This week, you’ll have the chance to try out some of the best food in the Queen City. Black Restaurant Week kicks off on February 18 in Buffalo.

“This is definitely an awesome week,” said Jamey Alexander, the co-owner of Buffalo Soul Catering.

This is the third year that the Buffalo Urban League Young Professionals has organized the event. It all started in 2018 as a weekend to highlight minority-owned restaurants in Buffalo. Now just two years later, it’s grown to a week-long showcase of some of the most delicious food in the area.

“It’s really an opportunity for us to be able to support our local black restaurants and also help them sustain while promoting economic growth and enjoying great food,” said Jasmine Westbrook, the vice president of the Buffalo Urban League Youth Professionals.

“All black businesses are not soul food businesses and so that’s the beautiful part about this week is to see the different type of dishes that people are having to offer,” Alexander said.

This year more than a dozen restaurants are participating:

“When the people come here, I want them to feel that they’re at grandma’s house or mom’s house having an awesome dinner at the table,” said Vivian Robinson, owner of LaVerdad Café/Deli, which has been open for 16 months.

Their signature meal is the stretch mark sandwich which features brisket, macaroni and cheese, and kale apple slaw. The tasty food goes hand in hand with their cozy atmosphere.

“I love to correspond with people and let them enjoy the food, enjoy conversing with each other, and just feeling like they’re at home here,” Robinson said.

Buffalo Soul recently moved to their downtown location and the owners hope restaurant week welcomes Buffalo residents to their new space.

“We are unique because we are a blend of Buffalo and soul together so you can get all your Buffalo staples as well as your soul staples in one place,” said Alexander.

“We wanted to give a different perspective to the people who have maybe a certain perspective on how soul food restaurants’ appearance are, that some of them can be this way or that way and just have a negative gloom over them and we just want to shine a light that no you can be in a nice atmosphere and still get a nice down home-cooked meal,” Alexander said.

The ultimate goal is to support these businesses so the entire community can grow together.

“These local restaurants: they’re the local mom and pop shops that’s immediately going back to supporting our community which is what is our mission with the Buffalo Urban League Young Professionals: empowering ourselves,” said Westbrook.

Black Restaurant Week runs through February 23.