Protocol Restaurant

Excellent! This is my 3^rd visit since moving to the area and it has been phenomenal each time. I have intentionally ordered different entrees to explore the menu, and found each item as delicious as the last. It’s cozy and not pretentious. The service is professional and timely. The prices, for the quality of service and meal, are fantastic. Highly recommend!

We’ve recently moved to the area and had driven by this restaurant and finally decided to stop. I am glad we did the food was fantastic! I had the broiled fish and sweet potatoe fries and it was wonderful. The service was perfect attentive enough but not over the top. This will be a regular goto place for me.

I suppose that I have 2 different ratings for this restaurant. ⁴⁄₅ stars is for the service, and I would give the food a ³⁄₅.
The service was great. Our server seemed to walk at the pace of going down the aisle as part of a bridal party, so that kind of drove me nuts. I was taught to walk with a sense of urgency when I was a server, so there’s that. However, she was very attentive and patient with my sister and me. We didn’t decide on our drink orders right away (we wanted cocktails, so she also brought us the cocktail menu to look over), but she gave us the perfect amount of time without nagging us for our orders. The timing of the food was also good, as we weren’t served with a lengthy period of time between our appetizer and entrée, nor were they served right on top of each other. We also had bread come out before our appetizer, and our server waited until we finished our bread and oil before bringing out our appetizer. Kudos to her!
For our appetizer, we ordered the fried calamari. I enjoy calamari, especially when it is served with a good dipping sauce. The sauce that came with this calamari almost tasted like a tartar sauce, and I was not a fan of it. I usually enjoy either a marinara or a remoulade, when done properly. This was supposed to be a remoulade, but it was very bland and bleh tasting. My favorite calamari sauce I have had to date was at Allen Burger Venture. Go try it! I did like that it wasn’t just calamari rings, and that it had the tentacle pieces as well. I enjoy those tentacle ones! I’m not sure why. I’m weird. Oh well.
For my entrée, I ordered a «small plate» of petite filet mignon and shrimp. It had a lobster butter sauce on top (with pieces of lobster in it!) and came with mashed potatoes, green beans, and carrots. I ordered the filet rare, and for once it actually came out as I ordered. That was a pleasant surprise! It was a small piece of filet, but it was the perfect size for my level of hunger. There were 2 pieces of jumbo shrimp, and I only ended up eating one (because I was so fully). The lobster butter (that was more of a sauce) was delicious, and I mixed some of it into my potatoes too. I enjoyed this entrée, but it wasn’t anything I would think of when someone asks me where my favorite foods can be found (like how I would recommend ABV’s calamari).
Overall, I think it was a nice experience. Even though we sat on the patio in nice weather, the view was nothing to write home about. There were bushes surrounding part of the patio, but we also had a clear view of all of the traffic on Transit Road. I think this would be a good place to go if you were given a gift card (my sister had one), or if it was someone else’s choice. However, I do not think I would go back on my own accord. The menu items were a little pricey, and there are plenty of places to go in the Buffalo area that would be more satisfying.

Here we go:
I went on the website to make a reservation, once I hit submit, it said they would respond in no longer than 12 hours… which, lol. It was 3:30 and I wanted a 5:15 reservation. SO, I called. I got Lauren on the phone. She took my reservation without any problems. I hung up and about 15 minutes later they also responded to my email and said «All set, see you soon!» I thought that was very friendly. They were very on top of things.
We got there at 5, it was… DEAD. So our reservation was highly unnecessary, but they sat us right away, and we asked for the patio, so we sat outside. Our waitress came over right away, was super friendly, got us waters, and was patient while we perused the menu (drinks and food).
The waitress brought us bread and their oil which, huge fan of carbs, love when people bring me bread. It was also warm and squishy, so I appreciated that.
My sister and I both ordered martinis, they were yummy. I ordered the fried calamari to start, which I loved, it was very yummy. Also it was a mix of the little squid looking guys and the round ones. I made Amanda eat the tentacle ones, because, ew.
I ordered the «Protocol» burger, which was a burger with a stuffed banana pepper on it. Super yummy, I brought half of it home because I wanted to make sure I tried dessert.
Amanda got the shrimp and filet, which came with potatoes as well. That looked awesome and they cooked the steak how she wanted it, which is rare (that’s how she likes it, and it is also rare that people get it right… steak puns.)
The dessert that I saw online and got super pumped about was an espresso mousse. They didn’t have it. But, the dessert menu was shown to us on an iPad lol. Weird. Technology sucks. Lemme browse a paper menu please I don’t want to watch you scroll on a iPad. Whatever. I ordered the flourless chocolate cake with raspberry, just because I wanted to get something. It was very good!
Overall, sucky view because it on Transit, so, lovely patio view of traffic. But the food was delicious. I had a $ 50 gift card so I didn’t mind going all out on the price. I wouldn’t come here normally because I’m not a baller. But, it was nice on pay day! (If I wasn’t using a gift card). Nicely done Protocol!
X’s and O’s!
J

We have visited Protocol twice in the past few months. Both times we were seated at the same table in the rear of the restaurant. It’s quiet there — which is great, although one can still easily hear the background music. The lighting is a tad bit dim but not annoyingly so.
Both times we ordered at least three appetizers and overall they were good, not spectacular. Their fried calamari is just so-​so. The bread offerings are very tasty and served warm. Yummmm.
They have a good selection of bottled and draft beers, and if I remember correctly, they offer a Sam Adams Octoberfest in season which is one of my favorites. Their wine selection is good.
As for their entrès: they are extremely well prepared. I had a chicken dish from their specials list a few months ago that blew me away! The best chicken ever. This week I had the Shrimp with Linguini (also from the specials list). Before I tasted it I asked our waitress for some Parmesan cheese. Just as I was taking my first bite she arrived with the cheese. I had to shake my head no! Why tinker with perfection?! The linguini was cooked perfectly… simply magnificent with spinach, garlic, tomatoes and some sort of olive oil. Oh baby! Tremendous! Bravo! Bravo!
On a sad note. Today I heard that the building that houses Protocol is being sold along with the large parcel of land on which it sits. Sure hope they open up somewhere else, if what I heard is, in fact, true.

Found them to be way too pricey for the quality of the food. They’re pricing matches Russell’s steaks which are much better both in ambience and food, definitely no comparison. I’d rather go across the street for a better meal.

I have visited Protocol twice now (both times for lunch) and have to say that it is one of my favorite spots in the area for good food. OK, the place it is a little dated and the lunch clientele is certainly more senior… but hey, with age comes wisdom and these lunch visitors certainly know where to go for great food and good value. I have tried a salad (good), the seafood chowder (really good) and a fish fry which I will say was one of the best I have ever had, light, crispy batter with great fish. I can’t give it five stars because it is a little faded and I haven’t tried it for dinner, but I am sure they do just as good a job. Try it. It will surprise you.

We hosted a family party at Protocol the week before Thanksgiving on the week end of the BIG BLIZZARD. Every detail of the event was perfect. The banquet manager was very helpful as we worked to plan the menu and accommodated special requests like space for family photographs. The tables were arranged exactly as we requested and set when we arrived. We had 4 toddlers and infants in the party and the chef prepared heart warming mac and cheese for the delighted toddlers.
Appetizers were served in a timely way and were nicely presented. The assortment was excellent. We had a limited menu for entrees which we were able to select, and the choices were very diverse. The restaurant prepared a special menu for our occasion. Every entrée was served as requested and they were all wonderful. The food was hot and delicious.
The management assigned two servers to our party so the service was timely and well orchestrated. We want to thank the restaurant staff and management for making this a very memorable family event.

3.5 stars. Very good seafood. Fun, knowledgable bartender with great suggestions of drinks. Fish was very fresh and prepared exactly as I requested. The different choices of fish along with the different kinds of preparation make this a great choice for seafood eating. My husband had ordered the steak which was overcooked. However we would go back and try different seafood choices.

Decided to try the Protocol for the local restaurant week promotions and what a great decision it was to stop on in.
I had been here once before but in the banquet room so this was our my first time in the restaurant.
Walking in I sort of felt out of place seeing all the older clientele walking out in their suits and hopping into their Buicks and Cadillacs but were first greeted at the bar by two folks from out of town, which seemed to make everything a little more comfortable. In addition we had tried a few times to try to call ahead and make reservations and despite them being busy, the hostess was still able to find us a table for 2. She was so kind and gave us her recommendations on the menu while we waited next to those 2 out of town fellas at the bar.
We were advised that the fish is flown in daily and despite being recommended to order from their «regular» menu vs. the «restaurant week menu» noticed the dish we had both wanted on the regular menu was on the restaurant week menu…
So now too the food…
1. Crab cake: I love crab cakes and my wife knows if I see that they offer them on their menu I want to try them. These were probably some of the best crab cakes I honestly have ever had… beating some crab cakes I have had in Baltimore and maryland.
2. House Caesar salad: Delicious. Sometimes salads are over dressed but this was done perfect with just enough dressing and pepper making it so good.
3. Horseradish Crusted Salmon w/​Risotto: 2 words, Absolutely Amazing. This was also some of the best risotto both my wife and I had ever had and the salmon was really good. I would have said excellent, with respect to the fish, but my wife’s portion was a little dry though my piece was on par.
4. Dessert: salted Gelato and a flour less cake… both good to cap off a great meal.
Coffee: very smooth and great pair with our dessert.
I would have given this place 5 stars but didn’t appreciate the bar tenders sense of humor making us feel alienated because if the Hoodie I was wearing but outside of that one comment he seemed alright… just odd to say anything like that to a paying customer, even if you are joking (assuming he was kidding and giving him the benefit of the doubt) but regardless great dinner and will definitely recommend to friends, family and colleagues…

Good special occasion type of place. High end selection and prices. I had the clams casino to start which were real good. Not too greasy. Then the lettuce wedge and the 14 oz ribeye grilled perfectly. Great service. Good wine list and desserts also. I would go here again if I had the chance.

Protocol still has it. Dropped by this evening for a crab cake with jicama slaw… delish
Beet and pear salad over the top amazing. Then the star of the show, grilled halibut Washington Style. Served along a great risotto. The risotto here is not to be missed.
Kenny the bartender is as skillful as can be. Props to you Kenny as well as all the owners and staff.
Still five stars for you!

Just returned from dinner at Protocol… excellent food and service. The scallops and lobster buere blanc was excellent. I loved having ½ bottles of wine available. The new york cheese cake for desert was perfect. A little pricy but overall worth it. Our waitress Christina was also perfect thanks

The food is very delicious. Great atmosphere and service as well. You will not be disappointed

I have never eaten at the regular restaurant. I have been here for a shower and a seminar in their banquet rooms. I also had their catering at a lunch and learn. The food has always been good — just nothing special. Atmosphere is a basic banquet — again, nothing fancy.

I’ve been here a couple times for events. Its a nice banquet hall. The food is good and there’s plenty of space for events. Parking is good in their parking lot.. They do have vegetarian options as well and are lgbt friendly. Is conveniently located on Transit Road.

I went with my family on a Saturday evening. We walked in with no reservation around 8:30 and they were happy to seat us right away. I thought all of the food was excellent. The dishes were prepared artistically and the food tasted very good. We had several appetizers that were all delicious. I had the Chilean sea bass and it was prepared so perfectly! The orange coleslaw it was served with was a little sweet for my liking, but I think that’s just a matter of how they decide to prepare their own dishes.
Our server was extremely friendly and I would come again just to have him. He was the life of our party!
I suggest coming here — the food was some of the best I’ve had in Buffalo — very high quality.

First of all, we went as 6 adults and 4 kids (ages 3 — 6). Probably not the brightest idea, but hey, I’m usually up for an adventure. The place is relatively small (seating for about 60) with a large banquet facility next door. Needless to say, we were seated at the back of the restaurant given our demographic. We started out waiting for our party at the bar, ordering Shirley Temples for the wee ones. We got news that our table was ready, only to have 2 drinks spill simultaneously. The bartender was great though and blew it off.
We got to our table (the restaurant was almost empty) and had a very patient server. They were amenable to changing a few of the items for the kiddos (making a pizza out of a panini for one). I ordered a summer salad (candied walnut and goat cheese) and the Petite Filet and Shrimp small plate. The dressing on the salad was Amazing. I don’t usually gush about a dressing, but WOW. I wanted to drink the stuff. The shrimp and filet were also done perfectly. I would expect such a small cut to either be under or overcooked, but was impressed that it was medium rare. My wife’s scallops on the other hand were overcooked and a tad rubbery. The risotto was the star on her plate. I could not stop eating it.
All of the other food I had was great and cooked perfectly. Even the kids meals were delicious. The reason for 4 stars was the timing was terrible. They brought out the kids meals about 20 minutes before ours. This meant we had to entertain the children as we tried to enjoy our own food. The cost was also a bit high (about $ 330 not including tip). I could only imagine how much we paid for grilled cheese, but rest assured it was the most ever for american cheese between two pieces of white toast and fries.
I would go back, but I would NOT bring the kids.

Food is fresh and consistently good. Love that you can customize the seafood selections with your choice of sauce and seasoning. Service is friendly but not rushed. Good selection of wines and cocktails too.
If you go with a few people order the appetizers and some truffle fries to share. It’s not that you need them, they’re just too good to miss!
Only gave four stars because I reserve five for amazingly, spectacular meals!

My review is based on a dining experience I had a little while back. I was to attend a function. When I arrived late due to parking issues there was no room for me in the banquet room. I was not alone, app. 6 others experienced the same rejection.
Protocol management sent us into the dining room and told us to order off the menu. We did. No charges for us other than drinks. Food was fantastic. I had a Chicken Cordon Bleu, made in house. No complaints at all! I missed the presentation, oh well, but I had a nicer dinner of choice and met new friends.