Searching for the Gold Standard

Soho's first floor bar.

By day it’s a casual fine dining restaurant, by night it morphs into a popular cocktail hangout to wind down from a hard day’s work.

 You can literally taste the Gold Standard at Soho Burger Bar. If you’re on the highly competitive strip of West Chippewa Street in Buffalo, this is the perfect trait to have.

Soho opened its doors June 1999. Up until a few years ago, it operated as strictly a nightclub complete with V.I.P. lounges and rowdy twenty-somethings. It was a hotspot where people could drink and dance until the wee hours of the morning. Today, Soho has shed its skin in favor of more relaxed and mature atmosphere that caters to Downtown Buffalo’s young professionals, and casual dinners.

So why switch from a nightclub to a burger joint?

“It just seemed like a fun, all-American thing that allows us a lot of options,” said Jay Manno, the owner of Soho . “we have 13 signature burgers.”

The Second Floor Patio

Stairwell leading to the 2nd level;
the walls are covered with record albums

            Manno had already planned on making the transition from nightclub to restaurant. A few of his business partners who convinced him to specialize in burgers. One of the main goals of the restaurant was to offer what Manno calls “beer friendly food.” The menu features an array of exotic flavors of which his three best sellers are the “Red Hot Chili Burger,” the “Steak House Burger” and the famed “Gold Standard.” However, burgers aren’t the only attraction here. They sell nearly as many salads and cocktails.

What people truly enjoy at Soho is its atmosphere. The restaurant features two patios (one on each of the two levels), three bars and versatile dining area on the first floor. Soho offers many professionals in the area an escape to conduct their normal business meetings. The second floor provides a broad open space where people can either sit at the full bar, lounge in its leather sofas or wander between colleagues as they lean on their adjustable bistro tables. 

“I’ve done corporate events… Rich Products meetings where they’ve used PowerPoint… bachelorette parties, showers, rehearsal dinners.” said Manno.

In addition, the restaurant frequently hosts charity events, including the Derby Day Party for the Kentucky Derby charity this coming May and Carly’s Club that occurred last Christmas. Manno said.

Manno’s key to success is to treat his customers with respect. Rather than toss people into the street, Manno will go so far as to pay for a taxi for a customer who’s had too many “Soho in the City  Cocktails.” His other secret weapon to staying ahead of the competition is: “keep it fresh.” Currently, he is making plans to remodel the second floor by providing more lounge seating for the upper patio this summer.

When asked what made Soho stand out from the rest of Chippewa, Manno replied:

“The location is huge, the layout with all the options… and the style of food… we’re basically a casual fine dining restaurant. You’re getting fine dining service and fine dining food in a casual atmosphere with a casual menu. It’s really an enigma.”