Over the weekend one of my neighbors told me that she had paid a visit to the Erie Basin Marina to listen to some live music and check out the new marina bar. I told her that I was aware that The Hatch had expanded its offerings, but I had not seen the part of the project that she was referring to. Of course, the next day my wife and I planned a short excursion to the marina to see what was new, and I must say that we were (generally) pleasantly surprised by what we found.
First off, we were greeted to the sounds of live music as we rolled up. Next we encountered the “patio bar” that is now operated by AcQua Catering (essentially where the clam shack used to be). While we were excited to see the new amenities, we were a bit disappointed by the appearance of the bar, which was a bit bunker-ish and all utilitarian. We figured that since there was already a buzz surrounding the place, we might encounter an attractive tiki element (or something of that nature) to soften up the look of the compound.
For the most part, The Hatch is mostly brutalist in nature due to the winter weather that blows off the lake. At least that’s what I’m assuming is the reason for the mostly concrete structures. In the late fall the operators batten down the hatches and wait until spring to open the place up again. The facade of the compound that faces Erie Street and the marina is a nondescript concrete box that houses bathrooms – that poor architectural/design decision was made before I can remember. It’s a bummer that with the overhaul of The Hatch, something could not have been done to turn that blank canvas into a living green wall or public art… or something that would be welcoming rather than foreboding.
Aside from the lackluster exterior aesthetics of The Hatch, the addition of the bar has done wonders for the overall vibe of the place. Along with a row of bar stools, there are a number of bistro tables set out – something of a mash-up between ductwork and cable spools (recycle-reuse). There are also picnic tables closer to the restaurant entranceway and along the railings overlooking the inlet to the Inner Harbor.
As for the restaurant itself, the place is now called The Hatch from The Molly World Grill (paying tribute to one of the new operators, Molly Ford). We were surprised to see such an extensive menu that didn’t much reflect the previous offerings (basic hamburger joint). The new menu boasts a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner items that range from General Tso’s Chicken to a falafel wrap. Of course there are still some hints of the previous restaurant on the menu including burgers and fries, and a “famous seafood chowder”. The overall appearance of the restaurant has been upgraded. The only issue that we came across was the line of customers that meandered outside of the building, directly in the middle of all of the entertainment. They might want to put a better system in place for that.
Along with the new bar and the grill, there is still a place to get ice cream and other favorite cool desserts and treats. There’s also a protected picnic area that offers shade to those who need it. For the sun worshippers there are grassy spots to sit. As for entertainment, karaoke is offered Friday evenings from 7pm-11pm (see Facebook). We asked around to see if anyone was aware of the music schedule, and we were told that live music takes place (generally) Thurs-Sun.
All in all, visitors to The “new” Hatch will be pleasantly surprised. If Saturday was any litmus test for visitor attendance to the Erie Basin Marina, then AcQua operators will be pleased as punch. In all of my life I have never seen such hoards of people descending upon the waterfront as they did this past weekend. It was a veritable madhouse.
The Hatch Restaurant | 329 Erie St | Buffalo, New York 14202 | Phone (716) 851-6501