Solid Grounds Food Gallery

This is one of the few places on the Elmwood Strip to stop in for coffee and dessert after the theater that is not a full service restaurant. Finding a parking spot will be a challenge on the weekend. A table for four is also difficult as the patrons tend to linger. The decor, help, neighborhood and most customers are very ecclectic and funky. If your 55+ like me, you may feel out of place and a little uncomfortable. I heard good things about their carrot cake but found my generous slice on the dry side and the sour cream frosting thin and ho-hum. Stick to the cookies and you’ll be fine.

This was the first place I ate in the city of Buffalo when I came here for school. One of my coworkers brought me, and I ran into one of my old babysitters from my very small town back home who was waitressing. (How’s that for coincidence?) I was feeling a little homesick, but I had some darn good caramel apple pancakes, and that’s when I knew this Buffalo thing would work out ok for me. At least for now.

PS – Also highly recommended are their coffee & their house dressing. I’d pretty much recommend anything, actually.

I used to eat bfast/brunch at least once a week with various permutations of friends when I lived 1/2 a block away on Bryant, and that continued after I moved elsewhere in Buffalo. I favored their omelettes and tea. One fellow brunch-goer eventually started getting weirded out by one of the staff, so we slowly stopped going. But the food and service were usually pretty good.

I’m definately going back for some banana pecan pancakes!

Solid Grounds is usually rated the best cup of coffee in buffalo by the local papers. They’ve got a unique menu including my favorite, strawberry rhubarb pancakes.