Lunch was at the Scenic Root since my first choice was closed for renovations. That being said, the owner of the first place suggested I dine here with my friend who accompanied me on my journey. We had a table with a view of the town's pond with a family of swans. (mom, dad and 6 little kiddo swans [cygnets] . The restaurant was out of their specials by 1 pm. Good sign? Yes, I suppose it was. The cafe is multi-level allowing more people the option of viewing the swans. Basket of bread arrived with a dish of vinegar, cheese and olive oil for dipping. For lunch, I decided on a French onion soup with a half of the Granny Smith and Blue salad, friend had the Ahi Tuna Salad. Yes, this was a good place to eat. French onion soup was flavorful and delicious with enough cheese for each spoonful of soup. Granny Smith was dressed with a vinaigrette that had a hint of cayenne pepper. Nice! Great addition to what is usually just a dressing on a salad (greens, diced apple, blue cheese, candied walnuts). My friends salad was also mixed greens with Asian ginger salad dressing with correctly cooked ahi tuna. Staff was very nice and checked on us regularly. Nice place. read more

Scenic Root - Great view outside "Scenic Root" - New American Near Me - Manlius, New York

Scenic root worked with my family to accommodate a private party outside of normal hours. They had exceptional service and were extremely kind and friendly. The food they made was amazing - would recommend their chicken riggies and Mac and cheese! Thank you and we will be back soon :) read more

Pros: Friendly staff Tasty food Nice environment - clean and uncluttered Amazing crispy French fries Cute little park next door Cons: Parking lot fills quickly Got a dirty fork but used the clean extra $13 for a five-shrimp app??? Tasty but still... read more

Scenic Root - Le menu - New American Near Me - Manlius, New York

I was looking for a place to take my husband for an impromptu treat , so we after some discussion decided to give this place a try, Best Decision Ever. Right off the bat the waitstaff was very friendly and knowledgeable, the astmosphere was cozy and romantic. They have a rotating selection of specials, we came on the night they had salmon cakes and ribeye steaks and that's what my husband and I ordered both were delicious and very flavorful we will defiantly be back read more

Wife and kids were out of town last weekend so I gave SR a try and I'm kicking myself for waiting so long...good service, great food, beer selection. A bit too expensive for my family to make this a regular stop but we'll be going back soon! read more

Took my daughter to this restaurant, she had a burger, they didn't really have kids sizes so she had to have an adult burger but it was good I ordered steamed clams and mussels, clams are not farmed and they don't purge the sand well so I got a mouth full of sand with my clams Two of the muscles didn't open so I couldn't eat the complete course, server said she would inform the manager but I still had to pay full price anyway Staff was friendly and attentive read more

The food was amazing, the portions are very generous. The service is literally the best I've had in a long time. All the staff was so friendly and personable. I would definitely go back!! read more

Best dinner and lunch I've ever had. Amazing staff, everyone needs to come here. You can't really go anywhere else.

Incredible food and very romantic atmosphere. The waiters/waitresses are very polite. I love the fountain with the ducks and swans swimming. Will definitely be back! read more

One of my favorite locations as I had visited a long time ago as "What's Your Beef" and many other restaurant names through the years and now Scenic Root. A lot of time, effort & money was poured into this favorite location. The new entire renovations are fresh and modern , clean & spacious!! Food is good but sorry to have to say anything derogatory but must. Those serving that night were slow & not many dining as it was 8 P.M. The music was a little to loud for trying to have dinner and when I asked if it could be turned down I was told when they got around to it. I found the young crew very disrespectful & concerned with their own conversations among the Staff. Then to top it off sweeping floors & actually lifting the chairs onto the tables while we were finishing our coffee & desert . When we questioned this protocol we were told we could go sit at the bar. Really.....we were not kindly asked but told by young unprofessional restaurant employees. This will hinder your business . I hope servers are trained to be more attentive & caring. To make it clear we were not holding anyone up from closing the restaurant as when we left it was only 8:30p.m. and the restaurant does not close until 9 p.m. Other than this run in & I am sure this will be addressed. As an author & food critique , I love this charming home town spot , rate it with 5 Stars and want it to remain here for eternity! read more

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They have all the junk food you can imagine on their menu if that is what you like, the typical burger and mac and cheese, other pastas dishes with heavy and creamy sauces, wings, and predictable salads. The food is just pub food (like many restaurants in the area). I feel like the wait is always long and they don't take reservations. I don't like to wait for a table to have just an average meal. read more

We recently moved to the burbs from Downtown Syracuse - and have been trying to learn the new 'hood. So given the decent reviews of Scenic Root, we have been meaning to come. Today was our day to try it. We were in for a late lunch or early supper call it -- lupper. Pretty quiet when we started out - the rooms are lovely all redone very nicely since the prior versions of this space. The waitstaff was attentive and friendly. Sadly the food is ordinary. We tried a couple of the mainstays and a special. Some beautiful tuna arrived with a Teriyaki sauce - and a little frisee salad and some crispy noodles for texture. The presentation was lovely - the sauce not so. It was goopy - thick, slightly too sweet and just bad. I felt bad for the tuna. One of us had the root burger and the other - had the Mediterranean Lemon chicken. Lemon beurre blanc - quel dommage. The goop that covered the chicken tasted more like paste than lemon sauce. The artichokes were tasteless, as were the peppers. The only thing tasty was the rice - which had a nice flavor - in part because of the wild rice in it. The root burger was fine - cooked per the order; however, I would like to pass a law to ban the use of brioche buns for burgers - this one at least was way way too sweet. Let's cut down the sugar America - ban the brioche bun for burgers. The french fires were disappointing. They were crispy but not really cooked nicely inside. They really need to be twice cooked to be right. All in all - beautiful spot, nice room, friendly staff but the food needs major upgrade or at least a menu makeover. Also not cheap place - the meals described, with two glasses of wine and one beer, with tax and a nice tip - $89. Might give it another try just in case but more likely to just drive into Syracuse for a better meal. read more

Scenic Root is now my favorite restaurant in Syracuse. So glad it opened up. The food is great and I'm constantly impressed. Great staff and atmosphere. I highly recommend it. read more

Food was pretty good. Clean surroundings. Most staff was SUPER friendly. Atmosphere was very nice. One star off for a girl (who was not our waiter) who was bringing out bread. She gave us such looks every time we asked for bread. It was a big party (7 people), so bread went fast. She made it unpleasant. read more

Good quality food and service is always great. They change up the menus seasonally, but they always have the Root Burger, which is amazing.

We had the salmon and mahi-mahi while seated at the bar. Seriously good dishes, generous portions, super fresh and flavorful. And our bartender was fun, attentive, and made sure we had a great experience. Probably the best meal in Manlius. read more

We recently dined at the restaurant for an early birthday celebration for our kids; it was our second visit and once more we were not disappointed. We started with the Garlic Sriracha Mussels and even though I am not a fan of mussels I was willing to give them a try. Much to my surprise they were delicious and everyone in our party agreed. My husband had the Bacon & Bleu Stockyard and my daughter ordered the Szechuan Salmon, both found their meals quite satisfying and said they would certainly order them again. My son and I had the Root Burger, both were cooked to perfection. I must add that on our previous visit I also had the Root Burger and thought it was one of the best burgers I have ever had I must mention that the service was impeccable as it was on our previous visit. The only reason I gave them four stars versus 5 was that their Pumpkin Brûlée while the hard carmelized top is certainly like a typical brûlée the rest was like simply eating pumpkin pie filling. read more

On vacation in upstate NY, we stopped at the scenic root for an early dinner. It was not crowded at all but groups were coming in as we were eating. The restaurant itself is beautiful. Well decorated and overlooks a cute pond with swans and ducks. The service was very nice and extremely attentive. We got bread and oil to the table which was delicious. We ordered the street taco appetizer which was a little sweet but still very good. We ordered the root burger and a bacon cheeseburger to split. The burgers were amazing. They had a lovely grilled flavor and were cooked perfectly. The fries were average. I would absolutely recommend this place. It's on the pricier side but worth it. read more

Scenic Root - Street tacos appetizer - New American Near Me - Manlius, New York

I had a cheeseburger with French Fries at the Scenic Root. It was AWESOME!!!!! The food was amazing!!! For my appetizer, I had a Ceaser Salad. It was DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!! I really recommend this place!!!!!! read more

Scenic Root - New American Near Me - Manlius, New York

I love the ambiance of Scenic Root. I also think its great that the owner greets the guests and asks how their meal is going. The food is pretty good, home cooked tasting with interesting twists on classic recipes. In my opinion, it could be a little better. As for the service, there has been several times that the waitress has taken too long to first greet us or bring us the complimentary bread (which is yummy). All in all, good place- would recommend. read more

Party of 2 had a lovely evening at the Scenic Root. We should have dined here long before now. Excellent atmosphere, clean, super nice staff. Angela was our main waitress who was attentive and ensured we had everything we needed. The "middle sister" bartender took care of everyone. The food was well prepare, delicious and generous portions. We will definitely return with friends or family. read more

Nice restaurant, appropriately named. Where we sat it offered a beautiful view. My companions really enjoyed their meals. Service was friendly, but seemed to care more about selling than accommodating. Being vegan there were NO options but a poorly made salad, pretty boring too. It's 2021, there are a lot of us that are moving towards plant based eating, for various reasons. The staff offered no options, not even a baked potato! The side vegetable was not edible because with one bite it was obvious it had been cooked on the grill with a greasy steak. I will check back another time in hopes they consider adding more vegan/plant options. read more

My girlfriend and I went here on a whim upon checking Yelp for what was around us. We were pleasantly surprised. We came in not knowing what to expect. My girlfriend, being from Manlius, told us that a number of restaurants had came and gone in this particular building, but we sincerely hoped this restaurant would stay after thoroughly enjoying the dishes we ordered. She had the classic burger, not the root burger. She liked how it was cooked. Too often do I see burgers overcooked than what was ordered. The patty was satisfying, the buns slightly toasted, and the rest of the condiments just right. The fries were unappealing, but we didn't complain. I, on the other hand, had the soup and salad. However the star of the show goes to the bowl of gumbo that I ordered. I was so glad I had chose this. I've always been a fan of gumbo and how complex its taste is. The one from Scenic Root did it justice. The broth was spicy and I enjoyed the sausage and occasional shrimp. What disappointed me a little was the slightly undercooked rice that was found throughout the soup. Otherwise, a knockout dish. We will definitely return for lunch, as it was affordable and delicious. read more

I absolutely loved this place. The food was delicious and the outdoor seating was so cute. For an appetizer we got calamari and sweet potato fries, and they were both amazing. Even the wine was great. I would definitely come back next time I visit syracuse!! read more

Scenic Root - Calamari and sweet potato fries - New American Near Me - Manlius, New York

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A favorite of ours! The Waite staff are amazing , the food is always so delicious and the wine list is perfect.

I went to dinner and was surprised how much the menu has changed since they first opened..... for the better! All the food we ordered was perfectly cooked and delicious. We will definitely be back again. The waitstaff was very nice and efficient. read more

Scenic Root - New American Near Me - Manlius, New York

My boyfriend and I went Saturday night for dinner. The restaurant has a really calm, cozy ambiance. We started with a drink at the bar, I had a delicious dirty martini and my boyfriend had a vodka soda. Bartenders knew what they were doing and were very friendly. We got a table outside for dinner. Sat in a cute patio area with a view of the Manlius swan pond. They had these nice weather drapes so it was comfortable even though it was raining outside. Ordered little neck clams steamed and the bourbon wings for appetizers. They were cooked perfectly and delicious. The only improvement I could suggest is serving the steamers with a wedge of lemon along with the butter. The bourbon wings were incredible. Flavor was so good. The dipping seasoning/oil they give you with bread is great but the bread itself was nothing to write home about, it was warm but dry - could definitely be improved. Our entrees were the rack of lamb special and the (I think 16 oz?) ribeye. Both were cooked perfectly. I have the say the rack of lamb was amazing! I'm not one for lamb normally but it was cooked and seasoned perfectly. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! All in all, I will definitely return! Great food, service, and overall experience. Highly recommend trying this restaurant for dinner! read more

These guys know what they're doing (and that is running the best restaurant in Manlius). I've enjoyed the Root burger with goat cheese and bacon and the mozzarella lunas. Service is friendly, food is fresh and well-executed, and the renovations have created a clean and comfortable space out of what had become something of a dive. (The newly-enclosed deck room is all hard surfaces and probably gets loud during peak hours, but it's still an improvement.) read more

I have been wanting to try this restaurant for months! Finally got a chance on a recent Saturday night. It was worth the wait. We sat in the enclosed porch overlooking the swan pond. Service was a bit disjointed at first but picked up quickly. They had a great wine and beer list but unfortunately no cocktail list. That would gave been a plus. We started with Pork Potstickers. They were tasty! My husband had the French Onion soup. He has tried every french onion soup at almost every restaurant we have been to. This one was top notch. For entrees, I enjoyed the Eggplant. Fried perfectly and layered with tomatoes, spinach and cheese, it was amazing! My husband enjoyed the night's burger special, Caprese Burger. We look forward to returning! read more

Ok. I had the Root Burger. It was delicious. Cooked just as I like it. The brioch was perfect flavor and not overwhelming. The servive was very good. My wife had the french oniin soup and a salad. Loved them both. We will go bavj soon. read more

I was visiting the area for work and my host took me to dinner here. It is a sweet and cozy place. I am sure the outdoor seating overlooking the swan pond is lovely during good weather. I went in the first week of March, dark and gray. Also didn't drink since this was my first time meeting this person and I was on an interview dinner. I had the eggplant dish and it was quite tasty and hit the spot after a long day of travel. Too big a portion size but what do you do! Service was very friendly and frequent filling of glasses etc. read more

My wife and I tried the Scenic Root when we were in the area fairly early on a Thursday evening, and we're glad we did. We sat out on the porch, and while the evening was a little chilly it was very pleasant. There were draped walls (see photo) and large heaters so you could still enjoy sitting and looking out on the swan pond, but it was perfectly warm. We also enjoyed the choice of music very much (Blues - B.B. King, John Lee Hooker etc.) We started by splitting the Granny Smith and Gorgonzola salad. It also had a chicken breast on it and could have easily served as a dinner for one. It had a great balance of flavors and texture with a very good dressing. My wife got the Pappardelle Esposito, which was a large portion (she took home half) and was creamy and delicious. I got one of the evening's specials, Roast Pork Tenderloin, which was also delicious. It came with mashed potatoes and fried onion strips. One minor suggestion I would make would be to put the pork next to the onion strips as opposed to on top of them. The strips that were covered by the meat became saturated and limp, but the ones which were on the side were crispy and great. We finished the night with a fantastic chocolate cake with whipped chocolate frosting and caramel drizzle. We forced ourselves to not lick the plate in public. The service was attentive and friendly. I might suggest finding a balance between checking on the table and staying in the background. During the meal the water was refilled constantly and we wouldn't have minded a little more time to ourselves, but on the other hand when it was time for the check we sat there for a noticeable amount of time (nothing too drastic). Overall, we really enjoyed our visit, and plan to return. I probably would have given 4.5 if able to. read more

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Tried three times to eat here, even website says open and they don't open up on time....DONE

I love this place, it's truly a gem. I have been several times and each time I want to try something new on the menu but the eggplant always calls my name- it is dynamite! Staff is so friendly and I always feel like I can sit and enjoy my experience. Have also ordered to-go and the dinners are just as good when packaged up! read more

We had a wonderful dinner last night at the Scenic Root with another couple. Mike McDonough has created an inviting restaurant with amazing food, service and atmosphere. The wait staff was attentive and welcoming. We all enjoyed our meals, some of the best food we've had in a long time! In addition, we were seated near a fireplace, which was cozy, on a cool evening. We would highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Dinner a scenic root has taken a step backwards in the last 6 months. Ordered the fish fry and several of the fries were not cooked all the way. Biting into a fry with an uncooked center is kind of gross. There are better restaurants at a similar price point. read more

I am amending my earlier review and adding 2 more stars based on our visit this past weekend. Great food and wonderful ambiance, and the "team service" system worked like clockwork, exactly the way it should. The manager was present throughout the night, and stopped by every table to ask how diners were enjoying the meal. Great food + wonderful ambience + attentive service = Five stars! read more

This is such a hidden gem in Manlius! The food is creative and delicious, the staff is so friendly, and the view of the swan pond from the glassed- in back room is so peaceful. I have returned many times and can count on a pleasant dining experience. read more

We ordered from scenic root last Thursday night. We ordered the Utica greens as an appetizer, I ordered the Mediterranean chicken and my husband ordered the stuffed chicken. We also ordered a bottle of wine for half price. Mike and his staff are doing an excellent job please show your support. read more

This is one of the best meals we've had in a restaurant in a very long time. Not only was the service spot on, with the entire wait staff knowledgeable and helpful with the menu, but the owner coming out to greet us after the meal was like icing on the cake! The entire experience was so memorable, from service, to cocktails, to food, to hospitality, we'll certainly be back the next time we're in town! read more