Coffee & Treats in Niagara Falls

Toting a modest selection of chocolate confections and candies, Joseph A. Fowler entered the 1901 Pan American Exposition hoping to plant the seed for a business in his newfound home of Buffalo. The company—founded in 1910—grew with each successive generation, and more than a century later, Fowler's celebrated chocolates continue to placate palates at six New York retail locations. The chocolatier has become synonymous with treats such as milk- and dark-chocolate truffles dubbed truffaloes, as well as sponge candy, which boasts a molasses-like flavor and an initially hard texture that quickly melts in the mouth. Like Count Chocula’s hairpiece, all of Fowler's fine-chocolate treats are crafted from the seeds of the theobroma cacao tree and use up to 60% cocoa solids for a rich cocoa flavor.

Linda Battaglia arrives at her bakery every morning at 7:30. She could sleep in, but then she wouldn't have time to roll every cannoli shell by hand, fill them with freshly made ricotta, and prepare the other 50 to 75 traditional items she and her team bake fresh daily. These recipes extend a legacy set forth more than 40 years ago by Romano Leonardi, who passed the eatery on to Linda and her mother in 2000. These Old World baked goods and techniques have earned a loyal following in the community and profiles on the WKBW morning news.

A bright glow spreads across the bakery's glass cases lined with cream and ricotta puffs, napoleons, and mousse-filled éclairs made that very day. The cookie selection includes fig and chocolate-ball varieties and almond and anise biscotti, all of which can be shipped across the country. Clients can work with the bakers to design a specialty wedding cake topped with newlywed figurines dancing, holding hands, or folding one another's laundry.

Behind the counter at Ashker’s Juice Bar - Bistro - Gallery, staffers concoct a long list of smoothies, sandwiches, and all-day breakfasts made to be enjoyed in their cozy lounge that doubles as an art gallery and social hub. In the front lounge, padded chairs invite diners to bask in the glow of the sunlight that streams through the eatery’s expansive windows, aiding in the body's natural photosynthesis process. Along the walls, local artists display their masterworks, which mirror the swaths of color often found in the creamy smoothies.

The Snack Shack satisfies sweet and salty cravings with an arsenal of freshly crafted pick-me-ups. Cookies, muffins, and cupcakes headline the shop's sizable snack list, luring lips and taste buds of all types with a cornucopia of flavors that includes oatmeal raisin, banana nut, and chunky chocolate. For on-the-go noshing, chicken wings, hamburgers, and burritos volunteer to cannonball into empty tummies, and a selection of drinks washes back bites and ensures nearby fountains won't be sucked dry by thirsty snackers. Local corporations can also jump in on the munching, as The Snack Shack provides delivery programs to downtown Buffalo corporations.

At Yo Betty Frozen Yogurt, customers step up to the stainless-steel self-serve machines and fill their cups with one of eight flavors of frozen yogurt on rotation. Options include low-fat American peanut butter; nonfat, no-sugar-added pink grapefruit; and lactose- and gluten-free Mango Sans Souci. Patrons may dress up their yogurt dishes with an array of healthy toppings, such as banana chips, yogurt pretzels, and sunflower seeds, or splurge with indulgent treats, including cookie crumbles and cheesecake chunks. Knowing that each serving of yogurt contains real fruit puree, certified live and active yogurt cultures, and calcium, guests can feel good about what they're eating.

The boldly colored, retro-inspired plastic chairs welcome guests to take a seat indoors, and the outdoor dining area lures them to a challenge with the sun to see who can make the yogurt disappear fastest.

Baskin Robbins' worldwide expansion can be attributed to one thing: gourmet ice cream. More than 31 flavours fill its freezers, with classic flavours such as chocolate chip or butter pecan, and rotating seasonal flavours such as the cherry-filled black forest cake or green tea. Not content to just serve scoops, Baskin Robbins molds their ice cream into cakes, milk shakes, and sundaes made scrumptious by pieces of fresh fruit. Baskin's staff also swirls up soft serve cones, bowls, and parfaits filled with fruits and sweets. The ice creameries also indulge weight-conscious eaters with a menu of no-sugar-added sherbets, light yogurts, and sorbets.