Some Closings 2021

The pandemic has taken a toll of many businesses over the past couple of years. There have been some long lists of restaurants no longer operating and some have been places we went to often for dinner. I listed a few here and most had other issues but the pandemic pushed them over the edge.

The favorite on the list is probably 100 Acres at Hotel Henry. We loved going to that restaurant and went there many times in recent years for all kinds of different occasions and often just the two of us because we liked it so much. It was also very close. The food was wonderful, the space was comfortable and interesting and there was a good bar too. The hotel closed but we've heard there is a new owner who will be getting in back in business soon. I hope that includes the restaurant. I wrote about the closing of the Hotel Henry earlier this year here.

There were many different rooms to dine throughout the restaurant. The bar was also very nice.

We also have spent a lot of time at The Steer over the years. It was one of our go to restaurants for all kinds of reasons. It was very close by, the food was always good, a great selection of beers, a nice fireplace. I wrote about the Steer a couple of times before. Once about the restaurant itself here and then earlier this year when I heard it was closing.

The Lake Effect diner was always a pleasant place to stop in for something to eat although we seldom went there for dinner. This dinner was actually moved from the outskirts of Philadelphia where it was the Wayne Diner. I had been there a few times back when I was a teenager. It was moved and lovingly restored next to the Steer.

Another restaurant we went to many, many times was Cantino Loco down on Elmwood and Allen Street in the Allentown neighborhood of Buffalo. It was another go to nearby restaurant.

The last one on this list is Mac's on Hertel. We would go there to hang out and have a couple of beers. The food was OK but nothing special. It was the Empire Grill before that and never made it as a very successful place on Hertel Ave. There was too much competition so I'm not completely surprised that Mac's closed. It's a good location and I'm sure something else will make a go of it there as will all of the places on this list.

• 100 Acres at Hotel Henry
• The Steer
• Lake Effect Diner
• Cantina Loco
• Mac's on Hertel