Lake Effect Diner, Buffalo, New York

Lake Effect Diner is located in northeast Buffalo, New York.

The interior is a retro delight.

Even if we're just across the border on a weekend shopping raid, Pat and I are always on the lookout for a non-chain place to eat with great local food and plenty of atmosphere.  Discovering the Lake Effect Diner in Buffalo, NY, last week was a real score.
It's easy to love these old diners with their gleaming resemblance to old Airstream trailers.  Their exuberant lines just seem to shout holiday and road trip!
The Lake Effect Diner is a post-war original, restored by the Curtin family who also renovated the classic diner menu with with fresh, healthful ingredients sourced when possible  from local farms.  It's this that earned the diner a spot on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins & Dives on Food Network.

Fresh haddock four ways.

Mmm-griddled mac and cheese!

Want breakfast any time with hormone-free eggs, house-cured bacon or ham with red eye gravy? They've got it.  Savory stuffed potato pancakes, sandwiches, steaks, juicy meatloaf hoagies, Buffalo wings or beef-on-weck?  Check.  Please!
The house specialty is fresh haddock served four ways including Budweiser-battered.  With an eye already on the dessert menu - and a side of crispy griddled mac & cheese - I opted for "virtuous" lemon broiled while Pat ordered pan-seared with tomatoes, basil, romano cheese and white wine.  Salads and veg were abundant and super fresh.
For dessert, it was a tough call between a Fried Banana Split for 2 or the Peanut Butter Pie.  Finally, we let the waitress make the call.  What can be said about cool, made-in-house custard cream with the flavor of fresh nuts?  The P.B. Pie alone is worth a trip across the border.
The Lake Effect Diner is located at 3165 Main Street in northeast Buffalo, very easy to get to from any of the area malls or Niagara Falls.  You never have to settle for a chain--and shouldn't!