By Kate Bartlett
The Blackthorn, located on Seneca Street in South Buffalo, is a quintessential Irish Pub and Restaurant. With a full-service bar and restaurant, igloo dining, outdoor beer garden and banquet rooms, the Blackthorn offers plenty of space to gather. They believe the people are the heart of the pub, and strive to convey South Buffalo’s character in their neighborhood pub.
Since 1976, The Blackthorn has been operating as an Irish Pub, originally under the name Early Times Tavern. Upon changing ownership in 1994, the name changed to The Blackthorn Pub, offering casual pub fare with a friendly, neighborhood smile. Current proprietors Pat Lalley and Larry “Hugger” Adymy took ownership in 2006, from Danny Nostrant. Danny had owned the restaurant with Kevin Lalley, Pat’s brother, who suddenly passed away in 2002. Pat, also a Buffalo firefighter and currently Chief of Fire Prevention for the City of Buffalo, had experience in the hospitality industry. “After my brother passed, I was approached by several friends and neighbors who encouraged me to buy the pub. Eventually, I decided to do it in my brother’s honor, along with my brother-in-law Hugger Adymy.”
The Blackthorn is a cozy Irish pub, offering a pint and a smile. “We truly want our pub to be warm and welcoming to everyone, new customers and regular guests alike. South Buffalo is our home, and we want to convey its Irish charm to our guests. The pub patron is not just a customer, but a guest and a friend.”
The Blackthorn creates a warm, cozy ambiance with hardwood and green Irish accents throughout. The stone fireplace keeps guests warm and creates a casual, inviting atmosphere. The second floor offers 2 spacious event rooms with capacity to seat 50-100 people, complete with an outdoor balcony in the front room. During the winter months, igloo dining is offered on this outdoor balcony, offering wintery views of Seneca Street.
Their impressive beer garden seats over 1000 people, complete with a concert stage and barn with an outdoor bar. “We’ve hosted a lot of fun concerts and events in our beer garden,” says Pat. “Our big kick off is traditionally St Patrick’s Day weekend, when all of South Buffalo comes alive. It’s a great time and we love being a part of it.”
The menu features classic Irish fare with many quintessential Buffalo favorites, along with 2 pages of sandwiches, large salads, seafood and steak. “We really have something for everyone,” says Pat. “We have a large menu for our restaurant size, offering casual Irish fare, like The Pub Sandwich and Buffalo favorites like Beef on Weck. In addition to domestic bottles, the bar offers 21 taps with 6 traditional Irish beers, and a variety of local and regional brews. Their full bar specializes in classic drinks, like Manhattans and martinis.
South Buffalo has traditionally been an Irish neighborhood, as many Irish settled in this area at the turn of the century. “I grew up in South Buffalo,” says Pat. “It’s a great, tight-knit community of working-class families. Families and businesses support each other, and enjoy gathering at a local pub for a pint and good company.”
Recently, Pat has seen a resurgence in the South Buffalo area, specifically the Seneca Street neighborhood. “Seneca has always been a main thoroughfare to Buffalo, but it saw a bit of a slump about 10 years ago. It’s great to see businesses investing here and being a part of the revival here.”
Pat and The Blackthorn team believe in true hospitality; a welcoming smile, conversation and a feeling that you belong. “While I appreciate modern restaurants and trends, what he have here is classic. Everyone here is family, whether it’s your first or 50th visit. Our pub has that same cozy feel it did when it first opened almost 50 years ago, and we’re proud of that.”
For more information visit blackthornrestaurant.com, follow on social media, (716) 835-9327 or stop in for a pint and a smile in the heart of South Buffalo, 2134 Seneca Street, open 7 days a week.