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    Buffalo River Works

    2.9 (507 reviews)
    Open • 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Services - Buffalo River Works

    Bartending services

    Catering services

    Buffalo River Works Photos

    Business Info

    BUFFALO RIVER WORKS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Touristy
    Casual
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Buffalo River Works

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    Reviews With Photos

    Adrienne M.

    The atmosphere was absolutely beautiful and I loved the staff! Very saddened by the raw chicken I was served. I had very high hopes for this food and had heard great things. What hurt me most was the fact that I still paid for my entire meal and replacement chicken sandwich. They did offer a free drink but in my opinion, if you are served raw chicken- your entire meal should be free.

    Kunjané L.

    We've been here before and had a great experience, so this visit was disappointing. It was clear they were very short-staffed. We ended up sitting outside, then had to keep going up and down the stairs to place our order and carry our own food back to the table. It made for a frustrating dining experience and definitely took away from being able to relax. The venue has a lot of space, and there were several events happening at the same time, so it seemed like most of the staff's attention was focused there. That may explain some of the service issues, but it still wasn't the experience we were hoping for. I'm hoping this was just an off day because we've enjoyed coming here in the past. For now, though, we'll probably wait a while before giving it another try.

    Mary V.

    We visited on a Thursday during work hours so the place was a bit empty -- but great as it's a fairly large place. I imagine when they get busy it could be hectic. The views from outside were marvelous on a nice sunny day and a cold beer. Beers were okay, nothing to write home about. I think the charm of this place is the views.

    Bbno$
    Bailey K.

    I like the intimate atmosphere of this venue for concerts. I was able to get very close to BBno$. The line outside was very long but luckily we got there about an hour early. The inside was well ventilated and they ended up turning on the indoor fans for circulation which was super nice. They even handed out waters during the show! I was pleased. The weird issue was that people were trying to use the bathroom or call rides after the show and security was kind of rude about kicking everyone out.

    Fish Reuben
    Dorothy L.

    Met a friend here on Sunday afternoon to enjoy the last days of summer outside by the water. Always enjoy their different beers. Had the blue eyed blueberry blonde this time. We sat at the outside bar, Jose was our very pleasant bartender. We were planning on getting a table to eat but stayed at the bar. We both ordered the fish Reuben, it was Mahi with Swiss cheese, spicy mayo, sauerkraut grilled on marble rye. Fish Reuben is a favorite of mine, it was tasty and was served with homemade chips.

    Roller derby drink special
    Michelle D.

    Stopped in for the kitty bowl by Ten lives club! The bar service was slow, the appetizer came out pretty quickly. The beef was tender, gravy was good and tater tots crispy! It was busy because the events going on but all got a good cause!

    Pretzel App. They shorted us one, but she fixed it.
    Jennifer C.

    Buffalo cauliflower is my new favorite food!! All the taste of boneless wings, without the actual meat. Best substitute ever for chicken.

    Tater tot poutine
    Greg O.

    Nice atmosphere, especially when warm enough to be on the patio. Got the poutine tater tots. They were great. The meat was tender, the gravy was flavorful and there was plenty of nicely gooey cheese.

    Leandro D.

    Such a cool venue in buffalo. Surrounded by so many things to do, along with a big enough venue to attract amazing artists. On top of that, venue also has games, drinks and food. All at a decent price and quality

    The view from the $150x2 seats.
    Suki H.

    This is hands down the worst venue I have ever been to. Tonight was my first time there. I was so excited to see one of my favorite bands, Lawrence, for the first time. Since I wasn't familiar with the venue, I opted to buy the reserved table seats thinking I would get a better view of the band. Nope. I sat under bright fluorescent lights by the bar that stayed on the whole time, and I didn't even get to see the band I paid good money to see. There was no indication that I was buying obstructed view seats. I paid over $150 a pop for this view. I left halfway through the show because the venue and their audacity to charge full price for these seats absolutely ruined the experience for me.

    Brewers Dinner
    Arlene L.

    Went to River Works tonight for the Buffalo Wine Festival (recommend!) we decided to have dinner while we were there. I had the Brewers Dinner which was pot roast with smashed potatoes and veggies. My husband had the Sticky Bird sandwich - a hot honey chicken sandwich with coleslaw and some chips. The food was bland. You could see and taste that the veggies were simply coated with garlic powder. I can't remember the last time I saw waxed beans served at a restaurant. It took much longer than it should've to bring a glass of wine to the table. It wasn't that busy. Seems the food should have come out faster too. River Works is somewhere you go to for the atmosphere you can't really expect to be impressed with the food quality.

    Exterior
    Donna Y.

    Just okay food and drinks but the view is spectacular. There's a lot of potential here and I hope they get it together. I would return for an event and to sit by the water. The service felt rushed and not very personable at the restaurant. They didn't have unsweetened iced tea which I found odd seeing as it's a full service bar. The prices are a tad high as well.

    Bills celebreties
    Frans D.

    Verizon hosted NFL watch parties in all NFL team cities. The Bills one was at Riverworks. It was a great party. At the entrance we al got a bracelet with a food and a drink coupon. Food choices were pizza (2 huge slices) or 2 rolls with beef on weck. I went with the beef. Good choice, I would say. They have their own craft brewery and the Rejuvenator is a really good IPA. There were games and wings, wings and wings! At least 10 different flavors. Really a great treat! Bills celebraties, like Thurman Thomas, were there so you could take your picture with them.

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    2 months ago

    Great menu and atmosphere. Food is excellent! Great spot year round but especially in the summer

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    6 months ago

    I was there on 3/13/26 for lunch and the service was good, the concord grape sour was delicious, and the pizza was ok. Great venue.

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    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - Buffalo River Works

    What's the best thing you've had there to eat?

    For me it was the fish reuben, hands down.

    View All 2 Questions

    Review Highlights - Buffalo River Works

    “Entree Prices are a little high but if you just go there and order ONE thing, it needs to be the poutine tater tots.”

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Zone One Family Entertainment Complex - Yup! Real roller skates.

    Zone One Family Entertainment Complex

    4.0(1 review)
    5.2 mi•University Heights, Main Street

    When was the last time you went to a roller skating rink? One that has a bar, light fare, and lots…read moreof good old-fashioned video games? With karaoke, no less. If it's been a while (like probably never) then you should head out to Zone One. This isn't just an ordinary skating rink. It has the biggest rink I've ever seen. You can enjoy gliding on this beautiful surface. Zone One is appropriate for large corporate social events as well as group events and just general having a night out. As the name implies, even though it is primarily for adults at night, there is plenty for kids to do. It strikes me as the kind of place you would rent out for a large event yet you won't break the bank. I had a great time, and plan to return soon. On Amherst Street, just east of Main Street, Zone One is a short walk from the Amherst Metro Rail station and is on bus route 32. I saw no impediments for wheel chair access except the doors are manual. There is a rather high curb by the street so be careful. The staff wore masks, as did customers, but the rules are changing. The ventilation is excellent. The place has plenty of room so keeping a safe distance is easy. Because the venue is new, hours may be flexible. Currently closed Mondays and Tuesday, but this could change.

    Photos
    Zone One Family Entertainment Complex - Busy snack bar. Cans being served instead of fountain drinks due to COVID I think.

    Busy snack bar. Cans being served instead of fountain drinks due to COVID I think.

    Zone One Family Entertainment Complex - Lots of skates to choose from if you don't have your own.

    Lots of skates to choose from if you don't have your own.

    Zone One Family Entertainment Complex - Wings and excellent fries.

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    Wings and excellent fries.

    Canalside Roller Rink - Ice skating rink

    Canalside Roller Rink

    4.0(7 reviews)
    0.7 mi•Downtown

    A fun past time for everyone all ages to enjoy exercise, interaction and fresh air. Canalside did a…read morephenomenal conversion for the ice rink into a roller rink. They allow for skate rentals, bring your own skates, walkers to borrow for those unsteady on skates, and an area to practice. Their is a ref, snack bar, themed skate nights and music. My mom loved to rollerskate when she was younger, and this was a great way for me to honor, celebrate her memory for a fun pastime she enjoyed.

    This summer the ice skating rink turned into a roller rink! My adult self had no idea how much I…read moremissed retro roller skating. This was such an amazing idea. I haven't been on real skates probably since I was about 10. I had such an amazing time and want to go back when it's less crowded. I happened to go when there was also a silent disco happening which made it even more amazing! Some people skated and did the disco, other chose to hang out and just do the disco. Whatever you preferred was fine. The disco had 3 stations to choose from and everyone was having a ball. Pricing was very reasonable. $6 adult admission, $4 skate rental and the silent disco headphones were $5. You only had to pay for what you needed. There were plenty of rentals available, Pro Tip- women's sizing ran really big. So if you need skates bring some higher socks to protect your ankles and head down for a great time. At different times the rink was a little crowded. Since most people aren't used to skating it could be a little tricky to get around. It definitely took me a few laps to get used to not being on stable ground. After about 30 minutes we were tired and were happy to leave the growing crowd. There were walker type devices to help you get your footing down if you needed some help. One of the more treacherous parts was skating on the sidewalk and into the rink. It might not be a bad idea to put on your skates near the entrance. You can also walk sideways up and down the ramp so you don't roll up and down. They are open most days until the end of October. Check their website for opening times and dates. Follow the Buffalo Waterfront on Facebook to see upcoming weekly events. Snack bar with retro candies and canned alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks available. It was nice to see all kinds of people, different ages and a family friendly event!

    Photos
    Canalside Roller Rink - Ice skating hours

    Ice skating hours

    Canalside Roller Rink - Change from last year ...tip...is cashless..rink little smaller then last year due to little market on weekends

    Change from last year ...tip...is cashless..rink little smaller then last year due to little market on weekends

    Canalside Roller Rink - 5yo putting on his skates - first time he's ever done this! He made a lot of progress for one day.

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    5yo putting on his skates - first time he's ever done this! He made a lot of progress for one day.

    Rainbow Rink Skating & Entertainment Center - The rink is huge and great quality, including speakers - this was adult night during Borderline Jam before the crowd showed

    Rainbow Rink Skating & Entertainment Center

    4.1(30 reviews)
    10.8 mi

    Wow! Awesome rink! So I came here on. Wednesday night (adult…read moreretro night). It was also the start of the annual Borderline Jam which I was unfamiliar with since I'm just getting back into skating again but there were so many incredibly talented skaters it just blew me away! I am just an average rollerblader. I haven't hit a rink in a quarter century until this past week so I can't even remember how to skate backwards but I still go fast and just flying around the rink listening to music on a great sound system with fun lighting was enough to make me happy and get great exercise too! Admission is usually $10 (I had to pay $15 because of the special event). There are skates to rent but I know nothing more as I have my own. There are plenty of lockers and they are a quarter to lock each time (I was busy skating and never opened it again until I left). The key doesn't have a wrist band so make sure you have a pocket or a fanny pack or something to put it in. There is a snack bar with things like pizza, pizza logs, nachos, popcorn, etc. at a fair price. There are also some alcoholic beverages! There's also vending machines with plenty of snacks and drinks. There is an arcade too which I wanted to play but unfortunately almost every game was turned off and no one at the ticket counter - im not sure if it is like that every adult night or just due to the special event but I wanted to play some games! Staff was friendly but so were the people! Everyone that came up to me was just genuinely being nice and inclusive and not being a creep. That really made me feel happy and excited to come back. What I love the most was all shapes sizes ages colors genders styles and skill sets all harmonized as one. Everyone was really enjoying themselves, getting along nicely, if someone is coming around you fast they will make a noise so you know or they may gently touch you for a moment so you know they rounding you so no one falls. It was really a nice venue with wonderful people where you can feel safe and free from all of the silly arguments you see on social media, or rudeness you see out in the wild quite often. Whether your 80 years old and still able to fly around the rink, younger and full of dance moves on skates that make heads turn, average like me, or just starting out and need some help .. and people there will be happy to help you ... this is the place to be! I really look forward to coming here again soon.

    Attended a birthday party. Fun time. Lively atmosphere. Loud music. Kids had a great time. Trainers…read moreare available for purchase- don't just take them because they will be confiscated! #IYKYK LOL

    Photos
    Rainbow Rink Skating & Entertainment Center - The building got a new paint job

    The building got a new paint job

    Rainbow Rink Skating & Entertainment Center
    Rainbow Rink Skating & Entertainment Center

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    The Classic Rink

    The Classic Rink

    4.7(6 reviews)
    14.9 mi

    The Classic Rink offers Learn To Skate packages in bundles of six lessons throughout the cold…read morewinter months. Our little kids love this program and look forward to their Monday night classes. The Classic hosts high school & youth hockey teams, free-skate sessions, private parties. Once the weather warms up, the Rink will be converted to an outdoor marketplace. Facilities are immaculately clean, which is a tall order, considering the large members of people coming through the building every day. We took advantage of the Skate rentals, until we knew our boys were committed to learning to skate. At that point, we bought secondhand skates for them. There's a limited snack bar in the skating lodge. If you're craving something more substantial, you're within walking distance from some really great restaurants! I particularly love the second floor which overlooks the ice. It's wonderfully comfortable and cozy, outfitted with huge rocking chairs. Come on down during open hours to support the kids!

    Classic rink is our go to for skating!! Always such a great time, when it's cold and snowy in…read moreBuffalo. Bring your high mark insurance card for $$ off admissions too!! Only downside is when it's busy the line moves slow to get in... bummer. But so worth it for a night out with the friends or an afternoon with the family!!

    Photos
    The Classic Rink
    The Classic Rink - The classic rink

    The classic rink

    The Classic Rink - First skate of the year, sometimes you need a little help for balance.

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    First skate of the year, sometimes you need a little help for balance.

    Buffalo River Works - venues - Updated September 2026

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