Has the heyday of the classic, classy steakhouse passed? Pfft, no. Grab your fork and a ludicrously sharp knife, and let’s talk steakhouses in Buffalo Niagara.

by Max Fisher

Find your next favorite steakhouse below

No Impossible Burgers in Sight

I am going to come right out and say it. I miss the days where Steakhouses were a thing! Remember when you’d see an ad for Morton’s or whatever trendy establishment paid top dollars to run their ad during King of Queens reruns? You’d think to yourself, “Damn, that looks good!” Then you’d actually go to the place and find out that your waiter is a 16-year old that just started. Now you have to repeat, “Well done, Well done!” multiple times until he finally gets it, and your worried that it’ll be as pink as a skinny cartoon panther until it finally comes to the table only to be relieved when it arrives that it is, in fact, well done. Even though it looks almost nothing like the ad you saw on tv. Then finally, you begrudgingly peel off a few dollars more for the tip than you believe the waiter actually deserves because you think (oh what the hell, we were all 16 and terrible at our jobs at some point).

Yup, those were the good old days when people actually ate steak instead of plant-based mush masquerading as meat, and although the steakhouses heyday may have passed and it may never reclaim its popularity like it once had, good steakhouses are still around. Believe it or not, you just have to look. So grab your fork and a ludicrously sharp knife, and let’s dig into what makes for the great steakhouses in Buffalo Niagara!

A Buffalo Niagara Tradition: Russell’s

Now that steak houses are no longer in Vogue (much like using the expression ‘in vogue’). Those that remain really have to step it up. With Covid literally reshaping the eating landscape for the foreseeable future, it only makes the fact all the more obvious. However, when it comes to a good steak, I don’t want to take any chances. I don’t want some monster slab so big I’m afraid I might fracture my jaw due to excessive chewing. Nor do I want to pay an absorbitant amount of money for a “fine cut” that will most certainly have me in meaty bliss for a few minutes as I hastily carve into the thing. Still, it’ll only last a few moments (I don’t want momentary meaty bliss if it’ll only lead to a case of meaty depression). No, I want good quality meat that’ll leave me and my stomach satisfied with my decision (good thing because my stomach can be so bossy sometimes, not to mention judgmental. I love the guy, don’t get me wrong, but I would be lying if I said he wasn’t difficult). That’s why when I crave a proper steak, I make it a point to go to Russell’s Steaks, Chops, & More.

Insta-worthy plateups at Russell’s Steak, Chops, & More

I would be lying to you if I said the places’ name didn’t factor into why I like it. But you all know by now that if I can support local businesses in any way possible, I’ll go ahead and do just that. Yet beyond the aspect of hometown pride and a legendary owner, the Russell’s Steaks, Chops, & More is just a damn fine eatery, plain and simple. However, you have to be ready to open your wallet a bit wider than usual because it certainly isn’t cheap, but it’s not excessive either. (I mean, they have fresh oysters for starters, so you know what you’re getting into). Whether you get something basic like the Steak and potatoes (which is USDA prime, so you know your getting quality instead of some mystery meat from who knows where), or anything and everything in between, know that you are getting a meal! Not some glorified appetizer pretending to be a full-size meal.

No, I’m talking about a full-on feast pretending to be a dinner. (Unless you decide to get the Filet Mignon, then it’s just a glorified appetizer pretending to be a meal. I don’t care how good it is or how fancy you look and feel while eating it. That’s what it is). But let’s not forget about the atmosphere of the place, which is a nice mix between a fancy restaurant and a quaint eatery. Meaning the lights are almost always low. You sit in booths or chairs and feel like you or you and your party are transported to a bygone time where people smoked indoors, drank martinis with their steaks, and expected their waiters to wear suits. It’s got that classic Steakhouse feel that even though it’s not nearly as popular as it once was still manages to maintain a timeless quality.

Needless to say, the service at Russell’s Steaks, Chops, & More is top-notch, and although you’re paying a rather top-notch price for the service, what you get from the excellent food to the friendly and welcoming staff helps put a fair bit of padding on whatever damage your wallet will endure. They don’t put the sizzle in the steak, for nothing!

Amazing cuts of meat and amazing service at Texas de Brazil in the Walden Galleria

Don’t Listen to Morrissey (For Many Reasons)

I can’t tell you why steakhouses fell to the wayside in popularity. A change in the times? The rise of diets like keto, Veganism, and vegetarianism? Too many people listening to The Smith’s Meat Is Murder? (We get it, Morrissey, you have the moral high ground because you’ve never eaten a strip steak, but while you have the high ground, I have the pleasure as well as a full and satisfied stomach). My guess is it’s a bit of everything (did you listen to Meat is Murder? It’s sooo good!).

Buffalo

The 31 Club

Buffalo

The Terrace At Delaware Park

Buffalo

Waterstone Grill

Hamburg

The Western Door Steakhouse

Niagara Falls

What do you think of our guide to steakhouses in Buffalo Niagara? Know a great one that we missed? Have a favorite? Where did you have your best cut in Buffalo Niagara? Let us know.

Let's do this again, shall we?

Let us do the ground work. Get our weekly newsletters and partner updates delivered right to your inbox, twice a week. We have weekly giveaways and will keep you up-to-date on all the latest and greatest around Buffalo Niagara. Hope to see you there!