Grovers Bar & Grill

Been here before. This time was horrible.
Only reason this got one star was for the food quality.
After waiting for the table for a while, we noticed a large group came in and got seated ahead of everyone on the board. When we questioned why, a busser gave us an attitude and insisted they were on the board before us (not true). Finally we were seated. Waitress admitted huge group seated knew the owner so they skipped the waiting line. Took another 15 minutes for waitress to come back to order food. After we waited for 25 minutes for the food to come, waitress informed us she forgot about our order cause she took a phone call. Complained about how it was her night off originally and how she could have been home watching lifetime and how forgetting our order was annoying for her. Waited another 20 minutes for the food to show up. Throughout the night the waitress was sarcastically apologetic and didn’t seem to care that she ruined our dinner. It occurred to us that she may have done this on purpose since we complained about the large group being seated without waiting. In the end, she never offered to comp part of our check and when we asked, she played stupid and didn’t address our question. Clearly didn’t leave a tip. Not sure when we’re gonna come back. This was just awful.

I went to Grovers the other day for the first time with my boyfriend for lunch. I was so excited because I heard great things but I had never been. I didn’t know what to expect upon walking in. The first thing I noticed was how small of a place it was. The second thing was that you enter through the side door which is right next to the bar and also where the waitresses put in the orders. so as you can expect, it was really cramped. The third thing was that you are supposed to write your name on a board in the middle of the restaurant if there is a wait. Luckily there wasn’t a wait considering it was a little after normal lunch hours, so we were seated right away. Our waitress, Laura, was very friendly and advised us on the burger and soup of the day. I decided to order the Bruiser, which came with bleu cheese and caramelized onions on top. It was divine. The burger was so thick and juicy and cooked perfectly. My boyfriend ordered the southwest burger which had a spicy mayo and fried onions. He really enjoyed his as well. Since the burgers don’t come with a side we split a basket of fries and onion rings. Everything was exceptional, from the food to the service to the prices (very reasonably priced in my opinion). I’m so glad Grover’s lived up to my expectations because not a lot of places do when I constantly hear such good things about them. I’m ready to go back… like tomorrow :)
ps. they only accept cash. conveniently there is an ATM located right inside

I ordered the bruiser, the southwest burger, cheeseburger soup, fries and onion rings. The burgers were HUGE but were so tasty. The southwest burger was perfect. It wasn’t dry and the toppings with the sauce were great together. I especially liked the jalapeños in it. The bruiser was a bit disappointing, maybe cause I tried it after the southwest burger. It was still good, but on the drier side. Also, there was too much bleu cheese. Had to scrape some off. The onion rings were perfectly battered and fried. However the fries were mushy. I did not enjoy them. The cheeseburger soup was great. Tasted exactly like advertised but it was a bit heavy. Couldn’t finish.

Let’s not fool ourselves, Grover’s is a tiny bar restaurant that borders dive. Their claim to fame is their gigantic burgers for around 10 $. You will find yourself saying; «oh, this place is busy, the food is gigantic and it’s kind of inexpensive… What a great restaurant!» but you’re really just convincing yourself it is something more than what it really is.
There’s nothing special about the taste of their burger other then it is gigantic, greasy and pretty PLAIN! You can buy a pound of ground beef add a little salt, a little pepper and cook it in the pan at home for the same desired outcome, if not better. The same thing can be said about the chicken breast they throw on a roll with some Cajun seasoning.
Because of the serving size and value I give it three stars maybe even four. Due to it lacking anything special, there are never enough tables, not a wide enough drink selection, they don’t take credit cards and do not have highchairs… this is nothing but a glorified dive bar that made it big off of large portions and low prices. I don’t care if Guy Fierey went there and shoved his chubby face to happiness, I give them 3 stars for the things they lack over the large portions and low price they offer.

First timer at lunch time, enormous and delicious burgers. I would highly recommend sharing with someone. Onion straws are a phenomenal addition. I was definitely in a food coma by the end of my meal. And the onion rings were a delicious treat. Was packed for lunch but we got in and out in less than an hour. Timing is everything. Don’t forget to put your name on the blackboard to get a table.

When I heard this place had the best burgers in Buffalo I was expecting to find a ridiculous menu stacked with crazy toppings, maybe various sizes of burgers, the options being limitless. Maybe even some ginormous super-​sized burger challenge because Guy Fieri visited but then I remembered Guy is no Adam from Man vs. Food, and I don’t like Guy, Adam and I are more on the same page. I was slightly disappointed because I wanted to buy a burger the size of my table! Okay I’m slightly kidding… I came to eat a burger, there’s a burger selection, that’s all that matters… Let’s eat!
Grover’s offers a burger of the week and maybe ⁸⁄₉ different kinds of burgers to select from. I ordered the Southwestern Burger which comes with chipotle mayo, pepper jack cheese, fried onions and I opt’d out the jalapeños. Wasn’t sure how spicy the chipotle mayo would be, turns out it wasn’t spicy at all. I ordered my burger well done, it was cooked more like medium-​well, juicy, seasoned nicely, was delicious. These burgers are like an inch thick and with all the toppings and thick rolls, I’m not sure why they’re not served with a steak knife? No matter, I used my butter knife so I didn’t look like the starving deprived monster I felt like inside when I arrived. Wanted to just pick it up with my hands and scarf it down the way Cookie Monster eats cookies! «Mmmmm cookies!» Anyhow, the roll was similar to a Costanzo roll, could have even been a Costanzo roll, I don’t know for sure. The question is, was this the best burger I’ve tasted in Buffalo? No, it was delicious, I really enjoyed it and it’s up there but I’m still in love with the burger I had from the Griffon Gastropub in Niagara Falls, NY. I will be back though.
FYI — I also ordered a small fry, a single order of medium chicken wings and single order of pizza logs ($ 41 for 2 people, we drank water). I sampled everything. The pizza logs were good, the fries were great and the chicken wings I would never order from here again. I like the skin of my chicken wings to be a bit crispier so that it’s not rubbery, these were kinda rubbery. The lesson here is… If you’re going to eat at a place known for their burgers, eat a burger folks!
Compliments: Staff is great, super friendly, sociable and food was served quickly despite the place being packed.
Tips: Cash only, no credit accepted and when you arrive, sign in on the chalkboard in the middle of the place adjacent to the bar.

Grovers was awesome. We had the cheese burger soup, which was really tasty, thick and creamy. Their blue cheese burger which was decent. But the wings were probably the best I’ve had. We got mild Buffalo wings. They we’re cooked to perfection, juicy in the middle, just a bit of crunch on the outside and not soggy. I would go there just for the wings.

I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.
This small little bar and grill has a total of about 10 dining tables and really serves you like you’re the only customer there, excellent experience!
I had the burger of the week which was a big juicy burger sandwiched between two grilled cheese sandwiches… When this gigantic vessel arrived the first thing out of my mouth is «this is getting boxed up» but since I’m fat and hate my coronary arteries, I ate the entire thing because it was THAT DELICIOUS!
There is no way you’re going to «hold» these burgers. This restaurant won best burger 3 years in a row because the burgers are anatomically un-​fit for a human mouth. I’m talking MASSIVE burgers here people, this is not a drill. That being said about 2 bites in, I tucked my pride back in, and finished my feast with a fork and knife.
P. S. They serve Coke products (heart emoji)

Grover’s. What to say? I’ve heard fairytales about this place numerous times from friends the past few years and hadn’t gotten a chance to try it for myself.
I finally was in the area, and we decided to go. Thankfully, I read the reviews before going and saw that you had to write your name down on some little board in the middle of a room as their way of knowing you’re waiting to be seated. I say «thankfully I read the reviews» to know this… because there’s no verbal or written prompt anywhere in the place to let you know you’re expected to do that.
Burgers are big and juicy, that’s probably the only thing I liked about it. Everything else at this place was average at best in my opinion. The burger itself (I got the sharp cheddar burger) wasnt very flavorful, the fries weren’t good, the onion rings were just okay, and they only take cash (I don’t really understand why places still do this… unless you love to inconvenience your customer lol, then keep doing it).
I am looking forward to trying the place across the street that everyone says is much better.

I have been to Grovers a couple times. On every occasion, my burger craving is satisfied. I often get burger cravings. I cannot wait to be a crazy, fat pregnant lady (not anywhere in the near future, don’t worry).
The cheeseburger soup is a MUST to start with. You will not be disappointed. If you’re a fatty like I am, you will get the cheeseburger soup, and also a burger. Because it is never enough. I would like to say that I don’t really like soup at all, but this is like eating a bowl of cheese, which I love.
Most recently, I got the Southwest burger and WOOF. It was heavenly. Jalapeños were delightful and the cheese was perfectly melted. The burger I asked for medium well and it was PERFECT. Could not have been more satisfied.
Our waitress, Tami (Tammi? Tammy?), was very attentive and super friendly. She checked back just the right amount to not annoy me whilst eating, but to also pay attention to my needy self.
I would recommend this place to everyone.
X’s and O’s!
J

After a bad experience at ABV, a friend and I ventured out to Transit in search of burger redemption. We decided we’d eat at Ruzzine’s and Grover’s in one night and call it Burger Battle 2015.
We split a burger with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, bacon, and caramelized onions. The party was cooked perfectly, medium well as requested, and the bun held together.
The main difference between the two rivals comes down to the patty. Grover’s is flat top. Ruzzine’s is chargrilled and it makes all the difference.
I would say I prefer the patty a Ruzzine’s but Grover’s does balance the best.

It was both amusing and unintentional that my first two experiences with both Grover’s and Allen Burger Venture’s burgers happened within a couple weeks of each other. My beau and I both shared the exact opinion: if you compared our experiences strictly on taste, I’d rank Allen Burger Venture’s Tuna Tataki burger over Grover’s Bruiser burger by a very, very small margin, but then you add in the fact that Grover’s very delicious burger happened to be bigger and six dollars cheaper than it’s competition, and the official nod goes to Grovers. Also, I’d rank the Grover Bruiser over the other burger I tasted at Allen Burger Venture — the Brown Sugar Burger — so who knows what would happen if I compared every burger on both menus. But I’ll never do that, because eating Allen Burger Venture’s entire menu would force me into bankruptcy.
Anyway! Enough with the name-​dropping. Let’s focus on Grover’s.
It’s a small, crowded bar-​joint with a touch of charm. The place is perfectly clean which is always a plus (bathroom was spotless) and the waitress was both attentive and charming. She gave us a few solid laughs and didn’t let any of us run out of water.
I wasn’t as impressed with the ‘other stuff’ I tasted beyond the Bruiser burger. Garlic-​cheese wings were tasty but the meat was a touch overcooked.
You have to purchase sides separately. I’m perfectly fine with this since the burgers are reasonably priced and quite large while the fries, though adequately crispy, are bland. It’s on you to give them flavor with provided vinegar or ketchup or salt or pepper. I prefer places that produce fries that stand on their own, or serve them with an interesting sauce/​cheese.
Today’s rating is brought to you specifically by Grover’s food. Ultimately, the bruiser was five-​star worthy — big, succulent, seasoned — but the other food was either ‘ok’ or ‘good’ and it cost Grover a star.
If I’m in the mood for burgers again any time soon, I’ll either be going here or to the Shack on Delaware: places that provide flavor-​explosions without drop-​kicking my wallet.

Grover is often touted as «the place» for hamburgers by locals. When the opportunity came up to grab a burger here last week, I zipped the thirty minutes to East Amherst and proudly ordered one medium rare.
Service was very pleasant and Buffalo homey and the interior is divey, but clean. The burgers came out shortly thereafter and mine was smothered in BBQ sauce with some bacon (as ordered). The meat itself tasted nice and spiced, but I was disappointed that the bun was not toasted by default. My friend asked the waitress to «toast the s*hit out of his bun,» which I thought was an odd request, but when my bun came out completely untoasted I immediately gained a huge amount of request for this man for his decisive choice (although perhaps not his choice of words ;)).
As mentioned, the meat in the burger was fantastic. Spiced well — cooked to order and very enjoyable. The rest of the burger fell short because of: a) untoasted bun b) too much sauce — the burger was just a bit messy. Despite that, I still enjoyed it immensely and I’d come back hence the four stars. I would just learn from this experience and a) not order such a messy burger and b) ask my bun to be toasted, kindly, please and thank you.

Love Grovers Burgers! The burgers are huge and really good! Went there on a Saturday night and they were packed.
Soon as you walk in you write your name on a chalkboard and wait to be seated. There were 7 tables ahead of us so we waited about 1 hr. They have a bar too. so we had a couple drinks and waited .The place is small but cozy, and nice looking. The waitress and bartenders were great. A definite winner!

I feel a little funny writing a review for a burger place when I’m so obsessed with hotdogs. Maybe that’s why my review is so average. I’d like to start first with an introduction that I’m no burger expert (this was actually my first burger of the summer) so I’m highly unqualified to write this review. Proceed.
I don’t care for the atmosphere. It’s too loud, mushy, etc. If I have to touch a person to get by to my table, I’m instantly turned off. I know that might be a thing for people, that loud and chaotic environment, but I find it highly distracting when I can’t hear another person when I’m conversing and interrupted when I have someone bumping into my table.
Grovers wins for the biggest burger. If you’re looking for size and you’re particularly hungry, this might be the place to go. I was shocked at just how much I was consuming; 12 ounces of all meat, this thing takes the prize. However, the toppings were average and you can’t add much to your burger. I got the provolone burger and would have loved to have slices of avocado on my burger. But the menu didn’t have them. Aw shucks.
I thought the burger was okay. I’ve cooked better burgers on my grill… juicier ones at that. This one didn’t really do it for me. I didn’t hate it, but also didn’t love it. I just thought it was ‘A-​OK’ (Thanks, Unilocal!)
Our waitress was a gem with a quirky personality. She was attentive to our needs and continuously popped in on us to fill our water and make sure we had everything that we needed. She had great people skills, so that always helps when writing these reviews :)
I’m not much for burgers, so I probably won’t stop back in. But I am glad I took a step out of my hotdog comfort zone and tried it.

Super excited to try this place. It was such a cool atmosphere– nice and cozy. It was all that it was cracked up to be. We ate pretty late so they were sold out of the famous soup I wanted to try but that is ok. Our family shared a sharp cheddar burger that was cooked perfect! Ordered original wings and garlic Parmesan and hubby declared them the best! The onion rings were awesome. You bit into them and and it was a clean bite. No onion ring pulling out of the crust. Loved the place. It is all it is cracked up to be. I need to go back to try that soup!
Side note… They only take cash.

Went here during my visit to Buffalo based on the Triple D show. Tried the cheeseburger soup and was throughly impressed. I am on a mission to visit at least on Triple D location in each city I visit. GROVER’S won out in Buffalo and I am happy it did.
Make sure you bring cash… no debit/​credit cards excepted.
Small price to pay for the excellent food

Wow wow wow! Little hole in the wall spot full of character and flavor. A friend told me they have great burgers and she was not lying. Burgers are huge (12oz I think). Normally that much meat will lack flavor but that wasn’t even close to being the case. My burger was juicy, flavorful and cooked perfectly. The fries are good too.
Only downside of this place is the size. It’s very small. If you have a large party good luck trying to get table together. It also seems like you can just walk in an seat yourself
Important thing to know is they only accept cash. This place unlike many others actually provide a atm for that reason. You will have to pay a $ 2.50 surcharge however.
Overall, I totally recommend Grovers! Go check it out.

Sometimes you wanna go where nobody knows your name. And sometimes, you are simultaneously craving a hearty, delicious burger. The former part meant that I had to go somewhere new to hopefully experience the later and thus, I decided to finally test out all the hype about Grovers.
This was a 30 minute drive for me but getting out of the city was part of the point. Upon arrival, I pulled into the parking lot only to find it full to the extent that I could not go around the back OR turn around. So I exited backwards mumbling, «This better be a really good burger». I found a spot on the other side of the lot.
As soon as I entered the door I received a friendly greeting from a server who explained to me the wait procedure of putting my name on the chalkboard upfront. At the top of the board it states, «Welcome to the chaos,» and a taped on a sign beneath informs you that they do not accept credit cards. I was however, prepared for all of this from reading the reviews.
After a few minutes, a spot opened at the bar so I took that as I was dining alone. But I paid attention to where my name had been on the list. It would have been a 35 minute wait for a table. I arrived right around 2pm hoping to miss the lunch rush. A regular at the bar informed me that, «This isn’t bad,» and that if you come at night, the wait will be longer.
Here is the thing about that possible wait: there is nowhere to do it. To make things a little more claustrophobic, the ceilings are only about 7 feet tall. If I hadn’t driven 30 minutes and gotten a seat at the bar, there is no way I could have dealt with the cramped quarters for the time required. However…
The bartender was impressive. The place was packed and she was not only tending the full bar by herself but getting drinks to the servers for the tables and nobody was having to wait long for attention at all. She maintained a friendly personality and even caught an order that came out wrong before serving it to the couple next me.
The burger was fantastic. I ordered it medium and that’s how I got it. I just got a basic cheeseburger and added caramelized onions. (They offer a few add-​on options). It came with a pickle. I was tempted with a side of onions rings which looked amazing as they came out to others but, I’m glad I resisted because that burger was plenty. For comparison: while I do enjoy the heavy garlic at Vizzi’s, the flavor of the Grovers burger was more balanced and it was possibly a bit juicier. However, for a buck less, Vizzi’s additionally gives you a generously sized side. So, while Grovers is definitely making my, «Best Burger» list, I’m not sure I’d drive out here again with Vizzi’s close-​by.
In conclusion:
5 stars for service
5 stars for flavor/​quality of the food
But minus one star for:
Seriously small space, long wait and no acceptance of credit cards.

First time today for lunch… lives up to the hype and then some! We were seated immediately despite thinking otherwise.
I had the patty melt, medium, with double Swiss. And it was the best I’ve had since I can remember. 12oz patty was enormous and seasoned very well. Yes… it may have been too big for my bread… but that’s what’s so great about it. Messy, comforting, American style sandwich. Piled high with Caramelized onions, which is a bigger issue than you may imagine. A lot of places skimp. I also appreciate it being buttered and griddled as opposed to being toasted and then assembled. Really makes a huge difference. You can’t go wrong with any burger here.
Mother had the classic American, which she went on about not having a burger like this since her childhood. She couldn’t express that enough. Also got a basket of fries, which we lucked out… their special was Hot Turkey Sandwich, so we ordered a side of gravy for our fries… yum!
Oh…also…Cheeseburger soup. FABULOUS. Chunky, cheesy, and peaks your curiosity. I cannot stress this enough… get a cup, you will not regret it by any means.
Our service was great, smiley, helpful, bubbly. A very kind woman who made the experience that much sweeter.
Grovers is a gem in this great town. We have our high class food from Sea Bar, or Tempo, but when you need something that just warms your soul. Something down home, and something classic Americana… Grovers very well may be the best diner in Buffalo, bar none!