Waxlight Bar a Vin

Our favorite restaurant, by far! Great service and exciting menu items. We love that they are always experimenting with different flavors and ingredients. We have never had a bad experience here.

I cannot say enough about this place! My husband and I went here for a personal celebration and we were blown away! I would give this place 10 stars if i could! The cocktails were some of the best I’ve ever had. The service was top-notch and truly made our night that much more special. Our server, Lauren, from the moment we said hello until the end of our visit was beyond outstanding. She took time to explain different ingredients and flavor profiles of various dishes. She answered all of our questions with a breadth of knowledge, all while being kind and personable. She was just absolutely incredible from start to finish. The food? Omg OUT OF THIS WORLD DELICIOUS!!!!! Honestly I had some expectations but even those were blown away when I tasted the beef ribs, pork belly, pasta (pasta is made in house and you absolutely can tell that it is!) and hangar steak. You can taste the incredible attention that is put into the food at this restaurant and it’s hands down probably the most impressive restaurant I’ve ever been to in Buffalo. I simply cannot recommend this restaurant enough. Just the food alone makes it one of the best (actually it was my favorite place I’ve been to in a very very long time and I’d say it has to be my favorite fine dining spot now) but the gorgeous atmosphere of this place (interior design is exceptional), the service beyond phenomenal, the overall experience struck a chord and has left a lasting impression. This place really is that amazing- I don’t know that my review can even do it justice. We will be back with my in-laws and my sister and her husband as well. I honestly cannot wait to go here again!!!

A wonderful place, with sensitive service, attentive waiters and pretentious dishes. It is a matter of taste, but elegant serving is an art. The drinks deserve special attention, very interesting combinations.

I took my Fiancee here for her birthday because she's been wanting to go here for a while. It was a delightful experience. Our server was Jess and she was top notch. We got drinks (the Daisy, Mai Tai, some red wine) followed up by the Anchovy toast which was absolutely delicious. We then had the duck arancini and that was also very good. It was then followed up by our main courses, the beef short ribs and the dry-aged beef steak. It was amazing and tasted so delicious. We ended the night with a surprise burnt cheesecake with a candle to commemorate my fiancee's birthday along with some amazing cold brew coffee! Jess was a pleasure to work with and i would definitely go back to enjoy the beautiful atmosphere and delicious food and drinks! Highly recommend!

I am honestly so shocked a place this amazing is less than 10 minutes from my house. Blown away every visit by the food, cocktails and service. This is where I bring my big city friends who don't think much of Buffalo to really impress them. Try everything and enjoy!

First time here and definitely not the last! The ambience of the restaurant was awesome and such a cool vibe. Service was absolutely amazing and food was fantastic! Went with a group of 6 and we got a bunch of different apps on top of entrees. Everything was coursed out perfectly and the desserts were perfect! An awesome evening with not a single complaint definitely one of my new favorite spots!! Loved it

I was here a few times pre-Covid and it was good if a bit pretentious but went a few months ago and the food we ordered was pretty bad. See pics. The shrimp was doused is some oil sauce, the beets were not seasoned or cooked particularly well, and the grain dish I got was barely edible. Pretty inside, but overall quite disappointed.

My friend and I had reservations for 7pm. We arrived at 7:13, due to our uber being late and the roads being icy. We waited by the door for about 2 minutes before someone came up to us. My friend told the man who came up to us that we had reservations at 7pm. He looked at us in disbelief: “7pm?”….my friend apologized that we were a couple minutes behind. He said he had to go check to see if our table was still available since they only have a 15 minute grace period and it was a busy Friday night…mind you, it was only 7:16 by this point. Yes that is late, but nothing egregious. I worked in the service industry for years and if someone was ONE MINUTE past the 15 minute grace period- I would have the common sense to be hospitable enough to still seat them. Again, we showed up 2 minutes BEFORE the 15 minute grace period was over. Get off your high horses…really? One minute past that point and the table is gone? I feel like they messed up the reservation and gave our table away before we even arrived…but what do I know? Perhaps this was a case of overbooking. After he told my friend and I our table was no longer available, he claimed that they sent her texts to see if she was still coming. My friend checked her texts- nothing. He said we could sit at the bar and wait to see if a table might open up. We said we’ll sit at the bar and asked him to let us know when something opened up. 45 minutes later, he finally came up to us at the bar and asked if we still wanted to sit at a table. He then also proceeded to accuse my friend of blocking the reservation notification texts and claimed that’s why she didn’t receive the texts? Like what? Why on earth would she block them from sending her a reservation reminder? Just take some accountability and try to amend the rest of the night, for Gods sake. After we were finally sat, our server was very friendly. I have nothing but nice things to say about her. However, the pasta my friend ordered was disgustingly salty. It tasted like sea water. The server kindly took it back and offered for my friend to order something else, which she did. However by this point, it was already late and my friend’s new dish didn’t arrive for another 20 minutes. She ordered what I had, which was very good. While she did take the pasta off the bill (which was the correct thing to do, since my friend literally took one bite), they couldn’t be bothered to give her a free drink or dessert? Not that it’s expected, but you would think from how the rest of the night went, they may want to try to redeem themselves a bit? Nope. There are a few others notes I could make, but I think I’ve gotten my point across. I hope management actually takes this review seriously. I’ve worked it restaurants so I know how it works when someone leaves a negative review (the staff making fun of that customer and doing nothing to improve the service or experience for future customers). For a place as pricey as Waxlight, you expect better service. As a side note, the interior decor could also be improved upon, as it’s gives a tacky suburban aesthetic. Best of luck to you.

I've been eyeing Waxlight since they opened and was so glad to finally go! Our server was very friendly, personable and incredibly knowledgeable. I loved the attention of the staff and how aware they were of empty plates, waters and switching silverware, just add a little bit of fancy! We got the Spanish red and it was SO FREAKING GOOD and with only $12 a glass it felt nice to be able to get another glass! We got two apps, a small plate, a large plate. 2 wines, and shared two of their smaller desserts and total was $143 - which felt appropriate and perfectly priced! My only complaint, I had no idea what was on the menu. I'd consider myself more adventurous than the average person but it made it hard to know what I'm ordering when I can't understand anything on the menu. That said, the server was great to try and identify and my chef friend I went with also helped fill in the blanks. I would try it again but I think I'd have to be in an adventurous mood! Ultimately, I'm glad we have it as an option to mix up the choices in buffalo.

The service was great! We had many questions and asked for recommendations because everything sounded amazing. The food was so delicious! We ordered many of the appetizers including: -Beef carpaccio (my favorite- it melted in your mouth) -Roast chicken potato chips and French onion dip- so good! -bread and butter pickled mussels- also very good. For dinner we went with the lamb shoulder and duck! They were both very delicious!

Very much enjoyed a random Wednesday evening at Waxlight with my daughter recently, celebrating absolutely nothing whatsoever. Our cost for dinner for two $282. Excellent food, tapas style apps and great cocktails, interesting layout and environment. A different kind of menu, not your run of the mill type fare. A refreshing change. Great service! Try it, you'll most likely really enjoy it! We will be back!

I will Always recommend Waxlight. They give an experience that is second to none in Buffalo. This is a restaurant for special occasions. I would highly anticipate they get a Michelin star one day. With a sommelier owner, talented artistic chefs, and phenomenal wait staff and bartenders, no one will walk away disappointed. The ambience is a romantic dimly lit luxurious French restaurant. The plates are small and made to share. Don't be afraid to try something new- you won't regret it.

It's rare to find a restaurant with a kitchen, drink service, and front of house as excellent as this place. While they were nominated for a James Beard for the beverage service, it could and should be for the culinary side as well. The large and small plates alike hold surprises and promise satisfaction unlike nearly any restaurant in Buffalo. The citrus pop on the anchovy toast... the superlatively beefy broth in the French Onion soup... the crispy but luxuriously moist hot smoked char (though I did not taste smoke), and perfectly executed rare coulotte steak. I will always recommend the basque cheesecake because it's just the best. Dense on the edge and creamy in the middle. And I will always tell a customer to lean on Ed or Jessica to suggest a pairing. I was pleased to have an Armagnac that went well with dessert that I would not have known about otherwise. And if they have the Canales de Bordeaux, get it.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Buffalo. A unique and delicious menu, always great service, good drinks, and absolutely love the ambience!

Warning, my review may be a little critical because it seems like Wax Light is one of the most highly respected restaurants in Buffalo... So it's no wonder I had high expectations! The restaurant itself is cool and swanky. I was taken aback by its open concept - you can see everything around you, including the bar. We were sat at a couch with two (round) tables pushed together...I was not happy with the is seating arrangement - my partner and I aren't that kind of couple who sits next to each other - we like to sit across from each other and this wasn't an option sitting on a couch. It felt weird and uncomfortable sitting at the couch given the openness of the restaurant, and the people at the tables staring at us. For starters, we got the chips and dip (tasty and good portion, but, they were chips), and mussels. The mussels were what you'd expect, chewy and funky, but they were not expensive. For the entrees, I got the lump crab bigoli and my partner got the pork collar. My pasta was super bland and disappointing. It needed salt or something - but a fancy establishment is not going to have salt on the table. My partner's pork collar though was tasty and tender; it was worth the high price in our opinion. For dessert, we got the basque cheesecake which I've heard good things about. This is the type of dessert that you should know what you're getting before you get it...and we didn't. Safe to safe that basque cheesecake is not what we expected flavor/consistency wise... Overall I didn't think Waxlight lived up to the hype I have been hearing of it. There are other fine dining restaurants in Buffalo I have had a much better food experience with.

This is the place to go for a culinary adventure. The very few negative reviews here have to do with "this dish wasn't what I expected." But that's exactly the point! It was really interesting and exciting to first see such traditional cooking techniques/terms on the menu- only for each arriving dish's interpretation of that to be an elevated, often unexpected twist on the staid usage. Also, as some others have noted, there are lots of ingredients in each dish that aren't on the menu. I agree that this is not something I see often in Buffalo; professionally in this city, I've encountered a lot of "want to make sure I get my money's worth" re menus, but a certain amount of secrecy makes it more fun! Also, practically, it would just be silly to list literally every ingredient in the menu. Not all of the dishes were to my liking, but people obviously have different palates and tastes, so that doesn't have any reflection on the restaurant. I found many things delicious, but my personal favorites from this menu were their dry-aged beef coulotte and quinoa-- and this amazing plum grenobloise (which I was very sad to discover upon getting online later doesn't exist anywhere except in the head of Chef), and the creme cheese ice cream with earl grey caramel and spiced bread. My partner especially loved the pickled mussels, carrot with venison pasta, and burnt basque cheesecake. I can't believe it took us so long to get here- of course, we will be back!

This place is amazing! The food was outstanding! Pictures look as good as it tasted. I highly recommend the spaghetti squash toast! Probably could have ate another 3 pieces!! Service was just as good! Waiter wasn't overwhelming and very friendly. Soft lighting casts a gentle glow, creating an intimate and cozy atmosphere!

We've been to Waxlight twice, and it's awesome. The art-deco-meets-mid-century-modern space is beautiful inside and out, the food menu is delightful, the dog-friendly patio between brick buildings at Chandler Market is one of the most pleasant atmospheres in the city, and I'll even give them a pass on Honkey Tonk Brunch. Really, guys? Also: the menu is intuitive and makes sense, the cocktails are beautiful, the servers are friendly and knowledgeable, and, given the quality of everything, the prices are entirely reasonable. The bathrooms are even lovely. Check out the pics on this one to get a sense of how delightful the restaurant itself is. It's one of those places where a great deal of thought and attention to detail seems to have gone into every aspect of the design and execution, and it shows. This one's a keeper for us. Parking is mainly on-street. They could do a bit more to accommodate vegans. Reservations are recommended during peak hours.

Finally made it here. Very impressed with the decor and design choice's especially the bar. The apps were amazing, especially the venison. My husband got the pork I got the halibut. His was "eh" I think it was over cooked and I don't like cherry sauce so it wasn't for me but my fish was delicious. There was not a minute we didn't have a server asking us if we needed anything. They were great. I'd go back for a night at the bar.

The fact this has 4 stars is insane considering I downloaded this terrible app just to post and review this restaurant because it's absolutely phenomenal EVERY TIME! I highly recommend you check it out and see for yourself. The flavor profile and the love they put into this place is top tier.

This was my favorite restaurant to go to since they opened and in September 2024 I chose to go here to celebrate a birthday and Anniversary. We had reservations for 4 but a surprise guest decided to join us taking it to 5. They then asked for a deposit for the table, which was fine but then said it would be 50.00 PER PERSON. And they really didn't have a solid answer on how I was going to get that back at the end of the night. So 250.00 for a DEPOSIT to eat here with parties of 5+. This is not NYC, this place is good but not THAT good and they lost a very good patron for life. I will NEVER go back here, sadly, based on the interaction with one of the owners surrounding this topic. Too bad Waxlight-you were good but with this policy I will never return. We took our party of 5 to another amazing restaurant and spent 4x that.

Start to finish everything was amazing. The atmosphere and the vibe is like no other restaurant. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and drinks. They came by with drinks then came back for apps or food orders definitely gave enough time between courses and cleaned up the table in-between. They were honest on the portions and gave great recommendations. This is a fancy place for dinner, but you get a whole experience. The food was things we were not farmilar with or had but with the help of the staff the food did not dissapoint. Go in with an open mind and to try new things and you will not be mad.

The ambiance is sooo beautiful. Highly recommend coming here for a drink! I love the decor - decked out with velvet couches, but not stuffy. The drinks are great - I got the Fizz and it was tasty. Now the food...I was excited for the menu, but everything was pretty meh to me. The pork rillette bites are nice, but expensive. I did not like the chicken kiev (too salty) and the chestnut pasta (it was sooo sour, as if the meat was spoiled. We actually couldn't even eat it. The waitress comped this dish, and service was so kind). Just kinda bummed the food was so disappointing. The basque cheesecake is good though!

Waxlight is tough for me. Ambiance and aesthetic is amazing and I love the feeling just walking in. Both of my dishes were not what I thought. I should have asked more questions. The speghetti squash toast wasn't really toast in my opinion. The bread was more muffin / banana bread consistency. So the whole thing was mushy to me. I was expecting a more crunchier bread. I also thought the pasta and lump crab would be separated for some reason, and I personally didn't like them both together and the flavor was just okay. Next time I would definitely ask more questions on preparation. My friend I was with really enjoyed her bone marrow! I would go back a second time for the ambiance, but probably just to sit at the bar and get cocktails.

It's absolutely incredible! The atmosphere to start is so comfortable , the low level of typical restaurant noise was great. We were able to talk and not have to lean in to hear every word spoken. The attentiveness of the staff was incredible, and it was absolutely 5 star . One of the owners who greeted us was so educated on all aspects of the restaurant. We enjoyed several snacks to start as well as several deliciously prepared mixed drinks. We ordered large plates, and everyone loved each choice we made , we shared a bit because it was so delicious . The desserts are absolutely insanely delicious, and what a finally! I highly recommend the Waxlight as a place for any event . We'll be back for certain, and thank you again for such a memorable evening

A new favorite, actually I'm not even sure I want to dine anywhere else in buffalo after last night. Don't know why it took so long for us to get there, but I'm glad we finally did. Everything from the moment we were met at the door through paying the bill was exceptional. It's been a long time since we've had such impeccable service!! Don't get me started onthe food, beyond amazing. The flavor combinations were so complex and unexpected. You can tell a great deal of time and expertise are put into creating such exquisite dishes. Cannot wait to go back!!!!

Dined there last evening. The restaurant is lovely, the decor is just pretty and comfortable. Our service was excellent. I speak for only 4 of the 6 in my group-never got an answer from the other two-it was extremely disappointing. Most of the food was from local farms , which is outstanding. However, when the waiter has to translate what each dish means because you haven't a clue, there could be a problem. Three of us picked at our dinners and didn't eat them. The salmon was fishy, dry and overcooked, the chicken schnitzel overcooked. The side with the pork dinner was a pile of mush with pork belly. Including wines, we spent almost $600. That included one appetizer and 6 entrees. Rather pricy considering I went home and had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

I've been wanting to try this restaurant for some time. It has some reputable chefs and bartender. Started out with a smoked oaxacan cocktail it has mescal anejo tequila bitters smoked cacao nibs and spice. Very tasty with a good toasty sweetness. I tried two snacks chicken fried olives stuffed with chicken livers and grapefruit mustard were delicious not overly liver tasting but enough to let you know there's liver in there. They were delicious. The crispy cardoons were crispy to say the least it overpowered the poor little cardoon and the grapefruit mustard was tangy and good as well. I didn't experience any server issues as I have read. As a matter of fact everyone was very amicable. Nice place try it out for yourself. I'll be coming back for dinner soon.

First time here. The restaurant is beautiful to look at, but seating is very strange. Bistro sized tables are two small and awkward for dinner. You have to use two tables pushed together. Some seating is those tables pulled up to couches, like you're eating in your living room and watching tv. Hard pass on that. Bar is really pretty. Patio is pretty, but had those small tables and uncomfortable chairs. Service was excellent and knowledgeable. Best part of the restaurant. Food was hit and miss. Beet gazpacho was delicious, with many layers of flavors besides beet. Barbajuan app was also wonderful, with flaky pastry and chard filling. Entrees were so salty! There were some nice herbs and spices in there, which were overpowered by the salt. Small sized shrimp. Pasta in the lamb ragout was over cooked. The entrees were so unattractive!! You should eat with your eyes first! Paris Brest dessert was disappointing but the cheesecake was amazing! Again, throw some fruit or something colorful on the plate! So unappealing. Overall, the food was not worth the visit. I wish we had liked it better.

After a lot of time staying in, a weekend of solo parenting while my husband traveled for work (single parents - you the REAL MVP), and almost two weeks of doing everything in my power to stick to my new year's resolutions, ya girl needed to let loose and indulge. And that she did. I finally made it to Waxlight with a good friend who always warms my heart and soul when I get to spend time with her. Though we intended to get a table, we ended up sitting at the bar because it was just too beautiful not to. The navy and velvet seats were so easy to sink into, and it gave you a nice view of the whole place. The ambiance was cozy and romantic, with lots of candles and low lighting. The decor was both chic and comfortable, and so gorgeous to look at. We went all out, ordering the popcorn shrimp (delicious!!), and radishes (okay!) to start. We had a couple glasses of wine and then switched to cocktails. My friend got the bourbon cocktail, which we thought tasted like a spicy gingerbread cookie, so yum. I got the aperol whip - if you like aperol spritz you will definitely like this! Lots of delicious orange flavor, with a little bit of spice on top. We couldn't decide between main plates so we got three - first, we got the filet mignon (honestly and truly, I think this was the best steak I've ever had, and I am a filet fiend), which came with a perfectly rectangular potato pancake. So crispy! Second we got the gnocchi, which was PACKED with flavor. I enjoyed that, but not as much as the steak (I mean, can ya blame me?), so if I were to pick between the two, I'd go steak again. Third, we got the seared fluke, which was the most flaky perfectly cooked piece of fish in a crave worthy sauce. I would for sure get this one again, too! We wrapped the experience with the burnt basque cheesecake, not fully knowing what that meant, and Oh. My. Lord. This dessert was like a cross between a cheesecake and a crème brûlée. Wow. I assure you, there will be occasions where I come back exclusively for that dessert and a glass of wine at the bar. Lovely time, looking forward to the next one.

Loved the setting/atmosphere as it's very unique. Nice location on Chandler, parking was fine when we were there, but not sure if it gets hard to park when crowded. The menu was definitely unique. We went for brunch and it was good. We ordered the potato chips that came with a yummy dip. Radishes that were beautiful, but raw. Each of us got a different soup - celery root & I got the French onion type soup, which was good, but more meat than I'm used to. The cocktail was very pretty and tasty. We also got the omelette and crispy potatoes. We thought the servings were going to be small, so ended up ordering too much food, oops. Service was fantastic!

Just went there for brunch today. Everything was absolutely perfect. You can't even imagine a way for anything to be better. I had, what was most likely, the best old fashioned I've ever had in my life (and I have had a lot of them). French onion soup and omelet were amazing. The Brussel sprouts will easily convert a hater of the veg. Everyone in our party of 5 were overwhelmingly pleased with their food and drink. The basque cheesecake was euphoric. To top it off, the service was truly top notch. This was my second time there and I was even more impressed than the first; I say this as a semi PIA when it comes to dining out.

Quality over quantity really describes this trendy upscale restaurant on Chandler Street in Buffalo! Dan & I went for a happy hour last week and sat at the bar. Waxlight Bar A Vin makes for a special night out with their trendy & classy decor, professional & knowledgeable staff, and outstanding food! We first ordered a hard cider and cocktail with truffle. Then we decided on a few small plates to share. The mini lobster rolls were the best we've ever had! These didn't have the traditional bread rolls but the lobster was on a crunchy crouton like cracker. The lobster salad was delicious and I'd rather have one of these smaller ones done right than a hotdog roll lobster roll. We also shared the mushroom savory pancake and that was flavorful! The pickled mussels were also awesome and the pickled flavor was right on point! The menu can change weekly. We cannot wait time go back to Waxlight Bar A Vin!

Great place for dinner and cocktails, menu changes often and everything is made fresh and to order. Just won an award for their cocktails and wine portion of the restaurant.

The newest hotspot/bar, Waxlight is the brainchild of four+ culinary influencers of our region. I stopped in to catch up with some old college friends and enjoyed the atmosphere and ambiance. They have cocktails with tea being highlighted as one of their specialties and I thought that was interesting and unique and no wonder with Tony Rials being behind the bar/cocktail menu. I don't personally drink, so I would have enjoyed seeing a mocktail section, but a simple soda water with lime was appreciated. We shared just a few small plates with the pasta and the french onion tartine. The tartine was definitely my favorite and rich in flavor and even shareable. The menu had a lot of little options, but unfortunately they were out of the grilled octopus when we were in there. I'd definitely come back - the ambiance is 5-stars and the couches are comfy. I hope this place continues to hop and do well.

Waxlight Candles provide some Ambiance and Flair to a Romantic Night where you cherish being with your loved ones for Special Occasions. Here at Waxlight Bar a Vin, they don't focus on a Specific type of Cuisine here, they just do their own Thing. They experiment and make Dishes that you think inside your head won't go together or make sense but will Taste really Good. Its about thinking outside the Box and being Creative. My 1st Taste of Waxlight came at the Iron Event back in 2019 at Acqua where Edward Forster, Jessica Railey & Joe Fenush served up a Moroccan style Cassoulet with Harissa marinated Lamb, Chickpeas 2 Ways, Sumac & Greens that boasted Bold Flavors. Fast Forward almost a year later during the COVID Outbreak when I come to dine here with my cousin Mike and his new Girlfriend Aline. Located on Chandler Street in the Black Rock Neighborhood of Buffalo lies a Hidden Treasure, what I consider the Ruby of the 716. This Street doesn't even have an Phone Line and you have to make a Reservation via Email. Jessica sat us out in the Patio area where we took it all in before we started ordering. We started off the Meal with a little bowl of Roast Chicken Potato Chips that are incorporated with Chicken Broth, crispy as Chicken Skin that take the term Tastes like Chicken to another Level. Followed by Oysters on the Half Shell that were pickled with Horseradish & Ramps and topped with a Bay Leaf Oil (Briny Mollusks accented with a hint of Garlick-y Heat as you slug it down). Along with Spanish Anchovy on Crispy Brioche with Charred Eggplant & Roasted Pepper (Oily Fish on Crispy Toast with a hint of Smoky Flavor from the Eggplant). The (compliments of the Chef) Chicken Fried Olives that were stuffed with a Pork Rillette with a Mustard made from Black Garlic & Watercress (you can fry anything and it'll taste good). Me and Mike enjoyed a Summer Smash Cocktail consisting of White Rum, Thyme, Muddled Blueberry & Cinnamon Orgeat (Aline just stuck with Water). Next came out Grilled Hamachi over an Infladita (or Tortilla) with Corn Polenta & Wild Parsnip. Buttery firm fleshed fish over the Tortilla with the Polenta & Sweet Parsnip hidden on the Bottom. Followed by Warm Pickled Beef Tongue with Fingerling Potatoes, Cherry Tomatoes & Hyssop Bearnaise. This dish might freak someone out, think of eating a slightly chewy but Mild well cooked Steak, with your Starch component, Sweet Tomatoes and a Minty Bearnaise (which I thought they could've put bit less of it on). Then we had Pork Trotter Barlotto with Spring Onion & Roasted Corn (Barlotto is made with Pearl Barley instead of Rice) with tender bits of Pig's feet resonating throughout the Dish. For our Entrees Mike got Silk Snapper with Corn & Sunflower Seed Panisse (fritter made with Chickpea Flour), Wild Bay Leaf and a Fermented Tomato Broth, Crispy Fish with Essence of Sweet Tomato. Me & Aline got Halibut that was Roasted with Wild Dandelion & Sumac over Quinoa with Zucchini & Pistachio Butter. Perfectly cooked fish that had a Lemony Kick to it over Mild Quinoa but that Butter was the surprising element of this Dish. I got myself another drink, Fizz made with Aperol, Port Wine, Fermented Apricot & Soda. It was like an adult Soda Pop garnished with some Mint. For Dessert Aline got the Burnt Basque Cheesecake that shows a dark surface and makes you feel like your eating a Creme Brulee outside of its Mold. Mike got a Miso Brownie Ice Cream Cone presented in a Wooden holder, I got the Blueberry Semifreddo with Waxy Granola (it means Half Frozen in Italian) its like a Frozen Mousse and its made with my Favorite Fruit. It was a bit harder than I thought and the Granola on top gave it some Crunch. The whole time we were outside we had some unpleasant company with a Bee floating around us while we were Talking and Eating. I also felt like we put Ed & Joe to work since we ordered 40% of the Menu between 3 People. They also change certain dishes on their Menu every 3 Days, this is one of those Places for a unique out of the Ordinary Meal. Let me tell you something though at Waxlight, every dish is in the Spotlight. !!!

I think the best word to describe this restaurant and the food is "different". They have a variety of super interesting snacks and small plates as well as really good cocktails. We were seated outside which was nice for a summer night, but I wish their chairs weren't so uncomfortable. For drinks, I tried the "Daisy" and the " Sour" and I would definitely recommend them, especially if you don't like to taste a lot of alcohol in your cocktail. They were super pretty as well - maybe a bit on the pricey side (around $14). For the food, the four of us shared a variety of small dishes and plates and they were all super interesting and very delicious. It was obvious the chefs really sit down and design a special menu and try to be super creative. The only downside was that all of us left the restaurant as hungry as when we arrived - only we had paid $250 too! I'm not saying it wasn't worth going because it was a unique experience, but I wouldn't go there again to eat. I'd go there maybe for a drink and a snack to catch up with friends before heading somewhere else for dinner! Their portions are ridiculously small, even their "larger" plates. We had their famous chips which was disappointing because they didn't taste like chicken soup to me. Their fried olives were really tasty and had a strange grapefruit mustard on the side. The steak skewer was absolutely amazing; tender and flavorful. The fried quinoa had a new and interesting flavor. The larger plates we got were the grilled lamp chops and the monk fish- both delicious! For the desert, get the burnt cheesecake - it's AMAZING! The staff were really nice and helpful.

For two years I've heard great things about Waxlight, only to find I couldn't get in at the door or make reservations early enough. So popular! This time, I called on Thursday for Saturday night, and made reservations for two. First the good: Ambiance and lighting are lovely, and the service is great. Cool location too with easy parking. But. I absolutely hated the food. Each of the four dishes I had were OVERWHELMED WITH SALT! Omg the salt. The kettle corn potato chips might have been good had they not been ENCRUSTED WITH SALT (ok, the cashew dip was good, and not too salty, but that was it). The French onion arancini were three hard, dry salty balls, with unremarkable fillings, other than that they were Mojave Dessert salty. Shall I go on? Yes I shall. The grilled white asparagus were presented nicely, but any nuances in the grilling were decimated by the SALTY brown butter oyster sauce. The mafalde pasta with green chicken chorizo, green olive, smoked mozzarella cream, tasted like noodles in a very rich, one note SALTY sauce. Could not pick up on any other flavors. Just pasta and a salty cream sauce. I was four for four, and might have thought there was something wrong with my olfactory functions had my dinner companion not thought everything was too salty as well. Between the two of us, we only ate 1/4 of the pasta. It was that bad. And if you're going to salt everything as though they were jalapeño poppers with queso, and you wanted me to order more beverages, at least make it a healthy pour. But no. Stingy cocktails and small wine portions -- and not cheap -- $11 a pop. I will send back a dish if I do not like it, or complain, in the hopes that the situation can be made right, but truthfully, I will never take a chance on this restaurant again. It's like Kohl's. High end appearance and marketing, low rent product. And maybe I'm being harsh, but after being turned away for two years because I didn't have early enough reservations, I expected something really great. This fell woefully short. I still tipped 20% because the service was great, and truthfully, I didn't give the waitress a chance to make it right. But sometimes you just have to cut your losses.

Atmosphere was great. Server was incredible. Drinks were delicious. The food menu is small, and increased in size as you read downwards. This isn't a normal, bar food type of menu. This is upscale, very "Iron Chef" type of plates! The petit beef tenderloin was magical and cooked perfectly.

This is definitely the most creative restaurant in buffalo. Their specialty is in small plates and killer cocktails. The outdoors and indoors seating design is very nice too. We tried a few different "snacks" and three of the main dishes. The chicken roasted chips were a bit underwhelming. Good chips, but didn't taste like chicken soup as advertised. The fried stuffed olives were delicious and the flank steak was delicious. The fried quinoa, roasted monkfish and grilled lamb were absolutely amazing. The grilled lamb was cooked to perfection, melt-in-your-mouth situation with flavor explosion . All the dishes had amazing and super creative flavor combinations. You don't usually get braised daikon, lavender mustard or grapefruit mustard in your dishes. For dessert we tried the burnt cheesecake and it was the best burnt cheesecake I have had so far. The cocktails were fabulous too. I tried the wheeler and it was super tasty while being very alcohol forward. It looked gorgeous too. Super happy about it. What's the catch? Portion size and price. If you want to go there and try a couple of dishes and drinks and actually don't feel hungry afterwards, you're looking at more than $100/person. So be aware of that. But it's an awesome place to go hang out with friends and have a snack + drink while you're there.

Incredible atmosphere and food. One of the most unique places that I have been in Buffalo. Very much looking forward to the next time that I can go back!

Even though we didn't have a reservation we took a chance to get a table when doors opened at 5. We were told they were full, but could get a drink at the bar, which we did. I had a question about a drink on the menu, and was confused with the bartender's explanation, so I asked again. He rolled his eyes at me! My friends wanted to stay for another drink, possibly eat dinner at the bar, but I couldn't get out of there fast enough! If the bartender rolled his eyes at me explaining a drink I can only imagine how rude he'd be going over the full menu with us. We felt unwelcome and will never go back.

Updated with an excellent and fun take-out experience review! We did the Spanish tapas dinner for two, with wine, date night special last weekend, and we both really enjoyed it. At a time when we're stuck in the house for the most part, it let us do some exploring with our taste buds and enjoy a gourmet meal. Everything was packaged carefully, and instructions for what to eat with what and/or how to reheat were caringly included. I will be watching for more date night take out experiences!!

TL;DR - take your wine connoisseurs, take your foody friends for shared plates. The menu is fun and ever changing, the restaurant is pretty. It'll be a good time. Waxlight is a very cool addition to the Buffalo food scene. It's the brainchild of a small group of Buffalo foodies who've come together to create a very cool wine bar with an ever rotating complement of Contemporary American dishes, ranging from small bites to entrees. As with many restaurants of this sort, you're unlikely to ever see the same menu lineup twice. If you're the kind of person who always gets the same recognizable thing at their favorite restaurant, take this as an opportunity to experiment! It's best suited to picking several options to share between a group. Staff is very knowledgeable about the menu and able to make recommendations based on your preferences. We were three people and ordered 4 small dishes and 2 bigger ones to split - we definitely each had a dish that we thought was WOW!, a few dishes that were really good, and a few that we could take or leave. I'm gonna be honest, as people who don't care much about cocktails or wine, I'm not sure how often my husband and I would come just the two of us - that cool wine bar vibe is a big piece of the draw, and it's not so much our thing. As with most places similar to this, the plates tend to be a bit pricey, especially for the amount of food that you get - definitely a splurge for us. However, it definitely does make the short list of places that we'd go if we wanted to do shared plates with a small group. Pro tip: the Sweet Whisk chocolate and pastry boutique is located right upstairs in the same building - go upstairs and grab a little chocolate mousse, a cupcake, or a freshly brulee'd creme brulee to take home after your dinner. They make my favorite desserts in Buffalo.

It really upsets me that I feel compelled to write such a negative review but you just don't get away with service that is so awful and amateur, so here's what happened. Our experience since the arrival was very disappointing. I have visited numerous fine dining restaurants and i can assure you that this place is far from being one. Me and my husband walked in around 8:40 on a Friday night. I expected it to be packed based on all the reviews but it wasn't. They had like 4-5 empty tables and they close at 12 am. So we asked if we could grab one of those tables just for drinks and snacks. She says they stop seating people at 9 pm and they do not want to "overwhelm" their staff and that they make decisions based on how busy the kitchen is?? How unprofessional and irrational is this answer? Not being satisfied by her explanation at all, we said okay, can we sit by the bar? She goes let me see how long the wait is (mind you that there's nobody waiting and we could see that it's just not busy). She talks to few people and comes back... "I'm sorry but they cannot give an estimated time for bar seating." At this point she leaves us no options but to leave. My husband asked if we could take that one table by the bar in the corner (people who visited will understand) since it's already late and we just wanted some drinks. The least she could do was to suggest us that we could grab our drinks from the bar and take that table from the beginning, OR simply say that they only take people with reservations instead of amateur answers. So she brings us menus and tells us we can order drinks and small plates. At this point we are the ones that are overwhelmed and don't understand why we can take that table in the corner by the entrance but not one in the seating area. Now let's talk about orders. He ordered a Manhattan, and I ordered a dirty martini. After my husband got his drink I had to wait 10 minutes for mines and asked about it, and her answer was "yes, it's just the bartender is making other drinks too." HUH? Soon after she comes back to the table again to ask if there's anything else she could get for us WITHOUT my drink! And this is why this place is far from a fine dining experience. Very unwelcoming and unfriendly attitude. For food he ordered 4 oysters, and I ordered crispy fried chicken. Oysters had a funky smell and was served with absolutely no garnish and for fried "burned" chicken no need to say a word you can just take a look at the photo. They simply should be embarrassed to serve a dish like that. You could taste that the oil was very old.

There aren't many place in the area that does dining as well as this place. PRO TIP#1: Be adventurous and go for a ride on this wild menu. PRO TIP#2: Get the chicken skin potato chips! They change the menu quite often and often uses local farm to table ingredients. Everything is so unique and executed flawlessly. Menu has variety of snacks, small plates and large entrees. I would recommend sharing a few snacks and small plates. The service was so impeccable. Came for early V-day dinner. Been waiting to come here after hearing all the great things. Place did not disappoint! Started off with ordering everything off the "snack session" of the menu. Chicken skin potato chips are a must!! Proceeded to get a small pasta fish to split but the star was the french onion soup tartine. Pretty much french onion soup in a sandwich form! AMAZING! Highly recommend cant wait to come back and take another adventure through their changing menus!

This place has a really nice atmosphere and the bartenders make great cocktails. Unfortunately, the food left a little something to be desired especially at their price point. The anchovy toast was really the only thing we enjoyed. This place is more of a nice place for a cocktail. But I'm the type of person that like small bites while I enjoy a bevy. I probably would give 3 1/2 stars if I could. Im going to give them another try sometime and order some other food options to see if I can bump their rating to 4 stars.

My wife and I attended the New Year's Eve 5 Course Dinner event. This was a prix fixe menu that also offered caviar and wine to pair with your food (additional cost) which we didn't get. Again the place is beautiful, and the service was top notch. The food was well presented and actually pretty good. My only complaint though was the portion sizes. As good as the food was, it just wasn't enough on your plate. It literally was just a taste. For the price ($95 per person) it just wasn't worth it and I left hungry. But again, I enjoyed the experience. Hopefully they change up a few things with the food serving sizes.

One of my favorite restaurants in Buffalo. From start to finish our meal kept getting better. Solid drinks, apps, entrées, and desserts. Plus, a wonderful ambiance in a tucked away location.

How beautiful is this little spot! Has a very modern yet classic vibe inside. Very bright and relaxed atmosphere. Sat at the bar and had great service. Menu offers a lot of small tapas to share. Good was different and innovative! If you're looking for a different spot to go out this should be your choice. Also has a great outdoor sitting area!

Lovely service. Chai whiskey sour was delish. Strawberry sambal mussels were fantastic. Older crowd than expected & very dark ambiance.

Weird location, nice ambiance. Food was great, well presented but they were out of almost a third of the dinner entrees. Service was really excellent, the place was crowded and the bartender came out from behind the bar to take our order by the door. The hostess is top notch, set expectations and communicated changes and timing frequently. Drinks were so so overall but good selection and the daisy cocktail was great. I feel like for every single menu option they try to include one word you have to Google to find out what it is. The waitstaff is knowledgeable and helpful so you don't have to pull out your phone! I would go back.

I don't write reviews, especially bad ones and I really thought about this before posting it because I know it can affect a business but I wouldn't go back to this place even if they reached out to me after last night... We made a reservation because we went to a chocolate making class upstairs and wanted to try their eclectic menu! There were 5 of us however online you can online make a reservation for 4. They told us to increase the number just email them, so we did- never heard back. Before the chocolate making class we went downstairs and let them know they needed to add 1 more chair to the reservation and that we already emailed them as they requested. Immediately the woman was off putting and defensive that they ONLY had a table of 4 available for our reservation but that she would try. We ended up purchasing a $100 bottle of wine to go upstairs with our class. After class, we purchased chocolates and brought them down to the staff as a token of good will. They told us our table wasn't ready and to have a drink at the bar which we completely understood. Five speciality cocktails from their menu costing $60 so we already spent $160 at the place WITHOUT even sitting down. Half hour went by with no communication, by now it's 8 pm and we are so hungry. She comes over explaining that we cannot eat there unless we want someone to go home or split up our party.. um what? We see the 4 top right there and there is more than enough room to add a chair. I understand things happen but her attitude is what really made things worst. She wasn't sorry, she wasn't trying to be accommodating. She really was indifferent to the situation and our night out (mom of 2 little babies, I never get out!) she wanted us to change our plan to fit the restaurants wants. She was rude and unapologetic. Bottom line, she didn't want us there and it was mind blowing her indifference to us wanting to try their food! We ended up closing our tab and going somewhere else. They lost out on more business but worst then that, they put a bad taste in our mouths. I understand the hipster vibe they were giving out and let me tell you, the cocktails were great (thanks Tony!) but you want to go to a place that makes you feel included and that they WANT you there. Don't waste your time going there because you'll feel like an outcast. Also, I would be happy to take to anyone there if they would like to speak further on this matter. In my opinion, you could take a lesson on front of house customer service. Hope this is a lesson. You almost ruined a great night.

The best fine dining experience in Buffalo since Rue Franklin. The service was excellent, our server demonstrated a deep knowledge of both the menu and the (quite large) wine list and was able to steer my wife and I towards selections we both enjoyed. We started with the pork terrine and the oysters. The fermented blueberries on the terrine were a nice counter to the earthiness of the dish, and the wild horseradish vinaigrette provided a nice spicy kick with the oysters. For our main dishes, my wife selected the barramundi (an Asian sea bass) with lentils, while I picked the ribeye with the Kung-Pao potatoes. Both proteins were cooked to perfection and seasoned well. The barramundi was particularly flaky, and paired well with the lentils and the tomato-based stew it came with. The ribeye was fabulous, but I could have eaten the potatoes as a dish on their own - crispy, hearty, and with a spicy finish. We ended the night with the chocolate mousse. The chocolate did not contain any dairy, so it was rich, dark and bitter, and it was covered with a crunchy layer of black sesame seeds and dark caramel that greatly enhanced the dish. The one thing to note is that this is definitely fine dining, and you are paying fine dining prices - that said, you will not be disappointed.

We had such high hopes for our Valentine's day dinner at Waxlight but unfortunately things fell really flat. We paid an additional $75 dollars for a shellfish course, as we are both big fans of shellfish! The oysters we're not chilled and tasted as if they had been sitting out for quite a while. The clams were quite gritty and tasted very fishy. We didn't try the mussels after being dissatisfied with the oysters and clams. There were two chilled shrimp, poorly seasoned. A few pieces of what I think was atlantic char that tasted and smelled very fishy. The crab rangoon fritters were good but its hard for something to be bad when its deep fried. The next course was great - fresh bread with three separate, I believe homemade, dips. Only complaint if that the bread was super filling and we still had 5 courses left to go. The next course was ahi tuna with a seaweed tapenade. The tuna was quite dark, which could have been because it was marinated with kombu but it didn't taste super fresh. It was a fine dish but it really could have used some sort of citrus to brighten it up. There was also puffed rice on the dish and while I appreciated the texture, it looked like meal worms. Next was an escargot cream based bisque with some puff pastry. Now I like escargot when it is fresh and in the shell, this tasted as if it came from a bag, frozen. The based of the bisque was decent but again needed something to freshen it up, either some fresh herbs, thinly sliced apple, etc.. There were also (what I think were) undercooked potatoes in the bisque. Not the end of the world, but an underwhelming dish overall. Next was the main course, a short rib, lobster tail, and miso risotto. The lobster was cooked and seasoned well. The risotto was very unique and tasty but again, needed some scallions or chives to add more depth. The short rib was ok - quite fatty. I'm not a huge fan of short rib served in big cuts though, so this could have been a personal preference. There were 2 dessert courses - a cocoa pudding with chocolate covered potato chips and an apple dessert with ice cream. Both were very tasty. I appreciated that the pudding wasn't too sweet and the ice cream seemed to be homemade. The drinks were phenomenal, as was the majority of the service. I really wanted to love this meal but it left us quite disappointed. We will definitely return for drinks and the potato chips but I would not recommend paying almost $300 for a pre-fix menu here.

This is my favorite restaurant in Buffalo. I eat out most nights and living between New York and L.A. have frequented my fair share of great spots. The staff are wonderful. They are knowledgable, warm and you can feel the love and creativity put into the food which is amazing! I'm definitely a fan of the couch set up - sitting next to each other is always the way I enjoy dining. Love the ambience and 5 stars for the music playlist too ;)

Hip high end restaurant on Chandler St. Top notch staff and bartenders here and the food matched the atmosphere. Went for brunch after the market and my wife and I were very pleased - the breakfast sandwich was her favorite and the omelette was mine - would have liked to see a side dish or something additional for the price point of this dish. The Old Fashioned was fantastic and hand delivered by the bartender. Will be back for dinner soon