After I discovered the
Buffalo Bar was celebrating American Independence Day over three days I decided to check them out. The place is home to an American-themed bar and restaurant in the Brisbane CBD.
There was a special menu for the Festival of the Free. I ordered the Mac Doggy which turned out to be the most decadent hot dog I have ever eaten. It was a New York Dog wrapped in mac and cheese, breaded and fried, with caramelised onions and mustard for a sweet $14.50.
My dining companion ordered the chipotle and garlic (gluten free) basket of chicken wings, served with blue cheese dipping sauce and celery sticks for the same price. There were eight flavours to choose from, but the serving size was modest with only eight wings. We were lucky he ordered sweet potato fries for $9 on the side. He particularly liked the Diemens Stinger hot sauce made in Tasmania.
The Buffalo Bar specialises in American beer like Tailgate, Big Sky, Sierra Nevada, Abita and Founders. I wanted to try the Royal Jamaican Ginger Beer, but it wasn't in stock.
The desserts menu is to die for. You'll be tempted by snickers mess, banana and peanut butter dessert hot dog with candied bacon or the cherry bombe Alaska. Next time I might skip straight to sweets.
The pub features a typical wooden based décor and there were lots of red, blue and white party banners, streamers and balloons. In the background, classic pop music was playing, which you're sure to know the words of.
After our meal we wandered around the botanic gardens, but came back to the Buffalo Bar to see what the laneway party involved. We listened to the feet-tapping rockabilly band Sugar Shakers for a good hour and enjoyed a few American beers. (Unfortunately you couldn't order from the bar and take your drinks to the nearby laneway.) We missed the other bands Howlin' Time and The Hi-Boys as we had to vote.
Buffalo Bar is centrally located in the city for your American hit of authentic burgers, hot dogs and wheaty beer.