SZND

I enjoyed the food very much, I would highly recommend this place. The salmon & trout + Vietnamese Calamari & Blueberry and Vodka Mojito was to die for!💕🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟💕

Excellent. Decided to dine at this restaurant with my family and fiancé to celebrate a promotion at work. I am a huge Buffalo foodie and have dined at almost every restaurant in the area. This was one of the best experiences I have ever had at a restaurant. I was nervous at first because of the size of the dining area, I thought it might get too noisy to hear my family. It was not at all. The waitress was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. She gave her recommendations when asked what dishes she enjoyed on the menu. Her recommendations were wonderful and we loved everything we ordered. The food was incredible. For our main entrees we had the lobster risotto, sea bass, ragu pasta, and the skirt steak. I couldn’t decide which one was at the top of the list. The menu selection is a bit small and there are no nightly specials so keep that in mind when trying out this restaurant. The one downside was that there is no decaf coffee available for dessert. I think this would be an excellent addition to offer guests. Overall the experience was great and the food was even better. I would definitely recommend this restaurant and I will be back to dine in the future! (I apologize the picture quality isn’t great. I usually take lots of pictures but the food was so good I forgot! Pictured below is the shrimp app, sea bass, and lobster risotto)

Agustin Caffarelli

What an amazing surprise I had with this place. I was in buffalo for 24 hours and I went for dinner here. The artichoke is one of the most delicious things I ate this year, I absolutely loved it. I really would serve that everywhere. The wait for the main dishes was a little bit long but probably because of the pork chop. I think they have some things to improve but in overall this plates tasted like home, you could feel they were made with love. In that kitchen they have a team with a lot of potential of becoming a premium restaurant. They have to improve a little the service and some decoration, but food-wise one of the meals I enjoyed the most this year. Congrats to them.

How it is Liz

SZND is a unique upscale restaurant in the city of Buffalo! I love dining in their sophisticated intimate setting. Everything about this restaurant is fantastic! They provide excellent service. Their food is seasoned to perfection! I highly recommend the blackened artichokes for an appetizer. The fettuccine & scallops and halibut are two dishes not to be missed! I've dined here on several occasions. It's been consistently wonderful every time! Their address is on Hertel but the entrance is around the corner. The sign is easy to miss. Parking can be a bit of a challenge. There is a parking lot across the street I usually have luck finding a space there. It's definitely worth making a trip out here!

Dan Stroehlein

I cannot say enough positive things about this amazing place. We were greeted by the owner upon walking in the door. We didn't have a reservation, but he was able to get us in quickly. Everyone was very welcoming and provided excellent recommendations for cocktails and food. Every bite was amazing, and I couldn't help but talk about it after every single bite. We ended our meal with some of their amazing desert options. The desert truly is amazing and I highly recommend making sure you order something from their desert menu. We are so happy we made it in to SZND finally and cannot wait to have dinner here again soon!

Brian Geldin

Went for the first time to SZND on my birthday tonight with my husband and mom. We were warmly welcomed and seated in the beautifully decorated dining room. Our server was Marielle, who took great care of us throughout the entire experience. Very delightful and knowledgeable about the menu, answering any questions we had about the menu, which while has a small selection, each item is exquisitely and artistically made to perfection. We started with a cocktail, I had the nickel and dime, and my husband had the blackberry mint. Then we had some small plate appetizers including the tuna ceviche, blackened artichoke (stellar) and the SZND salad. Main courses: Mom had Wahoo fish with rizotto, hubby had grilled octopus with cous cous and I had the short rub Ragu with gnocchi. We all tried each other's dishes. Each bite was an experience of flavor, texture and deliciousness. Ended with a birthday candled cookie dough brownie tart and an espresso. Highly recommend to foodies and anyone looking for a unique alternative to the ordinary fare you can find most anywhere. Prices are generally higher than other places nearby, but we'll worth it.

Rosco the BfLo Cop Critic

Craving a vibe spot with culinary cuisine? Look no further than Sẓ̌ND that's pronounced "seasoned "! A hidden gem off Hertel Av, that offers an intimate but cheeky blue/white atmosphere. I met Andrew G.- the owner and the chef - Lyane earlier in the day when I walked in, off the street to make a reservation. The food, presentation and service were above par. Great place to bring your Bae 😍 have cocktails, and relax. SźND gets two thumbs 👍🏾 up!

Mom and Kay Adventures

Everything was great. Overall great service, atmosphere, food and presentation. The server although he didn't give his name was very accommodating. I am quite pregnant and he offered without having to even be asked to make me a mocktail. It was a delicious concoction of blackBerry, mint and club soda. The food was presented wonderfully and all seemed to be prepared fresh. Everything from the beet salad to the seafood risotto was delicious. Hi Lee recommend for a cute date night.

Yvette Snyder

You can park across the street in the bank lot. Stopped out for our anniversary. The food was delicious, the service was great and the espresso martini is DELICIOUS. We will most definitely be back.

J H

SZND is everything that you are looking for when it comes to dining. This small intimate restaurant might be the biggest secret in Buffalo. Those who know about SZND have been enjoying great food and drinks for some years now. If you still haven't had a opportunity to come here. Make it your top priority for your next outing, you will not be disappointed. The menu has been updated with some new amazing seasonal entrees. It's always a nice thing to see new creative dishes. Veal lasagna- not your typical lasagna. The red sauce is replace with a wonderful white sauce (Parmesan, ricotta). This sauce covers the layers of the veal lasagna. I throughly enjoyed this dish. Fettuccine and scallops- I love the pasta in every entree that SZND prepares. Homemade pasta makes everything so much better. The Parmesan sauce is just as great. The scallops are made just right and serves as a great compliment to the dish. SZND salad- Very refreshing mixed greens salad with fruit and candied pecans. The fried goat cheese was a nice touch.

Orcamania5

Very delicious Italian food with exceptional staff and service. I visited this restaurant couple weeks ago for a special occasion and ordered 2 dishes and a dessert. Enjoyed the atmosphere and the interior design. I am glad that I choose to dine out at SZND.

Christina Corfield

Delightful, intimate restaurant with friendly staff and truly excellent food! Everything my sister and I ate was exceptional - fresh, and carefully cooked so it was flavorful. Well-mixed cocktails both on and off their menu added to a wonderful meal. We were able to get a table easily without a reservation, although we went very early during the week. This is a great place for both date night or family celebration dinners (we saw both during our meal) with easy parking off Hertel Ave.

Had dinner at SZND last night and we had the most AMAZING time there. Everything we had was out of this world!!! The atmosphere is so intimate and the attention to details is crazy, from the back of the chairs matching the wallpaper, to the white martini glasses and the gold champagne flutes. Nicole, Nicole, Cheryl & Andrew are the most pleasant people. I encourage you to try this gem out, you will not be disappointed!

Had a wonderful experience here last night for my mothers birthday. Atmosphere was great, food was fantastic, and the waitress truly went out of her way to make the occasion special. Thank you!

Shawn Gillen

Had a wonderful experience here last night for my mothers birthday. Atmosphere was great, food was fantastic, and the waitress truly went out of her way to make the occasion special. Thank you!

Susan Hogg

Had dinner at SZND last night and we had the most AMAZING time there. Everything we had was out of this world!!! The atmosphere is so intimate and the attention to details is crazy, from the back of the chairs matching the wallpaper, to the white martini glasses and the gold champagne flutes. Nicole, Nicole, Cheryl & Andrew are the most pleasant people. I encourage you to try this gem out, you will not be disappointed!

Sonja Jensen-Schell

We go out to eat often. This place is the best place we’ve been to in several years. Four of us went out. We got appetizers, mains and desserts, and two drinks each for about $100 per person. Loved the artichokes and the bison ribs. The blue cheese on the bison ribs was next level. We all tasted each plate. The halibut with puttanesca sauce was my order. I both enjoyed it more and fell less nutritional guilt for it than most dining out options. The putanesca had a delicious tang without too much acid. Very well balanced flavor. My husband had the sea bass. It was perfectly cooked with a crisp outer coating, cooked through but still moist. Our friends had the chicken and the shrimp risotto. Again perfectly cooked with well balanced flavors. Desserts… again not cloyingly sweet but spot on with rich delightful flavors. We sampled several of the cocktails which were again… well balanced and delightful. It is clear that attention to flavor balance prevailed throughout the entire experience. This place is aptly named. It is worth noting that the service was also excellent and attentive. No stress about needing some gluten free options. Silverware replaced between courses and music at a volume that was atmospheric without making conversation difficult. I didn’t feel the tension that often comes from trying to talk over the ambient noise of a restaurant. 5 stars plus bonus. Don’t miss this place.

Parking is not a problem. We called without reservations on a Saturday night and got a seat. The waiter was very helpful. We sat outside, and it started raining but that was not a problem because they it was covered (and heated if needed). The food was absolutely delicious but the only problem was the portions are very small. I had to order another entreen. My wife loves sweets so she ordered the creme brulee. Overall we had a wonderful experience. The bathrooms are very clean

I’ve had several very good meals here. See pics below from a visit from June 2023 where both dishes were great. The service is good. The only downside is that because it’s so small/intimate, if there are loud obnoxious people there, it can ruin your pricey experience.

My boyfriend and I treated ourselves to a nice dinner tonight and this place did not disappoint! I couldn't give 5 stars as my scallops were extra salty, almost so I couldn't eat them. Luckily the pasta sauce helped mellow it out. But the tuna ceviche was amazing and I'd come back just for the creme brulee! Definitely a great experience.

Did takeout and the artichoke with crab was good. Solid appetizer size and good flavor. The octopus dish was solid but the octopus didn’t have enough char and wasn’t the best cooked. The flavor was there but just needed to be cooked longer and seared.

ikc

Parking is not a problem. We called without reservations on a Saturday night and got a seat. The waiter was very helpful. We sat outside, and it started raining but that was not a problem because they it was covered (and heated if needed). The food was absolutely delicious but the only problem was the portions are very small. I had to order another entreen. My wife loves sweets so she ordered the creme brulee. Overall we had a wonderful experience. The bathrooms are very clean

bll runs

I’ve had several very good meals here. See pics below from a visit from June 2023 where both dishes were great. The service is good. The only downside is that because it’s so small/intimate, if there are loud obnoxious people there, it can ruin your pricey experience.

brandy amorosi

My boyfriend and I treated ourselves to a nice dinner tonight and this place did not disappoint! I couldn't give 5 stars as my scallops were extra salty, almost so I couldn't eat them. Luckily the pasta sauce helped mellow it out. But the tuna ceviche was amazing and I'd come back just for the creme brulee! Definitely a great experience.

Stephan Herard

Did takeout and the artichoke with crab was good. Solid appetizer size and good flavor. The octopus dish was solid but the octopus didn’t have enough char and wasn’t the best cooked. The flavor was there but just needed to be cooked longer and seared.

Came here for an anniversary. Wanted to try something new and nice, and it was interesting. The place is super small, nice little bar. Seating is tight, you’re almost should to shoulder with the people next to you. It’s got a nice little home vibe if you like that. We ordered a small plates, entrees, and dessert. I got the Bison Rib small plate, the ribs had very little meat on them and the sauce was super light, but wasn’t horrible. My girl got the Tuna Ceviche, and that was honestly pretty good! For main entrees we both got the Braised Short rib ragu, and yikes. Literally almost no flavor, no color, and the plate just looked ugly and half empty. Would not recommend it at all. We got fondue at the end, and that was solid for sure. The service though was great, everyone there was really nice and attentive. It just might not have been our cup of tea.

Johnathan G.

Came here for an anniversary. Wanted to try something new and nice, and it was interesting. The place is super small, nice little bar. Seating is tight, you’re almost should to shoulder with the people next to you. It’s got a nice little home vibe if you like that. We ordered a small plates, entrees, and dessert. I got the Bison Rib small plate, the ribs had very little meat on them and the sauce was super light, but wasn’t horrible. My girl got the Tuna Ceviche, and that was honestly pretty good! For main entrees we both got the Braised Short rib ragu, and yikes. Literally almost no flavor, no color, and the plate just looked ugly and half empty. Would not recommend it at all. We got fondue at the end, and that was solid for sure. The service though was great, everyone there was really nice and attentive. It just might not have been our cup of tea.

Excellent espresso martinis. I had the fettuccine with scallops, scallops were very under cooked and very small in size. My companion had the gnocchi ragu, it was more like a shredded pot roast, it had great flavor but not considered a ragu. The best part was the peanut butter pie. Service was great, very attentive.

Josephine Mcgough

Excellent espresso martinis. I had the fettuccine with scallops, scallops were very under cooked and very small in size. My companion had the gnocchi ragu, it was more like a shredded pot roast, it had great flavor but not considered a ragu. The best part was the peanut butter pie. Service was great, very attentive.

Michael France

We chose SZND for our tenth anniversary dinner after several days of debating whether to try something new or stick with one of our tried-and-true favorites. The glowing reviews and upscale reputation eventually swayed us - unfortunately, it turned out to be a decision we regret. To begin with, we noted our anniversary in the reservation - 10 years is an important milestone. We didn’t even get a simple “Happy Anniversary.” There was zero recognition of the occasion. Not a word. That said, the atmosphere is charming, and our server was friendly and attentive. Cocktails were good enough, and the appetizers (crispy wontons and blackened artichoke hearts) were really nothing earth-shattering, but we did enjoy them. We started off hopeful. But once the entrées arrived, things took a nosedive. My dish - the short rib ragu — looked sparse and sad on arrival. It took up about one-quarter of the plate, with the rest of the plate smeared in some kind of unappetizing combination of sauce and grease. The gnocchi were practically inedible - hard, dense, and dry, instead of the light, pillowy texture they should have. For $34, I expected a satisfying, flavorful dish. I’ve had far better short ribs at Hilltop Restaurant and Bar, where the portions are generous, the meat is tender, and the price is much more reasonable. My wife’s dish - halibut with puttanesca - was no better. While she enjoyed the sauce, the fish itself was overcooked and bone-dry. Honestly, she makes it better at home using frozen halibut from Sam’s Club, which is not something you expect to say after dropping this kind of money at a so-called upscale restaurant. We expressed our disappointment, and to their credit, the staff offered to remake the meals. But at that point, it was already late, our plates were mostly untouched, and the moment was ruined. We weren’t interested in waiting around for another 20 to 30 minutes to maybe receive a better version of what we’d already lost confidence in. That simply isn’t a viable solution when the evening was meant to be special and relaxing. Instead of a meaningful gesture or comping one of the unsatisfying entrées, they offered to take two cocktails off the bill or give us dessert. That felt like a token effort, not true hospitality. And bafflingly, they didn’t even offer to pack up our meals. Ok, sure, we didn’t love them, but why should we have to pay full price and not even be offered our leftovers? In the end, SZND looked good on the surface and we had high hopes, but beyond the cute decor and solid starters, it was a huge letdown, especially for such a special night. We left feeling frustrated, hungry, and wishing we’d gone somewhere that values both food quality and customer experience. We won’t be back.