Best restaurant I've eaten at in Syracuse. Good service, good food, good atmosphere. The house red was great. We also ordered the baked trout, fried calamari, fried zucchini, and a salad which were all mouth-watering. Can't wait to come back!! read more

Not sure if it was an off day; we've come here year after year every August as part of the Madison- Bouckville antique shows. We usually have reservations for a bigger group (10-12) and sit on the back room all to ourselves, with fabulous service from a very interesting and delightful male server. This time we only had 4 in our group and we left standing at the entrance as both customers and employees just watched. Finally flagged down someone who seated us in a booth. We ordered 3 fish frys and 1 perch. The sliced potatoes were cool, soggy and stuck together with the oil used to fry them. My perch was ok only because I scraped off all the damp and sticky batter. The fish was declared tasty. Disappointed but always hopeful, we'll try again next year. read more

Although it was extremely busy, the service was great. We waited about 30 mins to be seated, but the hostess had told us how long it would take. Once we were seated the waitress was right over took our order. The food came fast, hot and totally tasty. The fried calamari was one of the best ones we've ever had! read more

Riley's - Bars Near Me - Syracuse, New York

My favorite stop of the Syracuse trip, bar none. Even better than Dinosaur BBQ, which I loved with only minor reservations. And to think that I wouldn't have made it here at all were it not for a sandwich place that I didn't even get to visit. Let me back up. The menu at Darwin looked delicious and it was second on my list to visit. They are, however, a lunch-only establishment, and all my lunches were being handled. So, no Darwin. I did some poking around the website and found that Darwin was run by the people from Riley's. So, figured I, next best thing. By the time I got to Riley's, though, the thought of a full-blown entree was too much. That and I noticed about three things on the dessert board that sounded delicious, so I was going to need to save room. That said, maddest of all props to the Riley's menu. On one side, you've got a standing selection of burgers, sandwiches, and sides. Everything I tried on that side (read: one thing (because it was so delicious that I didn't bother moving on)) was outstanding. It's the other side that's impressive, though. A hand-written menu of dishes that changes daily, complete with illustrations. We're not talking about a big place here. It's a small neighborhood tavern. I'd love to know who on the staff has time to create that thing daily, but I really do appreciate the time that goes into its creation, as well as the herculean task of creating new dishes every night to populate it with. My co-worker Todd got a scallop in pineapple curry dish the second night I was there and it was spot on, with the sear on the scallops being particularly impressive. As I scanned the sandwiches and burgers, the Knickerbocker was the only thing that wasn't easily sussed. When I asked the waitress, she let me know it was an open faced sandwich with turkey, ham, cole slaw, tomato, and Russian dressing on rye, served either hot or cold. I was hooked by the description alone and got it hot. I chose very well. It's a saucy, messy fork-only sandwich that comes out on the plate as a glorious mound of food. The sweet dressing combined with the rough-cut slaw and the salt of the ham was just about perfect. It's clear that they roast their own turkey in house, as it was Thanksgiving fresh but also featured in one of the entrees. I loved this sandwich enough to make it back the second night and order it again. It's served with Irish chips, a fried potato side that hits notes from crisp potato chip all the way to fluffy french fry depending on how thick each chip was cut. The overall effect is like some mad culinary instructor's lesson in the Maillard reaction. They are unsalted but served with malt vinegar, and they are highly addictive. There's a bit of joy in grabbing one after the other and waiting to see if you've gotten one of the thicker, softer chips or a dark, caramelized crispy one. Dinner was topped off with a slice of chocolate chip walnut rum pie. I'll let that combination wash over you for a moment. It's twice as good as it sounds. I took them back to the hotel to eat, and the second night the server gave me the tip that a few second in the microwave would turn things gooey and lovely. He was not wrong, though the unwarmed version was good on its own. For Wednesday and Thursday nights, it was plenty crowded. That said, I'm surprised that there aren't lines out the door for this place. It was pretty perfect both nights and I can't wait for my next trip back. read more

I live relatively nearby and have been here for drinks a few times. I love the local vibe and casual, laid-back ambiance and have always enjoyed coming here. So, I was really excited to finally check it out for a nice dinner and wanted so badly to love the food, especially after many friends raving about it. However, my recent dinner dining experience was very disappointing. It started off great with a shared pot stickers appetizer and a very fresh and creative salad that was delicious. However, after that the food was just awful. We ordered a steak medium-rare, more on the rare side, and seared scallops. Both meals were completely inedible. The steak came out well done and the scallops were room temperature, undercooked, with no sear or flavor. It also took forever to get our meal, so when our waiter offered to get us something remade or different, we just decided to go home and order pizza rather than wait anymore. We were sitting right next to the kitchen, so when the waiter brought our returned food back to the kitchen, we could hear the kitchen staff basically yelling at the waiter that the food was fine. Trust me, it wasn't. I love scallops and have never been served scallops so horrible before. I also know what medium-rare steak should look like. It really bothered me that the kitchen staff reacted like that to the waiter, and so loudly, which just made the night worse. The only reason I am giving 2 stars instead of 1 is because our waiter was fantastic, and I am still willing to come back to try dinner again. Maybe next time though I will steer clear of the scallops. read more

Riley's is, in my opinion, one of the best restaurants in Syracuse. It has a bar downstairs that is always full of locals, a lot of the politicians & TV people go here because it is in an out-of-the-way residential area. The building is over 150 years old and it looks inside like an Irish pub. The dining room is small and intimate. There is a different menu every day. Most items are in the $8-15 dollar range, the back of the menu has burgers that are available every day but Friday. Riley's has one of the best dessert chefs in town, their desserts are phenomenal! We go here a lot for special occasions or "date nights," it is a real treasure in Syracuse that is not well known outside of the folks on the north side or in Eastwood. Riley's also has an upstairs kitchen and dining area for parties (we had our wedding rehearsal dinner there) which is appropriately called "The Upstairs." It is absolutely beautiful, looks like an old Victorian house parlor & dining area. Great for gatherings of 10-20 people or so, depending on what you want. The staff was terrific for our rehearsal dinner, my wife is allergic to eggs but they cooked a fabulous multi-entree meal with desserts and everything was egg-free! Great people, great food, can't say enough good about them. Parking behind building is limited, maybe holds 7 cars. You will likely end up parking on side street or in Schiller park parking lot on busy days. To make a reservation, your party must be 5 or larger. I would say this definitely isn't a little kids kind of family place, but teens would probably like it (unless they think only McDonald's is real food). read more

Riley's was a delightful surprise for my wife and I. I came across this while perusing one of the weekly local entertainment papers at our hotel. The menu is very unique as one side is a list of various sandwiches, salads, and appetizers. The flip side is a listing of that nights specialties, we arrived a little before 5:30 and had to wait for that side to be printed. We're glad we waited as the specials were interesting to say the least. The crab cakes were full of fresh delicious crab meat and not a lot filler. Our entrees were also of top quality, my wife had the lobster stuffed manicotti topped with I think was a light vodka sauce accompanied by a side salad. My T-bone pork steak was thick cut and done to perfection it was glazed with flavorful BBQ sauce. Neither of us could finish our meals so leftovers went back to the hotel along with our desserts. I would recommend you inquire about desserts at the start of your meal and if something pique your interest order in advance to make sure you get it because it might be gone by the time you finish your meal. Desserts are made fresh every day and change frequently. I had the berry pie which was a huge slice with whipped cream, and my wife ordered the chocolate seduction cake topped with whipped cream also. Just writing about them makes my mouth water and wished I lived closer so that I could make this a regular dining spot. I guarantee your dining experience at Riley's will be a memorable one. I'm not sure if they take reservations but I would make this a top pick for Valentine's day day read more

Riley's - Bars Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Started off with some excellent bloody marys on, what I'm told, was the sunniest day Syracuse has had in six months. This place has a pubbish atmosphere with an excellent menu and a full bar. With the door open to welcome a nice breeze, it created the perfect lazy lunch day vibe. We had blackened salmon with some sort of pilaf and snap peas. It was all really good, albeit a tad greasy. I just pretended it was fresh olive oil saturating the dish, although I'm sure it was just grease. Very tasty. I heard the pie was to die for and took two pieces home. The crust is very flakey, resembling a croissant almost. I like my crusts more dense all the way through, but this was good. The blueberry filling was lovely, and tasted like real blueberries, not anything manufactured, which is difficult to find in restaurants. They also had a chocolate cheesecake, and I've heard their specialty is raspberry. I also tried the fried clams, and they were pretty delicious. It's hard to mess up fried-anything. To boot, the staff was great, quick, friendly - the whole package. I bought lunch and an alcoholic beverage for three people, plus pie and only spent $60. This place is totally worth a visit. read more

Oh god, so good. They nailed it. I got the salmon with potatoes and squash. Delicious. I originally yelped "brewery" which brought me to the mall, when I arrived and saw the location I immediately yelped "American cuisine" which brought me to Riley's. best decision I made all day. Also, Everyone is sooo friendly read more

Excellent restaurant. Local ingredients and a rotating menu but unassuming and casual. Fresh, daily bread. How a restaurant should be run a model for many restaurants. This one TRIES and succeeds. read more

I love Riley's! Is it perfect? No. Will you get a soggy Irish fry on occasion? maybe. Unique food? of course! FUN? Always! I love the ever changing menu and the spunky service. The people working there love it as much as the regulars and it just makes for an enjoyable evening. I've consistently enjoyed the special salad. Its always a great combination of sweet, salt, with homemade dressing and packed full of yums. The desserts are fantastic, homemade and generous sized. They have wine specials too and on more than one occasion I've scored a fantastic bottle for 20 bucks. Hopefully you'll be there on a winter evening, cozied in a booth with a great glass, great company and Terry Riley at the piano. Comfortable and fun. Done and done. read more

This place is very special. The food is always great. They offer lots of protein choices on a changing menu. Riley's does have a changing menu, but this is great: try something new, but old favorites always come back. 7-10 entres are on, plus burgers and omlettes. You can't really miss. I love love love the perch. They often have fresh water great lakes fish, that are just great and expectation changing. The bar is well stocked with liquor and has numerous draft and bottle beer choices. Drinks are well made and they listen to you for special whiskey requests (like only putting a single ice cube in your drink) The atmosphere is amazing. Every time I bring someone here they are like "whoa". It is dark, but charming, private but friendly, old but fresh. Riley's feels like a special secret every time you go, even if you live a few blocks away. read more

Excellent food. Great atmosphere--well decorated. Half of the menu changes daily. The veggie burgers I sampled tonight were made of portobello mushrooms and were flavorful. I ordered the Sea Bass with julienned vegetables on top, asparagus, and red potatoes. Delicious. At $20, this was worth it as a healthy option. Other perks: When you enter, there are little bites of food you can sample. One part of this place was a hard, delicious cheese, and there was also some great pizza with roasted red peppers and herbs. The desserts looked great (did not sample), but on the way out, you can grab a small cup of M&Ms. Additionally, the server was attentive and friendly. Well-deserverd 5 stars. read more

Love it. Had the chicken special and fried clams as an app. Great atmosphere, excellent service and the chocolate coconut cream pie was amazing! read more

What a charming neighborhood bar and restaurant! The ambiance at Riley's is very comfortable and inviting. If you're going for dinner, it's the kind of place you don't want to leave once your meal is done; you'd rather sit around, have a few pints with friends, and maybe even make a new friend or two. I had the fried haddock platter, which came with potato chips and coleslaw. The fish was expertly cooked. The thin layer of batter was crispy but the fish was flaky and tender. And the flavor was very good, as well, especially with the copious amount of tartar sauce they served on the side. The coleslaw was decent, in my opinion. I prefer coleslaw that is slightly sweeter, as this version was strong on the celery seed, but it was moist and not too crunchy. The potato chips were straight from a bag, so nothing special. Afterward, I had the English walnut and cinnamon pie, which was simply amazing! There were plenty of deliciously bitter walnuts, and the cinnamon of the filling really came through and was complimented beautifully by the homemade whipped cream on the side. And let me tell you, the crust was as good as they come. If you're like me, you admire a flavorful and flaky crust for the work of art it really is. Whoever makes the pies at Riley's is a world-class pie artist, and the crust is a masterpiece! The service was a little frustrating, though, so they lose some points for that. It wasn't clear how to get a table when we walked in, so we had to find someone and ask. Then, at the end of the meal, our server was visibly upset about having to split a bill that anyone thinking logically would've made into two bills to begin with. And her math was off, so she didn't charge us correctly. She finally took our payment but didn't even return so that our friends could pay; they had to leave their money on the table, which was a little unnerving. Overall, I'm looking forward to going back and trying a few other menu items, especially the desserts. But I'll also go back just to have a few drinks and hang out. Next time, I hope the service is better. read more

Riley's - English walnut and cinnamon pie. Amazing! - Bars Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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

Been there many times since and have found that while they always sound good, the entrees always disappoint. The appetizers, on the other hand, are consistently good. The only draw of Riley's is that it is less than a half a mile from my house. Otherwise I don't think we would have eaten there more than once. read more

This place never popped up on yelp searches or in dining guides for Syracuse. Lived in the area for 9years and ran into this place during a rehearsal dinner. What a gem! That is if you can get past the location ;) Seriously, I worried about my car.... But on with the review. Can't say much about the dining or bar area as we had an intimate 25 person party upstairs - catered by an excellent bartender and a waitress. And a Chef that prepared an excellent spread of Pork, Tenderloin and Chicken n biscuits. It was absolutely yummy! As for dessert, even though this place is known for it's pies, I had the chocolate, chocolate cheesecake. The extra chocolate was worth it. By the end of dinner, Yes, my car was still there! read more

I want to call this place a neighborhood bar but nothing could be further from the truth. It's really an outstanding restaurant that serves a daily changing imaginative menu. Plus it's a great bar. Six or so beers on tap, plenty of bottles and at least ten wines by the glass. While the menu contains the usual artery clogging bar food (done very well) it also has lots of healthier choices. Imaginative salads. My favorite chicken and chorizo burger. Always a nice fish option as well. Riley's is one of the best in Syracuse read more

Every Christmas my dad buys me a gift certificate to Riley's. I recently came home from studying abroad and this was the first restaurant we went to since I've been home. I have to say most every visit to Riley's is the same. We know exactly what to expect. The menu that changes daily. The fun chalkboard art depicting the month and dinner specials. The low lighting and bustling kitchen where you can practically see your meal being prepared. We always order crab cakes as an app and we gobble down the two patties (my parents and me) and the fluffy, tasty bread before our entrees. This time I got the monkfish casserole with olive oil and lemon. The monkfish was served in a mini casserole dish with some breadcrumbs and sauce. There was a lobster roll I ALMOST got and tbh I regret not getting that. The monkfish was little tough and it was one of those dishes that every bite I had to think if I really liked it or not. It was accompanied by fingerling potatoes and corn on the cob. I wish they had been a BIT more creative, but I can't hold much against them because June definitely screams potatoes and corn on the cob. Here's a tip: always get dessert. The serve homemade pies, cakes, and other sweets. If they have the white chocolate mousse with raspberry--get that. It's like a cloud of subtle white chocolate and a tangy layer of tart raspberry. I say that but in truth I got the chocolate grand mariner pie. Decadent and finished by 11:30 pm (I always take my desserts home, which is why I got that rather than the mousse, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to take mousse home). Riley's is an eccentric, intriguing, hip, and lively place. Go there for the always changing menu that offers Syracuse's most diverse and slightly daring specials (it makes me feel cool that I know about Riley's). Sorry for the long review; I have a long history with this restaurant. I'll post another one next time I come. Oh! Shout out to our incredible waitress for her contagious smile and sunshine energy. It's nice to come back from Europe where they hardly glance at you to having such attentive and genuine service at Riley's. read more

Have not been here in a while and I have always had a decent experience, but tonight was below average and I am being very generous with that rating. Ordered the special salad to split to start, which sounded amazing. It was advertised as beets, grapes, cucumber, heirloom tomatoes, yellow pepadews, green beans and burrata chese. We are both somewhat lactose intolerant these days, so we skipped the burrata. The salad we received was a bunch of iceberg lettuce in the middle with small portions (two bias cut cucumbers, 3 grapes cut in half, five to six green beans) of the salad ingredients surrounding the bland iceberg lettuce. Also the tomatoes were run of the mill grape tomatos, not heirlooms as advertised. Very sad presentation and very disappointing taste. Not what we expected at all. For main courses, we ordered the perch filets with chips and also the cod with artichoke hearts and olives with a white wine butter sauce. The perch was bland and lacked any hint of seasoning. Once properly salted, it was fine. The cod was a different story. It was tasteless and had zero white wine butter sauce and no seasoning. All you could taste were the flavor of the olives and artichokes. Zero mouthfeel to the dish. It might as well have been steamed. When we presented the waitress with questions, we were shocked to find out that the perch is simply dredged in flour and the fried. Zero seasoning in the dredge. What??? Also when presented with the blandness of the cod (which I should have mentioned was actually haddock because they ran out of cod) she was going to investigate if the chef did something different in the preparation and to her credit, did offer another meal. However, our server then promptly disappeared for 15 minutes and we never received an answer on the preparation of the cod dish. We were also never offered another drink. When the server returned and asked us about dessert, we were basically checked out and did not want to risk being disappointed again. No complimentary dessert, drink or deduction from the bill was offered. Bottom line, we paid 75 dollars with tip for a meal that could have been made much better at home. Unless they find their mojo (and salt shaker) again we won't be back. Stick to the burger if you go and don't be tempted by amazing sounding food that is very poorly executed. read more

Riley's is one of the hidden gems of Syracuse. The food is fantastic and the vibe is very cool, It's like walking in to a friend house and everyone is glad to see you. The menu changes every day and the variety available is exceptional. Don't get me started on the burgers... The BEST in the Cuse in my opinion. You won't be disappointed with any menu item you choose. Great beer selection too and their wine by the glass is decent read more

Riley's is amazing, simply put. The menu changes daily, and you can't go wrong with anything here. read more

As my dining partner from Chicago put it, this is the closest you'll get to a true gastropub in Syracuse. We visited Riley's for dinner and was confronted with an hour-long wait for a table. We were able to kill the time with reasonably-priced drinks from the bar though. Once seated, I was excited to see a daily specials menu that was well very well thought out. Both of us went for the day's Blue Plate special: braised short ribs topped with a red wine infused gravy, served with a stuff cheese tomato and salt potatoes. The braised short ribs were to die for. The meat was perfectly done; not too tender, not too tough. My only complaint was that it needed a little more flavor. But that was remedied with an extra serving of gravy. The stuff tomatoes was something I passed on. I'm not a huge fan of cheese, and something about the flavor of the tomato didn't mesh well with the short ribs. The salt potatoes were a standard affair. Overall, I highly recommend Riley's for their delicious food and well-priced drinks. Just be sure to skip the standard menu and pick out one of the day's special for a real treat at this neighborhood gem! read more

I went to Riley's for the first time on a date with the hubs. I had ribs with coleslaw and mashed potatoes. Hubs had a New York strip with Irish fries and a veggie. My ribs were amazing. The Irish fries were also excellent. My mashed potatoes and coleslaw were pretty bland. They definitely could use some jazzing up. However, the sauce on my husbands steak was incredible. The standard everyday menu is pretty limited and lacks any real descriptions of the menu items. The handwritten menu is difficult to read and really should be organized better. I had to ask for descriptions of several menu items. If the menu was written better I wouldn't have had to waste the waitresses time asking questions. The inside of Riley's is cute and kitschy, although a little dark for my taste. One of the complaints I had was the friendliness of our waitress. After delivering our drinks she just said: "Ya ready?" No preamble, no asking if we had questions or asking if we wanted an appetizer. We had mentioned it was our first there so a little information about the menu would have been nice. When I said we were not ready and asked questions about the menu she seemed annoyed. The second complaint is they obvious cook a lot of seafood there as there are several seafood dishes on the menu but are obviously not careful about cross contamination. After taking a bite of my husbands steak I started having an allergic reaction and we had to leave abruptly. The only thing I can think of is that they grilled his steak or prepped it in the same area as they did a piece of fish. Seafood allergies are very common and very serious so they really should be more careful. I'd like to try Riley's again but next time I'll notify them of my allergies. read more

Riley's - Bars Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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I used to work for the cousin of Terry Riley and we used to have our team lunches at Riley's. Riley's used to be a hot spot on Friday nights and was especially popular with those of us who came back to Syracuse after college. I always ran into someone I knew and had not seen in years. I have not been to Riley's in years but the food used to be more creative than the usual Irish pub. The chef was fond of mixing items that would not be expected to go together. Since I have not been to Riley's in some time I am not sure if this is still the case. read more

Riley's has a two sided menu, one side changes everyday, and another that carries there staple items. The chefs always come up with delicious items for the daily menu side with the freshest ingredients. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. Definitely one of the last great neighborhood bar in Syracuse. Make sure you try the desserts when you go. They can't be beat. read more

I've eaten here a few times. The food is always decent but nothing to write home about. My favorite part of this place is that it's nestled in a neighborhood in the city. In fact, I could probably just walk here from my house in the summer. Good atmosphere, decent food, and Middle Ages on tap. My girlfriend likes it here, so I'm sure I'll be back. I won't complain too much. read more

We found Riley's by searching on Yelp! Overall, I'm glad we did! While I grew up in the Syracuse area, I haven't lived here for many years. So when we wanted to find a non-chain restaurant that was authentic and local, we went to Yelp, found Riley's and gave it a try. Very good food, made in-house. What at first glance appears to be a crowded pub in a working class neighborhood, actually hides a kitchen that knows a lot about how to prepare very good quality food. This ranges from traditional pub grub to some pretty serious dishes. I really appreciated the range of dishes on the menu, the willingness of the server to answer detailed questions about the preparation, a pretty good range of beers (including Fanciskaner Weissbier), and a decent wine list. I will also point out that although they were full, the noise leve was quite reasonable, and i am very sensitive to noise in a restaurant. With rare exceptions, we ha dno problem hearing each other. If I lived here, this would be one of my regular places to visit. Down home, yet thoughtful food preparation, at reasonable prices. What's not to like? Why not five stars? Wines by the glass were on a blackboard with no mention of where they come from- no written wine list available. For a Cotes-du-Rhone that's not an issue. But for a Syrah, is it Australia, France, California, or the Umpqua Valley? It makes a difference. Also, they have no website. You cannot look up their menus (which change twice per day!) online- I feel this is an oversight in that you can't see what they're serving before heading there. Easy marketing problem to solve. Also, like most places these days, they have TV's on ( no sound). I don't understand this as to me, it's only a noisome distraction and adds no value at all. That's just me though. Having said that, we had a lovely time, great food, good drinks, and will make it a point to visit again, the next time we are in town! read more

Sometimes Riley's crushes it - cheeseburger egg rolls, fresh and high-quality seafood, perfect steaks, excellent pies. Sometimes the food is sub-Applebees quality (ribs with a heavy and sweet BBQ sauce, bland Knickerbocker sandwich). It's a cool neighborhood spot where fantastic creative dishes can be had on the right night. read more

Flew in with a group of 7 on an hour lunch from work. Hostess was quick to help us and efficiently expand a table to accomodate our party. This bar has quite a bit of charm; from the warm woods of the floor, tables, and bar to the bustling kitchen and noshing patrons, lunch is a happening time. Colleen (I think?), our server, heard we hadn't long to eat, and quickly took orders. She was friendly, warm, and on top of everything. Had the black bean burger and the Swallow Wit witbier. Both were amazing. If you're looking for delicious food, wonderful hospitality, and reasonable prices, come here. You'll leave happy. read more

I honestly expected more. We were seated quickly on a Thursday night which was awesome. The wait staff was friendly. The free bread before the meal was sweet and yummy, but the meals lacked flavor. The burgers looked amazing but lack seasoning. The fish was undercooked and provided nothing beyond a simple fish flavor. The chips which came with the burgers were very delicious however. The desserts were delectable. read more

Riley's - Daily Side Menu - Bars Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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Pub grub at its finest. True comfort food. Gracious staff and gorgeous food that changes every day. Expect to find old friends at a table, waving welcomingly, even if you don't know them. Fried zucchini is a must and anything served with Irish fries. Burgers and fish sandwiches are amazing. Save room for dessert - raspberry cheesecake and chocolate grand marnier torte were sinful. read more

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We were new to the area and tried to visit another restaurant first.. a gentleman there told us about Riley's. we showed up on a busy night. Family of five and they welcomed us. We had fresh fish and great burgers. Would recommend to anyone trying to have a god meal and not have to wait two hours on a busy night. read more

Went for dinner on a Tuesday evening. Had salmon & minestrone soup. Service and food were excellent. No complaints. I shall return. read more

Delicious house-made bread! Delicious blueberry pie!! ... And a good dinner to boot. Had a Blue Plate Special, lamb burger with feta cheese. That role tasted home made, too. Wonderful food and friendly service. Will go back next time I'm in town. read more

Riley's - Bars Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Went there for dinner on a Friday night at around 6PM and were seated immediately. The decor was very nice, they had up holiday decorations. The menu had a lot of seafood on it so we were a little limited in what we could pick as my girlfriend and I are not big seafood people. I guess we didn't expect seafood to be the main focus on the menu at a place not advertised as a seafood restaurant and nowhere near the sea. We split a special salad for an appetizer, it had almonds, feta, yellow peppers and a few other things, it was great. The main course was a chicken kabob with peach BBQ sauce, potatoes, brussel sprouts and sauteed spinach. It was good but nothing exceptional. I wasn't disappointed I guess. We had a holiday egg nog pie for dessert which was excellent. Decent beer selection from some local breweries but they're not a brew pub so it's no big deal. I attached pictures of each of our dishes. They lost a star for the service and for the entree being 'just OK'. Our server was a middle-aged woman who just didn't seem too happy to be there in general but maybe that was her personality. She just wasn't too pleasant to deal with. Sort of like the entree, she was 'just OK' and decently attentive. Overall I'd say I was satisfied and may go back in the future. read more

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Great atmosphere, comforting and semi-upscale food. I say semi because it's great quality and reasonable for the price, but the food is not pretentious. It's the perfect place for a date night. Soups are delicious and the menu changes everyday, so you know you are getting fresh and local! read more

Riley's - Bars Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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I was a little hesitant to head in on a Wednesday night, and drove around the block twice before parking. Parking is dismal too... I opted for street parking. Once inside it was a pleasant surprise. Service was great - waitress was very attentive. Menu was a little hard to read since it was hand written, but the options were amazing! Would definitely go back.. read more

A definite standby when I am not up to trying the newest restaurant but know that I want excellent food , a nice atmosphere and good service. Have eaten there many times and have only been disappointed once, when I ordered something I did not like but thought maybe Rileys expertise could change my mind. read more