First look: Blue Buffalo

Bartender Jen Weber holds a Miss Kentucky sandwich and a Peanut Butter Burger at Blue Buffalo Tavern in Highland Heights.

You might know this spot from one of its former identities. Several bars have come before The Blue Buffalo in the same location, off of 27.

Blue Buffalo is from the same ownership group as Skinny Legs in Bellevue and Hayloft in Alexandria. Those places seem to put equal emphasis on their food and drink selections, so I was curious to see how the approach came across in this addition, nearer to NKU.

The mood: We walked by a couple of folks hanging at the bar and grabbed a booth towards the back of the open (and remodeled) dining area, near a table of rambunctious dudes.

I glimpsed two mounted flat screen TVs between menu readings, one showing the NASCAR race, the other framing Barry Larkin on ESPN. They’ve got five TVs in total.

The food: We started things off with an order of buffalo rolls ($4). Chicken, bleu cheese, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, cabbage and hot sauce are packed in, and they’re served with Chipotle mayo as dip, which my accomplice savored. In total, they came off as some kind of yummy bar-side egg roll, no taste outweighing any other; if you don’t like things spicy, relax, there’s little to worry about here.

If you haven’t eaten in about two days, and the idea of a chicken sandwich smothered in ranch, barbecue sauce, pepper jack cheese, onions, and mushrooms leaves you curious, then by all means, try the Miss Kentucky sandwich ($6.95).

Our waitress brought me extra napkins and a warning about my oncoming order’s messiness. Indeed, the chicken filet was blanketed heavily by its toppings, which made for a less-than-tidy dining session, and there was enough to take home. The extra napkins came in handy, and I dug the fries.

My companion ordered some “tasty” fish tacos in soft shells ($7.95), served with Chipotle Aioli sauce and fries (skipping the Asian slaw alternative). There were three moderately-sized tacos in total, which you can have blackened or fried. Filling, they inspired a travel case of their own.

The drinks: From the solid tap selection, my partner enjoyed a Summer Shandy at $3.50, and I had a Dos Equis draft for the same price.

The damage: $27.03, before tip.

The verdict: Our server was on the mark, from the introductory waters to the check. It’s a good place to try if you’re close by and want an approximation of the menu provided by Blue Buffalo’s siblings, or just looking for a casual neighborhood bar.