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    Riley's

    4.2 (126 reviews)
    ModerateBars, American
    Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Riley's Photos

    Business Info

    RILEY'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Riley's

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    Reviews With Photos

    Piano player
    Kaz S.

    I could talk about Riley's for days! We started coming here shortly after moving nearby and we have never had a bad meal. Great quality and variety of food. A pianist playing music if you're there the right time of night, and as a person who says they "don't usually get dessert or like sweet stuff", I often break that rule, as their desserts are amazing. I love that I can have a "hometown spot" that is reliable, while also feeling like they mix up the food and options to make things interesting and slightly elevated considered the "chill" environment.

    Turkey dinner
    Joanne R.

    It's been awhile since I've eaten here and I always liked it so I was anxious to go again. They don't take reservations for parties under 5 but the 2 of us got there at 4:30 and were promptly seated. The kitchen opens at 5:00 so we ordered a drink (old fashioned for me, wine for my friend) and just before 5:00 waitress came over and took our order. The menu is fun to read and all hand written. I choose the turkey dinner and my friend the chicken breast. Mine was delicious and she loved hers. The turkey breast was so moist with dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberries, and grilled vegetables. For desert I got the apple blueberry pie and my friend the carrot cake. The pie was the star of the show!!! Great crust and cooked to perfection. It was a great dinner and I will be back. The inside is small but cozy and the service is excellent!!

    Pork dinner
    Blair F.

    Mid-week dinner, and Riley's was hopping at 6:15pm. We had thought to sit at the bar, but all the seats were taken. Instead we were seated in the dining room in a booth built back in 1933. Not so comfortable, but it had a great atmosphere. Most of the tables were full, and there were all ages there (no kids though). We had a few Guinness/Harp pints with our fresh made bread and butter pats. When our server returned, we ordered the roast pork dinner and the fish fry with an upgrade to fried zucchini instead of fries. Our orders came out in about 15 minutes, and all told, our entire time there was only 75 minutes. We had enough to take home for leftovers. A great neighborhood bar with upscale food. Don't be too shocked by the prices, the food is exceptional.

    bison balls
    Jessica G.

    Great service and a nice cozy ambiance. Everything is homemade and the menu changes daily with some staples sticking around. I was able to visit and try the bison balls which was a new experience for me and they didn't taste bad. They were able to accommodate a special request as well. Definitely a great spot in the Syracuse area. It fills up fast and there is mostly just street parking.

    Pre-dinner drinks
    janice c.

    We went for return visit. Food is outstanding, I had the rib-eye and husband had lamb. Our food was meticulously prepared. Delicious. Arrived at 4 so we wouldn't have to deal with crowds. They start serving meals at 4:30 so had an excellent drink prior to dinner at the really nostalgic bar. I use to live on Oak Street so really takes me back to days gone by. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, perfect for dinner on a cold winter night

    Stuffed poblano
    Erika A.

    This place is literally a neighborhood bar, you're driving in a neighborhood and bam! Here's a restaurant/bar. We went on Friday night and the place was slammin', the vibe is like going to Cheers you can tell this place is a family. The food was so fresh and delicious. I couldn't get over how good the prices are, let alone the portion sizes. The fish was the size of my arm. The sweet potato fries were thick and the perfect fried texture, I can never achieve this at home and rarely do I eat them cooked this perfectly. I'm guessing the Caesar dressing is made fresh too it was intense but great! The rice pilaf and asparagus also perfect in the texture department. We ordered way too much but was so happy to try so many things. The Parmesan they use on the Caesar was so good I wanted to just pour it In my mouth too ha. The poblano with queso and veggies was a yummy cheesy start to our meal. Regret not coming more often over the years this place is very special!!

    Rileys booth
    Thomas C.

    More than three decades old, Terry Riley's restaurant is well-known by both the older and younger crowds. Riley's plays the part of the neighborhood bar exceedingly well, with a crowded front room, free munchies and servers who can make anyone feel welcome. The ever-changing menu, hand-written each day, is a testament to a kitchen that prizes fresh ideas and fresh ingredients. One side of Riley's menu features standing items such as burgers, sandwiches and omelettes. The other, which is posted on the restaurant's Facebook page each day, details the dishes unique to that day. You'll find soup, salad and appetizer choices along with about 10 main dishes. I'd heard of Riley's for a long time. Lots of good reviews. Just kept waiting to go. This past weekend, I was going to a movie with some friends and we all wanted lunch beforehand. Seeing as Rileys was close to the mall, I figured this was the time. Walking in, it's a sight to see. Dark, rich wood everywhere, low light. A bar on one side, with tables and an open kitchen on the other. You can tell Rileys has its quirky side, with cowboy doors in the entrance of the men's room. We were sat immediately. Our server was nice, answering any questions we had. We looked over the daily menu options. Lots of seafood options. We all got something different. I chose a daily special of sliced flank steak with mashed potatoes and veggies. My wife went for a haddock sandwich, and our three friends got a turkey reuben, a burger, and an open face steak sandwich, respectively. Everyone agreed that everything was delicious. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. We all went for a slice of their raspberry pie afterwards and all loved it. You can tell every little part of it is freshly made there. Light, flaky crust, homemade whipped cream, and real raspberries inside, not canned fruit full of gel. Everything was decently priced and comparable to other places. It's a place we'll definitely go again and I'd recommend it to anyone.

    Turkey on rye!
    Debbie P.

    Check out this turkey sandwich on rye! Great place, excellent staff. Parking can bee a challenge but so worth it. Try the white chocolate mousse if available.

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    9 years ago

    Awesome food. Very fresh, and delicious. Very antique and cool atmosphere. Great date place!

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    Page 2 of 4

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    The Cider Mill

    The Cider Mill

    4.4
    (239 reviews)
    4.9 mi
    $$$

    Wow wow wow! The Cider Mill has been on my "must try" list and I finally had an opportunity, it did…read morenot disappoint. I made a reservation a few days ahead of time for a Saturday night. We arrived to a busy atmosphere that quieted down throughout the night. We started with cocktails which were strong and delicious. The brussel sprout appetizer was to die for, who knew that brussel sprouts go well with blue cheese! I ordered the salmon dish which was incredible. My friend enjoyed the Greek chicken dish. We were disappointed we didn't have enough room for dessert so we'll just have to come back! Other notes: the service was friendly and there was extra parking across the street if necessary. I can't wait to be back to try their specials and seasonal menus

    I've been here only once before and I gave it a fairly rave review...perfect meal and I've always…read morelooked forward to returning. My wife took me for my birthday a couple of days ago. I read up on the menu and discovered they offered lamb chops which is one of my absolute favourites. A taste of home for me! Friendly and efficient staff welcomed us and showed us to our table. So far so good. Very nice young woman looked after us. My wife ordered the rigatoni and I had the chops. She loved her rigatoni so much she's finishing it off 2 days later and still loving it. Sadly my dish was a bit of a disappointment. My two large chops were extremely fatty. It's the kind you simply can't cut through on a slippery plate. Trying to separate what little meat there was from the fat was impossible so I had to give up and bring it home to a cutting board and an extremely sharp knife. I haven't tried to eat it yet but it looks as fatty as the first. Both had been totally covered by a condiment that I think should have been served in a separate container to allow the diner to regulate the amount desired. The base was a pilf which made trying to cut the chops even more difficult because every time the meat or the knife slipped, the table was showered with grains....all a bit slapstick....! As I previously said, my wife loved her meal and the previous visit was epic so I hate to criticise but I'm just trying to be honest and fair. I think $45 for a couple of very fatty chops with not much meat and smothered in a vinaigrette you might not like is a bit cheeky... In different circumstances I would have sent it back. Oh well, you live and learn...

    Photos
    Nice dining room
    Nice dining room
    Riggies
    Riggies
    Cider

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    Cider
    Oh My Darling

    Oh My Darling

    3.8
    (406 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    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
    Strawberry limeade

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    Strawberry limeade
    Ale N  Angus Pub

    Ale N Angus Pub

    4.1
    (110 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    I was at the Downtown Syracuse Marriott across the street from this restaurant for a meeting and we…read morewalked here for lunch. Our server, Karen was great at explaining the menu and providing nice service. She informed me that several of their burger have been rated the best in the state at various times over the past several years, which was impressive. She also said their chicken wings were pretty highly rated locally, so we started with an order of 6 of the wings with their Dr Pepper BBQ sauce. These wings came out over fried, looking pathetic, and they were dry. The Dr Pepper BBQ sauce had no positive effect or flavor, so I asked for some of their hot wings sauce, which she properly brought. The sauce was great, I wish we would have ordered that instead. It definitely helped the flavor part of the wings, but the texture (plus they were so small) really was a deal breaker for us and we each had one and that was it. Next up was their burger - I got their Beef on Weck Burger. I was worried about the saltiness of the bun, as I find Kimmelweck buns to be way too salty, but she assured me that they get these from a local bakery and they're perfect. So, I ordered it and was VERY HAPPY with it! The bun was insanely good... soft and so flavorful, while hardly salty at all, which was my preference. The roast beef on it was really good and tender. The burger meat was so very tasty and tender - WOW! The entire burger came together perfectly! I got it with a side of poutine fries and those fries were amazing! The Guiness gravy on them was very flavorful! Overall, while we didn't enjoy the wings, the rest of our food and the service definitely made this place a worthwhile visit! I feel like the service and mains far exceeded our expectations, so we can overlook those terrible wings and still give a 5 star review. I'd definitely return!!

    We came in for the Wednesday 50 cent wing special. Our waitress seated us right away and gave us…read moremenus and took our drink order. She was very friendly. It was somewhat quiet for a Wednesday before noon. We ordered the truffle fries and a dozen smoked gorgonzola, a dozen garlic parmesan and a dozen Dr Pepper BBQ. They came out quickly and piping hot. They were not small wings. Our waitress was attentive and helped us pack up our leftovers. Im obsessed with the smoked gorgonzola sauce and will be back.

    Photos
    Ale -n- Angus sign out front door
    Ale -n- Angus sign out front door
    "Number 7" w/sweet fries: Voted best burger in NYS for 2023 & I completely understand why!
    "Number 7" w/sweet fries: Voted best burger in NYS for 2023 & I completely understand why!
    Ale N  Angus Pub

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    The Evergreen

    The Evergreen

    4.1
    (203 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    It's so nice to go to a bar where they love on vegetarians as much a meat eaters, and it makes it…read moreeasy to find something satisfying to go with your beer here. For drinks they have a good selection of beers on tap, usually 10-20, from local and national breweries. The server offered me a sample before I fully committed on a beer I had a question about and I appreciated being able to try it before committing to a full glass. The Evergreen's menu itself is accessed through a QR code where their full list of options and specials are listed. My group opted to share the beer fries and they were taaaasty, pillowy soft, crunchy, and amazingly well seasoned. The vegetarian options are a regular part of the restaurant and the fried tofu I had was genuinely satisfying and well done. My cajun pasta was maybe a touch over but I was okay with it since it had my condiment obsession of chili crisp in it. The menu is well marked for dietary needs. A great thing of note is that they have women's, men's, AND an all-gender bathroom. I appreciate the inclusion in the food and restaurant itself. Car parking is street parking, it's accessible via the Centro bus system, and there is an artistic broken-chain shaoed bike rack just across the street from the restaurant. My group was happy with the prices and service for an early Wednesday dinner in a wintry March.

    Last weekend, a group of seven friends and I went out to The Evergeen. I loved their food and giant…read morebeer selection. My partner and I chose to split the herb fries, burnt end chicharrones, and the brussels. I thought the herb fries were delightfully crisp with great flavor. The sweet & spicy smokey sauce that was provided with it was a bit tangy. I didn't like it at first, but it grew on me! You'll definitely have to taste it for yourself. The burnt end chicharrones left more to be desired. Both my partner and I thought they were dry and not tender. Also, there was something about the flavor that we did not care for. I absolutely love burnt ends from BBQ joints, and this was the first time we've ordered chicharrones so I don't have something to compare them to, but I'd suggest trying them elsewhere. As for the brussels, when we first got to the restaurant our friends were sharing them. We tried one bite and knew we had order a whole plate for ourselves! They were literally the best brussel sprouts we've ever had. The roasted garlic aioli and grana cheese were topped on perfectly cooked brussels which I would go back for. I highly suggest checking out The Evergreen, go through their beer menu, and find a new favorite plate.

    Photos
    The Evergreen
    Burrata
    Burrata
    Beer board

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    Beer board
    Over The Cuse Deli And Grill

    Over The Cuse Deli And Grill

    4.4
    (78 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    We were passing through on a road trip and needed dinner. Google brought us here as we needed a…read moresimple deli sandwich. I will preface this by saying I'm from Philadelphia and ordering something called a Philly steak and cheese outside of the city limits is akin to blasphemy. So don't tell anyone ;) But I won't judge that sandwich against the Philly examples. I'll judge it on individual merits. And on its own merit, it was a very tasty sandwich. On top of that my wife's grilled cheese absolutely looked legit. I appreciate the fact that a small place like this takes pride in the food they put out. And judging by how busy it was at 7:30 on a Thursday night, the locals know it too. If I'm ever back in Syracuse, I'll stop back.

    This place definitely gives me bodega vibes, and overall, I had a good experience--but I've had two…read morevery different visits. The first time I went was during the lunch rush, and honestly, it was amazing. Before I was even fully inside, the staff greeted me, asked if it was my first time, offered me samples, walked me through the menu, and gave recommendations based on what they personally liked and what they thought I'd enjoy. They even explained which sauces paired best with different items. The energy in the restaurant was so upbeat and welcoming, even though they were incredibly busy. They treated every customer that way, and it really made me feel like they value both their employees and their customers. That positive atmosphere definitely stood out. On top of that, the food was fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. I left thinking, "I'm definitely coming back." My second visit was around the start of the dinner rush, around 6:00-6:30 p.m., and it was a completely different experience. The staff was still kind and polite, but the energy just wasn't the same. It felt much quieter and less engaging than my first visit. I also paid for extra sauce because I remembered wanting more the first time and having to pay for it, but my meal came without any sauce on the food--it was only on the side. When I asked about it, they had no problem fixing it and were very friendly about it, which I appreciated but it just seemed odd that the first time my food was made with sauce included. Unfortunately, the food itself also didn't taste quite as good as it did during my first visit. I haven't tried any of the desserts yet, but they looked incredible. The cake slices are HUGE--I honestly think one slice could easily be shared between two or even three people. At around $7.99, I think they're reasonably priced considering the portion size. Overall, I also found the menu prices to be fair, and there's a great variety of options to choose from. Because my experiences were so different, I'm giving this place 4 stars instead of 5. If my second visit had matched my first, this easily would have been a five-star review. I'll definitely be back, and next time I'll probably stick to going during lunch since that first experience was so memorable. For anyone wondering what I ordered, I got the chicken and lamb halal over rice. It came with onions, tomatoes, and a few other toppings (I don't eat onions, so I can't remember everything that was included), along with a piece of naan bread. During my first visit, I couldn't decide between breakfast and lunch, and the staff recommended I try the rice platter--and I'm so glad they did because it was delicious. I still couldn't resist ordering a side of French toast, though, and that was a great choice too! Everything was generously portioned, and I left full both times with left overs. I do believe they told me they serve breakfast all day as well.

    Photos
    Full selection of meats
    Full selection of meats
    BLUE CHEESE CRUMBLE SMASH BURGER
    BLUE CHEESE CRUMBLE SMASH BURGER
    Steak & Rice bowl.

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    Steak & Rice bowl.

    Riley's - bars - Updated August 2026

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