As with pretty much everything in everywhere, everything is somebody's personal preference. This was my first time coming to Alley Cat , and I just didn't feel comfortable there. This was just not my kind of place There was nothing wrong with it. Nothing specific anyway just not for me. The bartender was nice, I didn't have any problems with anybody. There are booths and of course, the stools around the bar, so there's lots of places to sit, which is always A Plus for me. I just had one beer and then I left. So I can't really comment too much on this place. A person likes what they like. read more

Alley Cat - Dive Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

SCAM!!!! Avoid this place at all cost. They charged my card on a $24 charge for $84 ($60 in tip!!!!!) the bank tried to help but alley cat refused to lower the charge to a reasonable amount. Place should be shut down for credit card scams. Avoid this place or use cash only read more

Another decent dive bar in the Allentown section of Buffalo. I liked it here. The prices are so super cheap. The vibe is definitely divey but with a bit of chic. It wasn't super crowded when we went in but it was busy. The bartender was on point and never got distracted. Everyone had an ice cold drink in their hand when they needed it. Definitely another place I would frequent if I lived in the area. read more

Alley Cat - Dive Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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I venture to Alley Cat every week for weekly trivia - all are welcome, BTW! It is your typical dive bar in the Allentown area but it is in a prime location (corner of Elmwood and Allen) and usually has a good crowd. Then again, I haven't been here on a weekend night pre-covid. The bartenders are great and enjoy what they do. They do not serve food, however to avoid getting shut down by the DOH (you know, since COVID goes away once you force customers to buy food with alcohol), they usually purchase pizza from nearby restaurants. They've got a decent selection of beers and also sell whiskey, tequila, etc. Normally you can play darts and other games, however that isn't allowed in the world of COVID. BONUS: They have popcorn! I am praying that the pandemic ends soon so I can see what Alley Cat is like during "normal times" however I am more than happy to give them my business since I always have a nice time there with my friends. read more

One of our friends got shoved and it ended up in an altercation and the workers chose the side of the people that they "knew". The bouncer literally said he didn't know what happened but still continued to kick us all out. Great business model. read more

This is a Allentown mainstay. Stopped here on a night out with my friends and it was a great spot. I got a whiskey sour and it was pretty good. Nothing fancy, but a fun dive bar and it has popcorn and other bar snack food they give out. Bartender was friendly and laid back and the atmosphere was pretty good too. This is definitely a spot for drinks and hanging out with friends, especially if you want a classic Allentown experience. read more

You're local bar that's been around forever. Nothing special but you'll get cheap beer and can hang out. There are open booth seating or hang out at the bar. Music is from a jukebox so it can be good or it can be bad...depending on your taste. Music isn't blasting so you can still have a decent conversation. Great bar that helps to make up what we know as Allen Street. read more

I came here on their opening night for for starter drinks. Servers were friendly, the place was really sharp looking and they had a great selection of beers for a places first night. The atmosphere here is so cozy and nice, with exposed bricks and neon lighting, the iron bars on the front adds a great edge to the front facade. I enjoyed that they gave the people I was wish our own basket of popcorn. It was nice knowing 40 people's drunk clammy fingers were not sifting through the basket. However I came here for dinner tonight because I was anxiously awaiting to try their Lobster mac and cheese and I was so disappointed I did not even finish it. The soup I had for starter, Broc Cheddar, was good, pretty basic. There are a few foods in life that are incredibly hard to make negativley-pizza and macaroni and cheese. The pieces of lobster used in this were great. Actual pieces of lobster, not imitation or suspiciously shaped chunks, were mixed in and layer nicely on top. The actual mac itself though was really disappointing. It tasted a lot like the food prepared at Tops does. Chalky, cardboard-ey and bland. Usually when someone makes weak mac they will just salt the hell out of it to disguise it, but not even that. It was just...nothing. I know, I know, I sound harsh, but I just paid almost 12 doll hairs for something neither I or my date had a desire to finish. I would gladly return to this place for drinks but I probably won't return for dinner unless they do a menu reboot. read more

Alley Cat - Lobster mac. The lobster itself was good. Boring mac. - Dive Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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Alley Cat is a classic little Buffalo spot: a little funky, a little divey, and totally warm and inviting. There is plenty of booth and table seating for groups, plus bar seating that is remarkably comfortable (yay for good foot rails and well-designed stools!). The bar offers a huge variety of good beers--locals, microbrews, and more--as well as mixed drinks, plus frozen margaritas, pina coladas, and daiquiris (all very tasty). Shot-and-a-beer special? Yep. They have it. The menu offers a nice selection of comfort foods: mac and cheese (in a bunch of varieties), burgers, wings, panini, and more. There were a couple vegetarian picks, which made me happy! The prices are very reasonable and all the food we ordered was yummy. Alley Cat is a great spot to meet up with friends for a good conversation and a casual meal. We really liked the vibe and will be headed back there soon! read more

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We checked this place out on the first day it was open. We went around 10PM and took a seat at the bar. The servers were very attentive and friendly. The drinks were not as expensive as the nicely decorated bar would make you think. Within a half an hour, the booths were all filled up and the bar was 2-3 deep. I don't want to judge them too harshly - since it was only their first day and I don't think they knew they were going to be granted their liquor license that day. Awesome things about this bar: - Fresh popcorn on the bar - Serves food (pizza, mac & cheese, paninis) - Frozen drink machine - Televisions you could see from everywhere in the bar Downsides: - No draught beer (yet?) - I couldn't hear the music I don't think this bar was prepared to open this day. They ran out of some of the beer fairly early on in our stay. Overall, I was happy with my experience and I am super excited to go back and try their food. read more

Alley Cat has been open for about two weeks now, and their kitchen only just recently opened. The chef in the back comes from Mothers and Essex and (based on neighborhood gossip) specializes in sauces and soups. I really like what they have done with the interior - it is comfortable and homey and gives the impression that this place has always been on Allen. The owner(s?) did a great job capturing the feel of the neighborhood. The crowd last night (6pm-ish) was a mix of neighborhood, hipsters (perhaps redundant) and suits. I liked it. There is no draft beer here (yet?) and they only carry one wheat beer, but it was decent. I ordered tomato and artichoke soup. It was very good, a little salty, but delicious. I also ordered the BBQ chicken mac 'n' cheese which should have been described more as sauced chicken cutlets with/and mac 'n' cheese. They were plated as separate items. So, if you are looking for actual BBQ chicken mac, there is some assembly required and you should ask for extra BBQ on the side to mix in with the mac. However, it was cooked well and the sauce was good - not too sweet. The overall menu (perhaps a starter menu?) is very simple and the emphasis of being cost effective (several fish dishes, only haddock) and easy on the kitchen is apparent. I don't see this as a bad thing. Very often new restaurants try too hard at first and only disappoint their initial customers, losing them in the process. I am excited to see what the chef (Bob) does with the kitchen - once he gets settled in and used to the place. Welcome to the neighborhood! read more

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I like this place, but I have to admit, I may not be looking for the same things in a bar that other people are. My number one criteria is - would I like to meet up with someone here? This is a great place to meet for a drink and chat with someone. The bartenders were really nice, the ambiance is good, and it wasn't loud or crowded. Food, drinks, etc. aren't that important to me, but it's nice to know I can get a vegan slice of pizza. Bottled beers are $4.50. read more

Good vibe, good service, even as busy as they were. Huge music selection playing, Def recommend.

Came here last Saturday night. There's kind of a strange vibe going on here. The music goes between top 40 hits, Drake classics and 80s rock throwbacks. It got pretty packed but I would still definitely go back. As a visitor from NYC I am still pretty astonished that you can get a beer & a shot for $7. #takemeback! read more

Cheap place to gather for couple drink after work. They have an everyday special 1 bottle of beer and 1 shot of Cuervo, Jameson, crown Royal or fireball for $7.00. Wines $6.00 a glass, frozen margaritas, daiquiri, piña colada for $6.00. Open Mic Monday and Tuesday. Check it out. For $11.00 you can have an entree plus soup or salad, everything is housemade. I hang at this place all the time and got to know everyone. Cons: you don't have too much choice on the food menu so. read more

Alley Cat - I love this bar. Bartenders are very friendly and the place is pretty clean compared to some bars on Allen Street. - Dive Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

The Alley Cat is an oasis when going out with friends on a weekend night. Compared to Brick Bar, DBGB's, Hardware, and all the other bars in that stretch, Alley Cat is quiet. The music is audible, but not like an earthquake in your eardrums. Drinks aren't the cheapest, but they're not overpriced, either. Service is consistent and attentive. And best of all? There is always somewhere to sit down. We seem to end up at Alley Cat about halfway through the night when we need to sit down, let our ears rest, and have an actual conversation (like crazy people, I know). It's very rarely the final stop on our mini bar crawls, but it's always one of my most anticipated stops. read more

Our favorite bar in the Allentown area. The prices are insanely cheap and they have a daily beer and shot special: you can get any bottle of beer and a shot of Jamison, Crown Royal or Jose Cuervo for $7. It's nuts. They also have bowls of Cheez-Its out on the bar, which is an added plus. The space itself is also really cool - it's decorated well while still feeling like an old neighborhood bar. A great setting if you're in the mood to sit in a booth and talk with friends. It's also far enough away from most of the big universities, so you can avoid the college crowds! read more

The good news is that Alley Cat looks phenomenal. Lived-in feel, low key lighting, lovely brick, and so forth combine to cloud the mind to the fact that this is the space's first incarnation as a bar. It feels old. It feels like it's been around a lot longer than the mere weeks it has. A few items do stand out to detract in my mind (those being the unvarnished wood of the barstools and the superabundance of animal heads littering the premises). But on the whole, it looks phenomenal. Early, it looks like Allentown appreciates the effort. Daily since its opening, I've walked by. Daily, it's been packed. In my opinion, that's a problem (albeit one it can't do a thing about). A thousand bars that look just like this teem on New York's West 4th, East 9th, up and down Greenpoint's Manhattan Avenue, and so forth. It's glorious to slink into them at any hour of the day, hunker down, and nurse any type of drink imaginable. Here, seating is limited. Space is constrained. Alley Cat's a great name, but Can of Sardines might be more a propos. Empty, it feels luxurious. Full, it feels frenetic. Drinks-wise, I do wish Alley Cat attempted a bit more. Having no recourse but bottled beer is discouraging in the day and age when even a chain quick-fire pizza joint offers assorted microbrews on tap. On the other hand, Alley Cat isn't aiming to please those that favor hifalutin cocktails or wines either. It's all quite basic... which is fine but not desirable. The second time here was for drinks ever, but my first time here was for food, a mistake I will NOT repeat. I posted a picture of my "Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese" to Yelp on eating. The picture I took looks absolutely great, but that says more about lighting, presentation, and my absolute refusal to post subpar food photos than it does about the quality of the food itself. Having supped on gourmet mac and cheese of my own creation, of restaurant preparation for years and years, I expect a good mix of cheeses, some nice hints of spice throughout. Further, I expect that when someone advertises "XYZ macaroni and cheese," that XYZ was baked into the original dish together. The practice of Mooney's and others to mix in ingredients post-bake reeks of laziness, cheapness. Alley Cat's sins are far greater. See, the menu item reads "Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese." The photo I posted demonstrates that my plate arrived deconstructed, with Buffalo-sauce smeared chicken hunks separate from bleu cheese, from mac 'n cheese, from paltry tomato slices. What on earth? The proper nomenclature my dish was "Buffalo chicken with macaroni and cheese." I found myself mixing my own meal and wondering, "WTF? WTF? WTF?" as I shoveled mouthful after disappointing mouthful into my mouth. See, beyond merely the presentation, the mac 'n cheese arrived entirely unspiced, sans even black pepper and rather tasting only of cheap cheese and butter. I suppose this is fine for some folk, but it ain't fine for any restaurant-grade product to my mind, especially considering the volume of same-texture, same-taste mess to eat. Further, the photo belies the extraordinarily sad state of the chicken breast. To save on time, effort, and money, the kitchen staff has opted not to marinate discrete chicken breasts in respective sauces but rather chose to smear sauce on post-cooking. As I was furiously attempting to cut my chicken to mix it into the mac 'n cheese, I would regularly accidentally wipe all sauce off the bites with the blade of my knife. Those bites of chicken were just nasty, reminded me of the elementary school days when my parents would recruit the really shoddy babysitters from the church's youth program. Beyond the food and drink issues, I have had ludicrous issues with service each and every time I've stepped in here. Bartenders are overwhelmed, confused, or else rude. Waitresses seem unable to ably serve the tiny set of tables Alley Cat contains. Perhaps just-opened jitters are a bit to blame. Maybe it'll get better. 4 stars for atmosphere (5 stars - 1 for animal heads) 2 stars for drinks 1 star for food 2 stars overall read more

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My girlfriends and I had made plans to check out Allen Burger Venture on a Tuesday evening earlier this December but upon hearing we would be waiting 2 hours for a table we decided to look elsewhere. Strolling down Allen we happened upon the Alley Cat, looked inside and thought, "let's give it a shot". Such a good decision. Great ambiance, wonderful service and some delicious Banana Pepper Macaroni & Cheese. All for a really great price! If you are in the area and looking for a low key evening with some good eats, stop in! read more

We went here for dinner. I like the atmosphere of this bar. It's a quiet classier dive bar on Allen. The food: I got the cheese burger fused with bacon and she got the Ham and cheese panini. See the photos. Orders come standard with chips but I got fries with mine and she got onion rings. We didn't realize that the sides you order come in family size portions. We would have been fine with sharing one of the sides. The burger was average for Allen Town. They're pre-made and shipped to the restaurant ready to cook. Regardless, it was still a tasty burger and reasonably priced at $8.75. She has the ham panini. Large amount of ham and a very good portion for the money. The bread came toasted as it should and she enjoyed it. We also had a couple alcoholic drinks. Our total bill came to $44 plus tip. read more

Alley Cat - Cheeseburger - Dive Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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Took a break from the Art Fair here. The bartender could not have been nicer. Inexpensive beers, free popcorn, clean bathrooms and even some water and a nice treat for our dog. Thank you!! read more

I come to this place sparingly, and when I do I have a great time because the bartender is always great and if anything, we can hold a conversation. The bartender last night was the exact opposite. I understand the legality to check IDs, but in no way do you need to jump down customers throats for ids (who clearly look practically 30) before welcoming them or showing them a drink menu. She seemed very erratic and maybe is inexperienced behind the bar. We were so put off by her behavior we left. Hopefully it was an isolated incident, but it doesn't encourage me to return in the near future. read more

Wood floors, old ceilings, cheap drinks, and kitty corner from the epicenter of Buffalo fast food cuisine surely to emit a colon blow (Jim's Steakout). The girls at the bar were delightful. Very chill spot.. if you really want to get to the knot of why Buffalo is coming back...spend a few hours here. Service with a kind smile and wit...without the smug so synonymous with the gentrified cities that were once somewhat cool. read more

Was so surprised by this restaurant. I went out to dinner with two of my favorite ladies and our first choice had over an hour and a half wait, nope not going to do that. We got a bottle of wine and a mix drink, the bartender brought up over a bowl of bar snacks and I got the Italian Fish, while my friends got the Stuffed Pepper mac & cheese and the Buffalo mac & cheese. Entrees also come with a salad. Prices were ridiuculously cheap for great food--- highly recommend everyone instead in a low key delicious meal to head to Alley Cat. read more

Charged me $11 for a Long Island, it was sour and bad over all. I asked for another drink the bitch Kara tried charging me again and I simply told her that's horrible customer service and she said she is now refusing my services. First and last time here read more

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Love this place! Chris is the best! Great service now that the one bartender is gone! Easy to get a beer! But far the best place to go on Allen. Stop in and have a great time! read more

Alley Cat - Chris killing it - Dive Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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I feel like every time I come here now, it's just... dead. Like no one is there or something. There has to be some way to bring it back, because the cocktails are good. It's just sad to see a place that was booming kinda... letting itself go, you know? read more

I've only been here for drinks, but both times the service was great and it's not too loud/crowded like a lot of the other bars on Allen. And $5 Frozen margaritas! Can't beat that! read more

Alley Cat - Dive Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

They give you popcorn and cheez-its to eat while you drink. Good drink specials and Mello music. Would come again for sure. read more

Alley Cat - Too many drinks! Lol - Dive Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Do you want to be over charged for a blue light? Do you want to listen to mediocre music? Do you want to leave a bar unhappy? Well then this is your place. Nothing is better than paying $15 for 3 blue lights!!!! The bartenders couldn't even be bothered to say "hi" to you when ordering your beers. I've been here a few times and after this last visit I will never be back again. I pushed to go here with my friends and we all left disappointed. read more

While looking for where to go next (after a dinner at Cantina) we stumbled upon this place. I didn't even know it existed. We had a quick peek in the windows and at the menu on the window and decided to check it out. I wouldn't qualify this as a dive bar at all. There's nice hardwood flooring, a beautiful and (full) stocked bar with a decent selection of Draft and bottled beer, not just your basic blue and bud, a fancy music machine (I just can't bring myself to call these internet machines juke boxes), and a decent looking bar food menu. We stayed for a few beers, enjoying the company of the pleasantly helpful bartender. There were only a few others in the place but maybe because it was a Monday night. If I hadn't just had dinner I would have tried one of the Mac & cheese dishes like the stuffed pepper Mac... Sounds awesome! I'll go back to try out the food for sure but if you looking for a relaxed environment to enjoy a few pops with friends, stop in! read more

Had a fun time at Alley Cat. The bartender that night, Tim, was super friendly. Drinks were reasonable as well, which was a nice bonus.

This review is based on just the bar. We went here after dinner on Allen st. It was a Friday night around 9pm, before we could get in, they had someone checking id's at the door. I thought that was strange because it's a restaurant and it's only 9pm. But whatever... As soon as we made it thru the door all you could smell was fish! They have a really cool vibe in there and I love the decor and rustic look, but I just could not get over the smell of fish. I understand they specialize in fish, but for someone to just stop in for a drink, you walk out stinking like fish:( I would like to go back for dinner though! read more

This bar is PERFECT for a happy hour or a night out with friends.I have visited 3 times within the month that it has opened (a Wednesday, Friday and Saturday). Wednesday I met up for dinner and drinks with a friend. Food was WONDERFUL!! Extra kudos out to the Roasted Red pepper and artichoke soup!! Friday/ Saturday - went out with two different groups, everyone left with no complaints. Atmosphere is wonderful/ clean/ relaxed, bartenders are friendly and attentive. Crowd was mixed but a great overall vibe! Get to the Alley Cat and check it out! It's a refreshing new addition to the Allen strip! read more

Great look. Service is okay. Food smells good (didn't try it thou). However, don't put any money into the juke box. If the bartenders don't like your choice of music, they skip your songs. I guess they don't care how hard you work for your money... They don't want to hear your shitty music that you paid to hear. read more

Friend used credit card at Alley Cat. Within 2 hours she had to cancel her card for fraudulent purchases. DO NOT GO UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!! read more

The bartender here on Monday nights is one of the rudest people I have ever encountered. Walking in and said Hi, and said the food smells good, and her response was "cool, man..?" I will totally make sure my friends and I don't visit here ever again because he bartender didn't offer me a menu or anything but an icy reception. read more

The Alley Cat is my own personal library. Perfect place to get away and have a drink and get personal with strangers. It is more quiet than the bar scene down the rest of the street which makes for a more enjoyable evening. I recommend this place to anyone hopping on the Allentown strip to try this place out. I haven't tried their food but it always sounds very interesting. read more

Very quick service, so cute and quiet on the inside. I went for Sunday brunch. I had a ham panini and it was incredible, the food was of great quality.. The price was also very fair. I will definitely return. read more

Went to the Alley Cat this past sunday for happy hour with my boyfriend. We were the only ones there for a decent amount of time.. It was cool because we pretty much controlled the music and munched on popcorn. The bartender was really friendly, she gave us a couple of free shots because we helped her fix a paper towel holder (lol) The only downfall to the time we spent here was that the bartender got drunk... the more appropriate word would probably be wasted. We decided to leave when she started to talk to the money.. With that being said, i think its a pretty underrated bar, and i will be going back. read more