65-car parking lot, mansaf, kofta, kibbe, falafel among attractions at ex-Mr. Bill’s location

By Andrew Galarneau
(This column originally appeared on the Four Bites site; consider subscribing to support great food journalism!)

Amira Khalil’s menu of rotisserie chicken plus Palestinian and Jordanian classic cuisine launches on a dramatically bigger Cheektowaga stage Sept. 5.

Today is the Palestinian restaurateur’s last day serving Riverside at 894 Tonawanda St.

“The area where I am now is so slow, there’s not enough support from the people. Most of my customers are from outside the area,” Khalil said. “So I decided to move to Cheektowaga.”

At 1500 Cleveland Drive, Amira’s Kitchen can serve 70 in its main dining room in the former Mr. Bill’s, about three times the capacity of her Riverside spot. Filling those customers’ needs will take a bigger kitchen squad, so Khalil has been recruiting a crew.

The menu will not change, she said. That means marinated rotisserie chicken served with garlic mayonnaise and tangy herbal green sauce, fried kibbe appetizers of beef and bulgur wheat, and a falafel plate with turnip and cucumber pickles.

On many Fridays, Khalil will serve mansaf, lamb braised in broth made with jameed, dried fermented sheep’s milk yogurt, served over torn pita bread with toasted almonds and a cup of jameed broth.

After its Sept. 5 opening, Amira’s Kitchen will be open six days a week, closed Tuesdays. Hopefully making it easier to find her place will bring more people, she said. Plus ample free parking, Khalil said: “I can fit 65 in my lot.”

Amira’s Kitchen, 1500 Cleveland Drive, amiraskitchenny.com, 716-428-4000.

Hours starting Sept. 5: noon-9 p.m. Wednesday-Monday. Closed Tuesday.

REVIEW: As a xiao long bao chaser of long standing, the suggestion that true Shanghaiese soup dumplings might appear in a restaurant in my bailiwick never fails to get me moving. Rochester-based OG Dumpling House recently opened its second location in a former Pizza Hut on Niagara Falls Boulevard. I went, I saw, I ate, and I do recommend going to the restaurant – just not for soup dumplings. (Later today, for patrons.)

EVENT: Want to learn how workers start cooperative businesses by sharing ownership, while sampling the tastiness some have to offer Buffalo? Head to Five Points Bakery on Sept. 7 for Cooperation Buffalo’s Co-op Fest.

At 44 Brayton St., in a business built by community support instead of bank loans, you can meet the intrepid folks who run BreadHive Bakery & Cafe, Colored Girls Bike Too, Farmer Pirates Compost, Extra Extra Pizza, the Lexington Co-ops, Good Neighbors Credit Union, Mandala Institute, and TRANScend Nickel City.

Food from Five Points Bakery, BreadHive, Extra Extra Pizza, and more. Plus live music, games, and family-friendly activities. Beer and wine available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting Cooperation Buffalo.

The event is 3 p.m.-8 p.m. – RSVP here. Suggested donation $10.

TELL THE CRITIC:

John Parascak, City of Tonawanda, wrote to say:

My new favorite treat is from Vinnie’s Minis at the North Tonawanda Farmers Market.

Caprese sandwich on their puccia roll, with local tomatoes and basil, fresh mozzarella, extra virgin olive oil, and some balsamic. It was $5.

The puccia roll is new to me. It was airy and light. Kind of a cross between pita and focaccia. They said they will run the sandwich until local tomato season finishes.

How interesting. Thank you, sir. Your report has enriched us all.

Now I’m just wondering if there are any more readers who can help us find the good stuff – meaning splendid eats plus small businesses we may wish to support. Dime them out to me with a quickness at andrew@fourbites.net.

More reading from Michael Chelus:

• Mr. Galarneau told us of the delicious Palestinian and Syrian dishes to be found at Falafel House on Hertel Avenue [Four Bites]
• Oralia has moved to Lafayette Square from the Downtown Bazaar [Four Bites]
• Eat Local WNY can help you to find, buy and eat local [Buffalo Spree]
• Christa wrote about the comforting Caribbean fare to be found at Kiosko Latino, Corneille Caribbean and more [Buffalo Spree]
• Andrew told us how to solve stone fruit dilemmas by providing us with a recipe for Clafoutis [Four Bites]
• In this week’s edition of This week in Buffalo food, Francesca told us of the opening of Blue Moon Tea, the opening of The Meading Room in Hamburg and more [Buffalo News]
• The National Buffalo Wing Festival returns to Highmark Stadium and runs 8/31-9/1 [Buffalo News]
• You can now get Saturday brunch at The Lunch Box & Lola’s Bakeshop [Buffalo Rising]
• Newell took his parents to lunch at Dalfonso’s Italian Imports [Buffalo Rising]
• Newell also wrote about Beacon Grille [Buffalo Rising]
• Brett wrote about Bistro Avera in Lewiston [Step Out Buffalo]
• Brian’s Buffalo Beer Briefs told us of the opening of The Meading Room in Hamburg, a new release from 42 North in honor of the Borderland Music & Arts Festival and more [Step Out Buffalo]
• Papi’s Waterfront + Beach Bar pop up has opened along the Buffalo River [Buffalo Rising]

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