Popular restaurant to move to West Side

By Lauren Coppola and Samantha Wulff 

Bengal News Reporters

Chefs Steve and Ellen Gedra have done this dance many times. Preparing food in a small kitchen together for four years has taught them where to stand and how to move without disrupting the other. But the routine is getting stale, and a new venue may be the remedy. 

Steve and Ellen Gedra

Their restaurant, the popular Elmwood Avenue restaurant Bistro Europa, is moving to 376 Connecticut St.  most likely in August 2014. They wanted a place that they could own and be completely in charge of. 

“We’re buying a property instead of renting from a landlord and that was always the goal,” Steve Gedra said. “For 20 years that’s been the goal. Be our own boss completely.” 

 The first step in the moving process was gaining approval of the move and reconstruction of their new space, the former Golden Key Tavern, from the city planning board.

 Steve Gedra, on moving to larger space:


        With that out of the way, construction of the former pub is now in progress. An extended addition will allow for a commercial kitchen and more seating space. Rather than the 28 seats they have in their current location, they will be able to seat 50 and add on a bar.

“It’s getting gutted,” Gedra said. “Some parts are getting knocked down and put back up. It’s in rough shape so it’s going to take a while.”

Gedra says they are not going to change much when it comes to how the establishment runs. They have a unique style that they will not alter, only revamp.

On Bistro Europa’s website, http://europabuffalo.com/, customers are given daily updates of what is available for them to order. The chefs prepare almost everything from scratch. They try to use the freshest local ingredients to prepare simple dishes for each guest personally, adding to the intimate feel of the place.

When Bistro Europa moves, it will be leaving business neighbors it has had for several years.  Carly Battin, executive director of the Elmwood Village Association, said  that it is a shame the restaurant is leaving the village. She said the move to a different place just shows that they have outgrown their space.

“It's a little bit sad to see them moving away, but I think everybody's happy for them that they're expanding,” Battin said. “I think the West Side, Connecticut Street to Grant Street, is expanding. I think it's better for the city overall.”

Along with a new location comes new competition from already-established area restaurants.

The Left Bank is a restaurant on Rhode Island Street that has been around for 20 years. Manager Mailien Chichester believes Bistro Europa’s move is a positive for the West Side and that the area needs some good business.

“It's a brave move,” Chichester said. “I hope it makes them better.”

         Since Left Bank has been established in that area for so long, Chichester does not see it being impacted by Bistro Europa’s relocation.

“I don't think it'll affect us,” she said. “We already have our clientele.”

According to Gedra, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Everyone seems excited for the move to Connecticut Street.

“It’s always a gamble but I think it’s kind of calculated,” Gedra said. “I feel pretty good about what we do, and people definitely believe in us, and they’ll come.”