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Small Plates
WNY, one app at a time
By Jennifer Wutz-Lopes; photos by kc kratt
I’m a grazer. Instead of sticking to the old-school three-meals-a-day program, I’m one of those people who prefers to nibble on smaller meals spread out four or five times a day. Often, my biggest meal is at lunchtime, and I’ll have more of a substantial snack—not chips and dip—for what I consider my dinner. Some people say that this behavior is healthier, and even promotes better digestion and a higher metabolic rate. I’m not sure if that’s true, but it gives me an excuse to try out a lot of different restaurants.
So don’t feel bad about having a snack; just do it wisely and be sure to stay away from that big bag of Cool Ranch Doritos. Instead, check out some of these places:
Havana House
One of the few local places for Cuban and Spanish cuisine, Havana House has had a lot of press, both negative, positive, and sort of meh since it opened last summer in the University District. We decided to give it a chance. Upon arriving, we marveled at the décor of the place. After being greeted, we told the hostess that we were more interested in the tapas menu than the main courses and were informed that tapas could be ordered only from the adjoining Sangria Lounge or outside on the terrace. A bit bewildering, we thought, but since it was a balmy early-October evening, we opted for the tapas, outdoors.
The ambiance of both Havana House and the Sangria Lounge is quaint but hip, and the small outdoor terrace was wonderful for our party of three, there for a light meal and a few drinks. I opted for a glass of the red Sangria, which was full of flavor, and also enjoyed the mojito. Unfortunately, a glass of Merlot was served with cork crumbles, and an after-dinner request for coffee with Bailey’s was denied, as they were fresh out of Bailey’s (oh, the horror!). We were offered a Cuban coffee as a substitute, which was accepted and declared delicious.
But on to the food. Served by a friendly and laid-back (meaning: a bit on the slower side) staff, including the owner/chef himself, we tried both the meat and cheese pastilitos ($4 each) and the gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), along with a full-size order of arroz con pollo (chicken and rice) for $14. This was tasty and affordable, no-frills, authentic food. Nothing we ordered was earth-shatteringly wonderful, but it was quite good. I’ll definitely eat at Havana House again.
Havana House
3112 Main St., 835-0729
Hutch’s
Saturday night at 7 p.m. is no time to walk into Hutch’s without a reservation and expect to get a table within an hour or even two. Expect a long wait, or just try to snag seats at the bar. Knowing it would be busy, my friends guided me down a short alley to the bar’s back door entrance where I instantly felt as if I was in a hip little bistro. The brick walls and vintage posters added to this feeling, and while it was very crowded in there, I still enjoyed the ambiance.
After hovering for a good half-hour, we were able to score three prime seats at the bar—or so we thought. Unfortunately for us, we (three attractive women!) seemed to be partially invisible to the bartenders, who were otherwise occupied serving the masses. Ordering food was another trial. It took some time to catch the bartender’s attention to get a menu to peruse, and another long while to get his attention again to actually place an order. After ordering, plates, napkins, cutlery, and a basket of delicious focaccia bread with dipping oil were promptly placed before us, but then everything was whisked away some twenty minutes later. Another twenty minutes went by before we were rewarded with our food.
We shared three dishes, starting with the jalapeño stuffed with chicken and Monterey Jack cheese, deep-fried and served with sour cream and a chunky salsa. This is true bar food, but a bit upscale, with great flavor and a light crisp coating: not greasy or too spicy. We also tried the eggplant Napoleon, crispy-fried eggplant rounds, layered with fresh mozzarella, tomato slices, prosciutto, and drizzled with a balsamic-olive oil mixture. So very delicious, and not a task to clean our plate on that one. Rounding off our small meal, we all dug into the half-serving of jambalaya, a savory, good-sized portion of spicy cream-sauced linguine with plenty of chicken, shrimp, and chorizo sausage. All of the items on Hutch’s Small Plates menu range between $7.50 and $10.50, and they also offer salads, sandwiches, and soups that would qualify for a small-plate offering in the same price range. A few items on the Large Plates menu can be ordered in a smaller size, and they go for about $14 each. I liked Hutch’s, and I’ll go again, but if I want to eat, I’ll be sure to make a reservation for table service.
Hutch’s
1375 Delaware Ave., 885-0074
The Wine Thief
My husband and I decided to stop into the Wine Thief on a recent Saturday night to meet some friends for a quick drink before heading out for dinner to celebrate our wedding anniversary (seven years!). After a brief glance at the menu, I begged him to skip our next stop and just stay put to eat. My husband, normally a steak-and-baked-potato man, acquiesced to my request as long as I would have only one glass of wine, he could drink as much beer as he wanted, and I promised to drive his drunk ass home. About three seconds of deliberation later, we had an agreement.
It’s official: I have a new favorite place in Buffalo. Everything about the Wine Thief made me happy, except for the fact that we could not get a table next to the fireplace. No problem, though, as two seats at the bar quickly became available, and we were happily installed for the evening. Our barstools gave us a close-up view of the super-cool wine-on-tap setup (glasses of reds and whites range from $6 to $16, while a bottle will set you back anywhere from $22 to $250), as well as the fridge full of different bottles of beer (ranging in price from $6 for basic to $22 for really unique). The Wine Thief serves wine and beer only, but that was not a problem for us. We sat back with our drinks, ordered a few edibles, and waited to be served.
We chose the cheese board—because what’s wine without cheese?—and were able to choose three out of fourteen different cheese selections. The cheeses, all wonderful, were accompanied by almonds, olives, and warm pita bread. The duck tacos were simple but satisfying, with warm roast duck meat, Monterey Jack cheese, and fresh salsa wrapped in a flour tortilla. The mozzarella skewers consisted of grilled chunks of hearty bread, speared with fresh mozzarella and served with pesto-basted baby grape tomatoes. These were so tasty, I still dream about them. Everything about our meal was tip-top, and the price was right, as nothing costs more than $18, with a great many items in the $10–$13 range. It also didn’t hurt that the owner was right there behind the bar, checking in on us and making sure we were 100 percent pleased with our food and drinks. We were, and if I didn’t live all the way out in Lockport, I’d head to the Wine Thief for sustenance on a weekly (maybe even nightly) basis.
The Wine Thief
431 Elmwood Ave., 332-2929
Jennifer Wutz-Lopes dreams of living on wine and cheese. She lives in Lockport, works in Philadelphia, and blogs at Jen14221.com
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