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    Second Chance Diner

    4.1 (200 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    SECOND CHANCE DINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Second Chance Diner

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    Nice sized Mimosa
    Marc G.

    Upon walking in we were greeted to a friendly environment. Restaurant was packed and we literally were seated in 5 minutes. Waitress greeted us within minutes with menus and waters. Menu was extensive as well as daily specials. Of course I had to get the crab cake Benedict!! Perfection. My daughters ordered the pancake flight and a nice sized omelette. Food came out literally in 5 minutes nice and hot.Unbelievable for being so packed. Waitress was so friendly. Manager even came over to see how we were doing. Finally we ordered Mimosas for dessert:). All enjoyed. This is a very well run establishment and a must for everyone to try. Menu has many lunch items to try if breakfast is not your thing as well. I definitely will be coming back. It is now my go to in Syracuse. Come check them out. Enjoy!!

    WESTERN OMELETTE with HOMEFRIES and sourdough toast
    Alexis M.

    I haven't been here in years since their old location. I am not a fan of the diner across town in the Westcott neighborhood so I was excited to give this one a try at their new location. The service here was friendly and serving sizes proportional. We appreciate that they focus on flavor not just appearance. The lemon blueberry pancake special was delicious and a great choice. I was able to customize my omelette and choose between deep fried or skillet fried potatoes. The restaurant interior is well done and gives a fresh new look to the old diner feel

    Burrito
    Ruriko S.

    We came tonSecond Chance Diner for brunch in a Sunday morning during parent's weekend. The wait time was 35-40 minutes. We were starving so I asked the hostess if we could seat at the bar, and she seated us right away. 5 stars on service, they very very friendly and attentive, not to mention that our server was very sweet. My lady bug had the burrito and I had the Greek omelette, with some modifications: only egg whites, no cheese and tomatoes. I liked my omelette, however I'm not used to oil that's why I gave 4 stars for food. But this is me being peaky. Portions are very generous. Be aware ! We had a great time, people seated next to us kept talking to us. Plenty of parking

    Memosa flight
    Julie S.

    Absolutely loved the food and drinks here! Our waitress was phenomenal. I believe she may have been a manager, she was wearing a headset and dressed a little differently. Super sweet! We ordered a mimosa flight, Benny flight, and the banana bread French toast. Holy moly! All of it was delicious! We will definitely be back for seconds!

    MONTE CRISTO
    Emily K.

    I'm glad I finally got to try this well-known diner. Even for lunch on a Wednesday, it was very busy! They have a large menu with a variety of options. You can also order breakfast all day. I went with the Monte Cristo sandwich and tater tots. The sandwich was a good blend of breakfast and lunch and the tots were crispy, just the way I like them. I definitely recommend going during the week if you can, as they can get very busy on the weekends. Prices are a little high, but everything is going up now. Our waitress could have been a bit more attentive, but overall we enjoyed our visit.

    Breakfast corn dog
    Brynn K.

    Food is excellent, prices are middle of the road and our service was great, especially for going with a large group. Ambiance is where they lose a star for me because it was very loud and the tables were too close together making it feel like we were sitting with strangers. Parking lot was overflowing and I had to park on the street, which technically said no parking but I made it out without a ticket, there were plenty of other cars parked there as well.

    Salmon benny
    Cassandra K.

    Second Chance diner is always a hit when we have company. The unique dishes and drinks are something friends and family love. Personally have tried a number of thier dishes, but my current favorite is thier shrimp and grits. Normally, I am not a huge grits fan, but they do a really good job with this dish and I definitely reccomend it. They have fun community events, the servers and staff are a pleasure. The big things holding this restaurant back from a 5 star for me is just that it is way too crowded, which in some ways is good for them of course, but the problem to me is the seating is pushed very close to other tables. Both times I have gone to thier new location I have felt like I am eating breakfast with the family next to me. The end of my table was maybe a foot and a half away from the next. The past location had some tables that had a bit more breathing room. Additionally, they have weird policies with calling ahead/reservations. With how popular the location is I feel like it would be better to take reservations and call aheads all the time instead of having customers crowd thier entryways for 45min-1hr waiting to get in. Sometimes they do allow call ahead (on your way driving there) but it is not consistent. I go back and forth on a 3 and 4 star due to this​, but settle on a 4 just as the food is delicious and there is always takeout.

    Erica O.

    I got there pretty early so it wasn't crowded at all. I liked how there were different rooms and instead of a typical diner counter, you could sit at the bar. It took a few minutes for the waitress to arrive but I was ready with my order. I got 2 Eggs, 2 Pancakes and a Ham Steak. The eggs were perfectly over easy and the ham was nicely grilled. The pancakes had a very good flavor and it was nice that all the condiments including the syrup were already on the table. Service was good, my server periodically checked in to make sure everything was good. I'll definitely stop back and try something more adventurous next time.

    The Pennzoil special: greasy omelette with oil saturated veggies & deep fried potato cubes (home fries)
    Russell F.

    I have been to the Second Chance several times. This latest experience has me shaking my head as to how far they have fallen. A simple order was placed; a vegetable omelette with home fries and a yogurt parfait. The grease that oozed out of my omelette and onto the plate with the first forkful was unacceptable. On top of that, what they called home fries, were commercial frozen-seasoned potato cubes that they deep fried in the style of Denny's. The overbearing flavor of the seasoning mixed with deep fryer oil flavor just made them inedible. No cheese was a good call. The eggs & veggies in the omelette were already saturated with enough oil to make Jiffy Lube proud. And at $13.99, I was reminded why I usually make breakfast at home, and usually for $2 or less. The yogurt parfait wasn't without its faults, either. It had good tasting berries and flavorful yogurt. What killed it here was the granola. It tasted like Nature Valley. Plus, it's served in a tall mug that is next to impossible to mix the parfait without getting it on the table. Parfait + veggie omelette with potatoes & toast + 2 cups of bottomless (weak) coffee = $37.00 before the tip. The Second Chance is moving on July 23. If they don't tighten up quality, it might be their last chance.

    Rebecca F.

    Wow!! My cousins have been raving about this place for a long time and I'd never been, and boy was I missing out!! Our service here was very quick and this diner is run very efficiently. They were incredibly busy but staff were very on top of things and able to manage the crowds well! I was blown away by the style and variety of foods, and it was also delicious. A great, family-style atmosphere and tons of treats to choose from too! Will definitely be back again, thanks for a wonderful experience!

    Chocolate chip pancakes
    Jillian M.

    Love this modern take on an old fashioned diner. We pop in here now and then because we've moved a little further out of the way, but, no matter how busy the restaurant is, we always have incredible service. I love that you can get lunch breakfast here. I opted for the grilled cheese which was a nice butter bite of gooey, cheesy, sour dough goodness. The ranch also pairs perfectly with the crispy, seasoned fries! The benny was runny, saucy, and delicious. Their home fries are awesome too! We opted for a chocolate chip pancake as our sweet treat to end the meal. Super delicious, and extra sweet with a little added syrup. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!!!

    2, 2 and 2 combo breakfast!
    Mo R.

    There was a 20 minute wait and there's no space so we waited in the car. Once seated food came super fast! We both got the 2/2/2 and everything was good, if you like diner food you'll like it here!

    Flight of mimosas
    Carrie L.

    My daughter and son brought me for Mother's Day brunch. My daughter made a call ahead and table was ready in just under two hours. I arrived at 1230 and we were seated with no additional wait time. Service was good despite being a very busy holiday. My daughter and I enjoyed the fun flight of mimosas, some so over the top you are drinking dessert! A shared flight of pancakes, fruity pebbles was a hit with my son! Reece's peanut butter cup is definitely dead on, and Cinnabun yum! Waffles and chicken so scrumptious there was moaning involved from the consumer! An enormous bagel breakfast sandwich with home fries, was my daughter's pic. I ordered the eggs benny flight bacon, original, and brisket. That's definitely shareable, I had the bacon benny that was a gooey delight and brought the other two benny's to go. They kept well and were devoured by my husband who had also never tried eggs benny, they were a hit! Great festive, family diner ambiance for breakfast, , brunch and special occasions!

    Hot chocolate with carmel and whip cream!

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    Great place, crate service. A bit pricey, but the food is good. Very attractive and nice layout.

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    6 months ago

    Very attentive & friendly service. Plenty of food and prepared perfectly. Nice, friendly, casual atmosphere.

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    Oh My Darling

    Oh My Darling

    3.8
    (404 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$

    This is one of our go to places whenever I visit my daughter in Syracuse... never disappoints!…read moreThe menu has unique plays on some standards... always delicious and the cocktails are inspired & interesting... you'll probably need a rezzy ENJOY!

    I stopped by with a group of 6 on a Friday afternoon. When me and my friend stopped by there was no…read moreone at front so we stood around awkwardly for a bit before someone came over to bring us to our table. Walking through the restaurant was nice as the space was very large and the decor indoor was cozy and whimsical. Our server was nice throughout the meal. However, I did get a water glass that had marks on it that looked like someone just drank out of it and a crumb on the rim. I asked them if they could get me a clean cup and they ended up bringing the same one as the same mark and crumb were still there. For food, our table ordered a few items to share. We got: -CAULIFLOWER WINGS: The chutney/salsa on top of the fried cauliflower was nice and gave the item a little sour kick. However, the cauliflower itself was not cooked fully so not as soft as I wanted it to be. -SYRACUSE POUTINE: The appearance of the poutine was not the best. However, the gravy it came with was very flavorful and tasty. The potatoes themselves were not fried and were in wedge form but went well with the gravy. The small globs of melted cheese on top were a nice complement. -CAJUN SLIDERS: The slider compliments/sauce went well together but the sliders themselves had grill marks on it which gave a bitter bite to those parts of the slider. Additionally, the fried shrimp inside of the slider still had the tail on and so it was a bit of a surprise to bite into a full tail while eating a slider. All in all, a cute spot to see people but food had some hit or miss components.

    Photos
    Oh My Darling
    Rosemary Hot Honey Dipped Crispy Chicken Full Housemade Mac Cheese Honey Dijon Roasted Brussel Sprouts - GF DF
    Rosemary Hot Honey Dipped Crispy Chicken Full Housemade Mac Cheese Honey Dijon Roasted Brussel Sprouts - GF DF
    Strawberry limeade

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    Strong Hearts Cafe

    Strong Hearts Cafe

    4.3
    (711 reviews)
    5.3 mi
    $$

    I realize they are closing next weekend (7/18), but if you ever needed a sign to come here -…read moreconsider this it!! I'm so sad I tried Strong Hearts Cafe so late! Firstly, the space is amazing! It's bright, open, and inviting with plenty of seating. Secondly, staff are very friendly and helpful! And thirdly, their food is amazing! I'm not vegan but their food is genuinely delicious. We ordered the loaded nachos, chicken parm sandwich, and the sweet sassy molassey sandwich, chocolate mint milkshake and a green tea. The half order of loaded nachos was generous in size and toppings! It was filling without being heavy. All of the ingredients were fresh. Probably one of my top loaded nachos ever. The chicken parm sandwich was also amazing! If I didn't know this was a vegan restaurant, I would not have known that the chicken was not meat. It had the texture of perfectly cooked chicken. The stretch bread was soft, the marinara was warm and perfectly seasoned. 10/10 sandwich. The sweet sassy molassey was also quite good! Very bright, filled with vegetables and deliciously seasoned tofu. Finally, the milkshake! I would have never guessed it was vegan. It was creamy, minty, and chocolatey - like drinking thin mints! I'm determined to squeeze in more visits here before they close!

    I have loved everything I've tried. I get something new each time, and can't leave without grabbing…read morea cupcake and a couple of sides to hold me over for a few days. This is the place you take people who think vegan food can't be good. It's one of my top 5 vegan restaurants in the US. They have a beautiful space with lots of seats, great lighting, and a very friendly staff. It's a great place to sit with friends or even to sit with your work computer. 100% recommend - once you go, you'll just keep going back. (Chicken salad sandwich is my favorite so far!)

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Philly Cheesesteak
    Philly Cheesesteak
    Ceasar wrap and tater tot's. Peanut butter chocolate banana milkshake

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    Ceasar wrap and tater tot's. Peanut butter chocolate banana milkshake
    Rise N Shine

    Rise N Shine

    3.8
    (364 reviews)
    6.2 mi
    $$

    Be ready to take food home with you and get at least 2 more meals out of it!!! Beautiful…read morepresentation (mine was served in a tin can and flipped over onto my plate. I had the pierogis/ eggs/bacon special served in a tin can) It was enough for 2 and was delicious! I also had the French toast latte served with a FT stick right on top. Decadent ! Service was speedy, efficient and friendly. If you go plan on going early or putting yourself on the wait list much before you head out the door! It's def worth the wait!!

    Our visit to Rise & Shine Diner was, unfortunately, one of the worst dining experiences we've had…read morein a long time. Even though the restaurant only had two large parties and wasn't particularly busy, we still waited 35 minutes to be seated. That alone didn't make sense, but things only went downhill from there. It was my daughter's birthday, and we were hoping for a fun brunch. Our server started off friendly, but that changed quickly. We ordered our drinks and food at the same time--a chai tea for me, a specialty alcoholic milkshake for my daughter, and no drink for her boyfriend, plus three entrées and a poutine. The drinks took 50 minutes to arrive. The food took over an hour and a half. During all this, the server seemed to avoid our table entirely. When my daughter's boyfriend finally managed to get her attention--very politely, even mentioning that he himself is a server--he simply asked if she had an estimate on our food. She stood there with her hand on her hip and told us the kitchen was backed up, with "three orders ahead of yours," as if that explained everything. We then asked if the poutine, our appetizer, was at least ready. She said they had to make fresh potatoes for it but that she would "rush it." Eventually, she came back with the poutine, plopped it down on the table, and walked away without a single word. No "here you go," no "do you need anything," and--most importantly--no plates. I ended up getting up and asking the hostess for plates so we could actually eat the appetizer. For a place that markets itself as a "fancy diner" with "Instagram-worthy" dishes, the service and execution were nowhere near acceptable. If you're going to lean into trendy presentation and premium pricing, you need the staff to support it. Hire more people. Train them. Do something--because this was unacceptable from start to finish. We won't be returning, and I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone looking for a smooth, enjoyable dining experience. **EDIT** I would like to include the fact of the over priced, over salted, food items don't seem to cover the cost to upgrade your cracked booths so that people's bums are hurt from sitting on them. Needs to be updated and correct staffing issues so that food will be "adequate" for the price. Go anywhere on Westcott than here.

    Photos
    Rise N Shine
    Benny flight with the pastrami smoke salmon, smoked brisket, and Westcott California.
    Benny flight with the pastrami smoke salmon, smoked brisket, and Westcott California.
    Homefries Poutine

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    Homefries Poutine
    The Hops Spot

    The Hops Spot

    4.1
    (355 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $$

    My boyfriend and I stopped here with no expectations, mostly we both just usually go to the same…read morespots and we were looking for something different and away from crowds. We stopped here and were seated instantly at a very comfy and roomy booth. Our server was great as well, I don't remember her name but, truly she was on top of it. We ordered some drinks over the course of our meals as they have a plethora of drinks to try! Their flavor notes to describe their drinks were very helpful to figure out what you'd like and our server was very helpful with making sure we got what we wanted! Our food was amazing and the price for everything was relatively fair and I think affordable for two people to get the full experience! I left extremely happy and definitely coming back for another date night! As we wanted to be away from crowds, at the time it wasn't too busy, but I felt like even if it was, it still wouldn't have hindered the experience, and my boyfriend attested to this as well for all those shy folk!

    Stopped by The Hops Spot on a recent visit to Syracuse and it was excellent!…read more The interior is boldly decorated with wood floors and dark tables and booths. It's a great casual place to hang out or watch a game. There's also a game room in the back which we didn't get to see as there was a private event going on at the time. Both our hostess and waitress were stellar. Our waitress had a table of 8 with 5 different checks, didn't write anything down, and just nailed every order. She also had fantastic suggestions. I ordered "The Burn Notice" burger and it was fantastic! Just the right amount of heat, great flavor, their fries are really solid as well. They have a vast selection of beer, ales and IPAs and you can choose any four of them to make a flight. It comes in a wooden holder with your choices written in chalk. Really awesome! I forget the name, but try number 20, it's fantastic! My daughter recently moved to Syracuse and when visiting, this will be a regular stop. I can wait to try more.

    Photos
    Bar
    Bar
    Burger sliders
    Burger sliders
    Patio and entrance

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    Patio and entrance
    The Whiskey Coop

    The Whiskey Coop

    4.1
    (57 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    First, I have to say that the renovation/ redecorating that has been done (to the old Empire…read moreBrewing), is really first class. They have kept the beautiful details of a historic building while making it warm, classy and comfortable. Service was very good. Our server was also the bartender and he was friendly and helpful....it was our first time visiting. The menu is very eclectic but highlights their house brined, battered and fried chicken. We looked over the menu before going and were excited about the Chicken and Biscuits. It wasn't on the menu, but our server was positive it was available. Three of us ordered the Chicken and Biscuits and one ordered the Hot Mess Chicken sandwich, which she declared delicious. The chicken and biscuits was excellent with a nice amount of chicken and vegetables, creamy and flavorful and homemade biscuits served on the side. I actually prefer the biscuits on the side because I seldom finish my meal so when I take it home, the biscuits are Not soggy. My only disappointment was that while the dish came over looking like a hearty portion, the chicken and biscuits was served over mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes tasted homemade, creamy and seasoned nicely seasoned.....but the actual amount of chicken and biscuits was pretty small. (We didn't know it came with potatoes because we it wasn't on the menu so we didn't get a description) I am looking forward to many more visits and trying some of their signature house brined chicken. We also had a very nice discussion with the bartender about their extensive selection of liquor.

    We will be frequenting Syracuse and Whiskey Coop may become one of our regular stops…read more Really good service, really nice interior ambiance with dark woods. There are high tops, booths and tables for everyone. Seems like a great place to sample the expansive whiskey menu. We stopped in for a quick lunch and ordered the chicken sliders. Solid fried chicken, a bit dry, and needed more seasoning. The honey was needed, and elevated it for sure. The fruit was fresh and plentiful for a side. I was encouraged to return and try more the next time I'm in Syracuse.

    Photos
    Downstairs entrance
    Downstairs entrance
    The Whiskey Coop
    Bar area

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    Bar area

    Second Chance Diner - diners - Updated July 2026

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