I had a vague idea of what the Washington Square was before I stepped through their doors. I knew this was a popular pregame restaurant/bar for Sabres games, so I assumed that their menu would have the usual pub food staples (it does). But I was shocked at the size of the place, it’s surprisingly large and was fairly crowded when my friend Sue and I arrived for lunch on Friday. The hostess actually asked Sue if we had called for a reservation when we walked in. Luckily, we were still able to grab a table on such short notice. We visited during Lent and I’m not sure if it was just the regular Friday lunch crowd or people dying for their first Fish Fry of the season.
Quick Info:
We realized that we should get our orders ready ASAP since our waitress was running around and Sue only had a certain amount of time to eat lunch. Sue went for the fish fry (pictured above, top) since it seemed like a pretty popular option that day. Their serving size was on par with most Buffalo pubs. They have several different styles of fish fry but Sue chose the traditional beer battered style. The piece of fish was gigantic; however, the flavor and texture was also on par with most other Buffalo fish frys with a crunchy thick batter and previously frozen fish underneath. She wasn’t disappointed with the flavor but wasn’t wowed by it either.
I tried out their cheeseburger (pictured above, bottom) which had been cooked on a flat stove and had a really nice crisp exterior but still remained juicy inside. It was incredibly messy to eat but it was well worth the hassle since the beef had a good flavor. It wasn’t a very thick burger, but what it lacked in thickness it made up for in circumference. The french fries weren’t that exciting and not worth really commenting on.
After looking through some comments online, I’ve seen a couple people say that have some really good wings but lets be honest, what bar in Buffalo doesn’t? This pub/restaurant is a nice place to visit before a Sabres game or any First Niagara event, but I don’t see myself going out of my way since the food is anything special. Parking in the area is a little tricky and you may have to pay a couple bucks to park in an adjacent lot. The location itself is a cozy, the type of atmosphere I would enjoy if I wanted to have a cheap beer, but I doubt I will be back anytime soon.
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I work in the Ellicott Square building and this place is a God send for lunch. They fax over their menu’s to our office weekly and are always running specials!