Buffalo Proper

Its so nice to have a great cocktail bar downtown. Try the New York Sour, its AMAZING! Joe is one of the best bartenders I’ve ever met, I’ll drink anything he makes me

Buffalo Proper never fails to impress! On a busy evening one can choose the downstairs or upstairs bar. The cocktails are crafted to perfection and the bartenders are always super nice!

Buffalo Proper is one of my favorite restaurants in Buffalo. I have had the pleasure of dining with one other person, with a group of five, and with a group of nine. All of my experiences at Buffalo Proper have exceeded my expectations.
Located in Downtown Buffalo, this is a multi-​level restaurant with the first floor dedicated to a bar with an extraordinary selection of alcohol. I haven’t been here for Happy Hour yet, but it’s on my list! The ambiance is awesome and I love the bar. It’s really well done. Reminds me of the bar at Vera Pizzeria. There is also a bar on the second floor which is also where I’ve sat during my dining experiences. My favorite drink thus far has been the Mr. Mule, a take on the popular Moscow Mule but with strawberry!
In terms of food, everything I’ve had the opportunity to order and taste has been quite tasty. Last night I dined with a group of nine and ordered the Salmon Tartine. Albeit a bit on the smaller side, I can’t complain because it’s under the «hand held» portion of the menu. I’ve tried the Roasted Cauliflower Head which is one of my favorite things on the menu. Well done. The BreadHive Sourdough Epi Bread is also tasty as it comes out warmed on a bed of butter. I also tasted the Marinated Olives, again very good. The Poached Farm Egg and Potatoes was one of my favorite dishes. I was able to soak up all the deliciousness with the BreadHive Sourdough Bread, too! Lastly, the 8 oz. Prime Beef Burger with the Fried Egg on top is delicious. Done perfectly.
The service is great, very accommodating, friendly, and willing to go above and beyond. They have no problem splitting checks even in large groups and were also conscientious of refilling water and asking if we needed more cocktails. Our waiter did not seem to mind that we had a belated holiday gift exchange either which was very nice considering it was a busy Friday evening.
I highly recommend Buffalo Proper and I know I’ll be back time and time again. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Buffalo and I can’t wait to try one of their larger entrees. Woohoo!

This place is really fantastic. I’ve been there a handful of times and always had great food and excellent service. Our waiter Collin suggested the eggs and potatoes and they are absolutely to die for. It is important to emphasize how polite and attentive the entire staff is. The manager came around during brunch today to see how everything was and when my boyfriend made a suggestion to add extra japalenos to a dish they were brought to us free of charge. The restaurant has a great ambiance for dinner and dates and I can’t wait to go again.
If possible I suggest going in the summer for the outdoor second floor seating. It is a great experience.

The drinks are absolutely to die for. Hair on the dog happens to be my favorite, with a little pinch of cayenne pepper to the drink. Their food menu changes daily, for always a fresh selection. The food is fantastic, including the raw oysters.

They turn drinks into art work. The employees are also so nice and fun and you can tell they take pride in their work! Joshua is the best!

Buffalo Proper is hands down my favorite bar in Buffalo. A friend and I checked it out on opening night just over a year ago, and we’ve been hooked ever since.
As you walk in, you’re instantly transported back to a simpler, classier time. Light jazz music creates the perfect ambiance while the bartenders show of their craft behind the candles lining the bar. I’m constantly impressed by the work that goes into each cocktail, truly an art form.
Proper’s extensive cocktail menu changes seasonally, as far as I can tell, and there are always interesting new choices. The ingredients are so fresh and the flavors so intriguing that you can never have just one. Try a different one each time you go! Don’t like what you see on the menu? Tell the bartenders what you like and they’ll craft a cocktail for you with their magic ways.
As others have said, yes, most of the cocktails are $ 10, but that is the standard for almost every upscale bar in the area. You’re most definitely paying for the atmosphere and in this case, I think the quality of Buffalo Proper makes it more than worth it.

1.) Amazing staff. Thanks Josh and John. 2) Amazing food and drinks. Small plates and craft drinks.
3). Great space and crowd on a Tuesday night

How did I end up at Buffalo Proper tonight?
Well here is a story about to girls who started at pearl street and worked their way down… or should I say up?
Had a few beers and tried to have more before I ended up here, man am I glad we showed up.
Walked in and Danny happily greeted my friend who he remembered from a few weekends ago.
Handed us a menu and I said I’ll take the East End though.
Let’s be honest my friend and I wanted food, I’ve never eaten at Proper only stopped by for plenty of drinks.
The hostess said she could seat is at any time so I took a few large sips of my East End before we were guided upstairs to a fabulous dining experience.
Now I want to ask you one thing and one thing only, why do I not remember my waitress name?! Damn she was awesome! I can’t tell you how much we LOVED her!
As recommended by her we ordered the brussel sprouts and bass along with the mac and cheese, bread hive plate and escargot.
The bass and escargot were at the top of my list, along with the Brussel sprouts and mac and cheese. They make their own butter for the bread plate and oh my is it delicious!
I can’t express the love we had for our waitress tonight!
Our entire meal was only $ 70 dollars (not including tip) My friend made me guess before she let me look at the bill and I said $ 175, not even close!
After dinner we went back down to the bar to enjoy another drink with Danny and a large group of people walked in who we socialized with for a short while as well.
As I said I’ve been here plenty of times in the past just for drinks, the occasional date and nothing made my experience any better than tonight did!
HUGE thanks to the chef, bartenders and our hilarious, lovely waitress!
I can’t wait to bring my father here to try the ribeye steak, I hear it’s the best in Buffalo and him and I both love our steak!
I also plan on visiting for Sunday brunch!
Regardless if you plan on coming to Buffalo Proper for dinner or drinks, certainly visit. Far or near its with the short walk or long drive!
*Summer of 69*

I strongly suggest visiting Buffalo Proper earlier in the week so it isn’t so crowded. After my visit last Wednesday, I arguably received the best bar service Buffalo has to offer. Dim lighting, good music, delicious cocktails and unparalleled service, we were welcomed by one of the bartenders, Danny, who quickly engaged in enjoyable conversation that he upheld throughout the night while he continued to tend to different customers and engage them in similar discourse.
With tons of craft cocktails and liquor options, bartenders can be seen climbing the walls to reach different spirits. Every cocktail I’ve had at Buffalo Proper has been nothing short of incredible. When my boyfriend took a liking to a certain glass, he quickly let us know exactly what vendor they used and where we could get it (City Wine Merchant, Tiki glass, super cool).
After a rather horrific experience at another bar prior to our stop at Proper, he quickly turned our night around. I can’t wait to go back! Unfortunately, Buffalo Proper’s incredible menu and service is no secret to WNY and the place is absolutely packed on weekend nights. For the best experience, drop in earlier on a weekend or during a weeknight. You won’t be disappointed!

Opening a Buffalo Improper. Consists of dirty conversations and no animals on the walls. Waitresses are also strippers. Soup kitchen style, cook will clap when your food is ready and you can line up to get it.
Jk. But. I didn’t eat or drink here so this review is on the ambience and the atmosphere.
There is NOwhere to park. Park in the lot that’s across the street for some resident building, nobody checks that shit.
It is a very nice bar, kind of reminds me of The Lodge, but not as open of a space/​as dim lighting as you can possibly have without turning the lights off. The cocktails are all $ 10 and up. Didn’t try any of them or the food so I’ll have to update this review if I come back here.
There are 3 floors and it was a pretty busy joint for a Wednesday night. Although I think going out on weekdays is more of a thing now, I just am always lazy and stay home.
Anyway, I’ll be back to try things!
X’s and O’s!
J

I’ve been here about three times and the first time I walked in, I detested it. It was a late Saturday night and the bar was overly crowded, loud and I didn’t enjoy crowding around. I felt like I couldn’t blame the place for its popularity, so I made a note to come back and try the food.
I’ve since been back a few times and I’m really loving this place now. The upstairs area is a lot less chaotic and a much nicer dinner environment than the downstairs bar. It’s chic and trendy, although very dark (as in, hard to see the menu dark).
They have a really cool happy hour deal between 5−7pm Tuesday-​Friday where they have a $ 5 Manhattan, a rye grilled cheese and $ 5 for a rolling rock beer and a shot of whisky (probably the best deal). I’m not a drinker, but I did try the grilled cheese on rye bread with tomato, which was pretty well done.
For dinner, we shared small plates: the salmon tartar (thanks to Nicole J for suggesting it) and pork belly and we all shared chocolate mousse for dessert. We also had an order of BreadHive bread as an appetizer (with house made butter); the sourdough bread was divine. The dessert was incredible with little bits of pistachios and incredibly creamy chocolate with bits of raspberries.
Service was decent and pleasant. I think Buffalo Proper is a great choice for a night out with friends. You can splurge and spend a lot or order a few things to share and have it be very reasonable. They also have a phenomenal burger for $ 15. Between this place and Marble & Rye, I think they are contenders for one of the best burgers downtown.

Had a great dinner after the theatre… on a Sunday. which is always a plus.
Shared the salmon… potatoes and egg. kale chips… everything was excellent. We sat at the bar… which I love. And Joe was great… he makes a super Moscow Mule :) Fun place for all ages. Dining is upstairs… not great for anyone having a problem with stairs.

This is my favorite place in the city. The cocktails, of course, are great (especially since I can still order original-​Vera-​menu drinks like The Duke), and the food has somehow gotten better every single time I’ve eaten here.
If you don’t mind spending a few bucks on great cocktails and spectacular food, this is the place to be.
In this case, the hype is well-​deserved.

I avoided Buffalo Proper adamantly ever since it opened. When I initially learned about the establishment, I sensed a distinctive «d-​bag» vibe. My aversion to the place was cemented when I learned they served rabbit. I’m far from being a vegetarian, but I have a little fluffy bunny at home who would be very disappointed with me if she found out I was eating her cousins.
So I stayed away. Actively.
I was forced to finally visit the restaurant this week for our monthly Unilocal Book Club meeting (Join us, if you’re interested!). The night before, I had a nightmare that everyone at the table ordered the rabbit while I watched on in horror. *sigh* at the things my brain does to me while I’m trying to sleep.
We were promptly seated upstairs at a large table by the front windows. From the moment I arrived, service was fantastic. Our server, (Carol? I can’t remember for sure) was sweet, attentive, engaging, and just all-​around wonderful. She is very good at what she does.
I was surprised to find that prices were not as astronomical as I originally thought, which might be the direct result of a new menu launch this week. My beautiful salmon tartine was only $ 9, and contained at least that much in product. The restaurant features Beehive bread and, according to our server, a lot of other local Buffalo products, as well. One of the other book clubbers generously bought marinated olives for the table, which were also excellent.
Of course, I (and everyone else) avoided ordering the bunny dish, so this did not become an issue. I’m also unsure of whether or not I’ll return here for late night drinks. The bar is spacious and attractive, but I prefer a big beer or wine list to a comprehensive cocktail menu.
Minus one star for serving rabbit in the first place, but otherwise, this was an amazing dining experience!

This is a very welcoming place. The staff were all friendly and helpful. Not just when we got there, but throughout dinner.
It’s a bit loud, though the second floor allowed for conversation and had just the right amount of lighting, not too bright, but not so dim we couldn’t read our menus.
We shared a dish of the cured olives with citrus and a few leaves of arugula. A nice mix of different olives with crunchy, garlicky chickpeas.
The Prime burger with a fried egg looked as if it had been cooked perfectly and was thoroughly enjoyed.
My baked cauliflower was absolutely delicious. Charred, silky, and flavorful.
We also ordered the Breadhive bread which was artfully made in the shape of a wheat sheaf, allowing diners to break off one roll sized portion at a time.
I took one star off my review because I ordered a sheaf of bread to go. When I got home and opened the package I realized they had put hot bread on a mound of butter. This created a mess I did not appreciate.
That lack of attentiveness (not putting the butter in a separate container) would certainly not keep me from a return visit… perhaps, for brunch.
(I see this place is listed as expensive, but there are many items that are incredibly reasonable. I would encourage you to take a look at the menu and decide for yourself.)

Great Atmosphere ! Love the music, the vibe, lots of fun.
The drinks are amazing. Gunslinger and Ginger Baker are our favorites !! Bartenders are fast and friendly.
Great place to top off your evening on the town.

My five star comes from my bar experience, not my dining. I’ve only visited for a liquid dinner.
This place is classy. From the drinks, to the bartenders, to the atmosphere. I think it might have a bit of hipster class to it.
The bartender, Josh, is great. Every time that my wife and sister-​in-​law visit, he is quick to remember their names. Really nice guy.
Great place for an after dinner drink. Probably for dinner too. Seems to be quite busy.

I had only been at this building back in the day when it was Laughlin’s. It was alright, but nothing vegetarians could enjoy. I’d been wanting to give Buffalo Proper a chance, and one recent evening when my husband and I were all dressed up from a show at Shea’s, we went to this $$$ restaurant and bar after the curtain call.
It was packed, but the hostess said we could be sat in about 10 or 15 minutes. That was fine, so we looked at the cocktail menu and ordered some specialty drinks. I was in the mood for the New York Sour, and our table was ready before our drinks were made (the bar was incredibly packed, so we had to wiggle our way in). I went ahead and went to our table on the second floor and my husband brought them up a little later.
My eyes immediately lit up when I happened upon the Roasted Cauliflower Head with a yuzu and cilantro yogurt, vanilla tahini, and more. I remember reading a raving review about it so even though my husband is the minority that can’t stand cilantro, I ordered it for us to share anyways.
Since I did that, I was cool that he wanted to order the Mac and Cheese made with duck confit. I absolutely loved the roasted cauliflower, it’s definitely what I look for as a vegetarian: a fresh, new approach to featuring vegetables as stars of the plates and not being afraid to feature them. It was absolutely amazing and I highly recommend trying it. Plus I felt really good about it afterwards, which you can’t always say when you dine out at a nice place like this. I took a little taste that looked like there wasn’t any duck in the mac and cheese just to see what my husband was so pleased about. If you eat meat, the mac and cheese is a must. It’s so gourmet and yet hearty – this place is amazing.
I was good with my amazing New York Sour (in fact, the table behind me asked what I had so they could order it next round because it looked amazing), but my husband finished his first drink and our server had told us about the Spin the Bottle cocktail option. So he told her he liked whiskey, coffee liquor, bitters, and wasn’t really into sweet drinks, so she asked if he liked Manhattans and he said yes, and she said she had the perfect thing in mind. What she came back with was incredible (for him; not my kind of poison) that he knew he wouldn’t have made himself at home, which is really the only reason we order cocktails anyways.
We had a blast at Buffalo Proper! Our server was wonderful, the food was amazing, and the drinks were incredible. Definitely a fantastic higher end bar in Buffalo!

Buffalo Proper was where she wanted to go. When a friend has a birthday you go where you’re told. Seven of us came out and we had a good time. We showed up early in the evening so the bar was accesible and we were seated in a timely fashion. They seated us upstairs and as we walked to our table we threaded our way through a number of small tables where couples were seated. I can only assume we disrupted conversations and dates. To anyone who was out for that big date I apologize. Hopefully you recovered your conversation gracefully and showed your conversational skill.
We were seated at a very nice table in the most out-​of-​the-​way spot in the restaurant. Our server was conversational and generally great. The food arrived in a timely fashion and we enjoyed some great conversations. I enjoyed the hanger steak as did most of the table. Make sure you order it rare/​medium rare for optimal deliciousness. I also enjoyed their Baby Gem salad which was topped with the most delicious parmesan cheese I’ve ever had.
So why am I giving it 3 stars? It sounds like everything was awesome, right? Well, I have to say Buffalo Proper’s popularity is it’s downfall. They’ve squeezed in too many tables to accommodate the eager flood of customers. They’re too close and surely conversations are far from private. Any attempt at a romantic evening is wasted.
As we left, the lack of space became completely clear. Downstairs, I literally had to push my way through a crowd there for drinks so that my party could exit. I momentarily entertained the idea of exiting through the fire exit at the base of the stairs fearing only my wife’s wrath.
The food is great. The service is topnotch. Don’t tell anyone else! If they were to eliminate half a dozen tables and limit the number of patrons at the bar (fire code?) this could be an amazing destination.
Side note: as I posted my first photo of the evening, a friend messaged me. He’d come to Buffalo Proper in search of a drink and immediately dismissed the whole scene as severly overly crowded. When you decide not to even cross the threshold of a restaurant it speaks volumes.