CRaVing Restaurant

If you are reading this and contemplating whether or not you should eat here… the answer is ABSOLUTELY YOU SHOULD! We had two appetizers and two entrees and everything was beyond all expectations! The bartender was very friendly and made excellent drinks. The owners/chefs are INCREDIBLE and will not let you down! Thanks again for an unforgettable meal!

Excellent food at a decent price. We’ll definitely be back to CRaVing again in soon!

Awesome take on some traditional dishes and a few unique things! We had five dishes between the two of us and everything was great! Food came out quick and was tasty, had us eating off of each other's plates, we finished everything and couldn't stop touching the desert!

I am new to the North Buffalo area, and am exploring the local restaurants this wonderful area has to offer. Because of this I decided to take my husband to CRaVing for his birthday. I am very happy with my decision as the dinner could not have been more perfect. Situated in the Heart of Hertel, CRaVing offers dinners a unique experience by providing fresh local foods farm to table. This week they purchased a whole cow, so their menu is catered around the animal using all the animal. The atmosphere, was very warm, intimate and the server named Tom was nothing less then outstanding. He was attentive to us as well as the other patrons in the establishment during a busy time. We started our meal with a wonderful Bone Marrow, that is roasted and topped with a mushroom duxelle, and served with house focaccia. The bone marrow was prepared and presented beautifully, the Chef in this establishment has great skills at balancing flavors especially between the rich bone marrow and pairing it with the mushroom duxelle. In addition, we decided to have the Stuffed Dates that were bacon wrapped after being stuffed with chorizo, served on a bed of romesco sauce, this again was balanced well and due to the richness of the dish I decided to pair it with a bottle of Champagne, which worked perfectly. For our entrée, we both had a Root Beer Braised Short Rib served with a local vegetable hash with spinach and garlic. The entrée size was more than adequate and the meat just needed a gentle tug to full off the bone. The vegetable hash, was packed with flavor and again as in previous courses/ dishes complimented the short rib very well providing a much-needed contrast of flavor. Overall, I hope to visit this place quite often and am impressed with the quality and size of the portions. I will say that I would take advantage of reserving a table online, because of the intimate setting seating is limited and you really do not want to miss out on this gem.

Not what I expected very small and boring. The food got ice cold(calamari)after 15 minutes! My friends plate of Brussel sprouts had a long strand of hair. The manager claimed it didn't come from the cook although the hair was tangled at the bottom of plate. The server took it away and attempted to charge for it. I was disappointed and disgusted and requested that that be taken off the bill! It was a measly $13 but the fact that my friend ate out that plate before discovering the hair was nauseating. Overall the food was very low grade and not appetizing or good. The entrees were very limited $28-$32. I gave them 2 stars. The server Sarah gets 3 stars. The wine 4 stars. So I'd say Craving gets a F and you might want to skip this place unless you are there to enjoy the drinks or don't mind eating microwaved food, or possible body parts (hair)in your food. By the way the manager did not apologize for the disgusting hair but simply doubled down that it did not come from their cooks. Neither my friend or I was close enough to the plate because it was placed in the middle of our table, and we didn't bring any pets! I included a photo to show the food. Btw nothing was warm.

We had an awesome meal-- everything was so flavorful and fresh. I had sticky rice dish with marinated steak, my wife had the drunken noodles--both were exceptional. I hope more people come here and enjoy the carefully crafted dishes.

A few years ago my wife and I went to CRāVing and absolutely loved it, a few days ago from writing this we went back and after gathering my thoughts I need to write this review. First of the drinks and fried dumplings were great and the sesame chicken was fantastic perfectly crispy, moist and tender, the shrimp fried rice and smore dessert are a drastically different story. The fried rice had a very pungent fish smell, like when you’re walking by a river and you smell something that’s been in the sun a little too long but not rotten yet. The texture was very mushy almost slimy and the taste while I hate to say this but it was absolutely disgusting, I was afraid if I kept eating it I would be sick at the restaurant it was that bad. I told the waitress that “I didn’t care for it” but I probably should have been honest thankfully they took the fried rice off the bill. We finally order the dessert since most of the food was great but when we took our first bite something tasted off, if I had to describe it it would be a mix of peanut butter and the fishy taste from the fried rice. I hate leaving negative reviews but when half the meal is great and the other half is nauseating and I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt and I really hope this was just an off day but I don’t know if we’ll be back.

Croque Monsieur and BLT was awesome also scored a double batch of Manhattans and Honey Lavender martini !! Food and beverages absolutely delicious!! Support local restaurants !!

The restaurant itself is quaint and small. The noise level was a bit high. They had a limited menu but still many options to choose from. We got a bunch of appetizers to share because we couldn't decide. The fried dumplings were delicious. We got the Mussels and calamari to share which was plenty for the 6 of us. The main entrees where huge and we were stuffed and couldn't finish. The Steak was fattier than expected and the potatoes were a little undercooked. The service was great. The waitress made sure our drinks were full and got an answer to any question on the menu we had. We were too full for dessert.

Came back here because we're doing the Tom and Jerry trail. Enjoyed an early dinner here. Their menu had a lot of Asian inspired dishes that night we were there. First we ordered a squash appetizer which came with a yummy sauce. Large serving that ended up as leftovers. I ordered the drunken noodles (I think that's what it was called), it was delicious. My partner ordered another cool Asian inspired dish that was beautifully presented with a really unique and delicious flavored beef and very yummy sticky rice. Tom and Jerry's were good. Service was great. Bathrooms are nice.

I'm going to say I luv it being on hertel, it's a hoping strip, customer service are friendly and its just dam cute inside, "smallish" but cute! BUT! I was confused by this place...I am Buffalo bred and know what a wonderful spread of ethnic eats we have but what is Crave striving for? I feel like I saw everything but Mexican on the menu, you can't do it all-who are you? I couldn't figure it out Lamb showed up a lot from lamb meatball appetizers to lamb leg to lamb Idk what something else...but no, it's not Greek, it's not Italian though random Italian stuff, it's not Chinese or Thai but you could find that too, yea I'd like to recommend it but not sure what I'd be talking about! I got the house noodles which was a part of their restaurant week fare and it was a pad Thai type of thing but it left something to be desired, like idk fast food pad Thai? I don't think there should be such a thing! Drinks were pretty looking but tinnnnny! And as usual for me I would have ordered double the drinks I did had I seen my server more, when you have a box size restaurant that only fits a handful of tables should I ever be able to lose sight of my server? That was confusing as well, not to mention the time it took for our first round of drinks to come out. While I'm waiting to order my second drink I turn around and see the bartender taking a shot with some bar customers, glad to know our bartender is getting to drink it up , while I sit here in wait! I tried to ask our friendly waitress for recommendations and as friendly as she was she told us she was really picky herself so hadn't tried much so it got to the point where comically I was asking her um, okay so like what about your customers when they order this or that do they finish their plate? Hah do they have a smile on their face when they eat this? are they willing to tk their left overs home after ordering this?! lol I shouldn't have to work this hard hah with my waitress to figure things out?!?! so unfortunately I won't be bk I luv hertel and Elmwood restaurants and our wonderful Buffalo selection of eating options but yea this place just left me confused and not as tipsy as I had hoped for a belated birthday outing to a new place I had never been before but was willing to give a try

The food was great on this day. This was our first time here, mothersday without a reservation and a party of six. Initially I was told they couldn't accommodate us. I asked if we could sit at the bar and told yes. About ten minutes later we were told we could have the two tables in the front. I enjoyed basking in the sun of the front seats of this quaint restaurant and bar. Our server was great! She did mention her family came in and she was their server for mother day. In the least she was able to spend time with her children Mother's Day. Their were food orders for our table of pancakes which consists of two huge very fluffy pancakes that was I believe $16, chicken and grits which three of us received was delicious. The grits were thick yet a little creamy and stopped with spinach and fried chicken breast pieces ( that were drenched in hot sauce) atop that was a hard fried egg. We all requested hard fried not soft or runny. The only downside for me was the chicken texture. Had it been softer it would have been perfect to me. It was seasoned very well. Those meals were I believe $25, somewhere between $24 and $28. The last meal was a smash burger and fries. There were two large hand made burgers on a bun. I don't recall the type of bun or the topping I believe it was the usual toppings. The burger looked very juicy and I was told it was delicious and seasoned. I would definitely return here to try other menu items.

Farm to table with a rotating menu, local ingredients, local farms, amazing staff, reasonably priced, highly recommend

I came here recently at the suggestion of someone else. It's not really my first choice, but I was willing to give it another shot as we come out of Covid. The seating is big and spacious, which is fantastic. The menu is small and focused, most locally sourced, which I also find terrific. I was going to order something else but the server suggested puttanesca which was absolutely fantastic. I'm still thinking about it days later. It won't be on the menu forever so I suggest you go soon. We split their s'more dessert, which is huge, and probably all made in house. It's very impressive. I'm glad I give it another shot. I will give another one soon and maybe be able to put a five stars.

Took my partner and two friends for my partner's birthday. The apps were spectacular and because of that had high hopes for the rest of the meal. We were sadly disappointed. Our server was polite and on top of things. I may return for another try.

I was craving CRaVing forever. Their menu changes frequently and always looks tempting and intriguing. Our table was ready and waiting for the three of us. I'm a huge sucker for soft and comfortable seats, so I asked our super friendly hostess whether we could move to a different area -- not a problem. My excitement and expectations were high. I really liked the vibe and atmosphere at the rather small dining room area. I don't mind dimmed lights. It creates a romantic feeling. Music was playing quietly, filling up the space just perfectly. Our Prosecco Rosé: "Pale pink color with persistent perlage. Delicate nose of red fruit, hints of rose petal and biscuit notes. Palate is dry and fresh with light tart and white cherry flavors. Elegant and balanced palate with lively acidity and creamy mousse. Long dry finish." Sounded delightful, and tasted just as good. We really enjoyed it along with some oysters. My company ordered leg of lamb. I decided to have a rabbit loin. That's when everything just went downhill fast. With my first bite of meat I panicked thinking whether there was anyone around who would rescue me from choking. My rabbit was dry. Luckily, I survived and was able to try the rest of my dish. I simply didn't like it. I was hoping for something loaded with fresh herbs, or maybe a different, unusual flavor. Only thing I tasted was salt. My dish was overly salted, plus pieces of bacon added even more salt. It was just a sad dish. What a waste of meat from SaJe Farm. The lamb with scallion and roasted garlic grits, and stewed collard greens was excellent. Overall, I had a great time. I appreciated the wonderful service, hospitality and ambience, but my food was a disappointment.

Warm welcoming service -- great. Like their farm to table seasonal offerings that change often and are like a rotation of specials. Cocktails are well crafted. Not large or noisy. Outdoor seating let's us enjoy nice weather and bring our little doggo --and they make a fuss over him.

Incredible place for farm to table food in North Buffalo, homemade pastas, fresh farm produce, local meats, sustainable seafood, scratch made food, amazing staff, need I say more? Menu changes weekly w the seasons and the farm availability. Look for new thai inspired items on the menu w new ownership, cant say enough about this gem, go check it out!

I really can't say enough good things about our experience at craving - if you haven't been here you're missing out on one of the best dinners in the hertel area. The drinks and food were all wonderful and we will be back for sure. Anthony, the bartender, took care of us the entire time. Went with a group of 4 on a Thursday night and we ordered pretty much every "small plate" option they had. The Brussel sprouts were perfectly cooked with a little crunch. Not being a fan of carrots I was hesitant to try their deconstructed carrot taco but they were the best cooked carrots I've ever had. The mussels came with a decadent sauce served with kimchi and onions that was flavorful and delicious. The calamari was lightly fried and came with a drizzle of Japanese aioli and I could have ate the entire plate by myself it was so good! We also enjoyed a half a dozen oysters and the sticky rice. We had a chance to talk to the owner and chef before we left. It's very obvious a lot of careful and thoughtful execution is made by him and it truly shows through his food. I couldn't recommend this place enough.

So very sorry I'm not on FB or instagram daily ,,, you confirmed my reservation on Thursday. I live in Lockport and picked up my friend in Williamsville to drive to Hertel. Only to find it locked and dark. If I am polite enough to make a reservation/cancel it/give you my email/and phone number. There's no way that you have an excuse not to contact the people that are on your reservation list. Very , very,very disappointed. Especially after my close friend from Buffalo Spree gave such a great recommendation,,,, SZND was lovely enough to accommodate ~ and was fabulous. I was so looking forward to dining with you for the first time though. Not very professional.

I was here a few weekends ago for a friends birthday and I absolutely loved the experience. Covid19 has of course put a hiccup in a lot of things for a lot of people. A night out with good friends and good food was just what I needed. I ordered the chicken pizza and my boyfriend ordered the salmon. My friends ordered the massive fried chicken sandwich. Three friends ordered and it and it did not disappoint. It was huge!! They all said it was delicious. My pizza was amazing. It was a perfect thin crust pizza with just enough sauce and seasoning. I wanted to be cute and take some home but I ate every last bite. My boyfriends salmon was delicious. I know this because I reacued into his plate and tasted it. He can be very particular about his seafood and he loved it. That cucumber sauce was amazing. I would have eaten that on fries, chicken or by itself. It was that good! And the drinks!!! Ugh!! There's a drink called The Bramble Jam that I am now officially obsessed with. Not gonna lie, I think I had 3!! There was another one called Patio Punch that my friend let me try and I'm sure that will be my next favorite. Overall, it was the good time and good atmosphere that we all needed. The service was impeccable. The staff was very patient and kind; especially when it came to the bill!! They even allowed one of the girls to bring in cupcakes from home. Again this would probably be no biggie any other day but Ms. Rona has made everyone a little more cautious and a little more likely to say no. And rightly so. Therefore, it really was appreciated to have such a wonderful night. Our server, whose name I cannot remember (shame on me) was even kind enough to take our pictures (all 17 of them until we looked like we hadn't had 3 Bramble Jams!) It's the little things like that, that make me want to return for another great night. Sidebar: Josh the bartender HATES Yelp reviewers but he makes a mean ass drink!

It doesn't pay to make an honest review because you get criticized for it. I wish this restaurant the best of luck. I do hope the servings and what is served with an entree improves for what it costs and the presentation of what is served. This used to be a good restuarant. Hopeful!

Lots to like about CRaVing Restaurant but untimately just OK. The service was fine. No specials offered or food advice given. They do have a gluten-free menu - if asked - not mentioned anywhere. Drinks were nice, if slow arriving. Ordered a glass of wine to be served with my dinner but it didn't arrive until 5+ minutes after the food was served. Salads were great - both the beet salad and the spinach salad were nicely sized to start the meal. The Shrimp Curry was cooked perfectly and enjoyed by my partner but was a bit bland. The Sesame Shrimp was sickly sweet. The En Papillote, baked Cod, was deemed OK and "not too dry". I had the Carbonara that had little flavor, not enough cheese (Parmesan, but no Pecorino Romano cheese that I could detect) and very fatty Pancetta that should have been rendered more. I was not offered any extra cheese at serving time. The ambiance is cozy without a lot of noise. We ate early as we were seeing a show after. Nice separate bar area. Friendly staff coming and going. Unfortunately nothing seems worth a revisit

Soooooo completely underwhelming. Sad departure from the initial true farm to table brunch days

I hadn't been able to visit Craving since my first preview a couple of years ago. At that time, I only sat at the bar and shared an appetizer with a date. The date wasn't great BUT the visit to Craving was! I revisited Craving recently with a buddy of mine who lives close to Hertel - he hadn't heard of the restaurant and we both wanted to grab a delicious dinner with drinks. We are trying to support the local businesses in the area as they attempt to recover from COVID. We booked our reservation through their website, which was very easy. We were seated in the main dining room where all of the tables were spread out to allow for social distancing. It isn't too loud and the room was full of great vibes all around. This is a great spot for meeting up with a friend or going out on a date. Our kind waitress quickly introduced herself and discussed the specials. She took very good care of us. The drink menu was quite extensive and impressive! I had the New York Sour and my friend had 2 gin-based drinks - we were very pleased! With regards to the dinner menu, it is not as extensive, however they at least offer salads, fish, and meat on the menu. How do I've been more hungry, I would have probably tried the brussels sprouts appetizer. I went with the Chicken dish which was ABSOLUTELY delicious. My friend had the Cod dish and he was happy with the meal. I loved my side of delicious vegetables which were all sautéed with a delicious sauce. The chicken could have been eaten with a fork and knife...but I was too lazy so I ate it by hand! The meat was cooked to perfection - it was hot and moist by the time it was brought to the table. I hope they can expand the menu soon. I definitely plan to return soon to try other entrees. I may also stop by for a drink at the bar - the bartender is fantastic. Overall, A+ !

We loved restaurant week at CRāVing. So much so that we've been dying to come back to try their seasonal menu. This farm to table restaurant is incredible. Our server was beyond helpful and we were seated even though we could only make a late dinner that night due to work. That kind of accommodation is truly admirable. You cannot go wrong with any entree selection here. I got the short rib and my boyfriend got the salmon. Both dishes were hot and tasty. As my boyfriend will tell you for any restaurant we go to, I like my food hot and any place that serves you lukewarm food is probably a place you should think twice about before returning. We will be back and I can't wait to try their famous hankerchief pasta.

Stopped in on a Friday evening for a bite to eat and a cocktail. Didn't have a reservation but was seated promptly inside. The restaurant was moderately busy at 9:15pm and the staff was friendly and attentive. Ordered a Mai Thai which was served promptly and was tasty. Ordered a pesto pasta dish which was also promptly served and was good. Restaurant has an upscale but casual atmosphere and a great patio for people watching. Would not hesitate to return and check out more of the menu.

My family and I went here for an early mother's day celebration, and we were surprised that able to make an reservation during the weekend for dinner. Came here pretty early, and got quickly seated. My wife was worried about our two little naughty kids, Waitress gave them cranes and some quick meals (cheese pizza and pasta), both were less noisy this time. Ordered bone merow, lamb, pork chop, and fish dish for every one to enjoy. Portions were big enough, lamb, pork were both very tender. My wife loves the lamb as others tend to be too dry. Fish dish were well seasoned and cooked. Every things were perfect for the special occasion. We even tried the s'more, loved it, especially for the hot coco, which hot chocolate married milk makes taste wonderful. Service was excellent, Nicole make sure to accommodate us with best she can. Things might be bit pricey, but worth for the celebration night.

I ATE AT A RESTAURANT. There, now that that's over with I can get on with the review. Craving is one of our favorites, everything is very local and the menu changes, usually each day. Their pork steamed buns were delicious, their salads are always exceptional, and they have a decent wine and cocktail list. I miss their specials they used to do at the bar but I hope to see those soon when we can go in. Their patio set up was really nice and I felt comfortable the whole time. If anything my only complaint was the fried chicken sandwich was just a tad dry, it just needed a little something to wet it up. But it was delicious and I ate it all. Even their fresh cut fries are above and beyond. Don't get me started in the desserts. EXCEPTIONAL. This is a must go in Buffalo.

I visited CRāVing this weekend with some friends for brunch and with my baby. I mention the baby because I always love when places are accommodating and they certainly were. Brunch was wonderful. Lots of fresh hot coffee, sweet breads to kick it off (the vanilla was my favorite), and the main course was so good I wanted to lick the plate. I enjoyed a Croque Madame and it was everything! Definitely recommend! I ended up taking home a BLT for my husband (I'm so nice, right?!) and stole a few fries and a bite on the way home. It was fantastic. The focaccia bread is fresh made and you can definitely tell!

Stopped by here for lunch one afternoon on their dog friendly patio with our family and out of town guests. We were looking for a place to have a light lunch and this place exceeded our expectations. The lunch prices are so reasonable considering the meals were giant! Everything tasted perfect on our outing but the real star of the day was the sweet potato fries with honey and truffle. These were the best sweet potato fries I've had in a long long time. The white pizza was thin and cooked to crispy perfection. The BLT was filled with a pile of crunchy bacon. Needless to say, everybody was full and happy after this delicious lunch. I can't wait to come back to try dinner here also.

Food was great. Way short staffed. The chef was coming out of the kitchen to run food himself. Waited a long time and never got our 2nd drink. Will definitely go back when there is a full team.

My new favorite date night restaurant Food: 5 stars Drinks: 5 stars Service: 5 stars Ambiance: 5 stars I had such a great time here. Our waitress was excellent at explaining the menu, and we fell in love with the fact that all the meat and produce were organic and grass fed. Their menu changes daily so it felt really special to be there that day because they were offering oysters and beets which are some of my favorite things to eat. I cant wait to go back, thank you.

This week's Friday night date night took us to CRāVing. I had thought of coming here for a while and after having walked past it a few weeks back decided it needed to be soon. Parking is convenient as there is an off street lot nearby used by many of the local businesses. We were warmly greeted by the hostess as soon as we walked in. She took us to our table which was properly spaced for the current Covid safety precautions. We were offered a regular menu or the option of using the menu online. Our server promptly came to take our beverage order and to insure we had no questions with the menu. It was just my opinion but I found the menu to be a bit sparse of choices. We started with the mussels. My wife really enjoyed them but I did not find them to be what I had expected when reading the menu. I thought I tasted a chili seasoning and my wife agreed. I'm not a fan of chili and if that is actually what I tasted it would have been nice to see it in the menu description. We both agreed that bread or toast points would have made a nice addition to the mussels for soaking up the broth. After the mussels we split a chef salad. This salad was very generously portioned and quite delicious. We were each provided a separate plate to serve ourselves salad. The dressing was noticeable but not overpowering. None of the ingredients were skimped on and I found myself devouring every last morsel. For the main course I chose the trout. It was served whole though the way they smothered it in pesto it couldn't be easily seen. The pesto though was on the skin so once the fish was turned to get at the meat it was no longer a dominating factor. The trout was delicious and I ate all of it. The red cabbage coleslaw was chopped too large and not very appealing. The remaining side items were good. My wife chose a chicken pizza which she enjoyed. I tried a piece and found it to be very good myself. We weren't sure if it was the other guests or the acoustics but we found it to be quite loud at times and we found it hard to hear ourselves. Our server was attentive and always available when needed. We found her to be quite pleasant, friendly and helpful.

Farm to table restaurant. They change their menu items seasonally other than their staple menus, such as the handkerchief pasta. The pesto on this pasta tastes freshly made. Our server also told us that they make their raviolis and pasta noodles at the restaurant. Considering that they make everything there, I feel that their price is very reasonable. Their other ingredients here are super fresh and food is always on point. The steak we ordered was juicy and tender and cooked just right. The staff here are very friendly and provided great service every time I visited. They also had great deals like $1 oyster nights on Wednesday's if you like oysters which you you can snack on with their lovely cocktails. Their drinks are not watered down and tastes legit. Overall I would recommend this restaurant!

Brunch was freaking delicious we had the cheddar grits with fried chicken. I wish there were more greens on the plate but the grits were really cheddar flavored, the chicken crisp and the honey bountiful. The biscuits and sausage gravy was heavy on the sausage which was soft and herby not firm chunks and white. The drink was good and strong, Antonio's Secret for 9.5, Carpano Antica, honey syrup, lime, house ginger beer, pepper.

I told Adam that I would come back Craving more one day, I just didn't think that day would be 4 1/2 Years later. To return to an Establishment that serves Food made with the Best Quality Ingredients, sourcing it from some of the Best Farms in Buffalo (Erba Verde, Plato Dale, Sunset, Thorpe's). What better way to give Credit to these Farmers that spend long Painstaking Hours growing and Preparing these Delectables than showcasing their Names on the Menu (talk about Respect). It was originally supposed to be a Table of 8 (me, my Grandma, both my Uncles, my Aunt, my Cousins and Mike's girlfriend Sydney) but she could not get off of Work (sad isn't it). To start off, Drinks were getting ordered, Grandma got herself a glass of Red Wine while most of us ordered a Cocktail (Half a dozen coming to the Table) 2 of them were mine. Jimmy getting a Margarita, Ricky getting The Deep End (Plantation 3 Stars Rum, Cognac, Curacao, Lime & Simple Syrup), Mike with the Cock of the Walk (Four Roses Bourbon, Pear Liqueur, House Ginger Syrup & Lime), Kathy with Honey Lavender Take 2 (Honey, Lavender, Lemon & Gin) and me with The Nemean Lion (Plantation 3 Stars & OFTD Rums, Aperol, Mavrodafine & Lemon Bitters) and Mint Condition (Rye Cold Brew Coffee, Tart Cherry Concentrate, Gum Syrup & Orange Bitters). A lot of Passing and sharing of each other's Drinks all with different Unique Flavor Profiles. Sadly, I was told that Adam Goetz was busy catering a Wedding or a Party and wasn't present but he was happy that I dined. I was surprised when our waiter Nick presented us with one of the dishes from the Previous Week, Pastrami cured Salmon Belly on Housemade Marble Rye Bread with Ramp & Nettle Yogurt, Pickled Daikon and Micro Greens. This Open Faced Sandwich being a Cushion like Vessel to Thin Slices of Salmon with a Brash Peppery Rub on the Outside while the Yogurt had a light hint of a Garlicky Flavor to it. Jimmy can't resist Bone Marrow which came stacked on top of each other with Charred Herb Chimichurri, Stem Relish and Focaccia Bread (Slather some of that Meaty Butter on the Bread), along with that was a Mushroom Plate consisting of Confit Mushroom Cores, Roasted King Trumpet & Crimini, Mushrooms cooked in Red Burgundy Wine and finished with a Mushroom Cream Sauce. Crisp outer Crust, Tender inside with an intense Nutty Flavor on the end. I got a Roasted Rainbow Carrot Salad with Baby Gem Lettuce, Citrus Vinaigrette and Whipped Feta (Vibrant Colors, Carrots were Tender to the Touch although the Feta was a bit on the Salty Side to me). Entree's came along, Kathy with a Braised Lamb Shank with Pickled Greens and Daikon, Polenta Crouton, Grilled Asparagus & Vegetables Gastriques. Mike & Abby both Opted to get Pizzas, Mike with Sliced NY Strip Steak, Garlic Confit, Cheddar Cheese & Arugula and Abby (being a Vegetarian) got a Margherita Pizza with Fiddlehead Ferns. Rick enjoyed his Entrée here more this Time, Pork Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes in the Center, Rich, Most and half the Size of a Loaf of Bread. Me, Jimmy and my Grandma got the same Thing: Beef Brisket with Housemade Mac n Cheese with a Nettle Cream Sauce topped with a Savory Rye Granola Crumble and Steak Frites (cooked in Beef Fat). The Meat had that Smokey Essence and the Meat to Fat Ratio on mine and Jimmy's was Right on (Pulled apart with Ease) although Grandma's was a bit too Fatty and thought it was more like Pot Roast (Its BBQ) it turned her off saying everything was Dry. I loved the Frites (nothing better than Cooking something in rendered Animal Fat). But as much as I loved the Mac I thought it could've been a bit more Creamier. As for Desserts, Jimmy got the Liquid Cheesecake (which looked like someone left it out in the Sun to melt) and I got a S'Mores to Go for Sydney (thought it would cheer her up for being Absent from this Meal). I tell you anything that Adam touches he can Transform it into something Delicious, he's like a Culinary Warlock working his Magic in the Kitchen. With this guy manning the Helms its as Good as it Goetz around here !!!

Nice menu, changes frequently. Service is very good and entrees are wonderful. Great bar and dining room

This is not the same Craving. New owner, new chef. This was our first time to this new Craving. The new look is too bright, not a lot of attention to decor or ambience. The entrees were very good. And the restaurant was full. The hostess and server seemed inexperienced. The hostess's skirt was so short and she was tall, that when she set a table next to us we were subjected to her underwear, thankfully she wore tights. The server was unsure about bar offerings as well as food ingredients so she could not answer the questions we had. One guest asked for coffee with dessert and she replied that she thought they may have run out. This was a Saturday night. She did bring the coffee, along with the dessert, the s'more, which came out tasteless and cold. The old Craving was our go to, we loved it. We will give this one another chance but hopefully before we do, the owners will provide training to, and raise their expectations for, the front room staff.

Excellent restaurant not a bad meal. Raw oysters for a$ a piece. Some were room temp-ish some were cold some were delicious some not so much. This restaurant has a very good reputation and I am not trying to be snide but with the rep comes expectations. I ate everyone of the dozen so, I am letting you know that there was a small hiccup in their longtime respected reputation. The locally farmed beans "salad" was a very good pick. Fresh with evoo and not too acidic dressing was crunchy and a desirable choice. Never a bad meal here. I didn't mention it to staff and thinking back maybe I should have but, I didn't.

We live in the neighborhood and I don't know what took us so long to stop by. Will definitely be back very soon! I love the farm-to-table offerings and the casual vibe with high quality food. We sat on the patio and felt very safe and everything was clean. My husband and I split everything and loved it all, but our hands down favorite was the fried chicken sandwich. We both said to each other the next day that we wanted to go back and order it again. Perfectly cooked, crispy chicken, local honey, fresh greens and shredded pickled sweet potatoes (which I will definitely be recreating at home and adding to everything!) on a soft, yet hearty roll and garlic aioli. The fresh cut fries were super crispy and salted just enough. We started with the Cesar salad and they were kind enough to split it onto 2 plates for us. My husband asked for extra dressing and while I thought mine was dressed with just enough, I was happy to have some extra to dip the crusty crouton bread. We also had a pizza. A simple margarita style with super thin crust and a very fresh tomato sauce. Next time we'll save room for dessert!

I go in there a few times a month, and love how frequently the specials change with all of the local items. The menu is great but I prefer the specials. I was in the mood for risotto and chose their salmon dish. It's hard to narrow down the starters. This time we started with the cooking peppers appetizer, and it was just layered with incredible flavors. It wasn't something that I would normally order but was recommended to us. The last time that I was there, we started with the beet appetizer. I would love to recreate this dish over and over. The beets were sliced so thin, and the salad had a lot of different texture instead of your typical lettuce salad. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. The dishes are very creative, and the flavors are on another level. I really love this place !!

Came here for a special occasion with my boo. The ambiance was trendy but romantic and we sat by the window. The waiter was professional and informative. I appreciate the fact they make everything homemade, like their amazing fluffy mashed potatoes! I ordered the salmon which came with mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach and a a steak pizza with caramelized onions and goat cheese for Dan. The salmon dish was a 11/10. Salmon cooked perfectly, mashed potatoes to die for, sautéed spinach and tomato nice touch to the dish. We actually shared it because it was so large. Dan's pizza was a 6/10...it was flimsy, little soggy, and missing something. I'll post the picture and you can see for yourself. The flavors weren't there! But THAT SALMON!!! OMG!! I wanted to try the homemade s'more dessert but we were too full! Next time we will come for brunch and try that dessert!! Yummo

One of my favorite restaurants on Hertel, I'm. Ever disappointed. This place is really great, the food is always good and the service is wonderful. It's a very intimate setting without a lot of seating but has a nice ambiance and bar area. Yesterday, we each got pizzas. Mine was a margherita with balsamic and she got the roasted vegetable pizza on the specials menu. We paired them with a Sauvignon Blanc and really enjoyed our meal!

Though Craving's brunch is great, this review will be mostly about the bar. A small, neo-rustic setup with upcycled wooden packing crates for shelves, Craving's bar is a real gem. One of my favorite spots for cocktails, in Buffalo or anywhere. They use fresh ingredients, house-made juices and syrups, and an impressively diverse selection of spirits. Go on Thursday for their weekly tiki night, and taste what classic tropical drinks are meant to be. Start with a Mai Tai made with house made orgeat (toasted almond syrup.) It's enough to make Don the Beachcomber proud. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable, so ask questions. This is a great place for a conversation.

Stopped by here for a little taste of restaurant week with gf and we definitely picked a great place! The chefs at CRāV are no joke, that meal was amazing! Staring off with the arugala salad that consisted of obviously arugala, grapes, and I want to say some walnuts, over a thick balsamicy type glaze was spectacular! As for the entree I ordered the slow cooked short rib that was smoked and fell right off the bone, came with cut up baked sweet potatos, braised cabbage, and apple slaw, omg I was in heaven! The lady ordered the the salmon that was introduced with roasted potatos, some spinach, roasted onions and topped with a corn like grits sauce, soooooo good! Very impressed, place is adorable as well, would definitely have another date night there!!

The staff is super nice. The host offered to take our coats and hang them by the bar. Our server Keisha was bubbly and kind. The restaurant is rather small but still manages to have a dining room separate from the bar, which I like. I estimate that the dining room can seat about 40. I had a Delmonico steak which was cooked to medium like I asked. I had a couple House cocktails which were very tasty albeit in a rather small glass. The menu here changes often because it's a farm to table restaurant. Looking forward to going back and seeing what's new. The restaurant is located on a great section of Hertel which has interesting retailers as well as other restaurants like Lloyd Taco, The Burning Buffalo, and Poutine and Cream

Pretty good! Definitely worth a visit. The atmosphere was nice and the service was attentive and friendly. The drinks were delicious. I was especially impressed by their appetizers. I ordered a pizza for my meal which I slightly regret. It was pretty average and wouldn't say it's a highlight of their menu but I will definitely come back and try something else. My GF had gotten Gnocchi and she loved it. It looks like the menu is constantly changing and evolving so I definitely won't hold it against em.

Finally tried CRāVing as a first indoor dining experience in a longggg time- it didn't disappoint! The hostess was exceptional. She was attentive and could tell from afar that someone in our party didn't like their drink, and brought over what she thought he wanted instead- and she was right! The food was delicious and you can really tell the ingredients are fresh. We had the mussels to start, and chicken, pea meal bacon sandwich, and ribeye as entrees. The ribeye was cooked and seasoned perfectly. I had never had a pea meal bacon sandwich before but they made a sandwich and fries taste elevated and the flavor was perfect. We felt safe with spaced-apart tables and a clean restaurant. Will be back again to check out their changing menu!

Would you believe it if I said that I ate here two nights in a row after discovering it on the first night? Yes, we drove into Buffalo around dinner time and spotted Craving as an interesting, eclectic, locally sourced and just all around excellent based on reviews. Boy was our choice right on! The mains were excellent (our party had lamb chops and lamb burger plus oysters). The drinks though a bit expensive were also very good. So we went back in a larger group a second time the following night. Everyone enjoyed their food and drinks. I would go back a third night quite honestly but we're leaving town. This place is on the list of restaurants to come back to when in Buffalo. Oh, food was excellent and I forgot to mention that the service was also excellent.

Another great experience at CraVing! Stopped in for lunch and ordered the Chicken Cutlet sandwich (chicken cutlet with spinach, served on a Luigi's Italian roll), my friend had the Croque Madame (ham, gruyere mornay sauce, fried egg on house made sourdough). Both of our sandwiches were enormous. Big enough to cut in half right away and take a side home for dinner. The chicken cutlet was thick and juicy. I did not try the Croque sandwich but my friend was thrilled with it. I cannot wait for the patio to be open and the weather to be warm enough to frequent this spot!

Recently visited Crāving for the second time. Our first visit was brunch and very nice. This time we went for dinner with friends. The restaurant is not too big. You enter through the small bar area into the sit down part with approximately 10 tables. The waitress served us water right away. Bread and butter was not an automatic but it appears to be served upon request for free. The menu fits on 1 page but still offers a nice variety of choices: 7 starters, 8 main courses, 3 pizzas and 3 salads. A separate menu for wines and craft beers is also offered. We both picked the salmon. pan seared with yellow tomato risotto with sautéed spinach. The salmon was excellent seared, not dry and nice and crunchy on one side. Just perfect. It was topped with tomato jam. That is a nice surprise with a little sweetness; wonderful. We had the bigger table next to the window and that was a bit drafty. The lighting in the restaurant is on a "romantic" setting. Nice, but reading the menu is a bit challenging. Crāving offers a solution for that: the waitress immediately came up with a clip on torch light.

Friday night during Restaurant Week, my friend and I decided to go out strictly for desserts. I believe it was about 8 or 9pm, when we walked in with no prior reservations. It was pretty busy, but luckily for us, we were seated right away. It's a quaint little place, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We saw a lot of couples out that night, so it's a nice place for date night. As for the dessert menu, there is no "menu" per say, but the waitress verbally described them to us. We ordered two desserts, Orange Creme Brûlée and a bread pudding dessert. Both were very, VERY GOOD!! In conclusion, I'd definitely recommend this place (especially for date night).

3.5 actually but still a solid place. This was the second time here and both times I like the food but something is always just slightly off. So we got three small plates and shared them all. It happened to be st Patrick's day so the first was their take on corn beef and cabbage, then the fried chicken and grits and lastly a seafood pasta dish I'm forgetting the name of right now. The best was the fried chicken dish, I really love the combo of the chicken and the grits with the honey running thru it. The other two dishes weren't that successful IMO. Neither were bad but just off somehow in flavors. The bf also ordered a drink... again forgetting what it was called and frankly it was pretty forgettable. The bf likes this place a lot tho so who knows maybe I'm just being picky.

This is a small, neighborhood restaurant, but it draws patrons from all over. We were there celebrating a friend's birthday, so when we arrived we asked our waitress to put in an order for a surprise birthday dessert . I had the salmon. It was served on top of a bed of flavorful risotto and sautéed spinach. The salmon had a very nice crust on it. I actually had to use my knife, just a bit, something I almost never have to do with any fish dish. The plate was a beautiful presentation. The waitress told us that the salmon would take slightly longer to serve than our friends' pasta dishes, so we asked if there was bread for the table. I think bread is not served with dinner unless requested. It us worth asking for as a nice tub of butter with a semi- crispy bread which had a hint of rosemary. The dessert is called S'more as layered cookie bottom with a chocolate filling with a hint of peanut butter and covered with a melted marshmallow sauce. It was served with demitasses of rich cocoa. The S'more was easily divided by 4.

Went here to celebrate an anniversary and really enjoyed my meal and the atmosphere. The service was great and the food was delicious. I would highly recommend the duck which was very flavourful and tender. They change their menu around pretty often based on what is local and fresh. Another reason why I love this place. Be sure to get dessert; the s'mores dessert is every sweat tooth's dream!

It has been awhile since I've been blown away by a restaurant and I can honestly say craving is one of those restaurants. Located on the awesome Hertel Avenue in Buffalo near Lloyds. There is parking lot next to the resturant which is great. You have the option of seating outside on the patio area as well as more intimate candlelit seating inside. We opted for indoor seating due to the humidity. Interior is a combination of rustic and modern. Our waiter Thomas was very attentive. He explained the seasonal menu and the farm to table concept that craving follows, which I love. My friend and I ordered drinks, he got a special beer on tap and I got a dirty martini....both were perfect. We opted for the special of the night which was a lamb burger prepared with pickled onions, carrot aioli served on a house-made Olive bun with a side of french fries hand-cut in house. We also tried the beet salad which was delicious with a housemaid vinaigrette. Everything was phenomenal! The flavors were very fresh. The lamb burger was cooked perfectly and the toppings balanced with the bun. The beet salad, which usually are very vinegar from my past experience at other restaurants, was balanced perfectly with the natural sweetness of beets and complimented by the dressing. I wish I had room for dessert. Our waiter told us about an amazing dessert for two which was s'more based and had dark chocolate, my favorite. The wait staff, bartender, and there was another young lady delivering drinks were all amazing! Literally a perfect end to a very stressful day. I will definitely be back!