Larkin Square in Buffalo
Categories
Location on the map
Buffalo, Erie County, New York, US
Site: http://larkinsquare.com/
- Monday:11AM–3PM
- Tuesday:11AM–8PM
- Wednesday:11AM–8:30PM
- Thursday:11AM–3PM
- Friday:11AM–3PM
- Saturday:Closed
- Sunday:Closed
Lawn chairs, whimsical architecture, live music, colorful furniture, food trucks, beer.....hula hoops?Welcome to Food Truck Tuesdays at Larkin Square, one of many summertime traditions in Buffalo.Fun Fact: The square gets its name from John D. Larkin who founded the Larkin Soap Company in Buffalo that no longer exists. Darwin D. Martin who was the Corporate Secretary for the company has a house in Buffalo that was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright...the most famous american architect.
Jamaican Jerkfest was great the food I tasted at La Verdad and Chef Krista Van Wagner were excellent. Music was provided by Olmstead Dub a local reggae group who crafted upbeat island and popular covers. I arrived later in the day and the line at Darian Bryans Jamaican“Jerk Hut” featuring colossal Jerk Lobster Tail, spice filled Rasta pasta and Jerk Chicken the man and chef who was the person who created the festival was longest KT Caribbean Cuisine was sold out I decided on La Verdad and was pleased with my selection of smoked BBQ brisket with BBQ beans and slaw. They were sold out of the Ch with chicken and burnt ends. Chef Kristas has been around for about 30 years and her roast pork on a bun with mango chutney was also outstanding. There were many shops offering snacks, bakery items, clothing and apparel, balloons and other items. Rum punch and red stripe was available at the full service bar. A large pleasant and happy crowd attended.
Fantastic venue with a variety of options for food trucks on Tuesdays, and also a great place to bring a picnic basket to enjoy some shade in an upscale leisure park. Not necessarily a place you swing on a swing, but you can bounce to the beat of the jazz band playing at a perfect volume. A variety of different types of people come here to enjoy foods from vegan falafel wraps, to buffalo chicken peroigis. Great place to escape the busy city feel by taking a short drive. Free parking, handicap accessible, and easy to navigate.
Pros: excellent, family friendly environment with something for everyone.Cons: early arrivals that sit alone at each table and nurse their drink (soda) for a few hours while food purchasers are stuck standing and trying to eat without wearing their food.Either more tables or courteous people that are willing to share the table instead of waiting for the friend that never shows.I cant believe Ive got to suggest etiquette towards others when its obvious that people give the stink-eye when theyre shushed off by a person needing a stable surface to put their food down.
ABSOLUTELY LOVE it here. Food truck Tuesdays are phenomenal, they have rooftop concerts. The park area (right next to fueling station) is so peaceful but also a great place for venues. Ive brought friends here my 6 nieces, and gone by myself aswell. There are many great photo ops. And theres constantly something going on down there is you ever need an excuse to go.
I went to a jazz festival it was nice didnt stay long due to clouds showing signs of rain. Ill know next time to bring chairs because I sat on the floor on a blanket but I totally got lost in the enjoyment of the jazz I didnt even care about anyone blocking the view because the music was beautiful
We went to a live performance by a band covering Prince and Rick James. The band was great. There is free parking in the ramp!! Huge plus!! The stage is visible from everywhere. They had food trucks out there with great prices! The bar had a limited selection of beer or wine but the Rusty Chain is great!
This venue is a must see - their Tuesday ~ food truck event and Wednesday ~Live at Larkin are great times - Larkin and Key Bank supply music free of charge by local bands all season long. Tuesday the lots are crammed with a wide variety of food trucks. The staff is stellar to say the least. Very friendly and outgoing. Worth spending a Tuesday or Wednesday there with family or friends
What an awesome time I had at Larkin food truck Tuesday. there was so many food options to choose from they even serve beer and wine. the prices were fair for the amount of food that you received. they also had public restrooms and live bands playing! plenty of seating available but the crowd fills up fast best get here early. would definitely come back again
This was my first time going to Food Truck Tuesday at Larkin Square. I enjoyed listening to the music while having a bite to eat ( barbecue chicken skewer w/fr. fries), along with a Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream cone, from Taffys. We brought our own chairs and sat in front of the people who were performing, to raise money for Michael. They were absolutely awesome. I would definitely come back again! A wonderful experience! 😀
We had our daughter’s wedding at Larkin and it was amazing! The venue has so much cool space that it allows the guest to enjoy the wedding experience in so many different ways. People played lawn games, hula-hooped, chilled on comfy couches, hung out at a very spacious bar, ate and drank at cocktail/dining/and picnic tables, and danced on a huge, open air dance floor. The food and drinks (bar package was terrific and we added a Paloma which people loved!) were excellent. We did 2 food trucks (Lloyd’s and Fat Bobs) for dinner and guests loved that, too. So many guests have commented on how cool and fun the venue was. Event planners Bridget and Lauren were AWESOME—relaxed, flexible, helpful (with all that we didn’t know), and excellent with communication. The venue is so cool that we used very few decorations, and it’s a photographer’s dream so no need to find another place for pics. It was our daughter’s dream wedding, and I would highly recommend Larkin for events focused on fun and enjoying an outdoor, city vibe.
Nice event area. Go here for food truck Tuesdays during the spring and its great to have a bunch of different foods to try with the accompaniment of live music. Only problem which really isnt a problem but more of a inconvenience is that they have a small section a few blocks away from the main square with more food trucks. Its annoying to have to walk back and forth to browse the options since they are not all in one area. And if you dont know about the small section apart from the main you miss out of some really good food too.
A newly renovated area in the city. The area itself is absolutely beautiful. On Tuesdays they have food truck Tuesday I did not eat any of the food there but the band was great and I went to a restaurant across the street called Hydraulic. The food was delicious and the drinks were excellent.
The premier example of how a once-neglected area can be given new life. This is a wonderful venue for all kinds of events. Food Truck Tuesdays, live music on Wednesdays, and even private parties are enjoyable here. I highly recommend stopping down on Tuesday or Wednesday after 5pm.
This is my fave summer hang out place. They have everything from food truck rodeo, live concerts, markets in the summer and winter with great vendors, you name it. It get CRAZY crowded for food truck rodeo, so get there early or dont expect a seat. Their selection and quality of chairs they have in the summer is unparalleled. Everything about this place is wonderful. So much energy, great layout, they have a mini golf right next door, and 3 walkable breweries and a distillery right nearby! Theyre right across from Hydraulic Hearth so you can grab a late night drink or eat after you hang out at Larkin. I cant say enough good things about this place. They did SUCH a great job of revitalizing the area and making this a destination.
We had a great time sampling all the different food trucks. Between the four of us each would pick a different item and different truck. We shared each selection and it made the night interesting. I can say we did not have any food we didnt like.The music was great and it was nice to see everyone enjoying the night.
This was the first time Ive attended an activity at Larkin Square, and wanted to scope it out for future Tuesday events. The parking was close by in the ramp, a short walk to the heated tent with the vendors. We checked out the nearby bar and two diners, and settled on The Filling Station for lunch. Gluten-free items are limited, but daughter was able to get a salad. Everything is close by, and we checked out the handicapped facilities for when we bring dad.
Food truck Tuesday is where is started for me in the larkin d . Great location lots of parking, Im sure people from all around the country come to this event. It amazes me everytime I go down there, their always seems to be more people than the last time. All good homemade food from over 25 food trucks. Live bands great atmosphere bring the hubby bring the kids ... bring the grandparents everyone is invited its a party in buffalo ny!!
I only go here for Food Truck Tuesday. Parking is a bit of a pain. Plenty of food trucks. Be warned prices are a bit high considering how much food you get. Live music. Too many people sometimes. There are additional food trucks in the flying bison parking lot with less of a crowd. I recommend you check it out at least once in the summer.
Great area that was recently renovated in the city. The major summer attraction is food truck Tuesdays where Larkinville hosts dozens of local food trucks in addition to having the occasional vendor and live music from 4-8. Parking is conveniently located next to the area for $5 or there are multiple free lots within 5 minute or less walk from the area. They also have convenient bathrooms located on site rather than rental port-a-potties which is a nice touch.
This is my favorite urban outdoor music venue. Its family-friendly. Events end early enough for early risers to get home to sleep, but night owls have after-party options across the street and across town. There are always food trucks and local brews. Wednesday night Live at Larkin has introduced me to some of my favorite bands.
If I did not take the tour of the area under the direction of the Explore Buffalo docent, i would not have realized how important this area was to the Buffalo economy from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century. Most notable part of the tour was visiting the site of the Administration building, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. While the building was sadly demolished mid century, the loss served to galvanize what became the Buffalo preservation movement. Today, many of the former company buildings have been re-purposed and the area now boasts a healthy mix of business, retail, residential and entertainment
Larkin is a very cool space with the food trucks, live music, area restaurants, bars, breweries, & distilleries. I like to go to events there, but it always ends up very crowded. Its not a bad thing except waiting in line for food or drinks literally takes 40 minutes.
We went to do some quick family pictures here on a Sunday afternoon. Noone was around, but apparently management of Larkin square told our photographer we werent allowed. They were pretty rude to her; we managed to photograph outside and around instead of inside the square like I was hoping, but there wasnt anyone there. So we werent sure what the problem would have been. I just wish management hadnt been rude about it. A missed opportunity on their part to have a family taking pictures (free business advertising!)
We went to Larkinville for food truck Tuesday. It was a nice day out, so it was quite busy. There is a great selection of food trucks to choose from, my favorite being Amys. The lentil berry wrap was great! Its always tough to find a place to sit and eat, so that is the one thing that bothers me. Sitting on the grass is always an option, so bring a blanket or chair if this will be a problem for you.
Food Truck Tuesdays have overgrown this space, and there are ridiculous lines, terrible parking, and no where to sit. I waited in line for an hour to get my meal. After I finally got it, we left and went to the lot by the brewery which was much more tolerable. The space itself however is always clean, and the staff running the actual Larkin kiosks are efficient.
I discovered Larkin Square when I switched jobs last summer. I went from working downtown and thought to myself Now Im going to miss being right there with everything. Little did I realize, theres so much more in the Larkin area than I thought! Everyone knows Larkin Square for Food Truck Tuesday, but its so much more than that. In the summer and fall you can also find food trucks popping up occasionally on Wednesday evenings, and even during lunch hours throughout the week. Theres a stage where bands play live, performing various genres of music. You can bring your lawn chairs, take advantage of the seats around the outside bar and around the stage, or relax in the loungers along the lawn.In the colder months they still host events and bring out the heat lamps because, why should a little cold weather stop the fun? I love how the local restaurants collaborate with eachother to help bring the best experience to those coming to larkin square. Whether its to shut down the whole block for Beetles Weekend (a block party where a live band plays Beetles tunes on the roof of Hydraulic). Having food and drink specials at each restaurant for a big event. Or just knowing whats going on in the square by having information posted and informed bartenders inviting you to upcoming events.With the continued remodeling old buildings in the area, larkin square is definitely not done growing. And I cant wait to be a part of the new entertainment to come.
Swan St. Diner,... Plus the area is super cute & friendly; theres an old timey trian car diner across the street from a corner fire station, brick roads, shuffle board + there seems to be some sort of activity happening just about any time Im out that way so... A#1 place for breakfast ect...
Total reviews rating 4.6
199 Reviews for Larkin Square 2023:
Review №1
2022-05-17Family fun day! Event. Was neat spent about an hour . Music stuff for kids food trucks. 10 -2
Review №2
2021-08-18Great food, wonderful ambience. There is plenty of parking but the later you get there the farther you will need to park. And if it is your first time dropping by make sure to bring your own chair, seating is limited as well. If you dont bring a chair you will be standing while you are trying to listen to the music, balancing your drink, all while trying to eat your food.
Review №3
2021-09-01Great food, pricing, and atmosphere. Open and relaxing to walk around. They had live music which was enjoyable too. Love it and definitely will be going back!
Review №4
2022-06-15First time at food truck Tuesday. Parking was fairly easy and free. I do recommend bringing a folding chair unless standing and eating is ok with you and getting down there around 430-445pm as by 530pm the joint is jumping and lines at the trucks are 20-30 minutes just to order. Had a fabulous time hanging out with friends, listening to a good band and sampling some great food.
Review №5
2022-06-29I very much enjoyed going to this place for my first time on Food Truck Tuesday. There is a nice variety of food, good music and clean restrooms. Bring a chair and be sure to try Some Like it Hot or Not.
Review №6
2022-06-15Totally lit, as always. Need more BBQ trucks. I know the idea is to promote healthy eating but honestly I didnt drive 40 miles to eat healthy. Js... more BBQ and cheesy stuff please. Thank you. 👍🏽
Review №7
2022-06-05A Beautiful & Nice place in my community. I walk my puppies around that area & I always use the KEYBANK 🏧 in the Larkin Square because its so convenient.Im a 10 yr Home Owner on South Division Street which 5 blocks away from Larkin Square.
Review №8
2022-06-28Went for a concerrt. Loved the food trucks. Was sad the bar area ran out of beers before the end. But over all this is a wonderful area & well ran
Review №9
2022-07-01Great place to get out and see society. Food trucks on site (tuesday) nice clean family friendly.
Review №10
2019-06-23Super fun location with lounge chairs and multiple levels. At the time I went there was nobody there, but in general there tends to be quite a bit going on.The chairs are modern and comfortable. The one I sat in had a large trampoline like seat.The lounge chairs would be really nice to have at a location like canalside, since the view here is not anything too exciting (in my opinion).Excited to go back when a few more things are happening.