Like many diners recently, we don’t do a fine-dining splurge that often, but we made a visit to Gentile’s this week. It had been a long time since our last visit, and it was great to be back. The calamari appetizer was so good, it was almost enough to make me weep with joy. The menu does, in fact, say it’s the best in Syracuse. (more…)
Anyone who reads this blog regularly will know that we love Gianni’s Pizza in our neighborhood. Time and time again, we enjoy their fare, and last night it was the Moshulu Park pizza – broccoli, ricotta, just so good.
My designer colleague Gertrud in Mannheim, Germany, also enjoys Gianni’s Pizza every week! (more…)
We like OIP’s char-grilled wings so much that we nearly always order them – the only variation tends to be when I’m feeling particularly gluttonous, and may order a pizza slice supplement for the wings. (more…)
Lonnie has already written here about how much we liked Gianni’s Pizza. Naturally, we had to go back. This time, while doing a bunch of holiday prep, we wanted to treat ourselves. I ordered their Moshulu Park Pizza, which is broccoli, garlic, and ricotta. (more…)
Our neighbors, Pete and Barb M., just turned us on to NY Gianni’s Bronx Style Pizza – we’ll call it Gianni’s Pizza from here on in – and boy are we ever glad they did. Y’all will recall how miserably Cosmo’s failed the Lonnie’s-hot-fast-pizza test. So I figured, to be fair, I’d have to run Gianni’s through the same test. OMG! What a difference! (more…)
Michael Angelo’s recently opened on James St. in Eastwood between Sacred Melody Plaza and Wegman’s. This location has been the site of many restaurants, almost qualifying as a restaurant graveyard. I did my share of whining when the Melt Shop closed, whose service and simple fare I enjoyed and rooted for. But by now it’s almost morbidly fascinating to see every brave soul who tries their luck in this karma-challenged spot. I know none of you could have guessed it, but they offer Italian fare. (more…)
A few weekends ago we spent the day in Rochester with friends. To finish off our visit, we took a stroll around the historic Corn Hill district and had dinner at Tony D’s. I’d found them on egullet-org – great recommendations for restaurants just about anywhere in the world there – so we took our chances and were not disappointed. To sum up:
- Their coal-fired oven makes awesome pizza. It’s got a very thin crust that becomes nearly crispy. The flavors of the toppings are the star because they’re not being swallowed up in a inch of bread dough.
- The ambiance is fun, warm, friendly. The place is small, so we found ourselves sitting close to other humans (horrors!). If you don’t like feeling as though you’re in Europe, you’ll probably want to go back to Pizza Hut.
- The location at 288 Exchange Blvd. is great, on the Genesee river, right at the edge of the Corn Hill district, so nice for a stroll before or after stuffing yourself. (This is only about three blocks from the Rochester Dinosaur Barbecue. Eat at Tony D’s, go dancing at the Dino – you can eat at the Syracuse Dino any time!)
- They have great wine and beer selections.
- You can get a seat at the counter overlooking the chefs’ station. Now that’s fun.
- The prices can’t be beat.
- Oh, and did I say the pizza was awesome? Don’t miss it. And for God’s sake, don’t complain about the bit of charring that makes this pizza unique. It’s part of the flavor profile. If you don’t like that, try a different dish. You will not be disappointed.
Now the last thing Syracuse needs is one more pizza joint. But I want to know if anyone in Syracuse can duplicate this pizza. I don’t require that you have a view of a river. Just get that oven incredibly hot and the crust thin and really crispy. For God’s sake, know what you’re doing with a pizza. Be from Brooklyn. 
A glass of good chianti or even a shiraz would make me happy, too. Can anyone in Syracuse do this?
Many people have already discovered that OIP pizza is very good. But their wings are exceptional. We enjoy regular Buffalo wings, but they’re everywhere now. OIP’s char-grilled wings are a very nice alternative, and they are what we prefer nowadays. Getting twelve for dinner has become a frequent meal for us, and it’s right over in Eastwood Plaza, so we can easily walk over, a big selling point for us. At this time, it’s our favorite “walk-to” Eastwood meal. If we’re especially hungry, we’ll supplement it with pizza slices.
The staff is quite friendly. The lighting is somewhat lurid fluorescence, so it’s definitely not a dating spot. For the sports freaks out there, they have a huge TV. For us, the lighting and TV aren’t our preferred decor, but the dining room is still nice enough that we like eating there.
Don’t just take it from us. My brother is from Buffalo and lives about a mile from the famous Anchor Bar, home of Buffalo wings. After having the OIP wings, he said, “I like these better”.
There are several OIP’s in central NY, and I’ve heard vague rumors that they differ in quality. This can happen with any chain. While we think the Eastwood one is great, I’d be curious to hear more about this.
As I was out gardening , a friendly fellow came by and told me about a new pizza take-out on the far west side of Eastwood. I asked him, “Another pizza take-out? Why??” His response, “Because this one is different.” He seemed genuinely impressed with the ingredients that were going into the hand-tossed pizzas at Friends & Family Pizza: fresh “Grande” brand cheese, sauces made on the premises, all fresh ingredients. So I took the menu he was handing out and stuck it somewhere. (more…)
Mario & Salvo’s Pizza: 4326 East Genesee St, Syracuse, (315) 446-8479
Actually more of a takeout than a restaurant, though you can eat there. We like the pizza with eggplant!
Dante’s: 215 Walton St, Syracuse, (315) 479-9383
Decidedly upscale, Dante’s has possibly the most underappreciated chef in Syracuse. This guy is brilliant and it shows in his cooking. Half the menu is Italian, and you should try it. But there’s Italian, great and not-so-great, in every corner of Onondaga County. At Dante’s, don’t miss the only opportunity in the entire Central New York region to try dishes and tapas that are Spanish – meaning the Spain variety. Think paella, jamón serrano, queso manchego, boquerones. You’ll be inspired to hop a plane to Madrid.
Santangelo’s: 673 Old Liverpool Rd, Liverpool, (315) 457-4447
A long-time favorite, well worth the slight drive out of the city. Everything is done right here: nice atmosphere, friendly wait staff, food that is consistently really delicious and at times creative. Between the two of us, we’ve eaten here dozens of times and have never once gotten a bad meal.
Gentile’s: 305 Burnet Ave, Syracuse, (315) 474-8258
With due respect to the other very good Italian restaurants in town, this is our favorite. Very creative menu by the outstanding Kevin Gentile. This can be tricky in a town where the age-old favorites are demanded by many. Very friendly service, and a lovely, romantic atmosphere.
Francesca’s Cucina: 545 N Salina St, Syracuse, (315) 425-1556
Good food, nice atmosphere. However, in the summer, when dining al fresco in the back, we were put off by the loud jazz band, which rendered conversation difficult.
My garden progress:
