Katherine Lowe grew up in Liverpool and graduated from Manlius Preble Hill School. She moved out of…read morethe city several times but always returned to Syracuse. She took some culinary courses, but most of her cooking skills are self-taught and some of her recipes are inspired by family. In searching for an idea to open a restaurant, she took a look at what the city WASN'T offering, and settled on a Southern-inspired menu. As soon as I heard of Sugar Magnolia, I knew I wanted to try it. Luckily, Salt City Eats was offering a certificate for them, so I picked up a $50 for $25 deal. My wife and I met some friends to give it a try for the first time a couple weeks ago. It was a Saturday and the place was completely empty other than us, but we chalked it up to being there right at 5 when they opened. We sat and were given menus. Small menu, but interesting choices. They serve sweet tea and lemonade and we all went for lemonades. I chose the sweet heat chicken with collard greens as a side, as did one of our friends. My wife went with their shrimp and grits, while my other friend went with their shrimp po boy sandwich. Food took a bit to make. We all dug in when it was brought. My dish wasn't bad, but it wasn't what I thought it would be. It was two drumsticks that had been deep fried, then rolled in seasonings. While it was called sweet heat, I found no heat in it, and it kinda tasted just like sugary chicken. The collard greens we're good though, with a strong smokey flavor. My friend who got the same dish as me felt the same as I did, while my other friend and wife really liked their dishes. So my wife and I went to use our second certificate yesterday. This time, I went with their fried green tomato BLT with collard greens again, and my wife went with their Magnolia Burger, a burger topped with a friend green tomato with mixed greens, onion and pimento cheese, with a side of thick cut fries. We were again the only ones in the place, again right at 5. A band was setting up to start playing some live music. Our food was brought pretty quickly, but unfortunately, we didn't have a very good experience again. The fried green tomatoes on my sandwich were good, but that was about it. Plain old bacon on some toasted plain white bread. There was a sauce on it that I could barely taste cause there wasn't much on it at all. Small sandwich as well. While I really liked the greens last time, this time they were not very good. They tasted like they were just bathed in salt. I knew my wife was gonna be disappointed with her burger as soon as I saw it. The burger patty was grey in color, which usually says to me that they are preformed, frozen patties. She was not very happy with it, as expected. She didn't even finish it. On top of the bad tasting patty, she also had almost no sauce on it, and barely any pimento cheese. She also liked the fried green tomatoes, but again, that's all she enjoyed about it. Our service was fine both times. The first time, Katherine herself came out of the kitchen at the end and spoke with is. She was very friendly. Prices are comparable and fair to other types of restaurants. I really wanted to like this place and have them succeed, they have so much potential. But after two disappointing experiences, I don't see us coming back.

So I came here the other day and I have mixed feelings about the restaurant. While the food was…read morevery delicious and the quality was there, I feel the portions were a bit small. Some of my friends from other countries tell me that's because I'm used to American portions being huge and this place was normal. That could be true, so I decided not to hold that against them. While I do love that fact that they are downtown and right in Armory Square, I feel the location is kind of small for a hopping downtown restaurant that they could end up being. I also came to an event here once and I was really disappointed as there was literally no room to enjoy the event and the music was just too loud to even be in here. We ended up leaving after 5 minutes and pretty much lost the 30 bucks we paid to get in. All that being said, not a bad place at all. They definitely have a solid future here in the city.

A quick review from a recent uber eats order…read more I was in town for a business trip and decided to order a few uber eats orders since my hotel's food is not the best. Looking through recommendations I came across Mr. Bigg's restaurant. I am always open to try different cuisines and one for sure was Caribbean/ Jamaican when I am back home. It was definitely surprising how fast it was made and delivered but then I also noticed it was located pretty close to my hotel. I ordered the Oxtail with beans & rice, plantains, steamed cabbage and an additional side of corn bread. First bite was a delicious. The oxtails are tender fall of the bone. Great depth of flavor and texture was delicate. Plantains are nice in flavor and color, steam cabbage is steamed nicely not watery, rice was a great compliment and the corn bread was moist and sweet. Overall I appreciated the food from Mr. Bigg's restaurant. I did not have a chance to stop in around the city for restaurant due to my schedule but this was a great presentation of what the restaurant offers. Caribbean cuisine is something I do not often get but when I do, I never am disappointed. I would recommend this and especially if you like a meal that is full of flavor, spices and possibly put you to sleep haha

i ate here a while ago and it honestly just wasn't very memorable. i keep seeing people on tiktok…read moredo places to eat in syracuse and i question if they have taste buds. anyway there's always better and you probably could make it yourself. will go back and update if anything changes

What's wrong with Sam's chicken land? Nothing!…read more Still the reining Philly cheesesteak king in Syracuse. I think what makes these so good is their attention to detail even down to the fresh bread they make sure you get. They ask you specifically what you want on it and they don't mess up. You get the steak, cheese melted, hot peppers, of course, peppers, but hold the onions. The french fries are always outstanding so that rounds out an excellent lunch. They even make sure that these are fried to perfection before they serve them.

Sam's is a small little shop that you should make sure to keep your eye out to spot. We decided to…read moreget some chicken & a few sides when we visited. I can confidently say the chicken was delicious & was certainly crispy when they made it. Unfortunately by the time we got home (maybe 15 minutes away) the chicken & fries had to be put in the air fryer to get their crisp back because of the condensation since the food was packaged so hot. I didn't care for the macaroni salad as it was more mayo than flavor. The chicken was well seasoned however & if we stop by again we would probably just order that.

Well I can say for syracuse being the city it is the food was not the best nor the worst. The mac…read moreand cheese lacked cheese or maybe try a cheese sauce. The whiting was ok not fresh or was it really whiting ? let's just say it's somthing to eat. But I did like the serving sizes. Yams are very sweet.

Excellent Soul Food! Chef's kiss! The pound cakes and crunch cups are amazing as well!read more

I've been to Erma's a few times now, and I can honestly say it's becoming one of my favorite spots…read morein downtown Syracuse. My first visit was for their Sunday Christian Brunch. The atmosphere was beautiful, the staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, and I had the haddock and grits with a strawberry lemon drop. Everything was delicious, and one thing I noticed right away is that they are definitely generous with the liquor. The strawberry lemon drop was so good! I went back during the week of Juneteenth for their happy hour (I'm not sure if it's every week or just for special occasions), and it did not disappoint. I ordered the Rasta pasta and the mango wings. The Rasta pasta was absolutely top tier! I had also tried their jerk chicken tacos before, and those are easily one of my favorite things on the menu so I had to get them again. Honestly, writing this review has me getting hungry all over again. The mango wings had a beautiful presentation, but they weren't my favorite. I was expecting a stronger mango flavor, and I would've liked the wings to be just a little harder with a more flavor. That said, it definitely wouldn't stop me from coming back because everything else I've had has been amazing. While I was there, they had a spin wheel where you could win discounted shots, and I ended up trying a ginger shot along with another cocktail. Once again, the drinks did not disappoint. The DJ kept the energy up, the vibe was great, and the service has been consistently excellent every time I've visited. I still haven't made it to one of their late-night events yet, but it's definitely on my list. Overall, Erma's is a solid 10/10. Great food, great drinks, beautiful atmosphere, and amazing service. If you're looking for a spot with good vibes and even better food, I'd definitely recommend checking them out.

I visited this Jamaican restaurant in upstate New York and was genuinely astounded by the food. I…read morenever imagined a Jamaican restaurant in this region could be so authentic, packed with flavor, and serve fall-off-the-bone oxtail. I tried the plantains, which were incredibly sweet and probably the best I've ever had. The oxtail was absolutely amazing! I highly recommend getting it; it was so delicious that I even brought a container to take back to Atlanta. The spiked juice they served was quite strong, but it was perfectly balanced with a kick of sweetness. We had the privilege of speaking with the owner, who started the restaurant a couple of years ago. She came to the United States from Jamaica with her family to establish a restaurant and has been working hard to expand its reach and attract more customers. I highly recommend giving this restaurant a try.

The food was spot on. Our family has been looking for some culture food that reminds me of my…read morefather's food and this was AMAZING! Next time we visit my son in Syacuse, we definitely be there. My son was excited to have this home away from home comfort food.

We recently worked with Kimone and Shane to cater our SUNY Cortland Alumni Reunion, and the…read moreexperience was excellent from start to finish. The process was simple and straightforward. Getting a quote was easy, and they were flexible as we updated our final guest count closer to the event date. Kimone was especially wonderful to work with. She communicated frequently throughout the planning process to make sure we had everything we needed and answered all of our questions along the way. I truly appreciated her patience, professionalism, and valuable input as we worked through menu options for approximately 95 guests. Most importantly, the food was amazing! Our attendees enjoyed the meal, and we received many positive comments about the quality and variety of the food. The catering delivery arrived about 30 minutes earlier than the scheduled time. While that was unexpected, it worked out well. Thank you, Kimone and Shane, for helping make our alumni reunion a success. We would gladly work with you again and recommend your catering services to others planning events.

My sister and her partner stopped for the night in Syracuse on their way to DC. Looking online for…read morea place to eat, they say this place. I had never been and they seemed set on seafood. So we decided to give My Crab Spot a try and we are so happy we did! The place is small, modest, decorated with paintings. I later found out the paintings were done by patrons to the restaurant, as they do in house paint nights! Love that! At the time, I think there was only one gentleman there. He came out to greet us. After a moment I think he realized that it was our first time there. He kindly explained the menu, took our orders, and went in the back to make them. We all ordered #1, which was crab legs, shrimp, an egg and corn. I got Cajun, the other two for Cajun garlic butter, and garlic butter. The food came out quickly and we opted to take it home. It was packed nicely. Double bagged with gloves, and napkins, all in a paper bag with handles. The meals were delicious! Everything was so flavorful and the corn was not over done! I usually don't care for corn in these kinds of meals but it was perfect. We enjoyed our food so much that we don't even bother trying each others! My sister and I complimented her partners choice of restaurant. Originally I was nervous to order spicier but next time I definitely will. I highly recommend folks give this place a try. I didn't get any photos of my food this time but next time I will update this review and post some!

Great spot for Seafood boils! I ordered party bag #3 with extra corn and potatoes with My Crab Spot…read morehouse sauce very spicy. Came to $42, good price, was a $6 savings from my usual spot for boils. It took me a bit to get through for order via phone, friendly service. It's on North Salina so no parking lot but there is street parking and was able to pull right up, order ready upon arrival. It's a to go situation, though there are some tables to eat in with some local art throughout the establishment. Loved the spicy Cajun sauce, packed some heat though I could go up on the spice! Definitely recommend for boils, will be back for more! They provide a set of gloves and a couple napkins, but I am addicted and just embrace the mess of a boil. Bring on the sauce and Cajun Heat! I would have never found this spot, saw post on FB Syracuse Eats.

My Husband and I were passing through and decided to stop in and try this spot! We ordered the…read morehangry chicken fries and it was DELICIOUS!! The customer service was great and the food was out fast!

We have been eyeing Hangry Chicken after seeing all the reviews and pictures. We finally made our…read moreout and it was great. We got a piss me off burger, and it was really good, the chicken was crispy and was still juicy. It had great flavor with the seasonings, and with the sauce which was spicy, but not too spicy. We also got 2 orders of hangry chicken fries with the medium Nashville seasoning.The fries are a lot of food and they come with a drink. We will have some good leftovers for later. The fries were crispy and seasoned well. The mixture of chicken tenders, pickles, Mac and cheese, and fries with the cluck sauce was awesome. I would like to go back and try the fries wuth the piss me off sauce and with the cluck sauce. The guy taking our orders was really nice, and the wait was not very long. We got our food at about 6:11 pm, ate in the car, and made a stop before getting home around 7:50 pm and our leftovers were still warm. We will be back for sure, the inside is small, but seems to be pretty clean and was not overly crowded. People were able to get in and get their food fairly quickly. The total was $42.09 for 2 fries that came with a 20 oz soda a piece, and the sandwich. Not bad for having leftovers that were still warm after all most 2 hours.