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 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.