- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
La Tee Da
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
206 Allen StBuffalo, NY 14201
Neighbourhood: Allentown
(716) 881-4500
- Hours:
Wed-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
26 reviews for La Tee Da
Review Highlights
-
"and these really yummy spinach balls." In 7 reviews -
"Definitely don't pass up the eggplant buffalo "wings." In 3 reviews -
"Sat on the patio out back and enjoyed the fresh air." In 11 reviews
Loading...
26 reviews in English
-
Review from Amanda A.
Its a real bummer when you realize you are starving, you'd love to grab a bite to eat somewhere with quality food, but every good restaurant's kitchen is closed (besides a few). Last night my friends and I were starving after an event we attended and wanted to try Vera's Pizzeria. Unfortunately, we got there one minute too late, and they were no longer serving food. It was 10 o'clock and our options were diminishing as we quickly left to find somewhere else to dine. Vera's looked fun, and we're going to have to go back there some night just for some drinks.
Anyways, on to La Tee Da! I called them and asked whether or not they were still serving food. The woman who answered was super sweet and told us that it was a slow night and they were about to close up, but that we should come on in, and it would be no problem for them to stay open. I felt kinda bad, but she insisted. This is an example of going the extra mile; rather than turning people away, they encouraged us to come on in.
It was all of our first times visiting La Tee Da, and we did not know what to expect. I had always heard about it, but just never went there. I've probably walked by it 10 zillion times.
We were pleasantly surprised! The atmosphere is very intimate and has a cozy feeling. The walls are painted red, there are white lights strung up on the walls, and really cool artwork. The place settings on the tables were beautiful and colorful and included a vase of magenta gerber daisies and a candle.
We were greeted with smiles and got right down to business, ordering quickly. Our wine and apps came rapidly, and the eggplant wings were really good and vegetarian friendly! My friend ordered the curry lentil soup of the day which was fantastic. I got the four cheese lasagna with a spinach ball, and it was superb. We all cleaned our plates and left feeling satisfied. Everyone was extremely friendly and polite.
I can't wait to go back again, especially in the summertime when they open up their patio. The host told us how wonderful it is, and how they do brunches there on sundays. They also have lots of vegetarian and vegan options which is always impressive!Listed in: Grande ristoranti italiani a…
-
Review from Michael C.
East Aurora, NY
10/2/2011
We went to La Tee Da for my friend's birthday party. Believe it or not, we were asked to leave as they took our dessert orders. Yeah, no kidding.
Apparently management only gives you two hours per table, even with a reservation, even for a birthday party, even if slow service is the reason we ran "overtime." As we found out later they do that to everyone. They should have warned us about this unusual rule when we made our reservation; they should have been quicker to serve us if they were secretly timing our table.
To complete our meal, we had to move to their freezing patio where they don't have enough heaters to warm all the tables and the bartender served our desserts. I don't know of any other restaurant with this kind of crappy policy of shafting their customers.
Oh and the food: mediocre, maybe. That would have been fine if they hadn't discarded us like garbage as we were served our desserts in a 38 degree dining area.
What a disappointment. We won't ever return. You should go someplace else, too. -
Review from Don H.
Lancaster, NY
9/18/2011
We went there because my sister-in-law said it was really good. Well, we weren't overly impressed. The Spinach Balls we just OK. My wife makes better ones. We felt rushed. Our App's dragged out and dinners came too fast. My wife's Scallops weren't very good so I tasted them to see if we could switch....and no. My Spicy Sausage was good though.
I have to say: When the waitress noticed the Scallops weren't touched and asked why, she was immediately concerned and tried her best to make it right. She came back a few times with suggestions and we finally went for the Ahi Tuna which turned out to be VG.
The patio was very nice but as nice as it looks, don't sit way in the back near the fence. On that night the ocassional dumpster aroma came by. I'd like to give it a 2 1/2 stars and would like to try it again sometime. -
Review from Naomi P.
Buffalo, NY
2/2/2012
We went during restaurant week for my birthday and it was amazing. The service and ambiance was great. The spinach balls are worth a try, I've never tried something like that before. The salmon was excellent, it was seasoned just right. The pear salad seems generic, but is the best I have had. Overall, it was better than expected.
-
Review from Derrick C.
Buffalo, NY
2/17/2012
Came here for happy hour and despite great ambiance and excellent service, the food was disappointingly subpar. The eggplant wings were funky (in a bad way) and had way too much batter. The spinach balls were bland and had an unappetizing texture on the inside. And the mussels were dry and seemingly just thrown over the flavorful but salty white wine & garlic broth. Though we received stuffed banana peppers for free, they too were bland. The best part of the meal was the feta spread that came w/ the complimentary bread. Sad b/c I really wanted to like this place but it just reaffirmed how difficult it would be for me to be a vegetarian or Celiac diseased.
-
Review from Ken H.
Orchard Park, NY
What a fantastic spot for a dinner date. Intimate, romantic, and the food is amazing. As those before me have, I will rave about the spinach balls, however, the main course was no shrinking violet either.. Sat on the patio out back and enjoyed the fresh air. The breeze was a little stiff, but La Tee Da provides blankets on the patio and I thought that was the most thoughtful little touch.
Service was prompt, without being too rushed, and the place was not over-crowded,
Make a reservation, seating is limited at La Tee Da, and with good reason. The place is an all around excellent spot to have a nice, quiet, romantic dinner for two, whether on a second date, or after 50 years.
Highly recommended.
And the Tiramisu? Yeah, you might want to save room for that. -
Review from Coralie B.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
7/25/2011 3 photos
Love the patio! Had brunch here and it was amazing.
Looking forward to trying their dinner and updating my review! -
Review from GoPhast A.
Norfolk, VA
7/16/2011
Very over rated. Yes, it is adorable. Yes, it is a quaint spot in the city. The food is nothing special. We enjoyed the spinach balls and the hot eggplant appetizer. The service was atrocious. Our waitress was sweet but agonizingly slow and nonchalant. For 3 people to drop $150 I felt cheated...
I was there several years ago and it was an entirely different experience..... -
Review from Jake P.
Chicago, IL
4/12/2011
I need to try this place again.
The service was good, despite giving me the wrong glass of wine. I ordered a white and got a red. Drank it anyway, whatever.
I had a tuna steak, for about $23. It wasn't sushi grade, so I thought that was about right.
My girlfriend got the chicken cutlet (I don't know why, because she never orders crap like that), and it was not edible. It was extremely over done. It was like a tostada.
The beet salad was extremely boring.
I have heard many good things about this place from people who enjoy great dining. So, I think I need to maybe try something else on the menu.
Until then, it gets a two. -
Review from jess o.
9/13/2010
This place is pretty good but not really a place to rave about.
Good to Know Before You Go:
1. They only have the patio open. I assume in inclement weather, the open the inside but even on chillier nights you'll be sitting on the patio. They do provide blankets, but you might want to bring a sweater.
2. They only serve beer and wine.
3. The service is slow. Our meal took 3 hours.
Fun Things:
1. They have really nice music and a great atmosphere. Very good for a romantic meal (just don't sit right in front of the band).
2. They have little bottles of bubbles on the tables.
Basic Things:
1. This food is only okay. The selection is that great and I wasn't really impressed by any of it. Everyone was basically happy with their food but no one raved about it. I ordered the spicy chicken sausage pasta dish based on the recommendations on here. It wasn't anything special. Salmon was over cooked. My blue cheese wedge salad had very little blue cheese.
2. Service was spotty. We got there before our friends and decided to wait in the bar. When we learned it was beer and wine only we decided not to have a drink (figuring we'd just have wine with dinner). Bartender was annoyed. BUT there wasn't anyone else there so we weren't taking up room for paying folk. Once at the table, the waiter was really weird. He only likes 2 of the wines on the menu so he couldn't really offer advice. His descriptions of the wines were way off. We had many weird interactions with him. Here is a sample:
Me: I am trying to decide between the Rioja and the Pinot from Oregon.
Waiter: I don't like either one.
My Pal: Which is better the fig salad or the pear salad.
Waiter: Well I just don't like figs.
My Pal: What are my vegetable choices?
Waiter: Spinach or Julienne Vegetables
My Pal: Julienned what?
Waiter: Vegetables
My Pal: What kind of vegetables?
Waiter: You know the kind that is cut up in small slices.
My Pal: Uh... I guess I'll just try that and be surprised by what arrives.
Waiter: Oh good. I think you'll really like it. It's squash and something else. It's raw but then it's fried.
(btw - it was sauteed carrots and zucchini)
I am too lazy to type out the other things, but we had a lot of trouble understanding each other. I'd go back if someone else wanted to check it out but it seems unlikely. -
Review from Roxanne O.
Lyndhurst, OH
5/2/2011
I've never felt so at home in a restaurant/bar full of strangers.
Through the power of Yelp, I discovered this hidden gem while in town for business and I'm glad I talked my co-worker into staying at the restaurant after we were nearly turned away for having no reservations. (hooray, bar seating)
I don't know where to begin. The ambiance was great. The people were great. The service was great. And the food - WOW! You MUST try the spinach balls. I'd kill for the recipe, quite honestly.
We also tried the eggplant wings. As a vegetarian, I never eat anything with wing sauce, so I thought they were just ok. For my entree I had the vegan caponata. This might sound cliche, but the sauce tasted just like what my mom used to make growing up - chock full of fresh vegetables and seasonings. It was really great. And a huge portion!
We were too stuffed for dessert, but the chocolate birthday cake that another party at the bar offered us looked delicious. Throughout our entire meal, the bartender was very attentive and the people seated around us were so friendly. I've never experienced such a friendly group (in a non creepy way), to be honest. (thanks for the shots, random strangers!)
I wish this restaurant were in my neighborhood. This is the kind of laid back place I like to hang out in and with such great food and service, what's not to like? -
Review from Dane K.
7/17/2009
Superb Italian restaurant with a nice backyard patio.
We started off with buffalo style eggplant. The waitress described them as "exactly like chicken wings" ... That's a bit of a tall order to fulfill in Buffalo, but wow were they great. They really were just like chicken wings. Totally unique, totally great.
We also had an artichoke appetizer where they were a bit like a fritter maybe. Good.
I never, would have ordered it had the waiter not raved about how great it was, but I ordered a penne pasta with chicken sausage. I had seen two other tables with it and it looked great. It had a red sauce in it... It was out of this world! I couldn't finish it all and ate the rest later, and it was amazing cold even.
The menu was extremely vegetarian and even vegan friendly. Also, there were a number of items where it was notated that they were gluten-free. (Their meatballs all had "gluten free" next to them... which really if you weren't looking for gluten free might make you wonder if they're good even... but I'm sure they are great!). Entree prices ranged from about $15-25 with the average being somewhere in the middle.
The reservations policy is a little fuzzy, but apparently they take same day reservations and I would definitely recommend a reservation to get a patio table. We showed up without one and almost didn't get seated, but Mary took care of us.
The patio is well set up to work in spring and fall weather, there are plenty of heaters everywhere. And she provides a little pashmina thing to the ladies at every chair outside just in case there's still a chill.
Beer & wine only (though rumor has it you might score a shot of complimentary homemade limoncello if you're lucky). Wine selection is pretty great and there are lots of reasonable options.
Parking is easy --there's a Buffalo city parking lot directly adjacent, which was free by the time it was dinner time.
Crowd was pretty mixed--a lot of couples, older, younger, groups, gays, straight.. Most people dressed up a bit to go out for dinner, but not everyone.
Great place! -
Review from jena n.
Chicago, IL
10/7/2009
This is my favorite patio in Buffalo! I think it even beats Mother's in that race. I love the lighting back there. Such a cool atmosphere, and sometimes there's live music!
The staff has always been super nice and helpful. (If you're cold on the patio, they'll even bring you a little blanket, haha. I saw several chicks with these blankets.)
I highly recommend the pork with asian barbeque sauce over mashed potatoes! Magically delicious!! I've never ordered anything else, but the people I've gone there with always seemed wicked impressed and satisfied too.
I just wish they were open more often! They're only open wednesday through saturday 5pm till 11pm something. Maybe they're just playing hard to get. -
Review from Jason L.
7/6/2010
Took a certain lovely, indescribably wonderful woman to La Tee Da on a whim with no res to check out the patio.
We arrived on the later side of things, 8:45ish on a Saturday. No problems. There was live music that night, jazz, and the singer had a good time interacting with the tables around her. I love live music!! I love jazz!! I love people with a sense of humor. We are not here to be dour, humorless drones. I swear to God I heard a version of the Flintstones theme.
At any rate, we were seated and promptly offered some olives and bread. We were offered water, either "tap" or another kind, I think was Acqua Panna. We went with tap. Then, ah yes! The menu came. I'm not so sophisticated about wine, but I do know the wine list didn't have any super expensive options on it. Seems like they were all somewhere between 25-40. Not bad. I like Rioja, so we went with that at I think 31 for the bottle.
I'm terribly sorry, but I do not recall what the previously praised indescribably wonderful woman ordered for her entree. I was too busy basking in the afterglow of the spinach balls. My goodness they were tasty. I had the Spicy Chicken Sausage dish. "Spicy" is relative - it wasn't a mouth burner but had plenty of flavor. It was big chunks of sausage in tomato sauce over penne. I can't be sure but I don't think I left one molecule of the sauce on the plate. Is that appropriate?
We were graciously offered a complimentary glass of homemade limoncello, which even though I felt a little buzz from the Rioja I had to try. Love me some limoncello!! It wasn't too sweet. Very good end to the meal. We were too stuffed for dessert.
And, yeah, by the way, the patio is awesome.........that can't be overstated. A good patio is gold in the city. It is a nice, romantic, chill, laid back place with very little pretense. I felt the atmosphere was very nice out back, and the feedback I got on the choice of restaurant was very good as well. Highly recommended. -
Review from Tom D.
Orchard Park, NY
1/28/2012
Great menu, great atmosphere, cute restaurant. Not sure if this is necessarily a gay place, but it's great for couples and small groups.
-
Review from Michael D.
Holly, MI
11/19/2009
Wow. I mean it. Wow. The first thing I have to say about La Tee Da is that I honestly don't think I've ever had fresher food in my life. I really can't get over how genuinely GOOD the food was.
Okay, but I'll back up for a second. La Tee Da is a very nice, cozy restaurant. I was here once, years ago, and enjoyed their patio immensely. This was the first time I had say in or even see the inside of the restaurant. As soon as you enter, you feel the comfortableness of the place settle in around you. It's a tight place, but it doesn't feel cramped or crowded.
Our cheerful hostess immediately presented us with bread and olives, both of which were heavenly. We followed this up with a shared bowl of the butternut squash soup. Coarsely done, there was enough body to the soup to determine that there was both squash and sweet onion in there. It gave a wonderful lightness to what can be an otherwise bland soup.
If the soup was good, it was only a warm up for the aforementioned awesome entrees. We ordered pesto pasta as well as a chicken sausage and pasta dishes. I remember that the second they were placed in front of us, I could tell that these dishes were made with love. Delicious, delicious, love. The pasta was properly al dente and both were laden with basil that literally tasted fresh picked.
A wonderful dining experience with wonderful food. If I still lived in Buffalo, this place would become one of my regular haunts for a nice dinner. Even so, I'll probably try and come back here when I'm in town. -
Review from Danny H.
Los Angeles, CA
2/24/2010
Went here while visiting from Los Angeles. Everything about this place was excellent, from the ambiance to the server to the food.
Definitely don't pass up the eggplant buffalo "wings." I still dream about them.
For my main course, I got the lasagne. It was pretty big, and I took the leftovers home. It was even better the next day.
Seemed like a good place to bring a date. I will definitely be eating here again next time I'm in town. -
Review from PJ H.
7/27/2010
Went to La Tee Da while visiting some friends in Buffalo. We had an excellent meal outside on the patio, with a sweet local jazz band playing in the background. The food was fresh and flavorful and the staff was friendly.
We started off with salads and some of the spinach balls, which i thought were very clever and tasty. I had the Pesto pasta with home made pesto cream sauce, pine nuts and grilled shrimp, and it was delicious. Others in my group got the salmon, which was good, and a risotto with grilled shrimp that looked alright as well.
The highlight for me, however, was the dessert. I cant remember the name of the cake, i want to say Cassatta, but it was a white cake covered in ricotta cream icing that was so good. We split it as a group and it was devoured instantly.
I would recommend this place to anyone who lives in Buffalo or is in Buffalo fo' a visit -
Review from Julie J.
Buffalo, NY
7/25/2010 1 Check-in Here
Went here for dinner with my husband and had a very good meal. Eggplant wings are an excellent appetizer, as others have noted. All of our dishes, from the eggplant "wings" to the fig and goat cheese salad to the caponata entree, had a complex and pleasing palate.
The place has a nice neighborhood feel to it. it's a small restaurant with a lovely and spacious patio which filled up quickly. I would definitely go back to this restaurant for a date-night out or a dinner with friends. -
Review from Jordan D.
Brooklyn, NY
11/29/2010
i hardly ever say this, but don't bother.
the service was friendly, though slightly smug and not quite attentive enough (near closing time), but the real issue is that the food is way too overpriced for what it is, especially in a town like buffalo (i guess there just aren't that many places like it so they can get away with it?).
the tilapia with asparagus and mashed potatoes was a decently done standard, though the portions were really small, and again, i really don't think they justified their prices with nothing more than a decently done standard dish (which, btw, came out of the kitchen suspiciously fast) in a dirt cheap town like buffalo.
the real problem was the capanata. it was basically little pieces of eggplant and zucchini swimming in a bland red sauce which tasted like it could have come out of a jar. really.
i'm no scathing or bitter yelper. i'm usually satisfied with what i get. but i'm sorry, maybe it was just the experience of wandering around in the bitter buffalo cold trying to find a place that wasn't a bar and grill where i could get a decent vegetarian dish.
my impression was that this was the kind of place where they jack up the prices because they are really trying to dish out a kind of trendy ambiance. well, i'm sorry, when you leave the silverware rolled up in the napkin and you have parmesan cheese shakers on your tables, anyone paying around $20 a dish for this experience just doesn't know any better, but maybe you can get by doing this in the buffalo scene....
i'll stick with amy's any day........ -
Review from Nick L.
Getzville, NY
3/19/2011
La tee da...what a great find...cozy little place on Allen street...never thought to go in to this place before...actually to be honest.? Looks kinda seedy from the outside...but ..go in..really...ummmm...actually, don't bother....haha....then I won't be able to get a table. Food was great...had bolognese with beef and lamb and whole wheat penne...great salad...and these really yummy spinach balls....you have to try these. OMB...wine was delish..and atmosphere was charming and eclectic. They even had little blankets on the chairs and a heater near our table. (we were near the front window so it was a little chilly. Very well received restaurant
-
Review from Kat F.
2/26/2010 2 photos
First thing's first: reservations required. Call ahead and make them, otherwise the "maitre d'" (used loosely) won't know what to do with you.
Susan C and I sat at the bar at this gothic/velvety/bordello-styled French restaurant and sized up the romantic menu. The number of typos on the menu of nightly specials was staggering (both French and English) considering it was printed off in Word/Times New Roman. I'm begging you, people: F7. Hit it. "Julian vegetables" (aka julienned) and "burr blanc sauce" (beurre blanc) were among the ones I noticed.
Onto the beurre blanc sauce - according to Wikipedia it's a "rich French sauce made from an acidic reduction whisked together with chunks of fresh butter. The result is used on things like fish, eggs, poultry, and vegetables to add a complex, rich layer of flavour." No such sauce accompanied the "Centre cut cod filet with Meyer lemon beurre blanc sauce, basmati rice and julienned vegetables" that I ordered ($18). It was another Case Of The Curiously Missing Dressing like the one we experienced at Silver Spoon (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...) all over again. I didn't like the plain fish filet and didn't come close to finishing it; would have said something but honestly forgot that it was even supposed to come with sauce in the first place. The julienned vegetables with it were OK and the rice was...plain white basmati. Nothing exciting about this dish. It essentially tasted like the "bland meal" that some passengers are stuck ordering as their in-flight meal on a plane. No seasoning to speak of.
Our shared appetizers, however, were quite good: a candied pecan, cranberry, gorgonzola and poached pear salad, as well as hot peppers stuffed with cheese. If only we had assembled our meal out of appetizers!
The bartender kept unnecessarily referring to us as girls. "Can I get you girls something to drink?" "How are you girls doing?" etc. Susan C and I are not girls. Quit patronizing us. Also, yes, I noticed both your tongue ring and your abs. Please put both away.
The washrooms are very well-equipped. Wet wipes, perfume, lotion, nail polish remover (I handily used it to remove my tester nail polish from an earlier trip to Walden Galleria) and more.
Having come here based on the perfect five star rating from other yelpers, I left disappointed and would be unlikely to return or recommend La Tee Da to Buffalo visitors.Listed in: To Do List: Buffalo
-
Review from suvi f.
Buffalo, NY
8/21/2011
The atmosphere was great, but the service and food were disappointing. We had a reservation, and were seated 1/2 after our reservation time. The waitress was rushed, not familiar with the menu, and inattentive. My pasta dish was horrible - a bunch of ingredients carelessly thrown together, the flavor was awful. My wife's dish was excellent. The salad and dessert were a disappointment. The salad didn't have the ingredients listed on the menu, it was overdressed, and the cake was very dry. We sat on plastic folding chairs, the Cosco kind, they were uncomfortable. The food was overpriced. I feel like this may be a good place to go for a drink at the bar, but not a place worth dropping a lot of money on a low quality dinner.
-
Review from Jessica B.
Buffalo, NY
7/29/2009
Great little restaurant. Perfect for a romantic dinner for two or a get together with old friends.
My husband and I decided to dine here late one summer evening. We popped in with no reservations and a very accommodating host made room for us in a nook by the door. It seemed a little bit like we were stuffed in a closet, but beggars can't be choosers! Our waitress was very nice and knowledgeable and our meals were excellent. We both had house salads with crumbled bleu cheese over top and they were excellent and fresh. The house dressing also seemed fresh and was delicious. My husband ordered the Spicy Chicken Sausage which consisted of sausage, spinach, wine and tomato cream over penne pasta. He loved it! The serving was so large that he took the rest home because he was too full to finish it all. I had the nana Nunzia's Pasta. That, too, was also very good and filling. Following our great meals our waitress came by with a glass bottle of homemade limoncello and offered us each a shot, but dropped the shot glass and it broke into a million pieces on the concrete floor. She hurried to scoop it all up and then ran back to bar to grab another shot glass. She was so sweet and apologetic and it wasn't even necessary!
I called recently to make reservations and, as mentioned in other reviews, got a shady answering machine that was unable to take a message because it was full. I tried calling several times after, but never reached anyone. I guess your best bet is to just stop by in person, but please don't let that deter you from trying this fantastic restaurant.
Overall it was such a fabulous experience. Great ambiance. Great food. Great service. 5 stars! -
Review from Alicia B.
Buffalo, NY
6/10/2010
Oh oh oh my. The best dining experience I remember in a long time. My fiance and I went here to celebrate our engagement on New Year's Eve. The restaurant was soooo cozy and inviting on a chilly winter night. The menu looked delectable, and our server was an absolute doll. The fiance told her about his food allergies, and she was very accommodating, making sure no soy ended up on his plate (which is a huge relief; it's not always easy eating out and La Tee Da specifically states that they're sensitive to food allergies - THANK YOU!).
I always say that the sign of a good restaurant is when I can remember the entree I had there months after the fact. Such is the case with my amazing, creamy, perfectly-cooked scallop risotto. The fiance still raves about his tuna, too. The buffalo eggplant wings were also to die for! Oh god, I'm getting hungry... we'd both love to go back ASAP, but it's pretty pricey so we'll have to wait for a special occassion. Looking forward to another romantic evening, La Tee Da! -
Review from Beatrice L.
Livermore, CA
8/1/2010
a bit pricey and you definitely need to make reservations way in advance. but the service is great and the menu is awesome. if the weather permits, you can eat on the patio and the ambience is wonderful. the buffalo style eggplant is yummy
