Beef on Weck: The Ultimate Western NY Comfort Food

The Decadent Local Favorite: Roast Beef on Kummelweck Rolls

Beef on weck reminds me of my childhood. My great-grandparents owned a butcher shop in Dunkirk, New York, and were fabulous in the kitchen. Thanks to their familiarity with meat, my Busia and her sisters could make a mean roast beef. We visited a family cottage in Van Buren Point in New York every summer. It’s super close to where my mother’s side of the family grew up.

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My aunt still lived above the family butcher shop, where she would hand-carve beef. She would work in the hot kitchen on an August day with no air conditioning in her 80s. She’d roast beef, broil corn, and boil potatoes. She’d bring casseroles of delicious food to the cottage: fresh, local corn on the cob with lots of butter, homemade potato salad with Hellman’s mayo, and beef. Roast beef with au jus and horseradish on a fresh-baked salty kummelweck roll tastes like a dream.

What is the history of beef on weck?

The history of beef on weck in Niagara Falls, New York, is interesting.

Beef on weck originates in Western New York sometime in the mid-19th century. The story is that a German baker, William Wahr, brought the kummelweck roll, a bun topped with salt and caraway seeds from Black Forest to Buffalo in the 1880s. Kummel means caraway, and weck means bread in southwestern German dialects.

A local pub owner, Joe Gohn, used kummelweck to serve roast beef, hoping the salty roll would get his patrons thirsty enough to buy more beer. The slow-roasted rare beef is hand-carved into thin slices. The top of the roll is cut off and can be dipped in au jus. Many serve the dish with horseradish.

What beef on weck is best?

What beef on weck is best? We went to Niagara Falls, NY, for a long weekend. While planning our jam-packed family itinerary, we were set on finding a quality beef on weck.

Our favorite beef on weck in the Niagara Falls area was at Adrian’s Custard and Beef on Grand Island. The shop has been family-owned and operated since 1989. It serves award-winning roast beef sandwiches and custard. Since 1989, Adrian’s has served fresh, quality ingredients. Adrian’s also offers vegan, gluten-free, and keto options. But with custard and beef on weck, you can’t go wrong!

If planning a trip to sample the local cuisine, be sure to check out our complete Western New York family travel guide to map out the rest of your itinerary.

My husband’s beef on weck looked so delicious that I wished they made gluten-free kimmelweck rolls! But even with a plain gluten-free sandwich roll, it was worth it at Adrian’s. The other options at Adrian’s, like the burger or hot dog, did not even come close to the quality of the beef on weck.

How are buffalo wings and beef on weck at Anchor Bar?

The quality of beef on weck does not exist everywhere. Unfortunately, the Anchor Bar made terrible beef on weck. I disliked insulting local businesses, but it was dry and horrible. However, the wings were life-changing!

Did you ever wonder why buffalo wings bear their famous name? Thank Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. Dominic Bellissimo was a bartender looking to serve his hungry friends late one night. He asked his mother to prepare some food for his friends. With a backstory like that, I expected delicious Buffalo wings- and they delivered. However, in Western New York, they call Buffalo wings simply ‘wings.’

She deep-fried chicken wings, the part of the chicken usually used for chicken soup, in the stockpot. With a little secret sauce, the wings became an instant hit. Soon, people came from all over to try Buffalo Wings. They have spread worldwide, but they all started at Anchor Bar.

Where else do you get beef on weck in Niagara Falls, NY?

If you want the absolute best beef on weck in western New York, head to Buffalo. However, so many decently rated restaurants serve beef on weck for a local treat. Try one of the following beef on weck restaurants:

• Griffon Gastropub: The menu features the Western New York “tradition of slow-roasted, tender, all-natural top round, thinly sliced, served on a fresh-baked & toasted kummelweck roll with a side of au jus & horseradish.”
• Judi’s Lounge Bar & Grill: The menu contains famous dishes, including beef on weck pots, beef on weck sliders, and beef on weck sandwiches. There is also the “Best of Buffalo,” including buffalo wings and a beef on weck sandwich, and the “Best of Buffalo for two” includes Beef on Weck sliders and 10 chicken wings.
• Orange Tree Inn: This beef on weck sandwich comes with onion rings or funky cut fries.
• Taylor’s Tap & Grill: Many people describe the beef on weck as delectable, but it is not always on the menu, so check before you go.
• Jet Port Restaurant: They have Beef on ‘Weck cooked at Jet Port and includes thin, sliced tender roast beef served on kummelweck rolls topped with Kosher salt.
• Beach House Restaurant: Located on Grand Island, the beef on weck is tasty and incredibly affordable.
• Duff’s Famous Wings: Nothing pairs better with a roast beef sandwich on weck than buffalo wings. Enjoy both the classic sandwich and chicken wings at this restaurant.

Pro Tip: While many modern spots use a deli slicer for consistency, the most traditional ‘Weck’ is hand-carved right off the roast.

Where can I get beef on weck in Western New York?

Visit a silo that overlooks the Niagara River into Canada if you want to venture to the Silo in Lewiston. While it’s a quick-service restaurant, the views are incredible. You can hit the train car serving ice cream if you have room left after the comfort food festival. If you’re tired of beef on weck, feast on the haystack- a roll stuffed with shredded ribeye, mozzarella cheese, and crunchy hash browns.

Also, if you’re willing to drive 25 minutes, Kelly’s Korner is one of the thickest Beef on Weck sandwiches in Buffalo, New York! The address is 2526 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, New York 14216.

What if I want to make beef on weck at home?

If all else fails, go to Wegman’s and get kummelweck buns. And just a note- it sounds a bit like kimmelweck, but it is spelled kummelweck. If in doubt, act like a local and call it weck.

While my roast beef and au jus are not nearly as tasty as the real deal, the buns can be frozen, so we can enjoy beef on weck on cold winter nights in Niagara Falls. Until the rest of the world gets beef on weck, we will have to make it ourselves!

Visiting Niagara Falls, NY, during the winter? We got you covered in our cold-weather guide!

What does BW3 stand for?

Beef on weck spread beyond western New York through a giant chain. Have you ever heard of BW3? Buffalo Wild Wings was initially called “Buffalo Wild Wings and Weck.” While the concept is 100% Buffalo, the company was actually founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1982 by two guys from New York who were homesick for Buffalo-style wings. The Weck was removed almost 30 years ago (in 1998). Now it’s called Buffalo Wild Wings, sadly, without any beef on weck to be found!

Beef on Weck in Niagara Falls, NY

Beef on weck in Niagara Falls, New York, makes the trek to the Falls even MORE worthwhile. Is your soul craving the comfort food of beef on weck or real buffalo wings? Please leave it in the comments!