My wife and I were seated by a very friendly hostess. We then watched two tables who came in after us receive services, did not hear from our service for nearly 10 minutes, then walked out so we could find a place willing to serve us food. The ambiance and menu seemed great, the water was fantastic, would have loved to try more. read more

I really want to give a fourth star...but I can't. I haven't been here in close to 5 years and while the atmosphere is still great, the food was less than great. Their vegetarian option per the menu, is deceiving. One would think it was a veggie burger, but it is a portabella mushroom sandwich instead. If I was a fan of the fungi family, then they may have earned a fourth star. Fried pickles accompanied the sandwich which were ok. Service at a minimum, was..ok. I think we hit it on a bad night, as I have always had a great experience here otherwise. read more

We were visiting Syracuse and our friend recommended that we try Riley's. It is a pretty hidden place, and we had to go through a not so nice part of town to get there, but it was worth it. Inside, it seemed cozy and inviting. The menu is different every day so you never know what is awaiting you. I had sea scallops for 10 dollars! And they were good! Granted, they were lunch portions but that is perfect for me. Baked Parmesan tomato and tilapia with Ginger BBQ sauce were also great. And let me just say that there I had the best Lima beans I have ever had. The staff was friendly and courteous as well. Excellent experience! We will make a point to go back to Riley's next time we are in town! read more

I lived in the north suburbs of Syracuse for 38 years and never heard or went to this place until after I left town. That said, I wish I had known about it. Great atmosphere and great food. Busy on a Thursday evening, the whole experience was very satisfying. read more

Exceptional cooking and great, though underpriced, winelist makes this one of the most outstanding restaurants in the area. The ambiance has more of a 'Cheers' feeling than one of fine dining and romance, but if it's the food and wine you're after-- this is the place to fine. read more

Tried their veggie burger, it was awesome!! The fried zucchini (as opposed to french fries) were an awesome addition too! Great atmosphere. Beautiful, classic place. Awesome dining! read more

Excellent service and a friendly server. Had a steak that tasted plain. Great side dishes though. The restaurant is very tight. I would try again. read more

riley's is great. bar on one side, separate dining room on the other. ive never been to riley's just to get a drink, but the bar is very nice, and they always have a table with free snacks (mini pizza, cheese and crackers, etc) for people who are either just there to get drinks, or at the bar waiting to be seated. the food is pretty awesome, and the prices are great. i always get some sort of seafood there like the scallops, but riley's is renowned for its burgers. it's very good for a date or just dinner with friends. plus my cousins live across the street so shout out to them read more

Riley's used to be amazing about 8 years ago. Their cooks have obviously changed since then and every dish I have tried has lacked the flavor and skill that it used to have. The idea of the hand written menu and creativity is there, but it just doesn't have the spark it used to. I have been disappointed the last 6 times j have visited Riley's, clinging on to the hope that it can somehow love up to its past achievements. Every dish I have tried has left me wondering what happened to this awesome gem of a place. read more

This place has a nice, cozy neighborhood feel. Their menu is interesting with a lot of good seafood specials. The bar is pretty great too. If you don't get there early some of the items on the menu will be gone. This has happened to us almost every time we go but we usually don't head out until 7 or later. read more

Had dinner at Riley's last night ...Met the maker of Brokers gin, had a delightful conversation, shared a bottle of wine and had dinner. We had a quesadilla and house salad. Very fresh and delicious. Wait staff was very friendly and accommodating. read more

Love, love, love the decor. Five stars--such a welcoming environment. So clean and unique. Love, love, love the service and drink menu. Everyone was so attentive and super friendly. Then why only 3 stars? I completely struggled with the menu, even for appetizers. I'm sure the food is great, however, there was only one healthy choice for an appetizer, sautéed mushrooms. This place is fantastic, just needs some more healthy, fresh options. Then again, the place defines "neighborhood bar," and I was just passing through on business. If your locals love the deep fried zucchini and pickles, then god bless their hearts, literally. read more

I had a burger for lunch and it was really good. The bar tender and wait staff were really nice as well. I would recommend this place. I wish i had tried the potato and pork belly soup. Looked really good. read more

Great food and friendly staff! Very accomodating for a large group. Yummy desserts. Don't miss the Testicle Festival in October...

Terrific food, atmosphere, and music! I ordered the lake walleye with broiled potatoes and steamed broccoli- it was the best food I've ever had in a tavern type establishment. Highly recommended, make the effort to come here! read more

Was so excited to try this place but horribly disappointed. I had the yellowfin perch. It was so horribly over fried it tasted like dry nothingness. The curry mayo was good but nothing could make the fish taste better. The menu seems limited and hard to read. read more

DO NOT order the steak sandwich... it came out as a large chunk of tough stake uncut with 2 slices of soggy pumpernickel bread soaked in meat blood. The description said the sandwich comes with a roasted parmesan tomato. The tomato was raw and the parmesan was congealed on the surface. Idk what's going on here but this place needs to step up their game..... :( read more

Terrific! A Gem. I was originally going to the dinosaur, but it was so crowded, I decided to venture out, and I am glad I did. Riley's has a great atmosphere, and the food was "comfort food" at it's finest. I had the house special pork tenderloin with caraway seed glaze over onions. Combine that with mashed sweet potatoes, and perfectly cooked asparagus, and I was looking to see if my Mom was in the kitchen. Followed up with Irish Pecan Pie, and I was ready to take a nap right there. Service was friendly and the only thing that kept it from 5 stars was the price, but even so, I will definitely visit again...High on my list of faves... read more

My boyfriend and I love it here! It's a cozy spot with a nice small feel. I love the handwritten menu, and the food has never disappointed. It is a little bit pricey, but overall I would definitely recommend! read more

Riley's is a great Northside joint. It's a comfortable, laid back place with a family feel. I haven't eaten much of the food - though there is always cheese, crackers, and mustard for the drinkers near the bar - but the beer selection is good, and the waitstaff are friendly. Riley's is a Syracuse hidden gem and is not to be missed (though you could accidentally drive right past). Love Riley's! read more

Great food! Don't forget to save room for their homemade desserts!

Just stopped in for drinks, a bit pricey. Mood is very dim lights and quiet and very well kept. If you are looking for a date location go here, if you are looking for a spot with friends, go somewhere else. I am excited to try their food, for such a small hole in the wall. read more

What you don't know is that on Friday's, they only serve fish, most of it fried. With just one fryer they use if for the Friday fish and then don't serve anything else on the menu that is fried, French fries, fried zucchini etc Oh and no burgers on Friday either. If you don't care for fish that leaves an extremely limited menu. I don't care much for someone inflicting their religious beliefs on me. Furthermore the waitress was unpleasant when I expressed my surprise over this system. The food I got was strictly average to below-average. The baked potatoes were inedible. Never seen anything like it. This is a family place and the attitude is: If you don't like it, you can lump it. read more

The best local restaurant! The menu is different everyday and you can tell it's all fresh! Super comfortable atmosphere as well! A true hidden gem in the Sedgwick neighborhood! read more

Ate here in August. Comfortable and casual restaurant with outstanding food and service. Started with the carrot ginger soup- delicious. Had broiled cod and red pepper sauce and my wife had grilled mahi mahi. Both meals were fabulous. The server Ashley was intuitive and attentive. My wife really didnt want to sit at the table where we were seated, so we were places in a booth with no problem. Ashley kept returning to our booth to check on us and was very professional. We highly recommend any of Bryan's desserts to complete your meal. This is a great place! read more

Had the Fish and Chips....great fish, white and not over cooked... could have used some seasoning though...little salt in the breading maybe?? I must say the Eggnog/Rum cream pie was the best thing I've eaten all holiday season!!!!! read more

I lived in this neighborhood late 80s into early 90's and loved my local pub. Those days are gone on many levels and so is the specialness of Riley's. Dining on Tuesday with a friend the place was busy in both bar and restaurant. We were seated in a booth and were looking forward to a nice dinner and dessert. Not much had changed in the place except the food was not that great. We ordered salmon and pork tenderloin with black bean sauce. Each order came with garlicky broccoli and roasted red potatoes. It's sad when the broccoli is the most flavorful item on the plate. The salmon was nicely done but the dish lacked flavor. The pork tenderloin was dry except for the 1inch square in the center. It was clearly overdone. The black bean sauce was more paste like and added nothing to help the dry pork. Most was left uneaten. Brian's desserts have been a staple for decades and was going to be the high point of the meal. The crust on the chocolate coconut pie was dense and tough. Did not consume the crust but the filling was good. I had hope for more but sadly too much was off for us to return. I will remember Riley's fondly for how it was and not for how it is. read more

I absolutely love this place. Hands down my favorite restaurant in Syracuse. I keep coming back for the atmosphere, the drinks, the food, and to top it all off, Brian's desserts! read more

This is a nice neighborhood bar/restaurant with a fast and friendly staff. We went on a Thursday and the dining area was almost full. Three of us had trout in orange/basil butter. We all agreed that the food lacked flavor. We could taste the "blackened" part of the trout but no orange or basil. The root vegetable medley was likewise on the bland side. The atmosphere was pleasant, but a bit loud. It was interesting tasting the complimentary deep fried goat testicles. read more

This place is quite unknown in Syracuse. Kind of in the middle of a neighborhood on the northside. Went on a Friday night, place was relatively crowded but not packed. Started off with Manhattan fish chowder. Really good, big chucks of fish, potatoes, and vegetables. They gave us good sourdough bread to start as well, very fresh. I got the Knickerbocker sandwich, turkey melted with swiss cheese and topped cole slaw and Russian dressing. Very good. Said on the menu it came with Irish fries, but apparently they do not serve those and a couple of other menu items on Friday only. Have to go back on another night to try those. Desserts looked amazing as well, but did not get one. Service was good and staff was friendly. I'm definitely heading back there again. read more

riley's is the best restaurant in syracuse, bar none. i usually lunch there. itnis located in a neighborhood and terry, the owner, is very careful to respect their space. the food is always outstanding and the service as well. read more

I absolutely enjoyed my meal at Riley's. They must change the menu frequently based on what is fresh and in season because the menu was handwritten and copied. I had the scallop and pea soup and i wanted to lick the bowl. It was so delicious and nothing like what I expected. I then had their grilled chicken salad with artichokes, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, olives and a wonderful goddess dressing. I felt so comfortable that I decided that I would make this place my "Cheers". Everyone from employees to patrons were welcoming and nice. My friend had the chicken thighs and there was some sautéed greens on the plate that tasted so good. People from the south would say that whomever made the greens "put their foot in it"! Thats how good they were. When we mentioned that we really enjoyed them the waitress was so kind she brought us a extra small side. That completely sold me. I will be back!!!! read more

Cute little Irish pub with really good food. Not many tables so expect a wait on weekends. Mostly seafood items on the daily menu, but other options as well. Overall, a great find and worth checking out. read more

I'm not sure what all the rave reviews are all about but I found this local joint to be less than stellar in it's food offering. I ordered the Blue Cheese Burger and the only good thing about the burger was the Blue Cheese. I ordered it medium and received it very rare. The bun appears to be of a home made version also and was OK. The "Irish Fries" are simply their version of home made potato chips which I didn't really care for much. The hand written menu was almost illegible. I personally would not recommend this place to anyone wanting to eat a meal. I would have been better off going to McDonald's or Burger King. It would be a great place to hang out and have a beer with friends but that's about it. read more

Giving this place 4-starts is a testament to just how much great service can elevate an otherwise average meal. Our waiter was friendly, funny, courteous, knowledgeable - one of the best waiters I've had in quite a while. Love, LOVE the concept of fresh, local, constantly changing menu. Execution is almost there, but if I've seen anything as a theme in the reviews here it is seasoning. I ordered the porterhouse pork chop, which was well cooked, but the sides were exceptionally bland. Just a little salt and pepper and they were fine, but there is something extremely annoying about going out to dinner and having to season your food! The potatoes in particular were very, very bland. I honestly should have said something to the waiter - not sure why I didn't. Hubs had the Lake Erie walleye and it was very good! Nice and crispy and a very good size portion. Dessert was a.m.a.z.i.n.g! Overall, we will definitely be back! read more

Amazing neighborhood restaurant. You could easily confuse this with a hole in the wall bar with just a glance. But that would be a mistake as this is one of the better dining experiences in the city. The menu has an eclectic feel that you might expect to find in NYC. Menu changes daily and everything we tried was excellent. Servers were knowledgeable and helpful with recommendations. read more

This is one of my absolute favorite places to go in Syracuse. I always come here for special occasions--birthdays, out of town guests, other celebrations. Everyone I bring here for the first time always loves it. The daily-changing menu is always great and I can never decide which special to order. The service is wonderful! Friendly, attentive and fast. I'm not a big dessert person but everyone always raves about their amazing desserts. Love the atmosphere! Cozy and authentic. Will always come back! read more

Syracuse's best kept secret! Take the time to find this place and stop in for a drink and a burger...very relaxing atmosphere nice staff and not overly crowded. read more

My husband and I ate here while visiting Syracuse, on the recommendation of our B&B owners. At first I was quite disappointed, as we went on a Friday and I learned that on Fridays they don't have burgers or fries, which was exactly what I was craving! I had the crab cakes, which were decent, my husband had fried shrimp, which was okay. What warrants this place getting four stars was their bread, which was delicious, and THE DESSERTS!! The desserts completely redeemed this place. I had the chocolate caramel tart, which was heavenly, and my husband had English walnut pie which was delicious as well. We both loooooved our desserts! I'm sure the burgers are good too, just don't go Friday! :) read more

Delicious food, great atmosphere with a welcoming feel from the locals. We went on a Saturday night and the owner jammed on the piano, encouraging us to stay for a few after dinner drinks. Wonderful service, friendly staff, and great time all around. Food was amazing. No doubt we will be back very soon! read more