You got to check out The Pearl Street Grill! As a local Buffalonian (and culinary graduate) who visits the Pearl Street Grill at least a few times per year, my only gripe is that the food quality here has fluctuated over the years, and although it is not consistent, it has always been good. Lately I must say that it has been very good if not excellent - especially the daily specials. Also, if you are into chicken wings, the wings here in my opinion are better than Anchor bar, and the service here is probably the best in Buffalo. Granted, if you are looking for a fine dining experience (or if you are a food snob) you might want to search for something a little more stuffy, however the pure experience of visiting Pearl Street is definitely worth it, and it is almost shocking to see such an expanding facility in Downtown Buffalo. They have something like 6 working floors and 7 or 8 bars in the whole facility. After my last visit we went upstairs and played pool and drank a 100oz tube of a really hoppy brew – a double IPA. The real reason to go here is for the atmosphere. Whenever I have out of town guests it is one of the places in Buffalo I like to "show off" (right after the waterfront and Niagara Falls). The old building is rich in history and constantly under construction - always adding new patios, bars, floors, etc etc. They do a fantastic job of mixing the historical nature of the Canal District Area with the positive vibe on event nights such as Sabres' home games and downtown concerts at HSBC arena. I am a big fan of brew pubs and whenever I visit other cities I always check out their breweries. That being said The Pearl Street Grill & Brewery is by far the largest and nicest one I have ever been in (including many in Boston, NYC, Washington, and all over the West Coast). Not sure if people keep track of it, but it is probably one of the largest brew pubs in the world, and it is located right here in my hometown of Buffalo which is pretty cool. Another cool thing is that it is locally owned and doesn't have that corporate feel that you get when you visit places like Rock Bottom Brewery, Breckinridge Brewery etc. If you visit during the summer months you got to check out their 3-tiered patio on the back of the restaurant that has a good view of Lake Erie and the downtown cityscapes. They also usually have live music both inside and out. As a Buffalonian I am proud of our local Brewery and if you are looking for something unique and memorable you should check it out – even if it is just for a few tasty homebrews or an appetizer. Jim

Great place to go after a bisons game. The decor is really cool and there are many levels of dining, balconys, and entertainment. They make a wide selection of beers in house that are very good. My favorite is Trainwreck. They also have a lot of games on the second floor to play, like billiards, darts, golden tee, etc. A great place to hang out drinking with friends and have a bite to eat.