Have you ever been to R& L Lounge on Buffalo’s East Side? Do you have any idea what the east side of Buffalo once was? Have you read the “Last Fine Time” by Verlyn Klinkenborg?

Buffalo’s East Side was once a thriving, polish community that was filled with life, polish culture, bowling alleys, neighborhood bar and incredible churches. The “Last Fine Time” really shows off how incredible the east side once was. Today we know it as  an area where we are demolishing houses every day.

This past Friday, my friends and I decided to go to R& L Lounge in Buffalos East Side. Its located on Mill Street, right around the corner from the Broadway market. The R&L Lounge was a time warp back into the good ole days of the east side. We were served perogie and fish fry from polish ladies, one who was elderly and spoke broken English. The bar looked like it hadnt been updated since the 1950’s too and really had an older world charm to it.  It was such a fun experience and the food was unlike any other!

I just wanted to take a second to highlight the R&L Lounge. The owners were fun, helpful, authentic people who have been working the same bar for the last 55 years. It really is the old east side when you’re there. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone to stop in at least once before this little gem is gone.