Cornelia

Ted Lightfoot

Most museums have tasteful and fairly tasty restaurants. But having tried museum dining on four continents, this one is my favorite museum restaurant bar none. Why do we eat here so often (once a month or so)? First, the setting is spectacular. Many museum restaurants are tucked in a corner. This is not: it is in the most spectacular setting in the place. Second, it is a perfect atmosphere for good conversation. Finally, the food is exquisite: every bit up to the glorious setting. I usually have soup or a salad for lunch (sometimes supplemented with pastries from arguably Buffalo‘s best bakery). But the sandwiches and hot dishes are well prepared too. Beef on ‘Weck (Kimmelweck roll) is Buffalo’s second most iconic dish (after chicken wings). And while the quintessential way to experience Beef on ‘Weck is a dive bar, Cornelia’s serves one of the best Beef on ‘Wecks in Western New York. There is table service inside (which is very lively and, to be honest, I find too loud for conversation) and counter service for dining in the atrium: I find sitting in the atrium Is tonic for the soul.

Scott Negro

An innovative menu with well thought out flavor and texture combinations. The plating was meticulous as well. I'm pretty hard to impress in a restaurant, but I was blown away by chef's talent. Additionally, our server was amazing. I would recommend this place to anyone who appreciates haute cuisine.

D

Was looking for a healthy-ish meal with fresh ingredients and found it here. Tasty with generous portions as you can see. The filter coffee was surprisingly excellent, perfectly brewed. Would definitely come back.

stefan

I definitely had a very interesting brunch meal here. Staff were lovely!

Shaun Masavage

Very kind and accommodating staff. It's so nice to have a great coffee shop and restaurant in the beautiful space here. Highly recommend a visit!

MJ

Absolutely amazing 👏 🤩 Thursday Night Live was 🔥 🔥

I learned that the chef's name was Stephanie, who was on break when I asked to speak with her, so I offered my compliments on her behalf to the GM instead. The entire dish (Cider-glazed burnt ends) was excellent: the meat was perfectly done, the butternut squash was delicious, and the dressing for the arugula was wonderfully subtle, but the real highlight were the caramelized onions, which were candied delights, the likes of which I had never tasted before. I don't treat myself to fine dining often, and this departure from standard fare was truly special. Thank you and bravo.

Staff were very warm and accommodating. Would highly recommend the Elote dip or lentil soup.

Remarkable! I was expecting a museum cafeteria, and the food was incredible. Excellent coffee as well. Plus the space is beautiful.

pricey! food was excellent but for 2 salads and a bagel it was almost $40 (over that with tax and tip) we didn't even get drinks, just water. the roasted beet grain salads that we ordered was delicious and the rosemary bagel fresh. we might have just chosen wrong because the guy at the table next to ours had what appeared to be the charcuterie plate and we would have been happier to split that and share one salad.

Love this place. Menu has always something interesting to offer and the pastries come from a superb local bakery and never disappoint. The ambience of AKG just adds to the experience.

The best place on earth, amazing art, great food, and if your kids are bored- they have a kids section. I can’t think of anything that would top this place. Come on Thursday and Fridays and they reservations for you and delicious food. I recommend the chocolate ganache and crème brûlée. Amazing foods for you should be the duck 🦆. Look behind you or in front of you depending on your perspective and you will see a giant mosaic. The best staff member is Magnolia, there’s no such thing as a better restaurant. Adam H. Ten years old

One of the nicest museum "cafeteria" experiences ever! Lovely food, pleasant surroundings, great wines, superb pastries. 5 stars all the way around.

Matt Bossemeyer

Remarkable! I was expecting a museum cafeteria, and the food was incredible. Excellent coffee as well. Plus the space is beautiful.

Ken MacKenzie

I learned that the chef's name was Stephanie, who was on break when I asked to speak with her, so I offered my compliments on her behalf to the GM instead. The entire dish (Cider-glazed burnt ends) was excellent: the meat was perfectly done, the butternut squash was delicious, and the dressing for the arugula was wonderfully subtle, but the real highlight were the caramelized onions, which were candied delights, the likes of which I had never tasted before. I don't treat myself to fine dining often, and this departure from standard fare was truly special. Thank you and bravo.

Aaron Weinmann

Staff were very warm and accommodating. Would highly recommend the Elote dip or lentil soup.

Jaric Zola

Love this place. Menu has always something interesting to offer and the pastries come from a superb local bakery and never disappoint. The ambience of AKG just adds to the experience.

Leslie Atcheson

pricey! food was excellent but for 2 salads and a bagel it was almost $40 (over that with tax and tip) we didn't even get drinks, just water. the roasted beet grain salads that we ordered was delicious and the rosemary bagel fresh. we might have just chosen wrong because the guy at the table next to ours had what appeared to be the charcuterie plate and we would have been happier to split that and share one salad.

Carl Johengen

One of the nicest museum "cafeteria" experiences ever! Lovely food, pleasant surroundings, great wines, superb pastries. 5 stars all the way around.

pablo Hurtado

The best place on earth, amazing art, great food, and if your kids are bored- they have a kids section. I can’t think of anything that would top this place. Come on Thursday and Fridays and they reservations for you and delicious food. I recommend the chocolate ganache and crème brûlée. Amazing foods for you should be the duck 🦆. Look behind you or in front of you depending on your perspective and you will see a giant mosaic. The best staff member is Magnolia, there’s no such thing as a better restaurant. Adam H. Ten years old

Really interesting menu with interesting flavour combos, good drinks menu and coffees and nice deserts. The roast beef on a Weck roll was outstanding not to mention generous with beef. The side ceasar salads were really good too. The "pork belly" on a bun was a fail. The roll, pickles and sauce were good. The too thin pork belly had been deep fried to nearly burnt and was inedible. Clearly the chef doesn't appreciate the possibilities with pork belly. Americano coffees were really good. Decent, quick ordering process, and dishes are delivered to your table. Very nice space for your meal. I would eat here again, the roast beef sandwich was excellent. And the breaded chicken abreast sandwich at adjacent tables also looked top notch. Skip the "pork belly".

Paul Robert Gilroy

Really interesting menu with interesting flavour combos, good drinks menu and coffees and nice deserts. The roast beef on a Weck roll was outstanding not to mention generous with beef. The side ceasar salads were really good too. The "pork belly" on a bun was a fail. The roll, pickles and sauce were good. The too thin pork belly had been deep fried to nearly burnt and was inedible. Clearly the chef doesn't appreciate the possibilities with pork belly. Americano coffees were really good. Decent, quick ordering process, and dishes are delivered to your table. Very nice space for your meal. I would eat here again, the roast beef sandwich was excellent. And the breaded chicken abreast sandwich at adjacent tables also looked top notch. Skip the "pork belly".

The envirnonment was very nice, however, I didn't like the Cider Burnt Ends dish (pictured with spinach) I ordered. I found it to be unblanced in flavor and entirely too sweet. It was also on the small side, and most of the burnt ends were solid fat. The soup of the day (Miso Mushroom made with Flat 12 mushrooms) was better. It was chock-full of fresh mushrooms, but again I felt the flavor profile was too umami, it needed some other balancing flavor going on. My friend ordered a flatbread sandwich and she wasn't very excited about hers either. We didn't order drinks but from observing other orders it looked like they have some talented baristas. I've heard good things about Cornelia so I may give it a second try.

Jenica Faye

The envirnonment was very nice, however, I didn't like the Cider Burnt Ends dish (pictured with spinach) I ordered. I found it to be unblanced in flavor and entirely too sweet. It was also on the small side, and most of the burnt ends were solid fat. The soup of the day (Miso Mushroom made with Flat 12 mushrooms) was better. It was chock-full of fresh mushrooms, but again I felt the flavor profile was too umami, it needed some other balancing flavor going on. My friend ordered a flatbread sandwich and she wasn't very excited about hers either. We didn't order drinks but from observing other orders it looked like they have some talented baristas. I've heard good things about Cornelia so I may give it a second try.

Enjoyed the latte very much but the wipped feta was a big mis. Came out a watery mess. Asked the server if it normally looks like that and he said no and takes the dish away. Then brings the same plate back and says the olives must have been too hot and melted it amd puts it back on the table. Either a poorly thought out dish or just trying to save face about sending out a incorrectly made plate. One of the more unappetizing things ive been served in years.

Andrew Gleason

Enjoyed the latte very much but the wipped feta was a big mis. Came out a watery mess. Asked the server if it normally looks like that and he said no and takes the dish away. Then brings the same plate back and says the olives must have been too hot and melted it amd puts it back on the table. Either a poorly thought out dish or just trying to save face about sending out a incorrectly made plate. One of the more unappetizing things ive been served in years.

Love the AKG, love the chance to eat in the gorgeous "town hall" space -- but what a disappointment! I ordered the shrimp and sausage gumbo with toasted side of baguette; it arrived with a lump of cold rice, the baguette IN the gumbo, and three shivering slivers of sausage. The shrimp had clearly escaped their sad fate for there was none to be found. A pretentious rip-off at an otherwise delightful institution. Yikes. Update (March 2025): Last month after contacting the AKG I received a lovely email from the manager of Cornelia apologizing and offering a refund and to comp me a meal. At the time, I thought this was most gracious and said so. I asked for a refund and said since I lived out of town a comped meal wouldn't be necessary. But...I never received a reply and I've since been ghosted by the manager despite reaching back out to check in about the refund. So...fine talk, but no follow through. Thus endeth my sad saga. Love the AKG but the restaurant is subpar to the many other museum and gallery restaurants I've been to around the world.

Came in to enjoy art and dinner ( even received a confirmation of our 6PM dinner reservation at Cornelia’s) and when we arrived at 4:30 we were told they were closing at 5:00.

Sandra Faulring

Came in to enjoy art and dinner ( even received a confirmation of our 6PM dinner reservation at Cornelia’s) and when we arrived at 4:30 we were told they were closing at 5:00.

Ann Fox

Love the AKG, love the chance to eat in the gorgeous "town hall" space -- but what a disappointment! I ordered the shrimp and sausage gumbo with toasted side of baguette; it arrived with a lump of cold rice, the baguette IN the gumbo, and three shivering slivers of sausage. The shrimp had clearly escaped their sad fate for there was none to be found. A pretentious rip-off at an otherwise delightful institution. Yikes. Update (March 2025): Last month after contacting the AKG I received a lovely email from the manager of Cornelia apologizing and offering a refund and to comp me a meal. At the time, I thought this was most gracious and said so. I asked for a refund and said since I lived out of town a comped meal wouldn't be necessary. But...I never received a reply and I've since been ghosted by the manager despite reaching back out to check in about the refund. So...fine talk, but no follow through. Thus endeth my sad saga. Love the AKG but the restaurant is subpar to the many other museum and gallery restaurants I've been to around the world.