Tappo

So I like Tappo, I really do. It is a great atmosphere, good food, and their rooftop bar is nice in the summer. However, the last few times I have been there, the Reds I have been served have soured. The other night I ordered a Cabernet and it was so sour that it burned and my eyes watered and I started to choke. The bartender was very understanding and poured me another glass that was very good.
Perhaps a system is needed where they mark the bottle with date and time opened? A cab has a very short shelf life-​2 days.

Good italian food. I’m biased, since my mom makes the best italian food — but Mike A does a great job here. Try the olive platter as an app.

I go here quite frequently, which says something about how I feel. Always great service, nice atmosphere, descent selection of meals. Plus! You can get $ 16 bottle (s) of wine. No more crostinis but they do have delicious flat breads now.
Thank you to our last waitress Valerie for being so sweet.

We were here for NYE. This is actually a great place to get a decent bottle of wine pretty cheap. They have a rooftop which was perfect to see the fireworks coming from the Electric Tower. I’m giving my experience 3 stars because the dish I ordered was pretty underwhelming. I had the pasta and clams. First of all, there are only about 5 actual clams in the entire dish and they were made with sort of a clams casino style (bread crumbs and slices of bacon on top). Not what I was expecting out of an Italian pasta dish. Also, whatever the pasta was tossed in was pretty flavorless. After eating the entire dish, I felt like I could have definitely gone for another entrée. Although I was disappointed with what I had this time, I have had dishes from tappo that were decent. I guess it just depends on what you order.

Finally got a chance to try this place! The lunch menu is very small with salads, sandwiches, and pasta– but that doesn’t mean they weren’t delicious!
I had the lasagna and it came in a big portion, all gooey with cheese sitting in a pool of yummy marinara sauce. The pasta tasted as if they were made in-​house (were they?) and fresh. There wasn’t too much meat in it but whatever there was, it was flavorful. There was sooo much cheese that I had to cut every bite with my fork– a good thing. The best was the sauce– not your typical runny watery tomato sauce. It was thick, full of tomato, herbs, and onion– and so good.
Definitely want to come back and try dinner, if not lunch again!

I stumbled upon Tappo when I mistakenly tried to get a table for myself and 4 other friends at Big Ditch Brewing Company on a Saturday night, during a Sabres game. They’re right across the street from each other and the only eateries in the area. I quickly Unilocaled this place and saw that all the bottles of wine were $ 15 so we ventured over! Tappo is definitely a trendy place for the «cool kids» of Buffalo (I used «trendy» because that seems to be the reoccurring theme amongst the reviews for this place and I can’t say I disagree).
So let’s start with the bar. The bar is pretty big, packed with people, and has one TV (it’s definitely not a sports bar, but let’s be real, every has to have the Sabres on when they’re on). The bartenders were very attentive and continuously circled the bar to make sure everyone’s drinks were full (and not in a creepy way). I really appreciated that because one of my biggest pet peeves is when I have to wait 5 minutes to wave down a bartender because they’re focused on one area or chatting with their friends in a corner.
Now on to dinner. The food was ok, definitely wouldn’t go there again for the food. As a vegetarian in an Italian restaurant, I was surprised at the lack of options available to me. There was like 2 dishes that were vegetarian and 2 apps (no vegan options, so don’t even try). And to top it off, the «vegetarian» eggplant parmesan was $ 1 more than the non-​vegetarian! I didn’t understand how a restaurant can take a pretty-​typical-​vegetarian option and make it not-​vegetarian. I asked the waitress (and this brings me to the service) and she said it is the sauce. The sauce is not vegetarian and she went on to complain about how she didn’t understand what the big deal was about the sauce and it’s ridiculous how they have to have this special sauce. Now, mind you, I had already ordered the rigatoni alla vodka WITHOUT MEAT, so you’d think she’d get the hint that I’m a vegetarian… but she didn’t. So yea, this sauce turned out to be kind of a big deal in my mind because I’m thinking…
1. You clearly can’t see that I’m a vegetarian and you’re complaining about a sauce that is specially ordered to accommodate people like me
2. Vegetarians already have so few options in most restaurants, why do we have to pay the extra dollar just for sauce!
Advice to the restaurant: suck up the losses on the sauce and make it the same price as the regular «non-​vegetarian» eggplant parmesan!
… ok rant over. Back to the food, the cheese bread=AMAZING! It is so light, crispy, and cheesy! I took 2 pieces home and it was just as good the next day. My Rigatoni was cooked well and it came out pretty good. My boyfriend got the spaghetti and meatballs. He was not as impressed. He said the meatballs were too spicy to enjoy and the pasta was overcooked.
So I took off 2 stars for this place for several reasons:
1. The reaction of the waitress to vegetarians
2. The bread costs $ 2.00… stop being so cheap! Everyone knows Italian restaurants come with free bread!
3. The food was just ok and as a vegetarian, I don’t feel safe there.
Reasons I gave 3 stars:
1. The bartenders were great
2. You can’t beat $ 15.00 bottles of wine
3. Cool environment for a drink after work
4. Great addition to the area

For décor and atmosphere I would give a 5 star rating because it is «trendy» and loud good music but not so loud that you can’t hear your fellow man, but my two star experience comes from service and the food.
Fifteen dollar bottles can’t be beat, that’s for sure, but why charge $ 2 for bread? Are you going to charge me $ 3 for your finest tap water? And hey, better watch yourself taking the mints on the way out or else you’ll get pinched by Ebenezer Scrooge.
The appetizers overall were quite good and our group could have easily dined on the generous portion of a few of them. It did take a long time to receive them, longer than the 30 minutes to get seated by a hostess. So get this: after 15 minutes, a respectable time to wait, our table becomes available but assumes we were fine standing in the right row between the bar and the other tables when our table became available because we seemed to have a good time standing there… and we wait another 15 until we decided it was time to inquire about seating us… and then gave us the aforementioned explanation???
It also took and exceedingly long time to receive our entrees, slivered nearly an hour after the appetizers. Maybe they have a more European style of service, allowing time to digest, but in no way gave us an option or an explanation and have to assume their just slow.
The main reason for the two stars, which I could foresee giving at most a generous three for the dining experience, and a five star for the bar experience (great attentive bartender, quick to put, quick to replenish, friendly, good selection of wines), IS THE OVERCOOKED SPAGHETTI WITH MEATBALLS!!! Simply put this dish is a simple as Italian cuisine gets and they managed to mess that up with meatballs too spicy and salty to taste, and pasta that had been in the pot for way to long. This is a culinary crime I can not excuse.
Again I would highly recommend the bar experience, and look elsewhere for dinning, unless you want to wait two hours for a disappointing meal with service to match.

I love this place! A fun atmosphere, young, hip, all bottles of wine only 15 dollars, and amazing food! Went on Saturday night for a late dinner with 9 of my closest gal pals, and we were seated at a large circular table which is awesome — no one talks about the shape of a table but circular keeps everyone in the loop and you’re not leaning over to talk to someone. Although it was a large table and a rowdy Saturday night, that wasn’t ideal for long convos across the table haha
I wasn’t very hungry and wanted to get their stuffed banana pepper special app to split, but they ran out right before they got to me the waitress recommended the tappo flat bread, which changes daily and I’m so happy I got it! It had pancetta, ricotta, olive oil drizzle, and banana pepper rings, and some sort of cabbage I think? It was sooooo delicious and perfectly plated on 4 generous pieces of their homemade flat bread. The flavor a married together In a similar way the stuffed banana peppers would.
I also tried a meatball, which their app comes with 5 BALLS and their entrée dish comes with 12 I think and they are fairly big, definitely not cocktail size. They Are nothing compared to the Meatball trucks They were pretty good but on a Saturday night, expect not to go out and meatball burps all night
Even though very affordable, i wish they would add some better quality wine and research that end a little more. It was hard to suck down a glass.

I really want to love tappo because of the roof top bar and the cheaper drinks but this is the third time I’ve come for food and have been immediately sick afterwards. I’m not sure why this is and maybe it is the timing or just me but I can’t get over it! No one else was sick so it truly could be just me. They were out of stuffed banana peppers so our waitress recommended the tappo flatbread instead which was delicious! The meatballs were spicy and definitely had a strong flavor that we liked. I’m trying not to hold anything against them since I was the only one ill and our waitress was great and handled a large party (11 people) very well but I may need to stick to just drinks next time I’m there.

Came here for dinner
Pros:
— The spaghetti and meatball and chicken Alfredo dishes are delicious!
— Portion sizes are huge
— Large wine selection list
— Prices are reasonable, $ 10 – 20 for entrees
— Industrial décor
— Large bar area
— Clean 2-​stall bathroom

I’m get straight to the point. I went on a Friday night around 740 and it was busy! We got seated right away and that’s when shit got worst. Our server suck and it took him forever to bring out my salad and wine. I understand it’s busy but I feel like I shouldn’t have to wait no more than 30mins. Then we waited hour for our food, so you know I’m already upset. There was another party complaining bout the server name Kevin and I jump in and said he is horrible and I still didn’t get a refill on my drink. My bf ginger ale is watery.
Finally the food came and my food was descent and hot. I ordered shrimp and pasta. Then my dude ordered lasagne. Here the kicker, the lasagne didn’t have no meat. The lasagne is suppose to have meat in it. His shit was pure cheese. The manager came and I quote «there meat in the sauce». I took my finger and stir it around and said where the fuck is the meat at. And she looked at me stupid so I send it back. Then my bf ordered spaghetti and meat balls. I tasted it first and told my bf send it back. The meat taste weird and he agreed with me. The lady came back I said this isn’t real ground beef and she argue with me and said it’s beef and pork. I was like it’s suppose to be beef and my bf doesn’t eat pork. Guess what I did again, send that shit right back. Then my bf got so mad and ordered soup. They had 2 options so my bf got the squash soup. I tasted and it taste like water down applesauce. He didn’t like it so he processed to still eat it and I said don’t eat it. The manager came back again I told her personally it nasty and he is just being nice so he doesn’t have to send it back to the kitchen. I said this was an horrible experience.
We did get his meal comp but I feel like every time they tired to make it right the food came out disgusting. I didn’t tip the server and it’s crazy how our bills was still $ 40. I don’t care about the price but that shit wasn’t good.

A great spot for getting together with friends and enjoying a phenomenal meal that won’t break the bank. Our party of three had the Braciole, Pasta and Clams and Shrimp with Spinach and Lemon Risotto and each entrée was superb! Try their take on stuffed banana pepper, delicious.
Great atmosphere and décor, will definitely frequent again on future trips home to Buffalo.
One of the nicest things about the restaurant — all of their bottles of wine are no more than $ 15. We had a great Cab from Argentina.
Three people with a tab of $ 96 before tip; you don’t see that for the quality of food that was served.

When Tappo first opened I was really not a fan. I was back here, over the weekend and I can actually say I really enjoyed it. There was 4 of us waiting for a table. The place was jammed but it only took about 20 mins for a table, so we all had a drink at the bar.
We ordered a cheese platter and the meat balls for an APP. Two of us ordered the chicken milanese and it was really great. I would be willing to go back just for that. The other 2 were both also impressed with their meal.
I have also had the lasagna which I don’t think is anything to reave about but its decent.
The Roof top patio was not open this time, but if you can get a stop up there, its pretty neat…

2 apps, 2 bottles of wine, 2 entrees on a cool rooftop for under $ 90?! What?! It’s true. And the food was pretty yummy too!
In addition, we had phenomenal, friendly service.
It’s crowded… And loud… But for a good reason
We will be back ASAP…

SO very impressed with this place. I came for a friends birthday with a large group and they were very accommodating and our waitress was very nice. The table was a little strange I felt like we were in the Knights of the Round Table, but whatever.
Aside from that time, I came with one of my girlfriends. We wanted to sit on the patio upstairs. They seated us right away and we felt special because there were little reserved cards on the table and she sat us there anyway.
The food was phenomenal, I got a meatball bomber and an IPA. Seriously so yummy and their sauce is like no other. It is the perfect blend of flavours and it’s even a little sweet. Really awesome what they’ve done with that patio, too. The couches and the bar look beautiful.
Definitely a hot place to add to the beauty of Buffalo! Will for sure be coming back here and would highly recommend to friends and family!
X’s and O’s!
J

I have been here twice, once for a group dinner, and once for drinks on the rooftop.
For the group dinner, I was slightly disappointed in the small menu. I suppose I am now used to having such extensive menus everywhere, that it seemed as though I had little to choose from. I ended up choosing the pasta with alfredo sauce, and I just had water to drink (took it easy that night). The alfredo was good, nothing to rave about.
The table we sat at was pretty cool. It was one of the larger tables in the restaurant, and it had wine corks all underneath the sealant. I want one for my own home!
When I came for drinks the second time, we ordered a bottle of wine downstairs (only $ 15 for one bottle! Great deal), and then drank it upstairs on the rooftop on the couches they have up there. There was a hole in the patio upstairs that a chair fell into which provided a great moment of laughter (it was a man in our group that fell into it), but it would have been terrible if someone had been injured in that hole. I do hope they have gotten around to fixing it!

Usually I’m not someone who gets all angry about stuff but in this case I’m almost happy to boast out my anger for once.
First things first: The experience deserves one star but the waitress was really nice so, two stars.
Me and my girlfriend were driving through Buffalo to get to NY and we decided to stop for sleep and food. We Unilocaled this place and drove there.
Coming in the first thing that shocked me was how incredibly loud the place was. We gave our name to the woman responsible for seats and she told us 15 to 20 minute wait. Okay, happens sometimes.
But not if there are 9 bloody tables open! There were 3 other couples waiting as well, I guess you have to make this place interesting somehow -.-
After a solid 15 min wait we got seated in the center of the restaurant which was so loud that I couldn’t hear our waitress talking to my girlfriend. We felt like in a canteen.
The small plates that are supposed to be for the oil dip and bread were already on the table but if you ask for it be ready to pay for it. What kind of semiserious italian restaurant makes his guests pay for BREAD???
The gemstone of my rant: The «food».
We ordered Pasta with meatballs and orecchiette with beans, sausage, tomato, garlic and some veggies.
The spaghettis were definetly precooked and extremely overcooked too and the tomato sauce tasted like fresh out of the can. Not to mention that the meatballs were as dry as my grandmas ladyparts. Again canteen quality.
Same with the orecchiette, precooked and overcooked and the sauce was watered somehow, I guess from the enormous GMO tomatoes that really hat more of a watermelon chunk look and texture.
I don’t know how this place can be so overhyped. I guess the rooftop is a big plus for this restaurant.
I would never recommend such a speudo stylish italian overpriced canteen.
Hopefully this is not the average meal quality but this was really one of the worst dinner experiences I’ve had on my roadtrip.
In the end we ended up paying 35 $ after tax and after tip for two very mediocre plates and some tap water.

Went here for one last family dinner before leaving town the next day. They have a parking lot for patrons are the corner which is a nice touch.
Crowded bar with about half seated tables taken on a Thursday evening. Décor and service were great! Our waitress was very friendly and helpful.
Most of the food was wonderful. My husband got the braciola which he really liked, my mom got the pork chop special that was great, my Dads lasagna was basic but tasty and my brother’s goat cheese crispelle was awesome, if a little too rich. The issue was my eggplant parm. I really tried to like it. But it just wasn’t cutting it. It was dry and over cooked and had no flavor. I was so disappointed because I love eggplant parm and other reviews had said it was good.
To end on a good note — their spaghetti sauce is absolutely amazing. I would have bought a jar to take home.

I’ve been to Tappo for dinner twice and I’ve absolutely loved my meal both times!
I am obsessed with the Goat Cheese filled Crespelles. The goat cheese is wrapped with a delicate crêpe shell and fried. The Crespelles are topped with shredded banana peppers and parsley. The dish is served over sauce: half Alfedo and half red sauce. It’s the perfect dish for someone who is trying to decide between the two (as I usually am at Italian restaurants). I also tried the fettuccine Alfredo. I was very impressed! The noodles were light and tasted homemade. The Alfredo sauce was flavorful and had the perfect creamy consistency. It was one of the best Alfredo sauces I’ve had in Buffalo!
My most recent visit was with a table of 12 for a birthday party. Everyone raved about their food. I really love their wine list. They have nice bottles of wine for $ 15, or $ 5 per glass. I thought that was a great deal!
They also served a very good dessert to my friend for her birthday. It was a peanut butter fudge cake with crisped rice. My only complaint is that the restaurant charged us for the birthday dessert. I also do not believe that anybody asked our server to bring a birthday dessert, which makes it even stranger. It was only $ 6, so it wasn’t a big deal. I just found it to be odd. Most restaurants give complimentary birthday desserts, especially if there’s a large group ordering drinks and dinner. It’s inexpensive for the restaurant and a very nice touch.
That being said, Tappo is a fun place to go for dinner and drinks, a date, or a friends’ night out. The exposed brick walls and industrial look of the building, mixed with the brilliant red lighting of the modern bar and ceiling lights create a great atmosphere! I will certainly be returning many times for a glass of wine and some delicious Alfredo!

Cute place for lunch. Loved their eggplant Parmesan sandwich. Wow! Huge portions done really well.
Great for groups. They have wonderful cork tables that can fit up to 10 people in a circle. Will have to come back to visit and try more of their menu. Very pleased with the initial experience.

If you’re looking to have a classy wine drinking night with out spending your entire paycheck, this is the place for you.
With a large selection of wines at $ 15 per bottle and appetizers ranging from $ 5 – 10, you really can enjoy and afford a classy atmosphere, amazing food and a ideal service under the same roof.
Select cheeses and some olives are the way to go. Huge portion size with the olives. The cheese comes with some bread so go through that before you order an additional loaf. (It’s only $ 2 extra for more bread)
If meatballs are your thing, I challenge you to find me better meatballs in Buffalo.
We’ll be back!
P. s. This place is best in the summer when the roof bar is open… Yes… They have a roof. (It’s a hidden door in the back I probably would have never found if not with some locals) Awesome on a beautiful summer day.
Check it out!