Legendary | Worth driving from anywhere
Charlie the Butcher
Review by: Michael Stern
Well situated for an impatient appetite arriving at the Buffalo Airport, Charlie the Butcher is an essential stop for anyone who wants to sample the Nickel City’s unique sandwich, “beef on weck.” Slow-roasted beef, tender and pink, is thin-sliced (to order) and piled on a hard roll that is crusted with pretzel salt and caraway seeds. The top half of the roll gets dipped briefly in beef au jus. The sandwich is served with only a pickle spear as garnish, although many customers slather it with eye-opening horseradish.
It’s a no-frills restaurant. Place your order at the front window with its fabulous view of the carving block, then pay and find a seat at the low-low counter or a table topped with oilcloth. All seats provide a nice view of the kitchen, where you’ll see Charlie himself, with a large staff of accomplished helpmates, slicing cabbage, tending soups, and cutting beef. Sandwiches are served in cardboard boats; and it’s customary to bus your own table.
Charlie’s menu extends beyond beef on weck; and everything else we’ve sampled is first rate: Buffalo-made hot dogs and sausages grilled over coals, chicken spiedie (a boneless breast that is marinated and grilled), and such daily-special sandwiches as meat loaf and double-smoked ham. The beverage list includes the local favorite, Loganberry, as well as Charlie’s personal favorite, Birch Beer.
Directions & Hours
Information
| Price | $ |
| Seasons | All |
| Meals Served | Lunch |
| Credit Cards Accepted | No |
| Alcohol Served | No |
| Outdoor Seating | No |
What To Eat
Charlie the Butcher Recipes
Discuss
What do you think of Charlie the Butcher?
One Response to “Charlie the Butcher”
byron coley
October 24th, 2015
Decided to skip wings this time in Buffalo, and hit Charlie’s. Ordered a Beef on Weck, Sweet Potato Fries, and Birch Beer at the window then took a seat at the counter. Watched Charlie chop up a variety of things (beef what looked like yellow beans, potatoes…) while my meal was being prepped. The serving was just the right size — thick, but not too big to fit my mouth — and nicely sliced and juiced. Sweet potato fries were huge — more like skin-on sweet potatoes quartered lengthwise, roasted then fried. Didn’t know if they’re like this all the time, but they were great. As to Birch Beer…well, I’ve never had a glass of it I didn’t like. This place still has “the stuff.”