Nestled literally on the Buffalo/Cheektowaga border, Papa Joes Sports Bar & Grill (1011 Walden Avenue) is one of the more unheralded, yet busier and entertaining bars in all of Western New York. It’s a place customers flock to from near and far, whether you reside moments down the road or the middle of nowhere, it’s become one of the more diverse watering hole establishments in all of town.
The reasons for Papa Joes success is easy to see. The bar entails a combination of modernity as well as respect to the traditional setups you see in most neighborhood bars. But don’t be fooled by its rather ordinary exterior appearance; Papa Joes has amenities you’ll find inside very few bars in the area, and certainly no other in its busy urban neighborhood possess.
First let’s knock off many of the variables you’ll find at most places favorite beverages are enjoyed. There’s daily drink specials, ability to wager on Quick Draw, a pool table, well-mixed jukebox and pair of big screen TVs to watch sporting events.
But there’s four things in particular that make Papa Joes unique in many regards and downright exclusive in others. They include:
Regulation-Sized FREE Shuffleboard Table: There are but a small handful of bars in Western New York that even offer a regulation shuffleboard table. Papa Joes is one of them, and it’s complimentary as well. Our visit to Papa Joes found a pair of regulars partaking in a friendly match and were certainly getting a kick out of playing.
“Part of the allure to Papa Joes is that we find things to offer that you can’t find anywhere else in the area,” bar manager Michelle said. “Shuffleboard was around for many years in bars, but it’s almost impossible to find a good table nowadays. We’re an exception.”
Large Outdoor Patio: While it may not seem unique if you frequent downtown hotspots like SoHo or the Pearl Street Brewery, finding a decent sized outdoor patio in the Papa Joes area is indeed a rarity. Not only do they have a patio, it’s a very generous size. The best part is the location; on the side of the bar facing the bar’s parking lot, making it impossible for someone sitting out and enjoying the good weather to be perturbed by oncoming traffic.
FREE Horseshoe Pit: If you’re having a drink outside the bar and want to take pleasure in a game of horseshoes, Papa Joes has a bountiful sized pit right in its backyard that you can enjoy for free.
Expanded, Home-Style Kitchen: If you desire the bar food basics like chicken wings, fingers or pizza logs, Papa Joes has that too. But what makes their kitchen special is a newfound commitment to having the very best “home made food” in the area.
Literally, just about everything offered on the menu falls under the category of home cooked.
While there are countless amounts of tempting meal selections, the Papa Joes signature is now being the home of the “Stuffed Burger.” They are hand crafted, you can choose from nine different options and best of all, you can actually CREATE YOUR OWN stuffed burger.
It doesn’t stop there, either. You can get anything ranging from steak dinners to a hearty breakfast. Kitchen owner Jazz Miles offers a wide variety of specials, including complimentary appetizers when you buy two dinner packages and a free sample platter that comes with a four stuffed burger order.
Steadfast to making the kitchen at Papa Joes as good as any, Miles and his wife undoubtedly spread their free time thin. The kitchen is open every day from 11am until close— and breakfast, lunch and dinner are accessible on every menu.
“If you want to be the best you have to make a strong commitment to it,” Miles said. “You must have food that’s unique and the customers will enjoy and that’s what we’re doing. We’re not just a bar and we’re not just somewhere to come eat. We’re combining the two to make it a great experience for anyone who frequents Papa Joes.”
The revamped kitchen also includes Friday fish fries as well as sports game time and “eat and drink” specials as well.
Generally speaking, you’re getting about as much bang for your buck as you’ll find anywhere in Western New York. Whether you’re a local looking to wind down with a couple of cocktails or a partygoer ready to live it up, Papa Joes is worth a stop on any bar fan’s itinerary. They also have a large banquet room available in the back for special functions.
Papa Joes is located at 1011 Walden Avenue. The phone number is 891-8165 and is open seven days per week, opening its doors at 8am Monday-Saturday and noon on Sunday.
