HARLEY "FRIEND .  ..OR PHO" A.'s Profile

Franco's Does Not Cut Corners - Literally.

*Franco's motto describes their excellent square "tray" pizzas - and in agreeing with previous reviews - their pizza is Great and the toppings are just right.  I usually go for the old standby pepperoni or add banana peppers and mushrooms.    I have had their pizza with green olives and it was salty and delicious.  

* I do eat quite a bit of pizza (hey, why not?) and change it up as much as I can to keep the variety.   But Franco's is always satisfying and their pizza is great "next day".  Their wings and breadsticks hit the spot as well.    Franco's always has a ton of meal deal coupon combo types promos going on - something for everyone in both price and menu.

International Chocolate Disappointment at the Walden Galleria.
Medicore Chocolate at Caviar Prices. Booooo!

*Now - Don't get me wrong - I LOVE Chocolate of all types and usually do not discriminate.    BUT.... not here.

*Staffed only by older women who ask me too many pointless questions, this is not the crown jewel that it makes itself out to be.

WAAAAAAY OVERpriced.  Better Chocolate other places, both locally made and mass produced.

Great Selection Of New And Used MEDIA in Buffalo, NY

*Always has a solid selection of USED/Traded In CD's etc that I could spend mindless hours browsing piecing together my music collection.  Most popular "used" CDs range between 6 and 8 bucks, while new CDs can range from 9 to 17 bucks.   They have tons of DVDs and box sets.   A great place to find gift ideas for a music lover.

*Good selection of the hard to find.  They have an excellent Local Music section.  

*Record Theater always has good background music - a must for a retail outlet of it's kind.  Staff is great - I have always had success finding what I was looking for here.

*Great Location as it is directly across one of the University of Buffalo Campuses - and easy to get to.  

*Their selection of VINYL rivals any in the City of Buffalo.  New Music or Vintage and Classic, they have it!

LoveIt - Also directly next to a better than average Starbucks - which is a bonus.

Not a big fan of this Burger-Fry-Ice Cream spot in Tonawanda NY

One of the few "good" (if not great) things about this place is delicious Sweet Potato Fries, which, if never experienced, are a great savory-sweet combination and utterly satisfying.

a.) Good Location - but - when "Ice Cream Season" is in full tilt, the line gets too close the road and can seem a bit dangerous. I know that may sound like a nit-picky criticism - but jeez I don't want to lump a pedestrian.

b.) The last time I had an ice cream cone from here, it tasted like a dirty dish rag.  Blech.

c.) Staffed by basically inept high school aged children whose main concern is what time their shift ends (but that could be anywhere I suppose) .

* I understand that Mississippi Mudds is a "carbon-copy" (literally) of Old Man RIver - BUT - I like Old Man River a "star" better.

Burger and Fry Joint across from the Niagara River (Tonawanda, NY)

Just okay Burgers + Amazing Sweet Potato Fries + Below Average Ice Cream + Great Location + Always Busy Weather Permitting = ?????

Service is average at best - usually grubby high school kids at the counter and grill.   Expect around 20$ for two people to grab a bite here.   Not exactly blow your mind type of establishment here, but a can't miss around noon on a sunny July Saturday.

Outdoor seating provides a nice view of the Niagara River and a "park system" along it.  

**If this place were located anywhere else it would warrant 2 stars

Above average / good value Pizza-Wings in City of Tonawanda NY

*TNT Pizza is your typical Pizza-Wings-Sub spot in the Greater Buffalo Area.  The difference is that their prices are quite reasonable for what you actually get.

I opted to "pick up" my order and the staff was friendly - the restaurant was clean and had seating with a few people dining in.

I ordered a large cheese and pepperoni with mushrooms on half, a double order of medium chicken wings, and TNT's "special" - The Old Fashioned, which is a thicker crust half sheet of pizza topped with romano and extra sauce.  

Overall, the cheese and pepp pizza was very good - I have had much better in and around Buffalo.  The wings were solid.  I particularly like my medium a bit "hotter" than usual, but they were fresh and cooked thoroughly.  

I will try TNT again - but it didn't blow my mind.

Solid Mexican Cuisine in Greater Buffalo NY

Decided to try La Tolteca for the first time on a random weeknight.  The restaurant was busy - but not to busy to be seated promptly in a comfy booth.  Our waitress brought fresh (light and crisp / not too salty) Tortilla chips to the table with a small bowl of salsa that is made in house.  Drink Order - All "Mexican" Beer is $2.75?   Even Negra Modelo?  YES.  Sign me up as that is usually $5 at most places.

Unlike some of the Mexican restaurant in Buffalo  - and this is not a knock or criticism but an observation - there IS NOT a language barrier between staff and patron.  

Even after demolishing a basket of chips and salsa, we ordered a "Nacho" dish that had amazing steamy queso and both nicely seasoned beef on one side and moist shredded spicy chicken on the other.  The temperature of the nachos were perfect.

As a main dish I ordered a dish which consisted of two skewers each with two grilled shrimp, and one piece each of seasoned frilled chicken and steak.  Accompanied by three perfectly warm flour tortillas, the meat was perfectly cooked and the refried beans and rice were tasty.  

Dining companion ordered "Fish Tacos" which consisted of Tilapia which was a bit too seasoned and perhaps a little "fishy" but came with a size-a-ble portion of fresh guac and fresh salsa.

Will be back for sure - many traditional options on the menu.  Worth a try.  Good Service - Good location
!Viva La Tolteca!

Better than advertised -
Star Of India is on the map, and the owners know it.
They continue to crank out delicious, fresh, quality food and are not looking back.  They are wonderful people- and no, they are not family.

Since my initial review I have ordered take out (or dined in) roughly a dozen times.  Always excellent. When you get the craving, I just pick up the phone.

Average order: (usually the same each time)
Tandoori Roti
Shahi Kulcha- (bread with homemade cheese and golden raisins)
Raita - (yogurt cucumber dip)
Chicken Mahkhani -(creamy and spicy/coconut)
Chana Masala - (chickpeas and spinach)
Baingan Bharta - (eggplant)

IF you are in the Buffalo area and have not had the opportunity to get to Star of India please do....make it a destination.  So Good.

**Review based on one time SHAKE drive thru order.

After we picked up our wings from BW3's (Wild Wings), we stopped by to grab 5 total shakes - 2 large Chocolate and 3 Side By Side Chocolate and Vanilla.  So Good...

The shakes are outstanding.  Although they are probably chocked full of high fat cream and emulsifiers, the choco - vanilla combo hits the spot on a Lazy Sunday, after three days of drinking Captain Morgan.

Three out of Five of us were actually having trouble breathing after a "Large" shake so I may have to evaluate the size options next time.  I was one of the three.....

Chipotle is Chipotle is Chipotle.  Wherever you go.

Perhaps......But....

For a change of pace (and ease in ordering) - a few friends and I decided to grab lunch for 7 - but place the order ON-Line.
**Seven separate items + chips + salsas + guac.

Walked in to pick up the order and received two large boxes filled with our perfectly assembled burritos and bowls.  The woman at the counter could not be any courteous and even mentioned she would call the next day to follow up on the order.

To switch it up a bit I ordered a Burrito Fajita "Bol" Double Carnitas hold the beans (with two kinds of salsa/cheese/sour cream/guac/cilantro)   Thats exactly what I received.   Very satisfied.  

**Solid Location as well - right in the "thick of it" on 28th.