Left Bank, Buffalo

I took my college age nephew to Left Bank for dinner. This review decribes just one incident I have had there. We waited at the hostess station for atleast 15 minutes. Just standing there in the middle of the floor. No one, not even the wait staff said anything to us. My nephew happened to know one of the young men clearing tables and said hello. I had to ask this kid about the hostess. It was so appalling that the hostess was sitting right behind us. She clearly saw us and never acknowledged us. He pointed her out and we had to step over to her to inquire about the wait time. She had an attitude, no customer service whatsoever. We where then told that it would be an hour wait. We left. I have not been back since. I used to LOVE Left Bank, the food is great. But the customer service is awful and rude. I am a person that dines out several time a week. I now steer people away from Left Bank and recommend restaurants with better customer service. I have had many people tell me of the same experience there. They no longer dine there either. Avoid this place,not worth being treated like dirt.

The restaurant is so poorly run and the hostess was so rude that we left before we were seated. My girlfriend and I have reservations for 6:00 for a special night, and we arrived about two minutes early, but our table wasn’t ready yet. We sat down to wait on the chairs by the hostess station in the bar area, and we waited. And we continued to wait. And wait. At 6:15 I asked the hostess if we were going to be seated soon. She smugly told me that was normal to wait fifteen minutes past a reservation time, and didn’t offer us any apologies for being unable to seat us near the time of our reservation. We watched three parties walk by and be seated—at least one with a 6:15 reservation—while we continued to wait; the hostess tried to avoid eye contact. Twenty minutes after our reservation time I asked her if it would be much longer and she finally mumbled an insincere and half-hearted “sorry,” still not deigning to look at us directly. When, at the twenty-two minute mark, she asked us if we wanted to put in an order for an appetizer, we were affronted: we hadn’t been offered a table, a menu, or any sincere apologies—and she was asking us if we’d like to buy an appetizer while they made us wait? It was clear that they were interested in our money, and only our money. At that point, we walked out. While this isn’t the first time I’ve had to wait for a table with a reservation—though this was the longest I’ve ever waited—what made this particularly frustrating was the attitude of the hostess, who tried to convince me first that it was common practice to be kept waiting fifteen minutes for a reservation, and her total unwillingness to acknowledge that she was inconveniencing us or that the restaurant had done anything wrong. When she told us it was usual to be kept waiting fifteen minutes with a condescending tone of voice it almost seemed like arrogance; she seemed to imply that as a restaurant of their calibre they have the right to treat their customers poorly. (My girlfriend and I just moved to Buffalo from Boston where we routinely ate at more expensive restaurants and we’ve never been treated so poorly.) It pushed us over the top when she offered to let us buy something from out seats in front of the hostess station by the bar; it was as if, by offering us the opportunity to purchase some of their divine food, she was attempting to make amends. Another example of their rampant—and unearned—snobbery. When we told her, at that point, that we were leaving, she just said “okay” and nodded, as if to encourage us to go, as if to say that it was for the best. An awful restaurant. Don’t ever go there unless you want to be treated like you’re worthless. I wrote to the manager regarding these complaints a month ago and he or she never wrote back.

I think these reviews over rate. The service was poor. Food was average. Tables are crammed together. Bartender was aweful while we waited for a table. Hostess or greeter was rude. I see the great reviews but in my opinion is overstated. If you are seeking a fine dining experience it's just not it. I did not think prices were out of line but I can find better food and service at so many other places in buffalo.

Left Bank is a wonderful dining experience and well worth the money for a good night out. The atmoshere is cozy, clean, romantic and modern. The bar area is very nice. The food was great! I have nothing bad to say about my experience there- I will definately be going back and recommending it to others!

My favorite restaurant in Buffalo. The bar area is great. My favorite things on the menu are the appitizers, ahi tuna and the fried oysters. My gf loves the portobello mushroom. The other food is good as well but I seem to fill up on the bourgeois fare before the entrees arrive. The steak and the ravioli are the best.

My rugby coach took us seniors and our dates here for our senior night...A++...perfect date spot....I wish I know of this place years ago..If you are looking to impress a lady (especially a suburb girl or young college girl) this is one of the top 3 spots to take her--and out of those 3, the most unexpected....food, serves and atmosphere are all top notch.....there are places in buffalo (and the area) like this...but not many...and this is as good as any of them

I love it. The food is superb and the service is great.

MAGNIFICENT!! The restaurant was great.The food was great,and the service was excellent. I've only been there once, but I can't wait to go back. KUDOS to the LEFT BANK.

MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT. Great food, service, and ambiance. One of the most romantic restaurants in Buffalo. Dim lighting and all brick wall interior gives off he feeling of being in on a patio in Paris.

Excellent food with a wide selection. Serving sizes are large. Great atmosphere. Will definitely go again.