Review: Brooklyn Pickle (Far West-Side)

Name: Brooklyn Pickle (Far West-Side location)
Address: 1600 W Genesee St, Syracuse, NY
Phone: (315) 487-8000
Neighborhood: Far West-Side
Website: www.brooklynpickle.com
Menu: View Menu
Cuisine: Sandwiches, Soups
Restaurant Hours: Monday to Saturday 9 AM - 7:30 PM.
Parking: Private lot
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Take-Out: Yes
Outdoor Seating: No (Yes after Spring '12)
Delivery: No

The Brooklyn Pickle franchise is one of the longest running deli operations in Syracuse and has been serving up hearty sandwiches since appearing on the deli scene in 1975. Opened two years after its predecessor in Eastwood, the Westside location first opened at the current Byrne Dairy building along W Genesee St only to move kitty-corner to its present location a couple years later where it's sat since 1984.

Perhaps more so in its heyday than now, "Brooklyn Pickle" is typically mentioned within the same sentences as "Dinosaur", "Heid's", and "The State Fair" whenever the topic of local food is brought up around out-of-towners. Still, the local chain has rolled through the decades and continues to be a popular sandwich destination for Syracuse lunch and dinner goers.

The Westside location is general small inside. Roughly 10 booths or so round out the seating. Orders are placed and picked-up at the counter.

I'm partial to the atmosphere of the Burnet Ave location to this one, but that's not to say it's bad. It's small and cozy enough for a quick meal alone or with the family. They're also expanding very soon, with a large patio deck out front facing W Genesee St which will be nice for the warmer months (I believe a sign on door said ready by Spring 2012, unless I'm mistaken).

On the menu: salads, homemade salads, coleslaw, baked beans, pickles, knish, soups, cookies, puddings, cookies, chips, and plenty of sandwich and sub choices like roast pork, pastrami, capocollo, seafood salad, liverwurst, and meatballs, as well as all of your traditional delicatessen meats.

The order...

Neptune Stew (cup): $2.80
Sour Pickle: $1.35
Brooklyn Pickle Special (half): $4.35
Total Money Spent with Tax & Tip: $9.18

From the looks of the handwritten sign below the menu, Neptune Stew appeared to be one of their specialties. It contains shrimp, clams, onions, mushrooms, green peppers, and tomatoes*. So, as an avid seafood lover, you can't go wrong, right? ...Right?



Quite the rich color for a busy soup (or stew), but I found the whole thing to be fairly unappetizing and essentially a giant mess. The stew had a slightly peppery flavor and was mixed with flavorless veggies, scraps and shreds of leftover pasta noodles, a few tiny shrimp that were saturated, rubbery, and lacked any seafood taste, and a tomato broth that was very close to concentrated tomato juice rounding everything out.

*Also not listed on the menu is that it contains carrots and pasta.

I mean, I know we're in upstate New York here and really good seafood-style soups may be hard to come by, but would it be so much to ask for a bold, maybe spicy tomato broth, with fresh onions and peppers, a couple plump shrimp, littlenecks (maybe a few still in the shell), and maybe some chopped celery? (in other words, fresh, minimalist, and nix the carrots, pasta, and mushrooms?).

It's very possible I got it on an off day, but at least judging from this experience, I wouldn't order it again.

The sour pickle, pictured to the right of the soup, was indeed sour but I found the brine to be a little unpleasant and even a bit metallic in some hints. Fresh and colorful from the outside, but not much snap, crunch, or good flavor to it.

On the other hand...



Pictured above is the Brooklyn Pickle Special, garnished with pickle slices and along side a sour pickle.

I picked the Brooklyn Pickle Special blindly, not knowing exactly what it was. I could've asked, but figured if it's a house special and at the top of the menu, it's worth a shot in the dark. Tomatoes, lettuce, and onions were added upon request.

I'll be the messenger here since I wasn't able to find information about this sandwich online. Essentially, it's corned beef and Swiss with a Miracle Whip style dressing. Which leads me to something that I can't believe I've never mentioned on this blog before...

I LOVE MIRACLE WHIP.

Ahem. Yes, it's true. This may not have been the exact brand, but it was a slightly tangier and vinegary version of mayo perfectly dressed on white bread (I think I asked for this too, but in hindsight, probably should've ordered it on rye) with Swiss cheese and plenty of delicious corned beef stacked in the middle. The lettuce, tomato, and onions were nice additions (especially the onions), but this could hold its own without them, I think. Definitely the best sandwich I've had at Brooklyn Pickle and something that I'd return for.

As for the little additional pickles on top, presentation-wise, they look good and even the novelty of getting a few free pickle slices with your order at a place that has "pickle" in its name is fun, but I just wasn't hooked on them like I wanted to be. Very lightly brined for the most part, but taste-wise, they were flavorless and kind of detracted from the sandwich.

A bad review is tough here because I remember loving Brooklyn Pickle when I was a kid. I even have a T-shirt from one of my first visits. I know my taste buds weren't lying to me then (I loved the food at Dinosaur too). I think the franchise could use an overhaul of their menu, try to simplify things, and focus on what tastes best. Sandwiches seem to be AOK for the most part and who's going to complain about getting a pretty hefty one for about $4, but I think quality, which is a major factor, really isn't hitting the mark like it used to.

Return for sandwiches: Probably.
Return for anything else: ...that's a tough call.

My rating of Brooklyn Pickle:


Your rating of Brooklyn Pickle:

Downtown Dining Week

The AmeriCU Credit Union Dining Week(s) runs this year from Wednesday, February 15th through Wednesday, February 29th in Downtown Syracuse.

Participating restaurants offer 3 course meals at $25 or less (beverages, tax, and gratuity are additional). You can check out the list of restaurants and view dining week menus at downtownsyracuse.com.

It's a great event for Downtown and it's does get busy, so some places may require a reservation.

Also, if you're up for ice skating afterwards, you can show your dining week receipt and get half-price admission to the Clinton Square ice rink.

Slow Food CNY Speaker & Film Series

Slow Food CNY will be hosting their third and final Speaker & Film series tonight at the Redhouse Arts Center (201 S West St). Heather Hawkins will speak at 7 PM followed by the documentary, No One Ever Went Hungry. There will also be local food producers giving out samples and selling their goods beginning at 5 PM. The event is sponsored by Wellness from Within.

It should be a great event. I went to the previous speaker and film series last month and it's a lot of fun. At the very least, it's nice to mingle, educate yourself, and support the local food community. The event is free and open to the public.

More info can be found on the event's Facebook page, at the Small Potatoes Sales & Marketing blog, as well as Slow Food CNY.

Review: Coleman's Authentic Irish Pub

Name: Coleman's Authentic Irish Pub
Address: 100 S Lowell Ave, Syracuse, NY
Phone: 315-476-1933
Neighborhood: Tipperary Hill
Website: www.colemansirishpub.com
Menu: View Menu
Cuisine: Irish, Traditional American, Pub Food
Restaurant Hours: Monday-Sunday 11:30 AM to 2 AM
Parking: Private lot and on-street
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Takes Reservations: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Take-Out: Yes
Delivery: No

Originally established as a small working man's saloon in 1933, Coleman's Authentic Irish Pub has evolved to become a permanent fixture nestled upon Syracuse's Tipperary Hill. Growing both in size and within the surrounding community's hearts over the decades, it continues to be an anchor in sustaining the Irish heritage of the city.

Fixated at the corner of S Lowell Ave and Tompkins St, Coleman's is a massive place. The surrounding streets of Tipp Hill are dotted with mostly large houses and Coleman's is no exception. Irish flags, two red phone booths (one regular sized, one for the leprechauns), a statue sitting on a bench, and two heavy wooden doors greet you as you approach and welcome you in arrival.

Coleman's does have their own customer parking lot, but if that's busy, there's plenty of on-street parking nearby. The neighborhood is quaint and quiet, so it's a pleasant walk if for some reason you're unable to find a close spot.

On the inside you'll find dark, ordinate woodwork lining the rooms and bar area, stained glass window dividers near tables, and plenty of old photographs adorning the walls. The rich colors coupled with stained glass make you feel as if you're in a place of grandeur. It's almost church-like but certainly not uncomfortable. Rather, it's very down-to-earth, inviting, and homey.

Aside from that, there's a pool table, darts, engraved beer mugs hanging over the bar (for regulars), flat screen TVs, a fireplace, a coat check, and a gift shop selling Coleman's and Irish-themed products like pint glasses, T-shirts, and other little odds and ends. There's also live music on the weekends, trivia on Tuesday nights at 9, seating for roughly 105 people (which is a mix of tables for large or small groups as well as intimate pub-style booths), and an upstairs banquet area for formal occasions and private parties. Needless to say, it's a big place with a lot going on.

The menu reads pretty straightforward and contains a nice mix of pub food (though a bit limited on the vegetarian side of things). It definitely hovers within the Irish-themed pub and comfort food genres. A few of the offerings include: potato leek soup, smoked Irish salmon, wings, potato skins, Irish soda bread, bangers and mash, beef on weck, fish and chips, corned beef and cabbage, open-faced sandwiches, burgers, salads, as well as a few pasta dishes.

Beef O'Flaherty, a signature dish of Coleman's, is not something that would normally jump out at me on a menu, but it had some positive reviews online, so I figured I'd give it a shot.

The order...

Guinness Onion rings: $5.99
Beef O'Flaherty: $8.99
Two Guinness stouts: $8
Total Money Spent with Tax & Tip: $29.18

Several got snatched up before I could get a picture.



These hefty onion ring slices were coated in a crunchy, stout-battered breading and laid on top of a bed of green lettuce. A somewhat pinkish mayo and horseradish dipping sauce accompanied them and was pretty good for dunking. The rings were a bit on the greasy side, but that's anticipated and encouraged with fried onions. It was an excellent appetizer, addicting, and definitely the highlight of the meal. Granted, I had some good ones in my last review, but these were some of the best onion rings that I've been able to find in the city.



Holy cheese!

Large slices of well-cooked roast beef and soft bread were tucked underneath a covering of slightly chunky and homemade blue cheese that was nicely browned and bubbly on top. The cheese had a more mellow flavor than say, chicken wing blue cheese. It was nice but a tad overwhelming (not necessarily the flavor, but the amount). The roast beef was a little more well-done than I prefer, but the large pieces still remained juicy. I wished there was a bit more bread to balance the rest of the ingredients though, as the mostly beef and cheese presence made it a little "one note"-ish.

Also on the plate were Irish fries, which were lightly fried and golden on the outside, had a nice starchy and airy potato filling inside, and were a bit like steak fries from the taste. I'd get them again.

Good portion sizes all around, but I'd probably opt for a different main course next time. The fries and rings both get a thumbs up though.

Some other Notes...

- A lot of effort goes into the Beef O'Flaherty, which I found out after reading this informative article by Megan Hess on Syracuse.com.

- Depending on the time of day, the vibe inside can range anywhere from calm and relaxing to crowded and rowdy, so be mindful of your timing. I came in for lunch on a weekday afternoon and while it was a little busy inside, I found it to be cozy for a meal with my family.

- If you have a few minutes before or afterwards and are interested in some local history, don't miss the green-on-top traffic light located just two blocks away at the intersection of Tompkins St and Milton Ave. So the story goes: when the City of Syracuse first started to install traffic signal lights in the 1920's, one was installed here in the predominantly Irish neighborhood on Tipperary Hill. Some Irish youths, incensed that anyone would dare put the "British" red above the "Irish" green broke the light with stones continually until the city relented and let the green remain on top.

- The "painting of the shamrock" also takes place at this intersection. It's an informal ceremony that happens at Midnight right before St Patrick's Day. Essentially, a crowd of a few hundred people will gather around 11:45 PM. At Midnight, a few local residents then read the names of family and friends who have passed away over the last year and sing a few Irish folk songs in remembrance. That's followed by the painting of a huge, green shamrock in the middle of the intersection. Everyone is given a little white card with some Irish quotes on it and then you go and dip that into the not-yet-dry green paint for good luck. The crowd then disperses around 12:15 AM and back into to their homes and into the surrounding neighborhood pubs (including Coleman's). The crowd's size has steadily grown over the last several years (thanks a lot, internet! always spilling out these cool little known details about things!), yet it remains one of the true cultural gems of the city.

- Coleman's green beer delivery parade, unofficially dubbed "the shortest parade in the world", has been happening every year since 1962 and is typically held near the end of February. Irish step dancers, bag pipers, and a huge beer tanker begin at the green-over-red traffic light and proceed down the hill towards Coleman's, where roughly 8,500 gallons of green beer are pumped into the restaurant and/or tapped directly out of the tanker for parade-goers. There's tents, music, and it's typically very crowded. For all intensive purposes, "Green Beer Day" is an excuse to drink on a Sunday afternoon in the middle of winter. Despite the high volume of alcohol in abundance and how crowded it can get, the parade is actually quite family-friendly. The green beer usually lasts until about St. Patrick's day.

At last year's green beer parade, I remember talking to a guy who restored both the regular-sized and leprechaun-sized phone booths in front of Coleman's. Nice guy. I'll be damned if I can remember anything from that conversation though.

- Coleman's has a few recipes up on their website if you're at all interested: lamb stew, Bailey's chocolate chip cheesecake, and hot bloody mary soup.

While I found the entree to be slightly underwhelming, it's hard to overshadow the place's hospitality, charm, and nostalgia. I love the atmosphere of Coleman's and it's tough to fault them in just about any category. It seems excellent for family dining, children (that is, when the time of day is appropriate), and gathering with friends for drinks on a quiet afternoon or, if you're in the mood for it, a busy weekend night. I'll be sure to return for both food and a pint again soon.

My rating of Coleman's Authentic Irish Pub:


Your rating of Coleman's Authentic Irish Pub:

SU Basketball on TV

Going to be out of town and wondering where to go to watch your #1 ranked Syracuse Orange men's basketball team? Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician compiles a list for Orange fans on where to go to watch each specific SU basketball game in just about any city. Also check out iSchoolSU on foursquare for other nationwide places to watch SU games.

I'm a big fan of the SB Nation blogs and Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician is an excellent sports blog for 'cuse fans. It also has to be one of the best blog names ever.

New Year's Eve 2012

Downtownsyracuse.com has a great list of what's going on restaurant-wise for New Year's Eve. Some of the celebrations include: a special 4 course meal from 5pm-11pm at bc Restaurant ($65/person), a 5 course dinner with live music at Kitty Hoynes ($50/person), and a special menu with buffet stations, sparkling wine from around the world, and champagne opening at 9pm at L'Adour ($98/person). It's best to call the actual businesses for details and questions, as for some of them you'll need a reservation. There's a bunch more happening around Downtown so check out the entire list here to see what's going on.

It should be a fun time. This will be the first New Year's where I'll actually be in Downtown Syracuse for once and not out in another city, so I'm really looking forward to it.

2012 has been a really great year. Finishing the wing tournament and having reviews published in The Eagle were definitely two of the highlights for me on the year (and maybe in 3rd place is the huge poster hanging up at Swallow's displaying my Final Four wing results!).

Thanks again to everyone who has read the posts and continued to chime in on the comments as well as everyone on Twitter. This blog is for you guys and it means a lot to have continuous support from new friends and to be able to meet a lot of new people along the way. Hard to believe the blog is now 3 years old!

I've certainly let the updating and the reviews lag a bit lately, so if I have one New Year's resolution, it's that 2012 shall bring more writing, as I have a few fun things in store for the blog.

Thanks again and have a happy and safe New Year!