Top 5 Places for Outdoor Dining in Downtown

To most Central New Yorkers, the opening of the New York State Fair usually chimes in that the end of Summer is right at the doorstep. But don't sweat it - there's still some time to enjoy good food outdoors. Here's Pulled Into Syracuse's Top 5 Places for outdoor dining in Syracuse's Downtown.



Photo courtesy of pastabilties.com.


1) Pastabilities: 311 S Franklin St, Syracuse, NY
Is there anything better than enjoying the sights and sounds of the street in the city's most successful neighborhood while inhaling Pasta's stretch bread and spicy hot tomato oil that was made right across the street? Me thinks not. The quintessential place for hip dining and food in the very hip district. [link] [map]

2) Dante: 215 Walton St, Syracuse, NY
If you're looking for good tapas, paella, and other Spanish-inspired foods in one of the more romantic destinations in Armory Square, Dante may be your place. Enjoy intimate and cozy outdoor dining on the more low-key end of Walton Street. [link] [map]

3) Nikos Pasta Pizza & Deli: 135 E Water St, Syracuse, NY
Outdoor dining at Nikos is a bit more toned down, quaint, and relaxing street experience as oppose to some of the others on this list. Enjoy some excellent (and underrated!) sandwiches, salads, and pasta dishes right in the heart of Syracuse's tranquil and historic Hanover Square district. [link] [photo] [map]

4) The Mission Restaurant: 304 E Onondaga St, Syracuse, NY
What was once a Wesleyan Methodist Church, now serves up excellent Pan-American and Mexican cuisine. Enjoy a shredded beef enchilada or Puerco Pibil hard shell tacos in Syracuse's Columbus Circle with excellent views of beautiful architecture like the old Syracuse Public Library, the Columbus Circle Monument and Fountain, the Mitzpa Towers, the Onondaga County Courthouse, and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. [link] [map]

5) Dinosaur Bar-B-Que: 246 W Willow St, Syracuse, NY
Perhaps the least formal of all the places on this list, but what could be more picturesque than eating a Big Ass Pork Plate on a picnic table, next to a row of motorcycles, with blues music playing in the background, and having 29% of your face covered in barbecue sauce? [link] [photo] [map]

Honorable Mention
Clark's Ale House: 122 W Jefferson St, Syracuse, NY
Located on the Southeastern edge of Armory Square, Clark's Ale House has been serving up sandwiches to Downtown workers for years. Outdoor seats are situated right on the corner of Jefferson and Clinton Streets. It's an excellent place to enjoy a local brew, a roast beef sandwich, and people watch during weekday afternoons. [link] [map]

Thoughts: Surprise Me Pass

The Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau has launched a "Surprise Me Pass" program that offers members discounts at over 250 Syracuse-area attractions, restaurants, and stores including a number of city restaurants. $20 for the card will get you discounts around Central New York for a whole year.

Initially, I liked the idea - and liked how the city was being proactive about... well... something. But I think they need to take this a step further in order for it to really catch on. Before I started researching local eateries for this blog, I was amazed at how little information there was for city restaurants online. Essentially, lack of exposure is one of the reasons why I started Pulled Into Syracuse. I've had a few stop overs in various East-Coast and Upstate New York cities, but I've more or less lived in B'ville my whole life and I was researching places online that I had never even heard of until I moved into Syracuse in '07. And they weren't just hole-in-the-wall places, they were legitimately good restaurants that have been there for years. That being said, instead of targeting "tourists" from Buffalo or Rochester with this program, wouldn't a better plan of action be to capitalize on what you already have and what you want to improve? (i.e. city residents and city restaurants). Start a professional-looking website that gives in-depth details on all city attractions, restaurants, and stores (sigh...I suppose you could include Carousel....) and market the card or program towards Central New Yorkers, but more specifically, Syracuse city residents. Maybe even have a larger discount for people who are brand new city residents. Then they go online, they see a few interesting places they've never been before and wham - you have people spending local money on the local economy. All while promoting the city.

Too simple?

At any rate, the current card does offer discounts at some restaurants in the city, so if you are interested in the "Surprise Me Pass", check the YourTownCard website for more details.

Review: Strong Hearts Cafe

Name: Strong Hearts Cafe
Address: 719 E Genesee St Syracuse, NY
Neighborhood: Near Eastside
Website: www.strongheartscafe.com
Menu: View Menu
Cuisine: Vegan, Cafe
Restaurant Hours: Monday 8 AM - 6 PM, Tuesday to Thursday 8 AM - 12 AM, Friday 8 AM - 2 AM, Saturday 10 AM - 2 AM, Sunday 10 AM - 12 AM
Parking: On-Street
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Take-Out: Yes
Delivery: No

For the record, I am not Vegan. I love chicken. And cheese. And shrimp. There are just too many foods out there that I would never want to not eat ever again. However, I do respect the choice and the right to do so. To each his own, as they say. While I've known about Veganism for a while, my first true experience with it wasn't until last year with a piece of wedding cake. I suppose up until then, I had always thought that Vegans would never be able to eat certain things. The little things. Like ice cream or buttered popcorn. But that's not the case at all. You can essentially make and eat a lot of really creative things within Veganism that are not only good, but good for you and everything around you. Personally, I understand the logic, but I suppose I just haven't been interested in making any kind of self-fulfilling or moral jump to Veganism. But who knows where the road leads. Right now, I like steak too much to be able to give it up forever.

At any rate, Strong Hearts would be my first real run-in with a Vegan restaurant. The location is nice: right in the up-and-coming-soon-to-be-connective-corridor East Genesee Street district. The building itself looks like an old-school library or school. Through the entrance, you'll see a massage studio on your left and Strong Hearts on the right. Go right (unless you're feeling up for a massage).

The interior is colorful, cozy, and hip (almost what you'd expect from your cliche, collegetown coffee house or cafe of sorts) complete with indie music on the speakers, organic hoodies for sale hanging from the ceiling, and Vegan cookbooks and local Veganism happenings along the front counter. It's a cool and laid-back kind of vibe inside and took me back a little bit to my college years in Ithaca.

The menu is really nice here. When available, Strong Hearts uses fresh, organic and local produce and it's really cool to see what kind of foods are on the menu: breakfast (like tofu scrambles, sausages, pancakes, and waffles) which is served all day, sandwiches, salads, coffees, teas, and milkshakes. The milkshake menu is really creative with a lot of fun and interesting names and combinations of flavors going on.

The order...

Small Chicken Caesar Salad: $3.50
BLT: $5.50
John Brown Deluxe Milkshake: $5
Total Money Spent with Tax & Tip: $18.50




So I had actually asked for the "Citrus Salad" and was brought a "Chicken Caesar Salad" (does Citrus sound anything like Chicken Caesar?). I'm kind of a wimp when it comes to re-ordering so I decided not to make a big deal about it. More often than not I always order a Caesar salad if given the option anyways, so I figured I'd try it out. The salad was sub-par though and the layering was a bit strange as well. It was essentially a small bowl of lettuce, with a few cherry tomatoes, covered in a huge layer of faux-chicken. I wasn't too keen on the imitation chicken either. For what it's worth, it was my first experience with anything of the sort so maybe it's just a matter of getting used to it, but it's an odd texture and consistency to get used to (I'm assuming it was some concoction of tofu or soy). The croutons were really good - crunchy and soft and I believe they are made from the same bread that they use on their sandwiches. The dressing was nice, almost like a Thai peanut sauce. It was a bit nutty. Overall though, nothing really resembled that this was a chicken Caesar salad to me - it was missing a white-esque dressing and something cheese-like to act as the Parmesan. They probably could have gotten away with some of the similar ingredients that are in their BLT (vegan cheese and a vegan mayo - maybe mixed with lemon juice?). The rest of the ingredients tasted fresh, so I wouldn't rule out any of their other salads, I just wouldn't order this again.




The BLT was really good - crispy soy bacon, lettuce, tomato, sprouts, vegan mayo and Teese vegan cheese on grilled white bread. Everything was fresh and I was really surprised with how similar the soy bacon was to real bacon. It was not as greasy and a bit less chewy than real bacon, but you could have fooled me. It was a good sandwich. I'd get it again. My only small issue was that it seemed like it should've had a garnish of some kind.




Pictured above is the John Brown Deluxe Milkshake (with Oreos and cream).

OMG. So tasty. Not only was this the best non-milkshake that I've ever had, but it was also the best milkshake that I've ever had. I mean, I'm sure if you add Oreo cookies to anything, it will taste better, but this milkshake was awesome. Sweet, creamy, sugary and absolutely delicious. I can't believe somebody can make a shake this good without a dairy product.

Other notes about Strong Hearts....

- Friday nights are pizza night (from 6 PM to 2 AM)

- They offer free Wi-Fi

- All of the take-out food packaging is 100% biodegradable and compostable

I feel like it's tough to make an objective review of a Vegan eatery by someone who is a non-Vegan. The food was good and the milkshake was amazing, but some of it (most notably the meat) tasted off. I suppose anything that's made to act like real meat isn't going to taste the same in some way. And I'm sure that's the non-Vegan voice in me. The food combinations and menu offerings are very creative, original, and in some cases, superb. And I can understand how Vegan restaurants might have a finite audience to cater towards, as it can be an uphill battle for them to broaden their audience. I suppose if I was Vegan, I would rate this place higher and come here more often - seeing as how there are currently very little Vegan options in Syracuse. Objectively speaking, it was a good meal and better than what I had expected. Though I'm not a 100% convert quite yet, you can label me convinced that Vegan meals are almost deceivingly good. I would return for a milkshake (without a doubt) and to test out pizza night or maybe some breakfast options. All and all, I liked it here. It's a smart place with a good vibe that serves convincingly tasty offerings.

My rating of Strong Hearts Cafe:


Your rating of Strong Hearts Cafe:

4th Annual Hottest Chick N Wing Festival

If you love wings, don't miss the 4th Annual Hottest Chick N Wing Festival at the Inner Harbor this Friday and Saturday, August 14th and 15th. The event runs from 4 PM to 11 PM on Friday and 2 PM to 11 PM on Saturday. Some local restaurant participants include the Bull and Bear Pub, Change of Pace, Liehs and Steigerwald, Shifty's, and OIP among others. The event will not need more cowbell, as Blue Oyster Cult is scheduled to perform on Saturday night at 9 PM. Admission is free and so is the music. For more information and other details, check out the official Hottest Chick N Wing Festival website.

Review: Shifty's Bar & Grill

Name: Shifty's Bar & Grill
Address: 1401 Burnett Ave, Syracuse, NY
Neighborhood: Eastwood
Website: www.shiftysbar.com
Menu: View Menu
Cuisine: Traditional Bar Food
Alcohol: Full Bar
Kitchen Hours: Monday to Friday 11 AM - Midnight, Saturday to Sunday Noon - Midnight
Bar Hours: Monday to Friday 11 AM - Close, Saturday to Sunday Noon - Close
Parking: On-Street
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Take-Out: Yes

Opened in 1969 as a small, corner bar on Burnett and Greenway Ave, Shifty's Bar & Grill has been home to some of the best live music in the city for decades. And if that isn't enough, the slogan underneath their logo says it all: Shifty's - cold beer, hot wings, and live music.

Parking can be a bit of a nuisance. It's on-street, and Burnett can be a little sketchy at night sometimes. Personally, I've never had a problem, but you may have to do a block or two of walking depending on how busy of a night it is. As you walk in, you immediately know what kind of vibe the place has - look up and you'll notice a large, red model plane with "Burnett" and "Greenway" painted on the sides, with a brazier hanging over the back. The atmosphere is upbeat, music is loud and fun, and it's what you would expect from a good neighborhood bar. Clientele is predominantly in the 40-60 age range, but even if you are a 20-something like myself, you won't feel out of place here. Everyone is smiling and having a great time listening and dancing to live rock and roll.

Framed pictures cover all the walls: the area around the stage has black and white pictures of blues musicians and past musicians who have played on stage and the entrance area has framed pictures of former Yankee, Mets, and Brooklyn Dodgers players, Syracuse University athletes, and historic photographs of downtown Syracuse. The place is definitely a Yankee bar through and through (No worries if you are a Mets fan like myself. They are happy to change over one of the many flat screens that hang on the walls - unfortunately, I can't vouch for Sox games). Shifty's also features a pool table (which takes up a large portion of the entrance room), darts (both English style and electronic), and a pinball machine. To the right of the bar, there's a gigantic, live music schedule of everything going on during the month. It's easy to see that Shifty's prides itself on hosting local music. This also includes their open mic night on Wednesdays which is the longest running in Syracuse.

Seating is limited as there are only a few tables (they tend to put some of them away when a band is performing), so don't be surprised if you have to wait for a table to open up or stand to eat your food. Most of the food on the menu is "hand food" anyway (sans knife and fork) so it's not too big of an issue.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a good look at the beer selection. I only noticed a few beers on tap. From what I've read online though, Shifty's has roughly 99 different kinds of beers available and also features a "Shifty 50" beer tour - finish them to become a member of their "Hall of Foam".

As far as ordering food goes, there's no waiter service, so your best bet is to make your way up to the small, ordering window on the left side of the bar.

For such a small establishment, the menu actually has a lot to offer: Chicken Tenders, Fried Mushrooms, Homemade Potato Chips, Pizzas, Salads, Subs, Wraps, Gianelli Sausage Sandwiches, Burgers, and so on. But, considering Shifty's advertises it on their slogan, I had to go with wings.

The order...

Blue Moon on tap: $3.50
Dozen Hot Wings: $6.50
Total Money Spent with Tax & Tip: $11.00

The food took a little while to cook. It was a hoping, Friday evening, so maybe they were just backed up with a lot of orders on this particular night. And just a heads up: getting your food can be a bit of a hassle depending on how busy the place is. Keep your eyes (and if possible, your ears) aware of when the bartender signals to you that your order is ready.




Pictured above are Shifty's hot wings.

These wings were excellent. Just the right amount of crispy skin and juicy chicken. So tasty. My only real complaint was that there was no indication of any sauce on the outside. Normally, this would lead to a dry chicken wing, but it wasn't the case here as the meat provided just enough to contradict that. Temperature-wise, they leaned slightly on the medium side and didn't strike me as being that hot (I'm always a little apprehensive about ordering hot wings - one man's "hot" is another's "medium"), so I think next time I order wings here I may be a bit more inclined to ask for their award winning "F-Bomb" sauce. At any rate, these were really great chicken wings.

Some other notes...

- They have a 25 cent wing special on Mondays

- There's never a cover charge at the door

Overall, I liked pretty much everything about the place: it was a fun and lively atmosphere, the wings were great, the music assures you that you are in Syracuse, NY and it's an excellent spot for local flavor and local pride. I'll be going back in the future.

My rating of Shifty's Bar & Grill:


Your rating of Shifty's Bar & Grill:

Update: Ambrosia Closed

It appears Ambrosia has closed - perhaps for good - in light of unpaid sales taxes. A shame. I wasn't necessarily crazy about the food on my one and only visit, but the location has to be one of the best spots in the entire city. Here's to hoping it reopens soon or another restaurant can move into the space.