Good Customer Service: Fayetteville Uno

With a gift card in hand, we made our way last night to the Uno Chicago Grill in Fayetteville. As most of you know, I’m not one for chains, typically. With the gift card, the money’s already spent, so I don’t see any benefit to not using it.

Aside: The going wisdom is that for every dollar spent at a locally owned shop, 73 cents are spent in the community. For every dollar spent at a chain, 43 cents are spent in the community. Over a large population, that’s quite a boost to the local economy when the money’s spent at local shops.

One thing Uno does that I like is that when he first approaches your table, the server writes his name on a napkin and places it on your table. Brian did so, and then commenced the “I’m Brian, I’ll be your server routine.”

Brian’s first win was having the bartender pour my Sam Adams in the brewery’s “Ultimate Beer Glass.” He noticed the Boston hat, and commented to the positive.

But he also noticed the gift card sitting on the table, which had to scare him, because people have the bad habit of tipping on the cash they pay, not the full bill. So if we had spent $30 on food and had a $25 gift card, would he be getting a big fat $1 tip?

The other exceptional thing Brian did that I liked was when we had a half dinner salad left (we each ordered an entree and shared a dinner salad), he offered us “boxes” – not assuming we had the same destination, even though we did – and then followed up by asking if we’d prefer just one (which we did).

Another aside: I was once at a local establishment with a female friend having wings and watching a football game. “He thinks we’re on a date,” I told her. “Why do you say that?” she asked. “Because he’s being awfully attentive to me, assuming I’m picking up the bill, and we have fresh glasses when there’s still three sips in the ones we’re working on while everyone else has to wait. He wants me to impress you with a big tip.” She didn’t believe me. We moved to a table away from the crowd at the bar when it got busy, and when he brought the bill over, he said, “I knew you just wanted to be alone.”

Brian stopped me on the way out the door to talk baseball, too. Big win for the restaurant.

Your Take: Bars to work at

My bars to work from were the Blue Tusk, Al’s, Empire, the Limerick and Suds.

Bob has some great ideas, too. Not sure how comfortable I’d be bringing my laptop to Dino, but I like Bull & Bear as a spot, and Alto Cinco is a nice spot.

In comments, Greg added Clark’s, which I wish had more electricity, but I’m still down.

Your Take: Coffee Shops to Work From

The brief 5 places… series received a bunch of feedback. Wow! So now we’re going to do your takes for the next few days.

My 5 coffee shops to work from were Recess, Kubal, Funk N Waffles, and two Freedom of Espresso stores.

On LinkedIn, Jill hadn’t previously heard of Kubal, and Bob pointed out that it’s really small. Glenn suggested the Route 57 Starbucks:

Other places that came up in comments:

• Sugarpearl
• Strong Hearts
• Second Story
• Freedom of Espresso’s other two locations
• The cafe at Syracuse University’s Bird Library

Dining Review: La Taqueria

I tried La Taqueria recently, and the short version of this review is, it’s worth a few trips.

La Taq is a new restaurant, and a sister to Dolce Vita, which as some of you know has quite an eclectic menu. La Taq does the taco/burrito/nachos thing, but throws in some Dolce with it.

They have a daily (rotating) Dolce-inspired burrito – the first day I went, it was Bombay chicken (shredded chicken with a curry sauce). Rather than that, I tried a three-taco plate, giving the carnitas, steak and chicken a try, as well as the soft and hard tacos, and whatever sauces they happened to have on hand that day.

I was a little nonchalant about what I wanted where, making the woman putting the tacos together a little nervous (“which sauce with which meat?” “eh, whichever order you happen to pick up the sauces is fine.”), but as I told her, the first time somewhere, you go to get an idea of what they have, try as much as you can, and then go back the second time and actually get what you’d like.

And now I know when I go back (because I will), there’s some darn good stuff on the menu.

It’s reasonably priced, the food is fresh and delicious, and they’re open good hours. Hopefully they’re not cursed by being in that location (it’s on South Clinton Street just below Walton) – Slices and a late-night Mediterranean place were both short-lived there.

Let me know what you think if you’ve been!

5 Places to Bring Colleagues and Clients in the Syracuse Area

After my post last week about coffee shops to work at in the Syracuse area, Jill asked if I’d write a post about places to bring colleagues and clients:

So here we are.

1. Freedom of Espresso, Franklin Square. OK, this was on my coffee shop list, too, but that makes sense, right? I sort of use it as an office sometimes, and this Freedom store is convenient to downtown, but outside of the bustle. And did I mention there’s a hot dog cart across the street at lunch time? Well, when the weather supports it, anyway.

2. Alto Cinco. Alto Cinco, for you non-Spanish speakers out there, translates literally to “high five.” If you need another reason to bring a client or colleague, try it yourself first. The atmosphere is cozy (they’ve avoided expansion though they could easily fill a room three times that size), the food is really good, and if you need a wine recommendation, they’re right there for you. Bonus: It’s across the street from Recess so you can grab some joe or hot chocolate on your way out. No wifi at the restaurant, but it’s a good spot for a meeting anyway.

3. Edward Thomas Cigar. OK, this is kind of a boys’ club. As in I’m not really sure they’d know how to react if a woman walked in (any volunteers?). But Edward Thomas‘s new digs are pretty sweet. Most of the space is now members-only; really a ploy to let people bring in some booze. There’s a non-member smoking lounge with a big TV. There’s no alcohol allowed and the wifi is weak back there. The rest of the place, however, has a strong wifi signal and members can bring a cocktail and a guest or two. The space includes a large room with a dozen flat panel TVs and leather recliners; computer carrels; a conference room; a poker room; and a more open room with one of those coffee tables with a top that lifts toward you.

4. Al’s Wine & Whiskey. Al’s made my bars to work from post last week. Pull up one of the couches, or take over the pool table in the back room. If you tip your bartender, s/he might even surrender the back room remote control.

5. Burnet Park. Again, no wifi, but Burnet Park has a zoo, a golf course, a pool, a skating rink, a basketball court and softball fields, in addition to some open space. And if you feel the need for food and drink, both Nibsy’s and Coleman’s are within a few blocks.

5 bars to work from in Syracuse

Yesterday we did my favorite coffee shops to work from in the area. Well, it’s Friday and you’re ready to get your weekend on, so where can you get a good brew while finishing up for the week?

1. The Blue Tusk. OK, so the Tusk is over-priced, has consistently mediocre food and a staff that could care a little more. They have a great beer list, and a back room with two little counters that have electrical outlets and wifi from about six different places. There’s almost never anybody back there, and even the bar staff will forget you’re back there if you stick around long enough. Just don’t get locked in!

2. Al’s Wine & Whiskey. You kind of have to sneak around at Al’s to snag some electricity, but the food is excellent, as are the happy hour specials. They keep a rotating selection of 20 bottles of wine available for $20 each, and if you don’t finish it, they’ll give you the rest in a to-go bag (for realz). They also have decent beers and a fair whiskey and fine spirits selection, as far as the local scene goes (check ‘em out). The place is comfy, and they managed to get entirely rid of the cigar smell from when they allowed that kind of thing. Just watch out for your mouse – they kept the holes in the counter where the ashtrays were!

3. Empire Brewing. Empire probably gets the two biggest thumbs up for food and drink. But the basement location means poor reception for some cell phones, and there’s not much electricity. I’d take the last remaining hour of your laptop battery here and plan to spend a few hours “finishing up.”

4. The Limerick. Terrible website aside, the Limerick is much bigger and much cleaner than you remember it. And those two cute little side counters across from the bar? They have lamps on them and electrical outlets below them. I get pretty strong wifi signals there from several different sources, and the place doesn’t get crowded until 8ish. You’ll also be the only working there (unless I’m there, too).

5. Syracuse Suds Factory. For the last time, no, the Suds Factory does not make soap. They make delicious beer (though, to be honest, not as delicious as Empire). It’s got a great hardwood-and-exposed-brick atmosphere, and they’re happy to share their wireless password if you show that you’re buying while you’re working. There’s unfortunately only one outlet in the entire place and it’s nowhere near the bar. Order some food, though; it’s consistently awesome.

photo credit: Mike McCune

5 coffee shops to work from in the Syracuse area

Over at Outspoken the other day, Lisa Barone wrote about some etiquette for working at coffee shops. Basically, it’s how to grab some focus while not being a jackass to other customers, and, more importantly, to the business you’re patronizing.

You should read that post, then come back; I’ll tell you my favorite coffee shops to work from in the Syracuse area.

1. Recess Coffee. Recess is tucked in the Westcott neighborhood and is open late. There’s free on-street parking within a block, although during the school year it can get tough to find parking since the students who rent in the area are stuck parking on the street. They roast their own coffee, and it’s clear they’re coffee drinkers, because the coffee’s really good. They also have creative hot chocolates that bring a lot of people back. They don’t have a ton of electricity, so bring a fully charged laptop. And bring headphones; the music can sometimes get a little loud.

2. Freedom of Espresso, Franklin Square. For me, this is the most comfortable of the Freedom stores to work from (and one of two to make my top five spots in town). It’s comfortable, has electricity all the way along one wall, and, with the exception of the fact that without fail someone will make or take a really loud phone call during the day, it’s the quietest cafe in town. The wifi is stable, parking is plentiful, and if you need a little inspiration, there’s a statue of Benjamin Franklin across the street and the CreekWalk about 50 steps in the other direction. There’s also a hot dog cart at lunchtime. Word.

3. Funk ‘n’ Waffles. Funk has the strongest coffee in town, and really good food. Seriously, where else in town can you get fried chicken & waffles? They have overstuffed chairs, plenty of electricity, very stable wifi…the only thing that makes me shy away from going there is the parking. It’s on the SU hill, so you’re either going to pay a fortune for parking or walk a mile. It’s great for consolidating trips up there, though.

4. Cafe Kubal. Kubal is another place that roasts its own coffee and clearly is run by coffee lovers. They also make brilliant sandwiches. It’s open before 8 a.m., which makes it a winner for me, since I like to get going early. There’s plenty of free parking, too. Unfortunately, it’s tiny, the machines can get loud, and it can get crowded. The electricity per capita is really good, if you can get a seat.

5. Freedom of Espresso, Fayetteville. The only real problem with this Freedom store is the wifi is iffy. They have plenty of large leather chairs, and a long counter space in front of the window that is meant to be workspace – it has electricity for every seat, and a space between the counter and the wall for cables. Plenty of free parking next to the store and in the back.

Tomorrow, it being Friday, we’ll get your happy hour on with my favorite bars to work from.

photo credit: Ballistik Coffee Boy

3 Favorites from Finger Lakes Wine Festival

We spent the weekend at the Watkins Glen raceway for Finger Lakes Wine Festival. The takeaways are that next year, we’re going to camp down the road at the state park and hit the festival at the less crowded times: mid-afternoon Saturday and during the day Sunday. But from a guy who likes very dry reds and has recently grown a fondness for Spanish reds, here are a few favorites I wasn’t expecting.

Catherine Valley Dry Riesling (2008). Catherine Valley is on the east side of Seneca Lake. They have a list of sweet and semi-sweet wines that includes their signature, The Lost Irishman, a blush. But their dry Riesling is fruity, full-bodied, and it finishes clean. It comes in at $16 a bottle – I typically don’t go above a $12 price point (in fact, most of my favorites are in the $6-$8 range), but this was exceptional.

Pazdar Winery Chocolata Amor^TM. We encountered Pazdar at the Launch of the Lakes party Friday night (basically a giant toga party with a few wineries). They had brought a limited selection to the launch party, but since that selection included wines with names like Dragon’s Revenge and Naughty Virgin, we had to try them. They promised they would have three chocolate wines at the tasting on Saturday, so we sought them out. The Chocolata Amor^TM is a rich, dark chocolate flavor. It’s semi-sweet, not overwhelming. It’s like making a rich hot chocolate and bringing it down to room temperature. I can’t say enough about this wine, although we didn’t buy any – it comes in at $22 for a 375 ml (that’s a half-bottle). Might make a nice Mothers Day gift next year.

Earle Estate Meadery Pear Mead. We came across Earle Estates on a return to the tasting tents after lunch on Saturday. The crowd had thinned out and we had time to talk to the people pouring and really try their interesting selection. I tend to not like wines made from fruits other than grapes (I can handle the occasional peach or raspberry wine for dessert, but even then, it’s just one glass and then I’m good for a while). I tried the contemporary and the traditional mead, and was ready to walk away with two bottles of contemporary and one of traditional (the latter for drinking around the fire that night). The lady pouring said they’d received lots of compliments on the apricot, so I tried it, and immediately dumped the glass &ndash it was overwhelming. Same with the blackberry I tried after. So she recommended the pear; it turns out it’s a pear tease with that nice honey finish mead has. I traded one of the contemporary for a pear mead at $13.

What are some of your favorites?

A Taste of Philadelphia

If you’re in the Syracuse area, you’ve probably driven past A Taste of Philadelphia a bazillion times and thought, “I really need to try that place.”

I’ve been doing it for seven years.

And then Dan Lovell (blog – Twitter) said I had to try it, and put his money where his mouth was.

He recommends the pizza cheesesteak, but it being my first time there, I had to try the special. And since there will most definitely be a second time, I’ll try the pizza next time.

The place is the sort I tend to prefer: dark, lacking pretense, full of stuff on the walls that matches the theme of the place (umm, Philadelphia, why would you even ask?). And good food, for really reasonably prices.

Give it a try, really. There’s even a little parking lot next to the building so you don’t have to deal with parking on James Street. Do it. Today, even.

Launching Local: Dolce Vita to Debut Local Menu

Dolce Vita, a restaurant with an eclectic menu I really enjoy, is going local for its food, and they’ll be featuring many local beers and wines. They’re launching their local menu at a private event for Syracuse First, with tickets available for $35 for Syracuse First members and $40 for non-members. Here is the invite.

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Dolce Vita has created a “Local Menu” and has offered to give Syracuse First members a first taste!

This private event will feature a three course menu of Local Cuisine with beef from Nancy Lorraine Hoffman, poultry from Crossman Farms, and vegetables from CNY farmer’s market.

Dolce Vita’s “Local Menu” is part of their one year anniversary celebration (also in June) called “We’ve taken you around the world, now we’re taking you the place you least expect.” Everything served as part of this menu has been produced locally within the CNY and Finger Lakes region.

“Launching Local” Details:
When: June 2, 2010. Happy Hour starts at 5:30, Dinner at 6:30
Where: Dolce Vita, 907 East Genesee Street, Syracuse NY 13210
Why: Living local, loving local, launching local!
Price: Tickets are $35 for Syracuse First members and $40 for non members.
*Price includes a three course meal, presentations of the menu, specials on local wines and beers, entertainment and raffles!

Tickets can be purchased with credit/debit card by calling Dolce Vita at 315-475-4700 or via cash or check at the Syracuse First Networking event on May 27th or at the restaurant.

Additional Info:
*Space is limited! Purchase your tickets today to be sure you can participate in this great event!
**Please note that gratuity is not included in the price and we encourage you to tip the hardworking Dolce Vita staff !