Gene McCarthy's Old First Ward Brewing Company - Buffalo, New York

J K.

This place was recommended by many people in the Buffalo foodie group for the best fish fry. Although the french fries are fresh cut, I am certain that the ones I was served were reheated, I could tell by the texture that they didn't recently come out of the fryer. None of the sides were anything to write home about. The coleslaw had a slight citrus flavor to it and an herb on top that I couldn't quite decipher which gave it a distinct flavor. The potato and macaroni salad were both mediocre. The fish itself is skinless haddock, it was good quality and cooked perfectly. The batter on the fish was not dense at all, it was more light and airy, had a nice crunch on the top half of the fish but the entire bottom side of the fish was soggy. When I picked the piece of fish up vertically, liquid dripped out the end of it onto the plate, I'm not sure if it was oil or water. The tartar sauce was good but with a pronounced vinegar flavor. The flavor of the batter on the fish was rather bland. Would not recommend this place for a fish fry although I have very high standards for fish frys. Emergency Pizza used to have the best fish fry around, but it has become hit or miss unfortunately, so my hunt for a consistently delicious fish fry continues....

Kyle M.

Friends came in from the capital district area to experience what this great city of Buffalo has to showcase for chicken wings. Went to six places back to back to back etc… in one day. The atmosphere is great. The staff was amazing. This is also another great example of a S Buffalo Irish pub bar. Great vibes. Ordered 10 medium wings they came out great. Crispy. Tender. Juicy. The flavor was great. They had a peppery flavor. Like black pepper. And maybe a red pepper flake here and there. I loved the creativity on a medium flavor wing. Blue cheese was standard. Would definitely recommend this place.

Paul B.

You do not get REAL personalized like this in the chain restaurants. The servers here are phenomenal. They all work so extremely well together. Staying on the service end Olivia was super attentive. Now..the food was spectacular. Love that you can get 1/2 fish fry. The only thing 1/2 is the size of the fish. THIS is the only place I know where you get with your fish fry is ..mac salad, potatoes salade, Cole slaw & frys all tasting Home Made

Michael E.

Our Airbnb host told us 1) Buffalo is famous for its wings and 2) McCarthy’s has some of the best in town.

Obviously, we decided to try for ourselves.

We weren’t disappointed!!!

The wings were HUGE. We ordered 20 but only ate 10. Very good. Juicy but crispy. Good spice. Delicious!!!

Our server was very friendly and helpful. She brought a dog bowl of water over for our dog.

This is definitely a hidden Gem and we’ll be next time we’re in Buffalo.

Neil S.

We love coming to this place. The service is always welcoming and friendly. The Sheffield style wings are the most unique, hot, and crispy wings in Buffalo. We get them every time we go.

Mark L.

Friday before St. Paddy’s day. This appears to be the Irish place to be! Turkey panini was over stuffed delicious. LOTS of great beer options

Cindy

I came from Canada to try authentic Buffalo wings. We went to a restaurant recommended by a friend's friend, where I tried the wings sprinkle with recommended blue cheese.

The atmosphere of the restaurant was pleasant, and it made for a enjoyable lunch. Many locals were dining there, and I was surprised by the volume of today's special menu. It's a popular spot among the locals.

Since it's also a brewery, you can enjoy various delicious beers. The restaurant is located in a residential area, and its appearance resembles a house, making it easy to overlook. There are also days when they have live band performances at night. The jukebox and the presence of four-leaf clovers inside the restaurant added to the ambiance.

I bought beer as a souvenir for my husband, but it wasn't bottled; instead, they poured the beer from the dispenser into an empty can and sealed it, making it literally fresh beer to go.

I definitely want to visit again.

breafkast

Really great wings and beer! We got an order of McCarthy’s wings (sweet and spicy bbq sauce w/ blue cheese crumbles) and of the hot Buffalo wings. Both were seriously good! Loved the fries too, they’re even better with a side of gravy - our server recommended that and it was really good.

We loved it all, great experience.