8 Best Restaurants in Niagara Falls and Western New York, New York

This casual restaurant with round-back chairs and low-hung stained-glass lamps is known for its generous portions, in-house bakery, and friendly staff. The menu is beef focused, with a special emphasis on roast-beef sandwiches (including the beloved French dip, with a side of au jus) and platters. Juicy roast beef is carved up and served on hard rolls; accompaniments may include German or American potato salad, baked beans, salad, mashed potatoes, fries, or coleslaw. Burgers, salads, and soups round out the menu.

The tablecloths are plastic, the floors are linoleum, and everyone seems to know everyone else at this no-frills greasy spoon, famed locally for its huge cinnamon rolls. The all-American menu includes sandwiches (e.g., grilled cheese and bacon) served with chips and a pickle, breakfast all day, and homemade pies. It closes at 2 pm.

Many say the Buffalo-style wings at Buzzy's are better than those at Buffalo's Anchor Bar. An institution since 1953, this no-frills place with bland decor and windows facing Route 62 serves build-your-own pizzas, eight specialty pies, calzones, and a dozen or so subs and hoagies. The wings and chicken fingers—fresh, not frozen—come with blue-cheese dip and a choice of 10 sauces, including one called Suicide, which the menu warns is "very hot—no refunds or exchanges."

The deck overlooking Lake Erie and much-loved Greek-American comfort food are the reasons to eat at this diner that serves three meals daily. (The scruffy dining room lacks atmosphere—it's best to go when the weather is cooperating so you can dine alfresco.) Lamb, chicken souvlaki, prime rib, steak, and seafood entrées go well with the extensive wine list.

The trendy, rough-hewn microbrewery restaurant draws a young crowd. The shepherd's pie is popular, and the menu also includes English-style fish-and-chips and assorted grilled steaks. You may eat outside in the German beer garden, which has a brick patio and vines climbing the walls. Tours of the brewery are available. This is the original; there's a Fredonia offshoot as well.

With its Italian–Latin American fusion menu focusing on simple dishes made with local, fresh, and organic ingredients, and an Old-World-meets-urban-café decor—exposed-brick walls, local art, a gleaming cappuccino machine on the bar—this place is quite the cosmopolitan departure in this pocket of the state. The San Francisco–trained chef might whip up seared scallops over ginger-marinated cabbage or pappardelle topped with tomatoes and cracked-pepper mascarpone. Sapore is open all day as a café, and also serves breakfast.

The name is a nod to the son of Zeus in Greek mythology, but the tome of a menu in this semicasual, rustic-industrial space—with huge windows, cement floors, and Mexican-style woven rugs hung from exposed piping—hails from seemingly every part of the old and new worlds: a Cuban sandwich on homemade rustic bread; a "filled burger," stuffed with feta, kalamata olives, and sun-dried tomatoes; house-made ricotta ravioli with prosciutto in Gorgonzola-arugula sauce; plus 20 pizzas, a page of salads, and entrées of duck, fish, pork, and beef. Thursday is Mexican day. The wine and beer lists are equally lengthy and varied.

In addition to great coffee, this low-key java joint decorated in bright, primary colors serves breakfast sandwiches, bakery items, and desserts. Lunches are panini and salads, including some vegetarian options. It's open 8 am–6 pm weekdays and 9 am–3 pm Saturday.