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.