning the table. She sells pickles of course, a variety of flavors that range from Mild to Hot. They have some interesting names and flavors, and I do not claim to have tried them all. I listed them below. She also makes and sells an eggplant spread, which I have picked up a few times and is quickly consumed in our house. Overall she has a few other products, I'm sure good, as others we have tried have been. I am not sure if she can be found anywhere else locally, but she does have an online presence at pickleannies.com Classic Deli Bombay Deli Buffalo Chip Elbert Hubbard - Filled with Hot Spices named after Elbert Hubbard, the original owner of Hubbard Road Farms. Hot Bay Dill Lancaster Relish Salsa Hot Swamp Sweet Hot Pickled Jalapenos Bread and Butter Cinnamon French Toast Ginger Ginseng Green and Red Pepper Relish Sweet and sour taste Holiday Horseradish Sweet Low Sugar Cajun pickle with moderate heat

Pickle annie was so gross the pickles where soft she was rude and the pickles where 3 times the…read moreprice as the other pickle vendor happy pickle

The local public tv station hosted a chocolate tasting show where the owners of Dark Forest…read moreChocolate Makers featured several of their chocolates from different regions of the world. It was very interesting. We sampled the chocolates we pre-ordered for the tv show. For the first time we learned to eat it slowly and appreciate the subtleties of good chocolate. There is really no comparison from what we are used to eating from other chocolate stores. Since then we have bought chocolates at their store in Lancaster and always find something we have not yet tried but really enjoy.

Let me start out by saying this is not your typical chocolate place like Watsons or Niagara…read morechocolates. This place is what I would consider a designer chocolate store. It's small location and focuses on REAL cocoa. So when you first walk in, you will be hit with a not-so-pleasant smell. This is due to the cocoa beans. If you aren't familiar with that smell, it can be off-putting. Suck it up and continue on to view the limited options they have available for purchase. Everything is vegan and organic so prices are higher than other chocolate stores and you will not find things such as chocolate covered Oreos or sponge candy. You will find several types of dark chocolate candy bars, chocolate covered pretzels, cocoa coffee, etc. Be sure to try out my favorite - the skipping stones. They are dark chocolate covered toffee pieces. It's a wonderful place to find a unique chocolate gift for someone but you have to know what you are walking into or you may be disappointed.

I've found myself coming here more and more lately. I bring a good book and submerse myself while…read moredrinking a Lancaster brew. I still stand by the fact that their lattes and anything you find on their specials list is always going to be served at "drinking temperature", I prefer death hot coffee though. I live for the Lox bagel. Its the best I've ever had in WNY. Literally half a block of cream cheese on that thing! I found the breakfast sandwiches on the croissant was super disappointing. Its not on a croissant, but rather a think, dense bun disguised as a croissant. I definitely won't get that again. Love that they have a whole case of macarons!

This cafe is in my own backyard. The village of Lancaster has made…read moreSome big changes in a good way!Lancaster coffee co has been here and we Finally Made it in our recent " coffee tour". Located right on central ave , there is street parking along the tree lined street. There is a counter where you order and a seating counter along the large picture window . The place sits about 30 max. It's bright and airy, but it was freezing the day we went - to the point where a few of us kept on our winter coats . The little cafe tables are marble like you'd see in a bistro, and they make an effort to keep them clean - accounting for their 100% health score! The menu has many drinks, hot and cold to choose from. Lattes, chai, boba, smoothies, and also offers some food- I didn't try it but the burger looked great. Husband and I both had lattes- made Quickly and brought to our table- the coffee was Smooth- could have been a bit hotter. He had a lemon muffin which had a nice surprise inside ofLemon curd. Prices are fair . It's a nice addition to the village.

The crust is amazing. THE CRUST is so yummy. My order was initially cheesed when I asked for no…read morecheese (I know it's weird-ish). Pizza 151 made me a whole new cheeseless pizza (Specialty Veggie) cooked to perfection which I enjoyed EVERY BITE of. I ordered the garlic red sauce instead of the regular pizza sauce. This sauce has some Parmesan cheese in it but the parm doesn't upset my stomach as it's a harder cheese with less lactose in it. (Sharing in case this helps you too!) THE CRUST is something to write home about. The flavor and texture is reminiscent of my childhood favorite pizza place! Rhymes with Meet-za Mutt lol. Anyway - I was pleased with the service and quality! I will definitely be ordering from here again, (god-willing), and I highly recommend you do too If you have the chance. Tell them I sent you and remember to tip well!

Great service. Very good pizza, bready crust. Tasty sauce. We ordered the Buffalo Chicken Wing…read morepizza and it was delicious. The restaurant is part of the Lancaster Village community center, and you can only access it from an interior door. I'm not too familiar with Lancaster, but I did like this pizzeria and I would stop by again for a slice..

Finally, a place to hang and have flights without the spirits. Good vibes, friendly service, good…read moreoptions of creative drinks with homemade syrups. This place even hosts syrup making classes. I enjoyed my time here so much that we ended up staying past close for a private event. My guest and I ended up taking our order to the patio, got lost in conversation, and watched the sunset. It was a beautiful time. I REALLY enjoyed the cajun and garlic parm pretzel. Surprisingly the cinnamon-sugar didn't tickle my fancy. Another surprise was the unsweetened Honey Vanilla Ice Tea. It was delicious. The cookies were also really yummy. I'm a stickler for a clean environment so this place checks that box down to the bathroom, that was very nicely decorated with art that made me smile. This place is a good option for reading a book in a chill environment or hanging with friends. I also appreciated the section to the right of this establishment that offered variety of unique gifts. Definitely check out this husband, wife led gem.

Nice hidden gem in the village of Lancaster. This tea bar has tasty selections, the teas are always…read moresurprisingly flavorful without going too far sweet or being too subtle. They have just the right balance. There are also some snacks and cookies led, and iced teas, sparkling water and soda with adaptogens. Staff is upper friendly and helpful. Check it out!!

A friend and I met here for dinner. The atmosphere in Symposium is warm and inviting. The server…read morewas attentive. They have an extensive wine list and cocktail list. On the night we were there, a singer was setting up. Unfortunately, we were a little early to hear any of his sets. I ordered the steak flatbread, gluten free. It had great flavor to it, and I would go back and try other flatbreads. My friend ordered what she always gets, which was a Caesar with chicken. She enjoyed it. This is a cozy spot in the Village of Lancaster.

We only stopped in for an after dinner drink, but I found the place super cute. My only complaint…read morewas it's pretty bright in there. We got a couple spots at the small bar and were served fairly quick. I had the espresso martini which was served in coupe glass. It was tasty, but pretty sweet. My boyfriend got a basic vodka cranberry, as they do not have iced tea. I would like to come back for brunch or a nice glass of wine.