I'm one of the cooks there & I STILL love coming here to eat or have a delicious cocktail! The owners are AMAZING people who make everyone feel like family! Love love love Hot Mama's Canteen!!!

I didnt want cheese on my sandwich and they were ready to make a new one. I said it was cool,I'll scrap it off. Brought me a Free Hot Mamas Mango Orange Habernaro hot sauce to compensate. Again I refused. I have no issue paying for my meal, mistake or not, when the service is this good. Cecelia, Glen and the staff are awesome. Only missing Val tonight. I did take her hot sauce home though. Good stuff Guys.

Great environment, fun and welcoming staff, and AMAZING food. The wings, deep fried pickles, and hot mama bomb are my go to whenever I am around. Highly recommend!

Some of the best chicken wings I've had. Cajun fries was new to me but worth it. Not just a Buffalo cliché. Friendly staff, nice customers.

get the smash burger!! delicious and juicy, the bartender was so attentive even though the bar was packed. 10/10, i’ll be going here now since cheeburger closed

Amazing experience. So much.

+4

we go to hot mama's canteen every first saturday of the month for ann philippone piano blues set...we love to casually dance...hot mamas has a great atmosphere, wait staff is friendly and welcoming, interesting menu, good food, nice bar and dining lounge. the owner is around and attentive!

Best fish fry in Buffalo. Awesome menu, fun events, great staff.

Rode our bikes over one evening. Great vegetarian "eggplant wings", handcut fries and riceball! Definitely will return, food and service were great! Atmosphere is always lively on the weekends!

Usually always fun and their Sophia Lauren chicken wings are phenomenal!!! Their rice balls are also one of the best drink foods as well. Def recommend a visit

A place worth trying. Went there for dinner. Bartender/waiter set and made the experience of the evening. Good food with some heat. I would enjoy food here again.

Cheap drinks, great hot sauce, friendly local vibe with an awesome all arts open mic night every third Sunday. This place has it all including awesome vibes.

Had a great time during the jam session Thursday. Julia does a great job behind the pine. Valerie always makes everyone feel welcome. Ambassador approved

I love this place! The bar tenders are so lovely! Always a refreshing conversation to have with someone when I'm there. And the entertainment couldn't be better!

the mama is so hot i almost cant stand it. The food here is astounding. I dont know how they pull it off. The people that go here are also very nice. one time i walked in and this old lady said "GANG GANG" and thats when i knew this was a good place. And then the scooby doo live performance with doritos stripping in front of you! FANTASTIC. My grandma said it made her so horney. 10/10 would hot mama again! #peyton4life

Great place. Went there a few times when my friend played Friday night with a few friends for a jazz jam band session. Food was good, not a lot of pre made stuff going on here. Burger meat is hand formed and a wide variety of sauces to accompany. I believe they have their own signature sauces they use. All of them are delicious, even the ones I tend to shy away from. Bar gets a bit packed but if you don't mind that and are looking for a great place to hang out, dine in, take out, and listen to some cool music when they have live band playing then this is a place you will want to check out.

Coolest hangout with chill staff and they make their own hot sauces. The vegetarian burrito has flavorful greens and lots of cheese and remains a delicious relic in my mind several days later.

One of the best neighborhood restaurants and bars around!! The owners run a very clean establishment with some of the best food you can find., including vegetarian options. Try the Grain Elevator, you won't be disappointed! Great live music, game area, music and art venue. The service is exceptionally friendly, inviting, and attentive. The most inclusive safe spaces in Black Rock! A family 🏳️‍🌈 home 🧡

Had a blast here! What a great place. Bartender was so kind. Kitchen staff was so sweet. Music was from '70s to current. Relaxed and welcoming. Loved it!

Valerie developed her own beer batter, and they have $2 off the fish fry during Friday happy hour this time of year! Also, the dance nights are some of the best I've found. But whatever you're into, Hot Mama's probably has a night for it, karaoke, trivia, pool, sports, etc. Those are just my favorites.

One of the best local venues in Buffalo. Much cleaner and better food than any other spot that you can see a local band play in my opinion

Amazing staff friendly and accepting atmosphere, good food. Drag and burlesque shows, bands, etc. Great meetup place!

Very friendly vibe and great wings! The orange mango sauce was awesome! Sweet with a great kick. The blue cheese dipping sauce was phenomenal!

My first experience here and I absolutely love the food. I ordered wings and fries...Sophia Loren wings....super delicious and I rarely eat wings! The fries were gone before I returned to my desk so....need I say more? Can't wait to have brunch here!

Excellent staff, and the cook (Kim) is amazing!!!

Discovered Hot Mama's Canteen last night after a show at The Cave. Great to see such an upbeat, high-energy, place thriving in the city. Great food from a menu that is not your run-of-the-mill bar fare.

It's a controversial opinion. But... The hot BBQ wings are my favourite wings in town. I haven't tried everything, but... These really hit the spot. Grilled wings are wonderful and they're sauces here are magic (it's why they started!). Comfortable environs, great events, worth your time and money to support wonderful people being authentic.

Brunch menu was great! I had chicken and waffles. The chicken was the best I've had! It was crisp,crunchy and still very moist. The syrup was a maple bourbon blend and a perfect compliment to the tender waffles. I also loved the 2 Bloody Mary's I had while I waited for my food.

This is one of my favorite places to eat, drink, gather (responsibly) and be entertained. Every dish is handmade by the incredible kitchen staff. Val and Glen (owners) are some of the best people you could hope to meet. I highly encourage you to stop by, have a bite, and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere.

I had a great time when I went there. We went one early, drizzly morning and ordered a burger and sweet potato hash. So much else looked good on the menu that we ordered well beyond what we could eat. Popcorn, pickled beets and eggs. The staff was nice and at night, they have live music. Prices are cheap, too. Wins all around.

The place has great food, great parties for people to enjoy. Love their fried spicy pickles. Had good times there too.

Havent tried the food yet, but the staff are SO welcoming and sweet, and the aesthetic is fantastic! I really enjoyed playing here with my band, and look forward to doing it again!

Fantastic place, Amazing food , Amazing staff, really makes you feel at home. Can be yourself always. Stop by and check out the Amazing Hot sauce selection that is out of this world along with some of the best kinds of chicken wing styles you may have never heard of. Can't say enough good things. Come see for yourself

Love the intimate ambiance almost as much as the friendly staff. Val & Glenn are wonderful hosts whether you're in for dinner or just drinks. The bartenders are very accomodating and make it a point to get to know their patrons. And I'd be amiss if I didn't mention that Hot Mama's has the BEST hand cut french fries in Buffalo.

Straight-forward drinks, amazing bartenders and servers, surprisingly delicious food. Me and my friends come here Thursdays for trivia and we never have a bad time.

Great food, good music. (Disclaimer it can get loud when they have music so if you prefer a quite dinner, this isn't your place) lots of options to choose from. I would suggest the fried pickles and Jesse James burger :) don't forget to try all the sauces with your fries!!!!

I love going here. The staff is awesome, the food absolutely delicious! The environment is spot on!!!

Amazing bar, great homemade food, Hot Mamma and Mr. Mamma have also cultivated an amazing vibe!

Great atmosphere and amazing food, it’s always a good time at Hot Mamas!

Great service the Bartender was awesome !!! And whatever band was playing sounded pretty damn good

Great local spot! Great Wongs and fingers, live music on Tuesdays and other great shows on the weekends!

I can't say enough good things about Hot Mamas Canteen. From the moment I stepped inside, I was greeted with a warm smile that immediately made me feel at home. The owners are truly wonderful people; they take the time to connect with every guest, making you feel like part of the family. The food here is simply outstanding. Each dish is bursting with flavor, and you can really taste the passion that goes into every bite. I’ve tried everything from the appetizers to the main courses, and they never disappoint. What really sets this place apart, though, is the amazing staff. They’re not just friendly; they genuinely care about your experience. Whether it's helping you choose a drink or making sure you’re enjoying your meal, their attentiveness makes every visit special. If you’re looking for a bar that combines great food with a welcoming atmosphere and incredible people, Hot Mamas is the place to be. I can’t recommend it enough! One of the best things about Hot Mamas Canteen is that there's always something fun happening! From lively burlesque and drag shows to engaging events and karaoke nights, the entertainment never disappoints. It creates a vibrant atmosphere, drawing in a diverse crowd and ensuring that every visit feels fresh and exciting. Whether you’re there to perform or just to cheer on your friends, there’s always a great reason to come back!

Awesome service and atmosphere. Queer friendly with weekly events!

And here I thought Essex was the only good dive bar left in town. I am properly chastened and educated. Thanks for the great wings and time!

It's a very chill atmosphere. It's cleaner than a dive bar, but eclectic with decorations. They have stage space but it's small and cozy and not usually too crowded. You can see the owner in and out of the kitchen. She was very nice to her staff.

Fantastic place! The food is amazing, the people are super friendly. Make time to stop in.

super fun first time visit. unique well made foods. karaoke night monday. rachael the bartender rules.

What a gem!! About 15 of us walked in durring a bar crawl and they couldn't have been more hospitalble! We met the owners Val and Glen. They were beyond great to us! The service, the food, the drinks and smiling faces around us made our favorite stop durring our bar crawl! Definatly check this place out if you haven't, we will definatly be back!

Boss place, small & personable. The bartender was a little lit & inattentive. The karaoke monday was awesome & the people very supportive & friendly

Lovely, local hangout that feels like a safe family with some cool unique menu items & live music too!

Hand cut fries! Or, at least they appear and taste that way. Friendly welcoming atmosphere for all types. They also have a full bar with a good beer variety. Big dance floor with live shows. A nice local... Dive? It's better than that but still a dive.

Went to Hot Mama’s on Amherst in blackrock last night. Best we have had yet. Large thick slab of fish, perfect airy crispy beer batter. Hand cut fry. Good Mac salad and a crasin Cole slaw. Came with a deep fried hot pickle. Place not busy. Took a while to come out but worth it. It allowed up to play pool and shuffleboard while we waited. Highly recommend.

Sara Jo

This place has impeccable vibes and arguably some of the best wings in Buffalo! Staff is always attentive and friendly. Just a really great place to hang all around.

Michaela Kruger

I love this bar so much. Not only do they offer top notch entertainment; drag, burlesque, karaoke, dance parties and more. The food is INCREDIBLE. The best chicken fingers I’ve ever had and of course you can’t go wrong with their spicy picklebacks🤤 It’s also one of the few bars that I feel 100% safe at in Buffalo, as a woman that’s extremely important to me. Love Val and the Hot Mamas crew❤️❤️❤️

Alexander Yarbrough-Fowler

The best bar if you are sober. Wonderful vibes. Fantastic food. Great staff. Mama Val and Co truly do a great job making everyone feel welcome.

Rachel Howells

What do I dislike about Hot Mama’s? They aren’t attached to my house. If I could eat here on the daily, MAN, I would! I dream about the fish tacos. Vivid, delicious dreams. The vibes there are incredible…they support all sorts of creators and artists & have such a welcoming atmosphere. The peanut butter wings are a revelation…get them with the chopped peanuts…or don’t and get them for me! The staff is friendly and welcoming, I couldn’t ask for more.

Jamie Nablo

I love going to Hot Mama’s! Best Chicken Tendies and always great programming! Mama Val is always such a sweetie!!

The Francis Bacon Experiment

This venue has always been so warm and welcoming to our group and many other amazing performers in Buffalo! Offering tasty food, an great variety of drinks and a welcoming atmosphere is what we love from this bar and its wonderful owners!

Catherine Kuehner

I absolutely LOVE Hot Mama's! Everyone there is so considerate, and friendly, and they are absolutely fabulous towards the performers that get booked there. Its always a super fun time!

Samantha

I’ve been going to Hot Mama’s for two years now and it’s easily my favorite bar in Buffalo. The food is great, the employees are friendly, and they have a free dance night every month! What’s not to love?

Elliot Hill

One of the most reliable corner bars in Buffalo. Staff is always friendly, service is on point, and food is great. Bonus points for being a truly inclusive space that the owners take pride in.

Freddie Knight

Hot Mama’s is a hidden gem of Buffalo. Amazingly comfortable atmosphere, incredible food, and reasonable prices. Everyone is welcome here

Megan Piret

I’m really upset to read the reviews today. This is an Awesome restaurant, it does not need this negativity , no one is making money in this industry. It really does seem like this person is being vindictive. I know how I feel about this place and how it is amazing and I love it and this other person could just shut up. Maybe you would rather go to TGIFridays. Oh wait, they closed. Your fake names suck..

Christine Sikora

Excellent fish fry…everything was fresh and homemade. The fish to batter ratio was perfect, fresh cut fries with skin on..delicious..homemade coleslaw had a bit of sweetness (I’m not a fan usually…this was very good) a deep fried pickle and delicious mac salad rounded off this amazing meal…don’t miss out on this diamond in the rough

Isaac Carson

Got the mama ball was seasoned really well was a meatball for the meat. Also go the fish fry. The portion was large and the fries were all fresh cut. We also got the chicken fingers they were seasoned well and tasted good. Would definitely go back and recommend.

R C

I always have an absolute blast every time I am here. The drinks are delicious and bartenders are absolutely amazing. Their upbeat personality and remembering what I am drinking really made me feel welcome. They have seating at the bar and a few tables near the bar, and had a band play in the back room which was really interesting. They also have outdoor seating which is great in warm weather. They offer food which I did not try but everything looked and smelled amazing. The only negative is it is not handicapped accessible.

Crystal Malachowski

I ordered the disco fries from here and glad I did. Best fries I ever had and am planning to try out more of their food options. I just got the smash burger and absolutely loved it. I just ordered their chicken wings and they are excellent and finished my meal with their delicious deep fried cheese cake. I would highly recommend Hot Mamas Canteen's food.

Ken Beyer

Just happened across this gem and glad we visited! Service was impeccable and “hot mama” treated us as regular customers. Great drink specials, live entertainment and delicious food! Deciding on what menu item to choose was so hard, everything sounded so good!

+3

Briana A

Not sure how it took me so long to try their food! But I’m sure glad I finally did! I went in Hot Mama’s Canteen on a Saturday night around 11pm. The kitchen was still open , however there was an event happening so there was a woman charging $5 at the door. Our group of 3 were only there for food, we explained this to the woman and she still said we would have to pay the cover fee. So we left, called and ordered take out. I was hoping to enjoy the food there for my first time but everything turned out great anyways. We ordered a Big Daddy Cuban, 2 Mama Bombs, 20 Sophia Loren Wings, and Deep Fried Fire Pickles. (All came as suggestions from my friend) Let me tell you… everything was amazing!!! The Cuban was so delicious! I loved the addition of spam on this sandwich. The Sophia Loren Wings are sooo damn good!! Crispy, crunchy, garlicky, and just the perfect amount of heat!! Definitely a must try! The Deep Fried Fire Pickles were very tasty! I am a pickle lover and these were great. The dipping sauce pairs perfectly. The batter was crispy, the pickle spear had a nice crunch, however I didn’t get much of any heat. I did love them though. The Mama Bombs were interesting but tasty… the outside was great, and the meatball was very flavorful. The only thing was we were missing the red sauce that should have came with it. I’m sure the sauce would have been just what the dish needed. Can’t wait to go back! Also, when we went to pick up our food the lady at the door that was charging the $5 cover apologized for trying to charge us and she seemed genuine and very apologetic for the misunderstanding.

The food was great but the service was less than delightful! :-( there were hardly any people in there except for our small group and the waitress was just overwhelmed and that very kind. She even had some curt remarks to some of us...

I haven't had their food yet but I heard it's really really good. They have some good bands there. the service at the bar is exceptional.

Came to see my brother's band. Had a blast! Great food and fast friendly service. Nice beer on tap selection.

Went to the bar/grill to have some refreshments and some finger foods for the lady and I. The service was ok and the drinks packed a punch. There is friendly staff, an inviting evergy and a charismatic bartender. From interactions - this location has a karaoke night to experience as well. There is street parking and an outside patio to enjoy as well.

Quintessential neighborhood bar. I'm betting the decor has been the same since it opened, but who cares the food is amazing! I had the chicken pot pie soup; it was flavorful and filling. The fries were handcut and delicious. Burger was thick and well cooked. The bartender does everything and she did it cheerfully. There is a shuffleboard table tucked in the back. Live music was playing on an open stage.

Exceptional hamburgers, and very good fries. I had the Pink Lady burger with a lightly pickled beet relish, and goat cheese, my partner gave thumbs up to his more traditional bacon cheese burger. Nice ambience, friendly staff.

Had the Woodlawn which is beer battered haddock on a hogie roll w/ l,t,c and home made tartar sauce. It's was great. Issue with beer battered is it falls apart. Only down fall. In addition had fresh cut sweet potato fries. Yes not frozen with a honey butter dipping to die for. Happened to come during holiday music sing alone (sign me up)

Only went to see my buddies bands play, got a few well mixed drinks from the friendly and prompt servers. Can imagine how fun this place would be with it packed on a busy night. Will definitely come back later. Also I didn't get any food because their kitchen closed before I was able to order but it seemed to be open until 10 or 11pm.

The beer variety could be better. The bartender his the music up uncomfortably loud when we were in there. The food is good, and there is usually a good band to see.

I was extremely disappointed that they only serve Mexican dishes, if tacos are the only Mexican dish available, once a week. The atmosphere and the building are very eclectic. That I enjoyed. Also, the many different hot sauces the offer were impressive. I had tortillas and homemade salsa and the giant rice ball. Options for the rice ball were either meat or veggie. I opted for the rice with veggies. All I was able to see were mushrooms and possible black olive inside.

Got the fish fry I called my order in 30 minutes prior and I arrived and it wasn’t going to be ready for another 10-15 which is a long time for fried food … the sides were great the fish fry extremely disappointed by it although large in size it was overdone supper thick dry beer batter 0 flavor … gave it a 3 because the sides were good. Paid $27 for something that was maybe worth 15. Staff was friendly though which is cool !

We go for the Dark Wave video dance nights once a month, and have a good time. We'd have a better time if they offered more than a single bottle of Gin, which is not to our liking.

This neighborhood joint doesn't do enough to market itself, and it's a shame, because what they do right, they do really right! A well maintained shuffleboard table, decent live music, plenty of seating, outdoor seating (including both smoker-friendly and partially-enclosed non smoking areas), and lively bar staff. Unfortunately, they seem to be sticking to some things that have not worked super well. A lackluster late night menu, an adherence to a co-branding arrangement with a hot sauce that doesn't make for the best wings (not that it stops them from pushing them). They used to do karaoke on Monday nights, but without a promotions budget, it just never took off. A shame because they really had the opportunity to make it a great karaoke spot for an underserved weeknight.

alt/ gay bar, casual dress code , mixed age crowd. Pro: many themed rooms in this renovated house. Con: locals only vibe

I feel bad for posting this because Hot Mama's prides itself on its LGBTQ+ support and I am gay myself, but I did not have an enjoyable first experience at Hot Mama's. I got there early to help celebrate a friend's birthday so I could eat before drinking. I ordered a plate of wings spicy with the Mexican aftershock sauce and a basket of fries. I was really disappointed with both. The sauce on the wings was very mild and bland. I got just a hint of tomato but that was it. Thinking that the wings were undersauced I used the bottle of the same sauce they left me at the table and was very disappointed. Trying the different sauces, the mango one was too sweet for what I wanted originally as was the Hot Passion. I ended up using their todos sauce which I think is their version of ketchup? I'm not quite sure, but I was too hungry to care but the last Wong I couldn't finish it was just bad. The fries were also very soggy. A deep dark brown color and very floppy which is not how I like my fries. I didn't want to complain as I was gonna be there a while and didn't want to draw attention to myself as it wasn't about me. I also ordered a Dark N Stormy cocktail. Not something I thought was too crazy, it's a 3 ingredient drink. One of the bartenders looked it up on their phone how to make it, said they didn't have dark rum and made it with Captain Morgan spiced rum. It wasn't that bad either, the ratios were right, but I'm just surprised that needed to be looked up in the first place so plainly in front of customers. Despite all of that, I had a good time with friends and the staff were very courteous and help the rest of the night. I was also sampling some of the other foods people got throughout the night and wasn't really a fan. If your looking for a place to get a cold beer and hang out in a safe environment, this place is wonderful. If you're looking for cocktails and good bar food, I'd stay away.

Sat at the table for 30 minutes and never received our drink order. Our waitress took a food order from a table she seated 20 minutes after us after she brought out their drinks. Needless to say we walked out. It was our first and last time there .

Tried this place 3 times with no luck for a quality experience. I have been robbed by a bartender there by adding a tip to my credit card after we had tipped almost 50% in cash. I found out the got rid of the offender so i gave them one more shot. I was again let down and was lied to about what beer i was being served on draft. After letting the bartender know she had given me the wrong beer she insisted i was wrong. I know a porter when i see it and its not an amber ale. If i cant trust a place to serve me what they claim and what i ordered i certainly cannot trust them not to rob me again.

I used to attend this place regularly before having a child, and have only been to visit once a month sense. My ex-boyfriend, who is a regular customer and a favorite of theirs, rear ended my car all the way home from their establishment to the point where I had to make two police reports because he also harassed my family later that night online. I brought the situation up to the owner and the owner said that if it affects her business she doesn’t want me there and the owner's boyfriend said that this customer is a favorite customer of theirs and that I am the crazy one even though I have two police reports from that night. They just held a customer appreciation night and did not appreciate anything about what happened to me after being accosted and harassed and literally rammed into all the way home from their establishment that night. My cousin is and always has been a regular customer of theirs, and my cousin escorted me to my car to make sure I was safe and , they treated him like gold. But if there is a situation between a woman and a man in that establishment, the woman is always the crazy one. Especially if the man is the one paying. Don’t trust single women to go in there alone and get home safely. I have two police reports to prove that.

Taylor Made

i was here last sunday after the bills game. the owner and another man were arguing loudly at the end of the bar while we were trying to eat. There were not many people in the bar so it was really obvious and uncomfortable. should not do that in front of customers, we left early and will not be back.

Michelle Goodrich

i came here for my regular Tuesday night last night and there was a new girl there and my bartender was gone. This has happened at this Hot Mama's countless times and I am tired of it. Take care of your employees, they're the reason we come to your bar!

mattr1016

Tried going for dinner, walked in, someone was in the kitchen who clearly saw us and didnt say a word. Walked further in and heard voices in the back, group of guys watching TV. Went and sat down at the bar, and thats where this story ends. No one came out, few people kept looking over at us but no acknowledgement, felt like whoever was there wanted us to leave so after some time we did. Very odd and bad experience.