Ballyhoo

When I’m heading home from work I love to stop in and grab a hoagie and a Hot Toddy! Great local support and feel to the place! I feel music always seems to be set to cool. Can’t wait to stop back!

BALLYHOOOO is a fantastic spot. Owners Tim and Morgan are gracious and wonderful. The sausages are all delicious. Mac n cheese is amazing and so is the mayo-​less slaw. Get a DD and have a few jam cocktails.

Good drinks and food. Very reasonable prices it is just very busy. Mac and Cheese is excellent.

Excellent place to grab a good meal and a classic cocktail, huge liquor list and a large selection of beers on tap. Food ordering is a breeze just fill out a menu card with entrée side and desert choices and the bartender does the rest. Atmosphere is trendy but laid back with most of the seating only at the bar.

I cannot believe how pleasantly surprised I was by this place. I went there on my lunch hour from work and I thought it would just be somewhere to stop for something decent and quick but the ingredients were so fresh, the taste combinations were so crisp and the quality blew my mind. I got the chicken sausage and was a little unsure about the featured toppings but I decided to go with it and I’m so happy I did! There was a sweet and savory combination that was incredible and each bite was perfectly balanced and then the Mac and cheese happened. O. M. G. You can look at my other reviews and see I don’t typically gush like this but for days I could not stop talking about how good the Mac and cheese was. I talked to the sever a bit about it and he said part of the reason it’s so good is because the chef makes it fresh to order in a skillet. I’ve made Mac and cheese in a skillet it didn’t taste like that. I will definitely be back for drinks and whatever there specials are that day because if they’re anything like what I had (and I’m sure it will be) it’s going to be a great meal.

Every time I go here it seems to get better. This time I discovered yet another delicious sausage concoction but better yet, I had the best coleslaw I ever ate. I don’t know if they make it fresh and I’m going to assume they do, or if they buy it but its amazing. The bartender was great also, I didn’t get his name but he was very friendly, explaining all the drinks and keeping everyone happy and entertained. You can tell the owners really care about this place and their employees.

Now that I’ve eaten here a couple times and drank here more times than I can count, it’s time for an update and a well-​earned extra star.
The drinks here are top notch. Great bartenders who can whip up any high end cocktail. I usually get one of their jam drinks — pick the preserve and the type of liquor you prefer. My favorite is vodka and cherry. This sounds odd but trust me, all combinations are delicious.
The reason I’m giving them an extra star is because the food is unbelievable! I’m not typically into sausage but all the sausage here is incredible. A variety of flavors, each unique with delicious toppings and sauces. And the BUNS! WHOA! They’re grilled to perfection, just slightly crispy on the outside with tons of flavor.
I also appreciate their sides, which include coleslaw made with greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise. I haven’t had their mac n cheese but I’ve heard it’s great. Their homemade ice cream sandwiches are dangerously good. Save room!
And of course the ambiance is 5-​star worthy. Comfortable and welcoming. Great place to come and kick back, enjoying the company of your companions or the friendly bartenders.
Five big stars.

I may have said this before, but I do mean it every single time I say it. I LOVE THIS PLACE! Their drinks are off the hook and they do special benefit drinks every so often. It could be weekly, but I am not here that often to confirm that.
Their, food menu, links are AMAZING!!! Seriously amazeballs!!! I wish I could bold and underline that!!! I specially recommend the TJ Dawg, chorizo link. I could eat it every single day of the week. Because it’s that good.
This is totally my go to bar. I’ll come here if I don’t know what I want but I know that what I want has to be good. I am yet to try a bad drink, specially when I ask the bartender to «surprise» me. When this happens they usually ask for a base spirit and if I like sweet drinks or not. Everything they have come up with has just been perfect!
I can’t wait to bring every single person I know here. That is if they live in Buffalo or not. I have already told every other Canadian I meet on the wine trail. Honestly, I can’t say enough awesome things about Ballyhoo!

I’m probably a little too old for this place, but the servers treated me just as well as all the 20-​something hipsters around me on a Saturday night. In fact, the service was terrific here, and I liked the concept and feel of the place. It was just a bit chaotic for my taste right after a Sabres game. That’s not a knock on the place, because I really enjoyed my food and clever cocktail here. I’d definitely go back at an earlier hour.

This place is Super cool!!! Great staff! Hot dog selection is cool and a vegetarian option. Will be a stop every time we come to Buffalo!

my new go to bar
1. place is not filled with douche bags
2. good music
3. good lighting
4. good drinks

Our orders: steak link (yummy) & Korean link (disappointing), cherry jam + rum cocktail (intriguing!)
PROs:
+ AMBIANCE: hipster, the music played in the BG consisted of indie rock and thus attracted a similar crowd. The small venue had a number of small tables seating 4 and bar table which catered to intimate groups
+ FOOD: a mix of intrigue and disappointment. The Korean link added that Asian kick with Kim China and spicy mayo. I personally was expecting more (comparing it to cantina locos Korean taco). The steak link wasn’t bad with a mix of garlic spread and buttered spinach. The salad was also lovely, with a surprisingly adequate amount of blue cheese (restaurants tend to skimp out on the quality ingredients when they can).
DRINKS: Interesting. Definitely sweet. They also offer tea syrup + spirit drinks which sound interesting!
+ PARKING: Free if you park at the casino (thank you Alex). Tip: go to the outdoor parking lot, it’s closer.
CONs
— PRICING: Considering that the establishment is inches seat from the casino and just shy of downtown buffalo, it is not surprising that it is a bit on the pricier end. Each link is $ 8 & each jam drink $ 9.
This place definitely is a gem in the city. While it is overpriced, it adds an exquisite cultural fusion to traditional American fare. And while buffalo is currently lacking in diverse cultural cuisine, Ballyhoo’s clearly fills that void (in a slightly more conservative kind of way).

I’ve been to Ballyhoo five or so times since writing my first review. I have tried their slaw, salad, and macaroni and cheese. Several friends have had the links. Great responses all around. I’ve also had tried many more of their cocktails. My favorites are still the Old Maid, Last Word and Negroni. But the jam drinks deserve a mention as well; I especially like the gin and cherry combination!
After I wrote my first review, I discovered they do, indeed, have AC. Now they have a patio as well! I have to take me previous four star review and move it to five stars. Love this place.

I went here on Memorial Day for the first time with with a group of six. We sat and were greater by a rough looking gentleman who was rather attentive. He poured out drinks. I ordered a Negroni, which I wasn’t a fan, so I traded drinks with my man friend for his Old Maid. It was more than delicious. The extensive list for liquids left me at a loss since I’m a pretty simple person when it comes to mixed drinks.
Upon ordering food, they give you a little card where you check what you want. I got the Curried Lamb Link. It was so good. I tried a bit of the Korean short rib link as well. Just as wonderful. Of course my interest peaked at such interesting concoctions. I later found out that all the links are made in house, which is the way things should be done!
We witnessed a surprise birthday party for a fellow patron.
My only concern with this place is, it was about 80 °F and this place had me sweating the whole time. I sure hope they install ACs in the window for others sake. Otherwise, phenomenal!

I ventured to Ballyhoo on a Monday night to grab a cocktail, a bite to eat, and watch the Sabres game. Located close to the arena, Ballyhoo is a decent option for all of these things.
Knowing the old Malamute, I wasn’t sure what to expect walking into Ballyhoo; it was a pleasant surprise… Good atmosphere, great bar, fair amount of seating, etc. The menu was pretty confusing. They have a LOT of different kinds of liquors that are listed on what appeared to be a newsletter but in actuality was their menu. I wish they had more speciality cocktails listed at the bottom but I looked around the bar and noticed some copper mugs which led me to ask if they had Moscow Mules. Alas, the bartender whipped one up for me and it was as delicious as I remembered. Ballyhoo also offers a few different locally brewed beers which change from time to time (according to what I learned while at the restaurant).
In terms of grabbing a bite to eat… Options might be few and far between as they offer «links» and that’s about it. Just know the sausage I had was awesome. I ordered the TJ Dawg, «TJ» being short for Tijuana. Chorizo pork sausage, crema, avocado, and pico… all my favorites but on a sausage, yum. I thought the ratio of bread to sausage was a bit much, could have done with a smaller roll but still pretty tasty.
At the end of the day, this is a great spot to unwind and enjoy «drinks and links.»

Love it! I’ve been looking forward to trying this restaurant! It did not disappoint.
I just stuck to beer this night, but I can’t wait to try their jam sessions and their teas.
But anyway… I had the chicken sausage, my husband had the Korean sausage and out friend had the steak sausage. They were all so delicious!!! We all also had a side of Mac and cheese which had a hit of jalapeño to it, it was super creamy and cheesy goodness.
This place is definitely my favorite place to grab a sausage and side.
The staff was also very friendly and helpful, nice atmosphere. It wasn’t too crowed here at 7 pm on a Friday night which was nice.
Can’t wait to go back for more!

Stopped by Ballyhoo after going to another bar. After my boyfriend ranted and raved about this place a group of us were all inclined to go. Food and drink were both delicious HOWEVER the bartender was very unhelpful and rude when i was making my decision. He didn’t really give any guidance to how their Jam sessions worked and generally seemed more annoyed than helpful. I wasn’t asking a million questions and it wasn’t that busy.
Maybe it was just that night? But from my experience I am less inclined to go to this bar again.

Since my previous review, Ballyhoo has addressed several of my previous qualms to my immense satisfaction.
First, Ballyhoo addressed the issue of price clarity by providing comprehensive lists of all of its liquors and beers (along with descriptions, origins, and so forth).
Secondly, the atmosphere has improved immensely thanks to the addition of some remarkably tasteful art all the way along the back wall. I’m not sure that I love the addition of the Christmas lights, but the corresponding dimming of the overhead lights did make the place a bit darker, a bit sexier. (Never thought I’d write that).
I remain lukewarm on the value proposition here. Nearly every single one of their offerings remains a bit too expensive for the area with the exception of perhaps the canned beer and the Ringside lager, with a few beers priced at $ 6 apiece but most at $ 7 and whiskeys especially trending to the absurd. (A whole bottle of the Japanese whiskey they advertise in particular can be purchased in Japan for less than the price of one shot of it here, which should be an indication of the absurdity of the markups places will charge on imported goods.) That said, this place is now demonstrably marching into premium territory, making the prices a bit more tolerable.
My stance on the food remains unchanged and can be round in the more comprehensive review below.
EN FIN:
I wouldn’t hesitate to use this place as a date spot if I were trying to impress. But I still don’t love sausages or overpriced drinks enough to visit regularly. a
4 stars for layout atmosphere (former 3)
4 stars for drinks (former 3)
3 stars for food
3 stars for value (now in line, former 1)
4 stars overall

I once knew an escort that snuck into the White House and tried to seduce the President and get herself hired for a million dollars. She was a Ballsyho. This place was not named after her, but it almost was. Now here is a trivia question. One of the best actress Oscar nominees from this past award ceremony, was actually a professional at Ballet. Who?
(Get it? Ballet who?)
What to get: The «TJ Dawg» or whatever it is.
To be perfectly honest I may never have tried this place. I’m not into bars, I’m not into anything trendy, I’m not into anything remotely hipstery, I’m not into fusion… I like that this place has a small menu (my philosophy is that you should be great at a few things rather than mediocre at hundreds of things, when it comes to eateries), but of the 5 items on the menu, one of them was a Korean Dog, one was a Mexican Dog, one was a Lamb Dog (maybe a hint of Middle Easternism about it), and already you’re crossing over into the «fusion-​y» territory that I usually avoid like the plague. I like when somebody from a certain place, makes food from that place, and makes it very well. I’m a traditionalist maybe or a skeptic, who knows.
In any case, thank you very much to Alex K for taking me here. Especially considering he only gave the place a 2/​5, and yet had the foresight to realize I might like it, and drag me in here after a long, long, long workout at the gym.
He liked it a little more this time, and as for me, well, I really, really liked it. It’s weird because if you look at all of the negative points, it should really not score a 5, no way. But it does.
Negatives:
— It is hipstery
— It is fusion-​y
— It is very expensive ($ 8 for a hot dog will always be very expensive in my eyes no matter what is on it)
— The bread is nice and soft in the middle but the edges seemed a little stale… it’s a pet peeve of mine, and one which, if you spend $ 2, is understandable, but when you spend $ 8 on a dog, shouldn’t be happening
— It wasn’t filling at all. I was hungry, and could have eaten 5 of them easily. But I’m not a millionaire and I’m on a diet, so.
— The chips are incredibly salty. Is this to make you want to buy more drinks? Lol.
— The drinks are a little overpriced according to Alex — I don’t drink, so I wouldn’t know.
Positives:
— Very friendly service and very liberal with the tap water and refills
— Very good recommendations (he did a great job helping me decide, and talked me into picking one — the Mexican one which is called TJ — that I would never have picked otherwise)
— DELICIOUS sausage, and everything on the dog was delicious too.
The TJ, which is what I had, sported bacon and chorizo mixed in with the links… it was divine. I can’t even tell you what was on it… maybe some pico, maybe some avocado, definitely some other stuff mixed in there… Everything on it was divine. I could have eaten them all night. Even the bread is good except for the edges. Nicely toasted too. I am a massive fan of this sausage. I have no idea if the other 4 are as spectacular. I would hesitate to order them because, firsly, it’s $ 8 per dog, and secondly, I love the one I had so much, I could only imagine ordering it in future and not the others. And it tasted so good, it’s a hands down ⁵⁄₅ despite all the negatives.
Sadly, I won’t get to try it too often, because at $ 8 and given that it’d take 5 of them to fill me up, it’s not a place I’d frequent, nor is it a place I’d recommend based on the small portion and high price. But I rate places based on mainly just the taste and the taste is awesome. If they adjusted their prices to match a similar-​but-​less-​fancy place down the road — Dog-​E-​Style — and these dogs were 5-​ish instead of 8-​ish, then I’d probably come in here and grab one sometimes. And who knows. It was so good, that maybe I will.
But if I really did eat 5 of them I’d need to go and work out at Bally’s afterwards. Oh, wait, Bally’s went out of business. Wait, what? What do you mean, someone you know still works out at Bally’s? Who?
(Get it? Bally’s, who?)

Had an awesome time grabbing lunch at Ballyhoo.
Love the setup too — a few seats around the perimeter, two tables and bar seating. The simplicity in their menu is the saving grace; love the few, high quality choices of delicious links!
I started with the Tequila Chili Soup which was very flavorful and hearty. Perfect for a dreary day with nice chunks of ground beef and a beautiful dollop of sour cream and parsley on top. For my link, I ordered the «TJ Dawg» with a pork sausage, house cured bacon and delicious avocado. Enjoyed the flavoring and seasoning of the dog — the bacon was the definite highlight. I would have preferred fries or a side salad to be served with the links, rather than potato chips, so I hope they can give us that option in the near future.
The bartender was super passionate about the new neighborhood pub. He emphasized ‘never frozen,’ and high quality ingredients of uncompromising quality. Definitely a contender for a nice lunch in the Cobblestone district. Great to see some cool places popping up in that ‘hood!