Tappo Restaurant — Restaurant in Buffalo

We started with a beet salad from the special menu. Wedges of fresh beets on a bed of arugala, with pickled scapes, ricotta salata, and crispy prosciutto. Flavors, textures, proportions, all perfect. This was one of my two standouts in an already outstanding meal. We also got some cheesy garlic bread. It was good, but you know, it's cheesy garlic bread. There were a couple of way more interesting "bread" choices on the appetizer list, but Violet wanted this one, and it was pretty darn good. Speaking if Violet's choices, she had the spaghetti and meatballs. Was a huge plate of spaghetti with four big meatballs, and a pretty good sauce. Sauce actually reminded me a bit of The Como. This would stand up to any of my favorite "spaghetti house " type of places. April and I also split an order of meatballs. I thought they were great. The wife, just ok or a little better than that. They are definitely a heavier, meaty, meatball. Lots of flavor and body. I typically make my own with more bread, and simmer them in the sauce and wine, so they are a pretty soft meatball, and i guess maybe thats what she was looking for. Doesn't stop there though. Knowing that the boys would gladly take leftovers, and that April had to take lunch tomorrow, and because we wanted one of everything, we ordered three more entrees to try. Chicken Milanese is always a winner for me. I really like any sort of pan fried cutlet. I mean who doesn't. Anyhow, this one had two good sized pieces of chicken, breaded in panko and fried crispy. The salad topping was some spinach and arugala, cherry tomatoes, thin sliced onions, shaved Romano or Parmesan, and in a new twist, nice chunks of orange. The oranges made the dish, really, that extra citrus flavor in the vinaigrette, and those sweet sour chunks pushed it over the top. The Orechiette, was like a kicked up pasta fagioli turned entree. Had some rapini, cannellini beans, big chunks of tomato, and sweet Italian sausage, in a bit of rich broth naturally thick from. cooking the beans. I think this was April's favorite tonight, and she's claimed the rest for lunch. My favorite, and the star of the evening, which I was ready to ignore except for my wife's goading, was the sea bass! Oh my God was it good! Wilted spinach, charred cherry tomatoes, a bit of onion, lots of garlic, big chunks of sea bass, and a but of heat, all in a light broth, over capellini. I thought the flavors were going to be too intense for the fish, but man was I wrong. I brought a bit home, and I'm sure Michael's going to be all over it, but I'm willing to fight a teenager for the last few bites, at least. Drink menu was great. I'm normally a whiskey, gin, or vodka guy, on the rocks or lightly garnished. I'm not often into the whole craft cocktail scene, because, I think, a lot of places just don't do it that well. Every now and then, though, I find a cocktail menu that tickles my fancy, and this one did. Zoom in and read it for yourself, but suffice to say that I wished I wasn't driving. I did enjoy one Loganberry Mule, and April declared her blood orange margarita to be the beat margarita she ever had. There was no way that we were sneaking a dessert in, and I forgot to ask about the regular dessert menu, but the special was a cast iron cookie skillet. We make these at home now and again, in the fashion of Taylor's Tap Room, but this one featured a Cognac Carmel Sauce, which i.may have to try out at home soon. If you're still with me, I'm sure you've figured out that I really enjoyed Tappo. I think prices were reasonable, with entrees on the low end at $13, and a high of $29 for sea bass, and $42 for a bone in ribeye. Our service was great, server was friendly as were the other folks we interacted with. It is a boisterous environment, so probably not best for a quiet romantic interlude, but for a fun night out, you can't do better. If you've never been to Tappo, get there ASAP. And if you have been, get back there. You know what...

Tappo Restaurant in downtown Buffalo is not just another Italian-American eatery; it’s an experience that blends atmosphere, history, and flavors in a way that makes it perfect for a memorable night out. I recently had the pleasure of dining there with a good friend of mine, who happens to be a true connoisseur of meatballs. Her love for the dish runs deep—not only does she have a refined palate for Italian cuisine, but she also starred in the classic movie Meatballs. When we get together, there’s a tradition we’ve developed over the years: we split a meatball at any restaurant we consider worthy of our critique. Tappo is one of those gems that made the cut, and for good reason.

Tappo’s location in the heart of downtown Buffalo sets the stage for a perfect evening. As we arrived, the modern yet rustic feel of the restaurant, with its exposed brick walls and dim lighting, instantly caught our attention. We chose to dine on the rooftop, where the view of Buffalo’s skyline added an extra touch of magic to the night. Whether you’re there to enjoy a full meal or just sip wine under the stars, Tappo’s rooftop creates an ambiance that’s ideal for a cozy evening with friends.

One of Tappo’s standout features is its incredibly affordable wine list. My friend and I decided to take full advantage of their signature offering—a bottle of wine for just $16, a deal that’s hard to beat. With an extensive selection of both red and white wines, it was the perfect pairing for what was to come: the meatball.

Now, on to the star of the evening—Tappo’s meatball. As meatball connoisseurs, we approach each one with the same careful consideration, and Tappo’s did not disappoint. The texture was perfectly tender, and what truly stood out was the spice—a subtle kick that lingers just long enough to awaken your taste buds without overpowering the flavors. It’s this spice that brought the dish to life, making it a true representation of authentic Italian cuisine. The tomato sauce was rich and well-balanced, complementing the meatball rather than overshadowing it.

The spice was key to our appreciation of Tappo’s meatball. It had just the right amount of heat to excite the palate, making each bite a small awakening of flavor. We often discuss how certain restaurants try too hard with spices, but Tappo struck the perfect balance, giving us a dish that both warmed our souls and reminded us of the simplicity of great Italian cooking.

While the meatball was a highlight, the rest of the menu held up its end of the bargain. We shared a few other small plates—arancini and calamari—that were also seasoned beautifully and well-executed. Tappo’s focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients shone through in every bite.

The beauty of Tappo isn’t just in its food, but in how it pairs perfectly with a casual yet upscale dining experience. The relaxed rooftop, the reasonable prices, and the excellent service made it a night to remember. Whether it’s sharing a dish with an old friend or savoring a moment in one of Buffalo’s finest dining spots, Tappo delivers both in food and atmosphere.

For anyone who, like my friend and me, seeks out the perfect meatball—Tappo is absolutely worthy of your time. With its hint of spice, authentic flavors, and soul-awakening taste, it earns its place on the list of must-try restaurants in Buffalo. But beyond that, it offers a full experience—an evening filled with good food, great wine, and the charm of...

Edited to fix grammar and clarify a few points So tonight was my first time at Tappo downtown and tonight may be my last time at Tappo downtown. I hate to be the person that only posts neutral or negative reviews but it seems to be my luck that I'm going to these places on their off days. I get it, everyone has bad days so I'll try to be as fair as I can. The staff was very friendly. The food was delicious ... when we finally got it. I don't know what happened but from when we were seated to when the server came over for the very first time to get our drinks order was maybe 15 minutes which is I think a long time for first visit. Since it gave us time to peruse the menu, we just ordered our meals right away. Now from when we ordered to when the food finally arrived was more than an hour. There was no apology from staff or acknowlegement that we'd been waiting for a long time. It wasn't until we asked how much longer it would be until our server said she'd find out. It also took about 15 minutes for my drink refill to arrive. In fact, a drink my brother ordered never even arrived. Good thing I wasn't charged for it. The people seated at the table next to us arrived about 10 minutes after we did and they were finished with their food by the time ours had arrived. Coincidentally they'd ordered the same thing we did so I can't help wonder if they got our food by mistake. We came for my brother's birthday dinner and the sauce in his pasta dish was very watery like the pasta wasn't drained properly. He was so upset that he didn't finish and didn't even want a to-go bag to take the leftovers - and I don't blame him. I did take my leftovers to go because it was delicious and cooked to perfection. Now I will say that when the bill arrived, there was a 20% discount taken off with no reason listed. Again, the server never mentioned anything about the meal taking so long to arrive. It's entirely possible that this discount was compensation for the delay or it could be because of some kind of special as we went on a Tuesday night. Alas, we'll never know for sure, but for my peace of mind, I took it as the former and it was appreciated. Verbal acknowledgement from staff or management wouldn't have been amiss, though. I did not complain in the restaurant because my golden rule about dining out is that you do NOT annoy the people handling your food because you never know what may wind up in it (not that I'm saying they would have done something). In conclusion, great food, poor to mediocre overall experience. I hope you have better luck here than we did....