Category Archives: Food

Metro Sushi Bar & Lounge

 

Metro Sushi Bar & Lounge located on Westcott

Menu
Metro Lounge and Sushi Bar offers two separate menus. One menu is for dining and the other menu specializes in parties and catered events. Their dining menu offers a variety of sushi and Pan-Asian items. Sushi rolls cost anywhere from $6 to $10 per roll and entrees vary from $9 to $17. If one isn’t in the mood for a whole meal, appetizers such as wings are available to order.

Metro also has a wide variety of beverages including alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Although they have no beer on tap, they do have an array imported beer options available, such as Heineken, Stella and Sapporo. The lounge also has many other drinks selections to choose from.

Their private parties menu allows their customers to request and choose the type of entrees that would best suit their party needs. There is a private form on their menu designed to explain and inform the restaurant of each customers’ private party needs.

Entertainment
On Wednesdays, Metro hosts karaoke night, which always draws in very large crowds. On Friday and Saturday nights, local bands of varying genres (reggae, rock ‘n’ roll, dance etc) come to perform. At Metro, there is also a dance floor that is separate from the seating area. Also available is a pool table towards a room in the back of the lounge.

Crowd
Metro has a 21 and over rule, as well as a dress code. The types of people one is most likely to find at metro are local area professionals and graduate students. Overall, the crowd at metro is considered to be “older” and “more sophisticated.” However, all  people are welcome to Metro, as long as they are 21 or above.

Specials
There are specials every night at Metro. Mondays and Tuesdays the bar offers half-priced Sushi to its customers. On Wednesday nights where there’s karaoke. Also on Wednesday nights at Metro there are drink specials; $2 Blue Light and Absolute vodka for $3. Recently, the lounge has also started trivia nights every Thursday, where it will give away prizes and offer Coors and/or Coors Light for $2 and Bacardi for $3.

Location:
505 Westcott Street
Syracuse, NY 13210

Phone: (315) 428-0810

Hours:
Monday and Tuesday 5:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.

Wednesday and Thursday 5:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m.
Friday and Saturday 5:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m.

Closed Sundays (Except during football season: 2:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.)

References:

 

Wise Guys Comedy Club

Downtown Syracuse area, where Wise Guys Comedy     Club is located: 201 S Salina Street Syracuse, NY 

General Information
The club has been around since 1985 and is considered to be one of the premier comedy club in the area of Syracuse. It has featured nationally known stars such as Andrew Dice Clay, Ray Romano, Kevin James and The Unknown Comic. Comedians have also been known to drop in and attend a show, often giving them positive reviews.


Showroom
The showroom where the entertainment takes place is on the club’s lower level, where as dining is located on the upper level. The showroom seats 110 guests on a first-come first-served basis in order to create a more intimate and personable atmosphere amongst the audience. Seating is done about 15 minutes before show time and Wise Guys Comedy Club claims that “there is no bad seat in the house.” There is tableside cocktail service available at ever sow and no drink minimums are required.

Dining
What many find convenient about Wise Guys Comedy Club is the fact that when going seeing a show, one can go to dinner before or after all within the same place. Lunch is offered starting at 11am, running until 2pm. The lunch menu features salads, sandwiches, and wraps as well as all available drinks on the menu. The pub are is open from the end of lunch until the club closes, featuring a similar menu to the lunch menu, with a few differences including pizza and a different selection of sandwiches. The dinner menu, which is only available Wednesday through Saturday, features entrees such as steaks, chicken, and seafood on top of what was is offered at the pub.

Costs:
Though there are no cover charges, tickets for shows cost $15 each.
Location:
201 S Salina Street
Syracuse, NY 13204

Contact:
Dining Reservations: (315) 214-4596
Comedy Reservations: (315) 477-9898

References:  www.wiseguyssyracuse.com

Dunkin’ Donuts

Dunkin’ Donuts, Photo Credit Gaurav T.

At Dunkin’ Donuts you can expect to find a variety of baked goods and assorted donuts along with a range of breakfast meals. Dunkin’ Donuts offers a variation of breakfast sandwiches on Texas toast, English muffins, croissants, and more. Oatmeal and hash browns are also available and franchise locations even offer bakery sandwiches like ham and cheese; turkey, cheddar and bacon; and Texas toast grilled cheese.

Dunkin’ Donuts, a very well-known franchise in the North East, can be found around the Syracuse University campus at two locations.

The first of the two is on the Syracuse University campus in the Student Schine Center. Although much smaller than franchise locations, customers can expect to find essentially the same menu you would find at any other Dunkin’ Donuts with the exception of seasonal promotions and limited time offers. This Dunkin’ Donuts is particularly popular amongst students for its convenient location right on campus. Considering it is in a dining hall, SU Super Card is accepted. This location is especially busy on Monday through Thursday before noon.

The actual franchise restaurant is located in the Marshall Street area. Like any other location it offers a variety of hot, iced, and frozen beverages. And aside from a multitude of baked goods and breakfast sandwiches, this Dunkin’ Donuts also offers their classic bakery sandwiches. This location also participates in limited time offers, specials, and seasonal promotions.

Address: Syracuse University – 303 University Ave, Syracuse, NY 13244

Phone: (315) 443-9886

Prices: $$ (Accepts SU Super Card)

Address: 746 S Crouse Ave, Syracuse, NY 13210

Phone:(315) 385-4002

Prices: $$

 

 

Boba Suite Tea House

The Boba Suite Tea House located in the Marshall Street area prides itself in having a Taiwanese influence. While the “bubble tea” originated in Taiwan in the 1980’s, the popular drink has successfully made its way to the states. Syracuse University Alum, Glenda Nuñez, opened the tea house in March of 2012 in hopes of connecting more with the campus. “I want students to have a place to showcase their work and for kids to think of this place as a home base to chill. I want to create a more ‘homey’ feel,” she says.

The ambiance is definitely on its way. At almost any given time students stop by to hang out in small groups of friends or just to enjoy the relaxing music and environment. As far as what type of tea you can expect, the possibilities seem endless. While their seasonal drinks include milk tea, smoothies, nectar, green tea, and brewed tea they also offer a series of yogurt drinks and different flavored lemonades. Despite the extensive number of flavors they offer perhaps the most fun part is choosing your favorite topping. The original “big boba” tapioca, which includes sweet potato, cassava root and brown sugar, remains quite popular. However, Boba Suite offers a variety of toppings which include: egg pudding, coffee jelly, golden jade jelly, lychee jelly, konjac jelly, aloe, strawberry pop boba, lychee pop boba, mango pop, and whipped cream.

Nuñez plans to nurture the growth of the tea house and expand what it has to offer. Although the menu is currently limited to beverages, we can expect to see food on the menu in the future. It’ll be something small, not a sit-down dinner place but more so pastries and baked goods. Nuñez also wants to expand to parfaits and yogurts with a wide variety of toppings. For long-term, Boba Suite is experimenting with a Boba late-night menu in which we can expect drinks such as a Baileys mint chocolate chip milkshake.

The Boba Suite Tea House delivers in a 3 mile radius and if you order 10 drinks, you get one (16 oz.) free or no delivery charge.

Address: 713 S Crouse Ave, Syracuse, NY 13210

Phone:(315) 299-5084

Prices: $$

 

Phoebe’s Restaurant and Coffee Lounge

Phoebe’s front door. Photo cred Jorden Meltz.

About:

Originally known as Phoebe’s Garden Cafe, the restaurant has been around for quite some time. In the past, local lore claims the location to once be a brothel, and Phoebe was its Madam. William Eberhardt opened the Cafe in December of 1976. The design was ornate, with deep colors as its theme and carved wood for accents. The cafe has had two makeovers; one in 1985, opening the space, and one in 2004, in which renovations and a coat of fresh paint brightened the cafe. With these changes, the name changed too, to Phoebe’s Restaurant and Coffee Lounge.

Location and Hours:

There is only one location, the original, found across from Syracuse Stage, on 900 East Genesee Street.

Specific hours for this cafe can be found

Phoebe’s in not open on Sundays, but Private Parties can reserve the space.

Menu:

Phoebe’s menu changes seasonally, with a few staple favorite always available, such as their famous Phoebe’s Salad, or their Chai Tea Lattes. They offer coffee, tea, and other morning beverages.  There is a coffee lounge, full dining, or a take-out window to serve all of your dining needs. you can find a complete, and updated list of all that Phoebe’s offers.

Contact:

900 East Genesse Street, Syracuse, NY 13210

315-475-5154

References and Resources:

Oriental House of Syracuse

Oriental House Asian grocery is located on Erie Boulevard East. It stocks many different Asian foods, including popular items like mochi, ramune drinks, cookies, and crackers, as well as freezer foods, noodles, dried goods, and sauces. Some vegetables are available, as well as miso pastes, soybean pastes, and other handpicked fridge items. Fresh fish and homemade kimchi are some of this store’s unique draws.

Outside Oriental House
Photo credit Gen Red Thomas

Contact Information
1706 Erie Boulevard East Syracuse, NY 13210
(315) 475 5533

Eastern Supermarket

Eastern Supermarket is a pan-Asian grocery store located on Erie Boulevard East. It is located in a nondescript building, so people must really watch closely when they drive over, but it is worth the hassle. Inside are so many different foods stocked on shelves, in fridge cases, freezers in the center of the store, and even lots of fresh produce and fish set out on ice. There is also a rack of clothing and some household and lifestyle items are available here that are not in regular American grocery stores.

Photo credit Gen Red Thomas

Atmosphere and Layout
The front left of the store is filled with large bags of food, such things as rice and flour are available there. The first few shelves contain crackers, sodas and drinks, dried foods, jerkies, and junk food. Then the fridge cases have all kinda of noodles, fish, meats, pickled vegetables, and other cold products. The vegetables, including difficult to find Chinese types, and other fresh produce are near the back and kept near the coolers in the middle of the back room. The coolers have a large selection of meat buns and gyoza. The staff is friendly and will help you find what you are looking for with ease. The fish lend a unique feel to this particular market, and make selecting which piece you want easier because all of it can be seen.

Contact Information
2406 Erie Boulevard East Syracuse, NY 13224

Han’s Oriental Grocery

Han’s Oriental Grocery is a small, pan-Asian grocery store located on Erie Boulevard East. They specialize in Korean, Japanese, and Thai foods, while having a large selection of fridge foods, instant noodles, and some fresh foods and vegetables. There is a plethora of seasonings and sauces on the shelves, as well as junk food including but not limited to crackers, cookies, Pocky, Hello Panda snacks, and bread products. Interestingly enough, many of the foods available at Han’s are used in preparation of meals at the neighboring restaurant, Secret Garden. Han’s also carries imported toiletries, cleaning items, and other consumer goods for the house.

Outside Han’s Oriental Grocery
Photo credit Gen Red Thomas

Atmosphere and Layout
Mochi, bread snacks, homemade tteok, and small cakes can be found in the area where you enter the store, on an island in the middle. There are ban chan, or appetizers, in to-go boxes located in the refrigerator case next to the front door, too. The left aisle is filled with sauces, jarred goods, and seasonings. The middle has crackers, dried goods, and junk food. The refrigerator cases also have homemade kimchi and tofu. The right aisle and back of the store has all kinds of instant noodles, even include such things as moroheiya (a healthy alternative to ramen-style noodles) and pho ga (a Vietnamese soup). In front of the cash register there is a freezer case that holds mochi ice cream, ice creams including red bean and green tea, and lychee, and frozen desserts. The other freezer cases line the outsides.

Contact Information
2731 Erie Boulevard East Syracuse, NY13224
(315) 446 7801

Asahi Sushi

Asahi Sushi is located on Westcott Street in Syracuse. This sushi restaurant specializes in kaiten-zushi, or conveyer belt sushi. Patrons take a seat at the bar and sushi, gyoza, seaweed salads, as well as other sushi-bar food is served in colored plates that slowly trek by on a conveyer belt that surrounds the edge of the bar-top. Pricing is based on the color of the dish, and a list of prices is available every few seats. The conveyer belt currently runs only for dinner, and Mondays are half-price days, and usually busiest. They also deliver, and there are free menu items you can get for different denominations of money spent.

The street outside Sakana-Ya
Photo credit Gen Red Thomas

Menu
Asahi Sushi offers all the regular Japanese fare, including hibachi choices and noodles, along with amazing rolls, some, like the Spicy Sandwich Roll, as not seen at any of the other Asian restaurants in the area! The most popular rolls are the Spicy Tuna Roll, Shrimp Tempura Roll, and Godzilla Roll. There is a full complement of appetizer, salads, and a large selection of vegetable rolls for vegetarians. Vegetarians are also in luck here because Asahi serves up a hard-to-find dinner box: Tofu Teriyaki. The dessert section is especially impressive with traditional dishes such as mocha and red beans with tapioca, which you can get either hot or cold. There are also fried bananas, fresh fruit with tapioca and coconut milk, and tempura ice cream.

Atmosphere
This new restaurant has a fresh feel about it in the layout of artwork, the bar, and tables. The sushi bar itself is the business’s crowning glory and is placed in the center of the large dining room. There are stools on one side, and booths on the other. There are also stand-alone tables and half-price Mondays are not just for the sushi bar.

Hours and Contact Information
508 Westcott Street Syracuse, NY
(315) 741 3564

Sakana-Ya

Sakana-Ya is a Japanese sushi restaurant located downtown on Walton Street. It is a kaiten-zushi restaurant, or a place where conveyer-belt sushi is served. Patrons take a seat at the bar and sushi, gyoza, seaweed salads, and other sushi-bar food is served in colored plates. The plates slowly trek by on a conveyer belt that surrounds the edge of the bar-top. Pricing is based on the color of the dish, and a list of prices is available every few seats. Sakana-Ya is most packed on Mondays, as all sushi is half-price.

Photo credit Gen Red Thomas

Menu
All sushi bar foods and entrees, including noodles are served upon request. If you do not see the kind of sushi or roll on the conveyer belt, servers come around to ask for requests. The conveyer vet service is great for people who are in a rush, and is a cool way to try something new if it looks good to you. Sake, beer, and wine are also available.

Atmosphere
The design for the restaurant is very upscale, well-lit, and vibrant. The actual dining area feels small, as it is not very wide, but can seat around twenty-five people at one time. There are white and blue lights all around, but the lighting is soft as they are not direct sources. In conclusion, the place is very well lit and vibrant. There is most always a wait on Mondays, but other days of the week are not as bad. People dress in both fancier and casual clothes and there is no dress code enforced.

Hours and Contact Information
215 Walton St.
(315) 475 0117