2 minute read
Farm-to-table faves............................................Tara Erwin
Five farm-to-table faves
Where to harvest summer’s bounty
BY TARA ERWIN
Hummus with laffa bread from Grange Community Kitchen
Photo by kc kratt
With the growing season so short in our region, now is the time to experience eateries that specialize in local, fresh, flavorful fare. Read up on our favorites below*, and don’t forget to book online or call ahead for reservations; many aren’t open every day, and tables fill up fast.
SZND
sznd-dining.com 1448 Hertel Ave., Buffalo 322-0037
North Buffalo’s SZND (pronounced “seasoned”) is a worthy addition to Hertel’s esteemed roster of restaurants. Guests can nosh on small plate favorites like SZND salad with fresh berries, tomatoes, and cucumber, or indulge with braised beef rib ragu with house-made black pepper fettucine or a French-cut pork chop served with homemade barbecue sauce, crispy smashed potatoes, and tri-color carrots. Feeding a crowd? No problem. SZND offers a catering menu as well.
The Little Club
thelittleclub.bar 1197 Hertel Ave., Buffalo 427-6400
The Little Club Restaurant & Wine Bar focuses on big flavors from regional farms and indie winemakers. Its seasonal menu featuring apps, small and big plates, and desserts is complemented by an extensive wine, beer, and cocktail menu. Whether you’re feeling like rigatoni napoletano made with FingerLakes Farms pork or soft-shell crab with ramps (a kind of wild onion) vinegar from Root Down Farm, you don’t have to go far to enjoy farm fresh taste in the city.
*Items mentioned were current at the time of this writing; for up-to-date offerings, visit restaurant websites. FY
Tara Erwin lives and writes in Western New York.
Prescott’s Provisions
prescottsprovisions.com 40 E. Niagara St., Tonawanda 525-1260
Constantly touted as one of the best restaurants in WNY, this hidden gem in the City of Tonawanda offers a rotating seasonal menu chock full of local ingredients. Whether you’re sipping on a custom cocktail, digging into housemade pasta or sharing ooey-gooey pizza from its wood-fired oven, Prescott’s Provisions always delivers on freshness and taste.
The Grange Community Kitchen
grangecommunitykitchen.com 22 Main St., Hamburg 648-0022
Bright, open, and inviting, the Grange promotes itself as both restaurant and “community hub,” offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner options featuring housemade pastries, colorful, crisp salads and meat, seafood and vegetarian entrees, and small plates made with high-quality, seasonal ingredients. Their coffee comes from Buffalo’s own Overwinter coffee and, with enough notice, you can even have a customized cake or cupcakes ready to take home to celebrate a special occasion.
This Little Pig
thislittlepigeats.com 4401 Transit Rd., Williamsville 580-7872
Don’t let the strip mall location fool you: This Little Pig has definitely gone to market and transformed into succulent pork shanks, smoked brisket, or even blueberry bacon ribs in this farmto-table eatery that delivers big on taste and presentation. From housemade panko-breaded crispy pickle spears to sustainably farmed salmon with seasonal vegetables to homemade peanut butter cup dessert, you’re covered when it comes to fresh, local ingredients.
