Dinner

More appropriate sober

If you are so inclined to eat on campus during the weekend, The Spectrum recommends Johnny C's in the Commons. Not only is it quick and easy, but there is likely to be a sandwich or salad that each member in your group will enjoy.

However, with so many restaurants scattered throughout Buffalo, there's no reason why you shouldn't go out and explore. These restaurants are, in particular, great for a date or quiet dinner with friends.

A number of great restaurants are located around the UB campuses. Fugi Grill at Maple Road and North Forest offers sushi and other Asian delicacies. Trattoria Aroma, located on Main Street between North Forest and North Union, is known for its Italian creations. The small, quiet atmosphere is ideal for a date. You may need a reservation, so it'd be wise to call ahead.

Amy's Place, at 3234 Main St. near South Campus, is known for its lentil soup and cookies, as well as the "Be Nice or Leave" slogan. For the more adventurous, Saigon Bangkok on Niagara Falls Boulevard serves Thai and Vietnamese food, as well as sake.

For those venturing into the city, try Globe Market on Elmwood. Globe offers a daily selection of soups, which can be found on its Facebook page, as well as various homemade salads, pastas and sandwiches. Kuni's is in the same neighborhood, on Lexington Avenue, and it has been regularly praised as offering some of the best sushi in the area. Kuni's doesn't take reservations, but it's a small venue, so you may have to arrive early or prepare to wait for a short time. Chef's, located on Seneca Street, is known for its red sauce and has, as a result, become a staple in the Buffalo restaurant scene.

For a slightly more expensive meal, head to Delaware Avenue and try Merge, a restaurant for vegetarians; Hutch's; or Oliver's. Each offers gourmet cuisine and a great wine list. Most participate in Buffalo's Restaurant Week, so if the cost doesn't fit in your budget now, try them during that week. Hutch's and Oliver's will most likely require a reservation, especially if your group is larger than two.

Bisto Europa at 484 Elmwood Ave. has also been praised for its Eastern European foods. It's informal and very small and, as such, a very quaint place to get lunch or dinner and try some different foods.

Easy to transition to a night out

Sometimes a dinner and drinks turns into a night out pretty organically. In Buffalo, there is no lack of restaurants positioned right near bars to which to turn.

If you're looking to go out on Chippewa for the evening, Papaya, Chocolate Bar and Bacchus are located directly on Chippewa and offer extensive drink menus and specials.

Papaya offers two-for-one martinis and half-price sushi on Wednesdays. It is also a local favorite for Thai and Vietnamese food. Chocolate Bar is located right next door and offers sandwiches and salads in addition to an extensive dessert and drink menu. Bacchus is an upscale restaurant known for its extensive wine list and elegant atmosphere. Papaya and Bacchus will typically require reservations and slightly dressier attire, but Chocolate Bar is slightly more casual.

Main Street offers some casual dining options, such as The Steer or Lake Effect Diner, found right next-door. Burgers and wings are in no short supply at these venues.

Elmwood also offers a plethora of dining options right near the bars, or even at the bars themselves. Cole's won Artvoice's "Best Burgers in Buffalo" designation, but it also serves a plethora of wraps, salads and wings. Blue Monk's kitchen just opened recently and has proven to serve more than the typical food found at a bar, such as mussels prepared in four various ways, house-made chips, or duck-fat fries.

No description of Elmwood dining would be complete without Pano's, open from 7 a.m. until 1 a.m. daily. With an extensive menu of reasonably-priced foods, Pano's is an easy place to please all palates. Saigon Café, also located on Elmwood, is the city's extension of Saigon Bangkok on Niagara Falls Boulevard. Each of these restaurants are located within walking distance to the bars or even Danahy's Liquor Store, making them great options before a night out.

Allentown also has restaurants conveniently located right by the bars, such as Sample. Sample, located across the street from Hardware, offers "samples" of various foods. The idea is to try lots of different options, each at a reduced price to account for their size. Sample also has a bar inside, which could potentially serve as a pre-game.

Hardware, located across the street, is a restaurant that turns into a very popular bar in the evening. In the same general area is Mothers, located by Main Street between Virginia Street and Allen Street. The kitchen is open late and serves in a dimly lit, upscale dining room. Within walking distance is Snooty Fox, another bar and restaurant that is especially popular on Sunday evenings.

If you choose to go out on Hertel Avenue, you'll find a plethora of Italian restaurants. In fact, the area has been referred to as Buffalo's version of New York City's "Little Italy." Empire, although not Italian, has a presence on Hertel and boasts an elegant bar and modern cuisine.