Amy

Amy=s Place
3234 Main Street
Buffalo, N.Y. 14214

By Laura McClusky & Michael I. Niman
Buffalo Gazette Culinary Arts Critics

There are few places on Earth where you can walk in and just be at home. Ok, one of the reasons Amy=s Place is like home for us is that we go there often. But that=s not the only reason. It=s Amy=s busy funky feel that keeps you coming back (the food is good too, but we=ll get to that in a second). Amy=s is a place where things are goin= on - all kinds of things. Just listen to the folks in the booth next to you, they are planning a wedding, the booth behind you, they are local business people talking about city planning. Across the aisle, they are planning a punk rock show to take place in their basement. That booth over there, see that balding guy with glasses, he=s talking about an indigenous group in Malaysia that trance out to attract spirit lovers. What! Everyone=s at home here, everyone. And there is so much goin= on!

One of the best things goin= on, of course, is the food. Amy=s specializes in Middle Eastern fare, Lebanese style and traditional American food. This translates into great sandwiches, great breakfasts, and great dinners with many vegetarian choices: it=s a full Asomething for everyone@ menu.

Breakfast has always been one of my favorites at Amy=s. The Pancakes are fantastic, fluffy and moist, your choice of batter (buttermilk, whole wheat or buckwheat) and your choice of fresh fruit (strawberries, peaches, blueberries, apples) or nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds, etc). They=re all at a good price ($2.25 for one, $5.25 for a full stack - plain, without the fun stuff, $1.25 for one, $3.25 full stack). Order an stack smother them with sweet maple syrup and smile.

You say you=d rather have an Omelette, no problem. Amy=s serves them up with style. Ham and Cheese, Broccoli and Cheese, Spinach and Cheese, your choice for $5.25, served with home-fries and an English muffin. Get there between 6 and 9 AM and fill up with the Early Bird Specials, 2 eggs home-fries and toast for $.99, add sausage or bacon for another $1.00. You=ll leave with a good start to your day and a smile.

Lunch, however, is a tradition at Amy=s and a great opportunity to try some Middle Eastern treats in sandwich form. In the mood for a cold sandwich wrap, try the Humis Sandwich (ground chickpea spread, garlicky and delicious wrapped in a pita with lettuce and tomatoes) or an Eggplant dip Sandwich (babaganousch - roasted eggplant with sesame paste wrapped with lettuce and tomato - the sweet taste of the eggplant sings with a touch of lemon juice). You can get either as a mini ($4.00) or a whole ($5.00).

Amy=s has a host of warm Middle Eastern sandwiches as well. My favorite has always been the Chicken Kabob ($5.25), delicious tender strips of marinated grilled chicken, wrapped in a pita with the most fantastic garlic spread ever. To top it off the fries are in the sandwich - yum! You can also get Lamb or Steak Kabob. Amy=s also serves Souvlaki, either chicken or lamb ($5.50 wrapped, $6.50 open), Kafta ($5.25) which is ground lamb with parsley and onions, grilled and wrapped with humis, lettuce and tomatoes, and Falafel ($4.00), which is ground chickpeas and fava bean patties fried and served with sesame spread.

I would be remiss not to mention the delicious Lentil-Berry Sandwich ($6.50 full, $5.50 mini) another of our personal favorites and one of their most popular lunches. A vegetarian delight, this sandwich is a mix of lentil bean and wheat berries wrapped with provolone cheese, lettuce and tomato. Squirt a little hot sauce on top and you=ve got a fantastic meal and a full belly!

If you=re not in the mood to try Middle Eastern fare, Amy=s has a host of other choices to delight the palette. There=s chicken sandwiches, from Cajun ($4.50) to Cordon Bleu ($4.75) and Burgers, both veggie and meat, with a grand assortment of topping at a variety of prices. Wanna go traditional, that=s all right too. There=s also all the old time favorites, like a BLT ($3.50), a Reuben ($450) or a Turkey Club ($4.75). Like I said, something for everyone! And everything is delicious!

Dinner is also great at Amy=s. Grape or Cabbage Leaves stuffed with lamb, beef and rice cooked in a tomato sauce, yum! Swarma or wine marinated beef strips grilled with onions and tomatoes served on a bed of humis, delicious! Or Kibbee, ground lamb with cracked wheat, pine nuts and onions, fantastic! Your choice for $8.75, you can=t help but smile and you can=t hold back the instinctive mmmmmmmmmm!!!

As if their menu wasn=t extensive enough, they also have daily specials - like Fish Fry! So stop by, Amy=s Place is a home away from home, with interesting food and an atmosphere that=s that=s always funky and fresh! See you there.