Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar

DBGBs new menu is amazing!!! We had the Bison Marsala Burger and it was out of this world! Can’t wait to go back and try more from their menu!

Just giving a quick updated review since I pretty much party there almost every weekend if possible. Again its accessible, welcoming staff, positive atmosphere, amazing food, and the music is really perfect. I personally, just love it.

Excellent food every visit in an unpretentious setting. Their wings are so tender that I usually get an order to go. The owners are food lovers, and it shows. I would recommend this eatery for dinner before any other restaurant on Allen St. Try their specials.

If you make reservations on a Tuesday evening for dinner be prepared to pay a $ 5 cover charge because there is a band. Don’t make the mistake of wearing a white t-​shirt because you will be refused entry, who knew this was such an upscale place.

Worst experience of my entire life i wish i never walked through the front door. Probably have to start therapy now. Please never give them business they deserve to burn down. Never going out on allen ever again.

I had to pop in and give a great review for the steamer platter because it was that good. I’d had no idea they had this type of food here! My boyfriend and I stopped by on a late afternoon on a Sunday. We wanted to sit outside but the seating area out back is very small, and they didn’t have any stools left (cute lil tiki bar though!).That kinda sucked but the bartender was VERY apologetic and nice about, and we’re cool so we took a seat at the bar.
The steamer platter is a medley of clams, muscles, crab legs, shrimp, and veggies steamed in a garlic/​butter/​white wine/​herb broth, that comes with about 6 big pieces of bread and more melty butter to dip into. Holy moly, it was delicious and we both kept commenting on how happily surprised we were to have stumbled upon it. Service was great too, that bartender was helpful, friendly, and awesome.
Just wanted to add this because I don’t know if many people are aware of the raw bar and seafood here. I’ve been drunk here a bunch of times and never looked at the menu :)

I would give the food a 5! And the atmosphere a ¾. The food there is very good and you can tell they make it fresh. It is a dark place and is loud so it’s hard to have a conversation.

Discovered the Bohemian Bar last year while in Buffalo. I’ve been many times over the past year. I love this place. It reminds me of the small cool eclectic music venues in NYC, London or Toronto. But the drinks are a bit pricey for Buffalo and the preparation of the drinks are not consistent. AT ALL!!!
I went to see a show on Tuesday night. My friend ordered a piña colada. It was amazing. I ordered one about a half hour later, it was horrendous!!! I’ve also ordered Mojitos in the same night and getting one drink that was really good and the second (from the same bartender) tasting awful. From now on, gonna stick to bottled beer or soda.
Food is good though (quesdillas, smoked chicken wings (WOW!!) and truffle fries).

It almost hurts that this is the second time I’m giving this place a not so good review. The only reason I coke is for the smoked BBQ wings and neo soul nights on Tuesday. Last time I was thrown off by the cost of drinks being way over priced. This time I just got off work and had a taste for wings so while driving I attempted to call (on speaker phone) and order ahead so I could get home and relax and enjoy a nice meal. Unfortunately a company policy just changed where phone orders are no longer accepted. Once arriving I suggested taking a card number from callers and I was just told people have a problem with that.
Customer service is big to me because I’ve done it for so many years. Little thing irk customers and can cause them to not support a business. Get it together DBGB’s!!!

I met two girlfriends for a few drinks and snacks at Duke’s tonight. We ordered the BBQ smoked wings, truffle fries and nachos add grilled chicken to share. The BBQ wings were phenomenal! They were so tender and the meat just fell right off the bones. The BBQ sauce had just the right amount of heat. The nachos had cheese and toppings on every layer. The chips were crisp and not too salty which we prefer. The truffle fries were disappointing. They tasted like regular fries you can just order anywhere else. There was nothing special about them. The hibiscus aioli was light and delicious and needed.
The atmosphere was fun and the bar was filled with people of all ages. Lights were very dimly lit so the candles on the tables helped. I realize it was a Friday evening but the music was so loud we were all yelling to hear each other. As we were leaving and walked through the bar you could see that everyone in the bar area was yelling too.
Definitely a great hole in the wall for drinks and food. I can’t wait to go back and try the lobster gnocchi. We just won’t go on a weekend night so we aren’t yelling.

I came here from a friend’s recommendation. We went on a Wednesday night and it looks like they were just getting ready to set up for a band to play. By the time we left, there was a bouncer that was collecting door covers. Didn’t know how much they were charging though.
At first glance, the place is kind of weird– it was a darker bar, filled with lots of random red lights and the artwork was more on the eccentric side. However, strangely enough, everything kind of works. It’s definitely a loud place though– both from the music and patrons.
We had the truffle fries, smoked wings, prime rib sandwich and lobster mac and cheese. The truffle fries were great– especially with their different dipping sauces! We had the aioli and dijon– both were really good. Their famous smoked wings was just ok in my opinion. I liked my wings fried and these aren’t– not to mention, it was really charred, if not a little bit more on the burnt side. The prime rib sandwich was just like any other steak hoagie, but it came with really good sweet potato fries. And lastly, the lobster mac and cheese was pretty good too, definitely very creamy and cheesy.
All in all, solid bar food if you’re looking for a night out. They had a pretty extensive beer and cocktail menu too although I did not try anything this time.

I love this place. I am writing this review as I am going there for dinner. If you have celiac they are happy to accommodate and they also serve Redbridge.
Spectacular wings, great bbq and good times. Look no further than Duke’s.
Great vibes all around.

Duke’s, also affectionately known as DBGBs, is by far the most versatile bar on the strip. With regular live performances by local and out of town acts. You can see a variety of stuff on their stage from Burlesque to hard rock to cover to neo-​soul. It’s a fantastic place to come and hangout. Not to mention their food? It’s top notch. Their take on wings is absolutely amazing! I could definitely suggest this place for a sit down dinner on a week night. With regular drink specials this place shines on the weekend. Many times there is a cover, but pending on the entertainment. It’s usually worth the price of admission… usually.

On the Allentown bar scene continuum that goes from «odd but interesting» to «bizarre and terrifying», Duke’s falls somewhere in the middle. Not too scary but not the best the area has to offer either.
Let me first gets the negatives out of the way, which are all debatable:
(1) The bar has lots of red lights (think horror movie, brothel or 35 mm film developing studio).
(2) There are lots of eerie artworks and other decoration on the walls that all seemingly make little to no sense put together.
(3) In the dinning room/​stage area I thought I smelled a cat.
In any event, these cons aren’t that bad:
(1) The soft red glow of the bar area won’t give you the impression that you’ll get your liver ripped in half by a crazy axe-​murderer, and perhaps you may be the type that finds the embrace of a lady of the night inviting and comfortable… I don’t know. Anyways, to me the lights felt like a half lit Christmas tree.
(2) The artwork… well, it’s Allentown, so you know.
(3) Who knows, it may have been a dog that I smelled.
Now for the positives. First things, there are 164 beer choices on their menu! Not too bad, huh? We tried the Eggplant Wings (which just means deep-​fried eggplant. Who do they think they’re kidding), and they were terrific. There are so many other bar fare options and beer option that it was hard to choose, so I’m looking to go back for the beer and food alone.
Best of all the service was stellar. Our bartender’s name was Brandy (or Brandi). She was top notch; a real pro. She seemed to adhered to standard badass protocol by inking a tattoo sleeve, but then she one-​upped that and appears to be working on a full-​blown sweater! Brandy taught me how to properly pour a weisse beer from a bottle to glass, which she demonstrated on one of my favorite German beers, Franziskaner. She also recommended a beer option for my wife who hates beer… and she liked it! I’ve never seen anyone sell my wife a beer before Duke’s. Wow.

Came to Duke’s on a recommendation from a Meetup Group. My husband and I arrived at 6:30 on a Tuesday and were seated quickly.
Our server was TK and he did a great job of being friendly without standing over our shoulders. The lighting is a bit dark considering we weren’t watching the performers yet, but there were candles on the table to help brighten the table a bit. We absolutely enjoyed the Neo-Soul/R&B music that was playing through the sound system before the band, however we were a bit frustrated that someone would let a sound play for 15 seconds then change to a new tune. That sort of breaks my vibe.
We sampled the truffle fries, smoked BBQ wings and the steak sandwich with a few cider beers. I think they did a great job on the meal for bar food. I especially enjoyed how my wings fell off the bone and were very moist.
The price is a bit above average but not by much. I enjoyed the atmosphere and will return often and soon. Just a note… I almost didn’t see this place when I was driving by… so keep that in mind if you’re going for the 1^st time like me.

DBGB is pretty non-​descript from the outside. I drove past it twice before I found the place. My review is for the food only. I came with my brother for dinner and we loved everything we ordered with one exception.
Between the two of us, we had half a dozen raw oysters, fried squash blossoms, BBQ grilled salmon, and barbacoa tacos. The tacos were nothing to write home about. The seasoning was overwhelming to the point where I could taste only one note: spicy hot. No depth of flavor because it was drowned by the fire in my mouth.
The squash blossoms were tasty, oysters, and salmon were delicious. The highlight of my meal were the oysters. Service was great. Our server was very attentive and made good suggestions though I wished she had given a heads up on the tacos.

OK, I will shyly admit that for awhile, given that the place is quite groovy, and the DJ’s are constantly spinning R & B «Grooves», that I thought the name of the place was Duke’s Bohemian GROOVE Bar. I was wondering what was Bohemian about the Grooves. Then I realized it’s a GROVE Bar, which actually makes even less sense, because I don’t see any Groves around here, and even if there were Groves, what would be Bohemian about them? OK, now I’ll even more shyly admit (given that I was an English major, and play quizzes, and stuffs), that I have no idea what Bohemian really means. Is it something to do with the Czech Republic? Well these beats are not Czech and the club isn’t really full of Czech-​looking girls (in fact you’d have to go to Los Angeles, or Praha itself, for a club like that). I’m moving on.
I came here to try the Eggplant Wings. I’m going to say that they weren’t that bad, and were probably juicy and original and yummy enough to earn a 4 out of 5, except for a few factors. Factor one, everyone says this place is THE shizznit, it’s so hyped and way overrated, I was expecting an orgasmic taste explosion and all I got was some pretty good Eggplant Wings that didn’t change my life in any way and weren’t as yummy as regular wings. Factor two is the price. They are way, way overpriced. I think my Eggplant Wings cost me well north of $ 10, and that was annoying, because they’re not as substantial or filling or tasty as a regular order of chicken wings at another place, which would cost significantly less. Thirdly, they were a little swamped in hot sauce, which I actually love but I think most people would not like as much as me. Fourthly, the hot sauce wasn’t as buttery as I like, it was a bit too close to full on Franks hot sauce. Fifth, the music here is way too loud to be ordering food, but that’s not really a complaint. Sixth, it’s not to my taste in music, but again that’s just a personal preference. I think Allen St. Hardware has much better music.
And finally, seventh, the service was pretty awful. The ridiculously good looking tattooed bartenders were sort-​of fighting over my order and getting pissy with each other for gazumping me and taking the order. They yelled at me and not in a particularly friendly way, but that’s fine, when you’re that cute, you can be mean and I’m okay with it. I might even kind of like it. But then don’t keep my 50 cents change as a tip unless I tell you to. That’s crossing a line. These things are already way overpriced and such a thing will end up in my review.
Speaking of good looking people, this club is full of good looking girls and ridiculously amazing seven inch stiletto heels. Lots of fun things to look at and gorgeous people to flirt with while you wait for your insanely overpriced overhyped food.
So all things considered, this is a 3, for service and price it’s a 1, for food it’s a 4. But the hype means it’s firmly down as a 3. Oh, and be prepared to convince the bouncer that you’re just coming in for food, otherwise there’ll be a cover charge, too. I’m so glad motels don’t charge a cover charge, I mean, quilts should be free right? :)

All good music has a groove you can feel in your soul, a beat that makes your blood pound and your heart sing.
Duke’s knows music. The live music (almost every night), the great staff, even the divey atmosphere, all come together to create a melody of welcome and acceptance. This is the place you come when you want to relax, hear some amazing tunes, and unwind.
It’s also now (again) a place you can come for an amazing dinner.
In April 2013, the owners decided to go in a different direction with their menu and brought on Chef Red to take over the kitchen from Chef Malik Saint. 2013 was a long summer for me. I was devastated at the loss of my favorite Chef, frustrated with the inconsistent food coming from the kitchen after the change, and disappointed that my favorite place to hang out and listen to music no longer had food that I wanted to eat.
I stopped going altogether at some point. I stopped recommending Duke’s for anything more than drinks and music. I found other places for dinner.
A new friend asked me recently to join him for drinks at Duke’s, which eventually turned into dinner. What a difference a year makes! Whatever trouble the kitchen had before finding it’s new groove, is now solidly in the past. I was surprised that night by the food and skeptical that the kitchen would be able to remain consistent. I returned several times over the next couple of weeks to sample various items off the Specials menu (chopped salad with house cured bacon, soft shell crab BLT, potato and cheese pirogi, grilled salmon). Each time, the food was solid, the quality and flavor was consistent.
This last year has been a struggle for the kitchen to find it’s new rhythm but finally the soul of Duke’s has returned to its food.
Dinner anyone?

The bf and I decided to buy a Groupon for here — $ 17.50 for $ 35 worth of food. I made a reservation since I knew the place was pretty small. We got here about 25 minutes before our reservation to get a drink at the bar. With some live music playing, the place was very busy. We waited… and waited… and waited. The bartenders seemed overwhelmed because it took quite a bit of time for them to realize we were standing with a credit card out with no drinks in front of us. We both ordered Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald. I asked if the bartender could make me a black and tan but I don’t think she heard me or didn’t understand what it was because she got confused and said something about a blueberry beer. I figured it would be best to back off and just get a beer.
We went to go find the hostess to get our table but it was pretty confusing where to go. I didn’t see a real hostess stand — more of just a book and some menus thrown next to the bar. I managed to grab hold of a waitress to let her know we were there so she could seat us. Because we already had our drinks, we decided we wanted to split the quesadilla for an appetizer. For dinner I ordered a steak sandwich medium rare and the bf got a chicken cutlet sandwich.
After waiting, they come over with our sandwiches. Puzzled, I inform the server (who was NOT our waitress) that we were supposed to have a quesadilla first. He insists we take our entrees and then we can figure out about the quesadilla later. The waitress comes over a minute later and apologizes a lot about the mix up. We decided to scratch the quesadilla and just split a dessert instead. The food itself was good. I really enjoyed my sandwich. I asked for hot sauce and ketchup for the fries and was given vinegar and ketchup. I didn’t bother to ask for the hot sauce, because I was just far too hungry. For dessert we decided to split a tiramisu. Not amazing, but still very good.
Honestly, it was a good meal and I definitely think I’ll be back. The live music was a nice touch but they were playing really loudly for such a small place. We had trouble hearing each other. I was annoyed that they messed up the appetizer and that it took so long at the bar, so that’s why I had to give 3 stars. Their BBQ and wings sound delicious though, so I will probably be back to try those!

My Order: Duke’s Sampler Platter, Pepsi (1 free refill– yay!)
Pros:
— Truffle Oil Fries: by far my favorite. Crisped to perfection (literally) and seasoned well (not too salty, not under seasoned).
— Eggplant Wings: phenomenal. I was so intrigued when I read ”eggplant wings” on Unilocal.It’s basically battered buffalo flavored eggplants! Yum yum.
— Clams: they weren’t bad. I loved the sauces that came with the platter; def added to the flavors of clams (I usually don’t order seafood).
— Oysters: my friend said that they were tasty. Came with lemons & 2 sauces
Cons:
— off the street parking? I went on a Friday and I found parking with ease though.
For the price of the platter, it was very filling and worth it. My server, Valerie, was very sweet and polite. She checked on us regularly and was quite informative about future events. Apparently, there is a Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras/​Burlesque show on the 4^th. See you there ;)
P. S. Reservations recommended– it was super crowded when I went!