The Draft Room — Restaurant in Buffalo

We regrettably went this to this place last Saturday. Only came for a beer before a concert at the arena one time, but decided to dine in this time with my wife. It has a great vibe and atmosphere, but that’s where anything good ends…

The lower bar wooden tables that seat four are incredibly wobbly. I can’t imagine why. Kind of hard to watch your beer shake because the table decides to swivel from side to side when you touch it.

The young staff (bartenders and runners) behind the bar gossiped, munched on snacks, and played on their phones any chance they could, rather than making eye contact with customers to at least get a sense if anyone needed anything.

We had a random bartender (?) come up and ask US what we ordered. Huh? Then, what looked to be a manager (guy in his 40s with a ball cap and beard) walk to our table with a plate of fries and ask if we ordered them before delivering it to another table. Again, huh? You’re running a restaurant and don’t know who ordered what?

The food was downright awful. How any restaurant in Buffalo can mess up a Beef on Weck is stunning to me. Rock hard, burnt roll. Processed, lunchmeat-type beef (not shaved like you get anywhere else here) that was brown/black and dry. Fries were the frozen, spiral kind you can get at Tops. The onion rings were decent.

This was at 6pm with only one other table in the lower bar, and two groups of couples dining at the bar, itself. My guess is that the staff was too busy checking their phones and giggling to know that my sandwich was left to die under a kitchen heat lamp for 10 minutes longer than it needed to be. Not to mention the only other table (who came in after us) getting their food first. I had to flag down our server from behind the bar to come with our check, just so I could be done with the disaster known as...

The Draft Room in Buffalo, NY, is a distinctive and popular spot, particularly for those interested in sports and craft beer. Located at 79 Perry Street inside the Labatt House Building, it's known for its strong Buffalo sports theme and is a favored destination for fans to gather before or after Sabres games, Bandits games, or concerts​​.

The venue boasts a significant selection of over 20 local and regional beers on tap, offering a diverse range of options for beer enthusiasts. As for its operating hours, The Draft Room is open from Wednesday to Saturday, with specific timings that may change to accommodate events at the Key Bank Center. It should be noted, however, that the venue is closed on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays​​.

The restaurant's atmosphere and service have received mixed reviews from visitors. Some guests have appreciated the cool atmosphere and the food offerings, particularly during brunch before Sabres games, noting items like chicken & waffles and fish tacos as highlights. The option to build your own Bloody Mary's has also been mentioned as a positive aspect​​. However, there have also been some criticisms regarding the service and the food quality, with some guests experiencing slow service and others finding the food not up to their expectations​​.

The Draft Room is situated in a renovated warehouse in the Cobblestone District and is known for pairing its craft beer with seasonal fare. It is also a spot that welcomes large groups, making it a potential venue for events or gatherings​​.

Overall, The Draft Room offers a unique experience in Buffalo, especially for sports fans and beer lovers. However, like any establishment, individual experiences may vary, and it's advisable to check recent reviews or visit their website for the latest information and to get a sense of...

(Drinks only review)

I came in here late Saturday night (around 11:45pm +/-) with a group of friends following a performance next door, looking to have a night cap. We walked in and could sense that we were the only ones there, and the bar tender was closing up. We were about to walk back outside because we didn't want to keep her there past her shift / closing time and she blurts out "Welcome! Please come in, I will be here as long as you need". From that moment we knew that our business was appreciated, and for the next hour or so we were there the bar tender was awesome. She was able to hold real conversations, recommend drinks to us, and made us feel like we were super welcome even though I'm sure we kept her there later than she otherwise would have been. We even got to meet a manager who was excellent as well, and he gave us a tour of the restaurant and lounge. Some places won't give you this kind of service during standard hours, yet alone at midnight- here we were treated as the #1 priority from start to end. I will absolutely be back to try more drinks,...