By Ellie Philpotts

 

What is this!? Going to Buffalo on a.. Tuesday?!

OK, that makes it sound like an unpopular place. ItÔÇÖs not. ItÔÇÖs just that itÔÇÖs more associated with Mondays.

Buffalo is so much part of the Cardiff furniture that it probably needs no introduction, but here it is anyway. Since 2005, the self-declared local institution has been the Cardiff studentÔÇÖs first port of call for some boogying, cocktails and live music. We all know thereÔÇÖs nothing wrong with a little bump ÔÇÿnÔÇÖ grind, and we all know Mondays are when this happens. Mondays, in Buffalo.

Quench are big fans ÔÇô our next social is there! ÔÇô but Bump ÔÇÿnÔÇÖ Grind definitely shouldnÔÇÖt be the only reason youÔÇÖre paying Buffalo a visit.

Buffalo are big business ÔÇô theyÔÇÖre the proud recipients of Trip AdvisorÔÇÖs most recent highly acclaimed Certificate of Excellence; winners of the Chortle AwardsÔÇÖ Best Club Night 2016 ÔÇô Wales and West; and host every event under that very limited Welsh sun, from vintage fairs to live bands, comedy to dance. So thereÔÇÖs plenty we could talk about. But, seeing as weÔÇÖre Quench Food, weÔÇÖre going to talk about their food.

You only have to look around to realise just how much CardiffÔÇÖs food scene is changing. New businesses are popping up everywhere you turn ÔÇô and weÔÇÖre totally behind that. But sometimes the old mantra of ÔÇÿif it ainÔÇÖt broke, donÔÇÖt fix itÔÇÖ rings true ÔÇô Buffalo are still doing what theyÔÇÖve been doing for years, and Cardiff residents and visitors far and wide are still pretty damn happy about it. Rest assured, however, no matter how many retro throwbacks they might play on a themed night, their menu is in no way trapped in the past ÔÇô itÔÇÖs always updating old classics.

When youÔÇÖre bored of the old hamburger, you know itÔÇÖs time for a Buffalo burger ÔÇô take from that what you will ÔÇô and itÔÇÖs fair to say the behind-the-scenes crew at Buffalo know what theyÔÇÖre doing in the burger stakes. From the Fun Guy (yes, mushrooms do play a starring role) to┬á the Bonnie Clyde, theyÔÇÖre not only good at naming burgers, theyÔÇÖre good at making them , but you can take matters into your own hands thanks to their Build Your Own function. Choose between beef; chicken; pork or lamb, and mushroom or red bean if your Meat-Free Monday spans all week, on sesame; brioche; gluten-free or sourdough. Vegans look away now ÔÇô but otherwise, fling on a cheese, with options including Buffalo Mozzarella (of course); blue cheese and American Burger; and a range of toppings, whether your tastes are simple (lettuce, tomato, etc etc), or more adventurous (pulled pork; prosciutto; prawns; and, alarmingly, the odd option not beginning with P, such as jalapenos, avocado and egg.)

With personalised sauces and some pretty unbeatable sweet potato fries, youÔÇÖre all set, but fear not if burgers arenÔÇÖt your thing. Slightly earlier in the day sees prawn and crab salads; all-day breakfasts and lunches including Steak Ciabatta; Health Club Sandwich; and Roast Pepper Buffalo Burger ÔÇô all of which are worth leaving Cathays for. Admittedly, most things in life are, but BuffaloÔÇÖs breakfast and lunch menus score especially highly.

The food also spans to wraps; sharing platters of nachos and jerk wings; and desserts like Pancake Stacks and Brownie Fingers, and of course we canÔÇÖt go without praising the abundance of cocktails. Buffalo are pretty well-known for their drinks display, and their handy 2-4-1 offers are good enough because our poor student bank accounts have less reason to be angry at us. But theyÔÇÖre more than that ÔÇô in flavours from Waterlillet (the winner of their cocktail competition, no less), to Banana Cream Soda (all about that 5 a day), there are plenty of choices, and theyÔÇÖre all bound to be good ones to make. At the start of the night, at least.

With vintage-esque decor; a convenient location slightly away from the main hustle and bustle of the city centre but not exactly far to walk; and the genuinely loveliest staff you could imagine (and much more but IÔÇÖve been trying not to ramble lately), the literal only downside about a meal at Buffalo is the very severe food baby youÔÇÖll be sporting for at least the next day.

Thanks Buffalo for such a lovely evening ÔÇô weÔÇÖll be back!