Date Night: Ru’s Pierogi, Buffalo

Buffalo: home of the Bills, Chicken Wings, Buffalo Bison Dip, Beef on Weck, and after our date night on Wednesday, home to the best pierogi I’ve ever had. Wednesday night, we had a quintessential Polish date at newly opened Ru’s Pierogi on Niagara Street in Downtown Buffalo.

I’m a Polish girl, and my family name means “Goat Milker” in the mother tongue. I grew up eating pierogi and kielbasa and listening to Polock jokes on the regular.  I now have goats on the farm, and underneath the carpet in the Parlor is a painted Polish Falcon. We didn’t do that, but I’ll have a hard time sanding it off when the time comes to redo the hardwood floor.

When we got the notice about a brand new pierogi shop, there was no question that I would be there as soon as the doors opened. What I didn’t expect was the trendy vibe and the innovative approach to such a traditional Polish staple. Owner and Executive Chef Andy Ruszczyk (and namesake) has spent the last few years concocting in his kitchen what now appears to be the latest iteration of the gourmet fad. In DC we had gourmet cupcakes and gourmet donuts; in Buffalo: the gourmet pierogi.

What we anticipate after noshing on the goat cheese pierogi (be still my Polish, goat-lovin’ heart) is that this won’t be a fad. Ru’s Pierogi is going to catch like wildfire and the whole city will be perched at the bar at Ru’s nightly to order another round of chicken wing, beef on weck, banana pepper, or pulled pork pierogi.

Chicken Wing Pierogi

cheddar and potato

Potato Ricotta Pierogi

Goat Cheese Pierogi

What we love about Ru’s is that in addition to homemade pierogi, 12 local beers appear on tap, showcasing area breweries to all who walk through the door.  Nothing beats an active and friendly restaurant community, and it’s clear that the team behind Ru’s understands that everyone thrives when you support one another.

It was kismet that Ruszczyk bumped into childhood friend Zach Schneider and talked about a potential business collaboration, but it’s to Buffalo’s benefit that they did. Turning the dream into reality, these two have given the West Side of Buffalo a gem of a place to visit. With the official grand opening ceremony taking place tomorrow at 10 AM, we expect that the last month of soft opening will explode with activity in the weeks to come.

Congrats to the entire leadership team at Ru’s for what we know will become an iconic Buffalo staple. Cheers!

Ru’ Pierogi • 295 Niagara Street • Buffalo, NY 14202