I love going to diners. The comfort food, the history, and the intimacy, all appeal to me. In the Larkinville neighborhood of Buffalo, I have found one of the best.

While the Swan Street Diner is a relatively new establishment, opening in 2017 with Amanda Amico at the head, the building it is housed in has history. The diner is a Sterling Diner, manufactured by the J.B. Judkins Company in 1937. The diner has had 3 previous owners. It was originally the Newark Diner in Newark, New York (a village near Rochester). In 2017 the diner was bought by the Larkin Development Group, shipped to Buffalo, and refurbished. The newly rechristened Swan Street Diner (it is on Swan Street) opened in October of that year.

Larkinville

Larkinville itself has a storied history. It is a former industrial area of Buffalo, getting its name from the Larkin Soap Company, which in 1876 was one of the first manufacturers in Buffalo. Larkin closed down in the 1930s and by the early 2000s the neighborhood had become blighted. As late as 2010, it was be referred to as a ghost town (video). In 2002, the Larkin Development Group was founded with the purpose of revitalizing the area. In 2012, Larkin Square opened. The area has blossomed since, now home to a mix of businesses, residential property, and entertainment venues. The earliest reference I could find of the neighborhood being called Larkinville was in 2010.

The Menu

The Swan Street Diner has a full breakfast and lunch menu. Breakfast items consists of Omelettes, Eggs & Such, Fresh Bite (yogurt dishes and oatmeal), and Hot Plates. Hot Plates include pancakes, French toast, waffles, Eggs Benedict, and the dishes I describe below.

The lunch options are Soup & Salad, Diner Burgers, Sandwiches, Wraps, and Poutine. The Poutine is covered with Butter Chicken , an unusual variation that I definitely want to come back and try them. The lunch side dishes are fries (regular or sweet potato) and steamed veggies.

Our Meal

Both breakfast and lunch are served all day, but we were there for breakfast. My go to choice at a diner is Biscuits & Gravy; Swan Street Diner has it, in the Hot Plates section of the menu. The dish consists of two big biscuits, topped with two eggs and covered with the sausage gravy. The biscuits were very tender. The eggs were huge; even better, the yolks runny, allowing them to be mixed with the gravy. They complemented each other well. The gravy was peppery and flavorful. These were the best Biscuits & Gravy that I have had in a long time.

My companion ordered the Smothered Burrito. The burrito is filled with 3 eggs, chorizo sausage, peppers and onions, and topped with queso, a green salsa, and pico de gallo. I had a taste and it was divine. It too was very large. My companion took half of it home to eat another time. I rounded out the meal with a side of home fries. The home fries were tender, but not as crisp as I like. They were well seasoned. Like the gravy, they had a strong taste of pepper.

Atmosphere

Like other refurbished diners, Swan Street Diner has its kitchen in a separate, connected building while the patrons eat in the original diner. It is a layout that works quite well. While the structure is that of the original diner, most of the seats and tables are new. The bar stools are original.

The results are phenomenal. The classic dining ambience is warm and welcoming. The exterior and interior walls of the kitchen building reflect the area’s history. The wallpaper on the inside and the paintings on the outside are custom made, showing dishware decorated with scenes of Larkinville. The table dishes also have a history. The come for a pottery that was spun off from the Larkin Soap Company (which had plates as giveaways).

The service at the restaurant was excellent. We were immediately seated. It took a few minutes before our waitress arrived, but she promptly served our drinks and took our order. She regularly came by to check on us and refill our drinks. Throughout the meal she was welcoming and friendly.

With great food, great service, and a fantastic ambience, Swan Street Diner is a great addition to the diner scene.