A Big-Appetite Stop at Buffalo Bar & Grill in Payson

A grilled green chile laid across a substantial burger is a fine introduction to Buffalo Bar & Grill in Payson. The chile is grilled before it goes on the sandwich, a small extra step that gives the green chile burger more character than a routine bar-and-grill order.

This is a casual roadside stop with the look of a Western small-town hangout: cowboy hats at the bar, old-saloon-style decor, booths, counter seats and a dining area where a family lunch can sit comfortably alongside a couple on a date or friends settling in after a day outdoors.

The food comes in the generous, unapologetic portions people hope for from a place like this. Burgers are the headliners, but there is enough on the menu to keep a mixed group occupied well beyond the usual question of who wants fries.

The brisket burger is one of the more tempting choices, bringing tender brisket into the familiar burger format. It is a rich, messy-sounding proposition in the best sense, suited to a day when a light lunch is not on the agenda.

Then there is the Beast burger, built for diners who see a single meat as an unnecessary limitation. Its combination of meats gives it the full stacked, big-order spirit suggested by the name.

Bison and Buffalo burgers offer alternatives to the standard beef patty, while the open-faced chili burger goes in a different direction entirely. That variety makes the burger selection more than a list of toppings; each one lands in its own corner of the comfort-food map.

The green chile burger remains an especially appealing pick for anyone who wants a little smoky heat without turning lunch into a dare. Paired with sweet potato fries, it makes a particularly solid plate.

The fried mushrooms deserve a moment before the main course arrives. They have a lightly crisp exterior with a tender center, which is exactly the contrast a fried mushroom needs and not always gets.

A combo appetizer basket can cover a table of three without disappearing in the first five minutes. Within that spread, the jalapeño cheese bites are an easy item to notice first and an even easier one to wish came in their own full-size order.

Other snack-table choices include jalapeño poppers, French fries, tater tots and sweet potato fries. These are useful dishes for a group that wants something to nibble with drinks before committing to the larger plates.

The ranch dressing has been noted for tasting like a house-made accompaniment rather than a standard bottled afterthought. It is a small detail, but good ranch has a way of improving everything it touches, especially a basket of hot fried food.

The rest of the menu keeps Buffalo from becoming a one-note burger destination. A French dip, Philly cheesesteak and hot pastrami club cover the sandwich side of the operation, while fish and chips, chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders and salads give the table more directions to go.

The French dip with a Caesar salad makes a sensible lunch combination: substantial enough to feel like a proper meal, but not quite the full commitment of the Beast. Daily specials add another reason not to assume the menu begins and ends with the usual favorites.

Fish and chips, pulled pork sandwiches and chicken tender meals are known for their generous portions. Sweet potato fries show up alongside several meals and work just as well beside fried fish as they do beside a burger.

There are also choices outside the meat-heavy center of the menu, including salads, baked potatoes, a chicken sandwich and some vegetarian-labeled dishes. That gives a group more flexibility when one person wants a towering burger and another would rather take a lighter route.

The potato salad has a distinctly dill-forward profile, a detail that will appeal to people who like their potato salad with a little more zip than the usual creamy picnic version. A baked potato offers a quieter option for those who want a classic steakhouse-style side without the fried crunch.

Tater tots, regular fries and sweet potato fries handle the familiar territory, but they are not merely filler around the plate. At a restaurant serving burgers this substantial, a side needs enough presence to hold up its end of the meal.

The setting has the welcoming clutter and easygoing rhythm of a local bar and diner rather than a carefully themed imitation of one. The jukebox adds to the barroom energy, and the counter can become a natural spot for conversation and storytelling.

A solo diner can take a bar seat, while booths and the main dining area suit families and groups. When the tables are full, the bar has served as a practical alternative for people happy to eat at the counter.

The room can be lively, particularly around the bar and jukebox. That is useful to know if the goal is a hushed dinner conversation, but it also fits the place's straightforward, social character.

The drink list includes cocktails such as Razz Lemon Drops and B52 coffees, giving the bar a little more playfulness than a basic beer-and-burger setup. A B52 coffee is a fitting way to extend a meal when the conversation is still going.

For dessert, carrot cake is on hand, along with a cookie served warm-looking and indulgent with ice cream and chocolate drizzle. The cookie dessert is large enough to make sharing the sensible move; three people can make a respectable pass at it.

Buffalo has a dedicated lot with plentiful free parking, removing one of the less charming parts of a casual meal out. Seating includes booths, the indoor dining room, the bar or counter, and an outdoor patio area.

The restaurant has accommodated everything from family meals to a party of 10. The outdoor area has also been used by a large group traveling with a dog, though patio conditions can naturally vary.

It makes an easy stop after time outside in the Payson area, including a day around Tonto Natural Bridge. Just keep the restaurant's relatively compact size in mind on a busy Saturday: tables may fill, while a bar seat can still leave you with a good view of the hats, the jukebox and the next round of burgers coming out hot.