Ranked by some connoisseurs as among the best in the city, this Elmwood Strip pizzeria offers authentic pepperoni pizza and hundreds of other flavors, including jerk chicken. The secret? They make their dough fresh daily and use only top-quality vegetables and ingredients. As the name implies, it's pizza all the way here with your choice of toppings. The pizzeria has three other locations in the greater Buffalo area, including one in the Allentown district (199 Allen, +1 716 882 2020).

In existence since 1971, this restaurant-wine cellar has long been considered one of Buffalo's finest places to eat-be it for a romantic evening or a power luncheon with a valued client. Located on the Elmwood Strip close to Delaware Park and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the restaurant is a warm and friendly spot with a management that goes out of its way to keep customers satisfied. An eclectic main menu includes a variety of dishes such as filet mignon, veal Florentine, and chicken marsala.

Established in 1934, this informal and friendly restaurant located on the Elmwood Strip caters to locals and businesspeople looking for a good meal at reasonable prices. The menu includes everything from grilled swordfish and chicken Dijon to lamb chops. The restaurant has a larger area with booths for parties and a smaller, more intimate space for that romantic interlude.A recent winner of the Buffalo Beat Best Casual Dining award, the space also features banquet facilities.

Rated by connoisseurs as serving some of the best pizza in the city, this Elmwood Avenue sports bar also offers other Italian specialties such as pasta and seafood. Other than pizza, the menu includes such items as penne with broccoli and shrimp, broiled pork chops, Chicken Fra Diavolo, and veal scallopine. For those who prefer pub fare, there are chicken wings and fingers, submarines, ribs and steak. In fact, the restaurant boasts more than 250 menu items. The venue is open Monday to Saturday from 11:30 a.m and on Sundays from 12 p.m.

Located on busy Elmwood Avenue in downtown Buffalo, this restaurant attracts business people and out-of-town visitors who've heard of the authentic South Indian cuisine being served here. Specialties include shrimp tandoori, boti kebab, marinated cubes of lamb barbecued in tandoori and khumb bhaji, mushrooms with green peppers and potatoes in a mild sauce.

Located on Elmwood Avenue in the heart of downtown Buffalo, this ice cream parlor/pastry/candy shop offers some of the best desserts in the city. It certainly has the awards to prove it: the best dessert award at both the 1996 and 1998 Just Desserts contests, and the Chairman's Choice Award at the 1997 Taste of Buffalo. There is a summertime patio at street level where you can sip an espresso and enjoy a piece of homemade cheesecake or a scoop of butter pecan.

Located in the Elmwood area of Buffalo, this Italian coffee house has served as a refuge for locals and visitor on a cold winter's day. Its warmth is generated from the constantly brewing coffee and from the friendly atmosphere. This location also has an outdoor patio overlooking Bidwell Parkway, where patrons sip specialty iced coffees on a summer day. The cafe is also known for its home-baked pastries, panini sandwiches, Italian soups and pizzas.

This unassuming restaurant in Buffalo's Elmwood Strip near Allentown has gone from good and cheap to more upscale cuisine without losing any of its family ambience and cheerful service. Aside from the traditional souvlaki and other Greek delights like moussaka and spanakopita, the restaurant also serves Mediterranean and continental dishes. It was recently picked as one of the Buffalo News food critic's favorite restaurants for the freshness of its cuisine and elegance of the ambience. In the summer, there's an outdoor patio to enjoy.

Red Pepper is a Chinese-Vietnamese restaurant situated in a small strip plaza across from the boulevard Mall, and has an extensive menu of both Chinese and Vietnamese dishes. Some of their house specialty Chinese dishes include traditional favorites, like sesame chicken and General Tso's chicken, as well as unique dishes, like peashoot with beef, which is only served seasonally. Vietnamese dishes include several pho noodle dishes, stir fried noodles dishes and egg noodle combos. Daily lunch specials include an entrée served with your choice of soup and either white or fried rice. For a special end to your meal, sip some Vietnamese coffee served with condensed milk over ice. - Christine A. Smyczynski  

This small Japanese restaurant, which seats about 25-30 customers, serves a large variety of sushi and creative dishes. It is located in a small suburban strip plaza, but don't let appearances fool you, the food is first-class. The menu features freshly made sushi that is creatively served along with hibachi entrees, kitchen entrees and classic noodle and rice dishes. They also serve Bento Box meals, as well as a lunch special on Monday through Saturday. Some of their specialty rolls include a Niagara Falls roll made with salmon, cream cheese and avocado, topped with snow crab or a Lobster Dragon roll with lobster tempura inside and an avocado wrap on top. On the hibachi you can get chicken, salmon, steak, shrimp, scallops, and even a twin lobster tail. They also serve a number of teriyaki and tempura dishes. -Christine A. Smyczynski