Iron Tail Tavern — Restaurant in Buffalo

I have been to Iron Tail three times. The service was slow the first two times I went there but the food was good so I decided to give it another try. Again, the service was not good. We entered the bar a little after 5 pm and there were a few people dining at one table in the elevated dining area behind the bar. As my party of three sat down at the completely empty bar, the bartender said, "Those seats are reserved." I asked where we could sit. She then said, "The seats aren't really reserved I just wanted to save them for some patrons I used to see when I bartended here 6 months ago before I retired. I'm just filling in today but I might see them." (Spoiler alert: they never came). During the first round of drinks, the bartender decided to change out the rioja that was supposed to be in the sangria with a lambrusco because according to her, "she liked it better." This was not what the member of our party wanted and she did not enjoy the unrequested change. After making my drink, the bartender dropped the mixer, shattering it on the floor behind the bar thus preventing a repeat order of the drink if desired. We then asked if there were any specials. The bartender told us the oysters were half off because they were a few days old and the owner told them to make them half off because otherwise they wouldn't be able to sell them and they'd otherwise be used in a soup if not sold today. We placed an order for the Spanish olive oil dip and bone marrow. The bartender brought out the dishes and the Spanish olive oil dip did not come with olive oil. It was a tomato sauce with cheese in it. I said to the bartender, "This isn't an olive oil dip." The bartender told me it was olive oil. I don't know if she seriously thought it was olive oil, if she thought was so stupid I would believe here, or if she just didn't want to deal with the issue but it would be apparent to anyone that this was not an olive oil dip. I again told her this was not olive oil. The bartender then went to the back to check if it was or was not olive oil. A couple minutes later she came back and said she believed me that it was not olive oil and confirmed it was a tomato sauce with cheese. She then said they took the olive oil dip off the menu a while back but never updated the menu. I told her that we ordered the dish for the olive oil, not the bread. Changing the dip is tantamount to serving an entirely different dish than what was ordered. She didn't seem to understand this point that this was a bait and switch. In this day and age where people can have a litany of dietary restrictions including things like peanut, tree nut, dairy, vegetarian, vegan, pork/gelatin, etc she didn't seem to care that giving someone something entirely different than what they ordered is a big deal. There was no offer to take the dish back, allow us to order something different, nothing. I was upset by this quite a bit and let her know this isn't acceptable. The bartender then went to collect an empty glass. She dropped it behind the bar in front of us shattering it and the shards flew into mine and my mother's face. She was apologetic but the experience was irredeemable at this point. The bartender then left the bar for a couple of minutes. She came back with some olive oil with garlic that had just been chopped up and added to the oil. She also asked for our phone numbers so the owner could call us because he wasn't there that day. I didn't want to speak to the owner and told her she did not have to have him call us. She offered to give us an additional round of drinks but at this point we all just wanted to go home. We paid the bill and left. It was a very poor experience. To be fair the food (when you get what you order) is good but the service at this establishment is just consistently...

Got here to dinner this most recent visit. My boyfriend and I sat at the bar as we were early and wanted to watch a football game. The bartender was nice and attentive for the most part. We did share a bottle of wine and a dozen oysters, and both were perfect. We eventually sat down and had dinner. I think our server may have been the only one or one of two for the whole restaurant, which wasn't too busy at first. He was ok with attentiveness, but I also think it was because of the playoff game on TV and getting distracted by others that we did have to wait for some things longer than normal. I chose the short rib and my boyfriend the sirloin. The short rib was tasty, but too salty, but my boyfriends sirloin was delicious. We did end up getting desserts too which were the perfect ending to the evening.

Tried brunch here on a Sunday and was not disappointed! We were the only table when we arrived and there were 8 of us. We started with mimosas, Irish coffees and two of the Shaksukas to share. The Shaksuka was so amazing and large enough to feed us all, so much flavor. For our meals we had Sausage Biscuits & Gravy, French Omelette, Iron Tail BUrger and Steak and Eggs which we all shared and loved everything. Our server was very attentive and the food was so delicious. We had a great time and would...

An unforgettable night at Iron Tail Tavern!

From the moment we walked into Iron Tail Tavern on Elmwood, we knew we were in for something special. The atmosphere strikes that perfect balance—low-key, inviting, with just the right music to set the tone for a relaxed and memorable evening.

Our server, Anthony, was a standout. He combined knowledge, humor, and attentiveness in a way that made us feel genuinely cared for the entire night. His recommendations were spot-on and his energy added to the experience.

We started with the octopus and stuffed peppers, both of which were absolutely incredible—each bite layered with flavor and expertly prepared. For our entrées, the chorizo patty melt and peri peri chicken stole the show. The creativity in the flavor combinations, the precision of the preparation, and the beautiful presentation turned our meal into something far beyond typical tavern fare.

Even though we didn’t order drinks this time, Adam behind the bar greeted us with such warmth that we’re already planning our next visit. If the cocktails are anything like the food, I can’t imagine leaving anything but impressed.

If you’re looking for a spot that delivers exceptional food, outstanding service, and a vibe that lets you truly unwind, Iron Tail Tavern is it. We can’t wait...