Restaurants in Lancaster

On certain days, Papa Jake's Saloon dishes out prime rib or seafood specials, but owner Scott Leary doesn't want that to distract from the rest of the menu. As he told Buffalo Rising contributor Chao Li, “Everything's special at Papa Jakes.” Leary buys the freshest seafood available for dishes such as steamed snow crab legs served with drawn butter or clams Casino that Li says arrive in a still-bubbling sauce that seems to cook the morsels before your very eyes. For each Friday’s fish fry, chefs bread fillets of fish by hand and simmer pots of seafood bisque and New England clam chowder, whose rich scents attract both humans and sharks disguised as humans. Diners can also opt for the mainland taste of charbroiled burgers with fresh-cut french fries, washing it all down with frosty glasses of draft beers or mixed drinks from a full bar.

Inside Taj Grill, the air is thick with the tantalizing aromas of curry, ginger, and garlic, which drift languorously in from a bustling kitchen, where a single chef churns out northern and southern Indian cuisine steeped in centuries of tradition. The chef skillfully concocts more than 30 vegetarian dishes and aromatic curries spiced to taste. Marinated lamb, chicken, and seafood sizzle inside a charcoal-fired clay oven alongside rounds of unleavened naan, which the chef stuffs with seasoned potatoes, coconut and dried fruits, or mailing circulars.

Statues strike meditative poses atop Spicy Thai's front desk, as if they're contemplating each delicious scent that emanates from the kitchen. Beyond this checkpoint lies a dining room peppered with gilded masks, red ceiling tiles, forest-green napkins, and tablecloths as crisp and white as a freshly ironed snowflake. Here, friendly servers deliver colorful plates piled high with traditional Thai fare such as pad thai and panang curry with peanuts and broccoli. The chefs also prepare several house specialties, including an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet and phuket grouper, a deep-fried fish fillet accompanied by onions, green peppers, and a tangy chili sauce.

The aromas of south asian spices draw passersby into Jewel of India’s brick-lined doorway, leading them toward tables topped with saffron-colored linens. Here, they can dive into more than 100 traditional Indian dishes, including crispy pakoras, spicy vindaloos, and seafood baked in a tandoor clay oven. Like the forecasts of an easily bribable weatherman, entrees can be ordered with one of five heat levels: mild, medium, spicy, X, or hot. Raisins stud many dishes, adding bursts of juicy sweetness to lamb makhani and vegetable biryani. Brimming with chicken tikka, boti kebabs, sautéed peppers, and fresh-baked naan, the India Gate Special can feed an entire family in the dining room or fuel an off-site party thanks to the restaurant’s catering service.

Sakura serves a menu of japanese teriyaki and sushi such as the Crazy Dragon roll with shrimp tempura, which was showcased on NBC 2. Chefs also create Buffalo rolls out of fried spicy tuna and crab with asparagus, as well as a Cheektowaga roll, a crunchy creation topped with salmon, crab stick, white tuna, and spicy sauce.

Cheery yellow walls wrap around Sakura’s dining room, illuminated by sunlight that streams through the delicate grid that divides the windowpanes. Half a dozen chairs stand before the wooden sushi bar, which is decorated with a Japanese figurine, decorative dishes on the wall, and a lucky trident stolen from Aquaman's house.