This Converted Church Is Now The Most Eccentric Restaurant In Buffalo
By Michelle|Published August 19, 2018
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Michelle
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Michelle's life is a colorful map of exploration and adventure. From the iconic streets of New York to the sunny shores of Florida, the jagged coast of Maine to the rugged terrain of Montana, she's been fortunate to call some of America's most beautiful states home. Beyond the U.S., Michelle's wanderlust has taken her on a motorcycle journey through India, led her to teach English in Hanoi, and saw her studying Spanish in Guatemala. Michelle graduated with a communications degree from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and in addition to a career in advertising has worked with OnlyInYourState since 2016, where her love for travel and storytelling converges. Alongside writing and exploring, Michelle finds joy in photography, staying active, and time with her family.
For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
There are a wonderful array of creative people living in Buffalo and it’s not uncommon to hear live music, see a performance, or even spoken word shows. In addition to an eclectic art scene there’s a dizzying amount of nationalities and cultures all living within this small, but robust city. This makes it easy to experience something special and new just about every day. This wonderful new restaurant exemplifies all that the city has to offer.
Sweet_ness 7 Café is located in the historic West Side of Buffalo, between Elmwood Village and the Niagara River.
The cafe has become known as one of the most lively and special places in the neighborhood, allowing people of different backgrounds to come together in a warm and inviting atmosphere. It certainly didn't need any kind of upgrade, but with the purchase of the adjacent building, it certainly got one!
The owner, Prish Moran, hired Jeremy Twiss to work at the cafe in 2013.
While he worked hard, it was clear to Moran that Twiss might benefit from a new challenge with the cafe. It came in the form of painting. Despite having never painted before, Moran tasked Twiss with bringing what was to become The Tabernacle at Sweet_ness 7 Cafe to life. And, bring it to life he sure did!
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Over the course of a year, Twiss filled the entirety of The Tabernacle with color, design, and feeling.
And each panel blends together to create a narrative that might only be clearly known to the artist. You could spend hours simply following the art around the space trying to determine what the background is.
Twiss says that being inside the structure brings him back to the moments he spent inside the building.
There were days when he spent hours inside - sometimes up to 15 hours at a time. While the work is beautiful, it took teaching himself along the way to truly perfect it.
The building itself dates back to 1922 when it was created as a worship house for a society of Buffalo evangelists.
You'll notice that the walls still hold imagery from various religions. From angels to Hindu icons, it feels as though no religion has been left out of the designs that take up every inch of the space.
While he had some anxiety over the project overall, the added fear of being so high up for the ceiling panels made the project that much more incredible.
This Buffalo Slam is a is a spin on their famous Grand Slam. It has house aioli, Maytag blue cheese, arugula, and tomato on top of a fresh egg, all sandwiched between a house-made toasted English Muffin.
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Did we mention breakfast is served all day and that there's outside dining as well?
The Tabernacle at Sweet_Ness 7 Cafe is located at 211 Lafayette Ave. in Buffalo. They’re open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. On Friday and Saturday they’re open from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. They’re closed on Sunday and Monday. Give them a call at (716) 883-1738 and check them out on Facebook.
It’s places like this that should fill us with pride for all that Buffalo offers – including some of the best foods in the country. These are some of the most unique and traditional that you’ll find in the Nickel City!
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