Review: Goodfella's Pizzeria

Name: Goodfella's Pizzeria
Address: 229-237 W Fayette St, Syracuse, NY
Neighborhood: Downtown (Armory Square)
Website: armorysq.org/main/dining.php?id=162
Cuisine: Pizza, Salads, Calzones
Hours: Wednesday-Thursday 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM, 10 PM to 2 AM, Friday 11:30 AM to 3 AM, Saturday 1 PM to 3 AM
Parking: On-Street
Accepts Credit Cards: No
Delivers: No

Off the main drag in Armory Square and tucked away on West Fayette St, Goodfella's Pizzeria has been serving up pizzas, subs, and calzones to the Downtown area now for 2 years. The establishment itself is very small, as it's essentially an open room with chairs and tables set up around the exterior. Ordering is easy and made at the counter and all the while you can see what types of food is ready and available. If something isn't there, the staff is very helpful and friendly to assist.

The menu consists of calzones, bread sticks, garlic knots, subs, salads and a limited variety of pizzas (only cheese, chicken wing, and pepperoni). I have never had anything other than pizza here, but I'd imagine that the portions sizes are big with "one size only" calzones and 12" small subs and 16" large subs. It's a good selection for what it is, but I'd like to see some more varieties of pizzas.

Anyway, the order...

Slice of Cheese Pizza: $2.75
Total Money Spent with Tax & Tip: $3.50

These are the largest pizza slices that I have ever seen. One is certainly enough to fill you up, and two slices is roughly the size of half a large pizza. But it was a great slice. Stringy cheese on a crispy crust and served very hot. The ratio is good (though I wouldn't have minded a bit more sauce). A-.

Some other notes...

- There are no bathrooms.

- It's cash-only, but there is an ATM machine inside.

- It can get rowdy on weekend nights after the bars close.

Goodfella's essentially has two target audiences for their food: Downtown workers on their lunch breaks and the late night crowd consisting of young, inebriated adults who are walking up and down Fayette Street at 1AM. Though, it's undeniable that Goodfella's actually does serve really great pizza. Alas, since this is a restaurant review blog, I have to dock them in other important areas such as cleanliness, food selection, hours of operation, and availability. Though not to go unnoticed, they get points for tasty and affordable food, extremely large portions, and friendly service.

Looking for a sit-down restaurant that serves a good selection of pizzas, salads, and calzones? You can probably do better elsewhere. In Armory Square or Downtown and looking for pizza on the go? This may be your place.

My rating of Goodfella's Pizzeria:

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: