I came here with my boyfriend some time in January. We made a reservation for 8pm. We came in and let the hostess know, she said it would just be a couple minutes and to wait by the bar. AN HOUR LATER we go back up to ask what is going on and they FORGOT about us. After finally being seated after 9pm, it took TWENTY MINUTES for someone to even come over with water. We were so hungry we tried to order right way but almost everything we wanted was sold out -- no surprise considering it was 930pm and we were supposed to eat at 8pm. We ended up leaving and getting to Left Bank in time to eat by 10pm... Roost offered nothing to make up for the horrible experience. I recently came back to Roost with my friend last weekend to try their brunch out instead. Had to wait at the bar for a little bit, which is fine, but not when there are visibly 8+ tables available for 2 people when they DON'T take reservations for brunch? It was a packed bar with one bartender who took almost 10 mins to even get us water. When I ordered a bloody mary she dumped some of the mix pre made in a pitcher into a glass and shoved it across the bar... No straw, no garnishes, not even an olive. I had to ask her for garnishes because everyone else seemed to have them except me. She was not happy with this request. We finally got seated but instead of putting us literally anywhere else, they put us in a more secluded section with one other table of EIGHT screaming women. The ceilings in this section were tin so they were loud and even louder thanks to the acoustics. The food was subpar. I don't know why anyone raves about the breakfast pizza, if I never had it again I would be okay. It was forgettable at best. Waitress took forever to check on us or really wait on us at all, to the point another waitress came over after we were clearly looking concerned at the lack of service. Not worth going out of the way for this place that is essentially in the middle of no where, with shitty service, OK food, and a horrible view of the thruway. read more

Everything we ordered was delicious! They had a corn chowder with a buttermilk biscuit as a special (sweet sweet corn!) as well as a garbanzo crepe with local mushrooms- both were phenomenal and my favorite items of the evening. The hummus with pickled veggies and grilled pita was also a standout. We finished the meal with the olive oil cake with honey and saffron whipped cream and pistachios- the perfect amount of not quite sweet with the crunch from the nuts. Our server Andrew was also the right amount of attentive. Can't wait for the next iteration of the menu! read more

We tried to update a reservation for tonight for 8 people to add another. The reservation was made a week ago, and yet they have no record of it. The hostess was very apologetic and admitted that they have an issue with their phones, especially when it's busy. If you know you have a problem, FIX IT. read more

Absolutely fantastic the space screams awesomeness the food tantalizes your taste buds watching all the cooks hard at work creating these masterpieces I am truly fulfilled and excited to come back again and again and again read more

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I admire the creativity of this restaurant. Every few weeks they switch up the menu with a wide range of different ethnic foods. The chef is from France and never fails to impress. When my girlfriend and I went the menu was Mediterranean based cuisine. For drinks we ordered a house Cabernet for myself and a basil vodka and lemonade for my girlfriend. The house cabernet was so good that I let my girlfriend have it because she liked it better than the lemonade. I enjoyed the lemonade but then later ordered another wine for myself. To start we got the lamb dish with hummus served with fresh vegetables and warm pita bread. The combination of the three was delicious! Very generous size as well. For the entree we split the stuffed lamb served over chickpeas. The dish was very flavorful. The lamb was cooked perfectly and was a high quality cut of meat. It was super juicy which left our mouths watering. Next we split the mushroom pizza which was cooked on a wood fire oven. The pizza was light and crispy with all fresh ingredients. We were way too full for dessert. Overall the atmosphere was lively and fresh. Will for sure be going back and would highly recommend! read more

Roost - American Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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We went on a Thursday night with a dinner reservation and were seated fast even though we were early. Love the interior design and renovation of the building, which embraced the fact that the building has industry roots and didn't shy away from it. The only off-mark was it was so loud in there we had a hard time talking to each other as a party of four. The food was excellent and portions were fair. We shared everything, two kinds of pizza (I could have eaten the beef short rib pizza by itself and been very happy; the apple and rosemary was a pleasant surprise goody - a sweet way to start a meal but the rosemary married with the other flavors to give it a savory note that really hit the mark, and I don't like rosemary as a rule, kudos guys). We shared pumpkin gnocchi (a bit spongy, is it supposed to be that way? I am far from a gnocchi expert), mushroom linguine (the lemon butter mushroom sauce was HEAVEN), half roasted chicken (didn't try this one personally), and the pork tenderloin over grits (perfectly cooked and juicy, grits and sauce were plate licking good). It was an expensive night out for us to be sure, but if you want a special dinner it was well worth it. Also love the revitalizing area along the water. We'll definitely go again. read more

Many things about this restaurant were spot on. Food = excellent Service = excellent Atmosphere = loud/cool/fun The only flaw in the evening was they have some wonky system for managing payment. They seem to not be able to split checks and we had 3 couples which made it super awkward at the end of the night to try to do math and calculate tax and tip. It was sad. read more

Absolutely love the atmosphere. The fact that the menu has no descriptions is the main downfall. Inefficient having to ask the server to go over every ingredient of every item to make sure you'll be happy with your expensive choice. Service is lacking. One example being the host notified our server of a gluten allergy before we sat, as the server mentioned it in his greeting. He began to go over our options but then realized he didn't know and needed to go back and check with the chef. Also, there was vinegar on the fries, but the server only mentioned truffle oil and Parmesan. Unfortunately I hate vinegar. Water glasses remained empty when the restaurant was nearly empty. Not a good experience celebrating Valentine's Day before having to work all night. read more

Best brunch spot in WNY. Pizza is to die for. Always a great menu fresh Bloody Mary no pre made mix. The owner is back in the kitchen himself making sure everything is done right. Atmosphere is that of a New York City restaurant. This place is awesome. read more

Roost - American Near Me - Buffalo, New York

The food is good. Always a different menu, but same pizzas. My favorite is the fig pizza. The pizzas are very pricey $20+!!!The drink menu also changes often. The service is very slow. I've attended this restaurant more than a few times and service seems the same across the board and no matter what time you come. read more

I hate to be the one to give roost one star, but it's the minimum you can give in order to post a review. I went to roost with HIGH expectations, based on all the rave reviews on yelp. I even perused the menu yesterday to get a feel for what I might like. Everything looked delicious, a notch above if you will. My friend & I arrived today to see a TOTALLY different menu from online. Our server, Marley, was sweet as can be, and mentioned the head chef likes to change the menu often to keep things innovative & fresh. I agree! Great idea, head chef. But if you're going to change the menu that often, update it online so your menu reflects what you are actually serving. My friend, who is very picky, struggled to find something to order (with Marley helping along) and settled on a cheese and pepperoni pizza. I am much more adventurous when it comes to food, and trying new entrees. Today's menu featured beans in pretty much EVERY DIVISION OF THE MENU...white bean soup (bland! Although the presentation was pretty and it was piping hot). I think there may have been beans on one of the pizza choices. I'm being sarcastic of course, but I gotta tell you. I eat out OFTEN, and I can tell you, without hesitation, that I know of no one who is so in the mood for beans that it literally should be featured on every part of the menu. From the soup to the small plates, to the entrees which featured one plate with sausage & beans. Wth??? Even Marley said it's a bean kinda night...I struggled to pick something and ultimately decided on the balsamic glazed wings. Presentation was fantastic but they were basically a rubbery tower of wings with crumbled blue sprinkled on top with carrot slices underneath. I never would've thought my night out with my girlfriend would be pizza & wings. But unfortunately our options left little else to choose...Even the craft cocktails weren't unique. Sadly, I practically BEGGED my girlfriend to try buffalo proper, which consistently blows me away with drinks food and ambiance...I am stunned roost was so awful! read more

Roost - Balsamic glazed wings. Rubbery, nothing to write home about taste wise, presentation nice - American Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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It was a Wednesday night, and my business partner and I were entertaining a wholesaler who came in from California. I was already a fan of Martin Cooks, and i made sure my associates knew that the menu doesn't speak for the food; i.e If you see one word "Calamari" , be prepared for something much more expansive item-wise, and a taste experience you never had before. Once we got everyone discussing the shareables, it made the business meeting fade, and the food items stunned my guests... Today, my partner is still talking about the Calamari! By the way, we wrapped up by 7:30 pm, and the place was full, and carried a hip soft back beat of music that almost pushed us to the bar for a night cap; nice try, but it was a work day! Great for small groups, or dinner for two who like to share items. Portions are generous, so order accordingly read more

Best...birthday...ever Birthday brunch for 10 - I'm still getting calls and messages about how amazing it was. Food - is there a higher rating than 10? Atmosphere - fun, cool, relaxing. Service - I think our server read our minds as she was there before we even could look for her. Martin (owner) was on top of it to ensure that no detail was left out - I had him plan the menu and the food was just spectacular. Any event I have - large or small - will be at Roost...only problem? No one wanted to leave! read more

Love Roost!!! The food is amazing, and we love that the menu changes a ton. If you're pregnant or don't drink, they make the best mock tails . We've even order take out from here when we didn't want to go out for dinner and it was just as amazing. read more

Food, service and vibes were amazing. We had a party of 10 and ordered a bunch of apps and meals. Every single thing was fantastic. The pizzas, shrimp, chicken wing apps were my favorite. The bolognese pasta was out of this world. Very fun atmosphere and great service. I will definitely be back next time I'm in Buffalo! read more

Had a delicious brunch with a friend. Got the mushroom pizza and the bolognese and we spit it. Huge portions and we both left with leftovers. Pizza and bolognese both had great flavor! The ambiance of the place was fantastic the long bar is amazing. We didn't drink alcohol but the prices looked a little expensive (8 mimosas 10 bloodies). Overall fantastic experience and I will be back!! read more

Had a really good brunch here recently - I ordered the special, which was a shredded beef short rib sandwich on an Italian roll with arugula and dressing. I've believe it also came with a slaw. I also had a Bloody Mary. Everything was great - drinks, food, service. The bread was so fresh and perfect for the sandwich. And, the portion sizes were huge. I'm giving a 4/5 bc the wait time was super long - I got there a few min after they opened and it was already more than an hour wait - and bc it's not marked super well outside. Overall really good experience and I'd be back. read more

Delicious brunch - fish tacos bloody Mary's, white beer. Great selection of food and drinks. Terrific loft/industrial atmosphere.Fanatastic service. Will go back in a heartbeat! read more

One of the worst customer service experiences I've ever had. Arrived before 11am on Sunday (they open at 11 ) we walked in as they opened. We were told that they don't like to "overseat" so they asked us to wait at the bar. Our party was my son, daughter in law, their five month old child, my mother and myself. There were many, many tables open and available. There were servers standing around. After 10-15 minutes, I asked the host how long he expected our wait to be and I was told at least an hour. I pointed out that there was only one name above ours and many empty tables. The host then shared that even though they generally don't take reservations the owner was expecting a lot of friends to come in. We decided at that point to go elsewhere. Highly unlikely I will go back. read more

Second time at Roost, the chef is what this city needs. His menu changes every couple weeks/months and is always on point!! If you have a cultured palate, prepared to be amazed!! ROOOOOOOST!!!!!! read more

Back in for Buffalo for the holidays and decided to try out Roost. Andrew, our server, helped make the experience that much better. The food was phenomenal and the atmosphere was wonderful. I'll definitely plan to come back next time we're in town. read more

I tried calling ahead for reservations since we wanted to go on a Friday night. Every time I tried to call the phone was busy. We decided just to go and hope to get a seat at the bar. When we arrived it was over two hour wait for a table. There was a networking event at the bar so the bar was slammed at 7 p.m. We decided to get a drink and just see if two chairs next to each other would open up. We let the bartenders know that we were trying to sit and have a meal. One bartender kept his eyes peeled for us and when he saw two seats he saved them for us so we could go get them through the crowd. They have a great wine selection and the cocktails were also very good. We decided to split everything and we started with deep-fried Gorgonzola stuffed olives. They were excellent. Then we had one of their pizzas. The pizzas seem to always be on the menu so we thought we should definitely try them. We had a fig prosciutto Pizza and it was a little sweet. The dough wasn't quite as good as I expected it to be. We then split a stuffed veal saltimbocca. It was not a very large portion but it was absolutely fantastic. Overall I like the ambiance and the staff was very good. I may have had too high of expectations. The food was good. It just wasn't quite as amazing as I think I expected it to be. They changed their menu quite often so maybe the foods even better other weeks. I would definitely go back and I recommend going at least once. read more

Came here with a few girlfriends for my 30th birthday celebration. After dining at both Giancarlo's and Lombardos a few nights prior, I was ready for a change of pace and a new spot to enjoy. We arrived and we're greeted by Bruce, one of the nicest and most accommodating hosts I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. The restaurant itself is not in the best of neighborhoods, but once you step inside you're transformed to a rustic, elegant farmhouse-style vibe. Not quite sure how to describe it, but it's beautiful. Let's get to the food. Asian-inspired menu without a doubt. And everything is meant to be shared amongst the guests at your table. We ordered the fig pizza (incredible thin crust with blue cheese), the pork dumplings (so tasty), chicken wings (big, perfectly cooked and great dipping sauce), and the short ribs. The specialty cocktail list was short, and we ended up getting a bottle of wine from Macedonia. Definitely impressed with the vino selection. Already excited to go back once the menu changes up a bit. This would be a great place for a date at the bar, or a dinner with friends and family. Buffalo's food scene just keeps getting better & better. read more

Been trying to get into roost for dinner, but haven't been able to make it happen. However, 3 of my coworkers were able to have lunch here. Roost has a great atmosphere, and I almost wish we would have just sat down at the awesome bar to eat. Unfortunately we were seated at a table assigned to a waiter with an attitude. When one of us asked for a stoli and soda, he answered "we don't have stoli". How about absolute? "We have 3 kinds of vodka, and you won't know the names of any of them, so I'll just bring you a vodka and tonic." The words were bad enough, but the tone was really condescending. When we asked if we could see a dinner menu because we were curious what was available at dinner time, he looked disgusted and said "yeah, I'll bring one over when I get a chance" and then never did! This was pretty much the way the whole lunch went. All in all, the server ruined the experience. Everyone else we encountered seemed to be friendly. Two of us ordered pizzas. They were big, and very good. The third person ordered pasta. It was also good, but not anything over the top. Since it was the service and not the food, I'll give it one more chance. Hopefully they realize service is important. I know they are the cool place to be, for now, but if you keep treating people badly, they will stop coming. I hope that doesn't happen here. read more

Being a regular diner in most of Buffalo's restaurants, I was eagerly awaiting the unveil of Martin Cooks' new venue and cuisine now evolved into Roost. Having been to Martin Cooks several times I had high expectations for the evening. We decided to wait until a month after the grand opening to avoid any of the usual opening jitters and buzz. I called on a Saturday morning for the day of, for a reservation for 2 people. Apparently they had no more reservations left, so we figured we would try for a seat at the bar. The restaurant was packed, we ended up waiting behind another couple at the bar for about a half hour until they finished their meal. When the menu was presented there were only 3 cocktails available. None of them were appealing, one that particularly struck my attention was an egg white, gin and cream concoction...not exactly what I have in mind to drink with dinner. The food menu was a good size offering several options for any type of guest, mostly Asian influenced. We decided to order the Beef Carpaccio with miso and pineapple, the Udon Bowl with shrimp and mushroom, and the Pork and Chicken Congee. When the carpaccio arrived, the meat was thinly pounded and tasty, aside from that, the rice chip and accompaniments were far overly salted. I am a person who enjoys a heavily seasoned dish, and this was almost unbearable. I witnessed the Chef making this dish in the open kitchen, and it seemed like this was his only dish because I was watching from my bar seat. It seems that aside from making this dish, his other job was to drink wine at his station and overly salt the meat. Next, the congee arrived. I admit that I am not a congee expert and wasn't sure what to expect, but I do feel I have keen sense of taste. What I did notice was that it was not a cohesive dish. The pork belly chunk garnishing the dish was overly browned in the fryer and completely dry in the center with no flavor at all. I am a major pork belly fan and I can't remember a time when I've had it prepared in such an unsuccessful way...Aside from the pork belly the chicken had an inconsistent, and somewhat fermented taste. Perhaps it was the fact that I saw about 10 rotisserie chickens fully browned, sitting on the workspace my entire dinner without being touched. Aside from the protein, the rest of the dish tasted like a goulash of everything Asian thrown in from the pantry. Next, the noodle bowl. The dish was an appropriate size garnished with two large prawns. I was a little taken aback because they did not give me a knife to cut off the intact shrimp tail, nor did they give me chopsticks or a ramen spoon. This dish had no flavor at all. It did not taste like an earthy, dried mushroom broth, nor did it have depth from shrimp stock, or any spice whatsoever. It tasted like watery noodles, fresh mushrooms steeped in water and that's about it. When I asked for chili oil for spice, they gave me a container of sweet chili sauce which is gummy, sweet, and has no spice whatsoever. After having those dishes I was not inclined to order dessert. On our way out, about three people working there asked how our meal was. I just smiled and left seeing as I didn't want to cause a disturbance on a bustling Saturday evening. read more

Wonderful vibe and atmosphere. The menu had a lot of unique plant-based options that offered many fun choices. Would advise that your table shares the dishes, as "family style" because the food looks and tastes delicious so you will want to try it all. Relaxed atmosphere that truly does make you want to return for another visit to try everything. Roost nailed it: making you want to return to see what new items are available. read more

Great service! We were looking for a new place try and we found a new favorite. The fig pizza was the best! I'm happy to know this is a regular item on the menu. read more

Best Brunch I have ever had. There is always something creative in the menu selection. I have been coming here regularly since Martin had his old location on Connecticut St. I love how they have an open style kitchen where you can see all the cooking action. It is a place in Buffalo where the Chef truly cares about his ingredient selection and tries to keep it creatively local. Thanks Martin! read more

Been at least four times now and every time the menu is different. I like that they keep there menu fresh and update every month and it's always a theme. However with that said my last visit in February was not my favorite of the options. It was Mexican theme and if you're any familiar with their menu the words doesn't really describe the dish. Yes server explain the best they can but I'm not going to ask them to list every single item on the menu. Everyone at our table had something different, ranging from mussel to start then follow by wings, red stew and (that night special) lobster ravioli(yup not Mexican at all. Red stew was missing something, can't quite put my finger on it but definitely not what I expected. Everything was was good(hence the 4 stars) and sadly hard to give it 5 stars because I have like many other dishes they serve but unsure if I will ever get to have it again since menu is different all the time. read more

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We were there for Sunday brunch, and loved it. Roomy and rustic setting, with delicious food. Can't do much better for a great brunch.

I never have had a bad meal here! In fact, I always have a foodgasm. I am not one to say that often. I have been here for dinner but never brunch. I always have been told to try the breakfast pizza. I do not care for breakfast pizza but this was amazing!! It was what I wanted breakfast pizza to be all my life!! The crust was perfectly done on the bottom and doughy on the sides, the sausage was not too spicy or sweet, the thinly sliced potatoes gave it that touch of creaminess, and the drizzle of maple syrup just added the perfect amount of sweetness. It was heaven! I honestly could have ate the whole pizza by myself, but I decided to be nice and share. My main course was the barely risotto. Also amazing! The beef was tender and the broth was rich. It was a perfect dish for a cold late morning. I can never say no to dessert, so we had cannolis with pistachios and chocolate chips. It was not too heavy after stuffing my face and it was perfect for sharing. Friends said to get there about 20 minutes before they opened because it fills up fast. They were not kidding! Cars lined up like cattle waiting for the doors to open. It was worth the wait!! read more

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Lousy accommodation/reservation policy. After calling and requesting reservation for 6 we were told on the phone that they only take reservations for 8 or more BUT, if we got there before Noon we could possibly get in. After driving in 30 miles, checking in at 11:00 I was told that all tables are filled and they COULD NOT accommodate us the entire day. I notice that many couples were also turned away. Have been to Martin Cooks earlier location several times and was happy to put my name in and wait for a table. Apparently they are trying something new. While I understand a reservation policy, this is brunch we are talking about not a catered party. What a shame! Called another place and were told they could seat us at 12:30. Either I wait until Martin's business dies down or gather 7 more people to come with me each time I want to eat there. Yikes! read more

Wonderful food and great service. I cannot stress enough how much I liked the food! Flavors were out of this world, great presentation, interesting combination of ingredients. I will def be back again read more

Very yummy! The atmosphere is great. the food portions are HUGE. Just beware. There is ALWAYS a wait when I have gone there but it's fun to also just sit at the bar. The bartenders are nice and they have a cool kitchen you can see into. read more

Restaurant itself looks ok but located in a highly industrial area. The service was ok but the food was very disappointing. All the good pictures on Yelp fooled us. Nothing seemed fresh and everything was super salty. Salmon BLT is basically smoked salmon slices which are then grilled?!! Overall unhappy with the dining experience here. read more

Everything I've ever had at Roost has been surprisingly fresh and delicious- the chef is a true artist. I can't recommend this place highly enough. read more

We were looking for a decent restaurant on our way through Buffalo returning from Niagara Falls and this one was a real find. This is a converted industrial space in a run down area that looks to be part of the revival of the city. The place is nicely decorated to create a hip, informal atmosphere and the staff was welcoming. We were uniformly pleased with the food: kick where there should be kick, subtle where there should be subtle. We had a salad for our table of 4 with a creamy peppercorn dressing that complimented the greens without overwhelming them. Smoked bluefish cake with remoulade was fabulous, crispy outside, lots of smokey fish inside. Fried chicken was a great upscaled, spicy take on a Southern dish served on a fried corn pancake. The pasta dish was full of fresh flavors of heirloom tomatoes and basil. We were there mid afternoon and only a few people so noise level was low but I can imagine it would be loud when full as every surface is hard and reflective. All in all this is a worthwhile place to enjoy! read more

Roost is owner/chef's Martin Danilowicz follow up to Martin Cooks. So far it more than lives up to its well loved predecessor. Like MC it focuses on brunch favorites with an innovative modern twist. You can't go wrong with the delicious Porchetta or Saltimboca... but the Fig Pizza (with prociotto) or the Butter Milk Waffles are at as equally compelling. read more

Current menu is Asia inspired, highly recommended the tuna salad and the okonomiyaki. Pizza dough is amazing, but I would remove the parmesan from the Margherita, it covers all the other flavors. On the drink side, they make one of the few good Negroni in town, served in a crystal old style glass. read more

I'm only in buffalo two or three times a year and each time I make a point to try a new place. Seeing as this place has been the talk for of the town since it opened it was the clear choice this time round. All in all I wasn't a fan but wanted to give it a fair rating based on the efficient service we received. Our waiter was very attentive and it was a great place for a group. We ordered 6 or so items off the menu and the stars were the fig and prosciutto pizza and the sticky wings. The biggest issue I had with the food and why I can't give it a good rating is that all the food was incredibly salty. In addition to my favorites We ordered the yum yum noodles, he octopus dish, a burger, and another pizza. After a bite or two of each I couldnt continue. We told the server that the dishes especially the noodles were very salty and he attributed this to the soy in the noodles. I responded by telling him it was overkill and please do alert the chef. The restaurant has some great bones but between the sodium and underwhelming menu I was unimpressed. read more