The Blue Tusk Served up Great Food but Left Slightly Disappointed
Photo By: Joseph Livshin
It seems the more and more I head into downtown Syracuse looking for a good brew and some good food, the colder and wetter it seems to get. On this Tuesday evening I decided to check out a highly touted bar called The Blue Tusk. This 24 year-old pub, situated on 165 Walton St. in the Armory Square district of downtown, had a lot of high hopes to live up to. Everyone I had spoke to praised this bar and the food they served. On this night however they did not meet those expectations.
Photo By: Joseph Livshin
I will start by saying I was, in no way, completely dissatisfied at my experience. I entered The Blue Tusk a little after 6:30pm. The bar was almost completely empty, which was nice because I knew I would be able to get a good seat at the bar. The inside was beautifully created with a mix of tile and beautiful hardwood floors and hard wood wainscoting. Along with decoratively carved trims through out, the décor gave me the feeling of a craftsman style design. With bottles of wine piled in beautifully crafted shelves above the bar, I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed by the drink selection. With a happy hour that lasts from 11:00a.m. to 8:00p.m., Mondays to Saturdays, it was the longest one I have ever encountered. With 69 beers on tap and a long wine selection, there is something for everyone.
Photo By: The Blue Tusk
The menu, compared to other establishments, was one with a different take. Over 16 different meats and cheeses and list of Mediterranean vegetables showed this would not be any normal eating experience. A mouth watering list of sandwiches and panini’s also got my attention. Tonight I chose to go with the Pulled Pork and Havarti sandwich. Since the sandwiches do not come with traditional fries or pub chips, I chose the salt and vinegar chips from the list of bagged chips. Although I found this to be a bit of an odd way to serve a side with a meal I was presently surprised. The pulled pork was cooked to perfection and topped with barbecue sauce and mayo on a pad of Havarti cheese in a buttery soft bun. One of the best pulled pork sandwiches I have ever had.
So why did I leave disappointed if my meal was so good? The atmosphere seemed a little off on this night. The bar started to fill up after an hour, which was nice but the two men behind the bar didn’t seem to be the most friendly of guys. I felt like once I was done eating, I was being rushed out for the next group of customers. The bar itself, the people, food and the beer were spot on and yet I left a bit frustrated. I understand people are people and we all have our off nights. However, being in a customer service position you shouldn’t make the patrons feel as thought they are just a number and rush them away. I am not one to ever say this place is bad without giving them a second chance. I do hope everyone goes and enjoys the number of brews on tap and the amazing food they have. I look forward to my next visit to The Blue Tusk and hopefully will have a more pleasant ending.
Maxwell’s will make you leave happy, full and entertained
Photo By: Joseph Livshin
The rain and the cold air settled in on Syracuse by 5:30p.m. However it was time again to journey into downtown and see what the city had to offer. I came across this little place on East Genesee St. near Hanover Square called Maxwell’s. The plan was to have a few drinks and get some food and head home. What was going to be an hour or two turned into five hours of some of the best bar food, drinks and entertainment anyone could ask for.
Photo By: Joseph Livshin
As you walk in the bar you realize this is more than a simple downtown pub. The industrial style is visible everywhere. From the table and chairs to the bar stools made from galvanized pipe and steel to the Edison lightbulb chandelier and the silver metal ceiling tiles. Everything flows together in a smaller space with the long bar to the right hand side with the exposed brick to its back. Just the design is enough to come take a look. On this night the bar was busier than normal, according to the bartender Kate.
Photo By: Joseph Livshin
Maxwell’s was hosting a fundraiser for In My Father’s Kitchen, which is a non-profit organization that provides assistance to the city’s homeless population through direct street outreach. All tips during the three hours this was going on was going to this organization as well as their drink special Bliss. Now, I am not normally a mixed drink guy but it was for a good caused and I was glad I gave it a try. This concoction was a mix of vodka, orange juice and Grand Marnier. The orange flavor helped keep this from an overpowering drink and made it a smooth glass of delicious.
Photo By: Joseph Livshin
After finishing this magnificent drink and some pleasant conversation with some of the regulars and non-regulars, it was time to order some food. The menu offers the traditional pub fair of burgers, wings and salads and adds a mouthwatering selection of brick oven pizzas. At the time I didn’t think I was hungry enough to finish off a pizza, so I decided on a burger. The way I see it, if you can’t make a good burger, it’s not worth trying anything else. So, not being a fan of salad and rabbit food on my burger I stayed simple with the Classic Cheese (half-pound burger with cheddar cheese on a toasted brioche bun) and fries, extra crispy of course. They hit it out of the park with this one. The hand formed burger patty was cooked to a perfect medium, an extra slice of cheddar melted all down the sides of the patty, on an amazing bun that was nice and crispy on the outside and doughy on the inside. The fries were simply seasoned with a pinch of pepper and just enough salt to make your mouth water.
By the time I was finished with the burger, the fundraiser had ended and all but a handful of people remained. The bartender Kate continued to check on and chat with each person at the bar and giving her input on the selection of 26 rotated brews on tap. I ordered a pint of the Juice Bomb and was informed of the nightly schedule of live music that was going to be starting soon. As a fan of the Central New York music scene I was excited to see the nights lineup of local artist Jess Novak. Since I had an hour to kill until the music started, I figured I would try another plate from the menu. I went with something I thought would be small, the beer pretzels. What I got was a plate of amazingly crafted, fist sized doughy pretzels that were lightly salted and situated around a bowl of a house made Queso. I will be honest I couldn’t get through three of them. Although a perfect blend of pretzel and hint of Guinness Stout they mixed in, there was just too much. So I threw in the towel and ordered a drink as Jess Novak was setting up to play.
I ended the night with two hours of amazing music from one of the area’s best musicians. A mix of pop, rock and soul, Jess played away on her piano, guitar and violin. Her voice was amazing and made you feel the emotion in her music. For anyone in the area who is a fan of music, Jess Novak is one musician you must go see.
Whether is it a beautiful summer evening or a wet, rainy and cold night, you need to stop in to Maxwell’s. For a bite to eat or a pint of brew or a night of music and fun, this is one place you have to go see. Thank you again Kate and the rest of the staff for a great night.
The Evergreen has it All
What I thought was going to be a quiet Wednesday evening in Hanover Square, ended up being a surprisingly wonderful experience. It was just after five o’clock as I was walking towards The Evergreen, which is situated at 125 E. Water St. in Syracuse, as I noticed the streets and Hanover Square bustling with trucks and film crews. A new film by American High film studios staring Vince Vaughn (Wedding Crashers, Dodgeball, The Internship) was setting up for a massive shoot just across the street in the beautiful park area that makes up Hanover Square.
Photo By: Joseph Livshin
The main entrance on Water St. has a beautiful and large patio set up for those who want to enjoy the street atmosphere of downtown Syracuse. As you walk in, you are greeted with a beautiful bar and dinning area that has an outdoorsy feel. With reclaimed wood style trim around the entire place and thick, hardwood tables and a cozy atmosphere, you instantly become drawn into the inviting nature of this pub. Even the bathrooms keep that inviting nature with the walls covered in reclaimed wood framed photographs and fliers.
Photo By: Joseph Livshin
If you are a craft beer fan this is the place to go. The Evergreen keeps 20 micro craft beers on tap but only keep one keg on hand. This allows them to constantly rotate what they carry. The craft beer folks are always looking for the newest and greatest, so this helps to keep them on their toes. In addition to the brews in tap, they also keep over 40 varieties on hand in cans and bottles. Not a fan of the craft beer? They have you covered as well with their “fitness beers.” These are your traditional beers such as Bud Light and Michelob Ultra. As a fan of these it makes me feel even better knowing i’m getting a workout as I drink (sarcasm but not). On this day, I decided to do the $12 flights which allowed me to try four brews of my choosing from the tap beer list. The amazing bartender Kate helped me pick some of her favorites. All four were amazing in their own way(check out the links in the photo description for each beer). I especially like the Grimm Festooning (more of an Octoberfest style brew) which was a very crisp amber lager with hints of honey and caramel. I was also a fan of the Pom Pom Posh, which was more of a Weisse style beer which has a terrific blend of pomegranate and passionfruit which gave it a perfect amount of tartness.
After trying these amazing brews, it was time for the food. The menu has a little bit of everything for everyone. The traditional appetizers mixed with new age vegan offerings to the burgers and salads with a little twist. Most of the menu is also said to be locally sourced which helps give it that home town feel. I was blown away with the poutine bowl. The crisp beer battered fries were loaded down with the perfect amount of red wine mushroom gravy and local cheese curds. Not too soggy and not too crispy. After I finished my meal off with a traditional sirloin burger (without the lettuce, tomato and onions ofcourse) with their beer battered fries. The burger was perfectly cooked with the perfect amount of juiciness and topped with yellow American cheese on a fresh baked brioche bun. Again, the fries were done with the right amount of crispiness and seasoning.
What I loved about this place was it was perfect for everyone. Where you are someone who works downtown looking for food and drink after work, someone looking for a perfect date night place or just out with your friends, The Evergreen delivers a perfect experience. Even when the crowed began to grow toward the later part of the evening, the staff kept everything running smoothly. The prices were just right, the staff (especially Kate) were friendly and helpful and the place was clean and inviting. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a great experience in a traditionally overlooked part of downtown.
The York Shines with Atmosphere and Food
By Joseph Livshin
Photo By: Joseph Livshin
The City of Syracuse was as busy as ever. Clemson was in town to play our Orange in the Dome and Festa Italiana happening by city hall. The atmosphere in the city was amazing. I heard of this restaurant The York in downtown Syracuse and I just had to try it out. Situated on 247 W. Fayette Street in Syracuse’s Armory Square and surrounded by so many other popular restaurants and bar like Pastabilities, Kitty Hoyne’s Irish Pub and Mulrooney’s, The York had to be something special to have the word of mouth I kept hearing about.
I walked into the restaurant just before seven in the evening. A few people at the bar and a couple of tables taken in the front of the house it looked like a nice cozy place. It had a very nice industrial yet chic feel. Keeping some of the original ceiling tiles from the heyday of Syracuse but putting a modern comfy feel to it as well. I was surprised there weren’t as many people in there on a night like this, but I wasn’t going to complain. I was able to get seated on the upper area of the front of the house. The lights were dimmed and candles at every table gave the place a nice relaxing feel. Although I was slightly disappointed in the beer selection the cocktail menu was expansive and sounded amazing. With a drink named Tony Stark, I had to give it a try. Made with Jameson, lemon, honey and lavender, I was pleasantly surprised at just how good it tasted.
As a picky eater, I find a place such as this normally doesn’t have a large selection of things I would like. With a menu topped with Raw Bar listing I was a bit nervous I wasn’t going to find much I would like. However, I gave the chicken tacos a try (a suggestion from the very pleasant and helpful waitress). I’m not much of a taco fan but these were something amazing. From thin and crispy shell, to the well-seasoned bits of chicken and pico de gallo, this was a light and flavorful appetizer that I would suggest to anyone who came here to eat. For the entre, I stuck to my basics and went with The
Photo By: Joseph Livshin
York Burger. I was worried as many “chic type” places don’t do well with burgers. However, when I was the cutting board plate put in front of me, I was amazed. The pile of well-seasoned fries was perfectly crispy, and the burger looked perfectly juicy. Topped with bacon and a house sauce, this was one of the best burgers I have ever had.
The bar area started to get a little crowded right around the time the big game started, which was understandable, but wasn’t a distraction at all. It gave the quiet place a little more energy as the night went on. This was a fabulous experience and a testament to the revitalization of downtown. Although The York can be a little pricy, especially with the cocktail menu, it was well worth the money. If you want a quaint, trendy, New York City vibe and delicious food, this is one place you have to visit. Whether it be a night out or a nice afternoon lunch, this is at the top of my list.
The Hangry Hopps
Welcome to my blog! I will be taking you all on an adventure through Downtown Syracuse and the world of craft brews and the amazing food and atmosphere this city has to offer. Although many people my not look at Syracuse and see a city with great night life, food, music and fun, we will hopefully help change that perspective. So buckle up and enjoy the ride.