Review: OC's Fat Boy BBQ

Name: OC's Fat Boy BBQ
Address: 317 N Salina St Syracuse, NY
Phone: (315) 435-2453
Neighborhood: Near Northeast
Website: www.ocssportsbar.com
Menu: View menu
Cuisine: Barbecue, Pizza, Calzones, Standard Bar-Fare
Kitchen Hours: Monday to Saturday 11 AM - 12 AM
Bar Hours: Monday to Saturday 11 AM to close
Parking: On-street, Private Lot
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Takes Reservations: No
Take-Out: Yes
Delivery: Yes

Yes, there is barbecue joint just north of Clinton Square. And no, I am not at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. It's OC's Fat Boy BBQ.

I was finally able to check this place out recently. It's been on my "to go to" list for a few years now and figured during an SU game was as good as any time to stop in for some food and a beer.

OC's is situated on North Salina Street just a few blocks away from Vinomania and Columbus Baking Co and across the street from Thanos Imported Grocery and Barbieri's Italian Diner.

While the outside of this old, 4-story brick building could probably use a facelift, the inside was awesome. It's a classic dive bar: old wooden flooring, neon signs in the window, tin ceilings, tables and cocktail tables in the back room near the kitchen and ordering station, framed pictures all over the walls, SU memorabilia hanging up, and about 8 or so TVs scattered around the place. It's an excellent dive. And judging by the fact that I've heard literally nothing about this place since living in 'cuse for about 6 years, I'd say it's a very underrated one, at that. Especially for catching a game on TV.

There's an ordering station near the kitchen with a big chalkboard overhead displaying everything on the menu. The menu is huge (really huge), so I'll have to summarize. Ready?

Specialty pizzas, calzones, wings, pastas (stuffed shells, chicken riggies, baked ziti, lasagna...), desserts (deep fried oreos, frosted M&M brownies...), fish diner on Fridays, salads, 1/2 pound burgers, wraps, hot and cold subs, appetizers (burritos, garlic knots, nachos, loaded fries...), barbecue dishes (NY strip steak, pulled pork, bbq chicken...), and entree sides (mac and cheese, tomato and cucumber salad, roasted potatoes, chili...). Give their menu a gander for a whole list.

Plenty of things looked intriguing, but I was there to get a taste of their barbecue.

The order...

Blue Moon: $4.50
BBQ Lovers Fiesta: $13.95
Total amount with tax and tip: $22

Before the meal, the waitress brought over a few plastic squirt bottles of their house-made sauces. There was their original (classic barbecue style, but a tad ketchupy for my liking), the Louisiana (sweet and spicy), the Chipotle (spicy and smoky), and Blazzing (peppery, oniony, and very spicy with a hint of cilantro). The Blazzing was probably my favorite as it had the most flavor, followed by the Louisiana.

Pictured above is the BBQ Lovers Fiesta: pulled pork, beef brisket, 1/4 rack of ribs, coleslaw, baked beans, and cornbread.

The standout for me were the ribs. I'm normally not a rib guy, but these were very good. They weren't fall-off-the-bone style, but they were a bit more tough and meaty. Some of the house sauces made an excellent (and pleasantly messy) combo when drizzled on top.

Also good was the pulled pork, which was sweet and had some nice flavor in there with all the excess fat.

The thinly sliced brisket was different. I'm used to a dry and smoked brisket and this was more like braised beef with a thick barbecue sauce. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't what I was expecting. I didn't shy away from it, as it was juicy and flavorful, but I don't know if I'd go so far as to call it brisket in the traditional sense.

The sides were so-so. The cornbread was moist and dense and had a nice texture, but was served a bit on the cold side. Coleslaw was fresh and crunchy, but kind of overly dressed for my liking (I prefer a lower ratio of mayo to cabbage, but it was still tasty, none the less). And I'm fairly certain that the baked beans were of the canned variety with a hefty squirting of their original BBQ sauce in the middle of it. Normally I'd find this strange, but it tasted just like the brand I usually get at the grocery store and one that I'm kind of partial to, so I suppose I can't criticize too much.

Other notes...

- "League night" for darts seemed a little intense on this night. There's about 2 or 3 boards here. If you like darts, I'd recommend it (it's electronic though).

- No free water. Bottled water only.

- Beer selection was good. About 15 drafts, if I recall correctly. Mostly standard stuff you'd find in upstate NY bars.

- The bartenders had nice ta tas were very friendly and helpful with the menu and any questions. This guy had no complains in being called "babe" and "sweetie". It's the little things that count sometimes.

- OC's does catering and also delivers.

- Parking is on-street, but there's also a private lot for OC's customers across the street next to Thanos.

Overall, I liked their sauces and the dive bar atmosphere the best. As of right now, I'd opt for a beer over food, but there's plenty on the menu to test out, so I'll be back again to give some other stuff a try for next time. And as you can tell, there's a lot there to think about ordering for the next visit.

If you're looking for a change of scenery, are into dive bars, or looking for a good place to catch a game, I'd say give OC's a shot.

My rating of OC's Fat Boy BBQ:

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: 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:

Review: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

Name: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
Address: 246 W Willow St, Syracuse, NY
Neighborhood: Downtown
Website: www.dinosaurbarbque.com/syrIndex.php
Menu: View Menu
Cuisine: Barbecue
Alcohol: Full Bar
Restaurant Hours: Monday to Thursday 11 AM - 12 AM, Friday to Saturday 11 AM - 1 AM, Sunday 12 PM - 10 PM
Parking: On-Street
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Accepts Reservations: No
Take-out: Yes
Delivery: Yes (available through TakeOut Xpress)

There comes those days when I have a complete and overwhelming hankering for Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. I don't know if it's some kind of weather pattern or new moon or what, but every once in a while it will hit me and all I think about is getting my fingers messy and stuffing my face full of barbecue chicken.

In case you live in a bubble, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is the itso-facto for barbecue food in Syracuse - if not all of Upstate New York. They have three locations (1 in 'cuse, 1 in Rochester, and 1 in Harlem) with the one on the corner of Willow and Franklin Streets being the original. It first opened in 1988 strictly as a take-out barbecue establishment, and by 1990 had grown to double its size while adding a full bar and waitress staff. Fast forward to 2009 when they have expanded even further - knocking down the bathrooms, moving them back, and opening up more floor space for tables, as well as expanding to the 2nd floor in a space that can seat large groups for predominantly banquets and receptions.

I walked over to Dinosaur Bar-B-Que on a Sunday evening. I suppose I could have driven over, but the walk ended up doing me good as I had one of the best meals that I've ever had at Dinosaur and in hindsight, really needed to walk off the extra weight I had amassed from such a large and wonderful meal. I was about a block away from Dinosaur when I could smell the outdoor cookers in the air. It got me so pumped. Walking up along side the building, you'll see a few picnic tables for outdoor dining, hear blues music over the PA system, and more often than not, see a row of motorcycles along Willow Street (that is, if the weather is nice - in the winter, it's not uncommon to see a row of snowmobiles).

It's a loud and rowdy biker bar, and the interior reflects that with vintage music posters, provocative bumper stickers, and name carvings adorning just about every spot on the walls and around the bar. It's a crowded, noisy, and boisterous atmosphere. It might sound intimidating or off-putting, but it isn't. It's a fun vibe and as you might not expect, the crowd demographic isn't all rough and tough. Inside you'll find a wide range of people like townies, bikers, suburbanites, tourists, white-collars, blue-collars, college students, and families.

Odds are going to be that it's crowded and you'll likely have to wait for a table, so you can grab a spot near the bar to kill some time, get a drink, or people-watch. Once it's your turn for a seat, don't expect to be lead to a table. Keep your ears open, as the hostess will announce your name over the loud speaker and tell you where to sit. On it, you'll find a vinyl table cloth (this makes the wiping the table clean of various barbecue sauces easier for the waitresses), wet naps, and a tray of hot sauces, canned hot peppers, and various Dinosaur Bar-B-Que sauces like Wango Tango, Garlic Chipotle Pepper sauce, and their Foreplay dry-rub.

The menu has everything you would imagine from a barbecue joint: pulled pork, Texas brisket, ribeye steaks, and pork sandwiches to name a few and even has a few surprises like fried green tomatoes, deviled eggs, and catfish strips. The beer selection is decent with regionals from Middle Agess Brewing Co, Ommegang, Saranac, and Ithaca Beer Co among others.

The order...

Middle Ages Ape Hanger Ale: $5
Jumbo Roaster BBQ Chicken Wings (w/ Wango Tango): $11.95
Leg, Thigh, & Ribs House Special: $12.50
1/4 lb of Drunken Spicy Shrimp: $5.95
Total Money Spent with Tax & Tip: $44.50

Pictured here is the Ape Hanger Ale from Middle Ages Brewery.

This was good. I don't know how often I would drink this beer on its own, but something about the flavor went really well with the smokiness and tanginess of food. It had an fruity and apricot finish to it that seemed to tie in really well with the barbecue chicken, shrimp, and wings.

Pictured above are the Jumbo Roaster Bar-B-Que Chicken Wings with Wango Tango sauce: spice rubbed, pit smoked, then finished on the grill. Served with blue cheese dressing, celery and carrot sticks.

These were some of the best wings that I've ever had. They might not be wings in the traditional sense of the word, but they were sooo delicious. Big pieces with juicy chicken, slightly crispy skin, with a tangy and spicy Wango Tango sauce. I wish I could come up with better words, but these wings were absolutely amazing. And you wouldn't think so coming from a place that is barbecue oriented. If you are skeptical and haven't had them yet, I would suggest giving these a shot. I want them again right now.

Pictured here is the meat combo (chicken leg and thigh, 1/4 rack of ribs, fries, macaroni and cheese, and honey hush cornbread) with a 1/4 pound of drunken, spicy shrimp.

The chicken was cooked perfectly. Nice and moist. And the skin and barbecue sauce were both amazing. A little bit of kick and very sweet. The ribs were good: tangy, tender, smokey and almost fall-off-the-bone (I hate that expression, but it's true). The peel and eat shrimp were excellent: cooked in boiled beer, Old Bay seasoning, cayenne, and other spices and served with a cold, habanero cocktail sauce. The shrimp were delicious and decent-sized too. The seasoning was good. It didn't hold on to the shrimp after peeling the shell, but the flavor is all there when you lick your fingers (which I was guilty of doing over and over again). It probably could have been a little spicier, but I couldn't complain because the cocktail sauce elevates the heat level. It was a bit more like a barbecue sauce than a cocktail sauce, but it was still very tasty. The fresh-cut fries were awesome. Lightly salted and crispy (not crunchy) left with a little bit of skin on them. Just excellent. The macaroni and cheese was good. It was a bit of kick to it, though it was a little too heavy for my liking. That didn't stop me from chowing down though. And finally, the cornbread was good. I could definitely taste the honey. Though, I thought it leaned on the dry side.

Some other things of note...

- The have a full take-out section, known as the Express, located on the side facing Willow Street

- There are very few vegetarian options on the menu

- It can be a tourist trap on the weekends and during local and University events, so plan accordingly

- Your clothes will reek of barbecue afterwards

- Happy hour is from 3:30 PM to 7 PM Monday through Friday

- The waitresses are sassy

- There's live music every night from Monday to Saturday

Overall, this was a fantastic meal. It was one of those meals that I'd be happy eating over and over again forever. 5 stars. Hands down. And I'm not giving it 5 stars just for the sake of giving it 5 stars. It's easy to do that when you're reviewing a place that is so regionally well-known and a place that you've come to love. Honestly, this was really the best meal that I've ever had here and possibly one of the best that I've had in Syracuse.

My rating of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que:

Review: Pascale Wine Bar & Restaurant

Name: Pascale Wine Bar & Restaurant
Address: 204 W Fayette St, Syracuse, NY
Neighborhood: Downtown (Armory Square)
Website: www.pascalerestaurant.com
Menu: View Menu
Cuisine: New American, Fine Dining, Wine Bar
Alcohol: Full Bar
Restaurant Hours: Monday to Thursday 5:30 PM - 9 PM, Friday to Saturday 5:30 PM - 10:30 PM
Bar Hours: Monday to Saturday 5 PM to close
Parking: On-Street and Valet
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Accepts Reservations: Yes
Take-out: No

Pascale Wine Bar & Restaurant has been a Syracuse venue for refined, eclectic, and sophisticated dining for over 25 years. Since its opening in 1982, Pascale has been home to some of the best fine-dining in the city. The interior is spacious and features an open kitchen, large bar area near the front, and plenty of intimate seating. However, something was rubbing me the wrong way about the interior overall upon walking in. The colors all seemed a little forced and really presented the place with an early 90's sort of vibe (the beige colors, the flower patterns on the booths, and the pattern of square, rainbow colors that are presented in areas like the ceiling, the windows, and even the candle holders). I mean it was fine, but it didn't seem trendy, or progressive, or romantic to me. And if that's what they're aiming for, I think they need an update on the color scheme, focus on dimmer lighting, and change the music (it was some sort of drum and bass trance music during my visit that didn't fit in at all with the rest of the restaurant). Really, they could take a few notes from Pastabilities as far as the interior is concerned. Everything seemed overly deliberate and jumbled. I'm really hoping that Pascale isn't "the most romantic restaurant in Syracuse" (per the Syracuse New Times). If it is, it implies that romantic dining is all downhill from here. Although I cannot attest quite yet, I'd like to hope that there is at least one better romantic place in the city. That isn't to say that Pascale isn't a good date spot (it is), it's just that the interior fell flat and didn't deliver what I was expecting.

The dinner menu is clear, concise, and contemporary. It's also updated seasonally and on this occasion featured a nice selection of appetizers like Seared Tuna, Risotto, and Foie Gras, and a very creative list of entrees like Venison Wellington, Moroccan Lamb Shank, and Moulard Duck Confit.

The wine list is extremely extensive and actually reads a bit like a book report. As noted by Wine Spectator, Pascale's award winning wine list features approximately 400 selections of wines from around the world. So yes, there is much to choose from. Even the liquor selection is large. I counted about 8 different types of tequila as I brushed through the selection of alcohol. If you're unsure about what to order or what you may like, the wait staff is very helpful and knowledgeable to give assistance.

The order...

Rose: Las Rocas 2007 - Spain (Bottle): $20
Seafood Salad: $8
Filet Mignon: $24
Total Money Spent with Tax & Tip: $68

Pictured above is a basket of Pascale's homemade breads with a cruet of olive oil.

The breads, which are freshly made from Pascale Cafe & Bakehouse, were very good. Unfortunately, I didn't have the exact names, but I tried two of them: one was a whole-wheat artisan bread which had a hint of nuttiness to it and the other was somewhat of a traditional Italian with olives. Thumbs up.

The green olive oil? Thumbs down. I wasn't really a fan of it. Unless I'm way off base, it tasted like it had an infused herb (perhaps sage?). It was just a little too bitter for my liking. I suppose if it was combined with a basic, rustic bread I probably wouldn't have minded it so much, but a flavored bread with a flavored olive oil was too overwhelming. There was just too much going on - especially when you're dealing with something as simple as bread and oil. Instead, I think Pascale would be better off pairing the breads with a simple, nice olive oil - which might highlight the breads a little more.

Pictured here is the seafood salad with calamari, rock shrimp, scallops, spring vegetables, and a lemon basil vinaigrette served in a bowl of radicchio on a bed of greens.

You can't really tell by the picture, but this is a deceivingly big portion of food. The ingredients were all good and fresh and the scallops were simply amazing. I'm not even a huge scallops fan, but I think Pascale may have given me a 180 on the subject as these were some of the best that I've ever had. Nice and chewy and so tender that they almost tasted a bit like lobster meat. The other seafood ingredients were good but nothing noteworthy. The calamari was a bit rubbery, even for calamari and most of the rock shrimp were a bit on the minuscule side, even for rock shrimp. Overall it was a good salad, but there was too much stuff (roughly 8 different vegetables and herbs and 3 seafoods). It's a salad so it wasn't like there was anything clashing per se, but I think something a bit more concise like seafood, cucumber, carrots, red peppers, and a garnish on greens with a vinaigrette would have done the trick.

Pictured above is the Filet Mignon with Bearnaise sauce, green beans, and a garlic mashed potato.

The Filet Mignon was very good - very tender and juicy. Though, it was served moderately undercooked (I had asked for medium and it came out rare). I usually don't mind when meat is over/under cooked as I like most varieties, but to me it was just the principle that this wasn't what I had asked for. I suppose I could have asked the waitress to send it back, but I'm quite shy when it comes to things like that and try not to be one of those people.

At any rate, the meat was topped with a perfect, buttery Bearnaise sauce. The mashed potatoes were excellent. Creamy, garlicky, and had almost a hint of onion or shallot flavor as well. So good. The green beans were crispy and cooked perfectly and creatively garnished with thinly sliced carrots, red onions, and red peppers. Very, very tasty and well-cooked green beans. And finally, the plate was garnished with what looked like chickweed or wood sorrel. I don't know the name. Forgive me if I'm talking like a Martian. Either way, I liked the garnish (which was the same one that was used on the seafood salad). It gave the dish a nice, bright texture. Though, some of the garnish on the entree plate was wilted and brown. Which leads me to a much bigger issue...

If you don't consider your restaurant to be fine-dining then I normally wouldn't be making a mountain out of an ant hill about the Filet Mignon being undercooked and topped with sub-par garnish. But if a restaurant is implying that it is elite, then I think that you reserve the right to be picky on these kinds of things. I mean, if I got a piece of brown lettuce at Brooklyn Pickle, I would just pick it out and not eat it, but if I'm paying $24 for an entree, everything on the plate should be presented impeccably. And by no means am I referring to the plating because that was excellent. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the "quality control" could have been slightly higher (i.e. a correctly cooked piece of meat with a clean garnish).

Overall though and all bickering aside, this was a great, great entree dish; a very good combination of colors, textures, and flavors.

I've been in places where once you finish your meal, it almost feels like they are trying to rush you out as quickly as possible: clearing off your table, taking your water away, throwing the bill at you, etc.. That wasn't the case at all here. The wait staff let me sit, relax, enjoy my wine, and really just take in the moment. I wasn't planning on staying too long afterwards and I also wasn't planning on ordering any dessert, but by the time they rolled that dessert trolley near my table, I almost completely changed my mind. I admittedly didn't have enough room in my stomach to fit any more food, but it was quite amusing to see every one's eyes within a radius of 10 feet suddenly glued in like a deer in headlights on the mouth watering display of homemade cakes, pastries, and ice cream being rolled around from table to table.

A couple additional things of note...

- Pascale features live jazz music on Saturday nights.

- They also offer valet parking ($3).

- Although, I'd still call it a good "date spot", the ambiance can vary. I was there on a Tuesday night and it was somewhat loud.

- The clientele was also a bit more well-dressed here than what I was expecting. I was wearing a plain, dark tee and nice jeans and felt a tad out of place. So I'd advise that the dress is dressy/classy (i.e. no Nascar shirts, dude).

Overall, it was an excellent dining experience. The food was great and creative and the service was personable, attentive, and yet very professional at all ends of the restaurant. But giving it a 5-star ranking would be a bit of a stretch for me. I have to give Pascale a half star deduction on what felt like a forced interior and a slight miss on food execution. By all means I'd go back again, but probably only for a special occasion.

My rating of Pascale Wine Bar & Restaurant:

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: $5.50br> 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.

My rating of Funk 'N Waffles:

Review: Bull & Bear Pub

Name: Bull & Bear Pub
Address: 125 E Water St, Syracuse, NY
Neighborhood: Downtown (Hanover Square)
Website: www.bullandbearpub.com
Menu: View Menu
Cuisine: Traditional, yet mildly upscale Pub Food
Restaurant Hours: Monday-Friday 11:30 AM to 9 PM, Saturday 4PM to 9 PM
Bar Hours: Monday-Friday 11:30 AM to 2 AM, Saturday 4 PM to 2 AM
Alcohol: Full Bar
Parking: On-Street
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Takes Reservations: Yes
Music: Live Music on Friday and Saturday Nights, Karaoke on Wednesday and Thursday Nights

Opened in 2002, Bull & Bear Pub is situated in the heart of Syracuse's historic Hanover Square district. The interior is inviting and done over in a sort of rustic, funky, and hip style - from the creatively done and purposely aged "Bull & Bear" wall painting to the dark, rich wood at the bar, tables, and booths. Seating varies from stools up at the bar area, tables scattered over the center floor, to booths up against the large windows that overlook Hanover Square. There's also outdoor seating (weather permitting). Bull & Bear Pub also features weekly events such as a Talent Showcase on Tuesdays at 9:30 PM, Karaoke on Wednesdays at 9:30 PM, 80's Fusion Karaoke Dance Party on Thursday nights and live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

The beer selection is good, with mostly New York and New England regional beers. They also have a few wines available as well. Drink specials include a "Midnight Madness" from Midnight to 1 AM on Monday to Thursday with $1.95 on all domestic bottles and well drinks. And the "50 Cent Happy Hour" runs on Monday to Friday from 4 PM to 7 PM with all domestic bottles and well drinks buy one get the next for 50 cents.

The menu contains a nice variety of your tradition bar food like burgers, wings, and wraps, but most are done with a slight twist: such as the Summer Chicken Burger (with a teriyaki glaze, pineapple and provolone) and the Rochester Wrap (with chicken, asiago cheese, ranch, lettuce and tomato in a jalapeno wrap). It's a great selection of food and you will most likely be able to find something new and interesting if this is your first time or your fifth.

Bull & Bear also features a "Take Away Menu" with specific items to-go (call for details) and also has an all-you-can-eat soup and salad special at lunch for $7.99.

Anyway, the order...

Coke: $2
The Hanover: $8.75
w/ Side of Sweet Potato Fries: $0.85
Total Money Spent with Tax & Tip: $14

Pictured above is The Hanover (a grilled panini with shredded turkey, mozzarella cheese, coleslaw and Russian dressing on the side) with Sweet Potato Fries and garnished with a pickle slice.

Um, OK. If you put something on the menu that is not only named after the neighborhood your restaurant is in, but also has the phrase "trust us, it's GOOD!" immediately after the menu item, it better damn well be amazing. This was not. Really, the flavors just didn't work together at all and I think one of the main culprits may have been the coleslaw - it was bland, dry, and really didn't provide anything. It was essentially like eating wilted, plain cabbage. The melted mozzarella cheese was good (nice and stringy) and turkey was mildly juicy, but all of that combined with pressed rye bread made it a confusing combinations of tastes. It was such an odd mix of flavors that eventually became incredibly unappetizing. Also, although it was sweet and tangy, I have no idea why they insisted on putting the Russian dressing on the side. Something felt awkward about dunking my sandwich after every bite. If you're trying to make your restaurant more classy by putting condiments in small, metallic serving dishes, having your customers dunk their paninis is not the right way to go about it. Not only that, but I ran out of dressing about half way through the meal because the panini was so dry. In hindsight, it didn't really matter because I didn't even finish the rest of it. Booooo.

The sweet potato fries were OK. The giant grains of salt all over them were a bit much, but I thought the actual fries were decent none the less. Sweet and crispy. I really didn't like the maple butter mixture at all and had to make the jump to squeeze-bottle ketchup after only a few attempts at it. It was way too heavy and buttery for me. (Not to mention, I had already been overwhelmed by the amount of strange combinations and flavors at this point in the meal: turkey, Russian dressing, sweet potato, coleslaw, cheese, rye, butter, syrup, etc...). I mean, I get the whole "sweet potato and butter" combination, but it was just a bit much for me. An accompaniment of a light, raspberry vinaigrette instead of a condensed, maple butter mix would have done the trick here, I think. But oh well.

Service was a bit slow too. This was during lunch service - which should really be one of the more efficient times in moving people in and out. By the time I finished eating, most of the lunch crowd had already left, so I didn't really understand the long wait for the check at the end of the meal.

A few other notes...

The bathroom here is co-ed.

They offer catering. Call for details.

When bands are playing it can get loud and become difficult to carry on a normal conversation.

And yes, they have dart boards.

Overall, I'd say that Bull & Bear equates to casual dining, but leaning slightly towards the higher-end side of pub food (whatever that means). The food that I had in particular was not good, but they get points in my book for a superb location, a good, clean atmosphere, and decent food selection. For right now, I'd say that Bull & Bear seems like a much better place to get your drink on and enjoy some live, local music than it is as a legit restaurant. The other patrons that were there on my visit seemed to be eating burgers, so maybe I'll try one of those next time - though I'm not sure how soon that will be.

My rating of Bull & Bear Pub: