The Left Bank in Buffalo
Site: http://leftbankrestaurant.com/
- Monday:4:30–10PM
- Tuesday:4:30–10PM
- Wednesday:4:30–10PM
- Thursday:4:30–10PM
- Friday:4:30–11PM
- Saturday:4:30–11PM
- Sunday:4:30–10PM
The Left Bank in other cities:
Went to dinner here based off a reccomendation from a friend. We were so happy to be able to get in! Reservations were very limited when we called at 1 pm. You will definitely need a reservation as the restaurant is pretty small. Ambiance was really nice. The food and service were phenomenal. If we are ever out this way again, we will most definitely be back!
Cassandra was amazing. He graceful manner that made us felt at home . We walked into the restaurant last minute and they were willing to seat us eventhough we were a party of 11. The food was out of this world delicious! I had the salmon, others had the steak dinner and they loved it all. 😋Thank you to the Left Bank restaurant!!
We just went to the Left Bank for the last time. This restaurant has always been our FAVORITE restaurant in WNY. We have patronized this establishment for the past 20 years. Last year we went as a family of 5 for a celebratory occasion. We left extremely disappointed. The service was terrible and the food was mediocre. We decided to brush that off as a Bad day at Left Bank. Moving forward, a friend and I decided to drop in for a bite to eat a few months ago. Yep, again, the same. Lousy service and the food was terrible. Last straw, we went this past Thursday to celebrate my daughters college graduation and guess what ??? The service was terrible and the food was terrible as well. Our chicken (both dishes) were burned, dried out and had a burnt taste. We told the waitress. The waitress offered to have it re-made the two dishes, but we declined because it took so long to make the food in the first place. So this was it- 3 strikes and you are out. We will not dine here again.
Ill start by saying I plan on making reservations for a future date it was so wonderful. We came in and the ambience of the place was somewhat surreal in comparison to the outside. The place was packed but youre able to eat at the bar and they have standing tables to the side which is great. I ordered the Meat special for the day once we were at the bar. The bartender (Michelle, ask for her shes amazing with drinks and service) brought out our appetizer (the Calamari) fairly quickly.The Calamari here is hands down probably the best Ive had in a long while. Crisp, not greasy and the chunky marinara was so wonderful.My steak entree came out not long after and it was heaven on a plate. The steak was medium rare just as I ordered and the sauce over it was amazing. The potatoes were creamy, green beans crisp. Only complaint for the plate was the carrots were barely cooked. Still enjoyable though.Honestly for a place that would be considered a whole in the wall it was amazing. 10/10
This was my second time dining at LB. Its been said that LB is rated one of the top 10 restaurants in Buffalo, NY so we decided to give this establishment another try. We made reservations and was able to get an 8:30p slot. There is on-street parking but we were able to get a parking spot in the adjacent lot. Our hostess and our waiter was very pleasant. I enjoyed the atmosphere, and its a very beautiful restaurant. One section of the dining room (upper level), the seating is a little to cramped and my chair was literally back to back to another person dining there. after we ordered our drinks were served complimentary bread with butter, which was delicious.We decided to try the fried calamari for an appetizer and it was very tasty especially with the dipping sauce on the side. For our entrees we ordered the ravioli special of the night and beef with noodles (I cant remember the name). The portions were huge but the dish itself was just ok. Im not a big fan of a ton of cheese and everything was overly dressed in mozzarella cheese, on both entrees. We opted out for dessert and decided to call it a night. Overall a great dining experience but the entrees fell short of my expectations.
A fantastic find in a great part of the city. Stylish design throughout. The food was beyond excellent. I highly recommend the tuna tartare. It’s incredibly flavorful and sits nicely on a bed of warm sushi rice. The potato soup is also an excellent choice. The panko crusted chicken cutlets are incredible. Only real complaint is that the restroom is incredibly small.
A visit to Buffalo took me to my Loves old restaurant she use to go to. The Left Bank was awesome. Great ambiance, wonderful service & the cooks really took care of our garlic intolerance. I had the Strip Steak & love had Beef Medallions (with no garlic). Dessert was a wonderful Pumpkin Cheescake. Great place for date night in Buffalo.
Ate there while in town. The food was excellent and the atmosphere welcoming and comfortable. Attentive and pleasant service. I had the baked salmon main dish and the artichoke/tomato/mozzerella salad. Both were superb. I will definitely return to explore more of the menu. Highly recommended
I recently met a few friends at the Left Bank, I havent been able to go this restaurant for over a 19 months due to the Covid restrictions at the border. This is one of my favourite restaurants in Buffalo, NY. It was very much worth the wait to get back to this restaurant. OUTSTANDING FOOD..... You will never be disappointed at the Left Bank, their chef makes amazing food.... ENJOY....
The mushroom bisque with truffle is bar the the best soup I have ever had. The pasta is also incredible. Also. Highly recommend the lavender cocktail they have. Our waiter, Sam, had a good sense of humor and made some great recommendations. Overall had an amazing experience. The rest of the staff was so friendly and helpful as well.
This is my favorite restaurant in Buffalo right now!!! I eat here about every other month. I cant afford to come more often. This is not a low cost experience but well worth the money!!!! Top notch service, food is AMAZING & the atmosphere is great for families, solo diners or the romantic couple!! Absolutely have zero negative to report!! I took my 21 year old son before he goes out west for a few months & we shared duck breast appetizer, I had the scallops & pasta dinner & he had the seafood & pasta dinner, OMG YUMMY!!!!! They have something for everyone!! I RECOMMEND TO EVERYONE!!!!!!
Just went here with my beautiful wife for our anniversary.We were immediately greeted and seated as soon as we arrived for our reservation. Wait staff was on the top of their game...we didnt have to ask for a single thing. Ambiance was quiet, yet social. The pork tenderloin ravioli was the best ravioli weve ever had. The filet medallions were on the same level. Highly recommend this place. Simply exceptional all around!
First time there and loved it! Got the Tuna tartare and the Margherita Flatbread focaccia and both were very delicious and good prices (they don’t skimp on the portions, nice and large, I split this with my partner). Great food. Great staff. Aesthetically pleasing. Nice atmosphere. Lovely drink selection. Highly recommend.
Recently had dinner reservations for 5 dear friends, two of whom were first time Buffalo visitors here for the Garden Walk. Wed had a wonderful weekend, showing them Buffalos fabulous gardens and hitting all the architectural treasures we could squeeze into a jam packed 3 days. They were greatly impressed until we arrived at the Left Bank. We arrived on time for our 7 pm reservation, hoping for the patio but also knowing patio tables were only available on a first come first served basis. The hostess said there was nothing available on the patio at the moment but didnt offer to seat us inside. So we waited, assuming she would seat us at a patio table soon. But after 10 minutes and no further information, we looked to see and found that no one on the patio was anywhere near finishing their meals. I then asked the hostess if we could have a table inside and was told there wasnt anything available, even though shed continued to seat others while we waited. I said wed like a table as soon as one was available since wed been waiting since 7. Another 5 minutes passed so I walked into the restaurant to find a table that looked ready for guests and asked if she could seat us and give us menus. She said, with great condescension, that the menus were on the table and that we could seat ourselves. Throughout this 20 minute wait the hostess was alternately rudely dismissive and aggressively hostile responding to my questions with exasperated sighs and annoyed eye rolls. The lack of civility from a hospitality professional was stunning.At dinner, after this sour start to the evening, two dishes were returned to the kitchen, uneaten. Our server was gracious and apologetic. (BTW we tipped her based on the total of all the food ordered, including the two uneaten entrees.)The whole dining experience left us all with a very bad taste.Rather than post a negative review, I wrote a letter to the owner describing our disappointment and the hostesss rudeness. He didnt reply the first week so I called and he said the hostess only worked Sundays and hadnt been in that Sunday but that hed talk to her and get back to me.When he called me back he disputed my complaints and said the hostess said we had arrived early and insisted on a table on the patio. She also denied that she was rude or had seated others while leaving us standing. He said he was sorry we didnt get a table on the patio which he considered my real complaint and then told me how difficult it is to satisfy some customers., and how hard the restaurant business is. His loyalty to his staff is admirable but as an unhappy customer, I think he should show more consideration to his customers. I wont be returning.
Delicious - loved the variety of menu options and we each had a cocktail that was great. The bread before the meal was also really good. Im not sure if the current arrangement is due to Covid, but it was very intimate and quiet where we were seated. The waitress even brought my leftovers out to the car after I forgot them at the table too, which was so appreciated!
Excellent and intelligent service. Very good food. Great atmosphere. They seem to have a reputation for their ravioli, which is not ravioli at all; more like an enormous manicotti with (grilled?) chicken. Maybe it changes daily. I found it neither elegant nor impressive. Pan Seared Duck Breast starter was very very good - Id order it again. Plan on going back to explore the menu more. I really appreciated the service.
After being seated the waiter didn’t even ask us for appetizers or drinks until about 20 minutes later. Anyway, after about 20 minutes we were server hard bread which tasted really bad. Ordered the calamari and the Grilled gulf shrimp on artichoke bottomsu2028 w baked goat cheese, citrus vinaigrette andu2028 balsamic syrup on a bed of greens.... they gave us about 10 of pieces of calamari, and the other appetizer I had literally a couple handfuls of spring mix with two pieces of shrimp. I could’ve made myself honestly. I noticed to the left of me (Caucasian customers) ordered the calamari as well, in which they had a plate full. Me and my boyfriend portions were very small compared to the people that were there with us. I’m not trying to bring race into it but it was very clear we weren’t welcomed there. Anyways we got our food 40 minutes later and it was a 2/10. Don’t recommend at all.
Our appetizers took 1 hour to arrive, our entrees took 45 minutes. No problem, we enjoyed a few bottles of wine while we waited. Our food was fantastic except one person in our party was missing the rice that should have been included with her meal. We tried several times to get the attention of our waitress with no success. We informed the waitress that we were celebrating 2 birthdays. Desserts were promptly delivered. I was disappointed that the bill was given to my daughter, one of the birthday girls. Wed just received our receipt and were putting our jackets on when a women in a saccharine sweet voice approached the table and said she knew we were celebrating but could we please leave. Their next reservation had arrived. Not exactly the words we were happy to hear after spending over $500. Its not our fault that we waited so long for our food. We werent idling at the table past the meal. I doubt well be back
Food and atmosphere are amazing. It was my boyfriends birthday and ee eere too full to eat dessert, but our server brought out strawberries with chocolate and some whipped cream with candles, talk about amazing service!!!! The filets tasted like absolute butter, the seafood was so fresh and I will do anything to get my hands on their pasta sauce recipe 😋+
Went here a couple years ago and had a great time. Food was very good. Second time (august 6th) exact opposite. Ordered the calamari for an appetizer. It was... edible. Many of the calamari were full of tentacles. Pretty disgusting. My main was the seafood pasta. It was horrible. The linguini was overcooked (al dente anyone??) and the dish tasted like mush. No delicate touch. No individual flavor. My niece got an even worse dish which was also pasta without seafood. I tasted it and couldnt eat it. Either could she. I got a dessert to go and the waitress, after I asked, said they order them and DO NOT MAKE THEM IN THE RESTAURANT. It tasted like it. What a bad experience. Ill never go back. Not to mention the waitress seemed to be drunk and spilled the water over my brother and me.... two different times.
Oh my, where to start? Beautiful renovated brick building in an unexpected location. The interior has a very cozy, inviting and intimate feel without any pretentiousness. Dimly lit and candlelight add a romantic yet relaxed atmosphere. The service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. The drinks. Now we were a party of four, one couple had the sangria and the mule while we shared a bottle of perfectly chilled prosecco. The sangria was a true deep red and not at all watered down. The food was just superb. We started with egg dipped artichoke hearts and a fondue for two, while our companions shared a wild rice and mushrooms soup. We followed with oven roasted salmon, pan seared duck with mushrooms and the juiciest porkchop. The flavours were perfectly balanced and the textures were just right.We were most impressed with The Left Bank and definitely plan on visiting again when in the area.
My wife found this place via Google, as a former WNYer I would have never thought a place on Rhode Island St would be any good, but I would be wrong. Small delightful place with great food. My Brother in law has garlic allergies and they made him a special pizza that was that 2 could eat.
This has been my favorite restaurant for 20 years. We visit a few times a year. We started coming for the calamari, hands down the best in town. Went for a birthday celebration tonight No appetizers on the menu. I did not get my calamari. We now do not get a salad with your dinner?. A young man walked around with bread and gave my husband each 1 tiny piece of bread with cold butter that was not spreadable . Our bill was $97 for 2 drinks and 2 entrees. No appetizer no salads.Friends went earlier this week and had appetizers and salads with dinner. We were told tonight it was due toCOVID-19. I guess you can get covid now if you eat a appetizer or a salad with your meal. Very disappointed tonight. We don’t get out much, but when we do we like to do all out . We might have to find a new “special “ place for us.
I was Here on 3/6/20 with my family. There was a party of 7 of us including a 5 year old and I cant express how wonderful our experience was. We had 3 appetizers that were delicious (the calamari is great!), and all of us except the five year old had the CAB steak. It was so good and one of my favorite parts of the meal were the green beans. I am NOT a veggie person and I strongly dislike green beans but the ones on my plate were gone in a matter of minutes they were so good. There are only 2 downsides. One was the potatoes. They were under seasoned and underwhelming, but the rest of the meal was great so its easily overlooked. Secondly is the noise. It is a small area with high ceilings and as the tables fill the noise grows and echoes. Western new Yorkers arent really known for using their inside voices anyway so that just makes it louder. Nothing can be done about it, just be prepared to strain little to hear if you go during peak hours. Overall I would recommend this restaurant to anyone.
I was really disappointed to have to sit with the portable walls surrounding our small table. Was like sitting in a closet..Really missed out on enjoying the atmosphere..I understand there are new rules for dining but have never had to deal with that anywhere else.. Maybe spreading out the tables a little more would help to eliminate the mobile walls that were wheeled in after we sat down...
The service here was super friendly and took our orders right away, I decided to order the pancakes that were served with fruit, bacon, and turkey sausage. How was the food you ask? It was delicious! They did not shrimp on the pancakes, they were thick, tasty, and when you mix that with some maple syrup you have a pretty darn good team if you ask me.
Last Saturday was our 2nd time at the Left Bank as the guests of our friends. Our first experience was excellent, and the second did not disappoint. The food was perfect, the service attentive but not hovering (i.e., great), and the atmosphere lively. I have come to love this place not only for the diverse menu, but also for the fact that even when its very busy, you can still have a conversation with the others at your table. Plus, for special occasions they allow you to bring your own wine (for a reasonable uncorking fee), as we did. Overall another terrific experience.
Thank you Left Bank. For all that has been 2020, I shared my 50th at your location with four couples. It was perfect. The food was so great. It is all that I needed to get me over feeling old and also feeling normal for a brief respite. We are truly lucky to have such an amazing place to call home. Order the Manhattan!
The food is always delicious, their specials wonderful, and service impeccable. I love the ravioli, which is one of their signature dishes, but anything you get is terrific. I give it 5 Stars and a big shout out to chef Zach, server supreme Olivia and hostess Julia. We fly out from San Diego for the holidays every year. One of the highlights is always hosting a dinner for family and friends at Left Bank. Its a tradition.
The brunch menu isnt massive but it sure does have some tasty options ranging from breakfast pancakes to a quesadilla. The service here was super friendly and took our orders right away, I decided to order the pancakes that were served with fruit, bacon, and turkey sausage. How was the food you ask? It was delicious! They did not shrimp on the pancakes, they were thick, tasty,
I last ate here over 5 years ago and was even better than I remembered. Warm interior with spacious bar room separated from main dining room. Server was excellent and very knowledgeable. All of our food was incredible from pasta to ravioli to focaccia to vegetables. A great menu with too many choices so I want to go back and try more dishes. Highly, highly recommend. One of the top restaurant options in Buffalo for sure.
Consistent dinning experience. Ive been coming here for over a decade and the food is delicious and consistent. My favorite dish is the panko chicken and it tastes the same every time (deep fried oysters are amazing for an appetizer). Also Ive never had a soup that wasnt amazing. Some kind of soup wizard working in the kitchen? Great ambiance, friendly and competent staff and reasonably priced for top tier food. My hands down favorite dinning experience in all of Buffalo.
The food was very good. we didnt feel rushed and the drinks were good. I recommend the winter sangria if youre a fan of red wine. We sat in the front area of the restaurant and found it to be extremely loud because of the echo. We will try again during the week instead of the busy....... weekend. Again, the food was EXCELLENT!!
I have long since been a fan of this establishment, but my latest trip here was an absolute disaster. It was a Friday night, and was about average in terms of how busy they were. It took over 2 hours to get our entrees, and at least one hour to get a calamari appetizer. Never have I had any issues here, but the service was incredibly slow. At times our waitress was nowhere to be found, and would disappear for 30 minutes at a time. While there, we had our drinks refreshed just one time. we were on the verge of walking out when are food finally arrived.Having worked in the Foodservice industry myself, I understand that there can be massive backups. The majority of customers can be soothed by explaining what is going on. We would have fallen in that same camp, if only our waitress would have taken the time to explain. I asked multiple times what the issue was, and was flat-out ignored. It took flagging down the hostess to get any kind of an explanation. I am giving two stars because the food and service has been tremendous in the past. That being said, giving our most recent experience, this review should be no stars. We will most definitely be coming back, but hopefully our experience will be better than the most recent.
This is my favorite restaurant in Buffalo. I see people use that term loosely, but I am serious. In the 11 years that I’ve been coming to this location, the food has been CONSISTENTLY amazing. It’s unmatched in the area. Who ever is in charge of their menu and food quality, is incredibly talented. I’ve even ordered dishes with ingredients I don’t typically eat, and ended up enjoying my meal and being outside my comfort zone. I trust the cooks, it’s apparent that they know what they’re doing.Make sure you plan ahead, it is a very popular spot. Walk-ins are probably rare. I don’t have a problem getting a reservation a day ahead for 2-4 people. At times same day reservation is doable, as long as you call when they open.Inside the restaurant is typical to the area. It’s a bit cramped, but it makes the atmosphere more romantic and personal.Service is friendly.I would highly suggest that you try this place at least once.
Love this place. The menu has been the same for a while which is unusual for a place like this but dont let that fool you. Its the same because they have it down. The small plates are delicious. Have the duck. Have the fried oysters and the tuna tartare. I could go on but its making me hungry. Great service and great atmosphere. Quite decent wine list too. A bit pricey but Im not complaining at all. Worth it.
Service was okay. Waited a long time after being seated. Small restaurant and fairly romantic, though most tables aren’t specifically private.We ordered the fondue appetizer, tortellini, the beet salad, and the whites chocolate sponge cake and Peanut butter pie desserts. Everything was pretty good!
Amazing place. Great date/anniversary place. Youll question any other buffalo restaurant after eating here. Youll be blown away by the ambience and the food. Give a gift card to here for anyone in Buffalo and they will be thanking you. I want to personally find the head chef and cooks to make out with them for how great of food they make.
Incredible food and great service! The fondue appetizer was perfect and the pork tenderloin and Carrot Papardella were delicious. Service was top notch.Atmosphere is warm, a bit dark...but VERY noisy, due to hard floors, brick walls and hardwood ceilings. Outside seating is available and its a quiet neighborhood.Pro tip: if you have your choice of tables, avoid the tables near the air unit over the doorway connecting the restaurant area with the bar - it blew our candles out repeatedly, and more importantly, it cooled our piping hot food off, literally blowing steam sideways off the plates.You will not be disappointed by the food!
Was really excited to try this place because of the reviews. First, the good: the atmosphere is cute, I really like the hanging lights/dim setting. The bad: my food was horrible. They had a special that included raw tuna, rice, and green beans. My tuna came out overcooked and the green beans were gross. Sent my food back and got a second order: still the tuna and green beans were gross. I spent $40 to eat rice. The waitress knew I was dissatisfied with my food as I complained and sent my dish back with most of the food on the plate. Also ran into the chef on our way out who asked how our experience was...my friend expressed that I didnt like my food and was upset and he said aw, Im sorry. Thats it...no sort of compensation. Just a lousy Im sorry. Tried to dispute the charge with my card company and Left Bank denied my refund. Needless to say...very unhappy. Would not recommend.
Place is very small so make a reservation. Elegant and quant a pricer menu but your meals deliever. Great portions. I reccommend the 511 as a cocktail and the ribeye medium rare for those mashed potatoes. Service was great. She knew how to recieve us when we were having an anniversary dinner. Ambiance was worth it as normally I never see candle lit dinners anymore. Perhaps a revival? Highly recommend.
Was greeted to a nice atmosphere with an attentive bartender who helped us select a wine. We were sat at the patio which is aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately we waited an hour for our food to arrive, yet when it arrived the food was dense, bland and cold. Waited for our server to come back and never did. I walked around and found him explained the situation and he said the manager would come by the table. Another 10 minutes went by without anyone visiting our table. We really wanted to like this place and to their defense they were busy, but customer service is the key to success and they lack in that department.
Lets just start with the food. It was amazing. They cook the food (in our case, steaks) exactly how you order it. Their famous ravioli is huge.. and delicious. Their desserts, also amazing. You will not have an issue with the food at all. Youll probably have more of an issue with the noise in the restaurant that even the waitress has to yell over the other guests conversations. Better acoustics or some noise reducing panels would be easy to hide and make the experience way better. Not sure why upper management or the owners havent done that yet? Especially when dinner for 4 people is over $200. Pretty sure they can afford it. Lol. No negatives about the service except the bus boy who literally looked like he hated his job, and neglected to bring us a bag for our leftovers, even though he said he was. We had to ask 3 people before we got a bag. Kind of embarrassing. Theres a parking lot, which is nice. I was told the mens bathroom is super awkward. But who judges a restaurant on their bathroom? Not many people.
Left Bank experience is absoulty fantastic it is truly a diamond in the rough metaphor. It doesn’t stand out from the outside. But when you walk in the door your journey begins. Always greeted immediately they are always prepared for your reservation. I have also experienced not having a reservation. But even in that case you can eat at the bar or standing table where they are equally attentive. Bartenders are on point with your drinks, appetizers are fantastic the Calamari, and the Banana Peppers are fantastic and leave you anticipating your entree. I recommend the strip steak served with the butter poached lobster for you entree. Steaks has been absoultly stunning. And the desert menu is very tough to resist even when your full. Thank you for the wonderful experience. Can’t wait to come back and eat again. Thank you Left Bank staff I am looking forward to coming back. After this stressful time we are dealing as a nation.
This place never disappoints! There isnt one meal on the menu that I dont like. They also have a special of the day for each protein and a specialty ravioli which is one huge stuffed rav! I dont know if its the luck of the draw but lately it doesnt seem like the ravioli stuffing changes often. Its still amazing but Id order it more often if there were more variety.
The place was pretty busy when we arrived but luckily there had a small open table and we were seated right away.The service here was super friendly and took our orders right away, I decided to order the pancakes that were served with fruit, bacon, and turkey sausage. How was the food you ask? It was delicious!
Visited on Friday night. Food was good (7/10). Service was excellent (8/10). Noise level was unbearable (2/10). Tables are spaced so that youre sitting elbow to elbow with the next table. Waitress had to lean over, yelling menu specials, and even then not everyone at our table could hear. I recognize the need for maximizing available space in a kitschy restaurant, but it has a deleterious effect on the overall dining experience...Acoustically the dining area is woefully inadequate. One could argue that theres little that can be done without harming the ambiance of a 1920s building, but other restaurants in Buffalo have successfully implemented noise abatement protocols.
Our family birthday celebration at The Left Bank was delicious, relaxing and fun. Eight of us had dinner, drinks and birthday cake. Expertly served by Lisa and other attentive staff. I really enjoyed the ravioli daily special, a single huge ravioli stuffed with shredded pork, hot peppers and more. It was way more than enough for one person but I cleaned my plate. There’s a nice selection of single malt scotches, I had one, plus several ports and I had one of these for dessert.
Great atmosphere but brunch quality is not so great. Food was cold, waited roughly 15 minutes before they brought water to the table. I asked for bread after noticing other tables had bread. When the waitress broought our meals she asked if we needed anything else, I asked about the bread and she put blame on others as to why we did not get it.Dinner here was a much better experience so maybe it was just an awkward moment for the staff. Will give brunch another shot because the food outweighs the lack of customer service.
This one ranks top five (5) among an extremely competitive Buffalo, NY restaurant / food industry market. It’s consistently an almost flawless experience every time: perhaps one of the most consistently good restaurants in Buffalo; I have been dining there since 2001, and can attest to that fact. The glazed pork tenderloin is truly a dish hard to pass up, highly recommended, as is the daily stuffed ravioli. As beer goes, They have an excellent draft beer choice/selection. Mixed drinks at the bar are a hit-or-miss depending on who is fixing them for you (inconsistent at times) so order accordingly l: had the worst Negroni I have ever had, followed by a great one soon after 🤷🏽♂️. Reservations are a must. However, the bar, although small, makes for a fantastic dinner experience if you are of the mind and pressed for time without a res. Service is good, but not fast, which isn’t always such a bad thing.
This was our first time here, the hostess was very friendly but told us that we needed a reservation but suggested that we sit at the bar which we did. The bartenders we fantastic extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The food was to die for we had the fondue appetizer and I had the filet mignonette tournedos, we will definitely be going back. My hats off to the bartenders Joshua and Zack they were great!!!!!!!!
Place is great. A few months ago my mother had a little too much to drink and made a scene here a few months back. Dont get me wrong, I love be berrated in public, even better when my father absorbs some of it on my behalf. The wait staff did an exceptional job making me feel like our dysfunction was absolutely normal. The other patrons could have done better, but Im sure they were staring because they didnt want to miss the show. My parents were back in town this week again. We went somewhere else instead because I wasnt sure if they had my photo on the wall to deny us service. Cant wait to go back. The bartender is great.
They’re ok. Someone that works there realllllly likes mushrooms because that’s about 85% of the menu. Steak was good but looked like they dumped 5 cans of mushrooms on it. Waitress made us feel very rushed and we were only there for an hour with reservations. Good thing my husband was there to tip, I would not have given more than $10 on a $120 meal for her service. Not a bad place just wouldn’t go back to spend that much $$ for an ok meal
We stumbled on to a couple while visiting a museum in St. Pete and asked them for a good place to eat dinner. They recommended The Left Bank. We were lucky that we found foodies. This is a mezzo fine dining restaurant. I wasn’t very hungry and ordered coq au vin. It was delicious. The restaurant has a casual ambiance and excellent service. The prices were moderate.
Both my wife and I had strip steaks. Mine was the special for $36; hers was from the menu for $30. Hers was more tender and tasty. I should have ordered that.The accompanying vegetables/sides were quite good... and the salads were VERY good.The highlight of the meal was the fried oysters... terrific. But beware of the spicy/hot sauce on the same plate. The mild burn to the mouth lasts for a few minutes.The hard brick walls make the dining area a bit noisy, but bearable.This is my wifes favorite place to dine... and we will be returning.
The menu is superb, and the service is equally as spectacular: the brunch is out of this world [and is occasionally accompanied by a live string ensemble]. The ambience is magnificent, and the patio is lovely in the warmer months. It would be impossible to encounter anything but a marvelous dining experience!
The Left Bank is a must-go for anyone into fine dining. I have never been disappointed by the food or service. Yes, we have had reservations and sometimes you arent seated immediately, but that is not the restaurants fault. Sometimes people will linger way too long after their meal is finished. But that is not a complaint about the restaurant, the food or the service.If you are looking for an upscale restaurant, good food, and reasonable prices, this is a great spot to dine.
I cant tell you how many times Ive called and there were no available reservations. Just a great place, well loved by many.Called on a whim and lucky enough for us they had a reservation available. Great servers, and food. I must be getting a little older though, the level of noise was a bit on the high side. We had to talk very load to even hear each other. Looking forward to the patio being open
I love this restaurant. Its one of the best places in Buffalo. I love the atmosphere. The staff is always friendly and welcoming. Every time I go I try to branch out and try a new dish. There is not a single dish that I have tried that I didnt like. But, I will say the ravioli is my heart!!! Amazing!!
I love that artichoke stuffed mushroom. Ive been ordering it regularly for 20 years and it is delicious every single time.Fondue for two? Yes please.Left Bank is one of our favorite spots.We like to pop in on a weekend and sit at the bar and order food. Michelle is great. Looking forward to going back.
This used to be one of the best restaurants in Buffalo. Its absolutely terrible now. my friend and i agreed it was the worst dining experience we could think of in the past 20 years. waited 15 minutes before anyone even came by the table. bread was finally served with cold butter unable to be spread. half of the bread was super hard and dry and impossible to chew. food came over an hour later, cold. the fondue candle wouldnt stay lit, went out twice. took over 10 minutes for them to come by and re-light it, everything on the plate was cold. the filet was wayyyy under cooked, to the point of looking close to raw in the middle and dripping blood. the tables are jammed right next to each other so there is NO room at all to even scoot your chair back, wait staff was bumping into customers at several tables. other customers had to get out of their chairs and stand so large parties could get by. my friend asked for a refill- it never came. they use excessive plastic packaging for left overs. each plastic container is put inside a plastic bag. not environmentally conscientious at all! everything about this restaurant is a complete clusterf***. I would never go back. it used to be one of my favorite places to eat years ago. not anymore. oh and they jacked up the prices by about $15 a plate, it used to be expensive but reasonable for the quality. now its extremely overpriced for food that is not worth it.
I called on Monday to make a reservation for dinner for the following day (so Tuesday). I asked if there were “any tables available for dinner tomorrow”. The girl asked for what time, how many, etc. I told her, and she said yes. I repeated the information to verify, and she said “yes, we’ll see you tomorrow at 6:00”. We show up the next day at 6:00, no reservation. After a bit of searching, the hostess discovers that it was written for Wednesday, the wrong day. Normally, I wouldn’t care, but we had a job candidate in from out of town, and were taking him to dinner. The hostess said there was nothing she could do unless someone else didn’t show up or we waited until 7:30. She kept saying that it wasn’t her fault because she didn’t take the reservation. Well it certainly wasn’t my fault, and while she didn’t take the reservation, she is a representative of the business whose employee made a mistake that could have an impact on our hiring process. It is 2020, I’m shocked that they don’t take reservations online, which would eliminate problems like we had tonight. I’ve made reservations online for job candidate dinners in the past few weeks at 4 other local restaurants- in all cases there have been confirmation emails, text reminders the day before, etc. No problems. The one place that only takes reservations by phone can’t get it right.
I could die this place is so good. If you go, get the specialty ravioli, whatever it is. Doesn’t matter. It’s amazing. Only downfall is they are pretty slow so expect it to be a nice relaxing dinner. Outdoor space is very cute as well. Great spot for a date night or special occasion!
I ate there on Thursday night. The food is excellent. But the noise level was so bad you couldnt hear the person next to you. Everyone was screaming including the waitress. I will not go back because it was not a relaxing dinner. When paying these kind of prices you hope for an experience of pleasure. But it felt like we were at the monkey house at the zoo.
The best atmosphere and food one could ask for. Brunch was on point with an outdoor seating option, light music, coffee, water and amazing drink options (I suggest the morning mule! ) Almost ordered a dish off the menu until we heard the specials. More food than I could eat and so delicious. Highly suggested!!!
Was super excited to go here and to be honest I was disappointed. I realize its covid, but I dont believe the restrictions or rules related to covid had anything to do with the experience. Service was slow and inattentive (the busboy was great though, the waitress on the other hand...) Food was good, but the menu lacks lighter fare. Pretty much everything was very rich and heavy. Probably wouldnt venture here again
Overall terrible experience. We had a reservation for 8:00 didn’t get seated until 8:45. We ordered 4 appetizers and it took over an hour to get them. We didn’t get our dinner until 10:45. Waitress was terrible, never saying we’re sorry it’s taking so long, no updates, nothing.. We spoke to the manager and she said there was nothing they could do about it. My recommendation is don’t go there if you have more than a group of four, this restaurant cannot handle any group larger than that.
The world is vast, filled with many options and how lucky am I to be able to say my favorite restaurant is not far from home. The atmosphere lends itself to either romantic, friends or family. The service is very good, but the food is lovely. The Carrot Papardella-tossed with lobster, shrimp and crabmeat is everyones favorite. The apps are a must, dont miss out on the Fondu for two, the calamari, portobello mushroom, hot banana peppers or the fried oysters. All of these are amazing. See my choices in the images.
We like The Left Bank. We went with a relative from out of town. Intersecting menu. The entrees , halibut and pasta/steak dish, were very good. The hot pepper dish was tasty, good sauce, but not stuffed as we expected. the cheese just a mere sprinkle while virtually nothing was inside the peppers The famous portobello appetizer was “off” too. Not much of a portobello, but relatively lots of breading/stuffing on top.
Food was fantastic but had to wait an hour and a half between receiving the appetizer and the main course, was not able to fully enjoy the expensive meal because the bread and appetizer had already set in stomach. Waiting would not have been a problem if everyone else had to wait as well yet there were many people who came in at the same time as us who had already finished their food and left before we even received the main meal.
Our food was absolutely incredible, the service was just as good. The calamari was to die for, and dont skip out on the oil for the bread! I was between the tortellini and the parpardella, but the seafood on the parpardella convinced me. My friend got the big ravioli
Absolutely loved this place. Cozy atmosphere and great for get togethers. Restaurant is clean and staff is friendly. Ordered smoked salmon wrapped around asparagus on a bed of lettuce with dressing and the tuna tartare for my entree. The food was delicious and the presentation was done well. Definately enjoyed my meal and would come back here to try other options off the menu!! Highly recommended
I have been going here for well over a decade and the food is always amazing, and even more impressive, the food is always consistent. I am a creature of habit and my order has remained the same, a cup of the soup du jour (whoever makes the soup should get a raise), deep fried oysters and panko chicken. I know it is going to be wonderful and taste the same every time. I also get a bourbon and soda with dinner which is easy, but my wife gets a muddles old fashion which can be difficult and it is always good as per her. On occasion I even have room for dessert and I have never been disappointed and the coffee is actually very good (sometimes I even have them make a monks rope with mine). Even the dipping oil and bread before dinner is superior to most restaurants. The price is very reasonable and the staff and ambiance are wonderful. One of only a handful restaurants that always knocks it out of the park every visit.
Went here for my birthday in October, service was terrible and the food was not good. Waited an hour for the appetizer to come.. gave it another chance today for brunch and the steak was DISGUSTING. I never complain but that’s 2 for 2 now. Do not eat here save your money and time, there are plenty of better places in the area to eat!
This place is great! Food is fantastic and there is always something new to try. I dont understand some of these peoples reviews. I think they should just stay in their button down sweaters, and eat at home. (To be honest, left bank is always booked and Im glad some of these ignorant people dont go there. Calling people black thugs is racist.... Cant wait for the baby boomer population to go away!)
Pros: popular with the younger professional s who like trendy meals.Wonderful old bar turned trendy get together.Prices arent too bad for what they serve.Conc: loud way to many shouters there to go on a first date or quiet conversation within your table without shouting too.Overly trendy meals nothing bad but nothing just stanard for my grumpy companion. Everything is ruined by that one extra thingSuper small but clean restroom.
Awesome atmosphere, good staff. (Should prolly mention this now....imma vegan) Took a date here and it went really well. I had the House Manhatten as a drink and it was damn near perfectly made. Orriginally I tried to order one of the pastas but our waiter said all of them came with cheese (prolly couldve made some without but nbd) instead got the rice and beans and it was actually really good.
My husband and I were celebrating our honeymoon in Niagra Falls, we traveled to Buffalo for a phenomenal experience at the Left Bank. Jake was our server, very knowledgeable and friendly. We enjoyed the fondue for two and the chefs specials. The carrot papardella was amazing!!! The atmosphere was perfect, as this gem is nestled in an quiet residential neighborhood of Buffalo. We were there on Easter, and made reservations in advance.
I wouldnt recommend this place to anyone. I made reservations for 10PM as I am a business owner and rarely get out early. Upon entering the door I got dirty looks and a very unfriendly waitress I would assume because we came in so late (understandable). I tell the hostess I had a reservation just so she knew and didnt think I was some dirt coming in last minute. After being seated my girlfriend and I sat for 20 minutes with no service, drinks, menus, anything. After deciding to walk out they ask us how everything was and said I DIDNT EVEN EAT. Barely any apology. This place is terrible skip it.
The appetizers are large enough for a meal - the egg-dipped artichoke hearts was especially delicious. I was accidentally given the wrong entree, but boy was I glad. The Penne Allarrabbiatta (w/o prosciutto) had a perfect zip to it. Beautiful food in a great neighborhood.
A true French café without attitude, impeccable service, bourgeois fare, and a cozy atmosphere! Close your eyes and you truly could be in the Left Bank of Paris! A longstanding, highly rated restaurant in a very unassuming neighborhood, which deserves all the accolades that it has received over the years!
Holy moly the ravioli; the ravioli (of the day) is giant and amazing. Truth be told everything here is always spot on and highest quality. Easy my favorite resturant in the city, for a romantic or special occasion. They will accommodate groups up to a certain size (we did 15 which was probably pushing it).
The food was great but the Host was very racist. My boyfriend and I are black and didnt have a reservation so she said we would have to wait 30 minutes, okay no problem. A white couple walked in without a reservation and she sat them down no problem no waiting. No one walked out which means they did have empty tables, openly lied to our faces. She came back out and then seated us saying some tables just open up I can take you back now. But that was unacceptable. The waitresses were nice. Unfortunately, I wont dine there again due to how uncomfortable she made us feel.
The restaurant is so poorly run and the hostess was so rude that we left before we were seated. My girlfriend and I have reservations for 6:00 for a special night, and we arrived about two minutes early, but our table wasn’t ready yet. We sat down to wait on the chairs by the hostess station in the bar area, and we waited. And we continued to wait. And wait. At 6:15 I asked the hostess if we were going to be seated soon. She smugly told me that was normal to wait fifteen minutes past a reservation time, and didn’t offer us any apologies for being unable to seat us near the time of our reservation. We watched three parties walk by and be seated—at least one with a 6:15 reservation—while we continued to wait; the hostess tried to avoid eye contact. Twenty minutes after our reservation time I asked her if it would be much longer and she finally mumbled an insincere and half-hearted “sorry,” still not deigning to look at us directly. When, at the twenty-two minute mark, she asked us if we wanted to put in an order for an appetizer, we were affronted: we hadn’t been offered a table, a menu, or any sincere apologies—and she was asking us if we’d like to buy an appetizer while they made us wait? It was clear that they were interested in our money, and only our money. At that point, we walked out.While this isn’t the first time I’ve had to wait for a table with a reservation—though this was the longest I’ve ever waited—what made this particularly frustrating was the attitude of the hostess, who tried to convince me first that it was common practice to be kept waiting fifteen minutes for a reservation, and her total unwillingness to acknowledge that she was inconveniencing us or that the restaurant had done anything wrong. When she told us it was usual to be kept waiting fifteen minutes with a condescending tone of voice it almost seemed like arrogance; she seemed to imply that as a restaurant of their calibre they have the right to treat their customers poorly. (My girlfriend and I just moved to Buffalo from Boston where we routinely ate at more expensive restaurants and we’ve never been treated so poorly.) It pushed us over the top when she offered to let us buy something from out seats in front of the hostess station by the bar; it was as if, by offering us the opportunity to purchase some of their divine food, she was attempting to make amends. Another example of their rampant—and unearned—snobbery. When we told her, at that point, that we were leaving, she just said “okay” and nodded, as if to encourage us to go, as if to say that it was for the best. An awful restaurant. Don’t ever go there unless you want to be treated like you’re worthless.I wrote to the manager regarding these complaints a month ago and he or she never wrote back.
Ive been to this restaurant many times. Ive had nothing but the best service and my meals were always incredible. The only thing keeping me from giving it 5 stars is sometimes it difficult to have a conversation as it is very loud at times inside the restaurant when its busy.
“Good place to hit up before Sabres Game!”Visited before and after a Sabres game in December. Great sports bar atmosphere with 2 levels and a 2 min walk to the KeyBank arena. They have a neat que for guests waiting for tables where they simply text your cell phone. Drinks are top notch, as is the food. I had the buffalo wings and the chicken sandwich, both.
Im rather dumbfounded by the negative reviews... My business partner and I visit Buffalo from time to time and I travel extensively around North America. I even live in a city (Vancouver, Canada) that boasts some great great restaurant... all I have to say about The Left Bank is Outstanding ... Fondue as a starter was excellent! For a main I had the filet mignon... Id have a hard time ordering anything else the next time!
Actually went to go to dinner elsewhere n they were not serving dinner so we left n went to Left Bank!Could not have picked a better gem!Service was impeccable n welcoming!Molly was super sweet as well as all the staff!We ordered the House Ravioli it was outstanding!Defiantly will be back!BRAVO!!
This was my go to place for a wide variety of good food and service.....this was the 3rd time in a row that I was disappointed. The restaurant was over booked, understaffed and we again had a disinterested server. The signature ravioli was a disaster..... unfortunately, I am now looking for a new favorite place.......
My wedding took place on March 24, 2013 and I had a reservation for dinner at Left Bank for 16 people plus 2 hi chairs. I called and confirmed and they said it would be two tables to accomodate us. We showed up at 7pm for our reservations. They had our table set for 14 people and two hi chairs. Mean while we were standing and sitting for 40 minutes. No one came up to offer to make more room, accomadate us, offer drinks or anything. Half of us work in the FINE DINING industry and we always accomadate and especially get our reservations right.THANKS TO OLIVERS.....YOU WERE WONDERFULL FOR HELPING US OUT
Total reviews rating 4.6
199 Reviews for The Left Bank 2023:
Review №1
2022-06-06A local institution that never fails to impress in terms of the food or the hospitality of its staff. The outdoor patio transports you into a lovely oasis in the middle of Buffalo. The food is mostly Italian with a twist. We had a stuffed portobello mushroom as an appetizer which came with a lovely sauce. I had the eggplant which was great. We didnt have room for dessert but the people in a table next to ours did and it looked and smelled great.
Review №2
2022-05-13We went to Left bank for Mother’s Day as it is one of my daughter’s favorite restaurants. It did not look like a place that I would enjoy as I am a very basic eater. However, I was pleasantly surprised as everything was spectacular. Our waiter Devon was so friendly and accommodating. Everything was timed perfectly and he met all our wants and needs. I had one of the specials and it was one of the better things I’ve eaten in a long time. There were three of us mothers at the table and we were all happy. Highly recommend
Review №3
2021-07-31So very glad we found this gem! We drove from Niagara since we couldnt find a place to our liking (Canadian border is still closed due to Covid). Was worth the drive!All the dishes were fabulous! Even the homely chicken cutlet! We particularly enjoyed the fact that all dishes came with ample amount of perfectly paired and prepared vegetables!Love the candlelit atmosphere and artfully prepared cocktail!
Review №4
2021-11-30Left Bank is perfection every time. Tuna tartare, flat breads, and eggplant were incredible. Wine list is diverse and interesting. Bring back brunch !!
Review №5
2021-08-26Probably one of the best dinners Ive had in Buffalo. Highly recommend the gorgonzola fondue and the pasta arrabbiata! Definitely need to make a reservation well in advance but if you dont. you will most likely be able to sit at the bar!
Review №6
2022-03-01The best ravioli Ive ever had - absolutely phenomenal!! We also tried the carrot pappardelle and that was equally delicious. Everything was very fresh with high quality ingredients. I got a Manhattan and Lavender Gin drink. They were both good but nothing special. Very nice setup but poor acoustics, would recommend some nice background music or something so it doesnt feel like a group conversation for the whole dining area. Despite this, I will 100% go back. The prices are nothing compared to the quality of your meal. You will not be disappointed.
Review №7
2022-05-23Amazing and attentive service. Delicious food. Trendy, funky, intimate yet casual vibe with upscale food and drinks. The ravioli is insane. In a good way. definitely a dish for 2-3 people to split. We had a large party for UB graduation. Very accommodating. Didnt miss a beat. Kept our drinks full and even boxed up our leftovers. No restaurant provides that service anymore. Very impressed. Will make this a must stop on our next visit to Buffalo.
Review №8
2022-05-07Grabbed dinner with friends here and it was quite a treat. I don’t recall what cocktail I had but it was nice although I wish the wine selection was more varied.The halibut was my choice for meal because most things had pork in it. It was cooked to perfection but I found the sauce paired with it consumed the rest of the ingredients in the dish— causing it to be extremely overwhelming to summarize.The asparagus wrapped with smoked salmon here was brilliant. I mean unexpectedly good. If you like big portions and tend to appreciate pork or have no dietary limitations or preferences then this is the place for you.
Review №9
2021-08-23If you want fine dinning food but at an affordable price range, please come and visit this lovely restaurant. Everything from the drinks, food and ambience will make you feel amazing. A staple of Buffalo which has been in service for 30 years, you will not be disappointed with the delicious food or house drinks.
Review №10
2021-11-06Went for dinner with some.buds and really enjoyed my meal. We all did, fact. I had the Linguine, which came with chicken, chorizo, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil & fresh basil ($26). It was delicious. Probably one of the most well-balanced pasta dishes Ive ever had.We also had an appetizer of Focaccia and we choose the Marco ($15), which had chicken, portobello and other good stuff on it.Im totally blanking on the cocktail I had, but I know it was $13 and it was one of the specialty drinks for the night. I recall liking the taste, but didnt feel it was very strong.