Review: Griffon Gastropub is perfect spot to grab a bite

By Marissa Mistriner

Special to Niagara Frontier Publications

Looking for a charming spot to grab a bite to eat? Check out The Griffon Brewery and Gastropub located at 115 S. Water St., Lewiston.

The site in Lewiston is just one of four Griffon locations. The other three can be found in Niagara Falls, Clarence and East Aurora.

Lewiston is the perfect location for a restaurant like The Griffon. Along with being easily accessible, there is the added bonus of it being right on the water, with beautiful scenery of the lower Niagara River.

Lewiston is a quaint town with many shops and restaurants that are always booming, and this restaurant fits right in.

Kaylee Boyle said, “I think Lewiston is just a pretty area overall in such a welcoming town. With a nice place like The Griffon, it is the perfect place for it.”

Lauren Haseley said, “I think Lewiston is a really good place for a restaurant like this. You get customers from the United States and Canada since Lewiston is a big place for tourism.”

Upon walking inside, customers are greeted with holiday decorations and ambient lighting.

Haseley said, “I liked the overall atmosphere. The lighting was really soft and welcoming; it wasn’t too harsh. The view is very pretty when it is light out. The decorations are super pretty, very elegant, and simple, but they are enough to add to the vibe of the restaurant. The music was really good, too.”

Boyle noted, “The restaurant is located on the water, which we went when it was dark out, but it would be very pretty during the summertime or during the sunset.”

The only negative that was shared among the group was the temperature inside. While those who were seated in the main room enjoyed the comfort of the fireplace, those who were sitting in the room overlooking the water were left feeling rather chilly.

When it came time to order, there was a plethora of options to choose from.

In an article found on wnypapers.com, owner and general manager Ken Scibetta stated the focus for this location was to build upon the menu to appeal to everyone.

And his team did just that. 

The menu offers options catering to every dietary restriction, flavor preference, and mood that one may find themselves in.

Holly Kolodziejczak said, “It was not too much to be overwhelming, but I think that there were enough choices that vary between people’s different tastes.”

Haseley said, “It also has vegan or gluten-free options, which is nice for those who need that.”

Nearly all of the items could be served either gluten-free or vegan, or both.

Boyle said, “I would say that there was a good range of menu items.”

The group ordered the sweet corn fritters, a pot roast sandwich, a Caprese turkey burger, a bacon jam burger and the crispy shrimp basket.

Of the items she tasted, Boyle said the sweet corn fritters were at the top of her list, and scored them a 7/10.

Haseley gave her crispy shrimp basket an 8/10 rating.

Kolodziejczak enjoyed the sweet corn fritters but was not as thrilled with her bacon jam burger, giving it a 6/10.

The Caprese turkey burger, receiving a 9/10, was perfectly cooked and served with a side of fries, which were also up to snuff.

Along with a well-stocked food menu, the bar menu offers many options for those looking to get a drink.

In terms of customer service, all of the staff members were very welcoming, friendly, and willing to assist the customers in any way.

The hostess greeted the group at the door with a smile on her face and was able to quickly seat everyone with no wait time.

Everything from wait times to receiving the food was quick and easy.

Boyle said, “I think that our waitress and our hostess were really friendly. We were seated right away, and then, with our waitress, she was always filling up our waters without asking. And the food came out quickly.”

The reviews found on yelp.com give The Griffon 4 out of 5 stars.

Many customers enjoy coming to The Griffon in the summer and sitting outside to enjoy the food. The positive staff reviews say the servers tended to the tables with a smile.

Boyle, a returning customer of The Griffon, said, “I was here once before with my family, and I mean, I thought it was all really good and a good atmosphere. The food I ate at that time was also good. Now, coming here for a second time, I still had a really good experience.”

Haseley said, “The first time I was here was with my family, and it was in the summertime. The environment was really welcoming, warm and nice. And I still felt the same way when I came this time.”

Boyle and Haseley said they will definitely return.

Overall, The Griffon is a great spot to grab a bite to eat and relax after a long day. The food was good, the staff was friendly, and the location was easily accessible and beautiful to look at.

This is a restaurant that is easily recommendable to both those who are traveling to the area for the first time and those who have been Western New York residents their whole lives.

•To read more about The Griffon Brewery and Gastropub, check out the article below:

√ Griffon begins new chapter on Water Street

•To read up on the other Griffon locations, click the link below:

√ World-class: Lewiston's Griffon House part of acclaimed restaurant group

•To follow the latest news about The Griffon, follow its social media accounts:

√ Instagram: griffonlewiston

√ Facebook: Griffon Brewery and Gastropub-Lewiston

•Check out The Griffon’s other locations: 

√ The Griffon Niagara Falls: 2470 Niagara Falls Blvd.

√ The Griffon Clarence: 5445 Transit Road

√ The Griffon East Aurora: 634 Main St.

To contact The Griffon, visit its website, www.griffongastropub.com, or call 716-405-7291.

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This is a Niagara University student-created piece completed as part of the course CMS 226A. For more information, contact the Niagara Frontier Publications’ managing editor.