Charlie the Butcher’s

I came here in 2006 while on a trip with my ex & his family. But I didn’t hold that against Charlie’s on a more recent trip to the area.
It was as I remembered it, but as a more adventurous eater (who is no longer afraid of horseradish), I enjoyed it much more this time. If you’re eating here, you HAVE to order the beef on weck. Do not waste your time getting anything else. The sandwich is good on it’s own, but take advantage of the jar of horseradish sitting on every table.
Also, order gravy fries, and have a moment of silence for those of us stuck in the south — a place where gravy fries & poutine isn’t really a thing.
The restaurant is small and very vintage. Lots of vintage charm, red vinyl booths & tabletops. Friendly staff. Great prices.

Stopped in for a Beef on Weck. Was told this was «THE» place to get it. Was not disappointed. Will come back to try other items. The Potato Wedges were really great also. I would NOT recommend putting the pickle inside the plastic box with the sandwich as the juice gets on the bread but yeah./ This is real tasty.

Good food however the odor from the dumpster was enough to gag a maggot right next to the picnic tables. We mentioned it to them but it was still open when we left a half an hour latter PU !

Had a burger which was ok. The waffle fries is where it is at! Absolute perfect execution. Was not sure about the gravy at first but something different for a change — if you prefer there is ketchup on every table. Beats fast food crap if you are passing through.

I always stop here when in town on business. I like the uniqueness of the place and food. The Beef on Weck is very good. Also, the chili and jambalaya sides are very good. The employees could be more friendly, but overall I really like this place.

I just had a Beef on Weck for the first time at Charlie’s. Outstanding! The weck roll was fresh with just the right amount of beef juice and salt on it. The beef was moist and very tender. And the hand carved beef brought it all come together. Delicious.

Not even close to worth the money. Not enough meat at all. Not for the price. I’ll take Anderson’s if I’m out, or make my own at home.

I had the Beef on Weck, which is something I’ve never even heard of, but clearly I was missing out on a staple to the Buffalo area. What is it??? All the locals around here know! Very casual atmosphere, and the service was the sort where you order and pick up at the counter.
The roast beef melts in your mouth, it’s sliced thick and tender, I would say on the med-​rare side. I enjoyed my sandwich with sautéed onions and peppers, and a nice amount of horse radish smeared on top. It was a very adequate lunch and a fair price, truth is, I could have probably eaten another. I’ll be having another one of these before I leave town if I can.
I also enjoyed watching «the butcher» seasoning roast beefs on the block right in plane view. Very cool and unique place. Thank you Charlie and Buffalo to opening my eyes to something new.

Charlie the Butcher simply does it better! While in Buffalo, most folks think of wings, snow, the Falls and Super Bowls. But the real treasure is a small roast beef sandwich served on a funny looking, funny sounding crusty delight known as a kümmel wick roll. And the glorious «Broadway Market» horseradish will absolutely remove the top of you head if you apply to much soooo careful! But it’s so dam good and Charlie the Butcher and his Team do it best. And this location is right behind the Buffalo Airport before you drop off you rental. Frequently imitated never duplicated!

Place was a vibe, enjoyed my food. Quick service. Defiantly coming back for more. Willing to try out everything on their menu. Might need more sitting area, place was busy and could use more seats.

A simple diner with great food. There is lots of pictures of Charlie and celebrities on the wall. The service here is quick, but that doesn’t take away from the quality of the food.
I had a roast beef sandwich or the «beef on weck,» wich was delicious. It had tender warm meat and they dip inside of the buns in au jus before making the sandwich. Oh so good! There is a wide selection of condiments and all great to mix and match. I also had the asparagus, which was grilled to perfection with salt and pepper and some oil. All was extremely satisfying. The total was around $ 12. Highly recommend.

Although I grew up in Central, not Western NY, this reminds me of the kind on non-​pretentious place where locals gather for good food at a good price. Be careful with the horseradish if you’re not used to it! Recommend a stop here when near the airport, they have a takeout window!

The Beef on Weck is in my top 3 in WNY. 5 stars.
Be warned if you intend to eat in: it’s a funky building, the dining area is funky. And it can be noisy. I don’t mind it one bit. But if you’re a choosy type, maybe you should order to go.
I like to eat there, because I like to eat my food right after it’s made. I’d estimate 2/​3rds of the customers order to go.
I’m going to try and go here more often and try more menu items. The turkey looked great.

When reading the many positive reviews, I feel like I did on the day when the OJ verdict was read… confused and in total disbelief. Several reviewers find the restaurant to be retro and cool. it strikes me as old and not well maintained. Many rave about the beef on weck sandwich… I find that there’s not enough meat and that the beef is tough and stringy.
This past summer, we had relatives come from out of town and they wanted to try it. We bought several beef on weck sandwichs from Charlie the Butcher’s and made several with ingredients we picked up at Dash’s. In a blind taste test, it was no contest… the homemade beef on weck was the clear winner. True story.

I came here the other day with my boyfriend for lunch. For some reason he was very anxious to bring me because he thinks so highly of Charlie the Butcher’s. First thing I noticed upon arriving was how quaint and authentic of a place it is. I enjoyed the open style kitchen and old school bar seating. My boyfriend and I each ordered a roast beef sandwich and split a cheeseburger and side of fries. Our food came to $ 28, which is kind of steep in my opinion. I am saddened to say that I was not very impressed with the roast beef sandwiches. There was way more bread than there was beef. The beef was also sliced on the rather thick side, where as I prefer it to be thinner. Additionally, it seemed tough. It was very difficult to pull apart. The fries and the burger were tasty. The fries were perfectly crunchy and the burger was flavorful and juicy. However, I can go anywhere to get a burger and fries. I would expect the roast beef sandwich to be better, considering that is what they are known for. I’m not sure that I would venture back out to Charlie the Butcher’s, considering it is like a 20 minute drive from my house and I also didn’t have a very good first experience. I would much rather drive five minutes and get a roast beef sandwich from Anderson’s. On a positive note, they do serve fountain pepsi, which I am always a fan of!

Firstly let me see that I will definitely try their food again. the first time we ate there we had the corn beef and it was absolutely delicious. Unfortunately the second time we went there we ordered the meatloaf, I swear that meatloaf was the reason people call it mystery meat. It was dry flat an absolutely not tasty whatsoever. Looked and tasted like warm spam. But like I said I will eat there again hopefully that time I can raise the rating to more than two stars

In Buffalo allot on bi. So drove by this place. Didnt look like much but was told to eat there. Well OMG what amaZing beef on weck and sausages! Yes both!
Wish they served beer!

Let’s get everything out in the open right now. If you’re going to Charlie the Butcher’s then its for the beef on weck. You can order anything off of their menu that you want, heck go ahead and order the whole thing if you want but do not and I repeat do not leave this establishment without ordering the beef on weck. To do so would be nothing short of a sin.
Charlie’s is one of the top three beef on weck restaurants in the Buffalo region with the other two being Schwabl’s in West Seneca and Bar Bill Tavern in East Aurora. No matter what, anytime a list of the best beef on weck restaurants in Buffalo is published these three always make the cut.
The beef on weck at Charlie the Butcher’s is nothing short of delicious. The weck roll is just soft enough and holds a fresh texture, composition, and overall taste with a reasonable amount of kosher salt and caraway seeds – not too much and not too little. The beef is tender, juicy, fresh, cut at a good thickness, and cooked to just the right amount (for me anyway; some may prefer more or less well done beef). You get a good amount of beef on your sandwich though I always prefer more (don’t we all?). And of course all of the tables are well stocked with Broadway Market horseradish which you cannot have a beef on weck without. And if you get takeout they always include a little condiment to go container of horseradish for you. And every sandwich is served with a dill pickle spear to add a great after flavor combination.
The inside of the restaurant is small but well done. They have a counter you can sit at and watch them carve the beef as well as a few booths and regular tables with old fashioned table cloths on them to dine at. The restaurant really holds a look reminiscent to me of an old school NYC Jewish deli. When I walk inside of here the décor and ambiance kind of makes me think of Katz’s Deli in a way.
Prices aren’t bad and a beef on weck will run you $ 6.99 which is cheaper then the other big names for similar quality.
Oh, and I almost forgot to mention their milkshakes and chicken spiedie sandwiches aren’t half bad either. These are the only other items I’ve tried besides the beef on weck.
This place easily maintains Buffalo icon status.

Always our first and last stop when traveling in to Buffalo. I love the quaintness of this little place and you’re sure to find a Bills Fan sitting at every table! The BEST beef on week in town!

I came in today for the beef on weck. It was really an excellent sandwich. The beef was really tender and sliced thick. The bun was good but the salt was a bit much for me so I removed some of the salt. You can choose a plain bun as well if you don’t want any salt at all but I wanted some. I can’t comment on the horseradish because I hate horseradish and got the sandwich without. I also got a strawberry milkshake. That was fine. I agree with other reviewers about cost to portion size. I spent about $ 12 total for lunch, but was really full when I was finished.
I went in around 1 for take out and it was pretty busy, but no line. The dining room was mostly full. They were also really quick with service, I waited for only 5 min or so to get my food. The sandwich will definitely bring me back, maybe I’ll try something else next time.

What’s more to say, this Buffalo institution does things the right way. Their version of beef on weck is spot-​on perfect.
Folks behind the counter (in an open-​air kitchen environment) hand-​carve the beef right before your eyes, making one perfect sandwich after another. Their homemade rolls are delicious and the beef they put on it moist and tender. A little horseradish sauce on there and we are talking serious sandwich nirvana. I ordered onion rings as my side dish and they too very cooked just right.
When /​if I’m passing through this area again, I’ll be sure to stop by and have another!

I love places with charm and this place definitely has the old-​school version. I felt like I was back in my grandma’s kitchen. The beef on weck was exactly like it should be. Perfectly seasoned, perfect kimmelweck bun, and perfect portion. Make sure to ask for extra au jus to dunk because that is the cherry on top. I loved watching them make the kimmelweck rolls right there as well.

I first stumbled across this place at the recommendation of Geoffrey Zakarian on the «Best Thing I Ever Ate». I don’t need his recommendation any more.
I love this place. Whether it’s the famous beef on weck any other sandwich, there are few eateries that offer the value of Charlie’s. It screams Buffalo without apology. From the tight parking lot to the huge lines, expect and experience every time you go. The homemade soups are exceptional, the Caesar salad (a favorite of my kids) is an incredible value and they make one of the best fried bologna sandwiches going. Even the cole slaw rocks.
Just go with the flow, smile and nod, pay your bill according to directions and enjoy the grub.

My husband and I stopped in to try the famous beef on weck sandwich and since it was a Wednesday, also got the corned beef sandwich. The food was served quickly and we split both. The salt crystals on the kummelweck roll were pretty intense but the roast beef was tender and delicious. The sandwich was great especially when we added some horseradish and mustard.
The corned beef sandwich was also very good. The corned beef had a really nice flavor and was so good it made me think that if they did a corned beef hash, it would be excellent. This sandwich was also best with horseradish and mustard.
Oh yes, we also ordered the jambalaya which was meaty, but otherwise bland and probably not worth ordering again…
I think for the size of the sandwich and how full you end up, it’s on the pricier side. But, the meats are very good and definitely worth trying.

There really ain’t much I can say about this place that hasn’t been echoed in previous reviews. Beef on weck was awesome — so much so that I had 2 (though by the end of the second one the salt on the bun did become a little too salty). We also got the prime rib sandwich with provolone and veggies and the potato wedges

Does anyone else think that «Charlie The Butcher» sounds like a 19^th century British Serial Killer? Is it just me? Is my mind that warped?
What to get: Beef On Weck sandwich.
What else: Any of the meat sandwiches, Brat.
From the makers of «Charlie Brown», «Charlie’s Angel’s», «Checkpoint Charlie», and, er… «Charlie The Unicorn», comes this, a carefully sliced cut of Buffalo, served au jus with a hefty dose of authenticism we like to call «Horseradish».
Actually, don’t ignore the lone bad review, in that the portions here really, really are fairly small. BUT the more I go to CTB the more I realize this really is the ultimate Buffalo meat experience. It is unrivalled, and they have hands down the best Beef On Weck I have ever tasted. All their meat sandwiches are fantastic and their Brats are perfection.
I’ve never seen a place with so many positive reviews! It seems like almost everyone that tries it loves it… I know I do! So do the right thing, and try this place before you try Schwabl’s or some other inferior Beef On Weck and decide you don’t like the dish that much. If you want a more bar-​esque Beef On Weck, I’ve found a really good one… on Clinton near Kaisertown at a bar called «Weichecs». Damn good B.O.W.
What Buffalo is famous for is Wings and snow. And Niagara Falls. But it should be famous for food in general. I’m talking cheap, local, original, unique food perfection, and tons of it. This city is an absolute foodie paradise. It has some amazing Thai, Chinese, Indian, Puerto Rican, BBQ, Polish… it has my fave Italian on earth (Michael’s among many more), it has the best Chicken Souvlaki on earth (Alton’s, among many more), the best Pizza on Earth (Imperial, Mattina’s, Wise Guys, Chucks, and many more), the best Wings by far (Imperial, Wise Guys and many more), the best meat sandwiches (Charlie The Butcher’s and more), the best bar food, the best fish sandwich (Bailey Seafood), it’s just incomparable as far as small towns go. I got very lucky when I randomly ended up living there and was able to discover all this culinary magic over time.
But back to Charlie’s…
This is the the #1 sliced meat in Buffalo, it is definitely one of the best tasting meat places in town, and everything on their menu is delectable and delicious, if overpriced and comparatively minuscule. Don’t get me wrong, in England, it would be a large portion, but this is America, land of the giants, and so the food here is fairly paltry in its relative size. But it is so. damn. good. It’s too good not to try. And if you’re not super hungry, one of their sandwiches might hit the spot. But I recommend you get 2, or a sandwich and a Brat, which is what I always get!
So why a 5? Well, we’re not rating the prices, or the portions, but the deliciousness. And Charlie The Butcher is absolutely delicious. Or rather his beef is. Well you know what I mean.
Their pork stuff is great too. It’s very juicy and different from the types of pork you’re used to if you eat Pork Sandwiches in Philly, or if you eat Mexican Pork. But watch out for the local pork (especially the Cheektowaga pork) because they will pull you over for anything.

Charlie the Butcher’s Kitchen is a must stop for anyone visiting the greater Buffalo area!
I found myself in Buffalo for business reasons and when I asked a few co-​workers what the quitassential «Buffalo» food is (with exception of Wings, of course) the Beef on Weck Sandwich was always on the short list so I made it a point to seek out the best and the consensus was that Charlie the Butcher had the best Beef on Weck in Buff City.
This is a very unassuming and demure restaurant both outside and within. You walk directly into the ordering counter as soon as you open the door and I wasted no time ordering the Beef on Weck at the outrageously inexpensive price of $ 6.99. The dining area is packed, and there isn’t much of it to begin with. In fact, the kitchen spills into the tiny dining space, but nobody seems to mind very much. Just be aware that this is no secret and you may need to get creative with the seating situation. It is well worth the effort.
So what the hell is a Beef on Weck anyways? It is a sandwich consisting of rare (and gorgeous) cuts of slow roasted beef piled onto a German «kummelweck» (thus the Weck) roll topped with salt. They dip the crown portion of the roll isn the Beef Au Jus from the roasting process to add much beloved flavor and moisture. And that is it. Beef this well roasted really need no embellishment and this sandwich is a testament to that fact. To be honest, this is the best sandwich I have had in a very long time. Simple and delicious. The provided pickle spear adds a tangy and crunchy diversion between those beefy bites.
Bloody legendary. You best believe.