Forgotten Buffalo: Historic & Hip...

THE ANATOMY OF A CLASSIC TAVERN

Curb Appeal – Genesee Beer neon sign or signage from a defuncted brewery in window…usually the first sign of great things to come.   

Location – Neighborhood setting. Located on corner of block. No parking lot…time to show off ones parallel parking skills.

Name –Includes the bar owner’s first or last name….Ulrich’s, Bramer's, Gadowski’s, Arty’s, Frank’s, Wolski's. Sometimes includes the tavern’s location: Edge of Town, Marilla Grill, Shannon Bridge.  Better yet… when it includes both.. Dick’s Eastside Inn.

Atmosphere – How’s the “craic?” This is an Irish term used to describe the atmosphere of a good pub -- the food, drink, music and conversation. In a classic Buffalo tavern you might hear conversation about the unions, the Holy Name bowling team or energetic debates about the Sabres and Bills.

Layout – Bar and men’s room upfront, tables for dinning and women's room in back. Sometimes the men's & ladies rooms are near a phone booth built into the wall near the kitchen. Separate door on side of building for access to restaurant portion. Small square tables...used for cards or a place for the kids to sit and drink pop. 

“The Book” – A registry of daily patrons. Still a common practice in many “classic” Buffalo bars. Each day the “regulars” sign “the book” and throw a dollar in the monthly pool. At the end of the month a name is chosen to win a sizable jackpot which generally is spent at the establish purchasing countless rounds for the bar.  

Décor – Signs from defunct breweries: Simon Pure, Iroquois, Manru, Pabst, Blatz, etc. Pictures of patrons and or old politicians. A “classic” tavern will have missed the modernization movement of the 60’s & 70’s. An authentic wooden “bar back” is a must. These finely crafted edifices are the single most important piece of the environment. Listen to the sound of the wooden doors and steel latches being shut. If not an “ice box” style cooler… look for a classic Bevador refrigerator (shaped like a beer bottle) near the bar (Swannie House, Bflo).

Entertainment – shuffle-bowling machine, jukebox featuring songs from our parent’s generation, old men at the bar with plenty of colorful stories. A good Irish Pub will have live music.  

Food – small grill behind bar or tiny kitchen tucked off to the side. Good supply of chips and pretzels on display behind bar. Does the bar serve fish on Friday and beef on weck during the week?

Beverages – Look for a fully stocked bar of inexpensive regional brews: Genesee, Utica Club and Miller High Life. If Irish….a well used Guinness tap.

Glassware – Draft beer served in short 4 ½ inch glasses. If Irish...uses of Imperial Pint glasses.

Etiquette - Pull up a stool and jump right into conversation. Look around the room and order a drink similar to what you see on the bar (About "mixed drinks" Please, do not order a Cosmopolitan or anything that involves fruit. Gin & Tonics or Screwdrivers are acceptable.) After a while, don’t be surprised if a few empty shot glasses or upside down plastic cups appear in front of you. The sure sign of acceptance is when the “mayor of the bar” buys a round and includes you.

Gadawski's, Niagara Falls

When entering a tavern named Gadawski’s, one would not expect to see a décor based on shamrocks and leperchans. Located at 1445 Falls St. in Niagara Falls, Gadawski’s is a virtual shrine to the Norte Dame “Fighting Irish.” Owner Eddie Gadawski prides himself on having traveled to every ND home game in South Bend for the last 40 years. In addition to everything Notre Dame, Gadawski’s walls are covered with pictures of Niagara Falls sports legends and pictures of Eddie with almost every famous athlete who has ever passed through the Power City.

Open for lunch and fish fry’s on Friday, Gadawski’s is the only place in Western New York where the pierogies, golombki and Polish sausage from the kitchen is as fresh as the Guinness being poured behind the bar. I highly recommend the Polish Platter and the homemade macaroni and cheese served on Thursdays.

The bar is located in eye-sight of the Seneca Niagara Casino in a historically Polish neighborhood.

Beer of Choice Sampled During Visit:  Labatt’s Blue

THE CROWN PUB, BELFAST, N. IRELAND

It’s like having a “tasty wave” inside a palace! With its swing doors, wooden floors and private sungs, the Crown Pub is a jewel of Irish History. Owned by the National Trust, operated by Guinness. The only light is from ancient ceiling gas lamps and rays of sun through Victorian etched-windows. Your fellow drinkers range from the trendy to the terminal, but all with the wit of Wilde and eyes on Black Bush. The most famous bar in Ulster, it survived 42 bombs during the “troubles” and is as busy as ever.

Situated on Great Victoria Street, directly opposite the impressively refurbished Grand Opera House, the Crown has the most perfectly preserved Victorian pub interior. Ten wood paneled snugs give customers a certain degree of privacy - while losing nothing of the atmosphere in this superb example of a ‘gin palace’.

The Crow's ornate, 19th century charm is enhanced by its scalloped gas lights, gleaming brasswork and a fine long bar inlaid with colored glass. The opulent marble, geometric Italian tile work and fine glass engravings of this most exuberant of pubs ofter leaves the first-time visitors open-mouthed and ready for a pint.

Established in 1826 and embellished in 1885 by skilled Italian craftsmen, the pub was given a sympathetic facelift in 1981, when great care was taken to maintain, preserve and restore, rather than renovate.What a night I had in 2002! Found in our “snug” was local street enchant, “Clive” who regaled us with colorful stories of IRA.

Beer of Choice Sampled During Visit: Guinness & Tenant’s Lager

J. J. Killeen's, Shannonbridge, Republic of Ireland

J.J. Killeen’s is a traditional rural Irish Pub that is part store, part pub and part town hall. Located in the town of Shannonbridge, Co. Offaly. The smell of peat burning in the fireplace gives this pub is warm, inviting feeling. The town is located only a short country drive away from one of the most historic sites in all of Ireland called Clonmacnois. Founded fifteen hundred years ago by St. Kieran, the site holds the world’s greatest collection of Celtic relics.

Beer of Choice Sampled During Visit:  Guinness

OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS TO BE FEATURED

LOOKING FOR PICTURES & INFORMATION ABOUT THESE LOST LOCATIONS:

Stanek's at 615 Fillmore., a favorite for Eastside businessmen. 

Eddie's Grill, 209 Paderewski, owned by Edward Szymanski. It was a very successful restaurant& bar, known for its good & reasonable food.

Eddie G's, Filmore Ave. between William & Peckham ,owned by Edward Grzechowiak, also a political destination

Na Zdrowie!