Panos has been a staple of the Elmwood Strip for over 30 years, initially as your typical Greek diner, with breakfast all day, and souvlaki and other Greek specialties. Several years ago they embarked on an impressive remodel, adding a 2nd story dining room, and classing up the decor into a pretty nice place. They still have breakfast all day, and Greek specialties, but now with a full bar and all different kinds of meals.

Having said that, I honestly did not have high expectations for their Bloody Mary. I just figured it would be really easy for them to phone it in and dump some tomato juice in a glass, since they’re a restaurant, and not a fancy cocktail lounge or anything like that. But I was totally wrong.

Served in a tulip glass and garnished with 3 olives, a lemon and lime, and a celery stick, it was surprisingly spicy. With clear pepper in it, it had a nice tomato taste and had a good liquidity. I didn’t notice any horseradish flavor, and it didn’t taste overwhelmingly like Frank’s Hot Sauce, so I can’t say where the spice was coming from. I was very impressed and would definitely order it again.

Visited Trattoria Aroma for the first time a few weeks ago for a late dinner. I’ve heard a lot about it, as it gets mentioned in “Best of” lists for having a good brunch in Buffalo and thus a good Bloody Mary. I wasn’t intending to have one, and didn’t have one with dinner but waited until after at the bar (with a bogo coupon!) It was mid week, since my work schedule is what it is, so I wasn’t sure they’d actually have a mix ready, but the bartender was happy to make one.

It was your standard bloody in a pint glass with 2 olives, lemon and lime garnish. I tried to watch her make it, but she was at the far end of the bar. I caught her using boxed tomato juice, and Frank’s hot sauce, along with pepper but then she added stuff I couldn’t see. It had a good spice level and liquidity, but it was disappointingly average for a place that is consistently voted as having the best brunch in Buffalo.

But I will give them a pass, because not long after, I read yet another review of Trattoria Aroma’s brunch where they mention their outstanding Bloody Mary – in fact a whole Bloody Mary menu! So it appears that their mid week Bloody is fairly standard, made with the ingredients on hand, but their brunch Bloody is great.

Alas due to working nights I may never find out. Now may be my only chance as I have weekends off for the next 3 months. I just need to find a buddy to wake up and go with me!

When you think of Buffalo you think of chicken wings – that’s right, “chicken wings” never “buffalo wings”. The “buffalo” is superfluous. And when you think chicken wing, most people think of Anchor Bar, where the famous chicken wing was invented. Now I’m a bit of a bad Buffalonian and I don’t eat chicken wings…I know, the shame! But I have weird things with food and the way it looks and while they smell delicious, and I like chicken and chicken fingers, chicken wings, with bones and skin, they just look revolting and I can’t bring them up to my face to eat. SO! I can’t indulge in my hometown’s most famous food, and I can’t really comment on where the best place is to indulge. But I listen to the debate, and I can chime in with the general consensus that if you’re looking for the best, the best is NOT Anchor Bar (sure, stop in for tradition’s sake). Most people will say Duff’s out on Sheridan Drive has the best, but if you’re staying downtown, Gabriel’s Gate will often make the list.

A recent review of the best wing joints in the country by Dave Infante at Thrillist wrote: “The “2” in the 1-2 Western NY punch that sunk Anchor’s chances at glory is Gabriel’s Gate, an Allentown favorite set up inside an old row-house from 1864. They just do ‘em better — not only better than the original, but better than almost anyone in the country. A single order of medium-heat wings is the move: crispy, saucy, and utterly enormous, these may not be Buffalo’s first… but they’re the ones you need to eat when you’re here.”

Now I mention all this chicken wing talk about Gabe’s Gate because I lost my review of their Bloody Mary 🙁

As you can see from the picture, it’s served in a skinny Collins type glass with…something…probably an olive, on a skewer. I do remember talking to the bartender about the drink, as Jason told him I was going to be doing this blog and I believe he said they use a house made mix. I do remember it being tasty, but that’s about all I can report sadly.

The restaurant is decorated with all sorts of neat stuff, like mounted animals, and is located in one of the original 1864 Tift Row houses on Allen.

We started hanging out at the Gypsy Parlor quite a bit for a while before schedules changed and things got in the way. It’s a neat little place that opened on Grant and became a draw to a neighborhood that didn’t have much.

I’ve had a few Bloody Marys at the Gypsy and with the right bartender, it can have the appropriate spice level. This visit, the bartender was Britney, and it wasn’t overwhelmingly spicy, but it wasn’t just blah boring tomato juice either. Her special ingredient was olive juice, but in general it’s just slightly enhanced tomato juice with lemon, lime and olive garnish, and for $9 it’s not worth it. They have an interesting drink menu with other better options to try if you visit.

Lenox Grill in the Lenox Hotel on North is more famous for their insane bottled beer selection (365 beers for 365 days) but we stopped in for some late night food for the first time so I had to get a Bloody Mary. Their website claims the best in town for their Sunday brunch, but really, who doesn’t?

Look at that beer list, there are just pages and pages! Served in a pint glass, the Bloody Mary had your typical small olive garnish with lemon and lime. It was adequately spicy and peppery. It wasn’t super special but for $5 it was enjoyable and I would order it again.