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    On The Fly Diner

    4.8 (47 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    On The Fly Diner Photos

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    ON THE FLY DINER ATMOSPHERE

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    Shrimp Po Boy and Collard Greens
    Ashley G.

    If you thought finding good Cajun food in upstate was impossible, then you haven't tried On The Fly. The atmosphere is traditional diner with a bayou flair, and the staff is so friendly, communicative, and kind. The portions are generous, and it's clear everything is made fresh as it states on the menu. Highly recommend checking this place out!

    Smash burger and cajun fries
    Jessica G.

    Great friendly service. Several tables inside with comfy chairs and nice table cloths with a really stellar mural on the wall. The food is chef's kiss! Especially with their new collaboration with Get Smashed.

    French toast
    Kaz S.

    Delicious food! We loved our orders of gumbo and French toast. They also gave us some bread for the table, an orange juice and a coffee. Servers switched out and seemed to have some miscommunication on our gumbo and we were given a smaller portion and add shrimp, but were given smaller portion with no shrimp and charged for the larger portion (shrimp wasn't on bill). The gumbo was delicious but servers didn't come and check with us or were to be found to ask about the shrimp, so we asked the server and she just said "I never saw any seafood on the order ticket" so we just dropped it and moved on. Overall good experience just I think need some more care put into the service side. We love the slogan of "be nice or leave" and they have an awesome mural on the wall, the inside is otherwise not over the top decor but simple and clean.

    Biscuits and Gravy (8/10) & Braised Chicken Special (7/10); off to the side is a grit cake
    Cassie C.

    A diner I'd been looking forward to trying ever since they opened and they sure lived up to my expectations. Not your typical diner as they serve southern style food packed with flavor. From the entrees we ordered I'd say you can't go wrong with either. They've got hearty dishes on their menu for breakfast & lunch; both of which are offered all day. The staff is incredibly friendly and accommodating, regularly re-filling water glasses and coffee cups and sharing their menu recommendations. The space itself was clean, the restroom was tidy, and there was ample parking on a Sunday morning. We'll be back for the bread pudding that sounded absolutely delicious!

    Chicken sandwich with hushpuppies
    Brynn K.

    Fantastic chicken sandwich, Fluffy hush puppies, delightful and friendly service. A good place with cozy small town vibes in the city.

    Gumbo
    Ted K.

    Cute place. The owners are the nicest people. Had the gumbo which was very good. They had three types of hot sauce that you could add to it. Would be fun to go there during Mardi Gras

    Giant French Toasr
    Helene W.

    Great food, friendly atmosphere! I had the French toast... should have ordered a single (pictures to follow) yummy and now I have enough for tomorrow ! My friends had the Shrimp Po Boy and A Traditional Breakfast. Every dis that went by looked amazing. Great presentation and plenty of food! Definitely someplace I will return to!!'

    Menu
    Ryan M.

    Service is great, ambience is perfect for a nice breakfast. They source all their ingredients locally farm to table with fresh eggs. We had the eggs Benedict and country fried steak special. Steaks had NO fat or gristle on it, was seasoned and breaded perfectly. You can tell this family owned business takes pride in their food and show that with their flavor and plating. Highly recommend!!!

    Gumbo

    I love Cajun food; the music, too. I'm always hoping a good Cajun restaurant would show up here in the Syracuse area. I haven't had much luck these last few years. Fortunately, I finally have an awesome diner specializing in New Orleans/Cajun food a 20 minute drive from my home in Solvay to the North Side to On The Fly Diner. Every time I do have the chance to try Cajun I always go for the Gumbo first. If the Gumbo is good, everything will be good. Well. the Gumbo is awesome; absolutely delicious. So are the biscuits. I order the Gumbo 2 out of every 3 visits, but I have also enjoyed their breakfast special (omg...the bacon!) and a Shrimp Po' Boy. I have yet to try the giant Fried Chicken Sandwich or the Shrimp & Grits' and whatever Chef Gray comes up with.

    Shrimp Po Boy and Cajun Fries
    Peyton M.

    The place is small but has soul. Everyone on the staff was friendly. But most importantly, the shrimp Poboy that I had was absolutely delicious and and it completely satiated that craving I've been having since the last time I left Louisiana. I highly suggest y'all try this place out.

    Crawfish mac and cheese
    Cassandra K.

    A really cute place! Everyone was so nice and friendly. You know youre in for a treat when the other customers talk to you about what is best, and have a friendly attitude to everyone working. The crawfish mac and cheese was really tasty.

    Eggs Benedict
    Tonjia M.

    We went to On the Fly last weekend for the first time and had one of the best breakfasts we have had out in a restaurant! I cannot even pin point our favorite parts of our meal because everything was absolutely perfect (although I will say the side potatoes were SO GOOD)!! Nothing was over salted or oily like many places. I would also like to point out that all the staff are so friendly and welcoming! The retro mural is an awesome throwback, too! We look forward to returning and enjoying more meals together!

    Eggs Benedict. The chef adds lemon zest - nice touch.
    S W.

    Great spot! Wife and I have been to quite a few restaurants and this is one of the best breakfasts we have ever had. The Chef is clearly well-trained. Everything is made in-house. We had the eggs Benedict and biscuits and gravy. Amount of food is responsible and priced very fairly. Service was friendly and attentive. Give this place a chance - you will go back for more.

    Shrimp po boy and hush puppies.

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    19 days ago

    Great food. Lovely people. Highly recommend if you are looking for great food and a relaxed atmosphere

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    7 months ago

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    8 months ago

    We got to meet the owners when we went and heard their story. Lovely people and the breakfast food tasted amazing!

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    10 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Amazing, beautifully plated and well priced food out of place in a pretty run down location!

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    6 months ago

    Spectacular eats the gumbo is to die for. Tracy the owner gives amazing service and provides an amazing atmosphere. Hidden gem.

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    8 months ago

    such a cute spot, food was delicious and staff was lovely. will definitely go back!! got the omelet of the day and ate everything

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food was delicious, owners were so kind and so proud of their restaurant. Fried chicken was amazing!Can't wait to go back.

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    Ask the Community - On The Fly Diner

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    Mother's Cupboard - Mexican Omelet

    Mother's Cupboard

    4.5(458 reviews)
    1.5 mi
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    This place is the epitome of a hole in the wild diner. But with this, you get some phenomenal…read moreservice and food. Their menu says world, famous, and I believe it. I came in, sat at the bar. Everyone there was super friendly and very helpful. I enjoyed watching the cooks cook on the griddle. The omelettes and pancakes were absolutely huge! I ordered the SOS with Home fries. It was super tasty. This is a super great place to go get some l breakfast or lunch in Syracuse.

    Mother's Cupboard is another staple I always have to visit when I come back to Syracuse. It reminds…read moreme so much of a homemade breakfast. They cook the food right in front of you on the griddle behind the counter, which adds to that comforting, family style feel. It truly feels like a neighborhood spot. You see a lot of the same faces every time you come in, the service is always quick, and the food comes out fast, hot, and consistently good. I have never had a bad experience here. I love the loaded potato omelette and I always try different French toast or pancakes with whatever toppings they have available. They usually have specials going on and I really enjoy switching it up each time. Just a heads up that this is a cash only place, so make sure you bring cash with you. They do not have an ATM inside, but there is a bank around the corner if you need to take money out. I absolutely adore this place and it is definitely one of my top breakfast spots every time I come back to town.

    Photos
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    Counter top view

    Mother's Cupboard - Whole fritttata

    Whole fritttata

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    Redwood Diner - Breakfast special number one

    Redwood Diner

    4.4(50 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $

    My husband and I were in Syracuse for "Wicked" and we stayed overnight. We come to Syracuse quite a…read morebit and, as of about 40 minutes ago, we hadn't found a favorite breakfast place. When my husband read a ridiculous one star review, we knew we had to stop in. We both agree, we have now found our favorite breakfast place! First, the food....I ordered the #2 breakfast (2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 sausage and 2 bacon. The pancakes would be more than a meal by themselves. Thank goodness my husband wanted one of them. They were huge and fluffy and delicious! I ordered my eggs scrambled and they too were light, fluffy and cooked for the perfect amount of time. The bacon was delicious and the sausage was nicely browned and tasty. My husband ordered hash, eggs and toast. I tried a bite of his hash and WOW! We both think it had to be made in house. Second, the atmosphere....this is a classic, old school diner. We sat at the counter and enjoyed watching the masterful cooking on the flat top. Lastly, the staff was super friendly and attentive. Even though this was our first visit, the friendliness of our server made us feel like regulars. We can't wait to go back and next time I'm definitely going to try the brioche French toast I spied cooking on our way out!

    I am leaving one star for the wonderful waitress who somehow managed to serve everyone in the…read moreentire restaurant single-handedly and with a smile. Unfortunately, I found that despite some good reviews, this place is subpar. I paid $35 for two breakfasts. I was served a dish with two eggs, two thin slices of toast, I don't know how they slice the toast that thin, a huge plate of greasy home fries, and bacon that was so greasy it was inedible. The floors were filthy and I can't imagine they have been washed in months. This is a small space and tables are crammed everywhere making it difficult for the waitress to move around. My husband said the men's room was simply disgusting. The flies on the window next to us eagerly looked at our plates, waiting to pounce at the first opportunity. Not a positive experience.

    Photos
    Redwood Diner - The Redwood Diner

    The Redwood Diner

    Redwood Diner - Breakfast

    Breakfast

    Redwood Diner

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    Rise N Shine Diner - Hot chocolate

    Rise N Shine Diner

    3.8(361 reviews)
    2.7 mi
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    Be ready to take food home with you and get at least 2 more meals out of it!!! Beautiful…read morepresentation (mine was served in a tin can and flipped over onto my plate. I had the pierogis/ eggs/bacon special served in a tin can) It was enough for 2 and was delicious! I also had the French toast latte served with a FT stick right on top. Decadent ! Service was speedy, efficient and friendly. If you go plan on going early or putting yourself on the wait list much before you head out the door! It's def worth the wait!!

    Our visit to Rise & Shine Diner was, unfortunately, one of the worst dining experiences we've had…read morein a long time. Even though the restaurant only had two large parties and wasn't particularly busy, we still waited 35 minutes to be seated. That alone didn't make sense, but things only went downhill from there. It was my daughter's birthday, and we were hoping for a fun brunch. Our server started off friendly, but that changed quickly. We ordered our drinks and food at the same time--a chai tea for me, a specialty alcoholic milkshake for my daughter, and no drink for her boyfriend, plus three entrées and a poutine. The drinks took 50 minutes to arrive. The food took over an hour and a half. During all this, the server seemed to avoid our table entirely. When my daughter's boyfriend finally managed to get her attention--very politely, even mentioning that he himself is a server--he simply asked if she had an estimate on our food. She stood there with her hand on her hip and told us the kitchen was backed up, with "three orders ahead of yours," as if that explained everything. We then asked if the poutine, our appetizer, was at least ready. She said they had to make fresh potatoes for it but that she would "rush it." Eventually, she came back with the poutine, plopped it down on the table, and walked away without a single word. No "here you go," no "do you need anything," and--most importantly--no plates. I ended up getting up and asking the hostess for plates so we could actually eat the appetizer. For a place that markets itself as a "fancy diner" with "Instagram-worthy" dishes, the service and execution were nowhere near acceptable. If you're going to lean into trendy presentation and premium pricing, you need the staff to support it. Hire more people. Train them. Do something--because this was unacceptable from start to finish. We won't be returning, and I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone looking for a smooth, enjoyable dining experience. **EDIT** I would like to include the fact of the over priced, over salted, food items don't seem to cover the cost to upgrade your cracked booths so that people's bums are hurt from sitting on them. Needs to be updated and correct staffing issues so that food will be "adequate" for the price. Go anywhere on Westcott than here.

    Photos
    Rise N Shine Diner
    Rise N Shine Diner - Benny flight with the pastrami smoke salmon, smoked brisket, and Westcott California.

    Benny flight with the pastrami smoke salmon, smoked brisket, and Westcott California.

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    Oh My Darling - Salmon Benedict

    Oh My Darling

    3.8(399 reviews)
    2.8 mi
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    This is one of our go to places whenever I visit my daughter in Syracuse... never disappoints!…read moreThe menu has unique plays on some standards... always delicious and the cocktails are inspired & interesting... you'll probably need a rezzy ENJOY!

    I stopped by with a group of 6 on a Friday afternoon. When me and my friend stopped by there was no…read moreone at front so we stood around awkwardly for a bit before someone came over to bring us to our table. Walking through the restaurant was nice as the space was very large and the decor indoor was cozy and whimsical. Our server was nice throughout the meal. However, I did get a water glass that had marks on it that looked like someone just drank out of it and a crumb on the rim. I asked them if they could get me a clean cup and they ended up bringing the same one as the same mark and crumb were still there. For food, our table ordered a few items to share. We got: -CAULIFLOWER WINGS: The chutney/salsa on top of the fried cauliflower was nice and gave the item a little sour kick. However, the cauliflower itself was not cooked fully so not as soft as I wanted it to be. -SYRACUSE POUTINE: The appearance of the poutine was not the best. However, the gravy it came with was very flavorful and tasty. The potatoes themselves were not fried and were in wedge form but went well with the gravy. The small globs of melted cheese on top were a nice complement. -CAJUN SLIDERS: The slider compliments/sauce went well together but the sliders themselves had grill marks on it which gave a bitter bite to those parts of the slider. Additionally, the fried shrimp inside of the slider still had the tail on and so it was a bit of a surprise to bite into a full tail while eating a slider. All in all, a cute spot to see people but food had some hit or miss components.

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    Oh My Darling - Inside.

    Inside.

    Oh My Darling - Rosemary Hot Honey Dipped Crispy Chicken Full Housemade Mac Cheese Honey Dijon Roasted Brussel Sprouts - GF DF

    Rosemary Hot Honey Dipped Crispy Chicken Full Housemade Mac Cheese Honey Dijon Roasted Brussel Sprouts - GF DF

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    The Gem Diner - 2 Eggs, Homemade toast, home fries

    The Gem Diner

    3.8(171 reviews)
    3.2 mi
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    We always stop in on our way through Syracuse. Always a solid meal and a core group of staff…read moreworking. Anthony took great care of us today and checked in without being intrusive. And he likes to crack some jokes once in a while too! Building has plenty of parking, is accessible (ramp up to get in), has plenty of booths or tables for groups of all sizes. Of course there is a counter too (it is a diner!) They recently changed the Challenger Field mural to one supporting a local non-profit for cancer, the Baldwin Fund. I love the investment in local community! We will be back.

    Lots of parking spaces that fill up fast in the weekend: we arrived at 9am on a 9 degree Saturday…read moreand grabbed one of only two open spots. Entering we received a welcoming blast of warm air in the breezeway. Immediately greeted and quickly seated in a comfortable booth we ordered tall glass of OJ each and perused the menu of many breakfast, lunch, dinner, and side options. My eggs over easy jiggled perfectly on the plate with no run to the whites, English muffin nice toast and buttery as ordered, my favorite meat choice Canadian bacon with a quick flattop heat and char was just what I wanted. My co-diner had the Heavyweight with French Toast, 2 eggs over easy, bacon, home fries, and sourdough toast and did well since I helped by eating half the French toast which had good flavor and lightly dusted with confectioners sugar. Eggs cooked same as mine, bacon good crisp and toast he said was nice crisp outside soft middle. Home fries also had good crisp with soft potato surrounding and he said well seasoned where most places use none. Warm and cosy people waiting by the time we left. Hot spot with eggs spot on! We will return.

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    The Gem Diner - Inside of Gem Diner

    Inside of Gem Diner

    The Gem Diner - Two 2 Eggs, Choice of Meat, Home Fries and Toast over medium with rye toast

    Two 2 Eggs, Choice of Meat, Home Fries and Toast over medium with rye toast

    The Gem Diner - The interior was very retro, cool antiques, local memorabilia and support for local projects (Challenger Baseball)

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    The interior was very retro, cool antiques, local memorabilia and support for local projects (Challenger Baseball)

    On The Fly Diner - cajun - Updated May 2026

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