A new restaurant on Ridge Road in Lackawanna is putting oxtail, escovitch lobster and seven-hour braised short ribs on the same table, and it's doing so under one chef's direction. Pop In 717 describes itself as a full-service spot blending American comfort food, Italian tradition and Caribbean flavor into a single menu.
According to Pop In 717's website, the restaurant promises “a dining experience where American comfort, Italian tradition, and Caribbean soul come together.” That mission statement shows up directly on the plate: the menu pairs Caribbean-style braised oxtail with rice and peas and sweet fried plantains alongside seven-hour braised beef short ribs served with potato au gratin and sautéed spinach.
The restaurant sits at 717 Ridge Road. Its menu includes escovitch lobster and a Southern-Thai-Caribbean coconut crab curry — dishes that reach beyond a single culinary tradition and into several at once.
A Chef-Driven Concept Rooted in Caribbean Flavor
Chef Beverley Garraway leads the kitchen at Pop In 717, and the restaurant's approach centers her Caribbean background. Garraway's Caribbean flavors show up across the menu rather than in a single signature dish.
The online ordering menu, hosted through Toast, describes the kitchen's output as chef-driven American, Italian and Caribbean cuisine — language that lines up with how the restaurant presents itself elsewhere. That menu also lists spicy Creole shrimp with crispy bacon and smoked cheddar grits, served with warm buttermilk biscuits, another example of the Southern-meets-island pairing that runs through the offerings.
Whole Fried Lobster and Other Showpiece Dishes
The menu features Caribbean preparations and ingredients, including oxtail, escovitch vegetables, rice and peas, plantains, and curry.
Hours, Reservations and How to Order
Pop In 717 is open Monday through Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to Visit Buffalo's listing; the restaurant is closed Sundays. Dine-in service, reservations and online ordering are all available, and the restaurant also offers private event and catering services for birthdays, corporate dinners and in-home dining experiences.
Toast does not support credit-card surcharging for online ordering in New York. Step Out Buffalo reported that locals have already started talking about the new Lackawanna spot, with diners saying Pop In 717 served them one of the best meals they've had in Buffalo.
