our overall experience here was not terrible, it just wasn't great. multiple friends highly recommended and I was pretty underwhelmed. ambience was fine, pasta was good. I'm pretty sure our server was waiting on the whole restaurant and it seemed like it may have been her first week on the job. she was very nice and obviously trying her best. I heard how great the bread is, but we didn't get any. maybe you have to order it. I just think for this price point it should have been better. read more

Wow! What an incredible restaurant. Every single item we ordered was absolutely delicious. We pretty much got everything on the appetizer menus: mussels, Brussel sprouts, broccolini, beet salad.. and all were perfectly executed. There was not a single mediocre dish or lack of flavor. The pastas were incredible as well. We were blown away pretty much with everything including the drinks and dessert. This may be one of my new favorite spots in Buffalo. My recommendation would be try a few things from the appetizer menu and to share, there were way too many good flavors to miss out on! read more

Inizio - Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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Now that I work at the Buffalo Metro Howard Hanna I feel like there are so many things nearby for me to discover. Yesterday I went to this bar with two others and I honestly loved it so much. The menu is kind of small but has a decent variety of options. I wish it had a few more veggie/vegan options for larger dishes. What we ordered; * castelvetrano olives ($3) * goat cheese & strawberries ($8) * salad of roasted beets ($9) * romaine salad ($8) * casarecce pesto ($18) * franzikaner hefe-weisse ($6) * peroni ($6) Let me just start off by saying of all the arugula salads I've ever had, this was one to remember. The goat cheese was literally to die for, I don't think I have ever eaten goat cheese so fresh and so creamy - mixed with sweet strawberries, fantastic aged balsamic and the crunchiest croutons I've ever eaten - I am already craving it again. The bartenders and servers were fun to talk to, the dim lighting created a great ambiance, the food is decently priced, and we made some new friends. I would definitely say this place is worth a visit, and I will certainly be back. read more

I've been here multiple times and have always had a great experience. Great restaurant for special occasions or a date night. The bread and pasta is always fresh and delicious and the servers are always spot on. The cucumber salad is a yummy pick as well. I always have the tall blonde server who's name is Kade, I think (?) and they always do an amazing job. read more

Delightfully delicious, the food AND the drinks! Make sure to get reservations, they fill up quickly. I had the bolognese and was not disappointed with flavor and texture abound! My meal started with a fun hibiscus cocktail (decadent and beautiful while tasty) and romaine salad which was also fresh, crisp, perfect amount of dressing and cheese. There was enough of this to share with the table! read more

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Holy hell, this place is amazing and deserves all the stars. 1. I want to know where they got their Castelvetrano olives. I thought the ones at Wegmans we're good, but these are next-level, especially since they're not overly brined. 2. You will struggle to make menu decisions. Know that you can't go wrong. It's all outstanding. On the fence? Get everything and enjoy divine leftovers tomorrow. 3. There's multiple veg options and they are delightful: hallelujah! read more

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Enjoyed an amazing anniversary dinner last night at Inizio. They have complimentary Prosecco to start off with, and then a nice wine menu to choose drinks from for dinner. We started off with the toasted breadhive sourdough with fig marmalade, taleggio and prosciutto and the romaine salad. Both were light and crisp and delicious. For our entrees we had the cacio e pepe - the pasta was amazing and so flavorful. My husband had the bolognese with lamb and beef and it was very good as well. The plate sizes aren't huge so you don't walk out feeling overstuffed. The decor inside is cozy and cute. I would definitely recommended for a date night out or special occasion! read more

Inizio - Cacio e Pepe and bolognese - Italian Near Me - Buffalo, New York

They redo the place, very clean and slick atmosphere... the foods are good....Portion are in a smaller size, enough to fill you up but no left over. Will definitely come back. read more

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My dinner companion got me drunk. I rarely drink, but the wine was so good I just kept drinking. And that was after the complimentary champagne. We had an appetizer - little prosciutto with cheese on fresh, buttery bread. Very nice. Then the main dishes arrived. I had the rigatoni with red sauce and lots of Parmesan cheese. My companion had the pasta with cheese and the perfect amount of fresh black pepper in a silky cream sauce. The portions are not humongous - just right so you will have room for dessert, which is an absolute must. The desserts are wildly good. read more

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We've been twice. Once with a Sunday menu and then recently during the week. Their appetizers are a miss for us every-time. We had the mussels the last time and it comes with bread to "soak up the sauce" the sauce was just straight olive oil and the bread was already soaked in the bread. The mussels were super weird in texture. The pasta is always delicious! I had the new crab dip my fiancé had the cacio pepe (I know I butchered that) This is a great place to eat pasta! read more

I was upset when the old Joes Deli closed this location. Now I am only upset that Inizio wasn't here sooner! WOW!!! is really only way I can describe this place. Great decor, ambience, service and amazing food. Came here on a Friday night. No issue with a short notice reservation. Sat down right away and was greeted with a complimentary glass of proseco. Can't beat that! Ordered a beet salad to start and it was nothing short of amazing. The homemade pasta is what you come here for. Ordered the "Cacio E Pepe" and it was unreal. Long ribbons of homemade pasta cooked to perfection. Good size portion as well. Great place if you want to something more on the casual side but with an upscale vibe. Can't wait to try the rest of their dishes read more

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Smaller portions but excellent food. Would recommend an app plus entrees if you're coming hungry. The hanger steak was my favorite! The pasta portions are definitely on the smaller size so if you eat a lot, definitely plan to get more than that. But excellent food and would definitely come back! read more

Amazingly good Italian restaurant, believe it or not, in Buffalo, New York. Totally unexpected to find such great food. Love the attentive and very poofy waitstaff. Pricey. read more

Today was my first time trying Inizio and it was one of the best restaurants I have been to. They have really unique cocktails, also a few mocktails. The food was fantastic. We started with the hanger steak, which has amazing flavor and was cooked perfectly. The shining star of the dish for me was the potatoes it came with. The texture of the potato was amazing, they cooked it to perfection, and the flavors were great. We then shared three pasta dishes, the cacio a pepe, vodka pasta, and spicy shrimp pasta. The cacio a Pepe was out of this world and a must try. The vodka pasta was amazing and I am a total vodka pasta snob. The spicy shrimp was amazing as well, not to spicy, however for $35 I would definitely say the other two are more worth the money. The homemade pasta made all the difference, and I was so impressed with the food. I enjoyed how the dishes were reasonable portions, rather than large oversized portions. I would rather pay more for a normal amount of GOOD food than pay a little for a larger portion of average food. I enjoy when the portions are normal serving sizes. The atmosphere was lovely, with large windows for gazing out and it was definitely a trendy place. I would highly recommend and this is definitely going into our rotation. read more

Inizio - The Hibiscus Mistress and hanger steak - Italian Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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Great atmosphere + Excellent fare + Perfect pasta + Super service = A fantastic date destination!

This elegant eatery is a perfect example of an Italian osteria -- a small, neighborhood spot that is classy, not rustic; simple, not plain; attentive, not fussy. The focus is on pasta, which is not simply house-made but exceptionally well crafted; the sauces are explosively flavorful; the wine list imaginative; the barkeep and servers are not merely trained but high-end skilled; the management is cordial, attentive, and fully professional. The food, drink, and experience are exceptional. My partner and I have dined there (generally at the bar, under the expert care of Sam and more recently Esme) many times since the place opened and have never been anything less than thrilled. read more

Small and a little loud, but the food was excellent, the hanger steak is a 12/10. Nice wine selection. Our servers were prompt but a little impersonal and seemed as though they were maybe a little aloof. read more

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Had 1 hour to kill waiting for some friends who had already eaten. Stumbled on this place. Was greeted by a nice guy who obliged my request to be seated at the bar. Ordered the broccolini and the hangar steak. Both the best I've ever tasted. The hangar was particularly perfect, with Smokey, savoury potatoes complemented with just enough sauce. I did all that I could not to lick the bowl. Super hip vibe. Cannot wait to go back and crush the rest of the pastas on the menu. Thank you. read more

Went to this restaurant in March. From the minute we walked in it was clear they make an extra effort to make customers happy. I had aglio e olio (bucatini with garlic and olive oil.) My family had Casio e Pepe and Carbonara. All were delicious and the pasta is made there. Service was excellent. Appetizers and snacks were also a cut above. The restaurant is attractive with a young vibe. We will definitely return. read more

A great new reincarnation of this classic location on Elmwood. Fine Italian dining with a simple and delicious menu. Started with pickles and olive appetizers for only $3 each. Olives were briny and had a firm bite. Pickles were interesting, lots of vinegar and they also had watermelon and cauliflower marinated with them. Who knew you could add a fruit and vegetable to this concoction and make it even better? The fig bruschetta was a nice combination of sweet and tart with the creamy burrata tying it all together. The pastas are amazing, uniquely shaped noodles hold the sauce well, cooked al dente and just the right temperature so you can eat them as soon as they're brought to the table. The bolognese sauce was one of the best I've ever had. Great flavor, not too red, and just the right amount of meat to give the dish the feeling of a filling meal but left enough room for dessert to go which could only be the wonderful super sized chocolate chip cookies. Get here you will thank yourself once you do! read more

Inizio - Cacio e Pepe - Italian Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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I came here with my two best friends for my birthday a couple nights ago. The service was top notch and really nice. One of the employees took my umbrella and place it in the umbrella stand for me, while I was waiting for my friends to come meet me. We were promptly seated. The seating area was very nice and well spread out. I'm not sure if it's because of the pandemic, or if it's the usual way they do things, but I really like that. Our waiter was Michael B. He was great and the service was top notch. I liked that. It was a bit too dim in the restaurant for my liking. I wanted a sweet wine. The sweetest they had was a sangria. It smelled good, when I brought it to my lips, but I wasn't too into it. For an appetizer I ordered the frico friulano as an appetizer for myself. It was sort of like a crisp potato pancake with prosciutto on it. It was okay. I had the bolognese for my meal. It had handmade tagliatelle pasta with lamb and beef in it. It was okay. The serving size was small, for the price. When my food came, I had a shepherd's crook drink brought out. It was $12. It wasn't what I was expecting and was small. For two drinks, a small appetizer and a meal, I paid $57.63. I know this is a high class restaurant and maybe that's not what I'm used to but I'd give this place 3.5 stars out of 5. The service was excellent but everything else was a bit disappointing. read more

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I came here with some friends right when Inizio opened. Very elegant vibe. We all received a complimentary glass of champagne and all the food we ordered was delicious. read more

Everything here is delicious. Handmade pasta made into simple yet elegant bites of perfection. When I went they were giving Prosecco as a starter which just set my girls night on a happy tone. We ended up ordering 3 of the pasta dishes to share because they all sounded so good. read more

Went for my birthday dinner- food was AMAZING. Our server made it a special occasion for me and I appreciated it so much. The front room was gorgeous! read more

Brava! Wow . I was transported to Italy with the delicious homase pasta varietals offered at Inizio. So appreciative I finally had the opportunity to experience. Easy to reserve a table online. Indoor and outdoor seating. Extremely hospitable staff. Complimentary sparkling or still water, and prosecco as you peruse the menu (virtual). We started with a bruchetta topped with burratta. Ordered the following pasta dishes; gaberi vongole, carbonara with jumbo lump crab, funghi and gnochhi. The four dishes were a perfect amount for two to split ( in addition to the appetizers). We could not decide which dish was our favorite. They were all delicious. Smaller portions. But huge flavors. Split the strawberry shortbread which was the perfect little finishing touch ! I would definitely return for a special occasion/ girls night. read more

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I'm not a write a review kind of person normally, but I had no option not to for Inizio! My boyfriend and I were trying to find a new spot for our anniversary dinner (back in October) and stumbled across Inizio on Yelp. We decided to go on a Friday night and I haven't stopped talking about it since. I've never ever in my life had food so delicious that it brought a tear to my eye, it was just amazing. The marinated beef tips, broccolini & gnocchi were out of this world. I hope you open back up post covid, everyone needs to try this place!! read more

My first dining experience at Inizio was nothing short of amazing! Our waitress Samantha was very knowledgeable, helped us navigate the menu, and suggested a bottle of wine to pair perfectly with all of our food selections. Assisted by Caroline, this duo was so welcoming and kind, which definitely added to the wonderful ambiance the restaurant had to offer. Even during the COVID pandemic, the entire staff was professional and adhered to all guidelines, which made myself and other patrons feel at ease. In regard to food, we had the following dishes: - Broccolini - Hanger Steak - Cacio e Pepe Pasta - Funghi Pasta - Carbonara Samantha suggested pairing these selections with a bottle of the Unshackled Rose by The Prisoner Wine Company. It was a perfect dry rose that was very light and cleansed the palate between each dish. Highly recommend! All of the food was phenomenal, but the Cacio e Pepe stood out as my personal favorite! Inizio is a hidden gem in the City of Buffalo, and is quite honestly one of the most authentic Italian dining experiences I've had outside of Italy (Yes, I'm that guy that studied abroad for a semester in Florence...) Prices may initially seem high, but you absolutely get what you pay for and more! I can't wait to go back and sample more of their delicious pastas and get transported back to my time abroad! read more

The inside of the restaurant is very nice and clean, there was hand sanitizer available on multiple tables. Our waiter and all of the staff were very nice and accommodating. We were offered a complimentary Lambrusco tasting, which was great. We ordered the roasted broccolini and romaine salad, both were fantastic. I had the pesto pasta which was fantastic and my dad had the spaghetti carbonara and added lump crab to it which was also great! Overall great dining experience. read more

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5 star Italian food. Our food was delicious. You need to get the bread and butter. Service was great!

Omg, I stopped in after a long conference. I'm from San Diego and I turned my taste for fine food over to Esmay the bartender and my server. I followed her lead, and dined in Toby far one of the best seafood Muscles entree , with the perfect white wine pairing, followed by the most amazing Tierramisu with a hint of chocolate dessert. I felt so well cared for and truly felt like a family member visiting from out of town. Next time I'm back in Buffalo, I will be back! Thank you Esmay for being a truly outstanding server and your expert recommendations, this dinner made my trip to Buffalo a delight!!! Many thanks. Sincerely, Kevin D. from San Diego read more

Great food, fantastic service. Our party of 5 each had a different pasta and they were all amazing. Highly recommend!

WOW... honestly one of the best meals I've had in buffalo. The vodka sauce was incredible there was what I believe were flakes of salt within the dish that face bursts of flavor every bite. The homemade pasta was so good complimented with the sauce. Highly recommend! Like others said they give you a small sip of complimentary champagne upon arriving. We spent just under $100 for 4 drinks, the olive appetizer, 2 entrees and the dessert. Not bad for amazing food! read more

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My husband and I just went there for dinner and really enjoyed everything about it. The wait staff was very attentive and helpful. We started with house-made pickles, which we really enjoyed. We were pleasantly surprised when it was pickled blueberries, red onions and another unidentified fruit came out with the standard pickles. The strawberries were fantastic, the goat cheese mousse was light and perfectly balanced flavor. I had the ragu bolognese which I highly recommend, the pasta was fresh and the meat sauce was great. My husband got the mushrooms and the sauce was delicious, not too heavy like some cream sauces. We ended the meal with two warm chocolate chip cookies and vanilla ice cream, it was perfect. read more

Great food, kind staff. I always love coming here and enjoy the experience. I always recommend it to anyone visiting.

We went to Inizio on Saturday evening for dinner with another couple and really enjoyed our experience. We ordered four small plates (brussel sprouts, meatballs, mussels, and hanger steak) and four entrees (two of the goat cheese and porks, one seafood gnocchi and one cacio e pepe) and were happy with all of them. The prices are reasonable and the food is tasty without being pretentious. I could see myself frequenting this location regularly. The service was good, and the portion sizes were appropriate for the price point. read more

Do yourself a favor and just go. It's that good. Make sure you order the shrimp grits and also the hanger steak if you get starters. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the pasta dishes and the cocktail I had, the Garden Walk, was incredible. So refreshing during a rich meal like this. Perfection. read more

We ventured here for my birthday today- which fell on a Monday. Thankful there are good restaurants open on Mondays as this tends to be challenging. It was our first time and it did not disappoint. The wine choices were great! I opted for a glass of pecorino and gruner veltliner. Both were fantastic. We started with the Caramelized cauliflower small plate . Very very delicious. Then for entrees ordered the gnocchi and the shrimp & crab black linguine. We both loved our dishes. Tons of flavors, portions were good (not too big not too small). We didn't have reservations so we were lucky to get a two top by the hostess station. It wasn't in the main dining section but it was still comfortable. I'd recommend reservations. The menu does offer small plates and large (entrees). For anyone that enjoys sharing a few small plates this place would definitely meet that preference. There's good variety in my opinion. The only improvement I'd recommend is the coffee. We really love good coffee so that's important to us and it's something we expect at an Italian restaurant. My husband ordered a cup with intentions to get dessert but was really disappointed in the coffee so we ended up just taking the check. Everything was fabulous otherwise - food, service, presentation, and selection. read more

Last night my son and I dined at Inizio for the first time. We started out with complimentary Prosecco which was a nice touch. We both ordered the romaine salad which was delicious and generously portioned. I had the Pesto pasta which was excellent and my son had the Pasta Bolognese which he enjoyed. For dessert we split the lemon panda cotta. I didn't like the tarragon in it but the blueberry and lemon was a nice finish to a great meal. I wish they had more cocktails. I didn't like the Limoncello Collins but I like sweet cocktails and this def wasn't sweet. Great friendly service and atmosphere! I will def be back! read more

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Delicious past, friendly service. Warm atmosphere. Great spot for a nice meal. Highly recommended.

The pasta was amazing. You can tell this place makes their pastas with tradition in mind. I could tell the cacio e Pepe's thick sauce was a simple combination of cheese and pasta water just how it's supposed to be done. Their ribbon pasta was a good idea to go with this dish too because it can hold onto a lot more of the sauce. The dish in itself was very very flavorful. On top that our server Andrew was phenomenal and saw to it that we were taken care of. My only gripe here was that the serving sizes did seem a bit too small. If I didn't eat anything before I might've left this place still a little hungry. Will be back soon however to try more dishes!! Definitely a nice intimate ambience and good for groups as well!! read more

Inizio - Cacio e Pepe - Italian Near Me - Buffalo, New York