Kyle Mastropietro, who also owns Kasai restaurant next door and will be opening a craft beer tap house in the former Blue Tusk down the street, has now opened Danny's Steaks in Armory Square, a restaurant he says is what he came to CNY for: bring cheesesteaks created by a born-and-raised Philadelphia chef. This Philly boy cooked his first cheesesteak in Lee's Hoagie House when he was 12. When Charlee's Pizzeria next door to Kasai went out of business after just a few months, Kyle struck a deal with his landlord to take over that storefront. Before Charlee's, it had housed Provisions Bakery for 32 years. This place has been getting a ton of attention since it opened a couple days ago on all the local food groups and news, so I added it to my list figuring I'd check it out when the hype died down in a couple weeks. But today I was out early running errands and figured I'd try to call right when they opened and place a pick up order for a couple hours later, hoping I'd give them enough time notice that I could luck out without the long waits while I ran my errands. I called in right at 11, got through after a couple tries, and placed my order for 1. I got down there a little early, but they're on Walton St, so it gave me enough time to stalk the street a little bit and wait for a parking spot to open. This is a notoriously difficult street to usually find parking on, especially on a weekend, but I lucked out in grabbing a spot right in the tiny parking lot next to the building. I walked in at 1 and food was ready when I got to the counter. Good amount of people inside waiting, but I was able to go right to the counter. Woman at the counter was very friendly. Got home and the wife and I tore in. I got a pizza steak, while my wife just got a cheesesteak wit whiz and we both got a side of curly fries. The wife thought it was decent but wasn't as impressed as I was. I thought they were great, a little sloppy, but the meat was good quality, tasted great, sauce was great, and the homemade roll was great. Could've used a little more pepperoni though. I love me some curly fries, and theirs are great also, and the homemade cheese sauce was tasty. $33 for two cheesesteaks and two fries, so not too bad price wise. A sub and fries was more than enough for a meal, they do not skimp you on meat at all. Now, I won't say they blow every other place in CNY outta the water, as I feel Gino's Steak in Fayetteville is a VERY close second, but I'd definitely go back if in the mood for a cheesesteak again. read more

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I remember years ago seeing that Kasai had philly cheesesteaks on their menu, but we tried a bunch of other things instead. When we went back for the cheesesteaks they were gone, and we thought we really missed out. Turns out they were just practicing for a new spot next door, so we got our chance after all. A weird number of restaurants around here claim to make the "real deal" philly cheesesteaks, and I have yet to find a real comparison. It's the same owner as Kasai, which I love and respect. I don't doubt his ability to make great and original food. So I'm genuinely stumped about Danny's, like are they taking creative liberties that make it a different experience, or do you just have to Be in Philly? We tried a bunch of cheesesteaks when we went to Philadelphia, stopping at even some of the lesser known spots. Everything we tried there was an entire level over anything we've had elsewhere. The concept doesn't seem that complicated, but even at home we haven't been able to emulate it 100%. Just finding a place around here that uses wiz will get my attention. I'm not sure why, but you won't typically find it unless the place is taking strides to be authentic. We went all out on our first order, spending over $60 for two of us. Wiz Wit, South Philly Hoagie, Diablo Wings, fries and onion rings. The philly passes all the initial checks. Compact, lightly toasted hoagie roll. Looks like an absolute mess you won't be able to eat without needing a shower. First bite, the bread is just a little crispy, the meat is super tender, only when the taste set in did I realize I wasn't home free. There's something off about the wiz. My girlfriend and I sat down and tried to place it but couldn't sort it out. It tastes the way my food starts to taste once I realize I didn't get it right and start panic-adding spices to try to fix it. The beef itself was tender, but subtle. I liked the south side hoagie a lot more. I love a pile of cured meat with provolone on a dry Italian style sandwich. The meat tasted amazing and the sandwich was as good as any Italian style deli I've been to around here. My girlfriend wasn't into it because the meat was very touch and stretchy. It was, but I didn't even notice because of the taste. They sell full wings, not cut into drumsticks and flats. We ordered diablo sauce, and to my surprise it was actually pretty spicy. The wings were good, but the price was steep. The idea of an authentic cheesesteak place is a huge deal to us, so we didn't want to just dismiss them after our first trip. We came back and got two more - one with wiz, one with American Cheese. The wiz was the same as the first time. I try to write it off as a style choice we simply don't agree with, but it's hard to envision it. When we tried the philly with American, it was much better. About as good as Gino's, or the old Taste of Philadelphia place, or any of the places that take a genuine shot at the real thing. I never tried their other menu items, including the smash burgers. I did order from their ghost kitchen Decir Algo, because I love me some Birria Tacos. As expected, it was a beautiful application for all that tender beef they're already sitting on. We didn't try the queso because we were afraid it would be the same as the wiz. Birria tacos are always amazing, the only feedback I could give is that they didn't come with cilantro or limes. This is a good place, and if I'm coming off harsh, it's all in response to the claims of authenticity. They are not philly good, but what are you gonna do, drive to Philadelphia for lunch? Give them a try and see for yourself. Definitely order in advance, especially during lunch time. The wait time can get pretty long here. read more

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Stopped in at about 7:30 on a Tuesday evening. There was only one other table of patrons in the restaurant besides myself. I stopped in after noticing it the last time I ate at Sakana-ya across the street- it's a very unassuming storefront. I ordered the Steak Whiz Wit, an order of fries, and a bottle of water. Total came to 18.05- maybe just a hair expensive but you'll struggle to find a similar meal elsewhere any cheaper so it is what it is. The sandwich was pretty good as far as I'm concerned. Good balance of wiz, onions, and steak. The roll, for me, didn't do much but it did hold up very well and proved to somehow be one of the least messy cheese steaks I've ever eaten. The curly fries were also very tasty. Hot and crispy with a nice seasoning. I truthfully don't particularly care for curly fries in general but I certainly found myself enjoying these. The restaurant itself appeared to be incredibly clean so that's a plus. However the whole aesthetic is pretty barren and somehow reminded me of the scene in Willy Wonka where they're wearing the white suits. Not my taste but it looked clean. Only comment is that the only menus are handheld at the register. This could be an issue if there's any type of line, not to mention the potential to pass on germs. That's about my only complaint. I'll certainly be back. read more

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Grabbed a Steak Whiz Wit and order of Onion Rings to go for dinner. With tip, the total was just over $30. Pricey, but I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. The sandwich was almost as good as the ones I've had in Philly. It was just missing the ketchup, so I added some at home. The rings had lost their crispness in the 8 minutes it took to get them home. So, I put them under the broiler for a minute and they were fine. Nice flavor and with a beautiful crunch. The side of BBQ sauce was lost on me however. I tried it, and found it buried the onion flavor. Totally unnecessary. Overall a very good meal for about $10 more than I would like to pay. read more

Wanted to try this place after hearing about it in the news. I imagine it was going to be busy so I called around an hour before picking up. Even though it was very busy the counter staff answered the phone politely and didn't rush. Upon arrival 1 hour later food was not ready yet but the place was packed. Staff remained very pleasant and polite. Ended up being about an hour and a half wait total. Did not eat at the restaurant but there are several tables and high top counter at one window. Some tables have outlets so you can charge your phone. This is an order at the counter place and not a full service restaurant. As far as the food. I order two whiz wit and two orders of Danny's fries with whiz. Once I got home only one fry had the cheese dip but that was ok I know they are just starting out and getting the hang of things. Now for the steaks: I wouldn't say it's the best cheese steak I have ever had but they weren't bad. The cheese is a little different was almost like a butter quality, I liked it but my husband wasn't a fan. Steak tasted good and was cooked well. They have other food choices as well if you are looking for something else besides a steak sandwich. There is street parking and several parking lots located near by. During my visit there was an event downtown and there was no parking anywhere so be mindful of that to prepare for your visit. Bottom line, good place to get steak sandwich in Syracuse NY. Be prepared, call ahead for your orders. read more

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Had to try this new restaurant in armory square. Went with friends on this Wednesday for lunch. It was busy with many people standing around. Ordered the standard cheesesteak and fries. The wait was 35 minutes but so worth it!! It was the best cheesesteak I've ever had!!! It was juicy and the homemade cheese wiz was amazing- I loved it!! The fries were seasoned and fried crisp. I will be back!!! read more

Danny's Steak - Cheesesteak with homemade cheese wiz and seasoned curly fries - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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Danny's Steaks is located in historic Armory Square, downtown Syracuse. It is next door to the restaurant Kasai . Both are owned by Chef Kyle Mastropietro I ordered the Whiz Wit Cheesesteak ~Shaved ribeye, caramelized onions and house made Cheese Whiz. I am not normally a cheese wiz guy on my Philly steaks. I'm normally a provolone guy on my cheesesteaks but with my first order at Danny's Steaks and knowing that Chef Kyle is from Philly, I felt I needed to test out the popular Philly 'whiz wit' version! When ordering you have the option of your roll having sesame seeds. I enjoy the slight nuttiness that they add so I said yes. Danny's Steaks bake their cheesesteak rolls fresh on premise daily. I also ordered a side of Danny's Fries and beer battered onion rings. After placing my order I sat down and looked around. The restaurant has a handful of tables and is kept very clean. When I received my cheesesteak my first thought was "wholly cow this is huge!!!" I knew there was no way I was going to finish the whole thing and would be taking what was left home to enjoy at a later time (which I did!). When I deconstruct the pros and cons of a cheesesteak I normally think about the bread to meat ratio. Can the bread hold up to the moist meat all the way through to the last few bites? Well, the bread was perfectly baked. The roll had a chewy inside with a slight crisp (but not with messy flakes everywhere) outside and held up perfectly. The meat was not over cooked, had great flavor and just the right amount for the roll size. Like I said above, not a huge wiz guy because I feel like it sometimes overpowers the cheese steak, but I wanted to try give it a try. I'm glad I did. Was not overpowering at all and complimented the whole sandwich well. The curly fries were crisp and had house made spices sprinkled on top of them. The beer battered onion rings were just that - very tasty pub style onion rings. I left feeling very full and I took home around a quarter of what was left of the cheesesteak. This restaurant is a great addition to the downtown area and I see it being very popular with delivery services and to go orders. You can call in your order or order online. Is it truly an authentic Philly Cheesesteak? I don't have that much experience but I really enjoyed this meal. I'll take Danny's Steaks word for it and will definitely be back! read more

Danny's Steak - Whiz Wit Cheesesteak~ Shaved ribeye, caramelized onions, house-made Cheese Whiz sandwiched between in-house baked sesame roll - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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I called to order my food they said 25 minutes when I got there I had to wait another 10 to 15 minutes I mean the cashier was pretty busy taking other phone orders so they did seem busy but my order was not a difficult one I feel my food could have been done in a more timely fashion given there was not many people in the actually dining room waiting overall the food was pretty good but I wish my sandwich had more cheese added too it and wasn't on such a soft bread maybe like a Italian bread the meat was well seasoned with a nice pepperoni touch a delicious sandwich I'd buy again read more

Danny's Steak - Pizza cheesesteak - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Syracuse, New York

We planning on trying Danny's and decided to stopped with another couple during Dining Week. Everyone decided on the Shaved Ribeye with Caramelized Onions. Some choose American, one choose Provolone and One with Cheese Wiz? One choose a salad, 2 went for the Curley fries and one went with the chips. Two us would prefer less pepper on the ribeye. The chips and Curley fries were good but 2 of us would have preferred no heat on the chips or fries. Next time 2 of us would ask for no pepper on the ribeye and no heat for the chips or fries. I had one chunk of gristle and a little piece of chewy ribeye. A second sub had a lot of gristle. It's worth another try! read more

Disclaimer: we ordered take out, so the experience for dine in may be different We were very excited to order from another local cheesesteak shop. While good sized, but the steak wasn't seasoned and just left us feeling disappointed. We also ordered a couple chicken cheesesteaks but they were out of chicken, so we can't really provide a review on those. read more

The resturant was cold with barely any heat. They were not prepared for the number of customers. There was a 45 minute wait for a sandwich. The service was ok. They were friendly but disorganized. Writing orders on little sticky notes. There was no decor and empty coolers. When I finally got cheese Steak I ordered with wiz. The sandwich had no flavor the steak had no seasoning. The Wiz was bland and added a very grainy texture. I ate a quarter of the meal and threw it out. I will give it a few months before I go again, but I don't have much faith read more

A little worried for this place. Hoping for a good Philip cheesesteak in Syracuse, but they're not even close yet. Got the order wrong on all three sandwiches. Substantial amount of steak, but the flavor is not there. I'd try the regular cheese instead of the whiz next time, but not sure there will be a next time. The South Philly cold hoagie was horrible. If there really is a Philadelphia trained chef, he/she was either MIA or must have been let go in Philly. I know they're new and maybe they can pull it together, but they might do better by interning at a Jersey Mike's for awhile. Jersey Mike's is a little on the expensive side which limits trips for subs, but they're a better approximation of a Philly region sub. Sorry, Danny's. I was pulling for you, but you have a long way to go. The only saving grace on this trip was that they were a few doors down from Sweet on Chocolate. read more

Ok so I know this is a new restaurant and after the buzz created by the article in Syracuse.com I knew there was going to be a wait for the food after ordering. Going in knowing this my review isn't based on the long wait at all it's strictly based on the food. I have family in Philadelphia so I know what an authentic cheesesteak should taste and look like. Let me say Danny's knocks it out of the park with being the best cheesesteak Syracuse has seen thus far. The bread was soft but held up well against the meat and cheese. I had the whiz wit which I was told they make their own cheese wiz. It was very good! My only gripe is there isn't an option to add your traditional cheesesteak toppings such as peppers, mushrooms, hot peppers etc.... While I liked the onions the sandwich comes with, I was desperately missing the peppers and mushrooms with this one lol. I also felt the meat could've used a pinch more seasoning but other than that I would definitely come back for more. I ordered the Danny's fries as well which were so good I finished them all before I could get home and get a picture lol. They are seasoned curly fries and have a subtle kick of spice. All in all, I wasn't mad at the hour wait since the food was good. I'd definitely recommend you check this place out! read more

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Took almost 30 minutes to get half a sandwich which wasn't very good. Steakums with cheeze wiz on it.

Had a killer meal there today on grand opening. Not sure if these negative reviews went to a different restaurant or not. The food was hot, fast, and delicious! Can't wait to go back. read more

Good and quick service, lunch special was affordable. Cheesesteak was great and onion rings even better.

The absolute worst place I have been. My daughter ordered their special nachos with wiz, $7 for almost nothing. I got the breakfast for $12 and asked for onions on side. After waiting for 25 min, came with onions inside. Asked for wings, $13 for 10, 8 came out. Never coming here again ever. I feel violated. read more

Work ordered lunch together. I ordered the French dip, without mayo or horseradish. Great sandwich. Would have been better with the au jus

Went for grand opening, been here an hour. Still haven't gotten my food. To-go orders are prioritized. Not even that busy. Front counter cashiers don't know what's going on. Hopefully the food is worth it. read more

I've eaten a lot of steaks in Philadelphia (jim's, ishkabibbles, John's rp, pat's, and some random diner in south philly that was surprisingly good). Danny's is just as good (if not better) than the best in philly (John's for me). Meat and onions were cooked perfectly and very generous portions. The homemade "wiz" was very tasty,had a little tang to it that really set it off. Little heavy on the flour but I'm not faulting them for that as it was cooked well enough. Rolls are baked in house. Not sure if they make their own dough or what but they were perfectly chewy while holding up to the contents. Fries were nothing special but the Danny's seasoining was good. My wife had a chicken steak wiz wit and it was just as good. If they ever get the seeded rolls they advertise then I'll probably give them 5 stars. read more

On Tuesday at 3:30pm 40 minutes on 1 order each of fries, onion rings and mozzarella sticks. No tables. No delivery went out in those 40 minutes. Really think about that one, but I let it go. Tonite 45 minutes on a f-in cheesesteak. THIS WAS ALL AT YOUR LOCATION. Maybe the paramedics should check the people who actually waited on delivery. And please spare me the labor argument. It's literally a one man operation 90% of the day. Your open 11am to 9pm. The owner is a chef that means you get your ass on the line for the hour lunch rush and the 6-8pm dinner rush. While my fried food on Tuesday was already at 30 minutes this imbecile actually took time to talk to me about his restaurant. The cashier had to go fulfill my order. You sell sandwiches and French fries. If you can't manage that than maybe this industry just ain't for you. Cheesesteak & French Fries. 1) thin cut ribeye on the plancha 2) place on top pre cooked carmelized onions 3) hit with a squeeze bottle of water then cover to steam 4) place bread on plancha 5) complete with cheese wiz that's kept in a 6 pan in a steam bath on the piano 6) while this is happening drop fries TOTAL TIME: 7 minutes and that's being pretty freakin generous. While I was there someone got a rebate and 2 tables walked out. 6:45pm Sunday. Your restaurant gave back money because it's incapable of selling food. read more

Tried it at NBT Bank Stadium and thought it was horrible. The steak and whiz were flavorless, looked like canned dog food. If it is the same at their downtown location, it won't be around long. read more

I wasn't bothered by the wait as I knew this was a fresh opening. The article on Syracuse.com made me try this place. I looked at pictures online and knew what I was getting before heading there. The wait was 45 minutes ok nbd went and had a couple brews at a local pub down the street. When I got my sub it was much smaller than I anticipated. Also one of the main things mentioned in the article is how the cheese is worked into the meat on the grill. Mine the cheese was just on top, nothing worked through the meat. Understand this is a new place and they were very busy I will try again in a few months once they work out the kinks. But wouldn't suggest going there right now. Counter staff was very pleasant and welcoming. read more

For starters when I called to place my order I was told 10-15 mins. 40 mins later I'm leaving with my cheese steak fries and potato salad. Honestly I wouldn't care at all about the wait if the food wasn't absolutely disgusting. The fries were so over cooked and hard and had no salt at all. The cheese steak had no flavor at all. Definitely could have used salt or something. The meat was chewy and gross. The potato salad was the only thing that had salt. Very salty but the potatoes themselves were very undercooked. In all seriousness this food is horrible. read more

Absolutely amazing cheesesteaks. Try the Chicken Utica Greens cheesesteak and the classic Wit cheesesteak! Incredible flavor, homemade whiz is on point, juicy not dry steak, soft hoagie roll, perfectly caramelized onions. Onion rings were very tasty too. Danny's does not disappoint!!! That's coming from someone who used to live in Philly... read more

This is a great place!! I never had a steak sub with wiz, boy I am glad I did. It was amazing! You have nothing to loose give it a try. The only down side is how far from me it is. read more

Stopped in on a tuesday nite because we were referred by a friend of how good the food was. Appearance was very clean. Ordered from the kiosk menu and paid by card. The card machine gave us an issue but then worked out. Was told the wait would be 20 minutes but it was actually just about 35 minutes with 2 ppl prior sitting waiting for an order. Got home to find out our order was slightly wrong. Sandwiches were very meaty, the bread was slightly soggy and should have ordered extra cheese as it was not enough on the witt steak. All in all we will try it again but will preorder in advance. read more

Had higher hopes for this place. Staff were friendly and food was good. But when I went in, they told me it would be ready in ten minutes and it took a half hour. I'd understand if they were short staffed or busy but i was literally the only person to order, beside someone who called ahead. I would have ordered online but it looks like its not an option yet. I ordered four cheesesteaks and one sub that was suppose to be w/o onions had onions. Bread was really good, but steak peppers/onions and whiz were all mashed together and just ok. Definitely one of the better ones in syracuse but nowhere close to the ones in philly. read more

Stopped at this new place after long day of work. YAY, no cooking. So I wait 45 minutes, with never more than 4 people in the place, and then go home with the wrong food, and NO RECEIPT. Today, the owner tells me he does not want my business because I was not happy with my first visit. I will grant him his wish. WANNA SPEND MY HARD EARNED DOLLARS AT PLACES WHERE MY BUSINESS IS APPRECIATED. My SECOND choice for my dinner selection WAS good. Just no decent owner attitude to back it up. read more