Buffalo Iron Works

We de decided on this location before we attended a concert across the street and what a great time we had for some pre concert drinks.
The place was packed with a very nice, friendly crowd and the bartenders were very attentive and fast. We looked over the lineup of live music they had coming and we hope to catch a band here some evening.
I would recommend this place before or after a concert, hockey game. Lots of parking nearby.

Great use of an old mill/​factory building. Live music– offering wonderful local talents. Great place to catch a drink after the Sabres’ game.

Buffalo Iron Works is a great music venue. It’s got a amazing vibe and the sound is always spot on! There isn’t a bad spot to listen to some of the very cool local and regional bands that play there! Whether you’re upstairs hanging out, socializing on the patio or dancing by the stage, you’re in for a super chill evening!
They recently got a new general manager in place and I’ve seen changes to the menu but I haven’t had a chance to try the new additions (gourmet popcorn!!) yet. Service has also improved at the bar although on nights when it’s packed, there is still a wait (of course).
Check out their upcoming music schedule. The bands are amazing!!!

I went to Iron Works last night for the second time. The band I saw was incredible, so this review is purely based on the experience with the venue. We arrived at 7 PM for an 8 PM show– I was actually glad we got there right as doors opened, because we secured a nice table front and center on the second level. The atmosphere leading up to the concert was chill; they had nice oldies music playing and people seemed pretty comfortable finding a place to sit.
My boyfriend and I each ordered a beer to start, and kept our tab open. When he returned to the bar to order another drink and a basket of fries, the bartender told him «no problem», and instructed him on where to pick up the fries when they would be ready. 20 – 30 minutes later, he finally went downstairs (we were peeking down at the bar from our seats to see if the fries were there), to see where the food was. The woman looked at him like he was confused (when inquiring), and said «oh, the kitchen already closed… can we offer you some popcorn?» (not even free popcorn… they were still going to charge him). Mind you this was the same woman who took his order not long before… but still seemed surprised when he asked about the fries.
I understand miscommunications can happen (between the bartenders and the kitchen), but I didn’t like that the staff wasn’t willing to own up to the mistake, and provide something in return. I’ve noticed other reviews here mention the service as well… all we’re asking for is respectful service, and to get what we ordered. I like the wide range of concerts that Buffalo Iron Works offers, so I will most likely return for that reason. We are not hard to please, so I hope next time will be a better experience!

What a great place! Saw many bands here and each time I had a fantastic experience! The management controls the crowds and is on top of things! Can’t wait to go back! First rate!

I wish I could give Iron Works more stars but I struggled to even give two.
The greatest part of Iron Works is the location. It’s convenient to walk across the street when you’re going to an event at the arena. However if given the choice I would much rather trek a little further for something else.
The bartenders and other servers there the few times I came for a show or pre show were awful. They were slow and had a bit of an attitude. Drinks are WAY overpriced. $ 4 for a PBR? Yeah okay. Food is also not good by any means. Maybe the fries are good but that’s about it.
As for the music, they book decent bands and the sound is pretty good. Good place for a show but it’d be a lot better if the service was even close to what it is elsewhere bad the drinks were more reasonable.

If I could give less stars, I would. I realize I was just a Midwestern girl out of her element but I have never received such awful service by a bar. Refusing to serve sober people while serving people way over the edge was too much. And what kitchen closes before 5pm? Wow. Just wow.

A friend and I walked into this place at 745pm and there were 2 people sitting at the bar. We also sat at the bar and ordered 2 drinks and 2 shots. Bartender was friendly and attentive. She mentioned that a band was playing (jazz maybe) at 9pm, ok! At 8:05 PM (after another round was ordered), a man from behind the bar came up to us and just said we can go to the doorman (who just arrived) and pay our 5 dollars a piece for a cover charge. He walked away without another word. I almost laughed out loud!!! No one was at the door when we came in and bartender never asked us for a cover charge. We had been there for 20 minutes and spent 35 dollars and would have spent alot more if we had not been rudely asked to pay a cover charge I strongly feel we didn’t owe. We quickly drank our drinks and left!!! I will never return. Have your doorman at the door at 745 if you want customers to pay a cover!!!

omg best. fries. ever! best fries ever.

Stumbled across this place last night with the family. Great atmosphere inside and a really cool alley patio along the side. As stated in other comments, drinks are pricey for Buffalo.
*I left my debit card there by mistake, so hopefully I won’t have a problem getting it back!

I have not been in this restaurant for quite a long time; at least not since they’ve changed the menu. I will never step foot in this place again based on 4 experiences that I had within 3 weeks of eachother about 8 months ago.
My very first visit was the result of a chicken wing craving. Being that we work very nearby, two co-​workers and I walked over for lunch. I ordered medium chicken wings and an order of poutine to share. I get about 4 chicken wings in and realize that the wings were raw. And I don’t mean slightly undercooked raw, I mean the chewy, shiny, pink kind of raw. Not to mention, the raw wings smelled like they sat in the walk-​in for too long. Thought maybe it was just the one, so I picked apart several more– also raw. To my horror, I realized then that I had already eaten three. Went home from work very, very ill that day.
My second experience was with 5 co-​workers, also on a weekday during lunch. I got the buffalo chicken wrap, which was very good. One of my dining companions, however, had an issue with the fish tacos, which was a result of our server’s lack of communication. When the issue was brought up, the server was very rude, and blamed my friend for not understanding how the menu/​their specials worked.
My third experience came two days after my second visit. Because I liked the buffalo chicken wrap so much just days earlier, I ordered it again. If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought I ordered a completely different sandwich. Some of the veggies that were on the wrap I had earlier in the week were missing, and the spice level of the wrap was so out of control that I could barely eat it. The buffalo chicken mixture in the wrap was red, there was so much hot sauce in it.
My fourth and final visit came not too long after. A co-​worker and I stopped in for lunch one day. Everything was going great until my friend reached down to grab her purse off of the floor, only to find a rat scurrying away from her bag. A RAT! Our server noticed the commotion and came over. When we told her what we’d seen, she was very nonchalant, as if this was a normal occurrence. She even said something along the lines of «yeah, the owner is working on that».
Needless to say, I will not be back. I will not patronize local businesses that are unsafe, inconsistent, unclean, and who allow their staff to work with an «I don’t care» attitude.

What is the fuss about this place?
Food is horrible, space is claustrophobic, watching a band in a bowling alley is not my idea of a cool evening.
Ewwwwewww…
Give me Sportsmen s Tavern any day.

The menu is much shorter now. No more Pittsburgh-​style sandwiches and nothing veg anymore.

The location is great and the look and feel of the place is pretty bad ass. Lives up to its name and the feel you would expect being the cobblestone district.
The food menu is tight and basic placed up on the wall. Which is a nice touch. Just basic bar fare however. Don’t look for anything special.
The beer selection is pretty meh however. Run of the mill domestic cans and a couple craft drafts. Around the 6 bucks a pint mark.
You are served in licensed plastic cups which I am not a fan of.
The spirits are also pretty run of the mill. Shots range from 4.50 — 7.00 and they have the chill machines for fireball and jäger.
They have a decent sized stage set up for music. Didn’t catch a show. But they where doing a bit of a sound check when I was here. Decent acoustics.
Overall this is a basic music bar. But it feels like it could be so much more. Really feels like a lot of wasted potential here.

This could be such a great venue: spacious, nice stage — but the acts they book just aren’t very good. I saw the Beauties of Buffalo burlesque show and it was awful. The performers seemed unfamiliar with the fundamentals of burlesque, and stumbled through their choreography. They didn’t even wear shoes, except for a vaguely Fosse number featuring jazz sneakers, of all things. It was embarrassingly amateur, and I’m amazed this is a recurring event.
The bartenders were nice. Drinks were a little expensive for Buffalo. I will try it again, but for now I’m disappointed that the management of a venue with a nice atmosphere and so much space isn’t being more selective when it comes to booking events.

Disappointed to see such a great menu, revised to a few items. With that being said… the fries were still pretty good!
The bartenders are all pretty sour and scowly. And, The drinks are overpriced. No question.
But the atmosphere is nice, spacious and great for an event space.
I would say 2.5÷5 if I could.

What happened to the sandwiches? What happened to the poutines? That’s why we loved this place, very disappointed now, all they’re offering is a burger, a beef, and a bologna :(

Pretty decent spot for an after work/​post game drink. Live music most nights and the staff is very friendly. Usually either packed or very empty depending on the night. Convenient spot for anyone attending a Saber’s game.

Loved the atmosphere went for lunch and got the fish taco. It was so good. They have a great beer selection and I’ve had excellent service from the bartenders every time

Went here last night to see a California band perform, Beware of Darkness. This place is located in the Cobblestone district. They have a lot next door for no charge parking. It was full, so thankfully I parked on the street for free. We walked into a very cool venue. Lots of old wooden beams, metal pipes, and brickwork. Because I was only there for a concert I can’t speak to the food, but the bar service was great, with at least 3 bartenders working. Beer is not cheap, anywhere from $ 4 to $ 6. The sound was really good for the show. The stage is elevated nicely from the floor so everyone can easily see the performers. I like this place, and would come back in a heartbeat.