Buffalo Grille brings barbecue to S.W. Topeka. The Alcantara family opened Mexicali restaurant in 2020.

Brianna Childers, Topeka Capital-Journal
·2 min read
The doors are open for business at Buffalo Grille, 5900 S.W. Topeka Blvd., as co-owner Eric Alcantara welcomes guests Wednesday afternoon.
The doors are open for business at Buffalo Grille, 5900 S.W. Topeka Blvd., as co-owner Eric Alcantara welcomes guests Wednesday afternoon.

Eric and Roberto Alcantara are dipping their feet into Topeka's barbecue scene with the opening of their new restaurant Buffalo Grille.

The recently opened southwest Topeka restaurant, 5900 S.W. Topeka Blvd., is the father-son duo's second dining establishment.

The Alcantara's opened Mexicali, 2107 S.E. California Ave., in June 2020 and has since been a success for the family. The restaurant's quesabirrias, tacos filled with meat and served with a side of consommé soup for dipping, are a popular dish among patrons.

But when the father and son laid eyes on the vacant building — which was previously occupied by Amigo's Mexican Restaurant — that now houses Buffalo Grille they saw an opportunity to expand their skills into a new cuisine.

"My dad has always wanted to open an American restaurant," said Eric Alcantara. "On this side of town, there's really no barbecue, no American food. He said, 'Let's try it out.'"

Buffalo Grille is open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Buffalo Grille's business since opening Nov. 1 has been good, Eric Alcantara said.

"Last Friday night was busy, busy," Eric Alcantara said. "In the back, we were all nervous. We only had two servers, so I told my dad we need three at least so we can take care of the people."

Eric Alcantara said patrons are excited to see a new restaurant in southwest Topeka.

"Everybody that comes in here is like: 'We are happy that you guys opened. We needed a good restaurant on this side of town,'" Eric Alcantara said.

Menu is a mix of American, barbecue dishes

New flooring with fresh paint makes for a crisp place to dine at the new Buffalo Grille at 5900 S.W. Topeka Blvd.
New flooring with fresh paint makes for a crisp place to dine at the new Buffalo Grille at 5900 S.W. Topeka Blvd.

Buffalo Grille's menu is a combination of barbecue and American dishes.

Pasta, hamburgers, ribs, rib tips and pulled pork sandwiches are among the dishes served.

"We have a big smoker in the back where we smoke the ribs," Eric Alcantara said. "People are liking it. The feedback is good."

Eric Alcantara said the restaurant will soon serve alcohol but is waiting for its liquor license.

Dreams of expansion on the horizon

The vision of the Alcantaras is to open a second Buffalo Grille location in Topeka if the first turns out to be a success.

The father-son duo also purchased the building next door to Buffalo Grille with hopes breaking down the connecting wall and turning the space into one large space.

Owning restaurants has always been a goal of the Alcantaras.

And in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the father-son duo made those dreams come true.

"When COVID first hit we were kind of scared," Eric Alcantara said. "We have good business over at (Mexicali), too. We are trying to grow and one day have three or four restaurants."

Brianna Childers is the food and fun reporter for the Capital-Journal. Reach her at bchilders@cjonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @brichilders3.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Buffalo Grille opens in Topeka, KS from owners of Mexicali restaurant