Category Archives: Resturants

Empire Brewery Review

By Posted in Resturants Tagged , , , , , , , 19 Comments

There are a few highest honors you can have in my life.  A very important one is meeting my dad.  My dad isn’t scary and I don’t really know why people are intimidated by him…actually he downright hilarious.  Last week I begged Laura to come to dinner with dad and I before she left for the Cleveland marathon and I left for VA(which she rocked…you can read about it here).

empire

We settled on a local brewery at Empire Brewery in downtown Syracuse.   They make their own beer and have some of the best and most delicious bar type of food I’ve had to date.  I’ve been a few times (as to why I can write a proper LOLZ review) and gotten the Mediterranean platter, Greek salad, and feta chicken flatbread…

The reason I like their salads so much as not only do they add a ton of actual food (I’m actually not still hungry after eating), there is pita bread (+1 point), I can get multiple dressings (+1 point) and they have couscous in the salad (+1)…Not sure what these points are adding up too but it’s my review and I’ll add points if I want.

empiregrilledchickensalad

The main thing is the food filled me up and tasted good.  Oh and wasn’t expensive.  It might be a little bit of a lie if Laura and I hadn’t discussed the dessert options beforehand so that is that.  We settled upon each getting a sundae made from a special dark beer (similar to Guinness).  Wow, this was probably one of my favorite ice creams to date.  It wasn’t like beer overload but it had all the deliciousness of beer and ice cream combined.

laurandidessert

Then dad shocked the world and ordered a cheesecake.  He said it was “for the blog” (my dad routinely makes fun of my blog) and he also has absolutely not sweet tooth at all.  The cheesecake was also deliscous but left to my own I would (and next time I come to Syracuse) will get the sundae again.

dad

So would I recommend Empire Brewery?  Well if you can’t tell I don’t generally write restaurant reviews unless they have become a LOLZ staple.  (Though I know eventually I’ll write a snarky one) I think I should make a review tab at this point.  Oh and yes I would recommend Empire and I would say go big and get the sundae too.

Questions for you: Favorite flavor of ice cream?  Favorite beer? 

Dates with Legends Part 2

By Posted in Breakfast, DailyMusings, Food, Personal, Resturants Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , 19 Comments

 It seems like forever ago, but really this week is really flying by due to packing and finishing up loose ends.  Hopefully whoever has them is done with finals…or doing well.  Last weekend I went to hang out with Laura in Rochester.  I honestly had one of the greatest weekends I’ve had in a long time and I’m really glad that I did.

After our nice shakeout run in the AM (and barely avoiding the rain) we headed to one of our favorite restaurants.  I know I would be a regular here if I lived this close.  Jine’s restaurant is always pretty busy when we go (but we always go during brunch time after a run on weekends) but they do serve some of the best brunch. You know how I like my omelets since I can’t cook them.  The two times I’ve been to Jimes, I’ve gotten a Lox Omelet with pita bread.

omelettepita

Both times, it’s been exceptionally good.  I don’t have too much to say other than the food was excellent (and I highly recommend it) as well as the waitress who we had was so kind and really took an interest to us.  We were literally chatting for about 10 minutes.  Even when it was busy, she made time to chat and really take care of us.

We went to the Rochester Lilac Festival, a big festival that is…well centered around Lilacs.  They had crafters, venders, food, music and even a road race…but that is next weekend.  I was really eye balling the funnel cake and fried dough but knew it probably wouldn’t be the greatest idea before a race the next day.   I love me some fried fair food but I’ll have to wait until there are some events in VA I suppose.

highlandfallslauraandi

And also went to Highland Falls, a gorgeous view in Rochester.  Am I really still in the city here?

highlandfalls

After hanging out, gossiping, shopping at target and doing stuff for a while we decided to get ready for our date at TRATA.  The Restaurant at the Armory is a tapas style restaurant that you can get a bunch of small dishes (or just one large entrée for yourself) and share with each other.

The restaurant itself is three floors tall and had some of the coolest decors I’ve seen in any restaurant.

trata

We opted to first try the duck quesadilla which was extremely delicious.  I can’t even begin to tell you how good the quesadilla was and when we had it I was more than excited to try the steak salad next.  I could have filled up on a few of those alone really.

duckquisadillatrata

The steak salad was also really good but there isn’t really a bad way to make a steak salad I suppose and with goat cheese I was in love.  My only little issue was I probably could have eaten 3 times the amount that was given.

steaksalad

But that was okay because it gave me room for the world’s BEST Guinness cake.  The cake was so rich and delicious, and I ate the entire thing (then I was full LOL).

Caught in the act. I'm not even sure Laura knew I got her.

Caught in the act. I’m not even sure Laura knew I got her.

Would I recommend TRATA?  Absolutely, the atmosphere, the service and the food was amazing.  I would say you are probably going to spend a good amount of money (our meal together was around 70) but it’s certainly worth it and a nice treat.  Heck, I would personally just go there for dessert and a beer the cake was that good.  So Guinness cake and Guinness?

All in all, I had an amazing weekend and I can honestly say that I will absolutely miss Laura to death.  (Yes, I’m sappy admitting that on my blog).  The LOLZ is a sappster.

Questions for you:

Favorite beer?

Mine is Guinness…followed by heinakin.  I’m certainly a dark brewed person. 

Have you ever been to a fair or festival?

King Davids Restaurant Review

By Posted in Resturants Tagged , , , 20 Comments

I am a very spot orientated person.  Certain restaurants for me just jive and I could be a regular there forever.  That being said, I don’t do many restaurant reviews or recommendations but when I do (insert meme here) you know I’ve probably been there a lot and absolutely love it.

In Syracuse, NY there is such a place, a Greek Restaurant called King Davids.  First and foremost, I love Greek food (if you want to know the key to my heart outside of pancakes…there you go).  I think it’s especially delicious…I like gyro meat, I like dolmades and grape leaves as well as pita bread and that could be why I’m a bit biased.  Although it’s about an hour from my house, it’s always worth the drive.  I consider myself a restaurant foodie.  I’ll drive hours on hours for good food because I can’t cook.  Considering I go to Syracuse a lot anyways…I normally just stop there.

You would never suspect how good it is and honestly the first time I walked in I was like erm…okay then.  The food, however, has never disappointed me.   The service is always extremely quick.  I’ve been served my food within 15 minutes of arriving there several times and it’s never crowded.

Remember when I got this Greek salad?

Oh and the portions are huge too.

Oh and the portions are huge too.

Pita and Feta Cheese?

pitabreadfetacheese

And these dolmades?

dolmades

Gyro wrap…yes please?

Ignore this this terrible photo. But do enjoy the gyro wrap with french fries.

Ignore this this terrible photo. But do enjoy the gyro wrap with french fries.

Oh and the Red Velvet cake that several bloggers lusted over came from there too…

We also split Red Velvet Cake

So if you ever come to the Syracuse area, know that is restaurant is the LOLZ approved.  Also know if you want to drive me there…well I will never complain.

Questions for you:

Do you like Greek Food?

Are you a regular anywhere?

Funk N Waffles (Restaurant)

By Posted in Resturants Tagged , , , , , , 21 Comments

Some people requested I do more Restaurant Reviews…I only really do reviews of restaurants that are interesting or…terrible.  Who wants to read “I got a wrap and it was good…”. 

I went to Funk and Waffles last weekend.  My housemate and I have been dying to try this place and what better night than a Friday (because we can still be back to watch TLC at night).  We both are waffle obsessed and this restaurant was actually on man versus food.

funknwaffles

To give you a brief overview, it’s a small little café across from Syracuse campus that serves waffles.  They have a lot of different combinations (and many that inspired me).  They also have live bands as well but we weren’t going to be in town then so we just went for dinner.  I’d also assume it’s real hit for people hung over to go and get their carbs the day after as well.

Moving on, when I saw they sold coffee mugs I clearly needed to buy one for my collection. As a girl who likes her waffles and collects coffee mugs…well erm…duh.

smokedsalmonwaffle

I decided to go with one of the savory waffles personally and I know I’ll be back again beforehand to get a sweet waffle.  I’m running a couple of races in Syracuse before…so that will be the time.

I decided to get the “Florentine” which was salmon, feta and spinach.  Then I decided to be creative and get a buckwheat base.  I’ll tell you, it did not disappoint.  I wish there had been a bit more salmon on it, but that’s okay the food was less than 10 dollars so I can’t complain.

I think for me personally, if I had gone to Syracuse I would have probably been down here a lot more than I should.  Not only is the food great, but the atmosphere is just as cool.  It’s “funky” and has that band scene vibe which I enjoy.  They host a whole slew of open mic events so if that is your scene and you are in Syracuse…well I recommend it.  Or if you just like waffles (like me).

danielleandi

So yes, obviously this restaurant deserved an entire post on my blog because I think the last 99/100 food posts I’ve done are waffle related.

Question for you:

 Favorite college (or now) restaurant hangout?

Favorite breakfast restaurant? 

WIAW with the Parents

By Posted in Resturants Tagged , , , , , , , , , , 42 Comments

I never really intend for my blog to be have very many whiney posts but it is realistic updates  of what is going on in my life, whether it’s pancakes, running or life in general.  There haven’t been a lot of life in general posts because quite frankly I haven’t had a lot to report.  I’m boring…sue me.  I don’t have a lot of friends…sue me.   I don’t go out binge drinking with undergradates that I’m trying to teach them alternatives to that culture…sue me.  What am I going to recap each weekend…hanging out and eating popcorn while gossiping on a Friday night with my housemate?  I know it probably thrills you.  I can’t say it’s completely being busys fault but I can say that I haven’t really made the biggest effort to stay busy

I just quite frankly don’t care and I don’t plan to stay in the arctic tundra for my entire life.  I really love my job (and educating students…that’s a post in itself) but outside of that…I don’t know.   Long story short, I’m in a bit of a funk.

So yes, this WIAW with my parents has kind of turned into a bit of a life update which I’m fine with.  As long as I attach a photo of ice cream, I’ll get everyone to just comment on how good ice cream is right?  Moving on, I think part of the reason that I’ve had a hard time here is that the town itself is not runner friendly.

My dad: I don't want that specialty crap. I just want plain vanilla ice cream...I'll be bold and go with a cone.

My dad: I don’t want that specialty crap. I just want plain vanilla ice cream…I’ll be bold and go with a cone.

Not runner friendly meaning the terrain and packed snow make it impossible to run outside.  There aren’t many people that run…in Syracuse sure but that is 45 minutes away and if I plan to never eat again I guess I could make that drive everyday.  Plus it’s obviously just a touch to cold to be outdoors anyways…Running isn’t my whole life though and that’s fine.  I can mindlessly watch TV.

We also split Red Velvet Cake

We also split Red Velvet Cake

While I’ve made great friends, most of my friends aren’t here.  Though I’m not really sure where they are.  Who exactly am I considering my friends that aren’t here, my family and Tim?  I mean I guess both technically are.

Greek food is the key to my heart

Greek food is the key to my heart

For me personally, I find February to be an overall funky month.  Last year at this time I was just recovering from a broken arm.  We did have a warmer winter last year (compared to the winter 2 years ago when it was -30 quite a few times (good thing my hair froze multiple times to and from swim practice) This year it’s much more snowy and winter like but at least not that cold.   Some people might enjoy the winter I’m not one of them…I just find February a month to get through.  Though it’s the shortest month, it sure feels like the longest.

hotel coffee

hotel coffee

hotel waffle

hotel waffle

Here is some food because I did title it a WIAW post with my parents:

Cat fish.

Cat fish.

Finally, I’m taking requests for more main girl videos so feel free to comment here, email or tweet me ideas.

Question for you:

What month is the hardest for you to get through?

Do you have a handful of closer friends or a bunch of good friends?