Sportsmen's Tavern

5 band tribute to The Pogues. 3rd annual event was a boot stomping time! Balcony seating had a good view of the band too but get there early for dinner if you want closer seating or on first floor.

I give all 5 because everything I have been there for a music venue it is on point. I love all the unique styles of music and times offered for the different age groups.Up stairs looking over the bands off in a corner is also very spacious and cozy if I on a date 😉 Downstairs is cozy and groovy and all are so friendly.Parking ehh depending on the event but just grab a Uber and get off at the door and enjoy.

Quick date night with the wife and stumbled upon this venue and couldn't have been more pleased!! Great live music, intimate atmosphere, fun with great food!! We definitely will be back and highly recommend!!!

All was Great as usual.. my third visit over the last 5 Years ´. Great Welcome Great Live music , Gréât Food and drinks… One Big Happy Family!!!

Nice music venue with limited but quality bar food.

My third time visiting the tavern. Great venue for local and well-known bands. I sat at a table next to the stage and upstairs in the balcony. The sound is great throughout the building. Bar on first and second floor. Terrific live video screen above the band for all to see close up, AND screens upstairs for all to see there. Plenty of seating whether table, bar, tall table, or balcony railing tables. The artwork attached to the walls spans from paintings, drawings, metal work, conglomerate collections, etc. Looking up at the ceiling is a view to cherish with strong wooded open beams, very well built and maintained. I didn't know what to expect for food quality, but the standard tavern chicken tenders were nicely breaded, cooked and seasoned just right; steak fries were delicious. Feeling hospitable, enjoy the turkey/bacon club sandwich with fries. Bacon was cooked just right, turkey was fresh, very easy to eat and enjoy. Our party of four greatly enjoyed the experience. And do not let me forget to mention our server. We were brought menus, told of specials, and brought our orders by the nicest of servers.

This is a Buffalo jewel which I had not visited until this past weekend. We had a friend who was playing in a band on stage, so we had to visit. Not having gone to a watch a live band since the pandemic, I was impressed. This business is nicknames the honky tonkiest bar in Buffalo (or something along those lines), and I can see that being true. The staff was also friendly, very attentive, and the prices were on par with other business. There was a cover charge of $10, which is a decent deal for live music. Parking can be a hit or miss but fortunately there is parking in the shopping complex next door. I am looking forward to visiting again and seeing more bands and trying more of the food.

Good place to see and listen to great music. Intimate setting.

Of course I support this institution! Live music always at this place. Always a family vibe and always interesting line ups. What's amazing is you can go between here and the Cave for multiple shows in a single day! Love this place!

This is a Buffalo jewel which I had not visited until this past weekend. We had a friend who was playing in a band on stage, so we had to visit. Not having gone to a watch a live band since the pandemic, I was impressed. This business is nicknames the honky tonkiest bar in Buffalo (or something along those lines), and I can see that being true. The staff was also friendly, very attentive, and the prices were on par with other business. There was a cover charge of $10, which is a decent deal for live music. Parking can be a hit or miss but fortunately there is parking in the shopping complex next door. I am looking forward to visiting again and seeing more bands and trying more of the food.

Definitely go to Sportsmen's for great music and fun time. Definitely don't go expecting to get a meal in a timely fashion. Was there recently on a crowded night and while placing our order, we were told there would be a forty minute wait for food. No problem - the band was fun and we were enjoying ourselves. After waiting for our food for more than an hour, we ended up canceling our order and going across the street for pizza. We will definitely go back - but we will not come hungry.

Great place for music with more bands every month than anywhere in Buffalo and surrounding area! Drinks are a decent price, wait staff and bar tenders friendly. First time we tried the food, loaded fries and best wings we've had in a while! They are in the process of major renovations and I can't wait to see the results!

WMD amazing on a Sunday afternoon. The service, dreadful. The first bar I've ever been that charges for a gingerale, but ok. I asked for a menu, bartender yelled WHAT? ok, not ready for day shift, after sitting at a table for 20 min without service, went back to rude bartender, asked if I put my order in with him, he said when you see a waitress, flag her down. Im back at my table writing this review. zero hospitality. Leaving to go have dinner at The Gypsy Parlor. No bueno

The Sportsmen's Tavern is one of the best places to see live music in all of WNY! The environment is clean and high energy, with many vantage points to see the bands. This is one of my fav places to take out of town visitors to see a wonderful slice of Buffalo! The service is always great and the owners genuinely care about music and their community! You couldn't ask for more!!!

This is the best place to take in a shoe indoors in Buffalo. Who doesn't love Sportsmen's Tavern?! It has such a legacy for families into music. The bartenders are always friendly, they have a good bar and food selection, and the venue is awesome. Great street parking, too. I just love this place.

From the front, it doesn't look like much or very big, and it's not in the most desirable neighborhood. This is a perfect example of not judging a book by its cover. This is the Cadillac of live music, dive bars. It looks like it just continues to expand, which give the additions character. The upstairs has both indoor and outdoor seating. We saw a Beatles tribute and I was blown away!! Everyone was dancing, singing and having a fun time. It was a $10 band charge, which is justifiable and well worth it. I'm not sure if bands vary in price. We all got drinks and food. From the variety of different plates at our table, pub food options definitely looked the best. Make it an absolute point to go upstairs before you commit to a seat. And make sure to check out the bannister. It's made of guitar handles. So cool!!

Had a nice evening out with friends listening to Towne Pants. Due to COVID restrictions, you needed to purchase tickets in advance, and you were assigned seats so that there was the required 6 foot gap between tables and chairs. When we arrived and checked in at the door, they explained the rules around needing to wear masks anytime inside, except when seated at the tables. It was a simple process but they made sure to stress the rules because they'd like to stay in business! There was table service, but the bars were open to order drinks from, however you could not hang out at the bars, get your drinks and return to your seat. You could not wander around or hang out outside either. Even with the rules, we still had a great time listening to great music!

I stopped here last night with a few friends to see the Johnny Cash Birthday Bash show. The singer was good, as were his band members. The Kensington's were on just before that. They played '50's and '60's hits. I had two glasses of Guinness. ($6 each.) The bartender was friendly and kind. We got there pretty early but were not aware of the Kensington's show so it was hard to find seats. We found some seats a bit closer on the second floor. It wasn't nearly as loud on the second floor and we mostly had a good view, so I was pleased. At the end of January I went to Sportsmen's Tavern to see Grosh play their annual Led Zeppelin tribute show. It was fantastic. The band was amazing. A few of my friends got there before I did and they sat right in front of the stage. It was way too loud but still amazing. I ordered food. The waitress only took food orders one at a time. I thought that was a little strange. The food was really good though. I had a burger and fries. ($11--the fries were worth it.) It's really cool that the venue seems like an old barn. I think the venue is cash only. A total of 5/5 stars because of the great bands that I've seen there. I hope to see more bands here in the future.

Another night of live music at a great local venue! I love the choice of upper or lower level seating. Sound is fabulous. You'll always run into someone you know. Maybe that's just me. Lol.

Excellent affordable menu. Great music and owner so friendly and genuine. Good food and good atmosphere

Music is back at the Sportsmen's! You must reserve your spot, buy tickets online, stay in your seat unless using the restroom, but it's great to have live music back. There are plexiglass dividers between the small group seating. If the weather permits, the flaps are opened and there is outdoor patio seating. They recently lost their chef but they still offer a limited menu. The drinks are cold and the music is hot.

Sportsmen's Tavern is a historical music venue in Black Rock. It opened in 1985 and has had a lot of great musical acts come through this hidden gem of a bar/music venue. It is a very "Buffalo-like" venue and it's the only place I'm aware of that I can eat some incredible chicken wings while dancing to a show. I love that they keep the kitchen open during shows and a lot of times dole out some delightful Buffalo favorites. The venue is two-stories and intimate and there's hardly a bad vantage point in the bar. The drinks are priced reasonably, the food is reasonable and you're not getting "gouged" even though you're seeing a show. Although, do expect a cover for the performances as they regularly bring in some good bands. Most recently, I saw Driftwood play here. While the cover was $20, it was an incredible show and I'm so glad I got to experience a concert. Oh and the chicken wings? Crispy and amazing! They definitely do them right and you don't have to tell them to make 'em extra crispy here, they know! The blue cheese is creamy with chunks of blue cheese and I'm fairly certain is made in house too. Cash only, but there's an ATM on the 2nd floor.

Amazing place for great music and food. Not a bad seat in the place. You have to try their hamburgers. Delicious!!

Place is amazing and Owners are the best have known them for years and their place just gets better and better

This is an intimate venue to experience bands, its design incorporates two main levels. The second story is tiered for better viewing of the stage. This was my second visit here to see a local group called the Kensington's, they put on a great show each time. While here we enjoyed some light fare which included crab cakes and some fried mozzarella stick with a marinara dip. Restroom facilities are very basic but clean. A second level patio is adjacent to the upper level seating area and has large windows that can open to further connect the spaces. If you are interested in a quality environment for entertainment I recommend this place.

Oh man, what an awesome venue. I'm gonna give them an extra star for the show I attended here, because I feel like it really amped up the great experience I had here. My friend and I zoomed over here after she'd gotten out of work, since we were planning on attending the Johnny Cash Tribute show they were having that night (some of the members of the band we were seeing were in her wedding, so we're all pretty good friends here). A bit of disappointment when we got there just as they hit capacity - but the guy at the door would allow people in as people began to leave, so we ended up having to wait around 15-20 minutes to actually get in. Wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't such a cold night - definitely something to keep in mind if the place is going to be pretty packed for a show, and if it's the winter. Can't imagine it being too bad in the summer though! Anyway, when we got in, I was absolutely floored. Something about how the stage is positioned, the height - I had a good feeling that I'd enjoy my time here. Not just because of the show, but because of the intimacy, and the fact that everyone just seemed to be enjoying themselves, enjoying the show - really no negativity in the air, just good old fashioned Johnny Cash. The bar is up against the back wall, with seating all throughout the first floor and some on the second floor as well (I didn't actually go upstairs though). The stage is in the back corner, and it's raised high enough so that wherever you sit or stand in the place, there really isn't a bad spot in the house. We sat in the booth across from the bar and stage area, and it was easy to see the band over the heads of the people standing close up to the stage itself. There's also a huge tv sitting above the stage, in case you can't see the musicians themselves. The whole place has a western-y feel too - or maybe that's just all the Johnny Cash talking. A lot of the space has that nice wood paneling/doors, the ceiling is entirely open, and it kind of feels like you're inside of a barn. The memorabilia hanging from the walls pays tribute to all the music you can ever imagine. I especially liked the curtain and signage on the stage, it sort of reminded me of an old jazz band's stage. The bathroom was fairly clean as well, even at the end of the night. I was actually kind of surprised, used to the usual graffiti of a downtown Buffalo venue bathroom. It was nice. My music experience here was absolutely fantastic. This place is definitely one of the best music venues in Buffalo. I didn't even know they had food here. Maybe next time I stop in I'll get something to eat, too!

Great place to listen to live music. Not for children. The food is bar food but good. Always nice to listen to a live band during these long winter days. Cash only.

Cool place, nice vibe! The place is old , a little worn but very clean! Has a few levels, outside seating that lets you see the band . Reasonable drink prices. I smelled delicious wings but there was no waitress or menu . I know i could have talked to the bar tender but i am not suppose to eat them. A menu on the table would help the business! The band cock robbin was AWESOME took me back to the days of Uncle Sams, the barrel head, etc. ah the good old days ! Can't wait to return, this time I'll ask about the wings.

What a fun Music venue. Went and saw Dead Alliance last night. Super great venue with decent prices on drinks and a friendly bar staff. Will be coming here more often, although it's a trek from downtown.

Last weekend we saw the D.C. area rock & blues band, the Nighthawks, at the Sportsmen's. We purchased tickets in advance. The show was great! Husband & I used to live in the D.C. area, now live in Buffalo, & were delighted to find the Nighthawks playing here. We ate chicken fingers & fries, & purchased T-shirts & a CD. A wonderful summer evening!

The convergence of Spotmen's, Hot Mama's, and a handful of other restaurants and pubs makes the stretch of Amherst between Grant and Military something like the Best Pub Crawl in Buffalo that Nobody Knows About. The cover here can be a bit steep ($20!) for local and regional bands, but that's really the only bad thing I can say about the place. You'll need to get there early if you want a seat, but the first floor has great sightlines to the stage, and the second floor has a balcony with barstool seating on three sides. There's a surprisingly solid and affordable food menu that's actually available during shows, the drinks are priced reasonably, the beer selection is pretty good, and the sound system does its job. There's cool band paraphernalia on the walls from the place's decades of doing live shows, and despite the fact that Sportsmen's is often filled to capacity (did I mention to get there early?), I've never waited an inordinately long time for a drink refill. If you like woody and divey concert clubs of the old school, Sportsmen's just might be your thing. On-street parking only.

A decent venue to see a show, no matter what your age or musical taste. Concerts are affordable (most are in the $5-$20 range) and seating is available upstairs and downstairs (first come first serve). Also, the sound quality is awesome, no static, and it is easy to hear the vocalists, etc. It's a very cool vibe to see a live band at Sportsman's that you really need to experience for yourself. Some side notes that made this a four star review..... it's very crowded and claustrophobic, not sure if there is anything they can do about that except maybe limit occupancy. I did purchase a single order of wings that were very crispy but some wings almost tasted dried out with very little meat on them..... for $11 I'm not gonna complain but I've definitely had better. The Bisonfest pint of beer did hit the spot though. Also, do yourself a favor and check out the band Grosh because they put on one hell of a show!

The chicken fingers here are actually fingers. If they were any skinnier, they'd be fries. The steak fries on the other hand are great! The blue cheese is really good too.

I went to the Sportsman Tavern for their live bluegrass music and had lunch there with some friends. It wasn't at night. Thus live bluegrass was from 12-2 pm. It was so wonderful to find a place that has live music during "working hours". The food was good. I had a delicious chicken souvlaki salad. There is lots of beer on tap and bottled beer. There is a nice stage for the performers. The building is two levels and you can watch the performers upstairs and downstairs.

Fantastic group of regular customers and great live music, especially The Twang Gang. My friends and I meet there at least once a month, and great food, cold drinks, and live music. Service is great.

WARNING: They do not accept credit cards. Only cash, for both covers and at the bar/restaurant. They have an ATM in-house, but the withdrawal fee is $3. Bring cash. This venue is really amazing! The seating between two floors is genius, as well as a bar on both floors. When I got my drink, I ordered a long island iced tea and I believe the glass was dirty or the sweet and sour mix was slightly open, not sure, but my first drink had about eight dead fruit flies floating around in it. Not cool. I immediately took it back to the bar and they gave me a different drink right away. We were here to meet some friends for live music, so I wasn't ready to write this place off yet. Food was okay. I ordered a BLT Club and my fiance tried to order some chicken fingers. They were completely out of them. So he got the Alehouse Cheddar Bacon burger, but they forgot the bacon... The band, Stephane Wrembel (amazing French guitar player who composed music for Woody Allen's 'Midnight in Paris,') was incredible. It really was the highlight of the night and if the band wasn't there, I am not sure I would have been impressed with this place. My drink thing was addressed, but I did have a rather uneasy feeling ordering food. Then when they forgot bacon on a $9 burger, I lost a little more faith. Luckily, the music was something I will not forget (in a good way.) If that band is on the ticket again soon, you should go for the amazing show!

I spent my Saturday night at the Sportsmens tavern in Buffalo. I went there to see Eli a wonderful band That features music from three dog night.We had seen them a year ago at the same venue enjoyed them immensely. This bar has live music several times a week plus other special musical experiences. They have a full bar and a kitchen with many yummy things to eat. My husband had a burger with fries and I had chicken fingers with fries. Both entrées were delicious with a good portion for the price. Served hot. I suggest getting there early if you want to find a seat, the place sells out. There is street parking with an additional lot across the street In a shopping plaza. They could spend a little more time on cleaning details especially in the bathrooms. They have a wonderful need Decour featuring musical instruments and a lot of pictures and paintings of past performers.

I just love this place for lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday. Where else can you be entertained by a sixteen piece big band for free admission on Tuesdays and a smaller version of that on Wednesday with great vocals and guest singers depending on the day. The food is good basic American and the drinks are priced right regardless of choice. One thing to note, if you are ordering food and have limited time due to lunch hour time constraints be sure to tell them that or ask how long it will take. Great place with tons of history, if only the walls could talk

Loved this spot! Epic venue, great wings and cold beers. The perfect spot to check out after a year without live music

Went to the Sportsmens for the first of the WNY Blues Society events on the second Thursday of the month October to April. The headliner was Vanessa Collier. She is quite a talent: she played sax, guitar, sang and led her band. The house was on its feet at the end of her show. The Sportsmens is a great small venue to see big acts. Make time to see one of their shows.

We only went for beer and to watch my friend's band. They have a few craft brews and domestics on tap and a cooler of bottles. Worth it to try what's on tap as a cream porter and Aviator Red cost the same as a draft Guinness and bottle of Molson ($9). We went on a Friday night and there were a lot of people but moving around and getting a drink were not a problem. The bathrooms were kept clean too. FYI- the bar is cash-only but there's an atm upstairs. If you're going for a show, don't forget to try going upstairs. The acoustics and space are different than downstairs and there's also another bar up there too. They offer shows pretty much every night of the week!

Super cool place with great music. Kind of hidden which is nice. Only flaw is they only take cash at the bar

Owned by a musician and with an acclaimed recording studio next door, this is where Buffalo's musicians go to hear live music, and that's a big endorsement. The sound is always great and the lineup features a well-cultivated range local and national acts (mostly in the Americana vein). Often, it includes national bands you'd never otherwise get to see in a venue that seats a couple hundred people rather than a few thousand. There's great music every night of the week and the cover is often as low as $3 (for national acts, tickets range more into the $20-$40 range). Floor and balcony seating is comfortable and offers great sight-lines. Additional outdoor seating is available on a covered second-floor patio that wraps around the building, and the walls are open to the interior, so you can pull up a stool and look right down at the band. Bars are staffed on both floors. The environment is very casual friendly. You'll see everything from twenty-something hipsters to neighborhood octogenarians who have been occupying these barstools for decades and seen the bar grow through many stages to become the premier music venue it is today. A recent addition to the venue's offerings is the Grille at Sportsmen's Tavern. The food far surpasses standard bar fare and is reasonably priced. For VEGETARIANS, there's a grilled caprese panini served with fruit salad, but I'd recommend splurging on the fries, which are some of the best in the city. Universally, their wings get rave reviews. Often, the chef even tailors the menu to the music (offer Louisiana-style dishes on nights when there's a Cajun band, for instance). Ample parking is available across the street at a supermarket parking lot. ***TIP/UPDATE: Check out the live-music lunches, 12:00-2:30PM Tuesdays (17-piece big band) and Thursdays (all-star honky-tonk). Great food, music, and fun to break up your workday! I also love bringing out-of-town guests to these shindigs. My parents love going to the big band show whenever they are in town! ***

Four of us attended the Van Morrison tribute band last night. The band was FANTASTIC, to say the least! The food was better than I expected and the service was very good too. The venue itself is a great one for the music. Everything , really 10 stars BUT.... please have a bouncer watching the front of the stage. There was an obnoxious drunk who was spilling his drink, disturbing equipment on the stage and worse, harassing a woman who did not want to dance with him. He just would not leave her alone. It got to the point where she got up and left her group of friends and went home. Why should a paying customer have to leave when the drunk should have been tossed out? I would like to see management review the procedures for customers being over served and ruining the experience for decent patrons.

I'd like to start by pointing out that I've never actually seen a Sportsman in the Sportsman's Tavern. Unless I count. And I really don't. Too many years eating Buffalo cuisine took care of that. This review is for the food only, and to a lesser extent the Open Mic. It looks like a tiny little country and western-type music bar, with a bunch of friendly folk inside. But in the back is a kitchen, and they really, really know how to do wings and pizza there! Try the wings! Mmmmmmm Buffalo! As the later review said, hole in the wall was a description made for this place. The Open Mic there is fun, even if some of the patrons are less than appreciative of music that is not what they are used to. Black Rock is an interesting neighbourhood indeed. They do drug deals a few houses down (hang around outside and you can see it for yourself). But you'll always be at home in Sportsman's. This place changed my life, really. I used to go there and play Open Mic, and I met a lady who was a musician, but also worked at Borders and did event booking. I arranged a concert there, and the vibe really suited my music (and my merch sales), and after that, I performed at about (no exaggeration) 500 Borders stores around the US before the franchise closed down. Actually, they banned me from playing there for awhile, because I had performed at too many of their stores, and was a bit too contemporary for their execs, but by then I had so many friends at store level who liked my show that I was able to still play there whenever I wanted to. Anyway, that was a major digression. But the bottom line is, give the Sportsmen's a try and the wings will please you :D

If you don't know about the Sportsmen's you are really missing out. The Hall family has transformed this local Black Rock tavern into a music haven... and we have personally had the privilege of experiencing the total transformation. There are likely a thousand gigs a year from local to regional to nationally recognized performers....something for everyone. AND I haven't even mentioned the food!

Very much a bar,, more a place for music than food. Hadn't intended to eat, but had a decent burger with very good fries. Burger was cooked past the medium ordered but tasty, Blu cheese was very tasty. Menu also offers wings, wraps, and an array of sandwiches They also feature a Friday Fish fryService was efficient Again more a music venue

It is a hidden gem inside a progressive music club. More than you would expect, this is not a place where you would expect more than just bar food. The fare does contain Wings and Poppers etc. However you will be surprized to see what those that frequent already know. The Menu contains a diverse selection from flatbread sandwiches to premium burgers, to one of the best Chicken Soulvakis around town. They also boast homemade bleu cheese for the famed "Greg Wings". Also homemade soup and crab cakes, and a Friday Fish fry with a nice portion of Mac Salad and Coleslaw with the famous fries. You can listen to a band have dinner or grab a quick bite. Either way your sure to be happy.

Place is everything I wanted my bar to be back in Boston... Live bands YES !! Super nice bartenders you bet !! Affordable drinks?? you better believe it... Sound was real good, crowd super friendly and The Sheila Divine rocked the fucking shit out of this place. Met the owner at the door and he couldn't have been nicer, if I lived in this neighborhood and actually was someone who enjoyed going to bars, this would by my mother fucking spot !!! However; I live in Boston where bars and the world closes are 1am or 2 if you are lucky... This just capped off yet another amazing trip to this often overlooked town of Buffalo. 2017 was rather epic for me, a few continents 9 countries and not a single weekend in my hometown and I would put this place and this city in the top 5 of all of it... Niagara Falls never disappoints, Buffalo / Patriots / my favorite band all of it... So if you see a band playing at this bar/club do not let the name fool you, they get it...

This is a seriously cool place and I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more. I'll admit I spent a lot of my time here pissed off because they're cash only. I didn't have any drinks or any food because I didn't have cash with me other than the 5 dollars for the cover that night. Seriously though, it's 2019 there's no excuse for that at this point anymore. They asked me to go use the ATM but I absolutely will not because I shouldn't have to. Get with the present people it's not 1980 anymore. But anyway rant aside, I've moved on to appreciate the venue and how unique it was. I loved the corner stage for bands to play and the second story tiered seating. How many times have you been to a bar where the front row of people crowds together and you never get a good view of the band? Not here, the upper deck (and bar) make this a kind of unique location with plenty of actual space despite the size. They've got two bars, and food (probably good, I'll never know) and the staff seemed friendly enough. This place has a ton of different bands and a lot of history. I really enjoyed all the band memorabilia all over and it was interesting to see all the groups that have been here. They've got live music or some event nearly every day which was impressive enough! I'll give them another try and I'll bring cash this time so I don't have to pay the ATM fees. Hopefully by then they'll start taking cards. Check them out you won't be sorry you did!

You have to be looking for Sportsman's because stumbling upon it would be difficult. The band that played the night we went was quite good. The honky tonk was cranking and the aging baby boomers with their worn hip joints were dancing and grooving to the aging hippies strumming away up on stage. The smoker's were ducking out the side door for a fix and wall studs were bare in the back due to ongoing construction all adding to the vibe. In other words, this hole in the wall defines holes in the wall and we enjoyed every minute of it!

If you're looking for a low-key, off the beaten path, local music venue...then look no further. I've been coming here since I was in high school and I've been loving it ever since. We had a friend in town from Florida and we wanted to take him to a real Buffalo staple. There was folk band in town and they were amazing. We sat upstairs right above the stage. We were hoping the upstairs bar would be open, but it was a quiet night for Sportsmen's so I understood why they wouldn't need to have two bars open. The doorman and the staff are always great and the drink prices can't be beat. I can only remember eating here once or twice, so I can't speak to the food much, but if you're into live music and want to enjoy yourself at a venue that takes pride in their musicians, staff and especially patrons...stop in!

They say its the best music club in Buffalo because it is! It has a fun eclectic feel to it and there is always something going on with bands playing almost every day of the week. I have seen many bands here through the years, the owners do a wonderful job booking talent from the area and outside. My complaint is during an event service can be slow, I love the food but at some major events with sold out crowds there has been one waitress, I don't know if that is a way of keeping the kitchen from not backing up but as a customer its upsetting to wait 30 minutes for a waitress to come by with a menu, 20 minutes later she takes your order and 30 minutes later it is served. I hope management sees this, they must know its a problem...other than that I love the place and all it has to offer.

Date Night at the Sportsman's Tavern Jojo, my beautiful bride for almost fifty years now, and I had an awesome mid week date night on our very first visit to the Sportsman's Tavern located in the Blackrock section of Buffalo this past Wednesday night. For me it was a greatly anticipated event because I am an avid Jazz and Blues enthusiast and patiently waited for one of my newly favorite Blues singers to enter the local entertainment ring here in our own backyard.We had the greatest pleasure of seeing Marcia Ball in one of her great performances that night at the Sportsman's Tavern. I saw her on the coming billboard a few months ago and just recently went down to the Sportsman's to purchase tickets in person on Tuesday. The show started at 7:00 PM but there is only open seating on a first come first serve basis. Not wanting to be late for a fun time on my very first visit to this place, I got honey bun and set out to be first at the door by 4:00 PM. And we were the first, hoorah !!! The weather was going to be real iffy that day and night with the threat of ice covered roads, but we took a chance and went anyway because crazy people have no fear. We waited outside in the cold for about twenty minutes as they don't open up the doors until 5:00PM, but then one of the owners saw how hot wify looked and let us come in to warm up until the general public was allowed in and their tickets for the show were validated. This gave me plenty of opportunity to get a real good feel for the place and to wander around undisturbed to take all the pictures of the place that I wanted to take. Meanwhile Jojo had the time to put a bead on the table of her choice so we could grab the best seat in the house right in front of the stage. We came to this venue with the idea of eating dinner here early and then waiting for the show to start. But even though we were the first in line we were the last to get our din-din because the waitress started in the back and worked her way to the front. We ordered dinner after getting setup from the bar with our first round of drinks, but had to wait over two hours after that for the waitress to take our order until we actually got our food and Jojo doesn't like late night dinners, especially when she's starving. When the food finally came to the table it was great. We ordered the house burgers with hand cut fries, really yummy. I'm hoping to contact the management of this tavern to tell them that it makes a lot more sense to start at the front of the room closest to the stage with food orders because it's less chaotic and safer than having a waitress try to navigate through a close clustered room full of people trying to take orders and then having to serve the food at the expense of the distraction of the performers on stage who are trying to do their work in an efficient manner. Well 7:00 PM finally comes around and Marcia and the rest of the band take the stage. We were really impressed with her beautiful voice, and this little lady et.al played their little sweet hearts out for a full two hours non-stop. All the instrumentals were fantastic, especially the saxophone player who is from New Orleans and when they all played in rhythm together they actually made you feel like you got transported back to that place. It was absolutely a dynamite performance. Jojo really loved the show and our mid week date night as it gave us both a chance to enjoy some real fun in the dead of Winter. The Sportsman's Tavern has two floors with separate bars for each level. There's really not a bad seat in the house, unless you have to stand up for the two hour show like most people did, but having that huge TV monitor screen displaying over head, nobody would miss a beat. We estimated that there were at least 200 people there between the two levels and the show was almost a total sellout and would have been had the weather been much better. Here's a little bio on Marcia which I found online : "Marcia Ball is an American blues singer and pianist raised in Vinton, Louisiana. Ball was described in USA Today as "a sensation, saucy singer and superb pianist... where Texas stomp-rock and Louisiana blues-swamp meet." The Boston Globe described her music as "an irresistible celebratory blend of rollicking, two-fisted New Orleans piano, Louisiana swamp rock and smoldering Texas blues from a contemporary storyteller." Take a listen to some of the great music her and her band perform on some of her Youtube videos and you'll see for yourself just how great at entertaining she is Personally, I know Jojo and I will definitely be seeing this hottie again sometime soon and I hope that you like her as much as we did and will make it a point to catch her show on your own :)

One of the best music venues in Buffalo with regular musicians both local and out of town. Reminds me of the Lone Star in NYC. Second floor loft area doubles the seating area and includes an outdoor patio area. EXCELLENT food, including healthy options though I always seem to end up with the crab cakes, chicken fingers, or a hamburger.

The Sportsmans is just too much fun! Been here many times and never have been disappointed. In a cleverly redesigned old Black Rock saloon, this place jumps 7 days a week. There are 2 floors with the upstairs cut out to look down on the stage. Bars on both floors and the bartenders really hustle to keep the drinks flowing. I can't say enough about the Tuesday afternoon big band. Saw the Christmas show yesterday and it was outstanding. Joe, the bandleader likes to tell a few jokes in between tunes and had the whole place singing. I've seen a number of different vocalists and the band changes around depending on who's available to play. It never fails to entertain. The food is standard bar menu. Wings, burgers, club sandwich's and a really tasty grilled cheese with tomato soup. The afternoon shows brings the older crowd but the diverse selection of Americana welcomes music lovers of all ages. I've yet to attend a show at their new sister place, The Cave or their outdoor stage, but this family run establishment has been hitting the high marks for years and will certainly succeed in whatever they do.

Looking to have lunch with my brother we remembered the Sportsman Club has an afternoon band session on Thursdays, and we stopped in. It was a nice large crowd. We settled in with a couple IPA's while we waited for our lunch. The crabcakes were on the small side but were quite tasty. I love it when these fellas get together to practice here. They always sound great and I really enjoy their large horn section.