My husband and I love to walk. For us, a wonderful way to spend a weekend morning is with a walk down a boutique-lined street, a stop at a farmer’s market, and a cup of coffee and a newspaper at a local café. Welcome to Elmwood Avenue. Elmwood Avenue is pure Buffalo. Locally owned shops, restaurants, cathedrals, and cafés line the streets in this quaint neighborhood. For a very relaxing morning, begin your walk at the Elmwood farmer’s market (Saturday from 8am to 1pm from late May until early November). Then continue your stroll to visit many locally owned clothing boutiques, gift shops, gardening shops, organic food markets, and bookstores (Talking Leaves Bookstore is locally owned and a personal favorite). If you are looking for a great restaurant for dinner, try Cecilia’s. My friends and I love this location for reasonably priced Italian food with great service, a martini bar, appetizer specials on Tuesday evenings, live music during the week, and outdoor seating in summer months. Don’t miss a stop at Spot Coffee. This café is a favorite place for sitting back and enjoying a weekend morning (comfy couches, great people-watching, outdoor seating in nice weather, and very tasty sandwiches). For more information about the Elmwood area, visit http://www.foreverelmwood.org/.
Another nice place to walk is Allen Street. Lined with shops and an array of wonderful places to eat, you could easily spend an afternoon browsing and then enjoy an evening meal at a number of popular restaurants. We enjoy Gabriel’s Gate (716/886-0602), with a casual setting and many food choices, including great burgers and pasta entrées. For more information on the Allen District, visit http://www.allenstreet.com/. The Allentown Art Festival (see Festival Entry) also takes place here.
Full of culture, Hertel Avenue is another great choice. Hertel is the Italian-American district, the result of many years of Italian immigration to the area at the turn of the century. Get ready for some great Italian food, bakeries, cafés, antique shops, and Italian-style grocery stores. While there are many great options for dining out in this area, we have two favorites. The first is Romeo and Juliet’s Bakery Café (1292 Hertel Ave.), which serves pizza, a variety of sandwiches, appetizers, wine, cheese, and delicious desserts at affordable prices. There are two sections to Romeo’s - the first is done in a pizza parlor style, the other half is for sit-down dining. Outdoor seating is available in warmer months. There is often a wait, so it is best to go at off-hours on the weekends or on a weekday. Our other favorite is Lombardo’s (1198 Hertel Ave.). This is more upscale, but the food is outstanding and it is a wonderful place to spend a special occasion. Reservations are important, especially on a weekend evening. The Italian American Festival on Hertel Avenue is a favorite of Buffalonians. Read more in my festival entry.