Get a bite of Syracuse at Downtown Dining Week

Get a bite of Syracuse at Downtown Dining Week

With 46 restaurants to choose from, there's something for everybody.
Published: February 17, 2020
Syracuse Downtown Dining Week graphic

For the 16th year in a row, Downtown Dining Weeks is back to Syracuse from February 17 to March 1. The event will host 46 locally-owned restaurants – 18 more than last year – that will be offering special promotions to their customers. Hosted by Visions Federal Credit Union and the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, the restaurants will offer three-course dinners for $30 or less and three-course lunches for $10 or less.

As diverse as the population of the city, the restaurants’ styles range from Mexican and Italian, to Thai and Mediterranean and many more. Here are a handful of examples:

317 at Montgomery

This restaurant not only had a funnily useful name, as indicated by their address but also an interesting menu: it changes every season to accommodate vegetables that are fresh in the market. This means quality vegetables at their peak every time.

According to owner Dan Whittles, the American restaurant also offers a wide variety of wine from all over the world as well as a small and relaxing atmosphere.

“We like to say that 317 at Montgomery is Manhattan meets Syracuse,” said manager Natalie Abbott.

Check out 317 at Montgomery’s dinner menu.

The Fish Friar

“We have fried fish, yes, but if you like any kind of seafood, this is the place for you,” said manager Derek Spanfelner.

The Fish Friar cooks with sea food from the coast of Maine. With no middle man between being caught and delivered, the seafood menu always offers fresh food. With haddock, shrimp, and scallops, all kinds of food from the sea can be found here.

Check out the Fish Friar’s lunch and dinner menus.

Epicuse

As a sister restaurant to catering company SKY Armory, Epicuse’s food is created in the same kitchen. Nicole Samolis said the market and café offers a casual environment and the chance to take their food and pastries to go.

Some of their staples include their prepared food, their take out selections, and their menu-favorite Brussels sprouts.

“For the downtown dining room for featuring our Faroe Island grilled salmon with risotto, we’re featuring a chimichurri flank steak with garlic mashed potatoes and eggplant parmesan which is really yummy,” said Samolis.

Check out Epicuse’s lunch and dinner menus.

Lemon Grass

The restaurant, which is connected to Bistro Elephant, specializes in Pacific Rim cooking. This means that they feature dishes inspired by or local to places like Korea and Japan. With an upscale but cozy atmosphere, the room is surrounded by artwork and bright colors.

Owner and chef Max Chutinthranond, who also owns Citronelle, said that one of their most famous dishes for over 30 years is the prig pow with chicken or pork and the fresh fish with chili tamarind sauce.

Check out Lemon Grass’s dinner menu.

Below are the other restaurants that will be participating in Downtown Dining Week:

A Mano Kitchen & Bar: Lunch and Dinner

Apizza Regionale: Lunch and Dinner

ApeThaizing: Dinner

Bistro Elephant: Dinner

Blue Tusk: Lunch

Byblos Mediterranean Café: Lunch and Dinner

Citronelle: Dinner

Clinton Street Pub: Lunch and Dinner

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que: Dinner

Eleven Waters: Lunch and Dinner

Funk n’ Waffles: Lunch and Dinner

Gilded Club: Dinner

Goodies IIL: Lunch and Dinner

Jail Hoss Rock Café: Breakfast and Lunch

Kasai Ramen: Lunch and Dinner

Kitty Hoynes Irish Pub: Lunch and Dinner

Liehs & Steigerwald Downtown: Dinner

Margaritas Mexican Cantina: Lunch

Maxwells: Dinner

Modern Malt: Lunch and Dinner

Oh My Darling: Dinner

Original Grain: Lunch and Dinner

Otro Cinco: Lunch and Dinner

Pastabilities: Dinner

Peppino’s Neapolitan: Lunch

PMA Foods: Lunch

Prime Steakhouse: Dinner

ProntoFresh: Lunch

Provisions Bakery: Lunch

Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar: Dinner

Shaughnessy’s Irish Pub: Lunch

SKY Armory: Dinner

Soup R Salads: Lunch

Syracuse Suds Factory: Lunch and Dinner

Talking Cursive Brewing Company: Lunch and Dinner

The Brine Well Eatery: Lunch and Dinner

The Evergreen: Dinner

The Hops Spot: Lunch and Dinner

The Mission Restaurant: Dinner

The Sweet Praxis: Daily menu

The York: Dinner

Water Street Bagel Co.: Lunch