This comfortable and cozy café is welcoming to all. Owned and operated by Cynthia Barrett since its 1997 opening, Comfort Zone houses a home away from home to many regular customers. The menu features specialty coffees, teas and desserts, along with daily lunch and dinner specials, including homemade soups and sandwiches, and dinner entrées like spaghetti, grilled salmon and chicken dishes. It's family-friendly too, with coloring books available to keep kids occupied. Live entertainment is featured every Friday and Saturday evening at the Hamburg and Elmwood locations. - Christine A. Smyczynski

This contemporary restaurant, located along Route Five, overlooks a captivating panorama of Lake Erie and the Buffalo skyline. The extensive menu offers American favorites like surf and turf, pork tenderloin, and chicken marsala. Lunch selections include salads like classic chicken Caesar or smoked salmon salad, along with beef on weck, Root Five burger, and turkey club wrap. Try their tempting dinner entrées like the fresh grilled salmon, cherry glazed duck, or penne pasta. They prepare homemade desserts and provide a kids menu. There are also three banquet rooms for larger parties, as well as a large patio overlooking the lake. - Christine A. Smyczynski

The oldest business in East Aurora, this restaurant and former stagecoach stop operates in its original location. It first opened its doors in 1824 and was frequented by the most prestigious of notables like Presidents Millard Fillmore and Grover Cleveland. Fillmore practiced law locally in East Aurora before he went on to become the 13th president of the United States. The exterior has changed little from then in the 1860's, and the interior features an exposed beam ceiling in the dining room, a tin ceiling in the bar, and a remarkable twin fireplace. Mostly noted for its barbecue dishes and ribs, the restaurants offers mouthwatering selections including steak, seafood and a fish fry seven days a week. - Christine A. Smyczynski

This large, casual, family-friendly restaurant is known for their wings, burgers, pizza, beef, and their happy hour and sporting night specials. In warmer weather they open up large garage doors, which replace windows, so you can enjoy dining al fresco while inside. An arcade with lots of games will keep kids, and adults who are kids at heart, busy while they wait for their meals. Thursday is wing night; from 6 pm until closing pay $6.99 for a single order when you purchase a large drink. On College Football Saturdays get 5 Coors Lights for $12 and during Monday Night Football get a bucket of 5 Bud Lights for $12.  -Christine A. Smyczynski

This Japanese restaurant offers an authentic hibachi dining experience with chicken, steak, and seafood dishes. Start out your dining experience with their notable Asian pear martini and some of their award-winning sushi, which is freshly prepared. Other menu selections include teriyaki and tempura, along with chicken, beef, and vegetable dishes. Most of their entrees are served with either miso soup or salad. One of their signature creations is a sushi pizza; a rice patty crust topped with sushi that resembles a pizza. A kid's menu is available and they offer a number of party packages to groups of 16 or more people. -Christine A. Smyczynski

This family-owned restaurant features a variety of Asian specialties, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Japanese. The décor of the cozy dining room is very contemporary, with gold and rusty brown earth tones throughout. The menu includes a large variety of gluten-free foods, something not often found in restaurants. Some of their notable dishes, which are made with fresh natural ingredients, include hibachi chicken, pad Thai, General Tso's chicken, and sesame chicken. The restaurant also features a reasonably priced lunch menu. Their private party room seats up to 20 people. -Christine A. Smyczynski

Enjoy some of the best and most authentic Mexican food in the buffalo area at El Canelo, which is owned and operated by a family from Guanajuato, Mexico. Some of their specialties include a variety of fajitas, which they are known for. Try their fajitas tejanas (made with beef, chicken, and shrimp), fajitas de camaron (with cooked shrimp) and vegetable fajitas. Some other menu items include taco salad, burritos, and chimichangas. If you have a taste for steak, try bistec acapulco, topped with onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, and mushrooms; steak ranchero, served with hot sauce, or steak a la tampiquero (a T-bone accompanied with Spanish rice, refried beans and a tossed salad). - Christine A. Smyczynski

This Mexican and South American restaurant features "sun inspired cocktails and cuisine." As soon as you walk in you feel the warmth of the sun in the bight gold walls. Start your dining experience with a unique cocktail, perhaps a mojito or voodoo surprise. Enjoy tapas-style appetizers like stuffed poblano peppers, crab and roasted corn cakes or their signature guacamole, which is made fresh tableside. For lunch enjoy choices like a Kobe beef taco, tequila lime shrimp salad or a crispy grilled chicken avocado sandwich. Dinner entrées include paella, Peruvian grilled chicken breast and chicken Buenos Aires. A private dining room offers meeting space for up to 35 people. - Christine A. Smyczynski

This popular, upscale, contemporary restaurant and martini bar features a candlelit dining area and soft European music playing. They also feature live music every other Saturday. Menu items include everything from hamburgers and sandwiches to shrimp, lobster, rack of lamb, and steak. Some of the more unusual dishes on the menu include lobster mac and cheese and a pumpkin and potato gnocchi. Desserts include creme brulee and bailey's cheesecake. The bar is open until 4:00am and features a large martini selection. Enjoy dining on their outdoor patio in the warmer months.-Christine A. Smyczynski

Winner of the Favorite Greek Diner poll in the Buffalo area, this restaurant has been catering to an ever-growing customer base for many years now-and has expanded to meet the need. Located in the Elmwood Strip area not far from historic Allentown, the diner serves everything from breakfast to late-night snacks.An enclosed, heated patio opens up for the summer for a view of the passing parade. The staff is upbeat and very attentive-and you never have to wait more than a few minutes for your order.