By Julia Barth, Features Editor
On the main strip of Hertel in North Buffalo sits a small bar-restaurant that is loved by people all over Buffalo. The Wellington Pub, which has served Buffalonians for almost 40 years, is a great stop for lunch or dinner with friends and family. If you haven’t checked it out yet, I definitely recommend it.
The day I went was a pretty intense one for Buffalo. It was two Saturdays ago on January 22, the night that the Cincinnati Bengals played the Tennessee Titans in the NFL playoffs, both teams looking for a spot in the AFC Championship game. Of course, it was big for Buffalo because if Cincinnati won (and the Bills won the following day), the AFC Championship would be a home game in Buffalo. A pretty big deal for Bills fans.
As it turned out, we would never get to see the AFC Championship (still a very sore subject for me), but Cincinatti won that night which had everyone in The Wellington Pub cheering, screaming and throwing back drinks. The atmosphere was so exciting with the bar packed and the dining room full as well. I’m going to keep it in mind for future sporting events, since the energy was incredible.
Despite some of those tough Bills-related memories I now associate with the restaurant, the actual place itself is comfortable and cozy with a great selection of food and drinks — all available for a great price. I got their option of soup and half of a sandwich, which was definitely the right way to go.
The French onion soup they’re known for was unbelievably delicious. The bread was a perfect texture, not too hard or soggy, and the melted cheese all over was so good that I was picking it off of the bowl by the end of the meal. The soup itself was also amazingly cooked and flavored, and it reminded me of my mother’s homemade French onion soup which I obsess over.
I got a half of a turkey sandwich topped with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, bacon and mayo on perfectly toasted bread. The dinner also came with a side of chips which seems to be their specialty as I looked around and noticed that many entrees came with them.
The menu itself has a large selection of food, chicken fingers, chicken wings, hot dips, fried finger foods, wraps, sandwiches, burgers, melts, entrees and, of course, specials. They have options for just about anyone and offer vegetarian choices as well.
I went with two of my friends, one of whom is Hannah Fischer, a junior at Canisius College. Her thoughts on her experience at The Wellington Pub? “The French onion soup was the best I’ve ever had, and the atmosphere during the Bengals game was unmatched. I would say it truly embodies and I would recommend it to any pub-lover,” she said.
Open seven days a week, The Wellington Pub is perfect for lunch or dinner with friends and family, and (although it is quite small inside) it has a wonderful homey vibe, and it really encapsulates the best of the city of Buffalo within its four walls.