Lost in Transit-lation #1: Feature Eatery
After serving the Downtown Buffalo lunch crowd for years, Feature Eatery brought their meal prep service and fast casual restaurant (with expand hours) to East Amherst.
Lost in Transit-lation is a reoccurring feature where we try to find some of the hidden gems along Transit Road, an almost 30 mile stretch of road commonly thought of as fast food central.
For our first post on this new feature, we are focusing on a restaurant that is right around the corner from my house and was opened by one of my closest friends. Yes this may seem a bit biased but hear me out.
The partnership of Michael Khoury and Justin Tartick began when Justin was looking for a kitchen/pick up spot for his meal prep service and Michael was looking to diversify the offerings of The Washington Market, which he had taken over from his parents. Within months of their arrangement, the two saw the potential of a fast casual restaurant with an emphasis on healthy/non-processed food combined with a meal prep service and after The Washington Market closed in 2017, they created Feature Eatery and opened on Chippewa in 2018.
Fast forward through a global pandemic which, among other things, led to massive change in how often people traveled Downtown to work and the two decided to move their restaurant into the suburbs. Feature Eatery opened in East Amherst at 9310 Transit (behind the Aldis in a newly formed plaza) in late 2022, their former location on Chippewa is currently the home of Sue’s Deli.
Feature offers hearty and satifsying meals using often fresh and healthy ingredients in the “Chipotle style” of fast casual service. The customer orders their food in steps down the line, putting together an entree. You pick if you want a rice bowl or salad bowl, then pick your type of protein, add two sides of veggies and choose a sauce. They’ve also expanded the menu to accommodate the occasional specials like Mac n Cheese and a variety of BBQ.
First things first, I am obsessed with their Thai Pork Meatballs (pictured above). They are seasoned well and I could drink the sauce they simmer in. The majority of the time at Feature my order is a coconut rice bowl with Thai Pork meatballs and a rotating cast of veggies then topped with lemon tahini sauce.
The Jamican Jerk chicken thighs provide a nice little kick if you’re looking for some different. My personal favorite toppings are generally their roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes or curried chickpeas.
They also make excellent oatmeal protein balls that you can grab to go, I’ve often relied on them on hectic mornings when running out the door to work.
What absolutely must not be missed, is ordering their legendary chocolate chip cookies. Yes you can order a meal that fits into whatever macros you’re trying to hit, get all of the healthy protein you can handle BUT you still need to treat yourself and order their perfect chocolate chip cookies. These cookies will be familiar to The Washington Market diehards, as made famous by Michael’s mother Mona. I do not leave the restaurant without at least three cookies to go and ordered two dozen last year to be handed out at our Ride for Roswell post ride tent.
For a quick lunch or dinner, the portions are large enough that you walk away feeling full or having leftovers but without feeling awful later. Feature occasionally take over the kitchen at my office for lunch and I can order a nice rice or salad bowl and not dread a 2pm crash.
The restaurant has some seating that can hold about 20 people, primarily they are a takeout restaurant. They are open Monday through Saturday, 11am to 8pm. In addition to building your own bowl with a base of Mac n cheese, rice or salad, you can also grab a broth cup, a protein shake and a selection of drinks to go.
Feature;s food and menu can cater to health concise diners who subscribe to specific protein/plant based diets but their food can also appeal to the average customer because it just tastes great. Check them out!
Loved feature when they were downtown! Felt healthy and good for you while being quick 😁