Great food service and atmosphere. Love the outdoor seating we just had a great time. Good wine selection.

Well... searched for restaurants on Yelp and found The Cider Mill for family returning to the area from different states. 7:15 reservation for 6 made on Tock over a week in advance and confirmed twice by emails from the restaurant. Confirmed this was a special occasion on Tock. Also got an email for the patio this afternoon and said yes. We arrived at 7:10 - everyone present. Were told that our table was finishing dessert and it would be a few minutes. We declined an inside table. OK fine. We waited outside for 15 minutes and noticed that 2 people were left at the table looking at their phones and talking. We waited (too long) ... Other smaller parties were seated right away. At 7:35 (25 min in) I went in and asked if the party (of 2 at the table for 6) knew there were people waiting for their table? Perhaps suggest they move to the bar? They said they were working on it. We waited for a total of 30+ minutes outside and sat down at 7:45. Big mistake. Except for the focaccia (which they put on the table for our wait), the food was mediocre. The Brisket Sandwich was open faced and smothered with a thick BBQ sauce - once the meat was removed the bread was burned. The riggies were undercooked (not al dente) and blah. Our server was efficient and apologized but it was not her problem. The hostess X2 were inept and did not manage the situation. The waiting experience, after the flurry of confirmations, with others seated expeditiously was very disappointing. The food did not elevate the impression... read more

Wow. Where to start. I have now gone two times in one week because I liked it so much. First time my boyfriend made reservations and easy enough our table was ready no wait. Second time I made reservations online and got there maybe twenty minutes early. Easy enough had the cider mill manhattan while I waited. We were still seated at our designated time. Now for the food. I have come only on Fridays so I have had the clam chowder soup both times. It's so good! The consistency is perfect. And the portion is quite big. Poached pear salad- fresh and delicious with hints of blue cheese and crunchy walnuts for added texture. Pork belly appetizer- wow. Sweet/salty with those pickled veggies and rice crisps. Just layers of flavors that are harmonious! Pork shank- delicious and fell off the bone. Presentation was amazing. The next time I went I got the soup and pork belly app again. This time I got the special which was a prime rib special. Best I've had in Syracuse by far. Wish it was on the regular menu. My sister got the pork chop. Service is attentive! First time I sat in the dining area and second time I sat near the bar. I thought the bar side was less hectic for whatever reason. Parking lot can get full at peak times. Whatever the case I'm afraid to write this review because this is a secret hidden gem of Syracuse for great food thats unpretentious and casual. It's my new favorite! read more

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From the moment we entered the restaurant the hostess was very welcoming and the atmosphere was amazing. We went to the bar for a couple of drinks and the bartender recommended the right beer for me when I said I wanted something with a citrus tang! We got seated and from the start Rebecca was on top of her game. She named all the specials which seemed very appetizing and from there we had the best experience. Half off bottles of wine on Thursday's had us sold! The food was outstanding, complements to the chef. They deserve ten stars after the experience that we had here! Once again, Rebecca did an amazing job and accommodated all of our needs. read more

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Uber pleasantly surprised. Fair warning: portions are quite large, which is great if you love leftovers, but don't overdo it like us and get too many appetizers :) Mac n cheese was great. Seasonal second appetizer was a little less impressive but still good and fresh. The entrees were delicious and well seasoned. Staff was attentive, sweet, and on top of that water service! If you're a fellow out of towner like us, do not get discouraged by the unassuming facade or the "middle of nowhere" location, the place is charming on the inside and well worth the drive! read more

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Read reviews from here and decided to try it! There was 6 of us and we called and had a reservation. (Very popular place. I suggest that anyone that wants to go makes a reservation). We were sat a couple minutes before the time of our reservation. Food was cooked to perfection. We tried a few different appetizers. The Brussel sprouts were my favorite. Meals all came out without any issue. We tried the doughnuts and they were phenomenal! Was not disappointed by the food. However, for our first experience, I was let down a little by the service. Our server was very monotone and seemed like she did not want to be working. Also the parking could be better. Would like to go back and try again and hopefully have a server who enjoys their job. Food was so good I forgot to take any pictures. read more

The bartender in the the tavern was and just looked miserable. The food on the other side was ok. Hard cider was great

We had a terrific meal last night. We had the duck and braised short ribs. Fabulous! The brussel sprout appetizer was so delicious, too. We've been there before and enjoyed the experience each time but this dinner last night was the best. read more

We were a party of four early on January (2020) evening. A group of friends looking for a place we had never tried. We discovered this little place not for from Community Hospital, and not far from the old Fairmont Mall area. I found the the decor relaxing but eloquent. The outside looks like an old beat country place, but the inside was upscale country. The food was very soooo tasty. Prime rib on point. There was nothing bad about the food. The wait i thought was only slightly longer than most places. We had apps, and entrees no dessert there was no room after dinner. But as i saw desserts come out of the kitchen i wish i did. The price was above normal but only slightly. Around $220.00 for four apps and four entrees no alcohol no desserts. This price included the server's tip. I suggest you stop in and give it a try. read more

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Given the high rating in Yelp, my friend and I decided to eat here in October at around 7 pm. The waitress, Hannah, came to the table one time in forty-five minutes to take the order, but only returned after I visited the hostess station asking where she was and why our dinner was taking so long. She returned to tell us the kitchen was out of our entree for the evening but she was going to make sure we would be served. It was a single plate of chicken and it took 45 minutes to tell us. She never returned to the table to ask how dinner was. She was busy elsewhere. The restaurant wasn't particularly crowded. It was too early in the evening to be out of chicken anything. The hostess came and told my friend, "Everything here is made to order." Guess what, the hostess with an attitude. We didn't choose to dine at McDonalds, but (1) they would have known sooner than 45 minutes if they were out of dinner, (2) we already figured out it was made to order, assuming they had a chicken to cook. You would think a manager would come out to ask how our dinner was. It didn't happen. Don't bother wasting your time or money here. read more

The Cider Mill - Front entrancce - Comfort Food Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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Accommodating & friendly staff. Great NY strip- perfect temperature. Riggies is a winner for pasta & large portion. Salmon cooked perfectly & tasty. read more

Delicious apps, especially the arancini. My husband had the riggies, which he liked a lot, though served blistering hot. My salmon was ok, not outstanding. The dessert was excellent. The decor is rustic, in a good way. The table top could have been cleaner. The server was good and attentive. I gave it 4 stars since there isn't an option for 3 1/2. The unevenness in the food and the less than clean table. We would still give it another try. read more

I ordered the veal dish last evening and my husband ordered the strip steak . The steak was very good lots of flavor and the asparagus was cooked perfectly . Now for the potatoes soufflé I had no idea what that was . The veal was burnt around the edges and over cooked . I should have known when she offered me a steak knife . No flavor at all just deep fried . Then it comes with pasta just laced with olive oil . Very disappointed . I only ordered the veal because it was highly recommended. My waitress was very pleasant . Ambiance was ok . My husband would not eat the veal and pasta . He did share with me the steak and he ordered your dessert . Please do better in the future. read more

This place is one of the better restaurants that's not in the downtown Syracuse area, but a gem in itself. The food was spot on and delicious for everyone. My friends who got the pork chops could not stop saying how delicious the apple sauce was, and how it paired so well with the pork. The red snapper was delicious as well. This is a great date night place or to treat yourself with excellent and unique food. Looking forward to going back and seeing how they switch up the menu and trying new things. read more

First time at cider Mill. They've really done a nice job on the whole package: food, service, ambiance. Very full, very pleased. Will definitely return read more

Attentive service, caters to people with food sensitivities (the menu is clearly marked), nice vegetarian options as well as delicious steaks and seafood. Pretty good bar menu. Highly recommend this restaurant which cooks with fresh ingredients. Make a reservation because it's pretty popular. read more

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Great service, excellent cocktails, and good food. The Blackberry Mule was delicious, although I didn't see any fresh blackberries as the menu promised. So many of them sound great; I wanted to try them all! I ate in the bar area, which was loud for a Wednesday night, but fine for me as I was dining alone. The host and waitress were courteous throughout the service. I ordered an app (fontina meatballs) and a salad (burrata caprese). The salad was excellent. Lovely cheese and balsamic plus a beautifully grilled toast. The meatballs were over-cooked, so they were tough and a bit dry. The flavor was good. These were served on a bed of very darkly caramelized onions and another piece of toast. I ended with a decaf coffee that was just okay. I will definitely come back when I'm in the area. read more

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Great food but a bit pricey. Only had two ciders which I thought was odd given the name.

Amazing food. Worth every penny. For appetizers we ordered the arincini: crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside and Caesar salad: a perfect representation of a true Caesar with a taste of anchovies. For dinner I had the salmon. It was accompanied by potatoes and asparagus but the real star was the salmon in a dijon mustard sauce. Just perfection! Beautiful sear, so buttery melt-in-your-mouth perfectly cooked and seasoned...exactly what I had hoped for in a salmon dinner. My companion had a burger, which I did not taste. He claimed it was one of the best he's had. We did have desert...they have a pastry chef so how could we resist? It was as advertised. ..a dense but light flour-less chocolate cake. Dense on the fork but melted on the tongue. We had this with coffee of course. We will not hesitate to return to The Cider Mill the next time we go out to dine. read more

The Cider Mill - Salmon with mustard sauce, asparagus and potatoes - Comfort Food Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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7/11/19 Back Again. I had the Grilled NY Strip with Roasted Garlic Mashed, sautéed bok choy, House Steak Sauce, Frizzled Onions. The NY Strip was a little beyond medium rare but very good. The garlic mashed were topped with the frizzled onions was excellent! The bok choy was very good. My wife choose the Eddie Murphy Burger: Prime Patty stuffed with Green Peppers and Onions - served on Texas Toast with American Cheese, Ketchup and Mustard. She substitute the Split Rock Greens (Sautéed Escarole, Cherry Peppers and Pancetta topped with Pecorino & Breadcrumbs) for the Salt & Vinegar Chips She loved the burger but the thick bread wasn't toasted! Wine Kato Sauvignon Blanc and the 13 Celsius Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc both from New Zealand were good. Service was still excellent! read more

Amazing food! I had the veal tenderloins wrapped in bacon - amazeballs. I washed it down with a maple Old Fashioned made with Maker's Mark - super good! Highly recommend this place if you need an amazing meal in a cozy, quiet setting. It was not over crowded or loud at all. They had a bar that served just about everything you could ask for - had a nice selection of beers on tap. And a great selection of various wines available. The Cider Mill is top notch! read more

Everyone has been talking a good game about this place, so I decided to try it for myself. I started on Friday night with sampling the cocktail menu. I enjoyed the cocktails very much and the bartender was attentive and friendly (much appreciated). My only tip for improvement on the cocktails would be to use cocktail ice balls or those larger ice cubes. I went for dinner the following night having gone prepared with some recommendations from friends/family ahead of time. I got the Heavenly Thighs with mac & cheese and greens. The meal is appropriately named as it truly was heavenly. The thighs were tender, had a unique flavor, and the mac & cheese was spot on. Hot, creamy, flavorful and they had the small shells which were perfect. The greens were a nice compliment. They were very spicy but also very flavorful and went well with the chicken & mac & cheese. I also tried the steak which sounded delicious! It was a strip with a blue cheese sauce and a reduction served over garlic bread. The strip was nicely prepared and tender (especially for a strip). I would not order it again for the simple fact that the reduction tasted just like A-1 steak sauce. My rule of thumb is If I can have it at home, I don't want to eat it at a restaurant. I want better than what I can have at home. I also sampled several items from the appetizer menu over the course of the two nights. The poutine was outstanding. The fries were hearty and crispy (but not too crispy where there is no potato), gravy was flavorful (a bit salty but delicious), with cheese curds and very tender pot roast. The nice thing about this place is the appetizers are actually sizable and you can easily get filled up so either order apps for your meal or only get 1 app to share. Bread: They serve a couple of slices of two types of bread/scones. Skip these as they are on the dry side and only fill you up to distract you from the truly good things on the menu. I will definitely return to this restaurant and really look forward to trying other things on the menu - both for dinner and for cocktails, as these change seasonally. Also, if I could I would give it 4.5 stars out of 5. read more

The Cider Mill - Poutine Appetizer - Comfort Food Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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Are outdoors on a warmer evening. Service was great, and much faster than I expected. Food was delicious and reasonably priced for the quality. It was a date night, and it was the perfect spot for a date night. I can't wait to go back! read more

It's not a diner in the least. It's a rustic, farm-to-table specialty restaurant with a down-home flair. Imaginative dishes prepared and served expertly. Packed house even on a snowy night, deservedly so. Belt-busting portions; consider inquiring about sharing. But we're fans. read more

You wouldn't expect The Cider Mill could be what it is from the outside. With the food quality and service you would think that this is a more up-scale restaurant! Service: Absolutely wonderful. All of the wait staff were so attentive and fun to get along with. They definitely made me and my group feel comfortable and never neglected. Food: The food here can be on the pricier side, but you really pay for the quality of the food. The dishes here are delicious and made fresh to order. I got the special which was a open-faced roast beef sandwich. I am lactose in tolerant so I ordered it without cheese and it came out great! I would highly recommend coming to this restaurant for a nice occasion or anyone that you want to impress. Great food, great atmosphere, and great service. read more

Just had-no exaggeration- one of the best meals of my life at the Cider Mill- crab stuffed lobster tail with herbed polenta, perfectly sautéed greens, and a sherry cream sauce (thanks chef Sam Crawford!) It's not on the regular menu but we suggested more than once that it should be. Their regular menu is classic yet interesting American cuisine. Watching the plates go by as they came out of the kitchen, everything looked delicious and portions are generous. Capped off the meal with hot cider donuts drizzled with delicious caramel. Despite being a really busy Friday night, our service was perfect. Our server Rebecca is a total pro. Cocktails were balanced and delicious. If I lived in Syracuse this place would be my special occasion spot. Looking forward to the next time I come to town! read more

Best restaurant on the west side of Syracuse. Love everything we've ever eaten there... fun cocktails too. Atmosphere is great, staff is friendly & knowledgeable. Enjoy! read more

Probably one of the best meals I have had. Super creative with the Sicilian fennel salad, excellently prepared octopus, tuna tartare, snapper with orange sauce. The orange sauce on the snapper was perfect, not too much, perfectly glazed. Octopus which can be tricky was done to perfection with just enough seasoning not to overpower the octopus. Drinks were amazing! Manhattan perfect. Can't wait to go back. Amazing. Service was excellent with the owner stopping by not once but twice to check on everything. Wish they were in Raleigh NC. Loved the venue and the very welcoming feeling and comfort of being there. Thank you!! read more

The Cider Mill has a great atmosphere and the food is superb! The porkchop is especially delicious and the applesauce it's paired with goes so well with the rest of the meal. The service was also prompt despite it being a pretty busy night. read more

The food and travel guru stopped by Syracuse today. I had to really drive around to find this little establishment way off the main highway. I do agree that this place is probably the best of what Syracuse has to offer. It was also nice to get a refreshing microbrew before heading out again. There are two nice choices on this menu. Top choice is the chicken. It is marinated and paired with greens and Gouda Mac and cheese. I don't normally recommend a chicken dish but this one is very nicely balanced and a definite must have. A solid second is the steak. It's a marinated bottom sirloin steak paired with some kind of fried cheese cake and grilled veggies. I didn't like any of the appetizers so that's a skip. This chef is far too much in to pairing the sweet and savory so a lot of sun dried tomatoes and other dried fruits are used. Not for me. Overall a good solid place but not quite enough for 5 stars. read more

This is a nice neighborhood-type place (OK, it's not really in a neighborhood) with a consistently-good creative menu. Most recently, the jambalaya arancini was terrific: five pieces fried perfectly with a Creoe-inspired sauce. I've also enjoyed wasabi and ginger deviled eggs special they ran during the summer. One of their menu mainstays is a sort of cinnamon boneless chicken thighs served with some greens and a phenomenal gouda mac and cheese. Despite all the positives at the Cider Mill, one thing sticks with me after every visit: their heavy hand on the salt. I wake up feeling hung over after every meal here, can't be a coincidence. The saltiness doesn't seem to hurt the taste of any of the dishes (except for one time with the chicken riggies), but it can't hurt to hydrate before a meal here. read more

We enjoyed our whole experience! Food, service and atmosphere combined made our evening very pleasant. Being a vegan my order was delicious. We hope to enjoy the restaurant again soon. read more

I know this place has really good reviews, but I found a maggot in my burger (which was served raw). Told the hostess who also confirmed she saw it on my plate. They were willing to cover my dinner, but I asked for the whole meal to be reimbursed, as I had guests visiting from out of town, and they agreed to cover all. After reimbursing, they said maybe it came from the flowers on the table or from the lettuce on the burger. Ugh. read more

I had a lovely dining experience here. Their bathroom napkins were great (as my friend pointed out). The interior is dim and was larger than I expected. They have a bar area in the front entrance to the left. I was excited for this addition to Syracuse! Making reservations online for same-day dining was easy. They're closed Sundays & Mondays. They sell plates you can share, larger plates if you want to hog your dish to yourself, and a variety of cocktails and alcoholic beverages that, yes, include cider. I only saw one cider cocktail and one cider on tap. Some of the cocktails are on the pricier side (~$11) but they are inventive and different (ex: mango mule, a tropical twist on the classic Mowcow mule). They also have a daily flight special that you can ask them about. I'd say the menu is New American with Italian and Asian influences. I had their special of the day: an 8 oz crab cake on some lemony couscous with some greens. It was really good. The patty was made with real crab and they weren't stingy on it. The greens had something crunchy/hard in it that I couldn't pinpoint. I'm mad at myself for forgetting the leftovers at the restaurant. I enjoyed their large alcohol selection and menu options. I tried the grits side dish and thought it was unique and delicious. It was shaped into a square like polenta rather than being loose. read more

The Cider Mill - Lambic - Comfort Food Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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Ordered two take out dinners (Heavenly Thighs and Cider Pork Chop) last night and all I can say is "off the charts". The pork chop was super by cooked with exceptional flavor, and the Heavenly Thighs were equally flavorful. Toss in sides of just right amount of spice "Utica Greens" and creamy warm mac and cheese and this meal was outstanding. The online ordering was seamless, pick up safe and friendly. The Cider Mill has mastered all aspects in this new era we are all currently living in. read more

Absolutely amazing place, great service and some of the most unique flavors. Has been very consistent over the course of a few visits, highly recommend! read more

The parents have been raving about this place so much that upon my arrival they made a reservation! The only negative the table had was that the wine list needs to be expanded. But honestly that's it!! And if you know my reviews you know how I feel about bathrooms! Let me tell these bathrooms were sooo clean and such a design that I want it in my home! The decor suits the fact that it used to be a fish market - they show appreciation for the past and update and value the present. The arancini and lamb meatballs were perfectly seasoned and played with class. There were five people in the party and the apps came out with five each. Not sure if they do this for all tables or if that's the amount they serve. :/ For entrees amongst the table was the roasted chicken, the burger, the salmon and the squash. The fries with the burger are insane; the chicken was tender and accompanied by delightful veggies and mash. I didn't taste the salmon but it looked devine. The squash was served with kale and mushrooms and a soft boiled egg, I truly got all my protein in. Dessert the table shared the cider donuts and the chocolate pot de creme. Was told the recently have a pastry chef and are developing new things. The pot de creme came out in an oddly shaped mason jar but was delicious and the donuts were hot, crisp and cinnamony :) Enjoy it all!!! read more

The Cider Mill - Comfort Food Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Okay, good food. Friendly service, not a cider mill anymore. Just a few ciders on draft.

I don't understand why anyone would give this place a positive review. Party of four, each had a different meal. Poutine app, plate of grease. Brussel sprout app, quite good and the only grace to this meal. Prime rib, tasteless, NY strip overdone and tough, grouper and swordfish, terribly overcooked and dry. read more

Fantastic experience from beginning to end. Service was very friendly, very attentive and extremely knowledgeable about the menu. Hannah walked us through the menu as it was my first time here. her suggestions were spot on, I had the Arancini and a Crab cake as appetizers, both were delicious. For our entrees, I had the special for the night, which was a 16 oz ribeye steak with a twice baked potato with truffles that the owner had just brought back from Italy. For dessert I had the apple cider doughnut, it was delicious. If you have not been here before, it is well worth the trip. read more

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