When it comes to the local Buffalo specialty of chicken wings, every local has a strong opinion as…read moreto where to find the best. I visit the city every year in the fall, and I am still trying all of the wing places that have been recommended. The latest on my list was Doc Sullivan's, a very, VERY local watering hole. This is the kind of place that makes you immediately remember that you are absolutely not from here, but in the best possible way. Doc's is a historic, no-frills neighborhood pub smack in the heart of South Buffalo's Irish Heritage district. The second we walked in as clearly obvious outsiders, the entire room of rough-and-tumble regulars seemed to pause their conversations, turn towards the door, and stare at us. Even the bartender (who also doubled as the host and our waiter) clocked us immediately with a cheerful, "Hey visitors!" It was hilarious and broke the awkwardness we were starting to feel. Everyone was incredibly nice and welcoming once the moment passed, but it was clear we stood out from the regular crowd. If you have an aversion to dive bars, this is not the place for you because Doc's is not fancy. It's well-worn and smells like Fabuloso cleaner mixed with stale cigarette smoke and old beer. I was surprised at how clean the place was, but it does have that dive bar smell and feel. I felt like I'd walked onto a movie set because this place screams Buffalo, and does so loudly and proudly. I'm not a fan of chicken wings, but my hubby is. Food-wise, he ordered a half dozen of the famous Smitty Wings at the suggestion of the bartender, which come coated in the house's unique spiced butter sauce along with a half dozen with hot sauce. He liked the Smitty wings fine, but preferred the classic hot Buffalo wings, which he said had legit heat and were "more than decent." Not his all-time favorite wings, but still tasty and meaty enough to earn his respect. I went with the buffalo chicken sandwich, which was massive. It was a fried chicken breast patty on a super soft, fresh roll with lettuce, tomato, and onions, tossed in a mild Buffalo sauce that had just enough heat for a timid spice girl like me. The quality was good, but not great, and it was basically the same chicken sandwich you can get at dozens of places around town (it was very similar to the same menu item at the Anchor Bar, for example). The fries were nothing special, and they tasted like regular old french fries you'd get at your local deli. They were freshly fried, hot and crispy, and we both appreciated that malt vinegar was already on the table. We had a good experience at Doc Sullivan's, but agreed that we would not go out of our way to eat here again. I wouldn't call it a must-do for foodies, but I'm still really glad we went. While the food wasn't all that memorable, it felt like a true local Buffalo experience that you don't get at polished, tourist-friendly spots. This is the place if you want to soak up local character and are seeking another stop on your buffalo wing eating tour.

Stopped by on a Saturday after checking out the Eternal Flames for some wings since the reviews…read moresounded good. The smitty wings just tasted like mild buffalo sauce and the honey cajun was pretty good. My issue was with the "ranch" sauce because it tasted like straight horseradish and every bite left a bitter aftertaste. The poutine fries would've been good if they didn't make the gravy with the power of the pacific ocean with how salty it is. All time favorite is def it's the hot honey pizza rolls, so bomb!

Old school vibe in Old Ward…read more The wings and drinks are awesome. I will go back for some other foods but place was packed on a mid afternoon week day. Now that is awesome!

We stopped by Adolf's to check out the wings, which have come highly recommended by several friends…read moreas well as online. I've been on somewhat of my own personal wing tour lately and I'm glad we tried Adolf's. We came on a Monday, which is their wing special night, 75 cent wings. We arrived a little before the 5:00 PM rush so we sat right at the bar, ordered and behold, the wings were in front of us in about 5 minutes! Service was very fast and friendly. We ordered hot, and the level of heat was exactly what hot is supposed to be. Saucy, but not swimming in excessive sauce. The wings were crispy outside and juicy inside, that elusive perfectly fried wing. We opted for the homemade blue cheese, and while I liked it, I found it didn't have a strong blue cheese flavor. But they do have two choices of blue cheese type. Carrots and celery were included, not always the case with wing night specials. I would call these elite level, top 10 in Buffalo wings, maybe even top 5. The only reason that I did not score 5 stars was that there we 7 drums and 3 flats - and I am a flat guy. This usually works out well because my wife likes the drums, but this time they definitely skewed in my wife's favor. If it were not the wing special night, I might have said something, but the wings were so good I did not want to register a complaint about the lack of flats. We also ordered the hand cut fries which were hot and excellent. We definitely plan to return.

Came here for a happy hour and had a great experience! We were with a group and the bartender was…read moresuper attentive and quick to get us drinks. The drink menu has a good variety of drinks with reasonable prices. Atmosphere is cool too.

Dive bar vibe, but the pink lights give it a fun, unique twist . My friend especially loved the…read moreaesthetic. The drinks were solid, and the bartenders were super friendly which made the whole experience feel really welcoming. They also offer small snacks and a few dishes if you're feeling hungry and a pool table in the back. Would definitely come back again. Good spot to come with friends for a drink especially if you're looking for something lowkey but still a little different from the usual downtown bars.

Walking in to the bar it was like a dive bar which we love! It was bar service, with about 10…read moretables, you could either go up to the bar or she'll come out to you. We went on a Wednesday, where there is 75 cent wings with only an additional 1 or 2 dollars if you want just flats or drums. The wings were on the smaller side, but they were very good! I love fresh cut fries so those were delicious, curly, and a much better portion than the onion rings my boyfriend got. Overall, we would definitely come back again!

We love this place! Drinks are perfect,food is delicious! Fun pub atmosphere, looks of different…read morepeople. Staff is so friendly and fun!!!

Wings are always cooked to perfection. Excellent prices. Comfortable and clean atmosphere!Friendly…read moreaccommodating staff, plus they're all total babes.

This an awesome addition to South Buffalo! Menu is small, but DELICIOUS! Service is great…read morebartenders personable and eager to make your experience a good one. Great local music venue also.

The outside can be deceiving giving way to a bar that is one of a dive bar. But once inside you can…read moresee it as a social bar, Where people who like hiphop and R&b can come too. from the food to the good party environment. The wings are only $1 for 10 wings which can be a deal in certain areas and the drink specials can range from $5 to $10 depending on what you get from margaritas to mix drinks.

Great service and atmosphere. Ladies night on Thursdays. 10 dollar wings and 5 dollar drinks. The…read morewings were good, just not as crispy as I would have liked.

The Mr and I were passing through Buffalo, on our way to Niagara Falls, at dinner time…read more After a search on YELP I landed on Blackthorn Restaurant. Obviously a neighborhood place, the Blackthorn offered a full bar, cool vibe, an extensive menu, and friendly service. The Mr. & I both opted for the Friday fish fry special. It came with a huge piece of haddock, choice of potato (I opted for the baked potato and the Mr. got a sweet potato), macaroni salad, cole slaw, and an assortment of rolls + regular and herbed butter. Everything was delicious but I couldn't finish it all - so the Mr. got extra. He didn't complain! Haha Since we were both so stuffed, we took cannolis to go. This was a great dining experience that I'd love to repeat someday!

Fish fry Friday! Stopped after a show for a late lunch/early dinner…read more Gave it 4 stars because the Cajun broiled fish was under seasoned and baked potatoes are not offered till after 4pm. My blue moon was served in a Genesee glass. The rest of the meal was good, the Mac salad & Cole slaw are homemade & our server was attentive. Being that it's December the holiday decorations were kind of minimal.