Great service from our waitress. Was sat right away and most of our needs were met. I ordered the pancake breakfast with the pancakes prepared well done, cheese eggs, bacon and a side of cheesy grits. My hubby had the catfish and shrimp dinner with greens, coleslaw, mac and cheese with cornbread. Breakfast: Pro's- my pancakes were cooked perfectly. Well done, crispy edges, fluffy and soft inside. Some of the BEST pancakes I've had in a very long time. Eggs were good and I really enjoyed the thick cut bacon. The consistency of the grits were the perfect texture and required NO extra salt. Con's- I asked for more strawberries and was denied. They said it was just a garnish. I would've paid extra if need be, so I was taken a back by the response. The fruit complimented the cakes like jelly does with peanut butter. You can have it alone, but together it's even better. Another con was they charge extra for cheese in the grits and in the eggs. The charge has become customary so thats no big deal, I just hate when you're not told it'll be an extra charge and get a surprise when you're settling the bill. Lunch: Pro's- Shrimp and coleslaw were very tasty. Con's-My husband was disappointed with the fish. He stated it lacked flavor despite it looking well seasoned on the outside. I guess it didnt soak into the actual fish. The greens were ok and he didnt care for the mac and cheese. Overall, good. However, just an ok lunch which was surprising because we used to come here for our Black History celebration every year and the food would always exceed expectations. The music playing in the background added to the ambiance in a good way. Give them a shot. Pro tip- Brunch starts at 12pm on Sunday so if you want to beat the church crowd go b/w 12-12:45pm that day. Definitely worth checking out. The brunch is delicious! read more

Phat Catz Restaurant & Bar - Pancakes breakfast with bacon, eggs and a side of cheesy grits - Soul Food Near Me - Buffalo, New York

This was my third visit to Phat Catz restaurant in Buffalo, NY, and the experience continues to impress me. The vibe is always upbeat, welcoming, and full of energy. You're guaranteed to see people from all over Buffalo gathered at the bar enjoying great food, drinks, and even better conversation. The food is outstanding, and the servers are fun, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu, which makes the experience even more enjoyable. The only downside is the wait time for the food, which can be a bit long at times, waiting an hour is the minimum. Even with that, the atmosphere and quality of the experience keep me coming back. Order the haddock and macaroni/cheese. #HappyEating read more

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I was craving soul food so I took a leap and ordered from here. I haven't been since before COVID so I didn't really know what to expect, just wanted something solid. I got the haddock dinner and it honestly missed the mark. The fish was salty but still lacked flavor and tasted like it was cooked in old grease. Almost as if they gave me fish that was cooked hours ago. The sides weren't much better. The greens were bland, the potato salad had decent flavor but the potatoes were undercooked and hard. The cornbread was burnt and crunchy. The mac and cheese tasted like straight Velveeta, nothing special. Portion size was really nice though! Overall, this one was a bit disappointing. Hoping it was an off day, because I really wanted to like it. read more

Phat Catz Restaurant & Bar - Soul Food Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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Top tier comfort food! I ordered takeout on a Friday night and was quickly in food heaven. Omg this food was so delicious and flavorful. We ordered 2 fish fry dinners (1 with haddock and 1 with catfish) with green beans, potato salad, coleslaw, and cornbread. The haddock was a large piece of fish and the catfish order came with several pieces of catfish. Did I mention that everything was delicious?! read more

Phat Catz Restaurant & Bar - Started eating and sharing my food--this is catfish, potato salad, coleslaw, green beans, and cornbread, all super flavorful and delicious. - Soul Food Near Me - Buffalo, New York

First off, The fish and potato salad was fantastic! The green beans, yams, cornbread were not for me unfortunately. I ordered over the phone, the the service was ok, I think they were really busy they had me on hold for awhile. read more

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I first tried Phat Catz around 2021, and back then the food was great well-seasoned and definitely worth the price. Unfortunately, over the years the quality of both the food and customer service has declined. During my most recent visit about two weeks ago, I left feeling disappointed. The person who answered the phone was impatient and even hung up. When I arrived to pick up my order, someone checked on it but never came back to update me. I did speak with a young gentleman who apologized and followed up, which I appreciated. However, the food didn't have the same flavor or quality I remembered from previous years. It may have just been an off night, but overall I've been very disappointed with my last few visits. read more

I came here with a group of coworkers after summer school ended. We wanted to relax, celebrate, and support a Black-owned business. Altogether, we spent over $400. Instead of being welcomed and appreciated for our business, we were rushed out. Some of us ordered earlier, some later as people arrived, but we were all part of the same group. Management told us we had to leave even though we were still eating and waiting on our coworkers. For a restaurant that talks about community, the way we were treated was disappointing. If your space is too small, the answer isn't to kick out paying customers -- it's to make adjustments or communicate better. We wanted to enjoy our meal, not be pushed out like we were in the way. We left feeling disrespected, and unfortunately, I cannot recommend this place. A business that doesn't value its customers won't last long. read more

The Cajun honey wings is my go to when I pull. The fish dinner is also amazing (crispy and seasoned to perfection). The mimosa drink was delicious as well. The young waiter that works in there was the best. read more

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Me and my wonderful girlfriend experienced this gem of a restaurant for the very first time on November 16, 2025 and what a delightful surprise! We were immediately made to feel welcome the second we entered the establishment! Greeted like we were old friends! The ambiance was classy, warm, well-laid out and the decor designed beautifully with a friendly flavor while the great sound system played quality music! We settled in at a table near the front window. The menu was very professionally produced with wonderful "food porn" of the restaurant's fare that made our mouths water! Our terrific waiter/host, Jay, was easy-going, affable, and served us beautifully! When we received our food, the soulful bouquet wafted to our nostrils from our piping-hot dishes, convincing us that we were about to embark on a gastronomic journey of pure delight!!! I had the Barbecue Ribs, Mac & Cheese, Cabbage, Yams, & Cornbread, fit for any Potentate!!! My Girlfriend had the Grilled Chicken Salad fit for a Queen!!! The portions were lavish which made for gleeful take home left-overs! Every item was heaven on the taste buds that demonstrated the experience, heritage, and skill of the owner, Kim...OUTSTANDING!!! Major comps and respect to Kim and her whole staff, the outstanding force behind this masterwork of a restaurant!!! They deserves all the accolades for the vision, dedication, hard work, cooking skills, and love put in to make Phat Catz a Buffalo Treasure!!! Marvin J. read more

The food is amazing, and the staff is very pleasant I love that it is right down the street from me and that they have off street parking

Still love the country honey cajun wings, on the pricey side but very good. They accept cards, but I guess they prefer cash for takeout orders. read more

Phat Catz Restaurant & Bar - Country honey cajun wings - Soul Food Near Me - Buffalo, New York

An overall 4.75-star review. Parking is available along the street or behind the restaurant. Food is made to order so there will be a wait. This establishment has a bar on the premises, a few televisions, and table or bar seating if you decide to dine in. Ask your server about the daily food and drink specials. They do have a happy hour where some items are discounted. I found this location on Yelp and decided to bookmark it while in the Buffalo area. It's dimly lit inside and we were seated quickly and our server was very pleasant. Spoiler alert, they don't have sweet tea. Well, I lied, they do but they don't make it themselves. It is the bottled sweet tea you can buy at the store. There were so many tempting food options but I went with the catfish platter. It came with a small portion of potato salad that was really good, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw and I requested cabbage as my side. The cornbread was just meh and I only ate a little bit of it. However, all the other items? As an amateur magician, I made it disappear! It's a lot going on in this lil place. Lively employees and the occasional famous comedian sitting nearby make for an entertaining late lunch. For the price point, the portion of food was very fair. The seasoning of the food items was not saturated with grease or seasonings. It was just the right amount and served at the right temperature. My only complaint is that while eating my cabbage, it tasted like sweet potatoes as if someone double dipped and used the same serving spoon to scoop various items. Otherwise, the customer service was as desired. The bathroom was clean and well lit and stocked. They are closed on Monday and Tuesday so call if in doubt. You can dine in or get your food items to go. If in the area, I'd return to try some of the other food fare and custom drinks they offer. read more

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Came home to visit family. My siblings took us here. Omg. The food and service is top notch. We will definitely be back whenever we're home again. read more

The fish fry is outta sight. Our catfish was well prepared. The sides are generous. It definitely earns a repeat performance. read more

Food and service was great. Will definitely be visiting again next time I visit Buffalo. read more

Phat Catz Restaurant & Bar - menu - Soul Food Near Me - Buffalo, New York

They have some really good soul food here, the menu grabbed my attention quick but I couldn't make a solid decision so I opted for a few different choices just to experience it all. Everything was as good as it looks, I will definitely be back and highly recommend Phat Catz if your looking for some good quality service and food! read more

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Great food & friendly service. Love the presentation of meal, Friday fish fry Was stellar. parking tough. Love the decor! read more

I love Phat Catz for the vibe. It is a older crowd but they are groovy and still know how to drink lol. I would say this is a very strict bar, they have a no dancing policy which I think is a bit crazy. However, for the area I guess it deters certain crowds of people. The food is a bit pricey for the quality. The mac and cheese is almost always horrible. Tastes like burnt cheese and no flavor. Two of the worst combinations. The potato salad tastes like straight vinegar. String Beans taste like the can. I think if they were more strict about the food then the vibe I think the quality would be so much better. Best thing on the menu though is the honey Cajun shrimp and they Thursday lady night specials. They have a bone crusher drink that will have you feeling crushed if your don't have a little date set up after. Because Phat Catz is local it is definitely a place to support but the food needs to be improved ASAP. read more

Great food. Relaxed and fun upbeat atmosphere with great bumping music! Friendly service. Slightly pricey but large portions. There is a rather large parking area in the rear of the building and inside you will find a bar at the center with tables off on either side. Most tables seat four but some smaller two seaters as well. We came in on a Thursday for the .50 wings and they were very good. Large and juicy flavorful wings. Bleu cheese is a buck and no celery or carrots. You cannot take leftovers home and if you order wings to go they are full price. So the .50 special is dine in only. Don't be intimidated by the area folks. This place is warm and friendly inside. The food is the kinda food that makes all things right in the world. We also shared the fried catfish entree. At $17 you might not consider it, but as you can see the portion is generous. The flavors are great! This is comfort food at it's best. Yum! Highly recommend this place.Both the wings as well as the catfish were excellent. We will be back. A+ read more

Phat Catz Restaurant & Bar - Fried catfish entree. Large portion - Soul Food Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Still the best place in the city to get a fish dinner! We came in for an early dinner and opted for the 2 for $30 haddock dinners. We got our few pretty quickly and it was delicious as always. read more

Phat Catz Restaurant & Bar - Haddock dinner - Soul Food Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Did a takeout dinner, and was pleased. Sides were delicious and it was prepared in a timely manner this time around. Would recommend if you're looking for some soul food!! read more

Phat Catz Restaurant & Bar - Haddock dinner - Soul Food Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Wow!! I've been on the hunt for a really good soul food place and I have found it! You enter to some R&B and classic jams. We sat ourselves and the waitress gave us the menu. I order the bbq rib dinner and my friend ordered the cornmeal fish fry. We shared and they were both PERFECTION! The ribs.... the BBQ sauce seems like it was made from scratch. It was so sweet with a little hint of spice. I got no fatty pieces (which is a first). The greens were REAL SOUTHERN GREENS!!! I cannot tell you how difficult it has been to find some good greasy greens and I have finally found it! The Mac and cheese tasted like somebodies Aunty made it (you KNOW that's the good stuff) and the fry fish was seasoned to perfection! I cannot believe it took me this long to find this place but I will be a regular customer (BELIEVE THAT!) Sidebar: the prices weren't bad at all! Cheaper than a lot of other places. The only "bad thing" was the wait for the food was longer than I would've liked. It's not open every day of the week so I suppose everyone's trying to get a piece of the food? So many people were there waiting for the orders they called in. I really liked dinning there but I'll probably order to go and just pick it up. That wait I can avoid the wait. Don't let this deter you!!! It's definitely an experience worth trying and I will continue to support this amazing restaurant! read more

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It's a very comfortable environment in this restaurant and that's why I continue to go there and the food is outstanding. The servers are on point the bartender oh my she can hook you or he can hook you up, but this is one of the best restaurants and the food is consistent so when you go to first time believe it when you go back 50 times later, still the same read more

One of my favorite soul food places in Buffalo. I was so excited to hear they were back open for dining in since the pandemic. They have a few new healthier options on the menu which I was glad to see. My friends and I enjoyed every little bite of our food. Only issue I have is the consistency of the baked macaroni and cheese. It taste different everytime I visit. Sometimes its really good like someone's granny made it, then other times it's just okay. Same with the cornbread. read more

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Went for there Wednesday night budget night with some friends and had a good time. Very staff and the burgers came out pretty quick which was nice. The special was $8 for a Burger and Fries. Options were Hamburger, Cheeseburger, or Turkey burgers. The burgers weren't hand formed parties or anything so that left something to be desired, but they were seasoned and prepared well. I ordered the Long Island Ice Tea ($6 during Happy Hour) and that was made well! I enjoy supporting Black owned establishments and overall PhatCatz didn't disappoint. read more

I have eaten Here several times..Very good food, chill atmosphere... urban area... good memories .... read more

This place was a WOW! My husband and I discovered it unexpectedly because we were in the area, and we are so glad we did. This place has become my husband's favorite place for fried chicken! The inside of this place initially looked like it only had a bar, but there's a bar in the middle with table seating on each side. There were about 4-5 tables on either side that sat 2-4 people. The lighting was a bit dim, but there were multiple tv screens and there was jazz and pop music playing in the background. We ordered around 8pm, but I think we had to wait about 30 minutes since the place was packed and they had to make everything from scratch. So worth the wait! Husband and I ordered a Boneless fried chicken and Fried chicken (half). Each meal was about $15-16. Initially we were thinking it was on the pricier side, but after getting the food, it quickly changed. The portion sizes are HUUUUUUUGE. The chicken came out with cornbread, coleslaw, greens, potato salad, and mac & cheese. When I first got it, it looked like I could feed a couple people! The fried chicken had a good crisp to it and the batter wasn't too thick. The meat was also very juicy inside. The potato salad was made with chunks of potatoes and had fresh chopped boiled eggs in them. There was SOOOOO much leftover after we at fully, we brought two full boxes home. read more

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Everyone needs to try Phat Catz. Yes, even people who are afraid of venturing to the east side of Buffalo. Phat Catz has the best soul food I've had in ages, particularly here in the 716. Portions were HUGE and I mean HUGE. My husband and I could have easily split an entree and still had leftovers! We ordered the loaded potato skins as a starter, not knowing what we were in for. Not only was the appetizer HUGE as well, but it was delicious. My husband and I both ordered the fried chicken breast meal. I loved that they had a boneless option. I don't eat meat on the bone, and that usually holds me back from ordering fried chicken meals when out. So this was a perfect option and I was so pleased. Each meal comes with five sides. FIVE! Potato salad, cornbread, coleslaw, mac and cheese, and green beans, cabbage, or collard greens. I don't even like collard greens but my husband got them and I loved them. I also loved the green beans I chose for my meal. you can tell they were cooked alongside meat because they were so flavorful and moist. Now for the drinks. Oh, the drinks. My husband and I each got one of their signature drinks. I got the Bonecrusher and he got the Phat Boy. When our waitress Carly (who was awesome) told us about the Bonecrusher being strong, I was like pshhhh. Well Carly was right! It's strong as I don't know what. It's essentially a Long Island Iced Tea but with fruity flavoring and champagne added instead. It was STRONG. the Bonecrusher comes in their signature flavor along with a handful of other fruity flavors. Same with the Phat Boy -- my husband got the mango and it was delicious! The atmosphere is fun. There were tons of regulars coming in and hugging each other, which says a lot about Phat Catz and how they treat their clientele. Instrumental jazz played in the background, providing a lively but not intrusive backdrop to the fun. Overall I loved Phat Catz. The pricing may seem high for entrees, but my $15 meal well surpassed my portion expectations. I have plenty of leftovers!!! I don't give 5 stars often but Phat Catz deserves it. I will absolutely be back soon and encourage everyone to give them a try as well! read more

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Did I mention that this place is good? You know I did, so if you haven't been here yet...stop reading my post and get down there. You can either sit at the bar or get a table. The food is hearty and comforting. We had enough to take home for lunch the next day. We ordered the fried okra, fried haddock, fried catfish w/fixings. The drinks are good too, we had the bone crusher which can be ordered in different flavors (happy hour 5-8) and the music box in corner finishes off the night. Don't forget to ask about the dessert of the night. The sweet potatoes pie was so good I had to order another slice to go. Check out the pics posted, pictures say a thousand words. read more

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Phat Catz food is out of this City good Best Soul food Fish fry in town well worth the price you pay. So don't get sticker shock you will not be disappointed with the food. Phat Catz is a very popular Restaurant in the city,so it's best to order early the later you wait the longer you've to wait! In this Covid era they are doing good to keep social distance in place. read more

Best. Fried. Chicken. In. Buffalo. Possibly. Best. In. Everywhere. Seriously. I had a horrible experience with a chain place last week, and just NEEDED to get my hands on some real deal fried chicken. Folks, this is the real deal! I was worried how it would hold up during my 30 minute drive home, but when I opened the package at home it was still hot and incredibly crispy. Whatever they do to the coating is just perfect. The perfect seasoning, the perfect crisp for the perfect crunch. I don't think I can ever get fried chicken anywhere else ever again. The ribs are also incredible. But... that chicken. I need more. read more

This was my fourth visit to phat catz. Normally the service is a little slow but today was an understatement. I was there with my husband and we sat down. Very nice waitress took our orders which was dinner and drinks. The waitress kept coming back to our table telling us our drinks were coming right up. One full hour passes still no drinks and definitely no food so we just got up and left. Highly disappointed read more

We heard of this place over the summer and read the great reviews. With a little spare time this afternoon we were able to make the half hour drive out to get take out. the woman who got our order could not have been nicer. J got the boneless chicken, and i got the monster deluxe with catfish. we both loved the entrees. mine also came with shrimp and scallops, and both were great. The sides were what really made the meal - between us we got greens, cabbage, mac and cheese, corn bread, cole slow, beans, potato salad....i think that was everything. We don't have this style food often, so we really loved it. We hope to be able to go soon and enjoy a meal there. read more

The food here is always consistently great and the staff is extremely friendly and inviting. Highly recommend if you're looking for soul food in the Buffalo area read more

I love their drinks. But the staff is awful. I'm a working professional, I don't like being talked down to. The owner and her husband are rude they should appreciate their clientele a little more in my opinion , Today I got a to go order during this pandemic and it just seems like the lady was to harsh considering the fact that ppl are still supporting her business but whatever read more

Phat Catz Restaurant & Bar - Soul Food Near Me - Buffalo, New York

I was looking for fried chicken and, buy, did I find it! The chicken was fantastic - crispy, well-seasoned, and packed to travel. It came with green beans, potato salad, Mac and cheese, and a corn muffin. Everything was terrific. Just terrific. I can't wait to go back. As soon as I finish my leftovers. read more

First time visiting. I absolutely loved the food. The atmosphere is very laid back. There was a nice size bar. The night I visited there was a wait. However staff greeted my family and I immediately which I appreciated. Parking lot it small so we park on the street. Next time I'm in town I will be back. read more

I had fish and shrimp with side of potato salad, macaroni cheese, green beans and yams...All was great but you definitely will be waiting at least 45 to hour but it was worth the wait, so be prepared read more

We thoroughly enjoy our Cajun broiled catfish with cornbread. We especially liked the yams! Fantastic Friday night dinner!

Years! We have been customers/fans for years. REAL! This is a legit establishment. Friendly, familiar, in all the good ways, if you just allow yourself to take it all in it's like family. The environment is clean and secure so you can just BE. You get to smile and laugh and guess what we haven't even eaten yet. All I can say is that you have to experience it. read more