Top 5 Places for March Madness in Syracuse

The Syracuse University basketball team may have gotten bounced from the Big East Tournament Championship, but that doesn't mean that Orange madness has to stop there. If your ideal place to watch an SU game is a low-key establishment with the sound off, this list is not for you. This is strictly for enjoying a game with good food, plenty of TVs, and and high-fiving really loud Orange fans that you've never met before. The following are some of the best (and loudest) sports bars to eat pub food and enjoy the Big Dance in Syracuse.

And as always, the 'cuse is in the house oh my gawd, oh my gawd.





1) Blarney Stone: 314 Avery Ave, Syracuse, NY
A staple to Tipp Hill and arguably one of the best places in the city for wings, the Blarney Stone has plenty of flat screen TVs for you to enjoy the game. Not to mention $5 burgers that are big, perfectly formed, cooked to order, juicy and delicious. Although it can get very crowded on some occasions, don't miss their 20 cent wing special on Thursday nights and during all SU games. [link] [photo] [map]

2) Rosie's Sports Pub & Grill: 1443 W Genesee St, Syracuse, NY
At the risk of mentioning the Tipperary Hill region once too many times (c'mon, it's March!). Rosie's Sports Pub & Grill, formerly owned by Mayor Matt Driscol and now by the owner of Coleman's, has become a Westside favorite for sports bars in Syracuse. Good wings and plenty of TVs here. They even have a huge TV in the bathroom so you never have to miss a play. [link] [map]

3) Chuck's Cafe: 727 S Crouse Ave Ste 6, Syracuse, NY
You cannot have an SU basketball list without mentioning a place on University Hill. Chuck's may be a bit more rowdy than some of its nearby bars and restaurants, but it's hard to complain when you are in the heart of the Syracuse University social scene enjoying burgers (like the Dr. Praeger's Veggie Burger for $4.50), french bread pizzas, or chicken tenders. Chuck's also boasts $3 pitchers during Happy Hour and $1 drafts and 25 cent wings on Sundays. [link] [map]

4) Change of Pace: 1802 Grand Blvd, Syracuse, NY
"The 1st sports bar in Syracuse" and another contender for the best wings in the city is Change of Pace on the city's Northside. Plenty of seating with 11 TVs to enjoy SU basketball while chowing down on delicious burgers, subs, pizza, and juicy wings. Bonus points: The kitchen is open until midnight! [link] [map]

5) Syracuse Suds Factory: 320 S Clinton St, Syracuse, NY
Located on the corner of Clinton and Walton Streets, Suds Factory has been serving up food and beer to the Armory Square crowd for over 18 years now. Enjoy the game with burgers, chili, factory fries, locally-brewed pitchers of beer, loud TV's, and an energetic crowd. Not a bad way to watch. [link] [map]

Honorable Mention
OC's Sports Bar: 317 N Salina St, Syracuse, NY
A hidden gem of sorts near the city's Little Italy district. Though it may be a bit more toned down than others on this list, OC's has pool tables, dart boards, dozens of TVs, and a traditional pub and bar-b-que focused menu with items like a 1/2 rack of ribs and two sides for $11.50 and the pulled pork platter and 2 sides for $4.95! [link] [map]

Syracuse Dining Week a Success

The following blog post gives some information about last month's Syracuse Dining Week (which for good reasons, was extended for two weeks this year). Overall, it was a success for downtown drawing more than 25,000 people to 17 restaurants. Some interesting statistics include 65% of the Dining Week participants coming from outside of the city limits, 24% coming from outside of Onondaga County, and 98% responded by saying that their dining experience was excellent or good.

I forgot to fill out the survey after my meal at Pastabilities. I'd say that it was "good". I had a glass of Capasaldo Pinot Grigio, the Sonoma Caesar Salad with sun dried tomatoes, Spinach Ravioli, and a chocolate dessert which the name escapes me. Not a bad deal for $25.

Also mentioned in the blog post are a few tidbits on two new restaurants opening up in Armory Square: The Black Olive, downtown's first Mediterranean restaurant, will specialize in Greek, Moroccan, Spanish and Middle Eastern cuisines, and Fresco Tortillas Grill, which will open on March 16th at the former Movino Pizza location.

Review: Funk 'N Waffles

Name: Funk N' Waffles
Address: 727 S Crouse Ave Suite 8, Syracuse, NY
Neighborhood: University Hill
Website: www.funknwaffles.com
Menu: View Menu
Cuisine: Waffles, Sandwiches, Smoothies, Coffee
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday 9 AM to 9 PM, Sunday 9 AM to 4 PM
Parking: On-Street
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Delivery: Yes (available through TakeOut Xpress)

Opened in January of 2007, Funk 'N Waffles has been serving up coffee, smoothies, sandwiches, and most importantly great waffles to the Syracuse University crowd for two years now.

But hold your horses. Before you head over for waffles, you may need some directions first. Funk 'N Waffles is located in the Campus Plaza alley off of South Crouse Ave and behind Marshall Square Mall. Or better yet, walk north on Crouse Ave at Marshall Street, take a right after Bruegger's, walk to the end of the alley, go to the last building on the left and walk down the set of dangerous stairs underneath Chuck's Cafe.

The interior is set up a bit more like a funky, thrift store-esque cafe than a restaurant, with old tables, chairs, and a few couches with SU students lounging around in. It's a perfect spot to unwind, enjoy some free wi-fi, and listen to live music - with local bands and touring artists performing just about every night of the week.

For a small cafe, the menu is excellent with sandwich and panini options, made-to-order smoothies, Purity Ice cream direct from Ithaca, NY, and fresh tea and coffee (more info on their coffee is available here). But let's not forget the waffles. Creative combinations of savory and sweet waffles include the Pulled Pork Waffle (with pulled pork and Dinosaur Bar-B-Que sauce), the Brownie Waffle Sunday (brownie topped with two scoops of fresh whip cream), and for the vegans, the Aunt Miriam's Vegan Waffle (a secret family recipe and free of any animal products). And if you can't make up your mind about which type of waffle to get, just create your own. A few of the waffle topping options include strawberries, spinach, feta, walnuts, ice cream, fried chicken, and Nutella.

The order...

Pineapple Smoothie: $5
Buttermilk Waffle with Bananas and Blueberries: $5.50
Total Money Spent with Tax & Tip: $10.50




Just a really great smoothie. Real fruit, no sugar, and the pineapple tasted incredibly fresh. I honestly do not order smoothies that often, but this was really tasty.

If that couldn't be topped, the waffle was amazing. A perfectly cooked buttermilk waffle. Nice and crispy on the outer edges and topped with powdered sugar. And even though I didn't ask for them, the blueberries on the inside of the waffle were a really nice surprise. I also couldn't get over how fresh the bananas and blueberries tasted. So flavorful. These were the best blueberries that I can ever remember having in winter. Fresh ingredients, especially fruits, are so critical if you want to put out good food and it's refreshing that Funk 'N Waffles knows this.

The table syrup was good too. Word on the street is that the syrup here is "vegan friendly". I'm not really sure what that entails exactly, but it was really good none the less. If this wasn't real maple syrup, then you could have fooled me because this is about as close as you can get to it without being the real thing. Though it didn't have that overly distinctive maple flavor, it had a really nice, light nutty flavor. And yes, I coated most of my waffle with it.

However, looking around I couldn't get past the incredibly poor and obvious interior design flaws: inadequate lighting, exposed wires, the cheap painting job, dingy tables and chairs, uncoordinated and chipped plates...

It begs the question: does it really matter if restaurant decor is incoherent? Hypothetically, the best Vietnamese food that you've ever had could be located in some dank, hole-in-the-wall. Wouldn't that great meal still warrant a 5-star rating despite its shoddy interior? Then again, you almost expect and prepare yourself for a rough aesthetic experience if you're eating a rustic cuisine - not when consuming smoothies and waffles. I think that I'm going to go with my gut on this one and dock Funk 'N Waffles a half a star because of chairs and tables that look like they were brought over from the local Salvation Army. Furthermore, and perhaps more importantly, the place was not clean. Dirty floors and syrupy tables. If that kind of stuff doesn't bother you then take it with a grain of salt. For me, the uncleanliness combined with the shanty feel of the surroundings made it a little confusing and maybe even disappointing - mainly because it's really cool in there (great location, great food, great vibe), but they could easily make it a flawless place instead of what looks like a poorly managed, run-down cafe. Though, my nitpicking didn't distract me from having a really great meal. I'll be going back again - maybe even to check out some live music too. All they really have to do is fix the interior up a bit.

So close, Funk 'N Waffles. So close.

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