Big Ditch Brewing Company

My husband and I stopped yesterday. We asked for a table and were promptly seated. But after waiting 10 minutes for waiter/​waitress we ended up leaving.
The building has a very modern look, a lot of young people walking in with just tank tops on in 35 degree weather. Noise level was too loud for a date. It looks like it would be a great place for happy hour if you are in your 20’s.

The beer was tasty and so was the food.
I got a flight of beers that I let the waitress pick out based on my tastes and she nailed it. If you haven’t been before I would definitely try a flight. I also got a salad I think it was the Cobb, it was huge, filling and delicious. Plus awesome space, loved the mural on the wall.

Big Ditch is a great place to bring a date or a small group of friends to enjoy some good beers in a vibrant, hip setting.
Visiting Buffalo over the weekend with some friends, we decided to take in dinner at Big Ditch. It was a Sunday afternoon, so street parking wasn’t a big issue. We were seated immediately at a table along the huge windows that look out on the corner of Huron and Ellicott. Three large screen TVs had the football game on. The decoration is a tribute to the Erie Canal (which was derisively nicknamed the «Big Ditch» by those who scoffed at its construction cost). Giant murals, dark woods, steel with hard corners all make up the industrial motif. The tap handles at the bar are small shovels, which I thought was clever.
Our waitress found us right away and took our drink orders. There’s a variety of Big Ditch beers on tap, and they are made on premises. You cannot see the brewery from the restaurant, which I find to be a bit of a turn-​off if you are promoting the fact that you are a microbrewery. The brewery is visible from windows along Huron Street, however. I ordered the Cinnamon Apple Amber Ale, which had a nice balance of apple and hop and cinnamon. My friends enjoyed their selections as well, including the Haymaker and the Vanilla Oatmeal Stout. The beers were good, but nothing made us run back to the car to fetch our growlers for a fill.
My friend and I both ordered the Celebrate Buffalo Plate, which comes with a bratwurst, a Polish sausage, two potato and cheese perogies, red cabbage, sauerkraut, and two kinds of mustard. What arrived did not feel like a $ 14.00 entrée. The bratwurst was dry and mealy, the sausage was flavorful, both were filleted in an odd way that probably dried out the insides more than anything else. The perogies were fine. The red cabbage was not sweet, it tasted like sauerkraut. The sauerkraut tasted awful. The mustards were nice, one spicy dark yellow, and one stone ground.
Our guest ordered a beef on weck sandwich and fries which were on special that day. NOTE: This is a restaurant in Buffalo… Why is native cuisine like weck on «special?» Either way, his sandwich was good and there were more than enough fries to share.
The two-​level tap room and restaurant is a beautiful and comfortable setting to get together with friends. Our waitress was great, checking on us just enough and keeping our drinks and water topped up. Noise levels are a bit above average in part due to the tall, cavernous space occupied by the restaurant. Definitely worth a visit, but be warned that this is a «pioneer» establishment, and there’s not much else in the neighborhood within walking distance, so prepare to settle in for the evening.

Went with a big group to watch a Sabres game. We went to the back room, which we had been told was open seating, but got booted off a table because they were trying to seat people who had gone through the hostess. We were ultimately allowed one table with maybe 4 seats for a group of 16, so we just stood around and hung out. I’m cool to stand in a bar to watch a game — really, it’s what you should expect at most places on game night — but it was frustrating to see a group of 4 – 5 sitting at a great big table while nursing beers and splitting one appetizer among themselves (I assure you we brought much more business!). Would be great if they found a way to better manage game-​night crowds.
I have yet to taste a beer here that’s anything really special or enjoyable (I’m an IPA girl at heart, but I dig amber ales & really anything that’s not too wheat-​y). The Excavator (rye brown ale) was probably the best on tap but it just tasted like they were trying to do too much with it (too many malts?).
So, go because it’s well-​located, the interior is super cool, and the waitstaff is generally hard-​working and friendly. Just don’t expect to find the best craft beer in the area at Big Ditch (maybe someday? I am rooting for these guys!).

We finally stopped in for food and we were not disappointed. He had the duck burger which was very flavorful and tender. I had the pork schnitzel sandwich that was amazing! I’m usually hesitant about food at breweries because I feel like they don’t invest enough effort into the food but Big Ditch totally surprised me with how good everything was. Between that, the beer, and the stellar view, how can you go wrong?

I enjoyed the atmosphere of Big Ditch. Our bartender was fantastic & great at interacting with us. I did enjoy the Low Bridge & Apple Cinnamon beers. The flight of dips was better than I had expected it to be. The person I met there was from out of town & he definitely enjoyed the place. Will have to come back more in order to give 5 stars.

First of all, their Cinnamon Apple Amber Ale is now my favorite beer ever. Yes, ever.
This place has great beers, great food, great ambiance, and great staff. This establishment is a «Rebuilding Buffalo» home-​run. I was home for Christmas visiting family and came here twice in just one week because it was THAT good.
The first time I sat at the bar downstairs with a friend and enjoyed a flight of 5 beers for $ 10 while watching the Sabres game. The second time I came with family and sat at a table upstairs for food and drinks. I had the mac n cheese that was seriously big enough to feed at least 2 people! My parents each had the reuben which, I was told, was «out of this world.» I sampled the fries which were fresh and well-​seasoned.
This place is seriously cool inside. The downstairs has an extra room for people to stand and mingle if the downstairs and upstairs bars are too full. There are old mural photos of downtown Buffalo throughout the upstairs and downstairs. The upstairs has a large shuffle board table, large comfy chairs, and a FIREPLACE! There is also a large garage-​style door which I’m assuming they open on nice summer days.

I can’t bring myself to give them 5 stars simply because I have only been there once and I only had drinks. However, I was impressed by what I was able to take in.
They have a nice atmosphere; nothing too fancy, but still comfortable. I noticed that there is an upstairs dining area that I did not visit, but it appeared that the area was more suited for table dining than was the lower-​level section which was great fro drinking and socializing. I ordered Crown and ginger for the night and they were a bit watered down. Under normal circumstances, I would have complained or opted for a smaller glass with less ice, but I was there in a social capacity and needed to pace myself anyway.
The servers and bartenders were all very friendly and made the effort to ensure that their guests were having a nice time. Though I did not order food, I saw dozens of delicious-​looking dishes being delivered to the guests around me. Even my brother, who I went out there with, mentioned «Damn those burgers look good!» I plan to go back and give them the opportunity to earn their 5^th star. I encourage you to check this place out too.

We love the vibe at Big Ditch Brewery. Living near Denver, Colorado where serious brew pubs are everywhere, we noted that our experience at Big Ditch, while visiting Buffalo, New York was authentic and well composed.
That Big Ditch is a true brew house with good brew and house made good gastric-​pub worthy dishes makes this a choice better than the unfortunate Blue Monk where the only real authenticity – wait, there is no real authenticity at the overpriced and unimpressive «land of 1,000 beers» Blue Monk.
The blue cheese burger was ample, very juicy, most definitely at least seemed hand pressed and dresses well. It slightly lacked seasoning (salt and pepper) that would have elevated it to an exceptional burger.
The saucy shrimp appetizer was delightful with plenty of tender cooked shrimp tossed in a lightly tomato based sweet chili sauce.
We enjoyed some seasonal brewed which were just the side of too spicy with cinnamon and nutmeg notes that slightly overwhelmed the brews themselves. Still, we strongly recommend and truly enjoyed ourselves.

Went there for my friends’ birthday couple weeks ago. The food is good but not that memorable, which is fine because people are probably mostly there for the beer anyways. I like that the place is big and spacious.
The service is good. We were there for awhile, well after we were done with our food, and no one tried to kick us out lol (it was also past the normal dinner time and no one was waiting for a table).
Since I am not a big beer drinker, this wouldn’t be on my list of restaurants to go back to regularly, but I wouldn’t mind going back to try thr salmon salad if my friends suggest to go.

Service was very friendly and that alone may bring me back. Food was just okay, regular bar food that is a bit overpriced.
Location is excellent since I live downtown and can walk, but I also love that the garage door windows are able to be completely lifted for indoor/​outdoor feel.
Drink menu is excellent and is more than likely how they are making money. I’m not a huge fan of beer but they had a few on the menu that even I enjoyed.
Check it out!

HUGE brewery with a full sit-​down restaurant section and a full fledged bar area both downstairs and upstairs. The cool thing about this brewery and many others that have popped up locally in the past 2 – 3 years is that you get in-​house brewed beers while enjoying the ambiance of a brewery. Really tasty full flavored brews in the company of friends are never a bad idea for any given night. Although it can get a little loud in here during a full house, it still is a superb joint to check out if you love all things beer.
I haven’t eaten here yet but from what I hear, the food is exceptional! That will definitely be on my list, the next time I walk in here.

Yum! I was at Big Ditch a week ago and can’t stop thinking about that visit! I already have plans to go back in one week for my birthday party!
The environment was fun and exciting. Its a big, open warehouse so it doesn’t feel over-​crowded and you can actually breathe in there. The staff was outgoing and friendly.
The food was fantastic; well, most of it. I had the flight of dips, the beer cheese soup, and the Reuben. Skip the beer cheese soup. It curdled and that’s how they brought it to me! The beer definitely made up for it though. I had a couple pints of the Cinnamon Apple and I look forward to my next one.
Even with curdled soup, I still really enjoyed my experience there. I just hope that they notice that before they serve it to more people.

If you’re solely looking for beer, I would say this is a fantastic option. I would give it 4 stars alone. There’s plenty of options if you have a pickier pallet like me. My personal favorite is the Hayburner! Absolutely delicious!
Food-​wise, I would suggest eating elsewhere first. I really tried hard to like the food there, but it was just disappointment all around. My friend and I shared the Charcuterie, which was $ 15. When presented to us, there was no effort in identifying what we were eating. Furthermore, some of the cheese looked like it had been out or old. Flavor-​wise, it just really wasn’t good. Not horrible, but nothing special.
For entrees, we had blue cheese mushroom burger and the smoked salmon cobb. It was only after we received our food that we realized they never asked what temperature we liked our burger to be. It was really well done, which I personally find awful, but we were hungry and were pretty much set on moving to a different venue. Oh, and you’re charged for their special ketchup per container. It was good, but I personally dislike hidden extra charges.
The smoked salmon salad was good, but I would steer away from the lemon caper vinaigrette. In my option, it was just bland and didn’t taste like lemon or capers. Luckily the blue cheese dressing was ok.
Lastly service was kind of off putting in my opinion. Our waitress appeared nice and polite enough, and was relatively attentive to our needs. I was just very confused when she asked how everything was, and we were genuine with our responses. I remember saying things were ok, but not great, and mentioned the things I liked and disliked. Her responses were always «Really? It’s actually my favorite» or «A lot of other people like it.» I’m pretty sure since I’m the one eating and paying, my opinion is the only one that matters.
All in all, if the beer wasn’t so good, I wouldn’t give this place a second chance. It’s kind of disappointing because the décor and location is great. I hope they can do more.

We came here for a friend’s 40^th birthday in June. We arrived around 6pm, and luckily we were able to find room at the end of the bar for the group. The bartenders were all very friendly and attentive even though it was incredibly busy, and the atmosphere was great as it was a beautifully sunny day out and they had all the doors/​windows open.
I’m not really a beer drinker but I did sample a few and found one i liked (can’t remember the name, but something kolsch or close to it). I eventually switched over to wine and was happy that they stocked Malbecs.
We ordered some appetizers like the pretzels and fries and some other stuff I can’t recall. We were not impressed by the food at all, or at least not the finger foods we ordered. It just didn’t taste really fresh, not sure if they premade a lot of stuff in advance.
The service was prompt even though they were SUPER busy, and all the bartenders were pretty friendly. We would go back — maybe to try some of their other dishes/​sandwiches next time.

Big fan of Big Ditch. The location is terrific. You can incorporate a visit into the whole night of walking around and leave the car parked.
Full disclosure, I’ve never ate here. People seem to like the food, but a liquid dinner is oftentimes preferable. You know?
I’ve had many of their brews. My ONLY gripe is that it’s often hard to determine which beer is which. The taps are all shovels (big ditches needed to be dug) and the individual beers and identified on a very small name plate. The staff is always there to name and explain the beer. Something to consider: if all the beer is good, does it matter what it’s called?

Absolutely LOVE Big Ditch. I usually will sit at the bar and eat when i go for dinner. The Ruben is MASSIVE and I highly recommend it. Always ask the server what the specials are if they don’t already tell you, there is always something on worth getting. I am also a fan of the RU’s pierogi’s, they change the filling a lot so always ask what kind they are when you order them. The bergers are also very good.
This place overall has an amazing atmosphere, great for dinner or drinks the servers and bartenders are all friendly and welcoming.

What an outstanding addition to Downtown Buffalo. East Huron Street has a whole new feel thanks to Big Ditch.
Before I even go into the food and beverages I have to point out how absolutely amazing the staff was. The hostess, servers, and management we encountered were friendly, professional, and you could really tell they enjoy their jobs. The energy in this place was off the chain and instantly gave me the feeling I’d be back many, many more times in the not-​so-​distant future.
First off, one of the assistant managers — Jesse, was so helpful in accommodating our large party. Finding a place for at least 10 females to enjoy the night can prove to be difficult on a busy night. Our server, Cliff, was out of this world. He was attentive and really knew the menu. A friend who was with us is vegan and was going to just go with a salad but he pointed her in a couple other directions and found her some other options. The service was fast all around — couldn’t have been better.
I went with the Breuben. A reuben with the meat brined in their brown ale. This thing was massive so it became two meals instead of one. I love that you can choose a dipping sauce for your fries and it isn’t just ketchup or «fancy sauce». They have everything from a malt vinegar aioli (my favorite) to chiptole ketchup to gribiche. Every bite was better than the last.
OH I FORGOT TO MENTION… ORDER THE FLIGHT OF DIPS! Honestly, the tortilla chips were better than the dips and the dips were to die for. You can get extra tortilla chips for just $ 1 too! Anyway, yeah, these were soooooooooooo good. Crunchy, light, fried pizza-​slice like chips that went perfectly with the salsa, chicken wing and spinach dip.
As far as beer goes I’m a hophead and a huge fan of their Hayburner. That being said I noticed they had the Citraburner. Essentially the same beer but made with Citrus Hops. Yep, ordered a couple there and ended up taking a growler home.
I seriously am so stoked on this place. I am eager to do much, much more menu exploring.

I’ll let other reviewers write about the beer. It was good but I was focused on the lobster mac-​and-​cheese. It may have been the best I’ve ever had anywhere.
That an incredibly bland utilitarian structure was turned into this incredible space is further proof that Buffalo is taking more steps to shake off old stereotypes as it marches into the 21^st century.

Tried all of the beers, they’re slightly better than Resurgence’s homebrew tasting beers but not by much. «Hoppy» truly has a very loose definition here, the beers they brew are bland and average at best.
As for the food — the flat bread pizzas lacked any discernable flavors of the toppings, no spices or herbs to taste and the crust was cardboard like in taste and texture and mildly burned. Loaded potato bacon soup first came out lukewarm which made it have the consistency of paste, once it was warmed up it became more elastic and yet, paste still has more flavor. There wasn’t enough salt or pepper in the entire place to help it.
The space is much more pleasant than anything they seem to serve so its at least worth a visit to check out but otherwise, eh.