Visited with my daughter and we were blown away. The ceviche was perfectly balanced and super…read morefresh. The short rib was incredibly tender and the green sauce was rich and comforting. The arroz con pollo was one of those dishes you keep going back to even when you're full. And Tacu tacu! Yum! Desserts were tasty. Both beautifully plated and delicious. Easily the best dining experience I've had in Syracuse. 100% recommend.

Had reservations for Valentines Day. We were seated promptly as we arrived…read more We had the ceviche special and some sort of potato appetizer to start. I very much enjoyed the ceviche and it was a large portion. My partner seemed to like the potatoes. I had the whole fish special. An interesting experience to say the least. No idea what kind of fish it was but it tasted good. Do not order this trying to look cool or attractive. This is a messy experience- not for a first date. My partner had a vegetarian entree, something with mushrooms. She enjoyed it. We had a total of 3 mocktails as well. Bill was almost 200 dollars. Steep for no booze and one person ordering all vegetarian. Take that into consideration when planning a night out as th drink menu looked great so you're destined to go above that if you booze. The tables were very close to each other and the dining room was loud. Not romantic in my opinion. Food was pretty good, rest of the stuff could use a little work.

Great service and amazing vibes. They made me specific delicious drinks; tequila espresso martini…read more(10/10) and a spicy Paloma (to die for). Will be back! Thanks Al.

Stopped in for a quick drink. Got 3 of their Green Tea shots (sour mix and peach schnapps), and…read moreordered a Ramos Gin Fizz. Was aghast that they didn't have heavy cream, and instead they substituted Bailey's! Not only that, but they shook the cocktail for well over 3 minutes! What was served was average at best and undrinkable at worst. A shame.

I will start this as I always do by saying I do not give out five stars unless I am really blown…read moreaway. I came back a second time after coming just a few weeks ago. Once again, it was outstanding. Great service great atmosphere and the food is superb. The price is worth what you pay for. If you have not come here yet, I strongly suggest it. It may be expensive, but the experience is hard to beat. One of my top five favorite restaurants of all time.

I was genuinely looking forward to dining at what is often described as "the best restaurant in…read moreSyracuse," especially for their Valentine's Day prix fixe experience. Unfortunately, based on our visit, I do not anticipate returning. While I do have several culinary critiques--such as paying for the luxury wine pairing only to receive a bold Burgundy alongside Linguine and Clams, or seeing "Caviar" listed on the menu and discovering it was actually Bowfin roe--these are ultimately matters of taste and expectation. Likewise, the eclectic menu progression, shifting from Korean/Asian-inspired starters to Eastern European notes and then unexpectedly into Italian influences, was unusual but clearly stated ahead of time. SEE UPDATED REVIEW FOLLOWING THIS SECTION SPECIFICALLY RELATING TO "SERVICE FEE". What was not clearly stated--and what I believe crosses into dishonest practice--was the service fee. The menu advertised on Instagram included fine print noting a 3% service fee. That seemed reasonable. However, the check we received instead included a 22% service fee, which is a significant and unexplained deviation. This is not a simple oversight. The terms presented online at the time of reservation did not match the terms presented at the restaurant. (UPDATED REVIEW: Following my review, one of the owners of Noble Cellar reached out to discuss my experience. We had an in‑depth, thoughtful conversation about the complexities of New York State restaurant laws, particularly those governing how front‑of‑house staff may be tipped and how back‑of‑house employees may be compensated. While we were in agreement that the language surrounding the service fee was confusing, our discussion gave me a clearer understanding of the intent. I now feel far less certain that the discrepancy was malicious or deliberately deceptive. That said, it should have been made much clearer to diners that the service fee included what is traditionally understood as gratuity. Transparency in this area is crucial for maintaining guest trust, and clearer communication would have prevented the confusion I--and likely others--experienced. I want to commend the owner for reaching out directly and taking the time to address each of my concerns. His willingness to engage, listen, and provide context demonstrated genuine integrity. We also discussed my other critiques in depth, and it was evident that he was sincerely interested in my perspective and committed to further elevating the experience they aim to provide. I was invited back to experience a standard service, and I appreciate the opportunity. I look forward to giving Noble Cellar another chance and hope to update this review again following a future visit.) Our total bill was $599, including a $100 "service fee." I still chose to leave a $100 tip, as our server was attentive and should not be held responsible for management's decisions. In the end, we spent $700 for two people--paired with the added disappointment of feeling misled. I have photo documentation of both menus, and the discrepancy is unmistakable. I will be reaching out directly to ownership and management regarding this issue. Until then, I feel compelled to leave a 1-star review, as this level of inconsistency and lack of transparency is unacceptable. Without the inflated and undisclosed fee, my rating would have been closer to 3 stars, based on the food and overall experience.

I had a nice evening at Eden. Parking wasn't bad. Reservations are a must as it is rather small…read moreinside. We were promptly seated and ordered glasses of wine while perusing the menu, which is on the smaller side. That usually means everything on it is rather good, so we had high expectations. We started with the Mushroom Toast, Ember Roasted Carrots, and Beef Tartar. I'll start with the bad and finish with the good. The Ember Roasted Carrots were a complete miss. They were trying to go for a middle-eastern flavor, with each ingredient contrasting, while the carrot served as the centerpiece to flavor. I found this to be INCREDIBLY bland. The carrots were not salted enough during roasting and lacked enough char. They dish also needed more labneh than it was served with. It literally just tasted like carrots and yoghurt. Honestly, if I could only give one critique it would be to have used more salt, but this dish was a real disappointment. The Beef Tartar suffered from a similar issue. It was bland. Not enough salt was used. It unfortunately tastes like flat beef. I overheard the bartender talking to another couple and he told them they really want to highlight the ingredients. The idea is purity or something like that. And that's well and good, but you still need to season beef tartar. I don't think this is necessarily a poor execution of the dish(es) rather this is more in line with the philosophy of the kitchen, and that's fine. It's just not for me. And now for the good. The Mushroom Toast was great. It had all the things I had wanted. Fat, salt, umami, freshness. This was a good dish and I would get this again. As for the entrees, my husband and I ordered the Cappelletti and the NY Strip. The Cappelleti was the strongest dish of the night. The flavors were layered and intentional. This was a great dish and I1000% would get it again. My husband ordered the NY Strip along with bone marrow. It was cooked to perfection. Cooking it over a wood fire gave it a great char and almost Smokey flavor. It was very flavorful. The chimichurri made the steak feel lighter than it actually was. My husband loved it and I loved having a bite or two of everything together. This was a complete dish and I'd highly recommend it. The only knock I could give it is the bone marrow. There was a lack of volume in it which is probably due to being cooked over a wood fire. Parts of the bones were also over roasted. I'd skip this the next time and get the foie gras pate. Lastly, for desert we were disappointed that we could not try the rice pudding as they were out of it (we will try it the next time if available). We did however order the Flourless Chocolate Torte to share. It was made perfectly. It was rich and decadent but remained light. It was almost like a mousse, but not quite. We loved it. Overall, the had a great time. There were several highlights and I think they make up for the a couple of the earlier dishes. I'd like to see what else they have to offer when they change their menu.

I was brought to Eden for an upscale dinner for my Birthday. My friend, trying to impress me, got…read moreus reservations. We arrived a little early due to the lack of parking in downtown Syracuse in that area, and because it was very windy and cold that day, so we didn't want to have to walk a long way if we didn't have to. What luck- we found a good parking spot. Eden is tucked away and you really have no idea it's there in a row of restaurants/bars unless you know it's there. Once inside, it's a small restaurant seemingly perfect for an intimate and romantic dinner. Dry aged beef is on display when you walk in, showing off their talent and skill here at Eden. The wood fire they use to cook everything is on full display at the back of the restaurant. The wine selection along the back of the bar is extensive. They use ipads as their menu and there is an interactive feature that helps you choose what kind of wine you may like! However, because we were about 20 minutes early, we were seated at the bar for a drink while we waited for our table. We were told the owners wanted a favor, so their friends came and were using our table. 40 minutes passed and we were finally seated at our table. And then forgotten about for another 25 minutes. We were not given a menu, but we had luckily seen one online and at the bar briefly before it was taken away for another table that got seated. We had to ask that table for the menu back so we could look at the wine selection while we waited. When the waiter, who had seated us at the bar and was well aware of our existence (same person in every interaction for us thus far), finally came over asking if we knew what we wanted, we answered quickly so that we wouldn't be forgotten about again. We decided to share some apps, and share a dry aged ribeye. Mind you, this is not on the menu. Nor was a price mentioned to us at any point during this ... let's say, encounter. We were asked if we wanted the 25 or 29 oz steak. We were sharing it, so we said 29. What do we know? Later, the appetizers/small plates came out. The beef tartare was subpar, barely seasoned and very dry. The best bite was the pickled vegetable on the plate however it completely overpowered the flavor of anything you ate with it if you were attempting to eat it with the tartare. The lentil small plate with fried haloumi was the start of the small plates. My friend hadn't had haloumi, and she loved that part! The dish was a bit plain though, it really needed some acid so it was made a better bite if you took some of the pickled veg from the tartare plate with it. The braised short rib was... meh. Literally my favorite thing of all time, braised short rib- I thought it would be a sure winner! Unfortunately I was sorely mistaken here. The polenta/grits (I can't remember which it was) was undercooked and lumpy, and there were so many fried shallots that it hid the beef! It was, however, a perfectly cooked medium egg (which I can never find anywhere I go for breakfast...) and that seemed odd like it needed to be a runny egg. We were then given a nice light salad as a pallet cleanser as we waited for our main dish. Then comes the steak. Turns out we don't like bone marrow. That isn't their fault. It was roasted well, but it was a texture thing for us, lol! The steak was beautiful on the outside, but it needed some salt since it came pre-sliced, it really needed some Maldon salt or something. We asked for medium rare and it was medium and medium well towards the end pieces. The smashed potatoes underneath were delicious, though. The cookie for dessert with the panna cotta and blueberry topping was my favorite part of the whole meal. The lemony buttermilk cookie against the blueberry sweetness and the acidic panna cotta- it was delightful. Here are the memorable negatives of my experience: - because we were never told the price of the steak, we were literally shell-shocked to see the bill say that the Ribeye was $108. - besides being seated and then forgotten about, we were seated on the bottom level just under another large table of about 13 people. These people were watching the Buffalo Bills playoff game on their phones (I think?) and were being EXTREMELY LOUD at what I believe is supposed to be an intimate restaurant. I hate to say that I wouldn't recommend this restaurant. I have heard so many good things. But.. just no. Neither myself nor my friend would ever return. And while the restaurant did comp the small plates for us as a 'sorry', I don't think they really understood just how many things went wrong despite our attempts to communicate them.

I had the pleasure of returning to Touché for a second visit on Saturday evening, and once again,…read morethe experience was exceptional. It's not uncommon for a new restaurant to impress the first time, only to fall short on subsequent visits. Touché, however, proves to be a welcome exception. Their continued commitment to quality, creativity, and classic French influences remains evident in every aspect of the dining experience. Several days before our reservation, I received a courteous text from the charming and attentive hostess, Bridgette, requesting details about the members of my dining party, including names and dietary restrictions. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by name and seated at a table adorned with a personalized name card--an unnecessary but thoughtful and memorable gesture that set the tone for the evening. I selected the very reasonably priced three‑course prix fixe menu ($70), while the rest of my party opted for the Steak Frites. My starter, a colossal scallop, was beautifully seasoned and perfectly cooked. While the nettle purée could have used a touch more vibrancy, it still complemented the bright yuzu dressing well. The main course--a perfectly cooked half duck breast accompanied by roasted celeriac purée and a currant‑cassis jus--was a standout. The deep berry notes paired beautifully with the richly rendered duck fat. Although I typically gravitate toward savory dishes, the dessert was an impressive finale: a Sablé Breton with blood orange cream, thyme Chantilly, thyme jam, and a rocher of coffee ice cream. The combination of sweet, salty, and herbaceous elements was wonderfully balanced and thoroughly enjoyable. I was fortunate enough to try a few bites of the Steak Frites, which did not disappoint--nor did it for the other members of my party. Our meals were complemented by excellent cocktails from the well‑stocked bar. The bartender was knowledgeable, skilled, and engaging. The open‑concept kitchen is also a delight to observe, and I look forward to reserving a seat at the chef's table on my next visit. One of the ongoing challenges in the Syracuse dining scene, in my opinion, is a general lack of restraint. Touché distinguishes itself with its thoughtful menu design, technical precision, and appropriate portion sizes. We left feeling thoroughly attended to and perfectly satiated. I sincerely hope Touché continues its pursuit of excellence both in the kitchen and in the dining room. Syracuse needs restaurants of this caliber, and I eagerly anticipate their spring and summer menus.

Chef's tasting menu for our anniversary. We got a taste of spring with some lamb & a few seafood…read moredishes, Brie cheese ice cream & even the garnishes were delish. They included the cutest personal touches and confirmed these with me prior to arrival. We watched them craft each dish & others, such as a very fancy looking smash burger & fries. The courses definitely got better as we went on, flavor & presentation wise. Definitely want to come back for another season, though I believe they change up the menu every 2 weeks - month!

Bad business plan, false advertising and drowning in basically debt due to "punishing'" the ones…read morebuying drinks and socializing, but putting entertainment first in a bar setting. It is not this way at other bars as the entertainment is an afterthought for people to listen to as they socialize and drink spending money. They want the money but cater to ones not spending it and then try to bleed the ones coming for the entertainment by forcing minimums even on those that bought a ticket and never showed up. RESPONSE to Owner: Then it is best to change all your Misguiding information on your website and Facebook pages. How doe one "SOCIALIZE" with people and "LOUNGE" around doing so as in your own descriptions on your website and Social Media? How can you charge people that don't show on a ticket for a table set-up on your minimum purchase, when those that did attend went way beyond the minimum purchase on those that attended INCLUDING the ticket that was a NO SHOW? Price Gouging or a Venue that is desperate for money trying to fleece those that "attend" and don't attend for your Shows? Where does it state that policy as to NO-SHOWS and what makes it Legal? You may feel certain ways about your Venue, but it doesn't pay the bills as you have basically asked to nickel and dime members yet won't do anything to improve your bottom line or approach? Hobbys are great but having a "Alligator" as a hobby will eat you out of house and home.

Another Shakedown Sunday at the 443. Stellar music as always. The place is always sold out, so the…read moreroom is packed, but in spite of that, it feels more like a family reunion than a concert. Great cocktails. I wish they had sandwiches or soups. I always end up coming home and needing to eat dinner. On a sad note, I was told by the owner that their lease will not be renewed, so they are having to move into a new location. :(

Anyela's vineyard is located about 10 minutes from downtown Skaneateles. It is located on a…read morebeautiful property and offers some gorgeous views. I'm not sure if customers are able to walk the vineyards because it was raining when we got there. We stopped in for wine tastings - $20 for the preset menus and $25 for selecting your own wines. The tasting includes 4 wines and I thought the pours were generous. We also ordered a pepperoni pizza with hot honey to share and it was delicious. The service at the vineyard is a little strange because we sat in the main room upon entry but were told to go pick up our pizza in a different room. Thankfully they weren't very busy and the sweet lady that poured our wine ended up bringing the pizza over to us. They have 3 or 4 different rooms you can sit in. We chose the main room with both low top and high tops, one room had a fireplace to snuggle up next to in cooler months, and then the outdoor seating where they had live music allowed you to feel the breeze and see some views. The wine was good - our favorite of the day being the Cayuga White so we purchased a bottle to share which is a much better deal than buying by the $12 glass. This is a great place to hangout with friends or go on a date. It wasn't too busy on a Saturday afternoon but steady and very enjoyable. We played cards while we sat and drank and it was a wonderful time.

This was a wine dinner pairing held by the Sherwood Inn at Anyela's. The Sherwood Inn will…read moreoccasionally hold these pairing events but at different locations. I love that idea as it allows exposure to a variety of locations. The food was tasty and seasonal incorporating produce from leeks to beets. Also fruits from apples to cranberries. The wine selections were paired well with the food and throughly introduced. Very delicious!

The most incredible (and only) speakeasy in the Finger Lakes…read more After hours of driving, we knew we needed a cool spot to go to at night for some delicious wine. Of course, the Finger Lakes are KNOWN for wine so we're just thinking we're making reservations for a wine bar (with "speakeasy" vibes). Which that would've been totally cool with us. After continuous back and forth, changing our reservations 50 million times, adding and taking people out, we finally made it to Vinifera on a Friday night and were super apologetic since we had to make yet another change. The staff was absolutely incredible and accommodating, they made sure our party of 10 would be in the same room/table. The only "downfall" was that we'd have to share the room with another small party. Which was absolutely not a problem and we ended up being BFF'S with them by the end of the night. We met the owner Jim - the most incredible human - and he took us down to the speakeasy (which passes right through a super secretive door in the back of the main room upstairs). Side note - the main room upstairs is a vibe on it's own btw and we would've been absolutely fine and happy there. It's an actual wine store and you can purchase all kind of local wines. Be sure to ask and get all the recommendations you want. Not only did we get to enjoy an incredible time but we got a super cool VIP experience and learned the story and so much history about this place, the concept, the origin and what sparked the idea of creating it. That itself, was a treat. On to the actual speakeasy experience. When you go downstairs (through that fun super cool super secretive door) - you're instantly transported to another era, another time. It's dark, it's velvety, chandeliers, spiderwebs (the aesthetic kind, idk if there were actually any but it fit the vibe in my head), Leonardo Da Vinci, Mona Lisa, candles, curtains. There are two super cool rooms, one to the right (which is where our large party sat at) and one to the left - totally recommended for smaller groups, it's cozy, it's chill, you can interact and share with other guests too. Just by this, I'm wowed. As if this wasn't enough, the drinks were absolutely incredible. I ended up ordering some kind of a smoked drink and they happily substituted the regular old fashioned for mezcal. What a dream. Everyone was happy with their drink orders, some ordered some off the menu things and they happily made them - even though they technically only serve what's on the menu. Wine flights are also available if you're in the wine vibe. Bottom line: we loved this place SO much, we came back 2 night's later for our last night. We sat in the other room and absolutely loved and enjoyed it. I had a lavender drink and it was delish. This place is a GEM and you should absolutely check it out and support it if you're in the area. If you're not, well now you have a place I know you'll love to go to!

Vinifera Flagship is so charming! Down a European-esque street in Geneva NY, duck in for delicious…read morecocktails expertly crafted and local and international wines. We have enjoyed the speakeasy several times and are treated to a cool, cozy vibe by proprietor Jim Cecere! His service is 5 stars!!! Definitely a must visit if in the Finger Lakes!

I was going out to dinner before heading to hear friends at Open Mic night. The place I started at…read morehad at least a 45 min wait. So we decided to go somewhere else, but where? As we turned the corner we saw a sign in front of A.T. Walley's for $5 burger and chips or 2 Hoffman Hots with chips. Well, the price was right! The guy was outside on the sidewalk grilling them and it smelled really good. So even though I was in the mood for wings, we decided to give the food here a try. We went in and got a table with no problem. Waitress said that along with the regular Wednesday night specials they also had $4 Beef on Weck for $4. We were really hungry so we ordered 2 Beef on Weck sandwiches and the hot dog special. It was amazing! The beef and au jus was fabulous! They each came with kettle chips and pickles. Yum!!!! And who does not love a Hoffman Hot, right?! Then we saw that they had 11 menu items for just $5 on Thursday nights from 4-10 pm. We had to be downtown again the next night so we went back! I got the grilled chicken Caesar Salad and he got the NYS Fair beef and Lamb Gyro. Once again, full portions for only $5! What a find!! We had always just gone there for drinks and music prior to this. They have a great bar selection and have $3 drinks on Monday nights....including their signature cocktails! It is a great place to go, have a drink, hang out with friends, listen to music on occasion and now I will be stopping in to check out more on their menu as well!

Great whiskey, good cigars and friendly service! This place is great, truly stands out in this…read morecity. After hanging out and enjoying some drinks and cigars, we all agreed that a place like this is strangely classy for its location. A diamond in the rough, don't miss out!

Real deal. Asked the host I'm staying with where the best Buffalo wings are, she recommended this…read moreplace, and it was great! Meaty wings. Good beer on tap. Proper dive bar feel. Don't walk there like I did...the 1.8 mile walk from Syracuse campus is...suspect, but I really love this place, and a lyft ride is around $10. When I tell locals I went, they nod in agreement as if I passed some 'locals only' test. I get the feeling everyone knows about this place, and they all want to keep it their secret, a secret we out-of-towners should never know. I got 6 Buffalo wings, and 6 Frankenstein wings and was VERY happy. If anyone knows what brand bleu cheese dressing they use, please let me know. I bet they make it in house, it's incredibly creamy and delicious.

Classic dive bar. Very friendly bartender. Best wings in Syracuse. Had an order of the the…read moreFrankenstein and an order of the hot wings. It was nice contrasting the two different flavors. The wings are crispy which I like. Next time will try the pierogies