Come hungry or with a gaggle of friends. Only not the kind that don't like sharing their food because those are the worst kind. It's a shared plates type of place which I love because I wanted a little bit of everything. The menu is ever changing which I like because it's like you're having a once in a lifetime meal, there's no guarantee you'll ever eat it again so you damn well better savor it. The highlight of the meal for me was the carpaccio, closely followed by the Korean short ribs. Don't miss the pizzas either, they're simple but delicious. Really enjoyed every bite of the meal from first to last and I am already planning a return trip. Bonus points for having ABV's blood orange gose. read more

I came here with my husband last week right after they launched their new menu. We started with their bourbon cocktails. I usually don't drink bourbon but they sounded so good. I was not disappointed. The first one I drank had cinnamon and orange flavors and the second had egg whites and turmeric, both were excellent. It did take about a half hour to wait for our second cocktail at which time we were already done with our meal. We had a great meal too. We ordered hummus, which was flavorful and came with delicious grilled pita triangles. We did ask for more pita since it did not come with nearly enough to finish the amount of hummus. We were charged for the extra which was a little disappointing since we were spending so much already and it seemed a bit cheap of the restaurant. We each ordered the orange soup. It wasn't actually orange flavored- more like a squash soup and very very good. They also give you a large portion. For the entrees we split the special pizza of the night (sausage, caramelized onions, ricotta) and the braised chicken with basmati rice. Both were cooked perfectly and even made for great leftovers for lunch the next day. Will be back when the next menu gets introduced! read more

Came for a work dinner and was super impressed! The food was amazing, the decor and ambiance is great and the staff was very kind to stay open extra late for us to hang out and drink at the bar and never once rushed us out. Definitely looking forward to coming back and checking out the new menu! read more

I didn't have a great experience here. The hostess was simply not pleasant and despite the fact that many tables were open, we were told there was a "sitch" and they couldn't possibly seat us until 9.30 (4 hours later) unless we wanted to sit at the bar. The bartender couldn't have been friendlier but the menu was so limited that we decided to go elsewhere. From my perspective they still have some growing to do. read more

Great new spot downtown. Very open and spacious. The food overall was very good, but definitely a place where you need to share food due to the fact that the food comes out whenever it is ready which actually makes it better because you get to try more things than you normally would. I definitely want to try their brunch soon! read more

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Burger was too salty. They forgot to add sause to the salmon BLT. And ingredients are low quality and not that fresh. Food looks much better than in taste. read more

Enjoyed a great late lunch. It was busy and hoping even at 1:30 PM. The server was very attentive and helpful with food and drinks suggestions. All the food was delicious and had a unique. The bar is cool and the have lots of nice wines. read more

Roost - American Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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Stopped in for Brunch yesterday with some gal pals who RAVE over Roost dinner menu! It was thier first time for brunch as well. I got there around 11am and there were plenty of tables to be had. By 1130 the dining room had filled up and it didn't loom like there were any open tables. The atmosphere is very rustic modern and the details were not missed. I especially liked the old Burt Reynolds art in the ladies room... I heard an iconic picture of Farrah Fawcett adorns the men's room wall. But on to the food.... We ordered a Cesar salad to share, the Soy wontons to share. My friends had a split pea soup and the lobster bisque and they split the fish plate special. I had the biscuits and gravy, normally topped with a fried egg which I requested on the side. The Cesar salad was one of the best I've ever had, homemade croutons and just the right amount of peppery, salty dressing with parmesan cheese throughout. The split pea soup looked very hearty with big pieces of ham and carrot. The soy wontons were perfectly cooked with a parmesan broth and a soft boiled egg to accompany. The biscuits and gravy was the perfect comfort food breakfast dish and by far the best I've had in Buffalo, NY. And the fried egg (side) was perfectly cook...soft,ooey yolk and no runny whites! The special fish plate was served with a glass Dome and when removed the smoke let out reminded you of a campfire breakfast. My one friend stated the fish plate is her favorite dish EVER from Roost! The price for bunch for 3 with a couple cocktails each was a little staggering but we knew the prices going in. This was definetly a treat but we'll worth it! read more

Roost - Special Fish Plate... Halved to share - American Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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Always enjoy coming in to Roost. The brunch is incredible. Be sure to get the breakfast pizza! As for dinners, it depends on theme but we've never had a bad meal here. read more

Went for private part for brunch wedding. Food, decor and service were amazing. Owner / Chef Martin was a wonderful host as they accommodated 100 people. Nobody left hungry and atmosphere was delightful!!! Excellent choice by Bride / Groom. read more

I can't say enough. Roost takes it to another level. The atmosphere- the staff- the class and not to mention the FOOD. Each plate is unique, beautiful and full of out of this world flavors. The use of fresh and simple taken to another level. But make a reservation not matter what day it is. read more

So far have been here twice and both experiences have been nothing short of spectacular! I had never had the chance to get to Martin Cook's and I wanted to make sure I made it a point to check Roost out. So let's dive into the culinary experience that is Roost. Roost is located on the first floor of the Crescendo apartments. For our first visit, My GF wanted to go somewhere we've never been, I called up on a Friday afternoon and asked if we could get in that evening. A sense of jubilation overcome me when I was told we could be seated at 5. The space is super nice. Open bar area looks into an open kitchen. I love this. The bar is perfect to just grab a drink or to eat as well too. It was not very busy at 5, maybe a dozen or so people at the bar and some full tables. It started filling closer to 6. The menu for our first visit was Italian inspired. We learned that Martin changes his menu up every two weeks! Def very cool, keeps things fresh and interesting and always something new to look forward to. We decided on splitting a pizza and a salad to start. The pizza was mushrooms, smoked bleu cheese, shallots, and prosciutto. HOLY CRAP!!! Easily the best gourmet pizza we've had...The flavor was huge, simple ingredients used properly created an absolutely amazing collaboration. The crust was perfectly done. We said we'd come back just for the pizza. The salads are HUGE, best to split with another person. We both ordered our own entree, she got the bolognese and I angel hair cake with marscerpone. Everything was perfect!!! Full of flavor without the need for salt and pepper. Visit 2, the menu was Asian themed. We started with the bacon, leek, scallions, fontina, and goat cheese pizza. Another winner. I also ordered the soft shell crab special and she got eggplant curry. These did not disappoint! Everything was phenomenal... I highly recommend Roost as a must do....You will not be disappointed with your visit. As a matter of fact the only negative I have is that parking on Niagara is tough. If you're not lucky to find a spot out front, expect to walk a little. read more

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wow! who would expect a hidden gem like roost to be tucked away on niagara street where it is. We literally drove past it as there is no signage on the building. Once we did manage to find the actual entrance door and walk in, i was amazed at how cute this place was inside! I love these old buildings that are converted spaces. The bar area is expansive and overlooks the open kitchen with lots of counter seating. Then there are atleast 3 other seating areas each with their own feel. Anyways me and the hubby were seated in a tucked away corner, which was perfect for us. So multiple people have told me to check this place out and I was specifically told that the breakfast pizza was to die for. WHich i must say i was skeptical about...i mean its breakfast pizza...how good could it be?? SO looking over the menu the breakfast pizza wasnt even on the menu so i wondered hmmm. Ultimately right as we were ordering i asked our waitress if they still had the all famous breakfast pizza and she said its not on the menu but they definitely still do. So i figured ok its a sign and we got it! We also got the seasonal soup, it was a puree of root veggies and apple and it was sooo yum. The pizza was in fact everything that it was lauded to be. It comes with 8 slices and we literally left not a crumb! That's how good it was!!! oh and we each got a drink as well(cuz its not a brunch without some booze right?), so we ordered a pomelosa and an irish breakfast. They were both well crafted and balanced, strong yet tastey. I really liked this place and cant wait to return and try dinner sometime!! read more

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Words cannot describe how delicious our meal was tonight! My group has food issues and each one of us was catered to! The flavors of the food were elegant and subtle and perfectly blended. The presentations were beautiful and the staff were not only friendly but also helpful and knowledgeable. James, their chef is a gift to Western New York! Thank you for making Buffalo a better place! We will be coming back. read more

I love this place and I will definitely be coming here again. The only thing I wish was they had their own parking lot. Other than that, this place was awesome. So, I went for an office party and they treated us very well. At first they had everyone start at the bar and they made us a pie of every pizza on their menu the slices were decent size, and they were all really good. I liked that every pizza was a thin crust so you were able to taste every flavor on every slice. My favorite was the Fig, which also had smoked bleu cheese, truffle oil/butter, topped with a slice of prosciutto. The savory and salt combo was a perfect match. My friend/coworker snagged a seat at the bar and despite there being well over 100 people, the bartenders were very attentive. My friend is one who does not drink alcohol, and she also doesn't eat pork. So first she asked for a mocktail. They must have a mocktail recipe they use all the time because the bartender said no problem and made a delicious drink for her (not just orange juice, pineapple juice, and sprite). It was so good I ordered on...with alcohol of course. Multiple slices of pizza later we realized there weren't any non-pork pizzas out. We kindly asked which pizza they have with no pork because he she doesn't eat it. He said not a problem, and quickly had the guy make a mushroom pizza just for us; with no fuss, no attitude and not even a hint of aggravation. For the second half of our evening they switched to buffet style dining. They provided 2 different types of salad, sautéed carrots, creamy spinach (sooooo good), turkey with gravy, beef with gravy, 2 different types of pasta, and baked chicken wings. All of the food was really good and nicely prepared. After dinner they provided us with an array of cookies. The place is very spacious. Despite their being so many people we weren't all bumping into each other. The bathrooms are wittily marked. Ladies, if you have any confusion about signage just know that if you walk in and see a naked picture of Burt Reynolds, you're in the right bathroom . The bathrooms were nice and the stalls were spacious. They don't waste paper for washing your hands. Instead there's nicely rolled towels stacked in the bathroom for you to dry your hands with. All in all this was a great experience and the staff was nice throughout the whole night. read more

I was really looking forward to having dinner here since I read so many great reviews on Yelp. I left (as did my friends) rather disappointed or underwhelmed. There were 3 of us. I, as well as one of my friends started by ordering the potato soup. It was very thin broth and was extremely bland, so tasteless we ended up just sending it back. I had the bolognese which was excellent, my one friend had the peppers and sausage and said it was "ok." My other friend had the salmon over greens and said it was good, but the portion of salmon was half the size you would get in any other restaurant we have been to. The service was ok, not amazing like I was led to believe from the reviews I read. Again, ok, not bad service. I may have had higher expectations based on reviews I read. Our servers changed at mid point which was sort of weird? I will say our server was more than pleasant with taking the soup back and credited our bill without us even asking. On the way out a gentlemen thanked us for coming in and was very pleasant. Would I return? Yes, if others suggested it. Would suggest it again? No, at least not for a while. read more

After finally finding a parking spot on Niagara, my hubby and I figured out that the entrance was a generic gray door on the left side of the building. There is a host station when you enter, a large bar, and then seating in the back. We started with drinks at the bar. The view of the river is pretty cool. When the rest of our party arrived, we were seated at the top left. The windows need shades around this area because the sunset was blinding. Our first waiter was fast-talking and came off as arrogant. He wasn't very attentive and he turned us over to another waiter without letting us know that his shift was over. Up until this point, I wasn't sold. However, our table of 6 ordered several dishes. The restaurant is family style, so we ordered a few plates and passed them around. The large caesar and house salads were table favorites- with some left over. The Margherita pizza had a delicious toasted crust. We ordered octopus and burrata cheese (perfectly-prepared octopus), ricotta and almonds with honey, duck terrine (like a hard pate), and half rotisserie chicken with corn puree, succotash, and corn bread (the side items were just as good as the crispy chicken). Each one of these plates was delicious and came with enough for everyone around the table to taste. The Delicious dessert was a flourless chocolate cake (very fudgy) and an olive oil cake with blueberries (a little salty and sweet). I highly recommend going in order to try the delicious food. I only hope that you have better luck with parking and get a friendlier waiter. read more

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This restaurant is by far my favorite restaurant in Buffalo. I have never had a bad meal here, the only place where I feel like there is a true art in their food. You never get just what you expect, there is always a creative twist on traditional foods, and their menu is always changing. Whoever their chef is, he/she is brilliant. Thank you for establishing places like this in Buffalo! read more

One of our favorite dinner locations in Buffalo. Great rotating menu and a wood-fired oven for gourmet pizzas. Hip interior with open-kitchen set-up. Slightly more random area of town, but definitely worth checking out. read more

Treat yourself during the pandemic. We've ordered take out about a dozen times since Covid and excellent every time - consistent high quality. Tonight salmon, perfectly cooked, stroganoff flavorful and warm on a cold night (at least 2 meals worth), refreshing beet salad great flavors. Cobbler dessert for later looks delicious. Feels very safe picking up the food. Support this talented chef and business owner during Covid. read more

Seriously one of the best newest places to eat and drink in Buffalo. Farm Fresh to table and the menu changes often. Their pizza is to die for. I will bus frequent flyer for sure read more

This place wasn't great as I hoped it would be. Went with a group of friends, around 10 people for a birthday and everyone thought that the food was mediocre. The menu was small about 6-8 main dishes. My girlfriend got the risotto and it was super bland with no flavors at all. I ordered the half chicken which is made in a crushed tomato sauce. It was okay nothing special about it. My friend ordered the lamb, took a few bites and didn't want anymore and said it was terrible. On the upside the pizza there wasn't bad at all in fact it was really good! We shared two pizzas the squash purée and the bacon Brussels sprout pizza. The squash was by far the table's favorite but the brussel sprout was good too. The pizzas were a little too salty for a few of the people so take that into account. The mixed drinks were good and strong. The waitress we had was great and lovely! When coming out with the food they didn't know who ordered what and gave it to the wrong table a few times which was a little annoying. The interior was rustic and casual. Overall it was okay but too expensive for the dishes they brought out and the overall service was below what you'd expect from a nicer restaurant. read more

Stopped by here for a late lunch in Spring and had the most delicious lemony pasta with fiddleheads. Brought my co-worker back with me in the summer and their whole menu changed to a Mediterranean theme. Wasn't sure what we were getting into (how can a place with great pasta and pizza switch to Mediterranean was my thought), but each dish was dynamic and flavorful. They change their menu about each quarter - excited to try what they have in store for the next quarter! read more

I had dinner last night at Roost with my wife and daughter, celebrating a special occasion. The ambience, service and food were all terrific! Our food was all cooked perfectly, had great flavor, and was presented beautifully. Nothing could have been better. read more

Creative - tasty - and exceeding expectations is the three things I noticed every time I had food at Roost. Buffalo has been longing for a place like Roost. They altered the brunch menu so you can always try something new! Despite my Asian roots and taste, their dishes always surprised me... and it's just delicious every time. The only downside is that the menu is little bit on pricey side compared to other brunch places, but if you loved to adventure new food, definitely worth it! Atmosphere is also great for groups and friends gathering. read more

I don't post a lot of 5 star reviews but Roost truly shows itself to be worthy of 5 stars. We ordered 5 dishes for the table and everyone tried everything. Every single dish was flawless. The Spicy Cesar was, hands down, the best Cesar I've ever had!! Pizzas...fantastic! Burger...perfect. With the delicate balance of flavor, it would be very easy for the Chef to make these dainty, small, and unsatisfying but Roost doesn't do that. Large portions and high quality ingredients, I will definitely return!!! read more

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Trendy restaurant in a "not-so-nice" area. Menu changes often and is limited, so be prepared to try something out of your comfort zone. Food all in all was decent, the branzino, however was delicious albeit not de-boned. The parking here is nonexistent so be prepared to circle the restaurant for a good 15-20 minutes or park on a dangerous side street. read more

A favorite. When people ask for a recommendation, this is always where I send them first. They are never disappointed and ALWAYS rave.

This place is allll right! Make sure you ask for Casey the bartender. The food is excellent. Great crowd. Just hip enough without being too hip. No man buns anywhere. Pizza is phenomenal and Casey the bartender devises her own cocktails. Bonus: The Amtrak to Canada rolls by the picture windows once in awhile. read more

Roost - American Near Me - Buffalo, New York

We have been trying to come to the Roost for a while now and finally on a quiet Wednesday we decided to give it a try. Fortunately for us they were not too busy and we were seated right away. Our waitress was very sweet and nice and we enjoyed chatting with her. All the food was exceptionally good and definitely a joyride for our palettes. Appetizers were a work of art and all the combined flavors of sweet and salty had our tastebuds tingling. I especially liked the strawberry jam that was used as the sweet component on the appetizer dishes. We also had the garden salad and it was big enough to share and boy did it take me back to my mom's kitchen. The dressing reminded me of the dressing my mom used when she made us summer salads with fresh ingredients from her garden and dill was the star of the dish. My only complaint would be that my duck looked a little burnt on the skin but the meat itself was really good! The atmosphere and vibe is definitely great and chill and the Decor is very inviting. Over all a nice place to come and relax and unwind with a group of friends or just the two of you for a date! read more

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How NOT to handle customer service: I called Roost on Thursday for an 11AM Sunday brunch reservation for 18. Confirmed. Called back Friday to change it to 21 people. Confirmed. They called me back Saturday at 5PM to tell me they couldn't handle the reservation at all, and shouldn't have taken it. No apology, no offer to help me find another place, no concern whatsoever for putting me in a bind. What would have helped: 1) Apologize 2) Offer to help me find another place 3) Offer me something to entice me to give them a second chance. Thank you Thin Man Brewery for taking our large party today for my wife's bday. Food, drink, service were excellent! read more

I was told to ask for Martin (the proprietor) and to ask for his tasting menu. I have eaten all over the world and frequently have dinner at Michael's on Simco in downtown Toronto. How this very special resturant made it to Buffalo is a complete mystery to me. The food is a 10+ each and every tasting. They have cornered the market on fabuloso sauce. The wine is 1/3 the cost as Michael's. This is the best experience in dining for the best price in Western New York bar none. You will not be disappointed as a foodie. Chuck has mastered the art of being an excellent server. Martin thank you for one of the finest gastronomical experiences in Western New York. Sorry Russell he is better. read more

Nice ambiance! Very hip and trendy. Pleasant and competent service.. But not much going on here beyond that. We had two cocktails, two appetizers, and two entrees. And none of the 6 selections were worthy of being memorable. We've eaten at many high end places in WNY and what makes them high end is that little surprise or memorable spice or flavor.. something special.. and it hits you .. and you know it and feel it. But here there wasn't anything like that. All items were bland. And after the experience, all we could think was "meh"... read more

With the menu changing as often as it does it's like a new restaurant every time! It never disappoints. Great food and drinks and a super cool atmosphere! read more

I do not write many reviews but I really want new restaurants in Buffalo to be sustainable so I am hoping this is helpful. First of all, the food is awesome! Everything we had was great and I would go back for the food. Parking is a bit dicey but just look both ways - there is a small lot but not many cars can fit. The hostess seemed irritated we were there. I would suggest some training or replacing - I conducted training for F&B people in the past and one thing to remember, as a host or hostess, you are part of the dining experience. Be in it to win it or go work in isolation away from people. Our food server, on the other hand, was spot on. He was helpful, knowledgeable and funny. The interior is very well done and the bar area is beautiful - I will try sitting at the bar for dinner next time. Please note...the Yelp page for Roost states "by appointment only" - this may be a marketing thing but in the long run just makes you sound pretentious and as far as I can tell, pretentious is not a thing in Buffalo...so just put "reservations highly recommended". Agian, the food is awesome, fresh and presented well - I love the rotating menu concept and glad it has made it to Buffalo! 3 things make a sustainable business...your product must be above average CONSISTENTLY, great service from your employees and last but not least a great overall customer experience. If all 3 are on cue next time I go, I will give 5 stars. Okay, that's it. I hope you make it! read more

While the food was outstanding, the rest of the experience was not good. Upon arrival, with a reservation that we requested the bar (at 530 by the way), we were first left to stand waiting while the bar sat empty, for quite some time (no one in front of us), and then we were told where to sit (behind a pole with a lot of empty seats) AND then, we were told we have until 7 and that's it??? We felt 'scolded' from the start. Evidently, there was a wedding party that reserved the entire bar at 7, which is great. But when we had asked to be moved down (at 530) so we were not looking at a pole, we were told we could not. Then, others populated that area that were NOT members of the wedding party. We were never ASKED our preference, not explained what the situation was, we were TOLD, like we were children and that was our option. There was zero politeness, zero customer service -almost like it was an honor for us to be allowed to eat there. Bartender was very nice (older gent) and the food was good but wow, I won't be heading back there anytime soon. read more

This is the place that (IMHO) Buffalo has needed for so long. Relaxing and stylish, plenty of bar space facing the open kitchen, great flow around the bar so a bottle neck doesn't occur, amazing staff (even if green) and most importantly a chef/owner that loves what he does. This place touches on all the bases and so much more. We had the carpaccio (which Martin made himself and hand delivered), wings and fig pizza, along with a couple of the really diverse wines and an after dinner cocktail. Not one complaint from us whatsoever. Already heading back this weekend for round 2! read more

Roost - American Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Had an amazing brunch here with a large group. Very unique drink menu as well as a variety of different food options. Would defitnely reccomend the breakfast pizza ! read more

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A great continuation of Martin's restaurants! Great dining space. 30+ seats @ bar overlooking the kitchen. Delicious menu Could use some noise damping read more

Really good food with really good flavor. We had the Brussels sprout and the salami pizza. Both were excellent. Very cool atmosphere. Will definitely go back when we're in town! read more