The greasy spoon diner is a dying part of American culture; the chain restaurant has done a great job putting local eateries out of business. A small place with little name recognition can hardly compete with a Denny’s on every other block. But if you want actual food and not gimmicky appetizers, then you seek out the greasy spoon, ideally a place with a personality (no faceless corporate uniformity) to go along with unique cuisine. Luckily, Western New York has a good selection of locally owned diners to choose from, but how do you choose and what do you consider? When looking for a good diner, you should be considering a few things: atmosphere, quality of food, and price (ok, you should actually apply this to every restaurant).
Lake Effect Diner
Situated on Main Street next to The Steer, the Lake Effect diner has the most unique appearance of any of the places featured in this article. The Lake Effect was originally built in another part of the country during the 1950s and was recently transported to Buffalo, New York. Thus, the décor is consistent with what you would expect from an old greasy spoon. However, while the appearance is seemingly genuine, the overall experience feels somewhat gimmicky. Due to the fact that the place was transported, Lake Effect loses points on atmospheric authenticity. It comes off as being an attempt at conveying the tone and style of a ‘50s diner while remaining unsuccessful at actually doing so. Food-wise, Lake Effect has decent food at mid-range prices. Milkshakes come in a variety of interesting flavors and are some of the best in the area. Due to its proximity to the far superior Amy’s Place, Lake Effect is really not worth it unless you are going after regular hours (it’s open 24/7).
Amy’s Place
Hidden on Main Street next to Greeks ‘n’ Sneaks, Amy’s Place is one of the best restaurants in Buffalo, period. The prices are decent, ranging from cheap to mid-range (although the omelets are a little expensive) and the food is delicious. Service is always friendly and the menu boasts a large variety of foods. From lentil berry sandwiches to burgers and fries, there is a lot to choose from and all of it is excellent. Amy’s Place also offers several unique dishes that are usually not thought of as traditional diner fare. A personal favorite is the Margie Meal, a chicken wrap filled with fajita fries, hot sauce, tomatoes and a garlic spread. Another great dish is the Bruce Bowl, a combination of lentil soup topped with cheese and hot sauce.
The atmosphere is laidback and friendly, and is usually filled to capacity during the weekend. Amy’s Place’s only weakness compared to other diners is that it is not open 24 hours a day, an unfortunate quality given that it’s such a great place overall.
Tom’s
Tom’s has been a local staple for as long as I can remember. Open 24/7 on Sheridan and North Bailey, Tom’s is a great late night stop. Prices and food are excellent and the service is friendly. The atmosphere is your average late night diner fare, and the place is always clean. The food is the average diner selection with some popular Greek dishes thrown in as well. While there is nothing particularly unique about the place, Tom’s is still a solid restaurant and always a good choice at three in the morning.
Nestors
Located in North Tonawanda off River Road, Nestors is another good late night stop in the vein of Tom’s. The prices are probably the cheapest of all the selections mentioned in this article. The food itself is good, although, like Tom’s, really nothing particularly spectacular. However, do not let mediocrity deter you; while both places lack a superlative dining experience, they are solid choices.
The best way to describe the décor and atmosphere at Nestors is to call it very Western New York (if there could be such a thing); the majority of the patrons can be spotted wearing some item of Buffalo Bills paraphernalia. Friendly old ladies make up the service staff for the most part, and they are all friendly and helpful. Cheap and open 24/7, Nestors (located about 15 minutes away from campus in North Tonawanda) is another excellent greasy spoon.
Pano’s
It is debatable whether this place is a greasy spoon or not. Granted the menu does include some higher end items, the fact that it is open 24 hours a day with a super-informal atmosphere make it a diner, but a bit more fancy as diners go. On Elmwood, Pano’s has an excellent location right in the center of things on the strip. While the prices are the highest of any of the places mentioned, the food is rather good. However, some of the food can be bland (the hamburgers are an excellent example of this). The strongest items on the menu are the breakfast plates. Service is friendly and of good quality. One of the other advantages is the nice outdoor dining area during the summer months. Nothing beats having lunch outside on Elmwood during a lazy summer afternoon. A great spot for people watching and having good food.
