Top 100 Buffalo/WNY Foods and Restaurants 2010
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The Editors of Buffalo Chow are proud to present the 2010 edition of the Top 100 Buffalo / WNY Foods and Restaurants Guide, an unparalleled independent look at the best culinary destinations in and around Western New York. Our Top 100 is unique: no advertisers, relationships with covered businesses, or external considerations have in any way influenced the creation of this list. Instead, our editors selected the Top 100 purely on merit, recognizing everything from the best of Buffalo's famous tavern foods to the most impressive fine dining establishments, and everything in between. Food quality was the single most important criterion, followed by value for the dollar, service, and ambience; some restaurants excel in specific categories, while others impress in all four.

Below, you'll discover that the 100 selected establishments are each briefly summarized, noting their geographic locations and at least a couple of great picks per restaurant. More importantly, you'll find full linked reviews for every one of the places, as well as photographs that let you know what to expect. While we have numbered the restaurants, they are not in rank order; star ratings and details within the reviews generally provide guidance as to how excellent the individual establishments are relative to local and national competitors. To keep the list manageable, we've split it into five parts, and will be rolling them out one per day over the course of this week.

Part 1: Family Dining: Barbecue, Burgers, European, and Latin/Tex-Mex
Part 2: Tavern Fare: Wings, Pizza and Beef on Weck
Part 3: Brunch + Sweets: Bagels, Coffee, and Desserts
Part 4: Asian Foods: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai and Vietnamese
Part 5: Fine Dining: American, French, Fusion, Italian, and Steakhouses (You're Here)

The 2010 Top 100 is a labor of love, and the product of thousands of hours of dedicated tasting, discussions, and writing. We hope that it helps you discover some of Western New York's most wonderful meals, and enjoy them as much as we have.

Fine Dining: American, French, Fusion, Italian, and Steakhouses, in Alphabetical Order

25. Amaretto Bistro. As the newest restaurant on this list, Amaretto Bistro in Williamsville is the impressive product of a former E.B. Green's chef who decided to offer high-class Italian and American dishes in his own, boutique-sized venue; it's an approachable and comparatively affordable place for an unusually nice meal. What's Great: Thin-fried leeks, herbs, and vegetables at the peak of their preparation adorn wonderful plates such as the Steak & Scallops, Wild Game Sausage, Pork Tenderloin and Lasagna; the cannolis here are amongst the area's very best.

24. Black & Blue Steak & Crab. With decor as impressive and upscale as its dishes, Williamsville's Black & Blue is the best steak house in Buffalo's suburbs, and uses crab to great advantage in soups, sides, and entrees. A great destination for an impressive first (or tenth) date, or a special occasion. What's Great: The Maryland She-Crab Soup is outstanding; the steaks and lamb chops are also of very high quality.

23. Bonefish Grill. The Amherst location of the national Bonefish Grill chain delivers a classier seafood dining experience than local competitors, standing out from virtually everything surrounding it at the Boulevard Mall. What's Great: Lemon-Buttered Chilean Sea Bass is surprisingly strong, while appetizers such as the Crab Cakes and Ahi Tuna Sashimi are right up there, too.

22. Buffalo Chophouse. We tested them all this year, and the area's best steakhouse is surely Buffalo Chophouse in the City of Buffalo; the beef, drinks, and desserts are all top-shelf, even if the place sometimes attracts a boisterous crowd. What's Great: The Filet Mignon and Lamb Chops are superb by local standards, and the Bananas Foster eschews a flambe presentation for superior, chef-tuned flavor.

21. Cheesecake Factory. Setting the standard for national chain restaurants, the Cheektowaga location of the Cheesecake Factory continues to offer one of the best overall menus of appetizers, entrees, and desserts we've ever seen - the rare place we'd visit for anything from drinks to dinner to cheesecake. What's Great: There's no better version of Thai Lettuce Wraps than the one served here, and we're big fans of the Chinese Chicken Salad, the Crispy Spicy Beef, and even the delicious dark breads served at the start of every meal. Finish with either the Vanilla Bean and Godiva Chocolate Cheesecakes, which represent the polar extremes of deliciousness, one light, the other heavy as can be.

20. CopaCabana Brazilian Steak House. There are two Brazilian all-you-can-eat steak houses in the area - both literally just over the border in Niagara Falls, Canada - and CopaCabana is the better one, offering a good selection of meats, an equally tempting salad bar, and live entertainment while you eat. What's Great: Between the sausages, bacon-wrapped filet mignon, and special Picanha top sirloin, carnivores will be in heaven; the salad bar's also very strong.

19. Curly's. Even if the Caribbean elements of Lackawanna's Curly's Grill & Banquet Center are less potent than one might expect, the beauty and overall quality of the dishes at this establishment places it in rarified company - it's the sort of place that even chefs will appreciate. What's Great: Try the Deviled Clams, the Roasted Pork Tenderloin Armenia, or if you're dieting, the Low Cal Fish in a Bag; ignore the calories and you can try the Chocolate Mousse Bag or the Tuile desserts, each an exercise in delicate preparation and impressive plating.

18. Eagle House. A Williamsville landmark with a classic interior, Eagle House serves hearty American and local favorites with more panache than similar restaurants nearby; it skews upscale despite the menu's focus on American favorites that other places might serve less impressively. What's Great: The Colossal Coconut Shrimp surpassed even memories of their greatness, while the Beef on Weck and Blueberry Bread Pudding are surely worth sampling.

17. Falletta's. Don't let the more casual porch seating fool you: East Amherst's Falletta's is a fancy place inside, with some dishes that will genuinely wow the tongue. What's Great: If you're lucky enough to find the Hungarian Stuffed Peppers on the menu - and you like spice - don't pause for a second before ordering them; salads with the house poppy seed dressing, the schnitzel-and-salad combo Veal a la Gabrielle, and the Chicken Pasta Alfredo are all worthwhile picks. Finish with a cannoli.

16. Frog Hair Grille & Golf. To the extent that you mightn't expect a golf-themed restaurant to serve great food, Williamsville's Frog Hair will sneak up on you, but everything from the pretzel bread at the start to the desserts at the end has a high chance of making a very positive impression; themed dining events such as Dine in the Dark make the country club-like venue even more interesting. What's Great: Salad lovers will be in heaven after trying the Poached Pear Salad; we'd also recommend the Seared Ahi Tuna Appetizer and unusually impressive Stuffed Banana Peppers.

15. Gatehouse Grill. Tucked away in a Clarence plaza just beyond Transit on Main, Gatehouse Grill keeps winning Taste of Williamsville awards - justifiably - for memorable dishes, and offers some breathtaking desserts. What's Great: With its own unique version of Stuffed Banana Peppers, a solid Caesar, and numerous solid entrees - including one of the area's better meatloaf plates - the most striking picks are the sweets: the Maple Glazed Bananas and Coconut Panna Cotta with Passion Fruit Gelee are ridiculously good.

14. La Scala. Surely one of East Amherst's nicest restaurants, the dimly-lit, romantic dining room at La Scala Ristorante provides a charming setting for high-quality Italian and American entrees and desserts. What's Great: The Osso Bucco and Sesame-Crusted Ahi Tuna are classy, complemented by great rice, asparagus and broccolini.

13. The Left Bank. Western New York wouldn't be the same without The Left Bank, a brick-walled restaurant in the City of Buffalo that's always packed during holiday celebrations; outstanding Italian-influenced appetizers and good entrees are addictive. If this list was in rank order, it would be in the area's top five. What's Great: We'd list and recommend the entire excellent appetizer menu, skipping over the merely very good entrees; the Portobello Mushroom, Proscuitto Prawns, and Banana Peppers are amongst the area's best.

12. Mother's. Local celebrities and well-to-do businesspeople are easy to spot at the Virginia Street, Buffalo bar and restaurant Mother's, which impressively prepares both homey and upscale American favorites, then delivers them with great service. What's Great: Though familiar dishes like the New England Clam Chowder and Meatloaf are given novel, delicious twists - three sausage-like meats and a barbecue sauce in the latter - specials like the Oven-Roasted Kurobuta Pork Chop and the Banana Split Tart dessert are even more spectacular.

11. Oliver's. A City of Buffalo institution for three generations, during which a number of the area's best-known chefs have worked in its kitchen, Oliver's preserves the essence of its classically appointed fine dining room and personally attentive service, with an updated menu and decor. What's Great: Though the high-class ambience is a strong part of the draw here, the least pretentious dishes are some of the best - consider Oliver's Original Spinach Loaf before moving on to the Asian Pulled Pork and a Toscano Pizza, with a Chocolate Raspberry Crunch Cake for dessert.

10. Protocol. Bordering Cheektowaga, the surprisingly nice dining room and attentive service at Williamsville's Protocol glam up a nice variety of Asian- and Italian-inspired American dishes, including steaks, seafood, strong starters, and desserts. What's Great: Some strong seafood items here include the delicious Coconut Shrimp and Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna Salad, while Protocol's rendition of the area's Roast Beef on Weck Sandwich is textbook-quality, and its Flourless Chocolate Tart - topped with a chocolate raspberry sauce - is incredible.

9. Rue Franklin. Another of the City of Buffalo's crown jewels, Rue Franklin's seasonally changing French menu includes some of the area's best examples of high cuisine, presented in one of WNY's most patron-conscious fine dining rooms. What's Great: Seasonal menu changes may well alter your options, but we've loved the Lamb Carpaccio, Spinach Salads, Veal Rib Chop, Sole With Shrimp, and Poached Duck Breast; love is not too strong a word here.

8. San Marco. Revered for 25 years as a local leader in Northern Italian cuisine, recent changes to Amherst's San Marco haven't reduced its distinctiveness or high-class, romantically cozy dining rooms. What's Great: The brilliant Capesante al Vesuvio scallops and vegetarian Ravioli Della Nonna are great appetizers, with the Capriolo alle Brache venison and a superb Chocolate Zuccato serving as great ways to round out a meal and a stomach.

7. Shango. As the nicest New Orleans-influenced restaurant in the City of Buffalo, the high-class Shango transcends the Mardi Gras culture normally evoked by the word "Cajun," winning wows from the starts to the ends of its meals. What's Great: Start with some wonderful cornbread and a panko-crusted Soft Shell Crab or a Pan-Fried Caribbean Laughing Bird Shrimp Cake, move on to the Buttermilk Fried Chicken or the Sirloin Steak, and finish with the Molten Chocolate Cup Cake or a piece of Southern Pecan Pie.

6. Siena. This Amherst brother to Buffalo's Oliver's combines some of the area's sharpest decor with a strong American-Italian menu and a popular bar. It's obvious that Siena's kitchen is aiming to impress with virtually every dish here, and most often succeeds. What's Great: The Eggplant Tower, Osso Bucco, and various Milanese meats are always strong; Beef or Smoked Salmon Carpaccio are tasty starters, while desserts such as the Magic Cubes offer happy endings to the filling meals.

5. Tempo. Quite possibly the best Italian restaurant in Western New York, Tempo in Buffalo combines outstanding service with dishes that speak to a sharp, detail-conscious kitchen. What's Great: Tempo's wow-quality Insalata Mista salad, Seared Hawaiian Ahi Loin, Scunghilli Fra Diavolo, and Chicken Cutlet alla Milanese are all easy recommendations, as is the Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee, one of the area's best thanks in part to an included fresh biscotti.

4. Torches. Showy in a good way, Kenmore's Torches plays off its name with seared entrees and desserts, skillfully using colorful ingredients to dress up otherwise familiar dishes. What's Great: Unexpectedly fun Cornmeal Dusted Scallops, a beautiful Pan Seared Ahi Tuna entree, and a table-flambeed Black Raspberry Baked Alaska are all memorable options.

3. Toro. Don't let the Spanish-sounding name - in full, Toro Tapas Bar - fool you; only the tiniest hints of Latin influence are found at this swank Buffalo fusion restaurant, which apart from the paella and chorizo is as likely to charm you with American, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, or Thai influences. What's Great: Ignore the ambiguous-sounding title and order the amazing Tuna Package; the Grilled Petit Filets and the Celtic Cheesecake are also strong picks.

2. Trattoria Aroma. From pizzas to entrees and occasionally brilliant specials, the Williamsville Italian restaurant Trattoria Aroma has remained impressive throughout years of evolution, and accessible despite upscale leanings. What's Great: Between the Insalada Griglia, the thin crusted pizzas - such as the mushroom-heavy Funghi - and the regular entrees, it's hard to go wrong here, but specials such as the Agnello Siciliano lamb and Seafood-Stuffed Calamari occasionally take Aroma into the incredible category.

1. Verbena Grille. After a lull and a change of chefs, Verbana Grille has surged back into the upper echelon of Williamsville fine dining with some of the area's most impressive individual menu items, as well as nice brightening renovations to the attractively classic club-like venue. What's Great: We fell in love with the full-leaf Caesar Salad and Grilled Peach Salad, the Sesame Seared Yellowfin Tuna, and the Creme Brulee here, all at or near the top of their classes, locally.

We hope that this list has whet your appetite and inspired you to sample some of the area's most interesting and wonderful food destinations. Prior Part 1: Family Dining: Barbecue, Burgers, European, and Latin/Tex-Mex, Part 2: Tavern Fare: Wings, Pizza and Beef on Weck, Part 3: Brunch + Sweets: Bagels, Coffee, and Desserts, and Part 4: Asian Foods: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai and Vietnamese are here, while a look back at our 2009 Top 100 List is available here.