I visited Iron Trail for the first time and had a positive experience. As a vegetarian, I was very pleased with the array of options offered. I decided on the fried cauliflower entree and it did not disappoint! I was very impressed by the flavor on the cauliflower itself as well as polenta puree and greens. My friends enjoyed their salmon and butternut squash entrees. As far as the crispy potatoes, there was nothing wrong but I thought they could have used a more flavorful sauce. I got the lemon bar for dessert and it was good quality. All dishes were generous portions. Also, I liked that the dining area was up and away from the bar but that you could still see through. I look forward to returning and trying more items. read more

See all

I left this restaurant nauseous. I brought my wife and a guest from out of town to Iron Tail to enjoy good cocktails and good food. We were really excited because of the reviews, "everything is amazing," and "you can't go wrong" etc. The space was clean and made me look forward to an excellent meal. For context, we went on Sunday around five p.m. on December 29. My experience may just because it was an off time. But even if you catch a restaurant with its foot off the gas it shouldn't have been this bad. I ordered a coquito. I love coquitos. They are a light, coconut eggnog like holiday drink that, in my opinion, tastes better than eggnog. Mine was sour and rancid, and I nearly vomited all over my table. The waitress immediately brought me an acceptable aviation cocktail as a replacement. We ordered three apps, the chorizo patty melt, the calamari, and the bone marrow and beef tartare. The calamari was decent. The chorizo was tasty, but confused, because it came with a dipping sauce, but the bread was covered in a sticky honey sauce which made you not want to pick it up and dip it. The beef marrow and tartare was amazing. If it wasn't for this dish then I would have given zero stars if possible. My wife and I shared the pappardelle pasta with beef and pork bolognese sauce. My friend had the peri peri chicken. At this point in the meal it became very apparent that quality control is a problem at this restaurant. The pasta was overcooked and unsalted. The sauce was rich but also had no salt. Adding salt after the fact did not save this dish. My friend's chicken also wasn't seasoned well. The chicken was bland and the sauce it came with didn't save it. My wife and my friend only cleaned their plates because they were extremely hungry. He gave a 3/5 rating. I didn't get more than a few bites into my pasta before I gave up. I still wasn't feeling well after my rotten coconut cream cocktail ,and bad pasta didn't help. My wife probably gave the most damming rating of all. She turned down my serving of pasta and said she was going to make instant ramen when we got home. The service was a bit lacking, water wasn't refilled as often as it should (especially after I drank everyone's water to wash my mouth out). I was also disappointed, by not surprised, to see that my replacement cocktail hadn't been comped by the restaurant. On top of all this over half of the entrees were not available. I still can't believe I was given an old rancid cocktail probably because the restaurant didn't want to throw out a cocktail made around Christmas Day. Also, how can you charge these prices for food that I make superior versions of at home in my sleep. Why can't they salt pasta water? Why can't they brine/ marinate chicken? Even the app that I loved had under seasoned tartare on it. It was just because the marrow was so good that it didn't matter. I will not be returning. read more

The food was delicious, lots of gluten free options and the staff was very knowledgeable about celiac and allergies. We got the vegetarian option, which was roast zucchini and quinoa, and the chicken. Both were delicious. The server was great too. We will definitely go back again. read more

It was my first time trying this new place. We were seated outdoors. Staff was super friendly and greeted us immediately. The menus are paper which is what a lot of places are doing now due to COVID-19. The menu was too big which helps me a lot :) The today's special are off the menu. The staff gave us a rundown of what the special dishes are. I ordered the steam clams for a started and my friends all ordered the beef tartare and they really enjoy it (I'm not a fan of eating raw beef). I ordered the chicken kabob and it was good but the portion is small. My boyfriend ordered the pork tenderloin souvlaki which he enjoy as well. The rest of my friend ordered the salmon and one ordered the sirloin. The food was good. It was just small portions. But other than that, great experience with both food and staffs! read more

I will keep this short and sweet. Went to Iron Tail with a group of 3. They were not busy (this was a Monday night) but slightly understaffed from what it seemed. 2 servers and a bartender. First round of drinks came out fairly quickly. Oysters also came out pretty quick and we're actually pretty good. From ordering drinks to finishing the Oyster was about 30 mins. That's where things go downhill. We were never told about any of the specials of the day and didn't know there were any until we heard the other waiter telling a table across the room. The next 75 minutes were spent waiting on drinks that's never showed up and receiving 3 meals that were basically inedible. The pasta dish was sent back by 3 ladies at a table next to us and we could see why. The pasta was disgustingly soggy, was super bland and tasted like bath water. Even the waiter said "it looks gross - I don't blame you for not eating it". The burgers (can't screw that up right?) tasted like frozen pattys. I had a few bites and that was it and I'm not a picky eater. Overall, extremely slow, incompetent service and utterly terrible food. The inside is nice aesthetically but feels way more overdone and high society than it should. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else. Hopefully this place closes soon and we get an actual restaurant who can serve edible food in this space. read more

Beautiful little place to have a glass of wine but the food was VERY disappointing. The calamari was nothing out of this world. The Israeli chicken and the steak were both undercooked despite asking for a well-done steak. I love dessert but I was so underwhelmed by the food that I didn't even order dessert despite having a good selection. The service was fantastic, however. read more

Iron Tail Tavern - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

See all

We enjoyed grabbing a cocktail here last weekend. The drinks were tasty and the decor of the bar and restaurant is pretty. It's a nice addition to Elmwood. We did not eat, but the food looked good. We will go back for dinner soon. read more

Food was amazing! If you like oysters, get the PEI oysters, if available. They are to die for! Also, if your looking for a wine pairing, ask the wait staff. They have a somelier on staff. I had the the grilled wahoo with coconut rice and arugula with lime vinaigrette. She picked the perfect wine that did not get lost, nor over took the meal. Amazing place! Everyone is professional, friendly, approachable and want you to have the best dining experience! If you come here, it will become a hidden gem that you must share! read more

Wow!!! These flavors!! Whether you're a meat eater, vegetarian or vegan, these options are amazing. The vegan dish was flavorful, great texture and perfect the cheesecake desert had a hint of coffee and creme brûlée I can't stop raving! You have to check this place out!! read more

Iron Tail Tavern - Menu! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

We absolutely LOVED this restaurant. Chef Paul is an incredibly talented chef. The food was just fabulous. Chef Paul provided service all three times we were there this summer on our vacation. He was so generous with his time, shared delicious details about how the food was prepared, shared information about Buffalo and the surrounding areas and just made the entire experience exceptionally memorable. we would come back to Buffalo just to eat here. The halibut was phenomenal And the chocolate dessert was insane. Hope to see Chef Paul and this lovely restaurant again. five stars and more!!! read more

The space itself is gorgeous , our server was attentive and courteous. Started with an Aviation cocktail which is a classic. But when it should be purple or gray depending on brand of spirits used, it actually came out Electric blue and only tasted of lemon. The Mexican mule cocktail was good though. The iron tail ribs were decent but the oysters tasted of nothing like they've been sitting in the cooler too long and the vinegar with it wasn't good. The pasta dish tasted as if it has been sitting in the window too long , the pasta was broken into pieces fit for a 5 year old to eat and was bland. The cod was okay , the risotto with it was bland and over cooked , When asked for and charged for Tito's martini, you could taste it and tell it was a well or lesser quality vodka. Was hoping for better quality but too each their own, read more

This place was completely unknown to me before it was recommended to me by a friend. It was easily one of the freshest meals I've had, much less in Buffalo. The Hummus had to have been made within a hour or two. Likewise with the bread that came with it. If you've had extremely fresh pasta, everything else is just "eh". The pasta here is so freshly made, every other restaurant's pasta will be just that, "eh". The Chicken Confit was almost falling off the bone. Absolutely delicious. You could make the cornbread that came with it, its own menu item. The Ube Cherry Duo Cheesecake was wonderful. I expected it to be just cheesecake with some fruit on top. Oh no. All baked in and amazing. The server was attentive and knowledgeable. The bartender was amazing and drinks were proper. Highly recommend. Start going now before this place becomes so popular, that you can't get a seat. read more

See all

The food was okay, and the atmosphere was nice- a justifiable 4-star review. BUT because the upper area of the restaurant overlooks the bar I witnessed my server & the bartender drink from the wine from the glass I ordered as well as the wine of the table sitting behind me. This is beyond reproach, and to do it in view of customers? If you want to taste your wine pour it into your own glass. This was on Wednesday night 2/08/23. If this is what they do in view of customers imagine what they do in the kitchen. read more

as an elmwood village hone owner we are spoiled with options. my wife and I have found a Pearl in the neighborhood. Iron Tale has because that Pearl. AJ has been instrumental in many hip establishments and this is another. Kim is such a wonderful front house person. we love seeing her, and staying too late because she's awesome!!! 5 Stars!! exceptional food, menu, service, quality. highly recommend read more

I normally don't write reviews, however I'm going to give this a go. The restaurant was not that busy and my friend wanted to try it. We ordered "crispy potatoes" (which were not cooked and had no flavor, the pieces were not uniformly cut, so any of them that were tiny were ok but like cutting into a raw potato that had been flash fried otherwise.) And the fritters ( in my experience a fritter is small and fluffy goodness not a strange thin pancake/crepe with onions in it, so that was disappointing as well.) The meat we had was ok I guess, but nothing had any flavor. Salt and pepper is your friend and will go a long way!!! I guess overall the meal and experience left me feeling like I could have made something way better at home, especially with the price. I don't mind spending money on delicious, flavorful, quality food...but this was way overpriced for its bland mediocracy. read more

Took my mother here while she was visiting from out of town. She is still raving about it. She even went into the kitchen and talked to the chef to rave about the food (black pepper pasta with white tomato cause and calamari). Every staff that came by was so nice. Great experience. read more

Great food, excellent service and lovely upper dining room in the heart of the Elmwood village!

Really loved the server Hannah, so sweet and gave great recommendations. There were 5 of us and we had 4 different dishes, all were phenomenal! Parking is a little bit of a pain, but the food and the service were well worth it. read more

We stumbled upon this beautiful restaurant & were so glad we did. The food is superb & the service gracious. We had the halibut & the rack of lamb; both dishes were perfectly cooked & carefully prepared. Highly recommend. read more

Good food, lovely presentation, good friendly professional service by Paul, and delightful surroundings.

Delicious delicious delicious. Very cute atmosphere. Didn't feel rushed and thought service was amazing. Which is a rarity given the recent dining climate. Squash Soup was great, oysters also. The halibut was fresh and plated beautifully. Desserts were also plentiful and yummy. Cant wait to go back, the chef Malik is amazing and so talented. Really you need to try it out. Oh and the best part was the bill. For what you get, the prices are so reasonable. read more

Fabulous food! Amazing and diverse menu! Paul our server was top notch and knows how to make one feel welcomed. The homemade pasta was out of this world! (Next to Italy!) Friend Had the halibut which was superb! Home made taziki! Delicious! Third time and it gets better even when you think it cannot! read more

Had an amazing time, sat on the patio in the heart of Elmwood. Atmosphere was perfect and the food was amazing. Service was spot on. Definitely going back soon. read more

See all

Found this place within walking distance from our hotel, and SO glad we did! Service is attentive. Ambiance is clean and inviting. Food is as described and prepared perfectly! Don't miss this place!! read more

Decided to hit up our neighborhood restaurants and give this fairly new establishment a try. As for the building itself it's nice. But it's difficult to describe what exactly they are going for as far as decor and theme. And with that we get to the menu. Again utterly confused as to what they are going for. Their menu featured a variety of "Korean" and "Thai" inspired dishes with a random "Moroccan" inspired dish. Nothing we ate stood out. It tasted okay. The Moroccan inspired dish had flavor but it tasted like someone found a recipe online and made it. And it appeared that way on the plate. Not much thought went into platting other than let's scoop out some food and throw it on a plate. Uninspiring. There's not much of a selection of spirts so be aware of that if you're thinking about having cocktails with your food. Wine tasted like it came from a bottle with a screw top and the vodka tasted like something you'd get out in college bar. Save your money and go somewhere else for drinks. Heed that warning for sure. I imagine it's difficult trying to open up a restaurant in this current time we're living in. Perhaps maybe in a year or two from now they'll figure it out because it's in a prime location on the elmwood strip. But based on the lack of direction with this restaurant which is quite obvious based on their menu alone, I can't imagine this business surviving without a major change in direction and operations. However I could easily see this doing well if it was located in kenmore, amherst or perhaps transit road based on that clientele. read more

Food is awesome, unthinkable items in the menu that made it refreshing. The vibe was great and the service was awesome!!

Consistently good food, great ambiance and service. I love their vegan options. Was there a few days ago and had the winter salad and it didn't disappoint. My friend ordered the salmon and she gave it a thumbs up. The waitress was attentive, yet also not overbearing. I've had the vegan entree and falafels during other visits. Classy place, good location, and I'm glad they've expanded hours to be open for lunch. I've gone solo before and was able to use wifi to attend to some work. read more

I used to really like this place but it is too inconsistent for me to recommend to my friends and family anymore.

We were in town for a wedding and was very excited to eat here after reading the reviews and looking at the website. I made a reservation on their site for Saturday brunch and received email confirmation, planned our entire morning around the outing. Was very confused and disappointed when we showed up and it was closed! Apparently they are only open for Sunday brunch. Reservation system should be updated. read more

Extraordinary food and the service impeccable!! The menu is very versatile and the bartenders are amazing!

We went on a Friday for lunch. The bar tender was late so the chef was waiting tables, getting drinks and having his assistant cook. The food was fine, we had chicken sandwiches and fries but it was nothing special. That said I would try it again when all staff were present to give be them a fair chance. read more

Excellent Grouper fish with salsa/coconut rice and a lovely bourbon porkchop special . The service was friendly and welcoming in a modern feeling restaurant. Nice light bar area for an afternoon or evening cocktail. read more

My new favorite restaurant! Imagine; having 3 white fish choices! Halibut, Red snapper and Wahoo! Fabulous. I chose the Halibut and it was incredible. Lemon risotto made with fresh lemon, asparagus perfectly cooked. Our server; Jake was terrific. Will definitely request him on our next visit. We dined on the patio. Looking forward to our next visit. read more

Everything we got at the Iron Tail Tavern was absolutely delicious. My wife and I started with different soups. She got the chestnut soup and I got the pumpkin beef chili. We both loved them. I would bring the pumpkin beef chili to a Bills tailgate if I could. Then for dinner we ordered the short ribs and octopus squid ink pasta respectively. The short ribs were tender and delicious and the polenta was as good as it gets. The octopus was the best I've ever had and I usually order octopus whenever i see it on the menu. First of all it looked like it had jumped right out of the ocean and it was humongous. The flavor was so savory and rich. The chef, Malik, told us he brazed it for an hour and you could really tell. For dessert we had the vegan banana bread, recommended by our waitress, and we loved it. Cool, hip atmosphere right in the best strip of the Elmwood village, staff was super friendly and fun and the drinks were also eclectic and great too. 10/10 would highly recommend. We will be returning to try brunch soon. read more

Iron Tail Tavern - Octopus with squid ink pasta - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Visiting my sister wanted to try this new place. It took over a half hour to get our appetizers of mussels and oysters. When they finally did arrive they were excellent in freshness and flavor. But then things got bad. We wanted extra toast points to sop up the sauce from the Mussels. we asked 2x. The waiter said they were being toasted but never came. Then We waited 45 minutes for the main course of 2 pasta dishes and 2 fish dishes. I had to ask about the main courses after we saw other people who arrived way after us getting their meals. The manager came and was very abrupt and acted annoyed. Said it takes 40 min to make fish! I have worked in restaurants a good part of my youth and I have eaten in three star Michelin restaurants all over Europe and never had anybody addressed me with such rudeness. He actually said we could go get fast food down the street next time! The food arrived finally...salmon dry and over cooked...cod thrown together...the pasta was good. Mgr maybe felt bad and tried to redeem and said he wanted us to leave with a "smile" and took off the mussels and offered 2 crème brûlée. The waiter was nice but the manager was super wound up tight. Really too bad. I hope they get it together better because it is in a good location and have a nice inside bar.... read more

Food was AWFUL. Both my boyfriend and I hated our meals. There was no flavor. Service was somehow even worse than the food. Whoever the brunette with the mustache is should be fired immediately. Embarrassing. read more

Food was not good - seemed like there was no seasoning and definitely no flavor. Service was terrible, we waited for our drinks for 30min. Do not recommend read more

Honest review. I agree with the other reviews that say it is extremely hit or miss. The first time we went in a group of 3 it was fine. Drinks were good, service was pleasant and fairly quick. I got the gnocchi which was tasty and fluffy. We went as a group of six the next time. I got the gnocchi again which was totally different --it came in a weird brown sauce that had so much sugar and was so sweet as to be almost a dessert. Very doughey. No one liked it. They had a creamy pasta dish on special which was alright though a bit overcooked, mushy, and not very flavorful. Sort of uninspired. The "chickpea pancakes" were actually one thin, dry pancake cut into four pieces that was essentially flavorless and rather grainy. The crispy potatoes were awesome and the drinks were also good. The Manhattan was great. We got the lemon cake for dessert which the waitress noted "you could get at any Greek diner in town" and they didn't make themselves...seemed store bought. We also got the vegan option which was a squash dish. It "wasn't bad" but not memorable. If I hadn't had such a good experience the first time, I wouldn't be back a third. I don't really like the inconsistency but we will consider giving them another shot. There's a lot of potential to be a great restaurant since the ambiance is lovely but the food has got to step it up--serving pre-made dessert, mushy pasta, and an inconsistent staple dish is disappointing read more

Everything we ordered was noticably house made. The extra effort was noted in our books. Cant wait for the next visit. Five stars.

Food is very, very good -- fine-dining level, especially the pork chop! And the service is efficient and friendly. Great atmosphere as well.