The Beloved Restaurant That Buffalo Misses the Most

We have finally made it to the holiday season, which means that Western New York will be taking in annual traditions and looking back on past good times. It's one of the best parts of the holidays, especially as we grow closer to Christmas Day.

After living in Western New York for the last 30 years, I can safely say that one of the things that Buffalo loves the most are the past restaurants and bars that once occupied famous streets and plazas in the region.

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I grew up in the '90s and 2000's, which was such a unique time for the region. It was at the tail-end of so many great restaurants, so even though I didn't live through the 60's, 70's or 80's, I still have fond memories as a little of kid of multiple great restaurants that have since closed.

The one restaurant I always hear Buffalonians bring up as wishing it was still around was The Ground Round.

The Ground Round had multiple locations in Buffalo, most notably, the Seneca and Thruway malls, along with Niagara Falls Blvd. (which is the location my parents used to go to all the time).

It was a casual dining spot that you could enjoy all kinds of American dishes. They also had peanuts, throwing the shells on the floor. It was a staple of The Ground Round.

In the '90s, The Ground Round left Buffalo. The first closed in 1994 (Seneca Mall). By 1995, half of the Ground Round locations in Western New York were sold and became Kenny Rogers' Chicken Roasters. By the end of the decade, they were all gone.

Believe it or not, The Ground Round is still in business. There are less than 10 locations remaining, and the official name is the Ground Round Grill & Bar.

The Ground Round was not a Buffalo-only chain but Buffalo had to be the market which loved the chain the most.