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:

Review: Blarney Stone

Name: Blarney Stone
Address: 314 Avery Ave, Syracuse, NY
Neighborhood: Far West-Side (Tipperary Hill)
Website: www.yelp.com/biz/blarney-stone-syracuse
Menu: n/a
Cuisine: Standard Bar Fare, Wings, Burgers
Bar Hours: Monday-Sunday 12 PM to 2 AM
Parking: On-Street
Accepts Credit Cards: No
Alcohol: Full Bar

Blarney Stone is situated on the corner of Avery and Hamilton Streets in the Far West-Side section of Syracuse. It's one of the many neighborhood-style bars in the city's historically Irish district known as Tipperary Hill (or as locals say, Tipp Hill). A green, neon sign highlights the place from the outside and the friendly Gaelic saying of "cead mile failte", or a hundred thousand welcomes, greets you at its front door.

Blarney may not be an Irish pub per se, but it may as well be given the name, location, and Irish-oriented feel of things on the inside. The place is laid out in 3 small sections: a bar area with a few tables, darts, TVs, Golden Tee, and a popcorn machine, a middle area mostly for standing and watching the big game, complete with a pool table, foosball table, and jukebox, and the back area with booths, tables, TVs, and the kitchen. It's hard to believe that all of these things can fit into such a small establishment, but it all works here and comes together seamlessly.

As noted in the Top 5 Places to Watch SU Basketball, Blarney Stone lives up to the hype during basketball season and can get crowded on some occasions (and not just during games, but also on St Pattie's Day!). Some good advice: grab a table early if you can. It wasn't too crowded on this occasion, given it was a Thursday night and there was a wing special on. There were no games being televised, but still enough of a crowd where you had to wait a little while to grab a table. Seating consists of stools at the bar, tables in all three areas, booths in the back by the kitchen, and an outdoor porch (weather permitting).

Ordering food is quasi cafeteria-style: go up to the counter near the back, place your order, go back to your table, wait for your name to be called over the loudspeaker, and then pick up and pay for your order. And it's not at all uncommon to get a good ribbing from the food staff as you're ordering. Obviously, you're not in some high-class place, so don't be surprised if one of the cooks gives you a deadpan look and says "yeah, we're out of wings" just to get a reaction out of you.

The small, yet simple menu offers standard bar food like wings (hot, medium, mild, or barbecue), burgers, and fried foods (mozzarella sticks, chicken, shrimp, etc...). And for the vegetarians, they also serve a veggi burger (which can be spiced up with pepper jack cheese and chipotle mayo on request).

The order...

Pabst Blue Ribbon (Tall Boy): $2
10 Chicken Wings (Hot): $2
Blarney Burger: $3.50
Fries: $1
Total Money Spent with Tax & Tip: $9.50

First off, this is unbelievably cheap food. Secondly, as far as value is concerned, I can't imagine finding a better deal for such tasty bar food.

Pictured above are Blarney's wings served with celery and blue cheese.

The wings were excellent: crispy skins, juicy chicken, and good portion-sized. I thought the actual sauce could have been hotter, but overall, I'd say the wings were well above average.

This may have been the best burger that I've eaten in Syracuse: juicy beef topped with fresh lettuce, onions, tomatoes, mayo and ketchup, all sandwiched between two lightly grilled and airy burger buns. Soooo good and such a good deal for only $3.50.

These fries were amazing: shoestring style, served hot, and perfectly crunchy on the outside with just the right amount of starchy potato on the inside. An excellent accompaniment to a great burger. Some of the best fries I've had in 'cuse.

I was in bar-food heaven. Standard fare, but they were all done so well. One of the best things about eating a great meal is when everything in front of you tastes great, you're never quite sure where to look or what to eat next. I mean yes, it was an extremely unhealthy meal in every aspect of the word, but you only live once and I loved it all. Definitely a meal that I could eat again and again.

Some other things of note...

- There's a 20 cent wing special on Thursday nights (starts around 6 PM) and during SU basketball games. Again, it can get very crowded during the games, so plan accordingly and be prepared. Don't let the crowds deter you though. It's can be a very spacious and laid-back bar on most weekday evenings.

- Half-priced drinks during happy hour and drink specials run just about every night of the week except for Thursdays.

- Ordering at the kitchen is cash only.

- Unless I'm mistaken, I believe the kitchen closes at 10 PM (feel free to leave a comment if you know for sure).

- There is an actual Blarney stone here near the foosball table and bathrooms. Not sure if I would recommend kissing it though.

It's hard to dock the Blarney Stone in any areas. I had zero complaints about anything. Quick and friendly service, a great neighborhood bar, fun atmosphere, cheap and amazing food, good portions, all in a comfortable sports bar. The meal was awesome.

My rating of Blarney Stone:

Review: Twin Trees Too

Name: Twin Trees Too
Address: 1029 Milton Ave, Syracuse, NY
Neighborhood: Far West-Side
Website: www.boorah.com/restaurants/NY/syracuse/twin-trees-too/053A89AC24.html
Cuisine: Pizza, Italian, American (Traditional)
Hours: n/a
Parking: On-Street, Private Lot
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Alcohol: Full Bar

With several locations throughout Central New York and two locations in Syracuse, the Twin Trees franchise has become well-known for serving great pizza and wings to locals for over 50 years. Not to be confused with the original Twin Trees location on Avery Ave, Twin Trees Too is located near the corner of Milton and Emerson Ave on the city's Far West-Side neighborhood and just a mere 2 blocks from the original location. Parking is easy as there is a huge private lot with plenty of parking located directly across the street.

I had somewhat of a time-warp walking through the door of this place. For some reason I was transported back to 1995 upon walking in: first, because I think that was the last time that I was in here and secondly, because I don't think they've updated the interior since then. I'm fairly certain that the pictures, chairs, booths and tables have all been in the same location since I was last in. In particular, I sank into my booth seat when I sat down, so I'd say that they could use a major interior overhaul here by fixing the lighting, booths, updating the tables and chairs (make it seem less like you're sitting at a Chinese Buffet), and get some new TVs in there. All of it is a little awkward and dark and really borders on the tacky side aesthetically, but I suppose it's comfortable enough to relax and enjoy some food in.

Some other notes...

It can get crowded here on Friday and Saturday nights, so plan ahead. I'd advise to come during the week if you're looking to avoid the crowds.

Dress is very casual (think sports-bar atmosphere).

The menus is good and has a nice variety of traditional Italian / Italian-American favorites, soups, salads, seafood, and desserts. Almost what you would expect from your typical Italian-Americana eatery. Though on this visit, I had to stick to Twin Trees' big guns.

The order...

Medium Wings: $6.99
Large Cheese Pizza: $9.99
Total Money Spent with Tax & Tip: $20

Pictured here are Twin Trees Too's medium chicken wings served with celery and blue cheese.

The wings were decent, but as a homegrown, Upstate New Yorker, I'd say that they were relatively mediocre for the area. They were nice and big, but the skin could have crispier and the meat could have been juicier. These also tasted a bit more like "mild" than "medium" to me (the hotness was a little lacking) but perhaps that's merely based on personal taste. If I end up here again, I think I'll ask for "hot" next time.

Pictured above is Twin Trees Too's large cheese pizza. On this particular Wednesday it was "Pizza Day" with a large cheese pizza for only $9.99.

The pizzas here come served on a stand and circular pizza serving tray. I love this for not only the novelty aspect, but also because it saves a ton of table space for the customers. The pizza itself was good - a nice tangy tomato sauce with amazing mozzarella cheese (which I think may be some of the best cheese that I've ever had on pizza), but with a less than average crust. I didn't really like it as I thought it was way too doughy. All and all though, considering the food, deal, and price, this was a great value for such a large portion size.

On a side note: is Syracuse the only city that cuts their pizzas in this fashion? You know, into small strips instead of the traditional triangular slices? I have never noticed this technique in other cities, yet I've seen it on multiple occasions in Syracuse. Strange.

Overall, not a bad place for pizza and wings. Some have sworn by it religiously and others have said you have to go to a specific Twin Trees location in order to get the best of what it has to offer. In general, I'm a much bigger fan of the thinner, NY style crust of pizza, so perhaps it's merely personal taste that I wasn't overly crazy or blown away by the food here. If you can shoot for a visit for one of the deals during the week, or if you're looking for a place that would be good enough for large groups or kids, this is a good spot to consider. Though, the next time I'm looking for a sit-down pizza restaurant, I believe I will just head over to the original Twin Trees location before revisiting the Milton Ave location.

My rating of Twin Trees Too:

Review: Eva's European Sweets

Name: Eva's European Sweets
Address: 1305 Milton Ave, Syracuse, NY
Neighborhood: Far West-Side
Website: www.syracuserestaurants.com/base-website.asp?sn=evaseuropeansweets
Cuisine: Polish, European, Pastries
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 11 AM to 8 PM, Friday 11 AM to 9 PM, Saturday 12 PM to 9 PM
Parking: On-street
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Takes Reservations: No
Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only

Despite only opening in 1997, Eva's feels like it has been located at a storefront on Milton Ave for generations. The interior feels a bit more like a cafe than a restaurant, but has that sit-down and homey quality to it - complete with Eastern European knickknacks and paintings on the walls.

The menu is really unique and has an extensive list of European and Polish specialties like Goulash, Potato Pancakes, Goloabkis, and Hunters Stew. The beer list should also not go unnoticed and features an interesting variety of European beers from Poland, Russian, Ukraine, and Germany. (Note: Eva's should really be given some much deserved credit for having these kinds of beers here, because most, if not all of them, you can't find anywhere in Syracuse).

There are two staples you MUST get when ordering for the first time at any Polish restaurant... say it with me: kielbasa and pierogis.

The order...

Zywiec Porter (16 oz): $4.50
Kielbasa Sandwich with onions and sauerkraut on marble rye: $7.75
Pierogis with sauteed onions, bacon, sauerkraut & butter: $6.95
Slice of Banana Mousse: $3.50
Total Money Spent with Tax & Tip: $29.52

The porter was good - a heavy, Polish beer with a slight chocolate and coffee taste to it.

The kielbasa sandwich on marble rye (served with pickles and homemade mustard and garnished with a cherry tomato, olives, and parsley) was the best sandwich that I've had since starting this blog - juicy kielbasa with a crisp and snappy casing combined with the sweet onions and tangy sauerkraut. It was really hard to put this sandwich down and try anything else. The homemade mustard was a bit more like mayonnaise and horseradish than mustard but gave the sandwich an overall, nice kick. And I liked the pickles too - way better than that place that claims to serve awesome ones...

The pierogies were delicious - sauerkraut boiled in a soft, doughy casing and topped with parsley, onions, sauerkraut, and crispy bacon. I had never had pierogies that weren't filled with potatoes before, so these were a nice change of pace. Very filling too.

Aside from the actual restaurant, Eva's also serves their own homemade pastries as well. The pastry menu changes daily, so you'll have to see what's at the display case for yourself. On this stop, there was a nice range of chocolate and fruit cakes available. I went with a slice of Banana Mousse to-go.

The mousse was very light and airy, filled with chunks of banana and topped with a chocolate frosting. Mmmm. No picture for this one... mainly because I ate it so fast when I got home.

By no means is this fine dining, but overall, I thought Eva's was excellent and essentially flawless: a nice variety of traditional food, a nice drink list, and a homey and comfortable atmosphere with extremely friendly service. It's even good enough for a date, but more importantly has that sense of home style atmosphere where you almost feel like you're part of the family while dining. Not a bad feeling to walk away from after only my first visit. Welcome, Eva's, to my list of Syracuse's best dining experiences.

My rating of Eva's European Sweets:

Review: Steve's Cantina & Grill

Name: Steve's Cantina & Grill
Address: 401 Milton Ave, Syracuse, NY
Neighborhood: Far West-Side (Tipperary Hill)
Website: www.yelp.com/biz/steves-cantina-and-grill-syracuse
Cuisine: Mexican
Hours: Wednesday-Thursday 5 PM to 8 PM, Friday-Saturday 5 PM to 9 PM
Parking: On-street
Accepts credit cards: Yes

Note: I will hopefully be using a better camera for the reviews. The ol' iPhone just isn't cutting it apparently.

So the Cantina and Grill part of Steve's is hidden. And by hidden I mean you feel like you're walking into somebody's house. Don't be fooled. There are two parts to this establishment: the bar entrance located at the corner of Milton Ave and Hamilton St and the restaurant entrance which is up on a porch and feels more like it's located at a house on Hamilton St. Either entrance is fine to go in.

Walking in and it's clear that this place is quite small. Two small rooms with about 7 or 8 tables. You get the sense that you are walking into a friend's house: from the fake-wood paneling lining the entire perimeter to the circular dining room table which seats a larger group in what feels like, well, a dining room. No issues here though. The restaurant has a very homey and down-to-earth feel to it.

Steve's has a relatively small menu and a very small kitchen, but that didn't bother me at all. I found it encouraging because I assume the smaller the place, the more likely they are to serve those few dishes well.

Chips and Salsa were brought out before ordering.

The chips were OK. To be picky, I much prefer the style that are triangular cut than to the pale, circular kind. These resembled your generic store-bought brand except a bit more saltier and crunchier. The salsa was interesting. I'm almost positive that they use stewed tomatoes here for the salsa. I was a little skeptical at first, but after a few tastes it was enjoyable.

The waitress then brought some complimentary guacamole. Score!

This is how guacamole is supposed to taste and I'm so glad that I've found a place in Syracuse that does it well. And as a treat, topped with stewed tomatoes, homemade green sauce, and cilantro for garnish. So tasty. Fresh avocados too.

While ordering, I was informed by the waitress that the chef at Steve's, David Walker, also has a great vegetarian meal that he'll make upon request. By no means am I a vegetarian, but it's something that I'll have to remember for next time as I do quite like Mexican-style vegetarian dishes.

The order...

Margarita: $3.50
Bean Smothered Burrito with Red Sauce: $8.50
Total cost of meal with tax and tip: $15.84

Immediately after placing my order, a couple of SU students walked in and told the waitress that they have a group of 15 showing up. She didn't seem too happy about it and I felt sorry for not only her, but the chef as well. This isn't like Chilli's or Red Lobster where you can just waltz in unannounced with 15 people and expect that it won't be a problem, especially for such a small place like this. But the waitress and chef both seemed to manage it well given the small space and small staff. Oh, to be a clueless undergrad. I was once like you...

Pictured below is Steve's standard Margarita with Jose Cuervo and a big ol' lime slice. Served in a pint glass, this was more than enough to get me excited about my meal. Quite strong!

So. Much. Food.

The smothered burrito was good. Though, it did taste like it had been left in the oven (in order to stay warm, I assume) for a bit too long as it was a bit crunchy. Did I mention how much food was here? It was literally dripping off of my plate and onto the table.

The main entrees come with 2 sides. I chose the vegetable special (which on this day was a corn and onion mix) and beans. I regrettably do not know too much more about the vegetable side dish - corn with a couple different kinds of onions. I'm not sure what the sauce was, but it was very good: almost sweet and spicy. But I'm wondering if this side dish would have tasted a bit fresher had it been cut from corn right off the cob. Then again, it's kind of hard to do something like that in the middle of November. As for the other side dish, I was a little too overwhelmed by beans halfway through the meal (this is my own fault as I ordered a bean dish and beans as a side - a rookie mistake at this place). Roughly 3/4 of the plate was covered in beans. Next time I will be sure to change it up a bit.

Odds are that chef Walker will go up to your go up to your table afterwards and ask how your meal was. Even though he didn't stop by my table personally, I thought it was a nice gesture to give customers and I really think that more chefs should partake in doing this sort of thing after meals.

I really wanted to try the lime cheesecake for dessert but the waitress told me that they were out of it. At any rate, there was no way that my stomach would have fit it in (even though I really wanted to as it sounded delicious!).

Would I go back again? Absolutely. However, I suppose I am still looking for the best Mexican restaurant in Syracuse.

My rating of Steve's Cantina & Grill: