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    High Violet

    3.8 (55 reviews)
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    HIGH VIOLET ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Outdoor seating

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    Music for a Sushi Restaurant
    Samantha B.

    Amazing cocktails! Being tourists we researched the best place to get a nightcap near The Edward Hotel (very cute boutique hotel btw) Really enjoyed the Music for a Sushi Restaurant-it was a sweet yet savory cocktail and such a creative way to feature that miso flavor-it wasn't overwhelming at all Queen of Thornes was another favorite-I don't really like bourbon but I couldn't get enough of this The vibe was intimate and chic-perfect for a date but there were groups around us too Highly recommend having a cocktail or two here

    Nikkeya N.

    I really like this place and will be back for sure. I made the reservation online and didn't know which toom to go for so I just picked whatever. I was pleasantly surprised that we were sat in a room right up front. It was secluded and off to the side but there were other tables. It's was so nice. I felt like I was in my own little VIP section. I didn't know what the menu would be like so I told my husabnd it was dinner date. He was just a excited to be there as me. We realized that this was more small plates and not a full meal but it was perfectly fine. The empanadas and beef sliders were delicious. We shared them and we loved them. The drinks were absolutely delicious and I'm not sure but my husband had a negroni. He loved it. Our server Naomi was such a doll. She had beautiful energy and she is just gorgeous. She guided us in the right direction with our drink choices and she was very attentive. Sometimes I worry going into new trendy places but she made us feel super comfortable I can not wait to go back.

    Pick axe
    Aly W.

    We visited a couple cocktail bars after dinner, including High Violet. Normally the only clue to its location is a wall reading PSSST, but a hostess sat in front to greet us. I reserved a booth, but they were able to move us to the Red Room when my husband wanted cozier seats. Not that the booths aren't cozy, just better for a meal. Otherwise the Red Room or Jungle Room is the way to go to enjoy a drink or two with a date or friends. Between the two, the Jungle Room is more inviting and pleasantly lit. Definitely my top choice the next time I make a reservation. We didn't spend any time on the patio, but it looks nice, too. The drinks include some very unique options. I had a bourbon based pickaxe. My husband had the gin based Saturn. I look forward to going back to try more cocktails and food. Service is great. Friendly and accomodating. We look forward to going back.

    Kiran K.

    Honestly very surprised I'm not seeing mostly 4+ star reviews. I've been here over 5 times now and here are some things that I know to be true from each of those experiences: 1. The staff and servers have always been amazing, timely and friendly! I've never had to wait too long for drinks/food and they are always smiling when they check on the table. 2. The patio space is beautifullll, along with the coffee shop out back. 3. The cocktails and food are in fact pricey, however, they are also delicious. This might not be a spot I hit up every weekend buttt I think it's great for a special date or a treat. Also, knowing Elmwood Village, perhaps they could have had a cheaper menu if their business was in another neighborhood but then we'd lose the ease of bar hopping around Elmwood which I'm sure was a motivating factor for them. The ambiance is unlike any other place in Buffalo and I, for one, would like to see a ton of more speak-easy style bars and restaurants around here! The velvet couches and the small luxury touches really leave an impression, I think they could probably try to do a bit more of that on the back patio but the patio itself is gorgeous, a bit of a different vibe than the inside though!

    Marianna L.

    Had an incredible experience at High Violet A cocktail bar that brings a perfect mix of creativity, ambiance, and quality--definitely one of the best spots on elmwood I've stopped by lately. a warm, intimate vibe with dim lighting and lush decor that gives it a sophisticated yet a cozy feel. The seating is thoughtfully arranged, making it perfect for both date nights and relaxed gatherings with friends , a real hidden gem. High Violet's drink menu is crafted with both classic favorites and bold, inventive combinations that showcase the bartenders skills and creativity. Overall, it's a must-visit if you appreciate top-notch cocktails in a setting that feels both upscale and welcoming. Can't wait to come back and try more of their menu! Highly recommend.

    Espresso Martini's

    The atmosphere and drinks were amazing! Amira was our server and she was on point, she has great customer service skills! She was helpful and knowledgeable. I am so excited to have a girls night at this hidden gem.

    Michele M.

    I wanted to give this place a 4 but honestly after reading the reviews I said it's ok, I can give 3.5 The food is amazing. I was skeptical at first but really really good. The salad could have had a tad more dressing but everything tasted delicious. The reason I am giving a 3.5 is one the service. It was awful. For such a "high end" cocktail/bar/restaurant you'd think the staff would be super friendly but honestly they weren't. It was quite a turn off. Drinks are very good. I'd go back to just the bar so I don't have to interact with the servers but other than that I hope the food selection gets larger as it was good

    Drink Menu
    Daviyion J.

    First off the vibe at High Violet is very cool so that should be noted upfront. we were able to be in a VIP room of sorts, but the outside space looks really nice to enjoy on a nice summer evening. Honestly the one star drop is purely for pricing. I understand upscale/elevated experiences, but $17 for fried bologna as a small plate just seems kind of crazy, haha. (I didn't try it, to be fair so it could be worth it). In terms of the drinks and the quality of the cocktails, hands-down some the best I've had in town. Big points for the Zombie, which is a delicious overproof cocktail. I also tried to chocolate mousse desert which was tasty in it's own right. I've been want to check out this place since it opened and was able to do so my birthday and definitely recommend being somewhere to check out at least once.

    Jungle room
    Claire S.

    Always enjoy my stop to High Violet! I've been 3 times now. The Red Sea was really yummy - I love gin based fruit cocktails. Charcuterie board was also really good. I ate everything on it except the blue cheese. It was a good assortment of items that seemed to go together and one of the cheeses was perfect to spread on the crackers. Food menu is very limited so make sure to check before arriving. We originally planned to eat dinner there but then checked the menu and it's all apps and small plates, so we ate before we came and then just enjoyed snacks and drinks. Great place to get photos. Love the green velvet seating in the jungle room. Such a vibe!

    Bradley B.

    I'm so sorry guys. Do better. After three times visiting, I'm not impressed and it's gotten worse. But first give that girl behind the bar with long black hair a raise. She's probably the only thing running this establishment. [And you know the one] The costumes are dumb. After even being bicoastal for years, Hollywood would even laugh. The service is beyond poor. (Harsh, again sorry, but you want to be posh: DO IT -- have a god damn dress code, add a freaking tacky red rope that would fit your theme *I want to love but is so fake and trying so hard*) You want reservations for a four-seated bar but then have three people deep behind you. So which theme is it? Terrible. Cocktails....mhh go elsewhere if you don't want to wait 40 minutes in a place the size of your closet. I will say -- you do have to go at least once!!! [it's a vibe for a wanna be twenty nothings or Buffalo business owners that have no place better to go] Tone it UP or dial it back sweetie. You'll have business, but not for the long haul .

    Clover Club
    Hannah L.

    Spirits are a-soarin' at High Violet! Buffalo doesn't have nearly enough *good* cocktail bars. Luckily, High Violet entered the scene to give us Buffalonians a taste of the good life -- carefully crafted (delicious) drinks, posh seating, and a speakeasy vibe that'll be difficult to replicate by anyone else. My friend suggested we go here to have a drink to celebrate her birthday, and I was game. Though other reviews speak poorly of the bar's atmosphere, I thought it was unique and cozy. Each room is beautiful, and because of their secret, speakeasy facade, of course the vibe inside will be a little on the "exclusive" side. I ordered a Clover Club, a gin-based drink with raspberry and a foam of sorts on top. It was delicious. Not overly sweet, not too bitter, and the foam offered a tang that made for a delightful drinking experience. My friend got the Saturn, another gin-based drink that I stole a sip of. It was very fruity and sweet, but starkly different from my drink, and I really like it as well. We didn't order any food of their menu but they had a fair selection of tasty bites that anyone would enjoy -- with lots of options for the seafood lovers out there. The bartenders were friendly and attentive, and overall we both had a great time. It's not often you step into a bar that mimics the set of Mad Men. So if you're looking to have yourself a little Don Draper moment, I highly suggest High Violet.

    Bougie drinks bougie in a good way
    Allison F.

    We went here on a very rare date night. Just our first stop. We didn't have a reservation which we were told would normally be a problem but the weather was unusual warm so the back patio was open. We were sat at a tight high top right by the door. It was a cute little courtyard, but you could tell the vibe was bougie. We both got drinks mine was a little spicy and both were a little pricy. It was a really good cocktail though! I wish I could remember the name. It a nice spot if you're ready to spend money (and have a reservation) but it's not my favorite place in Buffalo. We didn't get food because the prices seemed high for what they were offering.

    Cheese board
    Sabina S.

    tl;dr: cute date spot in Buffalo but pricey and pretentious. Has some kinks to iron out as a new spot but would recommend if you're looking for a nice cocktail bar Stopped here for a date night while we were in town. It was a cute brand new cocktail bar. We made a reservation for outside which was very cute and aesthetic. Looked like a Southern California backyard which made me feel like I was at home. The vibes were definitely upscale so I'm glad we brought a fancy pair of clothes. Was very pretentious overall so we felt sort of out of place as not bougie rich people... The food was good but pricey and the drinks were delicious. We were disappointed because the chips were sold out already by the time we got there even though we arrived 50min after they opened. We got the cheese board which was good but could have been better with an explanation of what was on the board. We asked for more bread which they gave us though which was nice. Overall could tell they were very new but the drinks hit the spot which is mainly what we went for anyway before heading to our dinner restaurant.

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    4 years ago

    Won't be returning. The staff does not know how to treat people properly. Will be happy to watch the bar go out of business.

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    Beacon Grille

    Beacon Grille

    4.8
    (87 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    (4.5) ~ Very Good Overall Food & Service!…read more DRINKS: ** Steuben Brewing Company, Hometown English Brown Ale (draft) = (4.75) Great Taste! ** Deschutes Black Butte Porter (draft) = (4.70) Very Solid Porter! ** Water (tap) = (4.15) Very good, must be filtered;) ** Coffee = (4) very good * VonTrappBrewing, Hefeweizen Summer Ale = (3.75) Hoppy FOOD: ** Focaccia w. Koji Butter (see photo) = (5) Excellent! So Complex & Best I've had:) ** Buffalo Style Octopus (see photo) = (5) Excellent! ** Pineapple Pavlova (see photo) = (5) Excellent! Best I've had:) ** Wood Roasted Carrots (see photo) = (4.5) Smokey! ** Chocolate Hazelnut Torte = (4.25) Very good ** House Pickled Vegetables (see photo) = (4) very good ** Double Cut Pork Chop = (4) very good

    You know the saying "you get what you pay for"? This place is what they were talking about, but on…read morethe good side of that adage. It's pricy, but it's REALLY good. Hubs and I came for dinner with four friends a couple weeks back and though it was a splurge, I have no regrets. Everything I had was delicious. We had: Focaccia Roasted Carrots Wagyu strip Rhubarb Panna Cotta Pineapple Pavlova I also had a Freakin' Beacon mocktail. Everything was SO GOOD. That focaccia was like no other focaccia I'd ever had but was delicious; crisp on the outside, soft on the inside. The steak (med rare) was perfect to me, hubs thought it was a tiny bit too rare for him. It was super tender and easy to eat, perfect char. I couldn't eat the chimmichurri it came with as it has Thai basil (not usual in chimmichurri, but I'm allergic, and the server was very good about asking about allergies) but honestly, it didn't need it. That steak stood on its own. Both desserts were delicious, but to my surprise I think the pavlova was even better than the panna cotta (and I love panna cotta). The portions were very generous and I was pretty stuffed by the time I got home. Our portion of the bill was over $200 (hubs also had some cocktails and the steak alone was almost $90) but it was so good, we'll want to come back when we're in town for sure.

    Photos
    Beacon Grille
    Carbonara
    Carbonara
    Side of fries. They're definitely real and soooo good...enough for two people.

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    Side of fries. They're definitely real and soooo good...enough for two people.
    Falley Allen

    Falley Allen

    3.7
    (156 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Went as a party of 2 for brunch on a Sunday. A little tricky as we found differing hours of…read moreoperation online - ended up finding a post on their instagram that they opened at 11. Server was very friendly and attentive. Decent menu options including the $22 unlimited mimosas! Didn't feel rushed, food was tasty. Would return. Parking can be tricky downtown but there is street parking and some lots on Allen St.

    I recently stopped into Falley Allen and was excited to try one of their flavored espresso…read moremartinis. I was told those are only available during brunch -- totally fine, I get that certain specials have set times. However, I then tried to order the martini flight that was listed on the drink menu and was told that was seasonal and no longer available. That was a bit confusing, especially since it hadn't been removed. I also wasn't offered any alternative flavors or suggestions, which felt like a missed opportunity. I ended up ordering their standard espresso martini -- which they seem to pride themselves on -- but unfortunately it tasted burnt. It also appeared that the espresso isn't made fresh, as there was a bottle of espresso sitting on the bar. For a cocktail that really depends on quality espresso, that was disappointing. However my friend did try another cocktail off their drink menu and it was delicious. To finish our visit, I waited about 10 minutes just to get my check while the bartender was engaged in conversation with other bartenders. It made the experience feel inattentive and frustrating. The space itself has a cool vibe, but overall the experience fell short of expectations. I'd love to see more consistency between the menu, social media, and what's actually available, fresher preparation for a cocktail they promote so heavily, and more attentiveness at the bar.

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    Falley Allen
    Falley Allen
    Chicken and waffles
    Chicken and waffles
    Falley Allen

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    42N at The Flats

    42N at The Flats

    4.4
    (32 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    My friends and I visited 42N for the first time and I was impressed by the ambiance and the service…read morehere. We were given ample time for our entire party to arrive and were not rushed at all. Our waitress was wonderful. I was debating between a couple items on the menu and opted for a salad. I ordered the Beet & Burrata salad ... um lol well if you would call it that. Two of us ordered this and we both were surprised when it came out to say the least. Basically a couple pieces of lettuce on top of chopped beets under a spicy-ish hollandaise type dressing over burrata. Or I'm assuming the dressing was what was a tad spicy. However I couldn't figure it out lol. There were a couple tiny smoked peach pieces on the side...just too smoky for my taste. Would have preferred just a fresh grilled peach. Also added a side of chicken to toss on my "salad" thinking it had a whole bed of lettuce, however could have avoided ordering that had I seen a picture of this salad beforehand - so I threw that in for you all in case you're on the fence of what to order. It was good if you like beets, but not really filling since the portion was pretty small. Loved the presentation though, gotta give them that. I also had the Oz-molitan... cosmo with blood orange ...delicious! If you like fruity drinks get it!! I tried my friends' fresh cut regular fries, the truffle fries, and also some of the pepperoni flatbread (I forget exactly what it was called, apologies) but all of those were to die for! I almost wished I had ordered those myself haha. Oh well, next time! Not a huge fan of coming downtown (only downside for me but the hubby dropped me off lol) but I would definitely come back again!

    Went on a Thursday night at about 6:30pm. There was a party going on and a show at Shea's so it was…read morepacked. We had to wait about 10 mins to sit at the end of the bar. The inside was super cute. It is on main street with the train track so there is basically no parking in the vicinity so it's a cold walk during winter. We ordered Kugel Latke for an appetizer. It was fine, it tasted like uncrisp tater tots. If there was a sauce of sorts to dip it in, it would have been better besides just potato. For mains we shared two half pizzas the Fig& Pig and the Pepperoni + Honey. They were both fine, they were half sized but still didn't seem like a lot. The person I was with thought it was too much fig, but I had no problem so that is preference. Though the pork belly was mainly fat. The people with us weren't fans of their food either. They also added Truffle fries and were told it would be extra which they agreed to, but it was an additional $9 not jut 2 or 3. For the service, we assumed it was all due to the massive party but it wasn't that great. We were right in front of the bartender and our water was refilled once the entire time we were there. We also didn't get silverware and when we asked for napkins we got a single paper one. We were also at the end of the bar which is where the severs would stand or get the food which was directly next to us which was a bit annoying due to the proximity, they were as close as sitting next to us at a table. No one checked on us either thoughtout our time. Overall, the food was fine, nothing amazing. I'm assuming they get a lot of Shea's traffic which is fine if you want a drink with a snack. I would not come here for an actual meal as it is a limited menu and you don't get a lot. The service wasn't great, but we're going with it was due to the large party. None of us will be returning. It was super cute with the lights though.

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    Outside
    Outside
    42N at The Flats
    42N at The Flats

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    Colter Bay

    Colter Bay

    3.7
    (191 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    This is my Bills bar of choice. Not only is the bar filled often to the brim with a lively group of…read morefellow fans, but when the bills score they'll come around with a bus bin full of free Jell-O shots and offer everyone one. Can't beat that kind of service. Also, as someone who's eaten through a good chunk of the menu over the last bills season, the pot roast melt is the way to go. Absolutely incredible.

    Ummm....I don't know what to say. We live pretty close so we've tried this place at least three…read moretimes before tonight. The first time being in late 2020 and we weren't impressed. We were in a bind in late 2021 when my mom came to visit and we tried again. I had left a three star review after that, but eventually felt guilty and removed it because they're in our neighborhood. Since it's been several years we decided to try again. Their Instagram post advertised a smash burger and fish sandwich specials. Right up our alley! We called up and ordered takeout. The young woman on the phone was very pleasant. The pickup experience was fine...the food? Not so good and definitely not worth $18 for each meal. The double cheeseburger patties had a spongy texture and didn't seem like a smash burger. I'm pretty sure they're pre-formed frozen pucks...or at the very least they taste like it. The fish filet sandwich was crispy and initially looked delicious, but the actual fish inside ended up being soooo mushy...very unpleasant. I had to throw it out after two bites, the texture of the fish was so off-putting. The french fries that came with both sandwiches were generous and tasted fine enough, but they were all such short pieces. I mean, I want at least a few full sized fries, yah know? This disappointing experience confirms our opinion of Colter Bay...for the fourth time. We won't be trying again for a few years.

    Photos
    Colter Bay
    Special chicken mushroom swiss sandwich
    Special chicken mushroom swiss sandwich
    A blue dumb beer

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    A blue dumb beer

    High Violet - tapasmallplates - Updated July 2026

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