The Blue Tusk Served up Great Food but Left Slightly Disappointed

The Blue Tusk Served up Great Food but Left Slightly Disappointed

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.

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.

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.