Sterling Place Tavern

Not sure why everyone was hyping up this place for their fish fry. It full on sucks.
We enter the place and get seated very quickly. I told the server we already know what we want because everyone was raving about the fish fry. So me and a buddy order a fish fry each. I expected it to be really big like how I’m used to at other places that are popular for fish fry and when I finally get my plate, I’m very disappointed.
The fish was thin and it looked like it was baked /​broiled. It had no taste at all.
I even finished my whole plate and was still hungry! that’s how small the whole entire meal was. Don’t let the pictures fool you, the plate is small to begin with and the fish just looks big on it but in reality, its not.
Would I come back again, maybe? But most definitely not for the fish fries. for sure I’m trying the burgers next time.
Also, dont get me started on the décor and what not. When you think of a dive bar, this place takes it to a whole new level, and that’s for the bad.
All in all, pass on the fish fry, try something else.

Went here over the winter and was pleased that they were open given other reviews saying their hours are hit or miss. We were seated instantly and were asked if we would like burgers as soon as we sat down. All 4 of our party said yes and the pleasant host informed us she asked because their burgers are individually hand pressed to order (never heard of this before and realized it takes extra time, but we’ll go with it). I ordered the pepper jack burger which I was warned ahead of time has a ton of red pepper flake on it. I’m no wuss to hot food, so I said «bring it!». I was pleasantly surprised at their beer selection, and ordered a few different selections. The burger was not the best I’ve ever had (and is why I gave the 4 stars) but still juicy and tasty. It was very unique as it came with approx. an ounce of perfectly cooked red pepper flakes (not hard in the least). Disclaimer: do not order this burger if you can’t handle spicy food, this will kick your butt! For how much of a dive this place was the service was amazing and I would be back again for sure. On a side note, we got there around 6 or 7, and we heard a few people attempt to order burgers after us and the waitress sincerely apologized that they were out of burgers. I’m happy I got mine as that’s the only reason why we came there.

Location Location Location! The mantra of the food service industry this ethos helps explain the boom in food trucks here in Western New York. Sterling Tavern has this in spades, a corner lot on an up and coming area of Hertel. Regretfully its the only thing that Sterling tavern excels at. So my hats off to the person who initially scouted the area and had the pluck to wait 15 years for the area to rebound.
Everything else about the Sterling Tavern can and should be improved. The hours are chaotic at best. If you looking for décor that says «rundown VFW post» or «dingy basement» then I would suggest stopping by for dinner. With missing floor tiles, uneven table and chair legs, and old Pepsi logos the staff signal to the customer they have little care about their dining experience.
The burgers which are supposed to be the cornerstone of this establishment are average at best accompany that with lackluster service and you have a crippled restaurant.
Great location, average to poor on everything else. Buy a craft beer a block away and grill instead

If this was the «Curling Place Tavern» then some weird Gaelic sport would be played here. If Jodie Foster brought Hannibal Lecter here then it would be the «Starling Place Tavern». And if big, rough looking flannel-​jacketed guys hung out here (which they probably do) then it would be the «Surly Place Tavern.» As it stands, it’s actually the Sterling Place Tavern, which means it’s the favourite bar of Liverpool FC’s Raheem, and also every adornment on the walls and ceilings are made from Sterling silver. And everything I just said should be taken with a pinch of pepper.
I have to admit I was really shocked by this burger. It’s definitely one of the best burgers in Western NY. It goes right into that elite category shared by the likes of Mooneys, Vizzis and Ruzzine’s. There aren’t a wealth of incredible burgers in the area, but those four along with maybe Buffalo Joe’s Café, make phenomenal ones. This one was absolutely drenched in juice, it was hefty, it was delicious. I shared it with my friend Cam and it filled both of us up.
The wait time was a little annoying but it was well worth it by the time the burger arrived. They kindly cut it in half for me so that Cam could easily eat his half with no trouble.
The staff in there weren’t particularly friendly, but they weren’t mean either. They seemed a little annoyed that they didn’t have any wings left, but luckily for me I didn’t go there for the wings, though if they are half as good as the burger I am sure they are fantastic.
As for the atmosphere, there were probably only 10 people in there, a couple of cute girls and a bunch of older guys… it seems like a place where regulars hang out. Not my scene but if it’s your scene I am sure you would enjoy it.
All in all an excellent place to go and enjoy a burger, and one of the best burgers in town, yo.

We loved their huge periogies… and their steak sandwich and burgers were the best we have tried… It isn’t much to look at inside… but do not let that stop you from trying their great food and friendly staff.

I have a neighbor who raves about this place, particularly the burgers and beer selection, so I had been wanting to check it out for awhile. I made it a point to read reviews here, so I basically knew what to expect (long waits and cash only for starters). Anyway, finally went there last night and can’t say that the wait, which was well over an hour for 2 burgers with fries, was actually worth it.
Let me start by saying it is a bare bones place with little to no atmosphere. The beer selection was better than average, but not outstanding, and the wait time didn’t exactly jive with the amount of people that were in there (only 2 other tables and a few people at the bar). Additionally, it was cold inside, so consider layers if you plan to go.
Okay, so the burgers. Not real juicy like everyone says, and the rolls were kind of thin and toasted a bit too much for my liking. First bite and everything just fell out and the roll crumbled to pieces. It became such a clusterf*ck of a mess that I ended up having to use a knife and fork to eat it. The scant portion of mediocre fries was disappointing, and to top it off, it’s all on a luncheon plate, which was too small to accommodate such a mess. Maybe small plates are used to give the illusion that you’re getting a large portion? Bottom line, we were not blown away by these burgers.
I will say, however, that the folks who run this joint were very friendly and seem like good people. They apologized several times for the wait, which I had anticipated so it wasn’t a shocker, and also seemed genuinely grateful for our patronage. I think they are probably doing the best they can, and I guess you just have to take it for what it is and anticipate the pitfalls before you arrive.
I would love to try the fish fry, but if we had to wait that long with so few patrons, I can’t imagine what the wait time would be like on a Friday. I would probably give them another chance and go back again, but this first experience was just okay.

Went here on Ash Wednesday. They were offering Fish Frys on special. They had one bartender whom became our waitress and a guy who was seating people. We arrived at 8pm, didn’t get our two burgers until shortly after 9pm. Burger was very juicy and cooked to perfection — however, lacked flavor and substance. They do not have menus, only chalkboards above the tables, so if you were too far away you would have to get up. I also heard, that this place only has one stove to cook, which is why it took so long. I did enjoy the monstrous onion rings. Mainly, my review is so low, bc we waited so long for a little better quality burger I could have made at home.

John and Mary do a great job with the establishment. Their food is all so very delicious & their fish specials during lent are amazing.
Though I wish it weren’t so overcrowded. It’s difficult to come in hoping to have a seat at the bar around 6!
Alas they always have great beers on draft and well worth a great place to hang with friends.

Sterling is a family staple for us. Located at the corner of Sterling & Hertel when you drive by you never would even know it exists, a true hole in the wall type of place but best example of a hole in the wall. Amazing fish frys, awesome burgers and arguably the best wings in Buffalo, there is no excuse not to come here.
In my many visits, I can say the steak sandwich is fantastic, shrimp dinner is a lot of food all of which is very good (coleslaw, potato salad, macaroni salad and fries). As I said, the wings are better then just about any place in Buffalo. And the burgers are what they’re known for, also are very tasty. My only tiny complaint is as folate the French fries seem to be frozen ones, not handout which is shocking since they make everything in house but maybe I’m wrong?
They always have good beers on tap, cash only! Very nice family who runs it, they take a lot of pride in this place. Follow them on facebook in case they aren’t open some random nights which does happen.
Worth a visit for sure, be prepared to wait on certain nights and the food takes a while to come out but worth every minute!

Probably one of my favorite hamburgers in North Buffalo. I have spent many nights entertained by the stories of the lovable bartender Elena and her loud, infectious laughter. This bar has a neighborhood feel and boasts nothing fancy or excessive.
Word of caution when ordering the spicy cheese: It will set your damn mouth on fire!

A great local business, run by the people who work there. If you like beer, this is a great place to go — better than Blue Monk, even. While they might not have everything all the time, they do have a great selection of drafts at any time AND the glassware that goes with it. I find it a great match and shows great care in the selection of their beers.
The food, I’ve heard, is good. I’ve been told it is the best burger in Buffalo (as a vegetarian, I have no idea, but they are huuuuge and come with a large amount of sides). The pierogies are good, but to me, seem overpriced. But, they are handmade. I just stick to french fries.
Seriously, though, go here for the beer. You won’t regret it.
Protip — Cash only.

Oh gosh! Sterling Place has been on my list if places to try for a long time. I even live in North Buffalo and have had trouble getting here. Let’s start with the fact that they don’t have a phone… Or a website… Or consistent hours. But that’s probably because they are doing so well and don’t care to! Anywho multiple tries later I made it in to eat. When I walked in I was like ohhhh boy this might not be what we were hoping for. It’s a serious dive. Two chalkboards hold the small menu and there is a medium sized bar. My interest peaked with the small menu because that usually means there’s more attention & love added to those items. Score! I ordered what I’ve been waiting to try… The cheeseburger. And DAMN. That was absolutely delicious! I judged and praised this simple American cheeseburger in the fact that I didn’t need to dip in ketchup or hot sauce or any condiment whatsoever for the entire burger. It was just that flavorful! And to add the sides are homemade as well? And just as yummy? I was freaking surprised! And happy. And can I say challenged to thinking that this may supersede the burger I formerly named as the best in Buffalo?! Oh just find some time in Sterling’s limited time to go eat one of these bad boys! No questions!

We came here on a Monday night at 8pm, and were the only people eating. There was an HOUR wait for peirogis, and another 15 for the rest of the food. We were not even offered an explanation or apology for the wait. Food was good, but not good enough to wait that long. I have been to many restaurants that cook food to order, and they don’t take that long. After asking the waitress about the peirogis, she mentioned they came from a deli nearby– so not even really «cooked to order»
When the waitress overheard us complaining about the wait (not ever rude or to her face) she snapped at us that we should avoid good restaurants if we prefer fast food.
We will NEVER be back. Buffalo has many great local restaurants that cook to order within a normal time frame.

Sterling Place is the quintessential Buffalo hole-​in-​the-​wall. However, it is also one of my favorite places to go in Buffalo. Lucky for me, I live just a few blocks away!
Where do I even begin? For starters, this place is CASH ONLY. Secondly, their cash register doesn’t even really work. They just pull it open and throw the money in. Thirdly, they have a phenomenal beer selection. For such a divey place, you would not expect such excellent craft beer. Fourthly, the owners and workers are so nice, that they alone make it worth it!
Now the food. Their burgers are solid. Hand formed patties that are always cooked perfectly. Sometimes if the place is busy, they’ll tell you that it’ll be a 45 minute wait. This is not the type of place you go for a quick bite. But back to the burgers… I am drooling! They are juicy and tasty. I always go for the cole slaw for my side, but the fries are good (albeit a bit standard). I’ve wanted to try their pierogies, but the burgers are so huge and filling, that I never really get the chance to try them.
But my favorite part about Sterling Place? I LOVE going at about 7pm (on Mondays for some reason), sitting down with a burger and beer, and watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy at the bar. It’s just fun!
A con? Their hours. Their hours are all over the place, and with no website or phone, you sort of just have to show up and hope they are open. But believe me, it’s worth it!

What makes a bar a true Buffalo experience?
Well, it has to represent the city. It has to be a tough place, that’s seen better days. It has to be a place where the people are friendly to a fault. It has to be a place with mammoth servings of great food, cheap prices, and some hidden surprises inside.
Sterling Place is a Buffalo bar.
The staff is… eccentric…to a fault. Friendly, gregarious, strange and sometimes off putting. The crowd is mostly regulars who have fallen in love with Sterling’s quirky charms.
The beer selection is the biggest surprise. You would expect a place like this to be Blue or Blue light. Instead it offers a selection of beers second only, perhaps, to the Blue Monk.
The burgers are incredible, thick and juicy. Hell, I can’t even type about them without some drool forming on my lips.
Only catch is that their hours are erratic. You’re never sure what days they’re going to be open or not, either. That’s fine. It’s Buffalo, you know?

Sterling is reputed to have some of the best burgers in Buffalo. After sampling the godsend of a Vizzi’s burger, I strategically scheduled my next outing with a friend at this unassuming bar on Hertel to try their burger and see how it matches up. After battling the Buffalo snow with my dinky non-​snow tires and small car, I was happy to make it here alive. It didn’t really matter anymore if I wasn’t able to make it out, at least I would live to try their burger and catch up with a friend that I haven’t seen in a while. Isn’t that what life is about anyway?
We came here around 7p on a Friday night (Christmas Eve was only a few days away) and it was packed, but there were still a few tables open in the adjacent dining room away from the bar. Nobody greeted us or told us to sit down, but we decided to stake our claim and grab our seats while we still could. After talking for a few minutes, we spot what seems to be the waitress — a rather agreeable lady with a cheerful demeanor, hustling around from table to table talking to people (and presumably taking their orders). As she was about to get to us, a large group of Christmas carolers invade the dining room and start singing. The waitress laughs and offers each of them a free drink as part of the holiday spirit. Woo, it’s festive in here now.
She finally gets to us and informs us that they are cash only and that our orders may take up to 45 minutes because of how busy they are at the moment. We’re really hungry, but that’s cool — we have a lot to catch up on. My friend orders a beer and we both get a burger and a fry to share. Before we know it, (I swear it didn’t take longer than 20 minutes), our burgers come out and they look incredible. Cut in two pieces, I see the juices of my perfectly cooked medium rare monster soaking into the bun and causing some salivation in anticipation of the inevitable consumption. Okay, enough talking. right? Time to indulge.
…and I was in heaven, for all of the ten to fifteen minutes it took to finish up the burger. It was amazing. and did I mention perfectly cooked to order? Yup. High quality beef, great bread — everything one could want in a burger. We were both immensely satisfied. As far as comparing it to Vizzi’s, well both places are great. I enjoyed that they were able to cook my burger perfectly to medium rare here and the quality of beef was on-​par and excellent. Vizzi’s does provide more fries (and dare I say better quality fries), but there’s really no wrong choice to made.
The service here was great and friendly. I loved how the waitress set our expectations for a long wait at the very beginning and the food was able to come out quicker then we expected. We were always taken care of with water and beer, despite how busy they were. Sure, the décor of this place is a bit divey but it’s homey and even when it’s busy you can have a conversation without yelling over each other. Sterling, my darling. I will be back.
Summary: Great burgers, service and homey atmosphere.

I came here twice. I had the burgers twice. I was satisfied twice. Need I explain more?
Come here early on Saturday when there won’t be a crowd so you can get a nice barstool seat.
This place opens and closes when it wants so call ahead to make sure it’s open.
The lady behind the bar was very nice and talkative. Standard line of bar drinks, standard bar menu with a few rotations.

I’d heard horror stories about long waits, so we’ve always gone early. I’ve never arrived there later than 6:00 and thus have never really had to wait for my food.
Good beer selection, not as diverse or lengthy as the beer bars, but for a small tavern, it’s better than you’d expect.
I’d heard the burgers were the best. I’ve been disappointed. The key to cooking any meat is to let it rest after cooking so the juices don’t all leak out. Every time I’ve ordered a burger here it’s been cut in half, rendering the meat dry and the bottom bun soaked. If I am here again and want a burger I’ll have to be «that guy» and insist that they don’t cut my burger.
However, why does it still warrant 4 stars? They’ve got really good seafood. I’ve heard that they source higher quality seafood than most of the restaurants in the area, and it shows. The fish is far better than other fish fries I’ve had, and their fried shrimp and fried scallops are also exceptional. Love the sides as well, very good fries, and their coleslaw, macaroni salad, poato salad all taste homemade.
Last I was there they didn’t have any, but they used to have two kinds of cake for dessert, a carrot cake and a peanut butter chocolate cake. Both were amazing, and apparently baked by a friend of the owners.
The friendliest service ever. The staff there is small and they get to know you (and your usual order) very quickly.

This is one of those places that has a small menu selection, but does it well. It’s small enough that they don’t bother to give out menus, instead, it’s just written on the wall.
I’ve only been here twice, and in both times, I’ve ordered the burger, because it seems that you’re nuts if you don’t. Food is rather slow, as I’ve heard that they don’t pre-​cook things, and there’s only one person in the kitchen. Whether it’s true or not, the burger is indeed better than your average one. I like mine medium-​rare, and they give you a generous portion of it, on rather sturdy buns. This isn’t the fancy burger; the only choices you have are cheese and side. Yet it simply costs 8.45 USD, and given the quality, I’d say it’s cheap.
So why am I not giving this place a full five stars? Because it is cash-​only and it has no phone number. I didn’t mind the lack of websites, but if they were trying to recreate a real back-​in-​the-​days atmosphere, they’re doing it well. Unfortunately, I love the 21^st century. Add to that the strange paradox I feel that their «rugged» look may in fact drive some potential customers away. In fact, I probably would not have wanted to go here on my own, and only went the first time because someone else (who knew the restaurant) suggested we go. First timers would probably be put off by the divey atmosphere.

It was a Wednesday night and my fiancé and I had just gone to see Alton Brown at Buff State. We missed dinner and were starving and wanted something quick but not fast food. We were driving down Hertel and spotted Sterling Place and it was open!
Sterling Place Tavern was the very first bar I ever ordered a drink at. It was a couple years ago, but I remember it pretty well. Since then, I hadn’t been back. This place seems to have pretty sporadic hours, which is a downside. And they only accept cash which means I have to plan ahead.
It’s a divey place, there is really hideous wallpaper all over the place but it’s homey feeling. It wasn’t very crowded and we sat right away. Service here is a little slow, but our waitress was talking hockey at the bar with other patrons so I couldn’t really complain. We both got burgers and they were so tasty. They’re absolutely huge, cooked to perfection and served with fries.
We ate in silence because we were both too busy stuffing our mouths. For a divey bar they have a great draught list (Rusty Chain, Southern Tier IPA, some Great Lakes beers, Franciskaner Hefeweiss)
I’d like to come back and try the fish fry some time if I happen to be driving by on a Friday night, have cash in my wallet and they’re open!