Headed to Buffalo? ECC hosts many large meets in the Northeast. If you live East of the Mississippi, there’s a good chance you’ll end up in Buffalo at one point for a meet.
Traveling can be stressful when it comes to eating out, we got you covered on the where and what to eat when you’re fueling or re-fueling during the meet.
PRO TIP: Order food before you leave the pool and swing by for pickup on your way back to the hotel to get as much rest as possible! Avoid sitting in a restaurant, waiting for your food when you could be resting and recovering.
Pete’s Place Food Shop
Open 7AM to 4:30PM
Closed Saturday & Sunday
Menu Link: https://www.petesplacefoodshop.com/menu
Online Ordering: YES!
Address
.3 Miles Away from the Pool
290 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
Menu Wins:
Rice Bowl
Offers a gluten-free option with many options for protein including shrimp, grilled chicken, and Jamaican jerk chicken. There’s even a veggie option for our Vegetarian and Vegan swimming friends. Leave off the chips as they typically contain seed oils. The restaurant does not disclose which type of corn chips are used, but better to limit when unknown.
Salad
Pete’s Place offers a variety of salads with the option to add protein as well. You could use this as a side salad to your rice bowl. Be cautious about heavy dressings. Ask for the dressing on the side so you can add a small amount. Heavy dressings are not great for digestion at meets.
Breakfast: Omelet
This offering contains four eggs with your choice of preparation. Go with the grilled chicken, veggie or cheese omelet if you’ll be racing in the morning. The other options may be too heavy or spicy in the system for a pre-meet meal.
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Baked Goods & Desserts- although the pictures will draw you in for these delicious looking tasty treats, save it for after the meet. Items full of sugar and fat are not ideal racing food.
The Lunch Box
Open 7:30AM to 3PM
Closed Saturday & Sunday
Menu Link: https://www.thelunchboxbuffalo.com/menu
Online Ordering: YES!
Address
.4 Miles Away from the Pool
465 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14203
Menu Wins:
Build Your Own Deli Sandwich
You stay in control of what goes on your sandwich! Go for a nutrient-rich bread with a lean protein source like ham, chicken, or turkey, along with some veggies like lettuce, tomato, pickle – whatever you desire. Lay off lots of cheese and mayo as these are very fatty and aren’t ideal swim meet foods. Pair this with some fruit that you may have in your hotel room and some additional veggies like carrots or cucumber for a complete lunch.
Salads
Any of these options can be a great side or addition to your sandwich. They contain protein and a number of veggies for recovery power. Ask for dressings on the side so you can add a small amount but still get that house-made dressing flavor. Heavy dressings aren’t ideal for swim meets.
Fruit & Yogurt Parfait
A solid addition to a meal for extra calories or keep in your room for a quick snack. This could be an awesome after lunch snack.
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Chips – Typically they contain seed oils so best to get carb sources elsewhere.
Baked Treats – They look delicious but sweets are not swim meet food. Wait until after the meet to enjoy these types of treats.
Sodas & Drinks (stick with water or your approved hydration drink for electrolytes Sodas contain caffeine and lots of sugar or artificial sweeteners – all things that aren’t needed when you’re trying to swim fast!)
Pearl Street Grill & Brewery
Open 11:30AM to 10PM
10:00AM to 10:00PM Sunday
Menu Link: https://pearlstreetgrill.com/food-menu/
Online Ordering: YES!
Address
.4 Miles Away from the Pool
76 Pearl Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
Menu Wins:
Greek Chicken Wrap
A great way to get protein, veggies, and carbs. Ask for the Tzatziki sauce on the side so you can add your own desired amount. This automatically pairs with a side of chips so sub with coleslaw, mashed potatoes, or soup instead.
MahiMahi
Fish provides protein but still very lean so you don’t get that super full and heavy feeling. This pairs with a mango salsa and quinoa for an awesome recovery meal.
White Pizza
A garlic oil base instead of tomato sauce helps reduce the tomato sauce burps at finals. Add chicken to this to get in the great protein. Pair with a salad and ask for a gluten-free crust if you’re wheat/gluten/folic acid conscious.
Salad
The House, Caesar or Cajun Lime Shrimp salads all look fantastic. They come as a full or small size so you can pair a small (or a full if you’re super hungry) with your meal.
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Fried Food – not swim fast food. It’s heavy and fatty. Not the kind of fuel you want in your body.
Sodas & Drinks (stick with water or your approved hydration drink for electrolytes Sodas contain caffeine and lots of sugar or artificial sweeteners – all things that aren’t needed when you’re trying to swim fast!)
Bella Ciao
Open M-TH 11:30AM to 10PM
Friday 11:30AM to 11PM
Saturday (3PM to 11PM) & Sunday (3PM to 10PM)
Menu Link: https://www.bellaciaobuffalo.com/
Online Ordering: No
Address
2.1 Miles Away from the Pool
200 Delaware Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
Menu Wins:
Strawberry Feta Salad
Antioxidant loaded with greens and reds. Ask for dressing on the side to limit overloads of dressing that can be heavy in the system at a swim meet. Get the small size with shrimp or chicken as an addition to your meal.
Tomato Basil Spaghetti
Add grilled chicken or shrimp as a protein source. They offer a gluten-free pasta option as well if you are wheat/gluten/folic acid conscious.
Salmon
A perfect way to get lean protein and Omega-3 fats for recovery. Paired with an easy to digest veggie, asparagus, over risotto. A great lean meal for recovery.
Steamed Clams
An amazing source of Vitamin B12 for energy and a solid amount of protein, this can be an awesome appetizer!
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Fried Food – not swim fast food. It’s heavy and fatty. Not the kind of fuel you want in your body.
Lots of Meat & Cheese – dishes like lasagna contain a substantial amount of red meat and cheese – both very heavy and can make you feel like you ate a rock
Sodas & Drinks (stick with water or your approved hydration drink for electrolytes Sodas contain caffeine and lots of sugar or artificial sweeteners – all things that aren’t needed when you’re trying to swim fast!)