If you can’t tell from our other Buffalo Foodie selections, we really appreciate the sports blogging scene in Buffalo. I guess it shouldn’t really surprise anyone since our Buffalo sports teams have some dedicated and passionate followers. Sure not every blog is a winner but I’ve been fortunate to get ahold of the people who write for my favorites. This week I’ve continued that luck with Ryan, a writer for The Gooses Roost.
For those who aren’t familiar, The Goose’s Roost is a Buffalo sports blog that covers almost all of the local sporting teams. Mainly they focus on Hockey and more specifically our beloved Buffalo Sabres. Ryan is by far the most active writer on the site, closing in on 2,000 posts over the last couple of years. He can also be found on the Roostcast (along with fellow writer Chris), their monthly podcast.
Here is what Ryan had to say about his favorite places to go in Buffalo…
Where are some of your favorite places to go to eat in Buffalo ?
Ryan: I think my favorite place to eat is the Lake Effect Diner on Main. As a recent Canisius grad it was a nice middle point to hang out with some friends from UB, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s right across from Talking Leaves. The prices aren’t too bad and the food is solid. It’s a good place to grab a milkshake after a Sabres game, too. You might have a hard time picking a flavor, though.
Fat Bob’s is also fantastic. The building has a cool feel and the food is great. Best mac and cheese I’ve ever had, and a nice place to hang out afterwards if the game is on.
Where do you love to grab a drink?
Ryan: I’m a youngin’ so I don’t have much experience in this category, but recently I’ve been to Papa Jake’s to watch a lot of the World Cup. The people there are really nice and the food there is also very good. Mowhawk Place is the classic “grab a drink and catch a show” place that I’m obligated to mention as a 20-something.
The majority of my drinking experiences revolve around watching sports, and there are plenty of places to do that in this city. Casa di Pizza is fun but a bit tight on space, and Cole’s on Elmwood has been fun when I’ve ventured over there. If you asked me this question in a few months I’m sure I’d have better answers…
If you had a friend from out of town coming to visit, where would you take them out for a good time?
Ryan: Anyone who isn’t from Buffalo has to try Mighty Taco at least once. I’ve found most people either love it or hate it, and that response is based on what they assume Mighty Taco serves. The key to loving MT is not assuming it’s Mexican food. It’s something else entirely, really.
After that, you have to get them pizza and wings of some sort. I’m from Niagara Falls, so my pizza places are much different from yours. Joey’s on Buffalo Avenue is good, and Buzzy’s on Niagara Falls Boulevard is probably the best sit-down pizza place in the city. I’m pretty sure there are more pizza places per capita than anything else in the Falls, but that’s because most of them do it right.
The next step is some sort of Italian. The Como in the Falls is great, and there are a ton of places to get good Italian in the city. If you have friends coming from out of town, you better get three or four meals in with them. If not, the food might get them to make a return visit.
Growing up in Buffalo, what kinds of food did you grow up on?
Ryan: My family is a motley mix of Irish and Polish, and my last name is Dutch. We’re a mess, but the food is excellent. St. Patrick’s Day is nothing without corned beef and cabbage, and we make sure to change things up every once in a while during Lent.
My dad’s the more creative cook, but it’s rare when he puts on the oven mitts to make things happen. He shines in the summer when the grill’s out, and he gets a bit experimental with ribs and burgers.
As far as local restaurants, how can I do this without mentioning the now-defunct Goose’s Roost restaurant in Niagara Falls? We sort of named the site after it, and the location by the airport is about a block from my house. The food was pretty good, and it had one of the best signs in the city.
Is there anything you wish Buffalo had more of (food wise)?
Ryan: My extended family is pretty spread out, so we travel a lot to visit them. I love the local food here, but what I’d like to see are some of the different fast food venues make their way up north. I think Sonic is the best example of that. We always try to hit them up when we travel to Ohio or anywhere down South. Steak and Shake is also on that list.
Another thing I’d like to see are some healthier, or even just better, places open later at night. I’m a bit of an insomniac, so it’s a bit demoralizing to know that I’m starving at 3 a.m. and McDonalds is the best option on the table. Or maybe, you know, I could sleep like a normal person. Either or.
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We’d like to say thank you to Ryan for answering our questions, we really appreciate it and now want to make our way to Niagara Falls and explore the restaurant scene. You can read The Goose Roost as part of WNY Media’s blogging family and you can keep up to date with Ryan’s twitter feed or “like” their Facebook page. On occasions you can hear Ryan (or fellow writer Chris) on the Brad Riter Show or The Late Nick Mendola with on WECK 1230 AM.
