Bellevue Hotel

Overall: 8.08 (out of 10)
Fry: 8.15 (out of 10)
Sides: 2.37 (out of 3)
Value: 1.34 (avg is 1.36)
Family: 6.58 (out of 10)

Located on Como Park Blvd in South Cheektowaga.  The fry is skinless haddock and is available beer battered, breaded, broiled, as well as a few other preparations.  The fry is served with french fries, coleslaw, macaroni salad, american or german potato salad, and rye bread and butter for $13.75.  Sweet and sour cabbage can be substituted for any of the above mentioned sides.  The fry is served from 11am to 8pm on Fridays only, and reservations are not accepted.

Per the restaurants website, The Bellevue Hotel is a neighborhood favorite, offering great food and service in a fun and friendly atmosphere.  The building appears to be an old large home/hotel, with lots of small separate rooms.  When you walk in the bar is in a separate room to the left, while the rooms to the right are left for diners.  The restaurant has a separate menu for Friday dining, consisting mostly of seafood entrees and a handful of sandwiches and burgers.  The fish sandwich was enormous.  It was essentially an entire fish fry on top of large Costanzos roll with lettuce, tomato, cheese and tartar sauce, served with fries for $10.50.  They also offer a ½ fish fry for $11.00.  There is a small childrens menu, with prices seeming slightly higher than normal, but childrens portions were large.  Despite the parking lot being full, and the restaurant seeming pretty busy, we were sat quickly.  The service was friendly and quick.

Fish: an average size piece of fish, battered and fried nicely.  The fish was fresh, flavorful, and cooked nicely.  The batter was a beautiful golden brown and was crispy upon arrival.  The batter was also seasoned nicely.  This fry would of ranked higher had it not been for an undesirable chew.  I cant explain the reason for it, but the combination of the fish and batter was somehow chewy in the mouth.  

Tartar: a classic extra sweet, creamy, homemade tartar.  It was very good.

Sides:  the french fries were standard frozen 3/8 fries though cooked well.  The american potato salad was a favorite of mine.  It had large chunks of eggs in it along with finely diced celery and onions.  The potatoes were cooked well and dressed in a creamy mustard/mayo dressing.  Instead of the typical elbow noodle, their macaroni salad was made with spiral noodles.  This was a neat twist, but the dressing could of used some more salt or would of benefited from the addition of some tuna.  The coleslaw was outstanding.  Freshly shredded green and purple cabbage in a sharp and tangy dressing.  The sweet and sour cabbage was braised strips of cabbage cooked in a sugary vinegar sauce.  Not as good as the Broadway Hotels version, but still a fine option.  The german potato salad was your standard from a can version, and could of been better.

Clam Chowder:  this version does contain bacon for the Lent abiding readers out there.  The chowder was creamy, flavorful, and packed with potatoes, celery, onions, and clams.  It was very good, and I wouldn't hesitate to order again. (Cup $4.00) (Bowl $4.75) (Rating: 8.0)