(Way more than 280 characters post) FINGERS REVIEW: Big Tree Inn From time to time when I review something that has a negative tone, I feel the need to preface it. I take less than zero joy burying any business, let alone writing anything negative. I almost always find positive alternative things to say, even if I don’t enjoy what I went there for. For example, “the chicken fingers didn’t do it for me but you should try their BBQ wings, they’re totally under the radar.” Or I’ll make sure to compliment the staff, say something cool about the bar/restaurant’s decor. Literally, something to counteract whatever negative comes from my mouth. I don’t want to be the guy that may cost a business the potential patronage of a customer. That said, I also feel a responsibility to the decent amount of people who read these and/or see my posts on socials to be objectively truthful. Afterall, to some extent I’m attaching my name when vouching for a place being really good, or vice versa. Anyway, that’s my general rule of thumb. Sometimes though, rules should go out the window---such as the case here following my trip to the Big Tree Inn (Orchard Park) to give their chicken fingers a test drive. It was an absolute disaster. All. Of. It. Typically, I’ve been doing bullet point style reviews for this series. They’re quick to put together and easily consumable for you. With this one, I really need to explain everything. I walk in around 4:00pm to a bar that’s relatively slow. Handful of folk sitting at the bar, two of the six sit down meal tables taken in the back and one couple at a table near the bar. I go to the bartender and order single medium chicken fingers with fries and ask for a side cup of their Cajun Chiavetta sauce on the side, offering to pay extra for it. Bartender writes up the order, I get a Diet Coke and tell her I’ll be over there (pointing to a side table) Roughly 46 minutes later (I always time it and feel anything between 17-30 minute wait for fingers is normal), my food is out. Not to me at the table though, in a to-go box at the bar. The bartender eventually notices me and I go to the bar. I remind her I’m eating at the bar (no big deal) and ask for a fork and knife. I open the box and----the fingers are literally plain. No medium sauce like I asked, not even medium sauce to the side. I tell the bartender, who eventually tells the cook/server. She comes back with a single small sized cup of medium sauce. I attempt to politely say I wanted my fingers with sauce on them, not a tiny cup of sauce to the side (how is one small cup supposed to last for three fingers anyway?) After being made to feel like I’m a burden, she takes my box with the fingers and few minutes later returns with them “shaken” and I use that term loosely because there’s STILL barely any sauce on them. Rather than offer some form of sorry for the miscommunication or confusion, she makes it a point to say that she cooked what was on the slip and it wasn’t her fault. I can’t emphasize enough how off-putting it was to not at least say “hey man sorry for the mix up” and I’m not exaggerating when I say the tone I was being spoken to was condescending. So here I am, not even a bite of my food yet (at this point nearly a hour after first ordering) and I’m being made to feel like the issue was somehow my fault. As for the fingers, they were straight up horrifically bad----dried up and what tiny bit of sauce I actually could taste was bland. I was literally dunking pieces of the fingers in the Cajun Chiavetta’s cup so I could get some semblance of flavor. In the interest of full disclosure, someone I have a relationship with has a relationship with management there. I was asked to not say anything about my experience and simply give the place another chance. Honestly, I thought about it for a few and had the lousy cooked fingers been the only issue and was treated like a honest mistake, I probably would’ve let the other stuff slide. However, the service was legitimately as bad or worse than the food and on this day that’s saying a lot--- not even a blanketed typical fake apology from the retail customer service playbook to be had or nothing. That’s enough to me make say nope, I ain’t letting that shit slide. You got Prohibition, O’Neill’s and Kettles all within a stone’s throw away to compete with and that’s the experience your content to give a paying customer? I’ve done dozens and dozens (and several more dozens) of wing reviews and this my seventh or eighth finger review in the past month. No hyperbole here when saying this was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had at any place to date. The fries were great by the way. Aside from that, there wasn’t a single redeeming thing about today. So on that note, I’ll make the rare anti-recommendation and say---- No thanks. When you make a mistake, even if it's possible that it may not be your fault----act like the customer matters... PS: I’ve had your wings and those are nothing to write home about either. Score: 1.8 out of 10 See less

It's game 1 people.

The SE corner of Montana is closer to Texas than it is to the NW corner of Montana.

Sad to hear, hopeful for a full recovery John. He's a great follow both here and on FB. Thanks for bringing the beauty of WNY to everyone.

Your National Champions. NCCC. Here are the local WNY players that can now call themselves National Champion. Patrick Beyer-St Joes Evan Kohr-Iroqouis Luke Rybczynski-St Francis Mike Schaefer-Lancaster Ashton Putney-Fredonia Cameron Gruarin-Niagara Wheatfield Andrew Kelly- Niagara Wheatfield Joe Panzarella-St Francis Jacob Hudson-Frontier Mike Munzert-Will South Dalton Harper-Maryvale Cooper Prizel-Canisius Joe Czaja-Clarence Jonah Moscato-Hamburg Sam Carder-Pioneer Matt Kasprowicz-Will North Dylan Bankoski-Dunkirk Christopher Snusz-St Francis Brady Case-Starpoint Robert Kibler-Frontier Cooper Rossano-Will East LETS CONGRATULATE ALL OF THESE PLAYERS. @NCThunderwolves @WNYAthletics @ByJoeKraus @MClingersmith

So we say, let's make it easier on families who can't afford, let's get the community sponsors, get businesses donations. We miss a big point though. Bats don't need to be that $$, tourney fees don't need to be so $$. Can't change it now, too far gone. Dicks shares that blame.

THE TWO BEST WORDS IN SPORTS ... GAME 7 🗣️ Who wins tonight? ❤️ for Canadiens 🔁 for Sabres

Sometimes i regret giving oxygen to humans

Malenstyn just did a Housley.

We have whiffed on 2 great chances tonight. #letsgobuffalo

Carrick's return has not helped the face-offs, he's 1 of 6, the team is 16 of 47 = 34%. #Sabres

Love seeing all these Bills writers chiming in on NHL playoff schedules.

I'm not even that mad about the scheduling aspect. They swept both series, and in essence, earned that rest. I'm more upset their 2nd round matchup was against a team that had no real business being in the 2nd round.

Power out of position.

OK, are we going to talk about Millsey and the drum at some point?

This is some funny shit right here.

In the battle of #1 vs #1 the Panthers get the W.

🚂 History on Rails! Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 Heads East for America's 250th Anniversary 🇺🇸 The world's largest operating steam locomotive — the mighty Union Pacific 4014 "Big Boy" — is making its first-ever trip to the East Coast in 2026 as part of an epic coast-to-coast tour celebrating our nation's 250th birthday! After wrapping its western leg, the Big Boy kicks off the eastern journey on May 25 from Cheyenne, WY, rolling over Norfolk Southern rails through 10 states with more than 50 whistle-stops and major public displays. This is a rare collaboration between UP and NS, bringing this 1.2-million-pound beast to communities that shaped America's industrial heartland. Key Highlights: - Major Display Days (free admission, check UP site for details/shuttles/tickets where required): - May 30: Omaha, NE - June 3: West Chicago, IL - June 10: Buffalo, NY - June 15-16: Scranton, PA (Steamtown) - July 4-5: Philadelphia, PA — Fourth of July celebration! - July 9-10: Altoona, PA - July 14: Fostoria, OH - July 19: St. Louis, MO - One special passenger excursion: June 14 through the Poconos on vintage cars (tickets via Union Pacific Museum). This 4-8-8-4 articulated monster was built in 1941 to conquer the Wasatch Mountains. Restored and back in action since 2019, it's a living legend of American engineering. Safety first, railfans: Stay 25 feet back from tracks, no trespassing, expect trains anytime. Who's catching a glimpse of this thunderous giant? Drop your planned spot below! 🔥 #BigBoy4014

🚨⚔️Sabres Giveaway⚔️🚨 Win a signed Zach Benson mini-helmet from my friends @TSEBuffalo Must be following @TSEBuffalo & @SabresFunStats Like and Retweet this post Winner selected during pregame on 5/6. #LetsGoBuffalo

Feels like every Yankee fan should go down this rabbit hole today. RIP John Sterling pinstripealley.com/2024/4/19…