City: Charlottesville, VA
Foodie: Extra P., Storming the Floor
Venue: John Paul Jones Arena
Team: Virginia Cavaliers (NCAA)
Address: 295 Massie Road, Charlottesville, VA
Extra P’s Taste
I know you hear people say all the time that they’ll eat just about anything, and you have to roll your eyes a bit. But I am seriously just as happy with a nice plate of macaroni and cheese as I am with high-end seafood. In my opinion, it’s all in the execution.
With that in mind, I’m still going to advise you to skip the indoor concessions at JPJ. They’re really uninspired, and there’s so much in a town like Cville that is truly local and fantastic. In fact, the sheer volume of good places to eat in this town is overwhelming enough that I’m going to limit my reviews to dining establishments that are within a one-mile radius of the arena. This is no handicap – you can get full and happy quite easily within that cordon.
In fact, one of my favorite restaurants in town is in the area, so let’s start there.
El Puerto Mexican Restaurant, 2045 Barracks Rd, Charlottesville, VA
There are lots of good Mexican restaurants in Charlottesville, but El Puerto is my favorite, and it’s very close to JPJ. It’s family-owned, which means the food is consistently excellent and authentic. The décor rocks, with hand-drawn artwork under the glass at each table, and bottles of jarritos soda lining the room divider to add a little neon color to the surroundings. For your aural pleasure, it’s Mexican pop music all the time, but not so loud you can’t have a conversation.
The food is out of this world. There are two things that consistently draw me to El Puerto: the spicy chorizo sausage, and the braised pork chunks called carnitas. I took my camera on a recent lunch outing so I’d be able to show you these wonderful items. What you see here is the queso dip with chorizo stirred in, which goes great on the chips, but is also served poured over a pounded chicken breast in the dinner special known as Chori-Pollo. For my main dish, I ordered a carnitas burrito, which comes with refried beans and Spanish rice. As you can see, everything is rustic and beautiful. And it tastes even better than it looks.
This was a huge lunch, so I had the added joy of taking half of it home and eating it later. Order anything on the menu, it’s all great. And if you like drinks, they make tasty margaritas, and the strongest Jack & Coke around. Prices are very reasonable as an added bonus, so my family and I come here a lot.
Panda Garden/Carmello’s Italian Restaurant, 380/400 North Emmet St.
For proximity, you can’t beat these two joints. They are literally right across the street from JPJ on lots adjacent to one another. Which you’d think might cause them to rest on their laurels a bit, but each place does a good job under completely different circumstances.
Carmello’s is a nice, sit-down Italian restaurant. You’ll be looking at more expensive and refined dishes, like escargot and veal. You don’t have to dress up, but you will need to make sure you’re willing to budget for a more expensive meal, especially if you order a bottle of wine. If you’re more the pizza and Stromboli type, go across the street and a block or so south and you’ll be at Italian Villa, a student favorite.
On a budget, it’s tough to beat Panda Garden’s lunch buffet, which is $6.40 all-you-can-eat. I’ve eaten at a lot of Chinese buffet joints, and I know every trick in the book that owners use to stretch a buck – scrappy cuts of meat under tons of breading, three parts bok choy to one part everything else, and tiny, lonely shrimp amongst others – and I can say with delight that none of those things happened here. My favorite buffet offerings are chicken w/ broccoli and General Tso’s, and I usually put both on my plate at the same time. Both passed my test – the broccoli was steamed just right, and the breaded chicken was plump and crispy. That’s probably why Panda Garden thrives so near the grounds of the University. A good meal at a reasonable price.
Bodo’s Bagels
Bodo’s is a local treasure. It hits the trifecta of cheap, filling, and tasty. Last I counted, there were three locations around Cville, but this one is the closest to the ball games. Aside from the food, most locals also enjoy the piped-in deep cuts of classic rock and the college-hottie waitstaff.
The bagels are made on-site in all of the standard flavors, but they’re put together in all manner of ways to satisfy the palate for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. One of my favorites in the morning is the deli-egg sandwich, which is sort of a mini meat and cheese omelette in the middle of a sliced bagel. There are also several varieties of flavored cream cheese, amongst which my preference is for the olive cream cheese (not to be confused with kalamata olive spread, which has no cream cheese in it), with its colorful slices of black olive, green olive, and pimento inside.
After 11am, I usually build a smoked turkey with avocado and either swiss or provolone on sesame – but you can do whatever you want.
The Tavern, 1140 Emmet Street North
Honestly, my family has other favorite breakfast joints, but I would feel remiss if I didn’t mention the Tavern. It’s a hugely popular greasy spoon with pancakes made from scratch and just about every other type of breakfast food you can imagine. It’s easy to find, just look for the sign painted on the roof.
Padow’s Deli, 2156 Barracks Road
Kind of a regional chain, but all of the meat is sliced on the premises and made into deli sandwiches that are decidedly southern in nature and won’t remind you of New York in the slightest. Nothing against the Big Apple, but I think a place should have its own regional take.
This is another place where standardization has never taken hold. The order-takers have a pad with each meat, cheese, bread and condiment on it, and they just circle what you want as you order. If you’re the indecisive type, look at the chalkboard menu for some favorites that have become standard offerings. Once you order your sandwich, you can ask for a scoop of potato salad from behind the counter, or accessorize your meal from the burgeoning rack of chips against the near wall. I always choose the small-batch Route 11 chips, which come in delicious flavors like Dill Pickle, Chesapeake Crab, and my favorite, Garlic & Herb. They also make a habanero flavored chip that really sears the taste buds.
A word of warning: in Virginia, ham means salty, fatty country ham. If that’s what you want, order the three (3) ham biscuits special. If that’s not what you want, look for modifiers like honey- or maple- in front of your sliced pig. This is a great place to hang out and nosh before a game. Answer the daily trivia question on the chalk board and you could end up with free food.
Arch’s Frozen Yogurt, 1232 Emmet Street North
This is just one of three Arch’s in Cville, but I love the total concept of this location. It’s housed in a free-standing modern building with two stories, tons of natural light, and verandas front and back for outdoor summer seating. The walls are brightly painted, and ordering can be done simply from the big chalk board (a popular concept these days).
This is one of those places where the staff mixes whatever you want into your frozen concoction, so I made a cup with peanuts and banana because that’s what I was in the mood for at the time. The pre-selected options on the board sound great, though.
Since basketball is played in the winter, you won’t likely be using the outdoor seating if you’re going to JPJ. But the upstairs area has plenty of seating, it’s nice and warm, and there’s art on the walls if you need a conversation starter. Can’t beat it for dessert.
Drinks
Needless to say, there’s no drinking in the on-campus arena, so you’ll want to imbibe before or after. The closest place is Buffalo Wild Wings, on the edge of Barracks Road Mall. It’s your typical sports bar, but I love ordering the wings and then having the staff douse them in a sauce from the list of fourteen available – ranging from Caribbean Jerk to Parmesan Garlic to Habanero. There’s a similarly wide-ranging beer list, as well.
If you prefer hip to quick-n-easy, head over to the central grounds of the university to the entertainment district known as The Corner. That’s where you’ll find the beautiful people and the fancy cocktails. Just make sure you’ve had your booster shot to help you tolerate all of the popped collars.
That’s it for the basketball area. Come football season, we’ll look at the very different list of badass eats around Scott Stadium.
City: Fairfax, Virginia
Foodie: Extra P, Storming the Floor
Venue: The Patriot Center
Team: George Mason Patriots (NCAA)
Address: 4500 Patriot Circle Fairfax, VA 22030
Extra P's Taste
During college basketball season, I like to take a few road trips to see what the atmosphere is like in other arenas. The atmosphere, and the food.
On an early January weekend, I decided to take my six-year-old son to his first basketball game. I’m an Old Dominion grad who lives in Charlottesville, VA, so it was actually just as easy to travel to northern Virginia to see my alma mater play at George Mason as it would have been to drive to Norfolk to catch them at home.
I know nothing about Fairfax, and didn’t come across any non-chain restaurants between the interstate and the George Mason campus, so I can only assess what was available in and around the Patriot Center.
The Johnson Center Food Court
We got to the suburban campus a little early, hoping to walk around and see what the surroundings were like. Extra P, Jr. was hungry, so as we walked, we kept our eyes open for some sort of student union building. After visiting the statue of George Mason himself, we found the Johnson Center, which seemed perfect.
Inside, the Center looked very much like a suburban mall. My son got off his first good line of the day, saying "Daddy, why did you bring me to the train station to eat?" Kids. I tell ya. But he had a point – it resembled nothing so much as Union Station in D.C., but without the trains.
We saw many people sitting at the food court tables, eating, but all of the restaurants had the screens down and locked. All that we could find open was a convenience store and the student merchandise store. Ordinarily, we would have been able to choose from the usual array of chain restaurants, as well as less-familiar names like Charleston Market and Jazzman’s
Alas, today this was not an option.
Figuring we’d be in the arena soon, we opted for bottled water and snacks. One unique item we picked up at the convenience store counter were these George Mason jelly bellies. They tasted like… well, jelly bellies. But they did have that neato specialized packaging that at least let us know where we were.
After a quick visit to the merchandise store to grab the cheapest memorabilia we could find (foam finger and pair of athletic socks with GMU logos), we were off to the game.
The Patriot Center
Now, since it was just me and EPJr, I planned to eat guy style: whatever we wanted, and however much we wanted. Which explains why my son’s meal began with soft-serve ice cream. Prices were the typical college arena level – overpriced, but not quite what you’d pay at a pro joint – but the folks behind the counter didn’t skimp on the vanilla, as you can see.
The rest of the food was a pretty standard selection, though there were noticeable quality gaps within the offerings. I was pleased to find that each window had different items, as I’ve been to other arenas that offered roughly the same stand every hundred feet or so. Nonetheless, EPJr can’t go to a game without eating a hot dog, so that’s where we started out.
You’re looking at fifteen bucks. It would have been twenty, but my son, strangely enough, does not like soda. The condiments left a lot to be desired – just mustard and ketchup to lubricate the five-dollar less-than-footlongs. I like the yellow stuff, and my son likes the red stuff, so we were relatively settled. Sadly, the buns were a bit stale, and the hotdogs were totally ordinary. I felt we could do better.
EPJr was perfectly happy to cleanse his palate with some cotton candy, and who can blame him? It’s a classic, and it’s hard to screw up. And there are few sights better than a brightly-dressed arena employee balancing the big tray of pink, fluffy goodness.
For me, however, something more substantial was required. I had it in my mind that I had passed a stand offering chicken BBQ at some point, so I went out for a quick recon. I was a little nervous about leaving the kid alone in his seat, even with the nice people sitting next to us, so I probably didn’t go far enough in my search. I stopped at the biggest and busiest window to ask about the possibly fictional Chix BBQ, and got this reply: “Wul, we’ve got chicken, and I can give you some barbeque sauce to put on it.” No… just, No.
I settled on the lovely grease bomb you see here. Now, I want you to know that I don’t use the word “grease” in a pejorative sense. Done properly, grease makes an excellent condiment. And this was done properly. This was known as a chopped steak sandwich, which I appreciated, because I’ve been to Philly, and calling something like this a cheesesteak is false advertising. But this was great for what it was – real chopped meat instead of steak-umms, the right amount of peppers and onions, and some stringy white cheese – and I enjoyed every sloppy bite. It filled the gnawing hole in my stomach and used grease in just the right way – it soaked into the bun just enough to make it moist, but not enough to make it soggy. Very nice.
Our final indulgence was popcorn. Some attendees got theirs for free, as the staff of the Patriot Center dropped paper bags from the gantries on the ceiling, suspended from little parachutes. EPJr was very disappointed when none fell to him, so I dropped the rest of our food dough on a large paper cup full. My son hates the fake squirt-butter, so I have to say that this tasted like Styrofoam to me, but he was more than satisfied.
In the final analysis, it seems to me that anyone familiar with stadium food will find plenty to enjoy here. While I can’t particularly recommend what is ordinarily a staple - hot dogs - there is a wide variety of other options that can be easily parsed out by peeking at the baskets your fellow sports fans are carrying around. It’s probably worth doing a little of that peek-and-sniff research to suss out the best options, because if you eat like me and the little nipper, you can easily spend more on comestibles than you did on your tickets.
For variety, decent portions, and floating popcorn, I give the Patriot Center a solid B. The inconsistency from booth to booth, and the lack of a signature go-to item kept them from scoring any higher, but a guy can eat there. If you’re there on a night when the nearby food courts are open, you might be in A- territory.
Oh, and they’ve got a heck of a basketball team going, too.
City: Lexington, Kentucky
Foodie: Straitpinkie Squad, Straightpinkie.com
Team: Kentucky Wildcats (NCAA)
Address: 1540 University Drive, Lexington, KY 40506 (The Wealth); 432 W Vine Street, Lexington, KY 40506 (Rupp)
Straightpinkie's Taste
Whether you are in town to see Rich Brooks and the revitalized Kentucky football program whomp on some fools in Commonwealth, or have came to watch the most storied program in all of college basketball, Billy Clyde's boys add another page to the history of Rupp Arena, these are the dining and drinking experiences you must try before leaving the L-E-X. The dining in Rupp Arena and The Wealth leaves a WHOLE LOT to be desired. Unless you wanna chomp on some Subway, Wendy's, A&W, or Fazoli's, you're gonna wanna eat before and after the events. Here's where to go:
Pazzo's
385 S Limestone, Lexington, KY 40508
(859) 255-5125
The best hand-tossed pizza anywhere and the largest draft beer selection in Central Kentucky. If you're just lookin' to have a couple slices and get hammered in preparation of the night ahead, here's your spot. Pazzo's has the main floor bar, a Bourbon bar, a Back Bar, a Downstairs Pub and an Outdoor Patio (in other words, plenty of room to get plastered). Chow down on Pazzo's signature dish, the Mezzaluna: pizza and calzone in one, served stuffed and topped with cheese and marinara.
Then its on to the drankin’!!! We can’t even begin to list all the beers Pazzo’s has available and chilled, just waiting for your palate to taste… Over 40 beers on tap with a full-service bar, and imports from just about every country on the globe. If you are a stout fan, try out a Russian Imperial Stout, the Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout (10.6% ABV). Like Rye Beers? Go for a Goose Island Mild Winter Rye Ale (5.6% ABV) from Chitown. Wanna get hammered and fast? Down a Doppelbock from Austria entitled the Samichlaus (14.0% ABV). Happy Hour is from 4-7pm every day and features half price appetizers and $1.95 Domestic Drafts. They also have daily pint specials. LOVE THIS PLACE!!
Billy's Bar-B-Q
101 Cochran Rd, Lexington, KY 40502
(859) 269-9593
Billy’s has been featured in the New York Times and The Sophisticated Traveler, but no matter their success the staff at Billy’s will welcome you with down home Southern-style hospitality. Open for thirty years Billy’s has perfected the taste of real pit barbecue. But you’ll want to start out by sampling some of their appeteasers. From banana pepper rings, battered & fried, to catfish strips with homemade tartar sauce, Billy’s appeteasers do just what their name suggests, tease you with small samples of the deliciousness that is to come.
The straitpinkie squad’s favorite menu item is the Billy’s Blitz, a large Bar-B-Q samich, topped with slaw, cheese, onion & tomato, your choice of pork, beef, mutton, or pulled chicken, served with a pickle. But you really can’t go wrong with your selection, and it isn’t limited to just barbecue, if you wish you can try out a bratwurst, a hamburger, or some pork tenderloin and spare ribs. Billy’s side dishes are off the charts as well, from their sweet & tangy cole slaw to their southern favorite cheese grits and blackeyed peas, to their cooked on the pit baked beans. Mmmmm.
Malone's
Lansdowne location
3347 Tates Creek Rd, Lexington, KY 40502
(859) 335-6500
Best steak in Lexington hands down and is also attached to Oscar's oyster and piano bar, which makes for an excellent relaxed, yet sophisticated atmosphere whilst you are downing a cold Kentucky Ale and shuckin' some oysters on the half shell and reminiscin' about how the Whomp Squad just put a hurtin' on another high-powered SEC offense.
A La Lucie
159 N Limestone, Lexington, KY 40507
859-252-5277
A delectable French dining experience awaits you at A La Lucie. Their menu is all-embracing, and you can stay local and try a Kentucky Hot Brown (ham and turkey served open faced over toasted bread and topped with tomato, bacon and rich Mornay sauce).
Or branch out and try another straitpinkie squad favorite, the Kentucky Rabbit (slow braised Marion County rabbit with white wine, herbs, mushrooms, and roast new potatoes). Dinner here can be a little pricy, so if your wallet is light, hit up A La Lucie for lunch which is much more affordable and just as appetizing. And lunch or dinner, you must finish your visit to A La Lucie's with Miss Lucie her self's Lexington Bread Pudding (served warm and topped with a Kentucky bourbon hard sauce).
Atomic Cafe
265 N Limestone, Lexington, KY 40507
(859) 254-1969
Part of the historic Downtown Restaurant District, Caribbean-inspired dishes and live reaggae music with a lively patio scene make the Atomic Cafe, a unique, fun experience. The straitpinkie squad recommends you start off with the sweet potato chips and salsa. Then its on to a cup of conch soup and finally go for the Jerk Chicken sandwich with black beans and rice (also highly recommended to swap out either the beans or the rice for their very tasty mac and cheese). Have a Sioux City Fine Jamaican Ginger Beer with your meal to perfectly offset the spice, cinnamon, and nutmeg of the jerk chicken. Hang around as the Atomic Cafe doubles as a nightclub and the ladies love the Latin dancing!!!
Mad Mushroom Pizza
341 S Limestone # B, Lexington, KY 40508
(859) 252-3278
Perfect for the late, late night snack. Pizza here is good, but the way to go is the CheeseStix...Just $5 for a 10” small, these babies are mouth-watering goodness. Fresh homemade dough basted with garlic butter & smothered with mozzarella cheese. Served with Ranch and Pizza Sauce on the side for Dipping. Mmmmm.
Portofino's
249 E Main St, Lexington, KY 40507
(859) 253-9300
For scrumptious I-talian food, treat yourself to a feast at Portofino's downtown on Main. The Focaccia Bread is out of this world, and again you can't go wrong with any selection off the menu. We would recommend starting off with the calamari and rock shrimp. Semolina dusted, lightly fried squid and rock shrimp, herb aioli and marinara sauces.
The straitpinkie squad is a big fan of Portofino's Lasagna and Chicken Parmesan, or if you're in the mood for a sandwich definitely try the Cuban Wrap. A sliced grilled pork tenderloin, turkey & swiss tortilla served with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, pickles & cumin-lime aioli. Unreal.
The Dame
367 E Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507
(859) 231-7263
Home to reasonably priced beer and the best live music venue we have ever seen. The Dame recently moved into the Main Street Live complex and to be honest, none of the straitpinkie squad has seen the new setup. However, they retained 100% of their staff and Tom Yost is still the owner, so we have 100% confidence that The Dame is still one of, if not the best, places to see live music. If you are lucky enough, you will be in town during one of Slaughters, Kentucky's own Chris Knight's performances. And if you are not that lucky, you should still check out C Knight's music, he is one of the greatest singer/songwriters to ever grace the planet.
Two Keys Tavern
333 S Limestone, Lexington, KY 40508
(859) 254-5000
When the day is done, and the night is young, this is where you’ll want to head to wrap up your evening. Only a stone’s throw (literally 0.1 miles from Pazzo’s) and essentially a legend, Two Keys offers a dive/frat house/outdoor ambiance complete with beer memorabilia and UK relics. A back deck, several bars, and sidewalk seating and the place is still almost always packed full of the city’s hardest partiers. Enjoy the live music, comedy acts, televised sporting events, pool tables, and tasty pub fare, and of course all the undergrads, cheap beer and drunken debauchery. Equipped with 18 flat screen TVs and a 10 foot projector screen, you can watch the replays of all the whompin’ highlights from the day, or catch a west coast game live. If you happen to be in town on Thursday night you should take advantage of Two Keys’ all you can drink ($10 for guys, $8 for girls)...
www.straitpinkie.com
City: Syracuse, New York
Foodie: Brian Harrison, Orange::44
Venue: Carrier Dome
Address: Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244
Team: Syracuse Orange (NCAA)
Brian's Taste
There are two main areas in Syracuse that are musts when you visit, as well as several other areas with hidden gems of Syracuse signature restaurants. You really cannot go wrong no matter where you go, so it really depends on what you are up to that day as to where you go.
M Street
M Street, or Marshall Street, is the main street with restaurants and bars about one block from campus, and about five minutes from the center of campus, The Quad. There are several delicious options there for food no matter what your mood is. This is the area where most people hang out and tailgate on football game days as well. I'll cover food first.
El Saha – The most delicious pita happens to be the cheapest on Marshall Street. With delicious options to cram in your pita, an entertaining staff, and usually South Park or Family Guy on the television, this is where you want to stop for a pita, especially after the bars close. Chances are there is not too long of a line either.
Pita Pit – This restaurant is technically a chain, but it is really only around college campuses, so you have probably never heard of it or barely remember it from your own undergrad days. It is slightly more pricy, but they offer a few more toppings, an artsy menu, and everything is amazing with bacon, much like life.
Jimmy John's – The smells are free, but sadly the subs are not. This sandwich shop is delicious however, despite being a fairly well know chain. Their bread is baked fresh, the staff is bizarre, and now they do not use the till money to buy drugs (the previous owner was indicted for doing just that). I recommend the Lulu, or if you are drunk and adventurous, the "Buzz Shaw", an Italian Nightclub and a Bloody Mary (Bloody Mary not available [Named in honor of our previous Chancellor who had the reputation of being a booze hound]).
Augie's Pizza – This is the perfect place to grab a slice of pizza after you exit the bars at 2:00am. Probably because it is the only one open that late. They offer cheese slices for $1.25. Get two if you are really hungry, because one will not do. Just do not mess with the staff, they will not hesitate to kick you out, and a fight may break out in front. I may still be banned for life if it is the same staff there.
Cosmo's Pizza – A classic joint that has a greasy diner feel. Their pizza is good, but I would go for any number of other choices they offer. This is the prefect place to grab breakfast before a game, or a classic breakfast with parents who appreciate that kind of thing. This was my Dad's favorite place on the Hill. Finish the deal with a THB (toasted honey bun) and a scoop of vanilla.
Varsity Pizza – The best cheese steak on the hill. They also have many other tasty choices, plenty of tables, and tasty pizza. Tradition has it that if the football team wins, the band comes directly from the Dome and they flip the opposing team's banner upside down on the wall. This place is always busy, especially on game days. However, various hospital workers frequent this establishment on their lunch breaks all the time, as there are two hospitals within a block of M Street.
Aladdin's – This place offers several natural and organic choices, for the more health conscious. It also has a distinctive Middle Eastern flair. I've only ever eaten here a handful of times but it hasn't really disappointed me. The desserts are fantastic here as well.
Acropolis Pizza – They have subs and the usual pizza parlor fare. Nothing too remarkable here. Why go here when you can just go to Cosmo's though. The upside is that they do serve alcohol.
Faegan's Pub – For something a little more upscale, this is probably the place you should be. With a multitude of salads, burgers, wraps, and sandwiches you have plenty of options. Also, with over 40 beers on tap, you can find something to go with any meal. More on this portion right now.
Speaking of alcohol, there are several bars in the M Street area. All of which I have been to at some point in my life, and being an individual that enjoys an adult beverage or two now and then, take my word on this stuff.
Faegan's Pub – The gold standard in Marshall Street Bars. With over 40 beers on tap and bartenders that are skilled in the craft of making drinks and shots, this is where most alumni end up, game day or not. While there are not many specials on Friday, it is vastly less crowded and a much better atmosphere than the other bars on the hill. The staff is always great and you will not be disappointed. Say hi to Guy the Bartender for me and tell him Mr. Harrison sent you.
Chuck's – What could best be described as a hole in the wall, this is the dive bar on the hill. Graffiti covers the walls, but the pitchers flow well here. During Friday Happy Hour pitchers are $3/5, and while they do not have a vastly impressive menu, their fries do the trick. This bar gets awfully crowded with bitchy undergrads wearing pink shirts and popped collars. If that is your cup of tea then this is your bar. This is a fun place to watch a game however.
Lucy's Retired Surfer Bar – No one that is not a staff member should really enter this place.
Maggie's – The new Maggie's is located below the Student Choice Market. I've been down in it but never really drank there. It has a lot of new HiDef televisions and a "VIP" section. It could be fun, but enter at your own risk. Unless you were in a sorority. Then game on. Clearly you will run into some douche frat guys here, so again if that is your jam then do it.
Harry's – This bar has a small place in my heart, as my father's cousin was Harry. However, he long sold the bar before I got to the hill so no free drinks for me. This bar is ideal for MNF watching and eating wings. However, chances are you will not be in town on Monday. Not a bad option for a bar choice though. It is solid with decent food and probably not a big crowd.
The Sheraton Hotel – While I would not stay here all night, they do have free wings and pizza for a couple hours starting at five. If you are a broke alumni, or just some guy in town looking for a free ride, maybe you should start out here. It is not a bad hotel bar, and you very well might be staying there as it is one of the two bars on the hill.
So that is M Street in a nut shell. If you are up for a game, chances are this is where you will end up before, after, or both. But this is not the end of the culinary adventure in the city of Syracuse. The next big area that is a must to visit is Armory Square in downtown Syracuse.
Armory Square
This is about ten minutes from the hill, and is where the night life not near campus is located. Syracuse fun fact: Syracuse, New York is where the shot clock for basketball was invented. Therefore, there is a perpetual shot clock counting down in Armory Square. Surely, if you get drunk you will count it down with your friends.
Pastabilities – A bit more upscale than most places downtown, it is a favorite of many folks on the hill. While not my favorite, there are plenty of tasty options on the menu, and it is conveniently located near all of your favorite downtown bars. Their appetizers are fantastic and their pasta is world class, with a variety of sauces to choose from.
Empire Brewing Company – A small underground restaurant that has a small but somewhat fancy menu. They brew their own beer and can pair it with any meal you choose which is also very nice. They are known for their burgers, or if you are feeling frugal the Chicken Po' Boy.
Syracuse Suds – This bar also makes their own beer and has an extensive sports bar type menu. The appetizers are very good here and they serve some great steaks as well. Finish it off with some homemade root beer. They have plenty of televisions so any game you want to watch you probably can.
Kitty Hoynes – This is a traditional Irish pub and restaurant in the heart of the Armory Square area. They usually have traditional Irish music playing, both on tape and live. This is a nice traditional pub with good food, and a great place to have a Guinness.
There are other bars and restaurants in the area, but they are pretty pedestrian compared to the ones listed above. However there are bars in the area that are fantastic.
Daisy Dukes/Vinyl – This country bar has beer and liquor. They also have a bull to ride, which can be outstanding if there are cute ladies up for it. Be warned though, one of their bouncers was recently arrested for assault, so be on your best behavior. Attached to it is Vinyl, a pretentious dance club that looks exactly like you think it does in your head. If dancing is your thing, you can head over there and do so.
Mully's – Mulrooney's Pub is an Irish bar is undistinguishable in every way. They have booze and you don't. Who's more Irish?
PJ Dorsey's – This is a fun little bar with room, dancing, and a favorite of mine as I spent my 21st birthday there. Nothing too remarkable about it, but again, they have drinks and you want some. They do have several machines that chill various liquors that you will then take as a shot as well. This is a kind of middle of the road bar that will usually have a decent crowd.
The Blue Tusk – This is the most expensive place downtown, but it could be worth it if you enjoy rare brews and an upscale atmosphere. A LOT of beers on tap, including local brews from Middle Ages Brewery. Also, the back room is the perfect place to sit down, enjoy the company of friends, and some fine ales.
Bar – This is an upscale place with a dress code and loud music. It is also very dark. Perfect for being sketchy if you are into that sort of thing. The bartenders know what they are doing, so you'll be good to go. This would not be my first choice though.
The Limerick Pub – This is a fairly Irish place, with plenty of big pint glasses and several choices in imported bottled beers.
Awful Al's – This is the only establishment that lets you smoke inside because it is a cigar bar. They offer numerous beers and liquors, and they sell numerous cigars for your smoking pleasure, if that is your sort of thing.
Awful Al's Wall of WhiskeyEmpire Brewing Company – This is also a quite place to enjoy some freshly brewed local beers. I recommend the Blueberry Wheat. This is a nice underground place that is a great place to chill and talk with friends.
So those are the main areas, but there are several places that are worth knowing that are some of my favorite places.
Tully's – Located on Erie Blvd. and in Liverpool this is the ultimate sports bar in Syracuse. With a shit ton of TV's, excellent food ranging from appetizers to dinners, and the best chicken tenders (Tully's Tenders) in Syracuse, this will surely cure your hunger, especially if you want to watch a game. They also have outstanding desserts. Definitely a Syracuse original that I would highly recommend to any out-of-towner.
Spaghetti Warehouse – Located north of downtown, this restaurant has a seemingly endless dining room, and a lot of pasta options. There is rarely a wait, and in my opinion this is the place for Italian in the city. Pretty much anything is good, but feel free to ask the wait staff, because they know what they are talking about. Especially tasty when dining with friends in the trolley car.
Zebb's – Way out in Mattydale just off I-81 about 15 minutes north of Syracuse, it is a hidden gem. I feel like not many SU kids know about this one. It has a diner feel, with most standard American fare. They have a "Build Your Own Burger Bar", you can get shots of vanilla, cherry, or chocolate flavor in your cola, and they have the definitive appetizer menu in the Syracuse area. In the mood for alcohol? Try the mojito. I don't think it's a gay drink. Moooooo-heeeeeeeee-tooooooooo. Also, if you are allergic to nuts, stay away from the cookies. Bastards.
Now we come to the pinnacle of Syracuse dining. My very favorite, and probably most famous, restaurant in Syracuse.
Dinosaur BBQ – The most famous of all the Syracuse eateries. Without a doubt, the best BBQ you can get in all of Upstate New York. Syracuse is the original location and also the most colorful. You can easily see numerous bikers out front if the weather is nice. Enjoy the "Big Ass Pork Plate" which is their famous pulled pork, or sample the two best meals with a House Special of a quarter rack of ribs and a quarter chicken. The sides are also especially delicious and if salt potatoes are on the specials it is a must. They also have phenomenal corn bread. They play blues music, usually host live music in the evenings, and it will be the best meal you have in Syracuse guaranteed.
So there you have it. This is your complete guide to food and drink in Syracuse. There are some outstanding eating and drinking establishments, but my usuals are Faegan's Pub on the hill, Dinosaur, Tully's, or Spaghetti Warehouse for food, and I usually rotate when I drink downtown depending on who I am with. However, anything on this list you simply cannot go wrong with. If I didn't list it here, it is most likely not worth knowing about. Any further questions about the places in Syracuse, feel free to e-mail me at syracuseorange44@gmail.com. Good eating and go Orange!
Jimmy John's: thedysh's photostream
Varsity Pizza; Chuck's: hendrickschapelchoiralumni.com
Blue Tusk: syracuselivemusic.com
Awful Al's: genx40.com
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