Buffalo RiverWorks — Restaurant in Buffalo

Came over from Canada to watch Asking Alexandria's show here. Keep in mind, I bought these tickets for $155 CAD. A little bit of background as well, I've been working in customer service and with music/club venues for the past 12 years.

Upon arriving the parking was good and reasonable, $10 USD. That's still a little under $15 CAD. Finding the entrance to the venue was easy since there is a legend to show you where to go. Security was really nice and quick. When we got in, the sound was already brutal for the opening bands. Could barely make out any of the words if their lyrics, it was almost as if they were just background noise. Walked around to check put the venue and it was pretty interesting. Food service by the entrance, a few arcade games, a lot of seating areas, 2 full bars in the back of the venue, a day the crowd in the middle of the floor.

The reason I am giving this place a 3 is not only because was the sound SO bad for bands that literally scream into a mic for a living, but because of the service. I don't know why people are miserable here but my goodness, it was showing. I'm not going involve race in here because I want to give Americans the benefit of the doubt.

I'm hoping the people working the merch table weren't part of the venue because 2 of them were incredibly rude to me (not my partner though so that was interesting). Even though I was the one purchasing, so much attitude, no eye contact, incredibly rude remarks, just no idea what customer service is. Made me feel like they did not deserve any tip whatsoever which I hate not doing because I love to help out people in the service industry. But they did not deserve a single dime. Mind you I was already observing their interaction with other customers so I know how different mine was.

Second place where the customer service was not up to par was the bar. I will say ONE bartender was nice enough to acknowledge both my partner and I was really nice in his interaction but the others were just miserable. The one bartender was the only was that deserved a tip because he helped customers in accordance to who was there first and letting us know how their bar worked since he figured we were not from Buffalo. The others that served did the complete opposite. Asked for a refill on a lemonade and got an eye roll, a serious face and 0 words from an older gentleman and the female bartender next to him. Again, I wanted to tip but they did not deserve it.

Lastly was the food area. This was the only service area where the customer service was PROPER customer service. Eye contact, smiles, understanding of orders, acknowledgement of both customers, making sure the food order was correct when it was being prepared so it was handed off to the right person, saying "Thank you, enjoy your night" because we were paying customers. Literally getting that saved my impression on the venue's service.

I understand people need to earn their money but you can't earn it if you don't deserve it. And it seems like people here think that just because they are offering a service means they automatically deserve a tip. That's not how it works. That is something extra on top of your hourly wage. You can lose it at any time and you're not always gonna earn the same amount. It is gauged by what you are doing as above and beyond. Remember that or take a hospitality program to learn that.

Riverworks, you have people working there to represent your establishment and you are paying them. Don't let them ruin it for you because I hate seeing people ruin places that have a potential to thrive...

Worst experience for dinner. Management didn’t have the courtesy to come to our table or respond to email and Facebook messages sent.

“ I’m writing to notify you of our less than great experience Saturday night.

A group of 6 of us planned a night out at your venue starting with 5pm reservations at Axes and Ales and then a 7pm dinner reservation at Riverworks.

The first part was great and we all had an amazing time at axes and ales. Afterwards we walked over to the host stand at the restaurant and with a reservation they seemed as though they were not expecting us. We were sat at a 6 top at the end of the bar where apparently the 1 bar tender on duty was supposed to take care of us, at least 3 other tables and make and pour drinks for every other table in the place. Needless to say, he wasn’t very attentive to us. We sat for a good 15 minutes before being greeted and a drink order taken. Another 10-15 before our food order was taken which seemed to be a confusing task for him as I specified the temperature of my burger and another friend requested a salad out first with crumbled blue and another wanted soup out first. As we waited for our food, other food was brought to the bar and left waiting to be served to other tables for about 10 minutes. Then our food arrived and we waved the runners over so our food wouldn’t experience the same fate. It all came out at once, it was all cold despite noticeable burn marks on some of the food from the heat lamp it most likely sat under for too long. The soup was barely above room temperature, 3 pot roast melts were cold and the bottom pieces of bread were all soggy which was amazing because there was barely any pot roast or potatoes on it and what was on it was in one spot making the rest of it a bread sandwich. My burger was requested medium rare, but I could have easily used it on your ice rink as a hockey puck.

The bartender never came back until we were done eating and since we were all starving, ate what we could anyway. He never stopped back at all after taking our initial order or we probably would have had more drinks. In addition as dry as my burger was, it would have been great had I been offered at least a condiment to give it some flavor.

It was just a terrible dining experience. Clearly the bartender was overmatched for what the expectations for him were. On Valentine’s Day weekend, with reservations and live music, management should have definitely staffed more appropriately. When we told him the food was bad, he simply took our drinks off, which was nice-but not the point. Never saw a manager and if there was one, he/she was clearly needed to help behind the bar. We have eaten there many times before and always enjoyed it until now. We will definitely think of other options in the future even if we were already on site at Axes...

The Wyck Recommendation: Buffalo RiverWorks Rating: 3.8/5 Grain Silos Ghost Town and Axe Math That Makes No Sense

Intro Scene I went to RiverWorks on a Friday at 1 pm. Prime time for nothing to happen. The place felt like a half-abandoned amusement park designed by a tipsy civil engineer with a bridge fetish. I walked I gawked I left.

What Was Ordered Nothing. Not a beer not a fried pickle not even an overpriced seltzer from the tiki bar. Just me my feet and the world’s loneliest Ferris wheel.

Service Commentary Can’t complain. Can’t praise. Didn’t test it. The only staff I saw were two kids perched at the top of a fun slide looking like they’d rather be anywhere else.

Vibe Check It’s gigantic. Feels like a carnival swallowed by grain silos and concrete. Midday it’s a ghost town with all the promise of a rowdy night that hasn’t been invited yet. You know there’s a party in there somewhere just not when the sun’s out.

The Space Itself Industrial relics painted like Labatt Blue cans. A Ferris wheel that spins when it feels like it. An arcade bar that’s darker than a hangover and a bathroom with a Step Brothers shrine above the urinal. Outside there’s axe throwing a tiki bar with a fake palm tree and that bridge. The Michigan Avenue lift bridge stands there like a giant Meccano set flexing for boats. The City of Buffalo’s clearly throwing money at this place. Ziplining paddle boarding climbing you name it all wrapped around these iconic silos. Also for the record the axe throwing sign brags about 15 throws for 10 bucks or 8 throws for 5. Do that math and tell me how fewer axes cost less per throw. RiverWorks logic.

About the Neighborhood Waterfront post-industrial Buffalo. The best parking tip is to pray you come when nobody else does so weekday afternoons are your jam. The bridge alone is worth watching a massive slab of metal that floats up like an elevator for ships. Weirdly majestic.

Hits & Misses ✓ The bridge show is free and fascinating ✓ So much random stuff to do if you catch it alive ice rink ziplining paddle boarding arcade axe throwing ✓ Silos as giant beer cans iconic

✗ Dead vibe if you’re early or sober ✗ Feels underused all that space just echoing your footsteps ✗ Could be cleaner could be wilder could be more awake at 1 pm on a Friday

Final Verdict RiverWorks is what happens when Buffalo’s industrial bones get dressed up for a beer festival but forget the guests. The city’s pouring money into it so there’s plenty to do if you show up when humans do too. Go for the sheer size the bridge show the confusing axe math and the chance that it might all come alive after dark. Next time I’m staying for a drink maybe.

Perfect For Daytime urban exploring with a thing for lift bridges Coming back at night when you actually want other...