When visiting new areas I always seek out a fun brunch-style breakfast joint and/or diner that…read moreseems to be popular with the locals and I recently came here when in Syracuse. I sat at the counter and my server was great... very friendly and happy I was there. I got there around 7:30AM and it was basically dead, but by the time I left, there was a steady line of folks coming in. Their menu has all the typicals that these places have, many things I enjoy. I tried their corned beef hash (which I requested well-done with jalapeños added), scrambled eggs with cheese, and I also got a side of their breakfast potatoes with sausage gravy on top. The food came out quickly and was piping hot & freshly made. The quantity of potatoes for a single side dish were HUGE! Definitely enough to share. The scrambled eggs were PERFECTLY made! I'm an egg snob, I never want any over-cooked egg visible (no brown) and these were perfectly colored and tasted great. The corned beef hash was good as well. Overall, I enjoyed this visit and I would most definitely return!

I was craving a little sweet and a little savory this morning and what better place to get that…read morethan Stella's? I got the sausage gravy over home fries for the first time and I have never had anything like it - it was warm and salty and had a nice crunch with the cooked home fries. The pancakes were obviously delicious as well. We got helped right away by an amazing server and our food was out within 15 minutes! There were a lot of people but the noise level was great and everyone seemed to be having a yummy and amazing time.

Great service and ambiance. This is def a local place. However it was a welcoming vibe. They are…read moreopen till 2:00 and we got there 1:05 but it wasn't an issue. I had a delicious omelette with generously buttered toast and hand cut home fries with the skin on the potatoes. Just very special and a sweet throw back to what I imagine an earlier era would be like.

Stopped in 10:00am on a Sunday. Surprisingly no wait for such a small place…read more We seated ourselves and were promptly waited on. I ordered the Fretta and my partner the breakfast bowl- the dish they're allegedly known for. The food came in a reasonable amount of time and I had no complaints about my fretta- save that it was maybe a little smaller than what you'd expect around these parts. The garlic heel was a nice side. My partner's breakfast bowl was huge and swimming in their pan sausage gravy- she loved it and only ate half ( I doubt I would've done much better). 36 and change for the breakfast so maybe a little pricier than one would expect but the food was good. I would certainly return!

Great spot, I got a waffle loaded with banana and mini chocolate chips. They really loaded it! It…read morewas nice and crispy on the outside with the warm fluffy inside. Waitress was very nice and attentive. Very nice old school diner. Try it out!

Really nice and personable service. The food is great too. The meatlovers omelette is legit and…read morevery filling. Since moving here I've only been to the Camillus spot but I hear the other one is just as good, if not better allegedly.

Had a horrible experience. No A/C and waited 35 minutes for our food. Watched the cook make 1 order…read moreat a time and also watched her weigh out roast beef and place it on a dirty freezer chest lid before scooping it up in her bare hands. The Ceasars salad was horrible and the chicken was brined frozen chicken breast. The egg salad had zero seasoning and was basically like eating hard boiled eggs in bread and found an eyelash it it. The burger was ok, but not worth a 35 minute wait. We will never go back there

Ok diner food, thought it was expensive for what you get. Yje seating was cramped and not all that…read moreclean. I was still hungry after dropping 12 bucks with tip, couldnt even drink the coffee and the service was mediocre at best. Not sure how we even ended up here in our way to costco but never again

ive been going here for a long time. first of all, they have great food! you dont have to wait long…read morefor your food to arrive. very nice and cozy inside!

Went in for a late breakfast (11ish), to a busy little place yet there were a few tables open and…read morewe were seated immediately. Clean place, terrific servers ( thanks Amy!), fun menu. We went savory this time: breakfast burrito and steak-n-eggs. My wife had iced coffee and I ordered coffee with cream. Amy questioned my order and wanted to make sure I wanted coffee with cream. I said, " Yes, absolutely " She brought me coffee with whipped cream. We had a good laugh over my deafness and apparent mumbling. Meals arrived quickly: burrito was big but not imposing. Very yummy, Steak was of low quality and thin , which is always a cook's challenge to prepare. Nothing special but adequate. Eggs were perfect and the sourdough toast was extra delicious. All made for a satisfying meal at a good price ( given prices are elevated everywhere these days). Highly recommend a stop here .

Wow wow wow! The Cider Mill has been on my "must try" list and I finally had an opportunity, it did…read morenot disappoint. I made a reservation a few days ahead of time for a Saturday night. We arrived to a busy atmosphere that quieted down throughout the night. We started with cocktails which were strong and delicious. The brussel sprout appetizer was to die for, who knew that brussel sprouts go well with blue cheese! I ordered the salmon dish which was incredible. My friend enjoyed the Greek chicken dish. We were disappointed we didn't have enough room for dessert so we'll just have to come back! Other notes: the service was friendly and there was extra parking across the street if necessary. I can't wait to be back to try their specials and seasonal menus

I've been here only once before and I gave it a fairly rave review...perfect meal and I've always…read morelooked forward to returning. My wife took me for my birthday a couple of days ago. I read up on the menu and discovered they offered lamb chops which is one of my absolute favourites. A taste of home for me! Friendly and efficient staff welcomed us and showed us to our table. So far so good. Very nice young woman looked after us. My wife ordered the rigatoni and I had the chops. She loved her rigatoni so much she's finishing it off 2 days later and still loving it. Sadly my dish was a bit of a disappointment. My two large chops were extremely fatty. It's the kind you simply can't cut through on a slippery plate. Trying to separate what little meat there was from the fat was impossible so I had to give up and bring it home to a cutting board and an extremely sharp knife. I haven't tried to eat it yet but it looks as fatty as the first. Both had been totally covered by a condiment that I think should have been served in a separate container to allow the diner to regulate the amount desired. The base was a pilf which made trying to cut the chops even more difficult because every time the meat or the knife slipped, the table was showered with grains....all a bit slapstick....! As I previously said, my wife loved her meal and the previous visit was epic so I hate to criticise but I'm just trying to be honest and fair. I think $45 for a couple of very fatty chops with not much meat and smothered in a vinaigrette you might not like is a bit cheeky... In different circumstances I would have sent it back. Oh well, you live and learn...

Good food and good service, if you're looking for breakfast while in Syracuse University area.read more

We always stop in on our way through Syracuse. Always a solid meal and a core group of staff…read moreworking. Anthony took great care of us today and checked in without being intrusive. And he likes to crack some jokes once in a while too! Building has plenty of parking, is accessible (ramp up to get in), has plenty of booths or tables for groups of all sizes. Of course there is a counter too (it is a diner!) They recently changed the Challenger Field mural to one supporting a local non-profit for cancer, the Baldwin Fund. I love the investment in local community! We will be back.

Gay bar. I'm not…read moregay. This might have been the best food I had while in the Syracuse area for 4 days. Bacon grilled cheese sandwich. Friend ordered the burger he said the same thing. Grey food and service. Decor is extra gay. But it's a gay bar ..... so have fun and enjoy!

The amount of time, effort, and care that go into each menu item is impressive. For brunch, the…read morevariety is astounding for the size and the appearance of the place from the outside. At first the location seems less than promising, but inside the little touches of decor make for a charming, if not polished experience. It is still largely a bar that serves food, but the food is impressive in both quality and low price. The little details like in-house made desserts, house ranch dressing, and hand cut fries are a pleasant surprise. The organization behind staggered brunch seating lends itself well to good availability of items, freshness, and service. The menu includes frequently updated seasonal choices. This is also a LGBTQ+ bar. Brunch menus are regularly posted on Facebook, and the process for text message based reservations is convenient. Possibly one of the most surprisingly good restaurants in the greater Syracuse area.

I'm going to be honest, I was pretty bummed when I saw that Mama Nancy's had closed…read more Nevertheless, we drove to Jesse's Diner to check out the new spot and left as happy customers. The owner was incredibly accessible and visually invested in his business, which is always great. The blueberry pancakes are divine. Seriously - I crave these pancakes all the time now There's no skimping with the blueberries and the pancakes are huge. The chicken fried steak and eggs were equally as good - if you get the 2 steaks you'll be set for hours! My only regret is not trying a chocolate milkshake...but I'll save that for next time. P.S. I'll also add that I love that their menu says "hungry man or woman's breakfast" :)

Stopped there this morning for a simple sausage, egg and cheese on a roll. NY deli style, not…read morerocket science. Specifically asked for my egg to be cooked medium-well. Machine gun Kelly wannabe rushed my order between calls to employees asking them if they we're coming in to work. Mel was in the kitchen. One table full of some old men having their morning coffee. My order came undercooked but I did learn some new street lingo. Go to Little Gem instead.

My husband and I stopped in today, as my son had seen the restaurant on a recent trip to Syracuse,…read morewanted to eat there but it was already closed. Being from Buffalo and not sure when he would be able to try to eat here, we stopped in for him. It w as truly fantastic. I had the pulled pork sandwich with french fries which was a mere $5.95. The pork was delicious as it was not soaking in barbeque sauce. It was piled high with pork that was crispy in some sections and moist in others-just delicious-topped with fantastic cole slaw and pickles and served with homemade barbeque sauce on the side. The sauce was so good, I could have easily downed a glass of it. My husband's fish sandwich was $3.50, was breaded, mild and not fishy, served very hot on a very large hoagy roll. It was the size of a piece of fish in a fish fry. Also, my fries were hot and delicious. Our total bill was $10.21 and we thought it was an error. Do not hesitate to visit this restaurant. The hours may be limited and the appearance may make you think you should avoid going in, but do yourself a favor and eat here. We may need to travel to Syracuse soon to try their chicken and waffles or their chicken combos which are ridiculously inexpensive. I wish this restaurant would relocate to Buffalo. This is some really great food and the employees were extremely hospitable. We loved Iola's!