Living in Buffalo several years now, I've never been out to Hertel Ave to grab food and drinks - Surprising, I know! Thanks to a Yelp Elite event on Hertel Ave., I FINALLY changed that with a fantastic late dinner at The Burning Buffalo Bar & Grill. One of the main reasons I don't like to go out in Buffalo is parking - I'm always anxious about finding a spot that's close to where I'm going, as well as not having to pay for it. It was 7:45pm on a Tuesday, so street parking was free so one obstacle down, and amazingly, I managed to park right in front of The Burning Buffalo Bar & Grill, but across the street - I'll take it! Upon walking inside, there were a few tables outside full of people having dinner and drinks with one waitress managing all of it. I walked in and was surprised how big, spacious it was. First order of business though was hitting the restroom, which was on the small side, but clean. After that, I grabbed a seat at the bar. The bartender was a young, pretty woman who was very personable. Unsure of what to grab for a drink, she asked what beers I usually go for and with that, she was fired off a few beers on draught I might like. I settled on the Jack's Abby Post Shift Pilsner and enjoyed sipping on that the rest of the night. She handed me the food menu and took care of a few other customers while I figured out what I wanted. I got it down to two items and I asked her for her recommendation, which was excellent and how I'd order, if and when I make it back. But similar to what other reviews on Yelp say, the atmosphere was very much like a neighborhood bar and grill, where everyone knows each other and if they don't know you, they're still more than willing to let you hop in and out of the conversation. I felt very comfortable sitting and listening to the "regulars" chat, watching a baseball game on the TVs behind the bar. So for dinner, I decided on ordering their Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich which is topped with lettuce, tomato, sriracha mayo, and cheddar cheese, with pickles underneath between a soft, brioche bun with a side of hand cut fries and a pickle spear on the side. The bartender recommended swapping out the cheddar cheese with pepperjack cheese, an awesome swap! The size of the fried chicken breast was HUGE by itself! I was so impressed how the well the sandwich held together as I devoured it. The chicken was hot, not greasy at all. The lettuce and tomato tasted fresh and looked crisp, there was plenty of that pepperjack cheese on top the chicken and pickles underneath. The sriracha mayo was excellent, albeit I would've liked more of it, I think more would've made the sandwich messy and hard to handle, so it really was the right amount on there. The hand cut fries were great as well; Crispier on the ends and softer in the center but plenty hot and not over seasoned. If you've seen other reviews of mine, you'll get the sense I have a pretty big appetite so I was able to demolish the sandwich but I couldn't finish all my fries, so that should be enough to tell you the portions here are HUGE and AWESOME! At first glance, the prices look expensive but I think they're justified as the quality and portions are phenomenal, I certainly felt I got my money's worth. I'm so happy that after several years of living in Buffalo, I made it over to Hertel Ave. finally! I'm also glad I chose The Burning Buffalo Bar and Grill for dinner. The quality and quantity of food, the friendly neighborhood atmosphere, the personable staff, what more can you ask for? I can't wait to come back and grab another Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich or maybe give their North Buffalo Cheesesteak a try! read more

See all

I came here on a Thursday night and my experience was alright. We had to order at the bar so I can't blame the bartender for taking a long time as he was tending the bar and grabbing everyone's food. I ordered the burning buffalo club which included smoked turkey, bacon, stuffed banana pepper spread, lettuce, tomato, and cajun remoulade on grilled sourdough. It was overall pretty tasty and the portions were huge. read more

The Burning Buffalo Bar & Grill - American Near Me - Buffalo, New York

On 6/13/26 at 7pm I sat at the bar and the bartender I was told her name was Grace when I asked her name for review. She was not friendly at all. She was talking to the other bartender and even though there was only one other person at bar it was like she did not want a customer and I was bothering her and interrupting them hanging out. She didn't ask if I wanted a tall or short glass and I said wow what a tall glass and she said Miller Lite has one size glass. Not a friendly bartender at all and should not be working in customer service. The two bartenders kept whispering. They were on their cell phones also like they didn't want to be there. I asked her if she knew me and not like me and she said no that's just my resting bitch face so it sounds like she's used to being like this. I ordered a hamburger and one beer and it's too bad because the hamburger and fresh cut fries are very good but because of this poor service I will never come back unfortunately. Also, I had to take pictures of the menu and zoom in because the lettering was so small. Mens bathroom door didn't shut. Mustard was a lot of water when I squirted it out on hamburger. To make things worse she also asked to take my plate when she could still see I was eating my hamburger and the cameras can verify this so I advise to look at the cameras. Maybe because of her not being friendly is why there was only one other person at the bar on a Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Because of this experience I looked at the previous reviews and it looks like one of the reviews and comments was complaining about her being rude because she did have the same mullet hairstyle as the one customer described. https://share.google/7EPSU1yIHWiiPgcRK read more

The Burning Buffalo Bar & Grill - Menu - American Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Food is great, really good cocktail list. The burger was really juicy and tons of fries read more

The Burning Buffalo Bar & Grill - American Near Me - Buffalo, New York

See all

This was our third time at The Burning Buffalo and it did not disappoint. When you walk in, it's dark at dim like a speakeasy. Not many tables, but there is the bar you can sit at too. The beverage shown below was delicious, but the bottom of it reminded me of green juice that you mix with powder. The chicken sandwich was amazing... I do think it used to be bigger but it was still delicious. The chipotle sauce on it was great. Fresh cut fries? YES & they give you a lot of them. We were only there for about at hour so service was fast. read more

The Burning Buffalo Bar & Grill - Frakendank - American Near Me - Buffalo, New York

See all

Kaya our bartender was super personable and a pleasure to have serve us. The food was absolutely delicious. The salad was so good I almost forgot I was eating a salad. Great vibes. Great experience read more

See all

I wont put 3 stars because of lighting but it's too weirdly lit in this place. Dark in some spots and then too lit in others. Shadow Lounge, way prior to this place, was moody and comfy and gave you this sense of calm. This place is your typical gray, warm white lights and fake brick type place. It is now a loud, annoying bar that should be more comfy and cozy based on the small square footage. I won't return but the food looked good and the bartenders were pleasant. Just not my cup of tea for a fun night out. read more

The Burning Buffalo Bar & Grill - Cherry hush mocktail with cycling frog seltzer - American Near Me - Buffalo, New York

First time here and will certainly be back. Sampled the special wings which were black and blue, interesting amount of heat with blue cheese crumbles accompanying them, 7.5/10. Crispy skin, just the right size with healthy heap of blue cheese for dipping. Also had the pork tacos which were a pleasant surprise since this isn't a Mexican join, very juicy and stuffed with fresh fixings. Bartender service was top notch and nice overall vibe to watch some sports at. read more

The Burning Buffalo Bar & Grill - Black and Blue wings - American Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Waited to be seated, wasn't too packed in here but the Bills game hadn't started yet lol. We were handed menus and waters to start, our server was Serenity which she was very polite and full of enthusiasm and energy! She took our order right away and when the food came out she frequently checked up on us to make sure we were good! I had such a great experience and definitely look forward to coming back! The food was amazing and flavorful, the ambience was good and got loud over time due to the Bills game coming on lol! read more

See all

Service was good on a slow Sunday evening Lavender Gin Shrimp Caesar salad was yummy! read more

Highly recommend. Don't let the reviews of "bar food" or "small menu" fool you. That is not true. The service was A+ and the food was exceptional. Anything from Crab bisque, fried pickles, Mac n cheese to burgers and even Prime Rib is available on their menu. Google reservation makes it super easy as well. Ambiance is nice and casual inside and can hear the entire party talk and chill. Do yourself a favor and try it for yourself before you pass over it by reading other reviews. read more

The food was delicious and huge. The pork belly bites appetizer was big enough to be a meal! Our waitress was personable and our food came out quickly and was beautifully plated. Definitely coming back. read more

Started with my standard drink of crown and seven with lime, the lime brings out the flavor of the crown. And starter tacos for my meal. Just enough food for me since they were overflowing with beef brisket and pickled onions on homemade taco shells. I ate every bite. I saved room for dessert and ate the butterscotch cake- omg it was gooey and delicious! A perfect portioned slice just for me. My husband had fingers and fries, he said they were good, but needed to be crispier. An entertaining spot to watch the Sabres game. Had a great time. It was a bit chilly inside, perhaps an electric fireplace between the restrooms would help with that. We will definitely return. Our server was attentive and nice. read more

One of the very best burgers I have ever had! And the best in recent memory. So flavorful and juicy. It was a bit pricey BUT I definitely feel it lived up to the price! The fries that accompanied were also excellent in their own right crispy and perfectly seasoned. We also got an order of Buffalo wings (how can you not in Buffalo?) and those were pretty delicious too, could have been a tad hotter and a little saucier, but the skin was cooked crisp which I totally appreciate. I took my college kid out for a little treat after eating dorm food for the past month, and they ( picky eater) had that food gone in a matter of minutes, and was a big fan. Everything I saw coming out of the kitchen looked delicious-and the portions are very generous, so there is value. Next time I'm going for the nachos! We had excellent, friendly service with a casual comfy vibe read more

Food was amazing! A girl also came around with free casamigos shots while we were waiting for our entrees. I ordered a Moscow mule with Tito's but they only offer stolis (just as good). Definitely coming back and would recommend to anyone looking for great burger and wings read more

See all

I tried this place at the behest of a dear friend and I'm glad I did! The burgers were great! The ambiance was cheerful, and the waitstaff was pleasant and knowledgeable. The drink menu had some unique beverage choices, as did the food menu... some interesting twists on old favorites. read more

Made a reservation on open table for brunch for a Sunday. Ordered a round of mimosas and when we started to look at the menu while waiting for the rest of our party, we asked to see the brunch menu. Waitress had said they hadn't served brunch in years but on open table it unfortunately had its own tab! $17 for two mimosas later we ended up leaving because it was not what we were looking for. Wish that the open table page was more current the menu page on yelp could have been clearer than just images. Brunch was great the last time I had it there so it was super disappointing to share two very expensive drinks to not be able to order the type of food we were looking for. I know the waitress couldn't have read our minds but double checking and making sure that we understood that they didn't serve brunch when we all ordered mimosas would have been nice too. I'm not sure many people pair wings and mimosas but what do I know ‍ read more

Following our kickball game, my team and I decided on The Burning Buffalo to refuel ourselves. We saddled up at the bar and were waited on immediately. I ordered the club sandwich on a gluten free bun. Yes, they offer gluten free buns! That is always exciting. My boyfriend got the steak sandwich and enjoyed it. The food has always been good here. I always forget about this place, but when I come back to it, I always enjoy my time here. It is like Cheers, but without them knowing your name since I don't frequently come here, but it has the familiar and welcoming vibes. The one thing I hated was that the bartender put our bills together with another couple, which is confusing to figure out. read more

See all

Ambience a bit cold but I did get there at open. the server we had was a delight (Serenity) and I was really pleased with my meal! Side ceaser with avocado and a cup of the soup of the day, which was roasted red pepper. My friend had the munster burger with fries and a spiced beer. All great! No complaints. If you're hungry, this place will curb your appetite quite comfortably. read more

The Burning Buffalo Bar & Grill - American Near Me - Buffalo, New York

See all

Went for brunch on Sunday. The place was not crowded when we first arrived at 11, but it definitely filled up while we ate. I ordered the breakfast burrito and couldn't believe how huge it was when it came out! The ingredients were plentiful, my only complaint is that it could have been spread out better in the burrito. It seemed like there was so much meat (is there ever too much?) on the one side, but the other end hardly had any. Same thing with the egg. A few people ordered the brunch burger which also looked fantastic; it came with a ton of fresh fries. We will definitely be back here! The drink menu also had a lot of options. The guava Bellini was a fav. Thanks to our kind waitress for stopping to take our photo. read more

The Burning Buffalo Bar & Grill - Breakfast burrito - American Near Me - Buffalo, New York

See all

Needed a late night spot with good happy hour and ended up here luckily! Our waitress was super sweet and she kept the drinks flowing which was what we needed! The margaritas are spot on and the vodka and cranberry is a great way to start off the night lol. I enjoyed the tacos, didn't really like the shells but added some pick to the mix and it wasn't half bad. My gf enjoyed the Cuban sandwich and fries and I think what made tonight even better was that it wasn't too crowded and we could pretty much sit anywhere we wanted and not be bothered. Loved it! Had only been here for brunch before and now I have another great experience to talk about. Next time dinner! Lol read more

See all

Wow. I had one of the THE BEST burgers ever. Perfectly made, excellent flavor, delicious garlic mayo on it. It's the next day and I'm still thinking about that burger. Onion rings were perfect, too. Crispy, not greasy, hot and fresh. We had the soft pretzel, too. Best one I've had since visiting Germany. The staff were attentive and friendly. Our waitress offered great suggestions and was really nice. Don't pass up on this gem of a pub. Love this place! read more

The Burning Buffalo Bar & Grill - The Dinner Steak Burger - American Near Me - Buffalo, New York

We had great food and service. We all enjoyed our meals. I had the steak sandwich and it was tender and tasty. The interior ambiance is what I deducted a star for, if we ate on the patio it probably would have been 5 stars. read more

Was debating between four and five stars for a while. Perfect bar on Hertel Ave, not a lot of seating but still a place you can take a kid with good food. Amazing beer list featuring a lot of local beers. I had the stuffed banana pepper dip for an appetizer and it was really good perfect portion size for me and my husband to split. I had the steak frites and it was good. Just good not great due to lack of seasoning, which is why I was thinking four stars. I then tried my fries which where salt and vinegar truffle fries, which brought me back up to five stars. They where some of the best if not best French fries ever. So good, perfect seasoning, and homemade; not possible to go wrong with that combo. My husband got a steak sandwich which he loved but he agreed the fries where phenomenal. read more

The Burning Buffalo Bar & Grill - Dinner Steak Frites - American Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Nice relaxing atmosphere and the cocktails are pretty decent. Service is left to be desirable - not very attentive but friendly none the less. Food was incredible but I will say for the price, portion size is pretty small. read more

Sat at the bar and had Great service, all the food was fresh and delicious. Loved the nachos pics de Gallo read more

See all

This place has to have the absolutely most amazing burger I've ever had. I have been back here many times and can't even get myself to try anything but the steak burger because it's just so good. The servers are always fast and friendly and the prices are more than reasonable. The atmosphere of the restaurant is just what you would expect from a small bar. I have dined in and ordered take out and they are equally as good. I will definitely be back soon. read more

They had a reeeaallly good fish fry. One of their entree's is fried fish, fries and cole slaw. The fish was amaaaziinggg. And huge! Such a big portion for the price. I highly recommend. The fries were awful. Truly tasted like old grease and burnt potatoes. But it was like 10pm when we came, so whatever. Things happen. Overall good experience. Staff was cool, ambiance was chill. Quiet enough to have a conversation with some friends. Service was quick. I also thought their cocktails were good. I recommend this place for a good late night meal and drinks. read more

Great burger, laid back atmosphere friendly people great way to spend a Sunday afternoon

Stopped for a drink and snack on a Tuesday night with a friend. We sat outside. Tried the pear cocktail, nachos and a side of Mac n cheese. Nachos we're very delicious! Mac n cheese was really satisfying with the crunchy stuff on top. Drink was a little strong for me but friend drank both! Great spot on Hertel! read more

See all

Friend bought a drink. Bartender spilled half of it in pouring. Asked to remake the drink, bartender poured it into a different cup and handed it back??? Bouncers asked me to repay the cover to go back inside to get my coat after taking a call for work. I am not sure if they were confusing me for someone else, but I was totally sober as I was DD. They heckled me the whole time I was outside for standing too close to an alley. I did not think they were initially speaking to me and moved when they asked. As I walked away taking the call, they proceeded to tell me I was an "***hole," a "loser," and "to get the **** out of here." The way they were speaking to me was totally uncalled for and not befitting of a bar that claims to be community driven and was honestly quite shocking as I was only attempting to stand to the side so I could hear the voice mail. I still cannot fathom who these people thought they were speaking to in the tone they used. Very disappointing after spending 65 dollars there over the course of the evening. And again, they would not let me back in unless I repaid the cover. I am not sure if the bouncers themselves were drunk? I have just moved to the area and have heard such great things, it was an extremely disappointing experience, especially from a bar that mentions being a neighborhood joint etc etc. read more

Food - We give it 4.5 stars for the wings, chicken fingers, and burger. 5 stars for the fries and turkey burger. BUT, the service and drinks were where the 2 star overall rating comes in. We arrived at 6:40 and were seated immediately. We were given water, and placed our drink orders. (A coke, a vodka diet tall, and a vodka soda short). She told us that she'd take our food order when she brought the drinks. At 7:30 our drinks finally came out. (Yes - that is right. 50 minutes for drinks.) My vodka diet tall was a vodka diet short. At least the vodka soda was right! We placed our order when she brought the drinks and the food came out at 8:15. The fries were cold but tasty. At this point I was getting irritated so I decided to not ask for them to be warmed up because... well I wanted to eat sometime before midnight. My husband asked for another vodka soda and 20 minutes later she brought it, but it was a light yellow color as opposed to the crystal clear color of the first one. We pointed this out to the waitress, and she agreed it was the wrong color and went to get another drink for him... that came 15 minutes later... They are severely understaffed apparently. Almost 3 hours for dinner, two rounds of drinks, without dessert or appetizer is insane. Unfortunately probably won't be back unless we have a lot of time to kill. read more

This was my first time here and the place was nearly empty, but I heard about their fingers, fresh cut fries and burgers. My date and I ordered the stuffed pepper dip, which was phenomenal, and I ordered the bison burger. I rarely order burgers when I go out to eat, but this was a solid choice. It was cooked at just the right temperature (I ordered medium), it was flavorful, and the fresh cut fries were spot on. I recommend trying the garlic mayo dip for the fries! read more

Every thing was delicious. I think our server was new, but she did a good job. And of course the ambiance is good there

Went for Sunday brunch and this place is great! Crab cake eggs Benedict with my poached egg cooked perfectly (not fond of runny yolks). Companions' spicy chicken was excellent as well. We will definitely be back at this eatery! read more

The Burning Buffalo Bar & Grill - Spicy chicken - American Near Me - Buffalo, New York

See all

Great food. Great service. Great atmosphere. It's always my first choice when I'm looking for a place close to home (North Buff). Brunch, lunch, and dinner - they are all amazing. My favorite has to be The turkey club made with the banana pepper spread. Mmmm read more

The owners are super nice and accommodating and have made the Burning Buffalo a stop on the Hertel strip The food options are full of unique offerings and also have the traditional staples like solid wings. Beer selection is as good as anywhere on Hertel, perhaps a touch below Moor Room, but still solid with a good variety of bottles, cans, and drafts read more

We planned a retirement party at the Burning Buffalo. They let us have the raised area in the back all to ourselves. We ordered so appetizers to share and each ordered own drinks. The service was very good. This kind of set up allowed us to mingle. We had a great time. We focused on mostly vegetarian food. Onion rings were a big hit! The soft pretzels were also very good. Parking is on the street, nit easy to find a spot on Hertel. The side streets have complicated rules, so avoid parking there. read more

First tike going and everything was delicous. We made reservations but once we got there we realized it didn't seem like it was needed but it was also in the middle of the week. Many beer and drink selections and good food selections. Will def be going again. read more

Stopped into here for the brisket quesadillas and really enjoyed my experience here. Nick and his staff were friendly and quick. We also ordered the pizza logs that were cooked just right. The quesadilla had a lot of brisket in it, and I would definitely come back to try other menu items. The restaurant had a good relaxed atmosphere that was lively but you could still have a conversation. read more