A Timeless Fine-Dining Experience At The Buffalo Club
There aren’t many timeless restaurants in L.A. which have delivered classic fine dining and vintage elegance for as long as The Buffalo Club.
There aren’t many timeless restaurants in L.A. which have delivered classic fine dining and vintage elegance for as long as The Buffalo Club. This classy restaurant and club has been tending to patrons for over 23 years in Santa Monica and is worth treating yourself to more than ever today!
The Buffalo Club was founded in 1994 by screenwriter Anthony Yerkovich and Chef Patrick Healy. Tony is an award-winning TV writer and producer, renowned for being the creator of the hit TV show Miami Vice. His hometown is Buffalo, New York, which served as the main inspiration for the restaurant and its name. He wanted to create a Prohibition-style speakeasy and supperclub, reminiscent of the chophouses in New York City. Chef Patrick came on as a managing partner and executive chef. As an alumnus of Michelin star restaurants such as Ducasse and La Maison Troisgros, Patrick has an extensive background in French cuisine which he skillfully utilizes to create his signature dishes at Buffalo Club. Together, Patrick and Tony have created a historic dining establishment where guests can count on excellent cuisine and ambience time and time again.
Driving past The Buffalo Club on Olympic Boulevard in Santa Monica, you barely notice that it’s there. The low faded pink facade is unassuming and hides any trace of the elegant restaurant inside. The retro neon signs are the only indication that there’s a bar there. But upon entering it’s like being transported to another world and time. The Buffalo Club has that distinctly Old World feel with dark leather booths, dark mahogany bar and romantic lighting. It’s everything you look for when you want to treat yourself to a perfect steak and martini, as if you’re at a business dinner in Mad Men. The walls are covered with beautiful paintings and illustrations of historical American figures and idyllic New England scenery. Whether you’re sitting down for a meal or grabbing a drink at the bar, being at The Buffalo Club always feels striking and intimate.
For the restaurant, Chef Patrick has created a menu which offers enduring steakhouse classics mixed in with multicultural influences from around the U.S.
“When we first started the concept was regional American cuisine. A spin on classic American dishes or influences by different parts, different regions like New Orleans, San Francisco, New York and like the Southwest. Our menu’s evolved over time. We haven’t jumped at every trend that’s come along. – Chef Patrick Healy
The small plate that absolutely everybody must try is the Baby Zucchini Blossoms, one of Chef Patrick’s personal specialties. Beautiful edible flowers are stuffed with Dungeness crab meat then steamed and served with a delicious vermouth crème. What you get is a delicate but flavorful dish that’s as lovely to look at as it is to taste. Of course no steakhouse would be complete without starters with oysters. The Oyster Shootout consists of three shooters, each with a distinct combination of flavors including Wasabi Caviar-Lime, Tomato-Horseradish and Ginger-Soy. For dessert, the Tatin Apple Crisp is absolute heaven.
The crowning feature of The Buffalo Club, which you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else, is Tableside Service. Available only in the Iroquois Dining Room, waiters will personally come to your table to carve, filet and serve your main entrée. These entrees include Boeuf Bourgignon, Dover Sole Meuniere and the Aspen Ridge Prime Rib Chop. Our lovely server William skillfully carved our prime rib and arranged it on individual plates just for us at our own table. It was a spectacle that was magical and intimate to watch unfold. The Tableside Service offers a unique and elevated service experience which feels like something brought back from a decadent past.
Of course, an establishment couldn’t call itself a Prohibition-style speakeasy without an excellent bar. You can count on bartenders to perfectly produce classic cocktails like a Martini, Negroni, Sazerac, Old Fashioned and even a Hemingway Daiquiri. There’s a cocktail menu which features more creative mixology concoctions as well and you can find happy hour on weekdays between 6-8 PM.
What continues to make The Buffalo Club even more versatile and unique is the Garden Courtyard, a lovely outdoor space which becomes a popular club hangout on the weekends. Guests can lounge and sip on cocktails as DJs spin music under twinkling lights. It’s a more laidback but equally classy alternative to the Iroquois Room inside.
“When we opened, we were more than just a restaurant. We were a place people came to get entertained, to have a great time. We had live music couple of nights a week and we had go-go dancers on the courtyard. It was a place where you could go and have a really fine meal and stay later if you wanted to and make a night of it. We try to show people a really good time. ”
It’s no wonder that many A-List celebrities from Mick Jagger to Robert DeNiro to Michael Jordan have visited in the past. The Buffalo Club has a connection to a storied past which it continues to offer to guests after 23 years. Whether you’re in the mood for a stiff cocktail or a chic outdoor patio or over-the-top Tableside Service, The Buffalo Club is a must for anyone pining for Old World elegance and fine dining.
