The Blackthorn Restaurant & Pub

My wife and I visited here on a Friday afternoon. To start I had a Smithwick's Irish Red Ale. It was refreshing. My wife had the Irish Beer Cheddar Soup, and the Chicken Parmesan Sandwich. She said both were very good. I had the Beer-Battered Fish Fry with French Fries only. Excellent portion size of fish and the fries were very crunchy. The restaurant has a nice relaxing pub style atmosphere with a comfortable fireplace and intimate bar. They also have an outdoor patio area too. Our server was Shannon. She was very friendly and efficient with our order. I would recommend the Blackthorn for a nice relaxing meal of Irish favorites like Shepherd's Pie and Cornbeef, and other delicious meals.

Amazing food, atmosphere ( we sat outside on the patio.). Our waiter was superb! I can’t remember his name We were there Friday 8/22 at 5pm. He had glasses . The pretzels sticks were amazing! The salad I had was so fresh !

Our experience at this establishment was excellent from start to finish. The atmosphere was inviting, the food was outstanding, and the service was exceptional. Our waitress, Megan, provided attentive and impeccable customer service, which truly enhanced our evening. We thoroughly enjoyed our date night and look forward to returning.

Saw the Blackthorn on Diners Drive-inns and Dives years ago and had to stop in. Had the beef on weck and the beer cheese soup which were great. Dug straight into it and totally forgot to take a picture of the beef..

We were doing a "wing crawl" at various bars and restaurants. The adult beverages were fine, you really can't go wrong with beer. But, we went there for the buffalo wings. Of the 6 places we went to over 3 days, the wings were as good as any, so tied for the best. I'd say a 10. Surprisingly, the place where they were "invented" got no better than a 7 by comparison. It's a bar, with food, but looks safe and was clean and well run.

We ate outside in an igloo before Christmas! The service was wonderful and the food was yummy! We enjoyed the Buffalo sampler platter, French onion soup and the Reuben sammy. Would love to eat inside next time. Felt like an inviting neighborhood spot!

Ordered the oversized fish fry that comes with the trifecta: Coleslaw, Mac salad, and a choice of potato. Fish was fantastic with what appeared to be an in-house made tarter sauce, so good. Finally made it here to knock off a restaurant on the wing trail but the fish looked too good to pass up. So, we'll be back for the wings another day.

Our waiter was very good. The atmosphere was pleasant. But in our group of 4, no one enjoyed their food. The reuben corned beef was not like real corned beef but instead, sliced deli meat. It wasn't terrible but I expect real corned beef at an Irish pub. I remember having a great reuben there years ago. The bread was a very plain rye that resembled white bread. The fish sandwich had a bone in it. The clam chowder was okay. The glass of cranberry juice tasted like it was stored in a musty basement. We didn't complain. Maybe we should have but what could we say? . . . No one likes their food? It was edible but nothing to make us return or recommend.

St. Patrick's Day Eve seems like the perfect occasion to celebrate one of Buffalo's Irishiest pubs, located in the area's most Irishy neighborhood of South Buffalo - Blackthorn Restaurant and Pub. Location: 5.5 / 5 That is not a typo; we awarded Blackthorn our first ever BONUS half point. Great atmosphere, check, friendly service, check, great beer and drink menu, check. But Blackthorn showed us that a restaurant can serve wings AND be clean. Prior to this visit we would have defined "clean" as only smelling a *little* like urine. Presentation: 4 / 5 Nothing special in the way these wings were delivered -- a couple "piles" of wings. I'm also told, by those who need blue cheese to complement the flavor of the chicken wing, that the bleu cheese was a little watery. Meat: 5 / 5 Not one imperfection in these wings. Perfect size, shape and skin -- like Ryan Reynolds. Cook: 8.5 / 10 Overall a really nice job here. Hot and crispy without being too dry. A couple of the South Buffalo style were a bit too wet and saucy (again, like Ryan Reynolds) Standard Medium: 14 / 15 There is an unwritten rule among the group that we cannot give a perfect score in this category but Blackthorn made it difficult for us. These were just fantastic. Tangy and buttery with the perfect amount of heat. Specialty: 8.5 / 10 The South Buffalo style is also killer-- a surprising and strikingly different flavor from the standard medium. The Wing Kings generally prefer a few more flavor options, which prevented a higher score here. A nice BBQ break would have been welcome. Overall: 45.5 / 50 Blackthorn is sneaky good. We had high expectations but didn't expect them to jump to the top of our rankings. Not only have they punched their ticket to the playoffs, Blackthorn may be a 1-seed.

I love walking into this staple of south Buffalo. It's always clean , never too loud and the staff is always polite and helpful. Today's choice were the south Buffalo style wings/medium. Perfect amount of spice and cooked crispy. The way wings are supposed to be made. My only gripe is the same with every restaurant that serves such great bleu cheese, I need more. With the celery, carrots and wings it's never enough! This place is always a great choice when you want a hearty meal that's made perfect each and every time.

My husband and I shared a Cajun Turkey sandwich. The waitress brought our sandwich halves on separate plates, complete with a very nice sized serving of fries, and we each had a pickle spear. I was completely surprised that we each had such a generous serving of fries and that we each had a pickle spear. The 1/2 sandwich and the fries were enough for a filling lunch. The sandwich is layers of roasted turkey breast, jalapeño peppers, melted cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato slices and red onion. There was some chipotle mayo on the roll. It was a bit sloppy as the veggies made things slide out, but it was very good.

Fantastic experience! The south buffalo wing sauce was absolutely to die for - a highlight of our experience and left us wanting to return quite often! The service was great and the place was large and not packed which we enjoyed!

If you need your order fast or you are hungry this is not the place to go. The service is very slow and we only saw our waitress three times. I love the layout, astetic, and cozy feel of the bar. It can get very loud, which can be difficult for a date or family get together. The food was absolutely amazing, I just wish the experience matched.

The service was great, the waiter was attentive & very nice! The food was good too I got a basket of fries and two beers a labatt blue light, & Sam Adams cherry wheat sip sip! My family said the California chicken pizza was delicious and the Cajun turkey they sure enjoyed it!!. The chicken wings! Definitely were yummy! & most definitely spicy oh yeah! I'm glad we came out to enjoy a late dinner. The ambiance average. Not too loud..

A-OK We came here a few times and enjoyed the visits. The service was hit or miss to be honest. The first visit we had an excellent server that was very friendly and the second and third time, not so much. It was busier the last two times and the server was rushing around, but most definitely felt like they were that way regardless of the busy level in the place. Food is pretty solid as long as you stick to the more standard bar food options. I wouldn't recommend the food for much outside of that - it's a no for me on the pasta options. The place is cute and has a flight of stairs you'll need to go up if you are seated at a table and not the bar - so be ready for that is you come with someone that may struggle on stairs. Overall: B A-OK Nothing to write home about, but a solid adventure if you're in the area.

They had such big amounts of food mega AYEEEEE so good loved the onion rings and the spinach artichoke dip was fire

We have heard of this restaurant for a while but have never been in the area to give it a try. Finally we were in the area after meeting some friends Ed's out so decided to stop here for dinner before heading home. My wife has a lot of food sensitivities so it can be hard sometimes but she found a chicken souvlaki she tried out, she asked if they could change it a bit and that wasn't a problem so always a plus!

My wings were amazing. This was a first time for me and will likely make a regular out of those in our group who live in the area. We got wings and a beef on weck and were not disappointed.

I absolutely love it here. I believe these are the best chicken wings in buffalo. Service is always great, food is always delicious. The back patio is great for catching a game, playing cornhole or enjoying the weather during summer in buffalo. The homemade tots are to die for!!

Best roast beef and corned beef, hands down. If you're looking for fresh carved beef, don't waste your time anywhere else!! Also the homemade tots were so delicious. They tasted more like a jalapeño popper in a good way and are so worth it. French onion soup Beer cheese soup Triple D platter Corned beef sandwich/Reuben Everything was 5/5, service was excellent (shout out Lauren) and the place itself was really welcoming and cozy. Would definitely return

A local favorite and I see why. A few of us in town for work gave it a try. Waitress was outstanding, friendly, funny and attentive. Decided to get a few appetizers for the table and drinks. By the time we finished them everyone was to full to order. Got the local flare for everyone to try the tastes of Buffalo and it was a hit. Also had the Spinach dip which probably was the best anyone had ever had. Definitely will be going back when in town again!

I wanted to try a local place to see what beef on weck was all about. Not to mention this place was on food network , so had to try. Service was fast and server was helpful with food suggestions. French onion soup was some of the best I've had. The homemade tater tots were not my thing. I didn't care for how spicy they were , the texture and overall taste, my husband liked them , so all about preference . The beef on weck is the true reason we stopped and it did not disappoint ! It was hot and loaded with meat. The bun was really good too!

If you go here for nothing else, go for the tater tots. They are possibly the best tots I've ever eaten!! Service was also fantastic. Our waitress was very fast and friendly! A really cool place!

Stopped in to grab a few drinks. The bartenders were cool and the atmosphere was relaxing. Will go back to try the food sometime.

Great outdoor space with full bar and great service. On this visit we had a server named Megan who got bombarded by our kids hockey team after our tournament nearby. Not only did she had my everything with ease, everything came out correct, she always brought what you requested and she did it with a smile. Gotta say this was the best service we've received while eating out this visit. Lots of great Irish pub food options and perfect atmosphere to hang for hours. This was a wonderful experience and stop. On a side note there was no entry for a wheelchair. This was an issue for 1 parent who couldn't join the team. Sad they missed this great lil spot.

The food unfortunately is not very good at all. I am not sure what all the hype is, all my experiences here have been disappointing. The staff is typically nice though.

A friend recommended this place and we were both pretty disappointed. Upon arrival, I immediately noticed that it didn't smell like anything was being cooked and I honestly should have left right then. I ordered a chicken hoagie and fries. Frozen crinkle cut fries? No thanks. The "hoagie" was more bread than anything, with huge chunks of chicken, barely any cheese and it was beyond dry with zero flavor. I had to ask for more of the sauce that was supposedly on it for it to taste like anything. My friend got a pasta and scallop dish but only ate the scallops. She didn't like the sauce at all. She also ordered the crab cakes and she wasn't impressed. The reviews are too hit or miss for this place... won't be back!

Went to a chirtmas party here, food was good, understaffed, brought out the bread after most had been up to buffet allready. The back room heaters were all or nothing. 4 stars, last pour was free on the bottle.

This place was an awesome, random find while looking for a quick noon lunch spot. It opens into an Irish pub, then has regular seating up a small flight of stairs. (I did not notice any accessibility options, but I also didn't ask.) they seem to have a large outdoor area as well that was very busy. The waitress as very friendly and gave suggestions when asked. We ordered the Beer Cheddar Soup, because how can you not? It was fantastic. Just enough beer tang at the end and dotted with potato chunks. Tasty. I of course, got the Reuben. I was offered fries or jalapeño cheese tots which I tried but was not thrilled with. The Reuben was stacked high with moist sliced corned beef, and could have used a bit more sauerkraut, but that's just me. I did have to go through and clear some gristle and fat, but that's the nature of the beast. My friend was torn, but went with the special of the day--some lovely chicken sandwich concoction with peppers and melted cheese. It looked divine. The place was packed by the time we left, which I take as a good sign. Unfortunately, we were due for another meeting so had to cut our visit short, but I'm certain we'll be back--probably for a few pints as well when we're not working.

Living in South Buffalo, there aren't many options of food at 9pm on a Sunday night. Thankfully, Blackthorn was able to accomodate our takeout order. I called the order in at 8 and was told it would be ready at 8:40. When I arrived to pick it up, it was clear that was not very busy and our food was ready at the bar. Everyone was super friendly greeting us. We've eaten here a bunch of times and its consistently good, but also consistently VERY salty. Every single thing I've ordered has been overly salted, but luckily I like salt so its bearable. However, if you're struggling with high blood pressure this is definitely somewhere to avoid. I usually order the triple D platter because its their most famous dish and is the best bang for your buck in my opinion. My boyfriend opted for the Reuben, which is always a good choice here. I wish the triple D platter came with their house made jalapeno cheddar tots, but their normal giant tots are still delicious.

3 stars because the fish fry was pretty good and their macaroni salad was really good, but the menu online displayed prices that were different than the price we ended up paying. $19 for a fish fry that said $9.50 online. $15 for chicken fingers that said $8.99 online. I understand not updating all things right away, but more than double of a price difference was a bit jarring.. plus, they charged us a take out fee of $3.60. Disappointed, to say the least. We feel played.

Been thru here a handful of times, nicer little Irish pub atmosphere. Finally hit my "right on" meal. The pulled pork quesadilla is seriously great. They slow cook it in house, it's bomb. Bf got the Shepard pie which I guess is more traditional since it was different than what I'm used to.. ground beef w a different topping, but was seriously something I'd even order myself, was great. French onion soup was great too. Awesome dinner

You have got to be drunk! The worst inedible "food"! Besides the ceiling dripping near us onto the floor, the food was horrible!! There wasn't one thing that was passable. The pretzel sticks or so dark and dry The fish fries had absolutely no taste you swear you had a cold, and so greasy Even the fries were gross The French onion soup, what a disgrace loaded with rosemary Even the iced tea was disgusting. We asked if it was from the bar guns and they said yes that's why! those guns are probably so moldy and dirty!! I think people go there to drink, SB neighborhood hang out that's been there a long time. That's it. Do not go there for the food and if someone tells you it's good, they have no taste buds or they're 90 years old !!

Group of friends from Cleveland decided to go all-in on a weekend tour around Buffalo, of the Wing Trail restaurants. This was stop #6. Feeling full by this point, but we're soldiering on...only doing a few wings at this spot. We chose a platter of 10 traditional hot wings and 10 Southern buffalo wings. The traditional wings were fine, but the uniqueness of the Southern style with its mix of Buffalo sauce and special spices (including things like nutmeg and maybe clove?) added a level of complexity to the flavor we hadn't experienced elsewhere. We all love that the wings in Buffalo are really crispy (something we rarely get back home), and these were no exception.

I've been here a handful of times now and never had a bad experience. The food is always great. Parking is easy. When the weather is warmer they have an awesome patio. The wings were great - pretty average to low on the heat scale for Hot The crinkle fries seem basic but honesty 10/10 especially when you add a side of ranch which tastes home made.

With St Paddy's coming up, I was feeling a nice Irish lunch and got some takeout from Blackthorn. This is one of the only places I know to get a shepherd's pie. Although I wish it was served traditionally with lamb, the one here is with ground beef, but it's pretty delicious! With creamy mashed potatoes, carrots and a guinness style gravy, it's a hearty and comforting meal. They also have some killer sandwiches that come with some of the most amazing tater-cheese tots in existence and I tried one of their traditional "Pub" sandwiches with corned beef. The tots stole the show, but the sammy was also delectable and a great value. Highly recommend Blackthron!

Haven't been here since last summer. I wanted the tater tots bad!! Always soooo good light crispy and potatoey!! We all ordered the triple D... WTH happened? They changed the recipe or chef or ??? Nothing like they used to be. NOT GOOD AT ALL. The Bloody Mary was excellent! Roast beef dried out tater tot's horrid? Idk usually I'm pretty easy with reviews but this was bad. Sorry

Food is great, service is great, and it is a fabulous part of South Buffalo culture. There is an outdoor area and also the inside is quiet enough for a conversation without yelling. Try the crab cakes, they are amazing.

great service, great food and good people. warm comforting environment with engaging conversations with the locals. would recommend. wojld also recommended the stuffed pepper alfredo

Great food! Awesome service! Wings are great, beef on weck is great, and you HAVE to try the tater tots! The are AMAZING!

I have not been to the Blackthorn since I was a kid, and after our visit yesterday, I am wondering why. The food was delicious, and I enjoyed how big the menu is. We opted for traditional pub fare, starting with mozzarella sticks and banana peppers. For our entrees, we had wings with fries and the pub favorite sandwich. Everything was hot and incredibly tasty. There's a huge draft beer selection and full bar for those interested. I want to come back and try more things on the menu, but it will be hard to pass on the items we already ordered as they were mouthwatering.

This restaurant is a staple in south Buffalo. One of my parent's favorite places. I've never had a bad meal but their french onion soup is not my favorite, I feel like it lacks a little flavor. They are known for their tater tots because they are so large, but you only get 4 on your plate. Listen...they aren't large enough that 4 is justifiable. There should be atleast 6! Their Reuben is super good though! And I love the setup of the bar. When you first walk in, the bar is directly to your left, then there is a small room with tables, a large room and I believe the upstairs is open for additional seating. The patio is the real place to be, they just redid it and it's absolutely beautiful out there. Make sure to check it out during the summer!

Went for wings on a Wednesday, late afternoon. Bar was empty but dinning room was hopping! Lots of larger tables all filled up with loud boisterous chatter. A fun atmosphere. Great art & photos on the wall. Wings were big and juicy, and we asked for extra crispy, so they were perfect. We ordered traditional, hot, and also their south buffalo style wings. Wow what a treat! Extra spices, and delicious. Beers were cold, plenty of dipping blue cheese comes with the order and the waitress was friendly and welcoming. Also she was efficient and attentive. Will definitely be back with friends, to try more food. Oh, and can't forget the tasty spinach artichoke dip! With tortilla chips and toasted bread. Very generous helping! It was a really nice treat!

Awesome restaurant!! The food was excellent service was good I would go back again anytime

We have been here several times. The parking situation is tough, often not able to find a spot. The Irish Pub atmosphere is very present here, and it's got good vibes! Service is slow during busy season's, like Lent, But, all in all the service is good. The food is very good, I haven't had anything that I didn't like, nor did my boyfriend. Wings, Salads, Pork Tenderloin, Fish Fries, honestly all top tier. One of the places we do recommend!

Ate at this restaurant for the first and last time. My roast beef was dry and chewy. The waitress offered another meal, which I declined due to time. I was charged and paid for this awful meal. I felt the meal or least a percentage should have been removed from my check.

We came here with a large group. The waitress did have a lot of people to serve as I'm guessing they're short staffed like everywhere but she seemed annoyed to have to serve us. I would have loved getting all the tips that I'm sure she received. Also, this place would not split checks in anyway. So ridiculous, I'll never understand this one, but seems like Buffalo is this way as we experienced it at another restaurant too. The food was mediocre at best. I do rely on reviews when going to places when in from out of town, but this place has decent reviews. Maybe they were having an off day but I'd never go back when we are in town.

Great food! The beer cheese with the pretzels is to die for! Awesome service too, everyone is so friendly!

My boyfriend and I had been wanting to try this South Buffalo staple after seeing them on one of Guy Fieri's shows, and we finally got around to it yesterday! We ordered takeout as opposed to dining in. I believe their menu is pretty large and varied; there were so many things that looked good to me! Ultimately I decided on a chicken Caesar salad and my boyfriend opted for the crab cake entree. My salad was good! The portion was a good size and it came with a full pita on the side which I loved, most restaurants don't include a side of bread with their salads unless it's a Greek salad. The chicken was tasty and I felt full after eating which is a good indicator that the salad was done right! The crab cakes were smaller than expected but they were sooo good! We loved the sauce on top and my boyfriend's only complaint was that he wanted more sauce. The jalapeño cheddar tots on the side were phenomenal. We were a little bummed that the online menu didn't list any prices for the food so just have the understanding that it's a little pricier than average here! We paid $40 total for dinner, just so you can get a feel for the prices. I definitely want to come back here to eat on their beautiful patio and try more of their menu. If it's Guy Fieri approved, you know it's delicious!

Blackthorn is the #1 South Buffalo staple IMHO. Solid beer options which include a lot of Irish brews - Sullivan's, Smithwicks, Harp, etc.. I most recently had "KEV'S FAVORITE" sandwich. Which is a nice twist on the traditional rueben. There's roasted turkey along with the corned beef. I loved it. I normally would order the Triple D Platter which features the items that were on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives - a mini beef on weck, mini crab cake, and cup of Irish beer soup and tater tots. Best tater tots in the world. Very solid wings too. They also have arguably one of the best outdoor patios in WNY. Nice and spread out. Normally there are a ton of outdoor games to play prior to COVID ruining our lives.

It has been a while we were at the Blackthorn. The restaurant has limited (covid safe) seating and the staff wears masks. Knowing the servings are pretty generous, my wife and I decided to share. We ordered the Pub sandwich. It has turkey, corned beef, red onion, bacon, topped with melted cheddar cheese on toasted rye bread. It was a very nice and tasty sandwich. Every bite offers a different flavor combination. On the side you get 4 jalapeño tator tots, a nice touch instead of the traditional fries. The tots are very tasty. They come with a nice dipping sauce, that has a kick to it. Our waiter was friendly and fast.

I've ordered take out and dined in here before. Very convenient and efficient when ordering over the phone for pickup. I did the fish fry and it did not disappoint. When I dined in, I splurged and got he filet mignon and just cooked to perfection. Can't wait to go back

was sadly surprised to find the quality so poor when I took a friend to lunch. it seemed like my plate was a week old... reheated and served. Never again.

The Beef on Weck was absolutely amazing especially after tiring myself out at the Bills game. Service was polite and quick.

I have been a customer at this restaurant for many years. There food is delicious and the service is excellent. The atmosphere is comfortable and friendly. Some of my favorites are the 3 D platter which offers a sample of the foods featured on the food network, a mini beef on weck, beer cheddar soup & a crab cake. I also enjoy their Caz Club sandwich, salads & fish fries are wonderful. If your looking for a nice neighborhood restaurant with great food & a welcoming atmosphere, you should try this place. You won't be disappointed.

Came in just for a drink. Slim beer pickings. Asked for a drink menu...didn't have one. Asked for a drink and the bartender walked away to make it before I could even explain how I wanted it. It was disgusting. I couldn't even get it down. Wouldn't remake it.

The fish fry I had was very good. I happened to be there on an evening that followed a funeral for a firefighter who died in the line of duty. There were firefighters present from around the United States. They were all treated with the greatest respect by the entire staff. It was actually very heartwarming g to see an individual business rise to the occasion and show those from outside the area why Buffalo, NY is known as "The City of Good Neighbors".

This place is great. I've been here on five other occasions. The food is always fantastic. Their fish fry and Triple D Platter are my favorite things to orderI came here after an appointment to ensure that I could make reservations for 10 people for this coming Tuesday. They open at 11:30 a.m. daily so I was able to make a reservation for noon for this Tuesday. I got there around 3:30 but the bartender said I could have one of the lunch specials, if I wanted to, so I ordered the Turkey Florentine. It came with French fries. They had many beer selections on draft, which was surprising. I had an Irish red beer with my meal and then had a Guinness. Still a five star review. I came here yesterday afternoon (5/8/3019) for a bookclub. I ordered a corned beef sandwich. It cane with their house made jalapeño tater tots, which were fantastic. I had a Guinness too. A few friends ordered salads. They were presented in a big bowl and they looked delicious. I might order one next time.