Larkin Square

So many great things happening at Larkin Square now that it’s summer!
Food Truck Tuesday is my favorite day of the week. Tons of food trucks come out and there is live music and it’s just a fun time!
Wednesdays are Live at Larkin, another free live music event, and normally there are a few food trucks.
The Filling Station, a permanent year-​round restaurant is Larkin Square is also a great choice, especially in the winter.
If you’re coming to an event, ride your bike and bring a camp chair as it can get quite busy.

Wow! I can’t believe the amount of food trucks that come out for Larking Square on Tuesdays. My husband and I got there early, but the trucks were already open and accepting customers. I just wish they had more seating. There’s such a huge selection of trucks that I think I spent the majority of my time there walking around looking at the menus. It really is a nice evening out though, but does get pretty crowded

This place owns my night every Tuesday during the summer for Food Truck Tuesday. Several food trucks with foods and desserts of all kinds merge to create a food extravaganza! They come from Buffalo and Rochester so you get a detour from the same local trucks or enjoy the local flavour without chasing a truck down the street in a blind hangry panic. There is huge entertainment area with live music and big comfy chairs, but it can get crowded. But back to the food. I recommend the Macarollin, 716, flaming fish, amys place (no bias, I swear), and whole hog; but I am open to all suggestions. For a little treat try the crepes truck! There are also bars adjacent to the festivities if you feel like keeping the party going. Come early if you don’t like lines but keep in mind, these are food trucks so the lines move very quickly, don’t be discouraged.

Larking Square has become our default destination for summer nights when we’re wondering what to do. A well-​programmed lineup of music, food, and other activities makes it a hotspot for relaxed, family entertainment.
Even when the weather is not-​so-​nice, the massive covered pavilion makes it a great spot to hang out – and, honestly, gives it great utility almost year-​round. One of our favorite events there is Robot Holiday, a local-​music spectacular with non-​traditional holiday songs. Even in December, space heaters and sidewalls keep it nice and toasty.
Outside the pavilion are lawn seating, hula-​hoops, beer and food stands, food trucks, and sometimes boutique vending from shipping-​container shops. A great sound system lets you wander around and mingle without missing any of the music. And the wonderful surrounding architecture, in the midst of a serious renaissance, makes it lovely to peruse the whole area.
The only two drawbacks are the direct results of the popularity of the space: 1) Parking can be a challenge. Prepare to a pay a few bucks or circle for a while. 2) At events, the lines for beer and food can be (in my opinion) objectionably long. Eat first, or plan to hold off on getting food until past peak dining hours.

Food Truck Tuesdays. That’s really the only time I ever get the chance to head down to Larkin Square, and as we should all know by now, those events are usually packed throughout the evening (to quote my dad, «it’s like herding cattle!»). But even though I still haven’t had the chance to fully appreciate the square without the massive crowd, I still give the Square a thumbs-​up.
The way they designed the whole area is very impressive; with the Filling Station in the center, the pavilion with shade, lounge chairs and the loft with seating — it doesn’t get any cooler! Still haven’t had the chance to actually sit and enjoy the place because of the crowds, but… you know. I appreciate the gesture.
Larkin holds other events besides FTT, such as music on Wednesdays during «Live at Larkin» and «Fitness in the Parks,» which is really pretty cool. It can definitely keep people coming in and supporting local business!
But seriously, there are so many different and cool things to do at Larkin throughout the year (yes, even during our chilly Buffalo winters), it’s probably wise to check out their website every now and then, see if something happens to catch your eye.
I’ll be visiting Larkin at least a dozen more times before the summer’s out (and we’re actually going there tonight!). If you’re not a fan of the Food Truck Tuesday crowd, then there are certainly a dozen more opportunities to check out this venue.

First time here for food truck Tuesday– ate at the Thai truck, order the fried potstickers and pad Thai it was awesome, it had fresh ingredients, nice slaw on top with a lot of chicken– the lines are longs, but the food is totally worth it.

Food truck Tuesday!!! Franks dogs, at front, chili dogs, nice taste on chili and pickle onions. Whole hog truck, quoia salad w feta. A+, Mac & cheese as good as always. Worth the trip and wait. I will be back next Tuesday.

Great atmosphere and set up, especially during nice weather. I have been here several times for food truck Tuesdays, and am a big fan of the area.
I had never been down there up until the food truck nights started, so I do not know what it was like before. On Tuesdays, it’s always bustling with people! There is a live band under the wooden shelter, and an outdoor bar. There are about 20 (estimated, I don’t know how many because I don’t actually count) food trucks of many different varieties.
I’ve noticed trucks with pizza, Mexican, Greek, specialty hot dogs, Thai, Vietnamese, specialty macaroni and cheese, standard carnival food, smoothies, gelato, desserts, and the list goes on. It’s a great idea if you want to try some new food, or even if you have a group of friends with different tastes. There is certainly something for everyone!

«Whimsy amongst the Warehouses in Larkinville»
That’s the «Larkin Square» catchphrase I heard. I thought it was indeed «catchy». I learned this last week at «The Filling Station», a food venue here. The Filling Station is one of the restaurants there. Its open year round I understand, and in the summer has the ability to open doors and have outside seating etc. They also host a number of events here, and are «rentable» if you have an event of our own. Open to the public are the «Larkin Square Author Series», which is free, although you can purchase a drink & snacks while there listening to the author. Larkin Square partners with Talking Leaves for this monthly event, which I don’t think runs in the summer, but does the rest of the year. They have many local authors come in, but also national ones. The Filling Station is host to many small events, and its great for them. The layout is open and easy to have speakers in. Everyone can see speakers, the traffic patterns are good. I’ve been to a number of events in the space and each one has been terrific. All different, all good.
Hydraulic Hearth just opened across the street. I have not done more than poke my head in, so leave it up to others to review. But its nice to have another option here, and I understand they will be doing some of the author readings there as well.
During the summer months there is Larkin Market, open Thursdays in the summer. It is another Farmers Market, and the location is great for those in the area. They have a large space and plenty of vendors. So are some food trucks. And of course the seating here is great if you want to snack a little before you take your finds home. They do carry some of the «non perishable» things too, Coops hot sauce, various card makers, soap makers and other crafters are here.
Food Truck Tuesdays has become a «rite of passage» in Buffalo over the past few summers. It is quite the gathering of food trucks, many coming from Rochester to show off their food. This can get super busy, but if you are able to arrive around 5, you can park and eat easily before the crowds, which are well formed by 5:30 or so. But its a perfect venue for this type of thing, open, has seating, has cover if the weather is not great etc.
The music events in the summer (Live at Larkin) are also terrific. Again, the space is so versatile and pleasant for all types of patrons that it really is «fun for all».
Larking Square is available for private events as well. Weddings, parties and more. They can work with all sizes, and there is plenty of parking for most events, especially on a weekend.
This is a terrific venue. They continue to improve it as well. Adding new things. Improving on older ones. Changing some things up. I do think its a «destination» place, and look forward to when its more blended with the local area and neighborhood.
Parking can be easily found in the area (although you may walk a block or two), except when Food Truck Tuesdays draws a huge crowd and you get there at 6pm.

This place has been fixed up really nice into a great area for outdoor events and concerts. They have a new large wooden pavilion on site with nice wooden lawn chairs. There is a large free parking lot nearby off Hydraulic Street or if you’re lucky enough to find a spot you can park on the street. My favorite event here is Food Truck Tuesdays held on Tuesdays from May through October. There is no better way to have all of Buffalo’s great food trucks in one spot for you to try. If you’re not familiar with this spot it is located where Swan and Seneca Streets converge a little over a mile or so east of downtown Buffalo. They have tons of events going on here in addition to the Food Truck rodeo. Check out their website for more information.

The efforts of reviving downtown Buffalo certainly has brought a pleasant face lift to Larkin Square. It has become a hub for outdoor food and music activities that sure to bring the social life back to downtown Buffalo
The first time I went to Larkin Square after its renovation was for the Urban Market this past summer. Although the selection of the vendors was a bit small, it has vast potential for growth in the years to come. The urban market is meant for a variety of ethnic food and crafts vendors to come together and share with the locals the abundant amount of diversity that’s right in the heart of Buffalo. We tried Indian, Ethiopian, Burnese and Mexican food all in the same place while enjoying some wonderful live sitar music.
The second time I went was for Food Truck Tuesday. The variety of the food trucks are ample and plenty. It was packed, which was a great indication of how well Larkin Square has been transformed. Literally every single food truck in all of WNY was there and it was every foodie’s dream! Although the lines were super long and confusing sometimes since it intertwined with other food truck lines, the experience of being in the midst of all the excitement on a Tuesday is well worth it.
The design of the square is great! Right across the street is a giant lot filled with free parking spots on event nights. The square is a wide open space with a pretty garden and pavilion in the middle filled with, you guessed it, wide open spaces for vendors to host their products in case of weather changes. In the pavilion, there are a great number of comfy couches and ottomans for groups to share and relax in while enjoying the food and the atmosphere.
There is also a separate pavilion area towards the back of the square with a second story filled with picnic tables and benches that’s great for a group outing. Throughout the lawns, there are also color chairs for people to sit are that brighten up the space. The events in the seasons to come are sure to continue to make Larkin Square a destination stop for the city of Buffalo!

The pigeons and seagulls totally took over the town square, so this place has been campaigning to have larks (from all over the USA) not only introduced into the square, but accepted as equal birds alongside the pigeons and seagulls, who have long discriminated against larks. The first time a lark was able to stay in the square without being chased out, the Buffalo News ran the headline «LARK IN SQUARE», and it stuck, which is how this square got its name. Honest.
This is really, really impressive, even by my lofty «I’ve been everywhere, and seen everything» standards. I can compare it to the Chicago Food Truck festival which my gorgeous, stunningly sexy friend Samantha told me about… where they charge you an arm and a leg just to get in (and not in a cute way like Airport Plaza Jewelers), and they have way less food trucks than here at Larkin. Or perhaps Butantan Food Park in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which all of the yuppies are cray-​cray about, but which is overpriced, with really average food.
And then there is the Buffalo Food Truck Days at the local malls, which usually have about 10 trucks… which is nice… but it’s nothing compared to Larkin.
Larkin has like 30 or 40… yes THIRTY OR FORTY food trucks, from all over the 716 and 585, which means, to the non-​WNY-​ers, that it’s all the top trucks from Buffalo and Rochester. All in one place, side by side. Wow!
Yes a lot of them are really poor quality (mainly the Buffalo ones… which are tremendously disappointing compared to Rochester, Columbus, NYC and other food trucks), and yes some of them are overpriced… and yes there are very very very long lines for the more popular trucks, especially towards the end of each Tuesday night (like after 6pm).
But, there are some great quality ones too (a couple from Buffalo, and plenty of the Rochester ones)… and some of them are pretty good value… and if you get there nice and early (like right at 5pm), there will be almost nobody in line for any truck. So that is what I recommend everyone does, in order to avoid waiting forever and ever to try what you want to try.
It’s free to get in, there’s live entertainment, there’s cover in case of the rain, and there’s an AMAZING selection. And it’s EVERY Tuesday all summer. Buffalo is absolutely spoiled by this thing, and everyone should check it out and be very grateful!

Pickle ball courts are fun/​awesome, especially since they provide the paddles/​balls.
Lot’s of seating and the landscaping/​flowers look great.
The filling station (restaurant) was disappointing though.

I enjoyed a Wednesday night happy hour here and had a great time. It was a very relaxed setting and it wasn’t all «crazy drunk people» like Thursday at the Square used to be.
There is a small outside bar that sells beer, wine & soda. It had menus laying on it too with some food options but I didn’t really pay much attention to them. I opted to order from the Amy’s Truck which happened to be there that evening.
On the night I was here, there was a band playing in the main stage area — which is covered so you’re safe if it rains. I was lucky enough that someone in my party arrived early and got me one of the cushioned chairs underneath. Other people stood or even brought chairs with them.
The whole set-​up of this is super convenient. There is free parking in the ramp and an ATM right in Larkin Square.

This is what Buffalo has been waiting for forever. In my opinion. It’s a draw to bring people downtown, and outside. I’ll admit, I only frequent this place on Tuesday nights when it’s loaded with food trucks and people.
Given that however, it is a brilliant time! I was here last Tuesday (⁵⁄₁₃) and was surprised at all the trucks that were there! It was hard to chose which items to taste, and even harder to wait in line. There was a live band playing some relaxing country tunes, a few types of beer and wine available, enough parking, and plenty of people to talk with.
The city truly comes to life down here on a Tuesday night. Even if you’re not a fan or frequent guest of some of Buffalo’s amazing trucks, this is a great place to bring friends or the family just to get outside and enjoy some of what the city has to offer in terms of hospitality and good fun. It was remeniscent of nights in Carolina where you can almost forget about the fact that we were dark and snowy for the last 8 months. :)

Ever since I discovered Larkin Square a few years ago, I was in disbelief (the good kind). This is Buffalo?! They did such an amazing job renovating this completely destitute space and making it into a destination. Kudos to all involved in this massive project.
It’s the perfect place for an outside festival. There’s a stage area, bar and a lot of comfortable furniture to hang back and relax. During the day, you can come outside and hang back with free Wifi.
During the spring and summertime, they began organizing Food Truck Tuesdays. Every Tuesday, about 30+ trucks gather here and thousands of people come by for an evening of food, music and deliciousness. Trucks from Rochester even drive down for the event. I love it.
Overall, I’m absolutely psyched that this space exists in Buffalo. They even do a few winter events (with heated lamps!) and are constantly hosting festivals: from markets, to car shows, to bike festivals, FT Tuesday and more. Next time you see an event at Larkin, don’t miss out!

I’ve been to Larkin Square in the past and this previous Tuesday, I went again to enjoy some Food Truck Tuesday.
I love that Larkin Square exists in Buffalo. It’s certainly a multipurpose area as there are several different types of events. From Food Truck Tuesday to the author series to Live at Larkin on Wednesdays, there is something for everyone. Not only are the events free but there is also free parking!
While I’m looking forward to more visits to Larkin Square this summer, it isn’t just a summer venue. There are events into the fall and winter months! Check out
for a list of current events! Stop by to relax on the chairs, grab something from a food truck, or play some pickleball!

I had absolutely no idea that this was here. And in driving around the area, I realized how many gorgeous brick buildings are in this area. Why aren’t they converted to AFFORDABLE loft apartments yet?! :)
Anyway, I came here for the Tuesday Happy Hour and was pleasantly surprised. My friend Missy and I got here right at 5pm and there was PLENTY of parking on Hydraulic Way, behind the venue, in a couple of huge gravel lots. I would recommend getting here close to 5 if you can. 30 minutes later, there were lots of people, and at 6:30 when we were leaving it was PACKED. At 5pm, I was able to walk right up to the 2 food trucks I wanted to try out. No lines. LOVE.
There is actually a ton of seating here, and tables too… The problem is, people will plunk down their stuff and Grandpa and go walk around while 10 chairs (oh actually 9, not counting Grandpa’s seat) and 2 tables are taken up with no one sitting there! I hate when people do this! I see why you do it, but it’s totally unfair. By the time you decide on your meal, my friend and I could have finished ours, in the shade at an actual table. UGH.
Missy and I sat on the ledge of the patio for a bit, and my noodle bowl was a chore to eat in this position. A couple were getting up at the table near us and offered their seats to us before they left. That was really nice. So we finally got a table! The cool thing I realized though while sitting on the patio edge was that there were fresh basil plants growing behind me! I kept getting a sniff of basil but thought it might be my noodles. A dude was cutting some for «making sandwiches» he said. He was affiliated with the event somehow since there were professional photogs taking his pic while he did this. I just hope they didn’t get my love handles in the shot. HAHA! But if they did, well good for me. HA!
The only thing I would have loved to see is more recycling options. I put my water bottle in the garbage and didn’t get a warm feeling from that but I couldn’t find a recycling bin.
Anyway, I love this place. I love the Happy Hour concept. I hope this continues forever.

A pleasant surprise in the downtown area. I’m not sure how often the concert series is, but I highly recommend checking this out. It’s just a really nice setup for a relaxed night out with friends. And free parking!
Drinks are cheap. It’s $ 5 for a glass of Lucky Star Pinot Noir or Chardonnay. They are served in plastic cups, which is less than ideal… but, it’s a picnic type setting so it does make it a little better. They have Rusty Chain and Coors Lt drafts for $ 5 as well. The uniform pricing seems a but high for a Coors Lt, but it does speed up the lines to get drinks since everything is the same price.
There are awesome couch-​like circular covered «huts» that you can snag if you get there early enough. Otherwise, you can bring a blanket and sit in the grass or bring your own chairs. The band that was playing last night was so chill that it was kind of a snoozer, so maybe bring a sleeping bag? If you do find yourself being lulled to sleep then I encourage you to use the numerous hula hoops laying in the grassy areas to get up and get moving.
Another major draw of this event is the shops and food trucks set up alongside the park. Everything from produce to jewelry is sold by vendors renting space in the area. Amy’s food truck had a line that stretched past the snow cone and biscotti vendors. It was a veritable playground for the taste buds.
This is a fun event for the whole family. Challenge your co-​workers to a game of pickle ball. Let your kids pound of the keys of the pianos on the wooden decks leading to the concert area. Cuddle in the grass with your sweetheart with an ice cream cone. Buffalo summers demand this kind of outdoor venue, so go check this place out!

Citizens of Buffalo, please find this amazingly lively, bright and wholly unexpected community space hidden amidst the abandoned buildings of deindustrialized Buffalo’s East Side. Say what???
I guess by now, almost a year after I first discovered its existence, it’s not so surprising and unexpected anymore. But I haven’t ventured out here until recently, so until now a place this amazing smack-​dab in the middle of the East Side seemed more like a dream.
Colorful chairs are arranged across vibrantly green grass and cute tables fill a giant gazebo. This is surrounded on one side by a spacious courtyard and on the other by an open space that is home to a Square 1 Sandwiches and a couple other cafes. From what I know, this place is also home to a variety of market stalls on weekdays and a venue for concerts during the warmer half of the year.
The food trucks often frequent this spot during lunch hours, and the ever increasing number of food trucks convene here on Tuesday evenings during the summer. Yay!
I haven’t been here during the day yet, but if it’s anywhere near as awesome as it is in the evening hours… I can’t wait to explore more this summer!