Pronto Joey’s

We’d been to Joey’s before, but this particular visit was disappointing enough to be our last. We arrived to be told there’s a 25 minute wait – if we’d like to wait downstairs at the bar, they’d call us when our table was ready. Well, after 45 minutes, the wonderful bartender called upstairs to check on our table. Well of course our table was ready – the once crowded dining room was now mostly empty – and we could see many names after ours had been crossed off of the list. Nobody bothered to call downstairs. Thankfully she called – who knows how much longer we’d have waited? In spite of the mostly empty dining room, we were seated 15 minutes before being greeted (in spite of the overly bubbly young girl that seated us after telling us «Oh let me just clean a booth for you, and get you seated right away!», and left us standing there another 5+ minutes, in the way of people trying to exit, as we thought our damned table was READY – and seated us at a wet table with someone else’s check on it – seeing us sitting there, sans water and server), and it was downhill from there. Service was pathetically slow. Our server was not very attentive at all (shocking, right? considering how excellently we had been treated all evening? *eyeroll*). Often she was spotted standing around chitchatting. Salads should have come out immediately – that was another 15 minute wait – and the salad was pretty pathetic-​huge pieces of romaine that were too large and needed to be cut… and my date’s dressing was wrong, so back it went! My food, the eggplant parm, came out not even hot. It was just okay. My date ordered the chicken parm, which was hot – which makes me believe my dish was ready first and sat there. With a mostly empty dining room, I’d expect both of our dishes to come out hot. (although, one might expect their food to be hot, yknow, all the time.)I’m amazed to read so many other reviewers call Joey’s food the best Italian food around. It’s mediocre at best. Water on the dish from the marinara sauce is not found in authentic Italian food. If you’re unlucky enough to be seated at one of those center tables, be ready to be constantly bumped into by other patrons, as well as having them look awkwardly at your food, and you. We were there over 2 hours – and no dessert or coffee. Just a bad experience overall. We’d have been better off going to the Olive Garden. And who the hell likes the Olive Garden???

A MUST place to go!!! Waitresses are AWESOME! Food Fantastic! We go all the time!!!

This restaurant is in the same building as a sister restaurant with a similar name, and this can be a little confusing. In fact, while I was eating dinner, I saw some people be turned to the other restaurant and someone near my table actually showed the waitress a picture on his phone of a menu item that he wanted from the other restaurant. She told him she could get that for him, which is great customer service, but a little bit weird. I think posting both menus in the shared lobby would be very helpful. My impression is that Pronto Joey’s is a more «blue collar» version of the other restaurant.
The restaurant is cozy and a little bit diner-​like in its décor. The service is fast and friendly. The menu has a wide variety of classic Italian dishes and the prices are reasonable. I ordered scallops, broiled, and they were pretty good. They came with a side of spaghetti and asparagus. Unfortunately, the asparagus was sitting in the butter/​wine sauce of the scallops, so it was a little bit mushy. I also received a very large portion of Italian bread with garlic butter. I would say that the food was all good, but pretty basic it’s preparation, and very plain in its presentation.
I feel like this rated a «3» for my first visit; however, I suspect that, if I had the opportunity to return and explore the menu some more, I would probably find some dishes that could become favorites of mine. I would highly recommend this as a place to try for locals; however, if you’re just visiting from out of town, perhaps the restaurant downstairs would be a more special place to try.

Sadly, not good. Syracuse has fantastic Italian food but this isn’t it. Garlicky, salad dressing not good and sauce blah marinara. The wait staff excellent but I won’t be going back. Expensive for the quality.

Jeanie was an awesome waitress… definitely recommend this place and ask for her!!! great ravioli and bread too!

I love this place it’s great for business meetings or grab lunch with a friend, friendly staff, great food, great prices. Great deserts.

Was contacted by management about my bad meal and they were very apologetic and willing to make it right. I am very pleased with the way they explained the reason and were very professional. thank you pronto.

Came here for a quick dinner with a coworker while in town on business. The waitress was friendly and the atmosphere is very relaxed. We decided to go upstairs rather than to the more swanky downstairs restaurant. I’ll have to go there next time just for the experience.
The bread and butter were fantastic as was the salad that came out before I meal. The food came out very quickly and I decided to give the Italian platter a try. It was so good but let me tell you it’s a lot of food. I took more than half of it home. The waitress was nice to wrap it up tightly along with the leftover bread and butter. My coworker got the manicotti and ate every bite. She’s been here quite a few times and assured me that everything is delicious. I believe her! The sauce was fantastics and the eggplant was cooked perfectly. The desserts in the case looked awesome as well, I’ll be back next time I’m in town to try one.

Ordered the wings, pasta with red sauce, and a cod special. Everything was delicious and we were pleasantly surprised. Would definitely come here again. A nice little gem!

This is absolutely the best Italian place in town and the standard by which I give my 5-​star ratings. I was introduced to Joey’s a couple of months ago by a mentor and have eaten there numerous. Their prices are «very» reasonable especially given the portions that you receive. Just writing this review is giving me a craving for their food and bread (a must try — garlic butter spread). The food here is some of the best Italian cooking that I have had with an impeccable wait staff. The atmosphere can range from causal to classy depending on whether your seated downstairs (classic dining) or upstairs (pronto) but the result is the same. An absolute divine dining experience. I’ve taken family and friends here numerous times.
My recommendation: A MUST TRY for all Italian food lovers.
Dishes of Note:
Calamari Steak ⁵⁄₅
Chicken Francaise 4.5÷5
Chicken Parm 4 – 4.5÷5
Tiramisu ⁵⁄₅
Steak 4 – 4.5÷5

It had been years since we ate at Pronto Joeys.
We had good memories and decided to go back while in the area.
We should have stayed with the memories.
It was Saturday and it was crowded but the service was scattered the apps came out after the salad. We had the Greens and they were good the salad was fine for a side salad.
The entrees were virtually tasteless. I had the riggies as did two other people one person had lasagna and another had chicken marsala. The dishes were scalding hot and had to be salted, peppered and have hot pepper and Parmesan cheese added to give it any flavor.
The person with lasagna decided to take theirs home as it was impossible to eat.
The person with the chicken Marsala waited on an order of gluten free pasta in Marsala sauce that showed up after the meal with the wrong sauce.
Because they erred in regards to the pasta they gave us a free dessert ant the cannoli was good.
Overall a disappointment and our last trip there

The atmosphere is nice. Menu is good. Food was good. Bread was great. Our server was not very attentive. Otherwise I would have rated higher. Would go again.

GREAT meal. We shared a calamari appetizer, then for dinner I had the chicken francaise. Lots of flavor and then the homemade cannoli. Very good.
4 stars instead of 5 because the air conditioning could have worked a bit better.

Super friendly and helpful staff. In particular, Jeanne was fabulous and so helpful. We had two little ones and she was patient and in good cheer.
The warm bread with crispy outside was awesome. Crispy salad was yummy. Kids inhaled the spaghetti and pizza. My Caesar salad was great — not too heavy on the dressing like most places. The Chicken Riggies was phenomenal. Perfect amount of spice, veggies, and chicken. YUMMY.
Laid back atmosphere with good, hearty Italian food, and a fabulous staff.

Very good service and food. So why the 3 Star rating? It was 81 degrees in the restaurant last night! That is unacceptable. It ruins the dining experience. Fix your air conditioning so your patrons can enjoy there meals in a comfortable atmosphere.

Fortunately, for Joey’s Unilocal doesn’t give half-​stars. This place is a 3.5, but better than a three, so by default it gets a 4. I’ve only been here once and did so because the other Italian place in town was closed for lunch so I decided to give Joey’s a try.
This place has a very laid back atmosphere and reasonable prices coupled with large portions. I small antipasto was huge and tasted great. The chicken parm had enough for two people. I actually brought half of it home to by buddy and it was enough for both of us to be full. Their sauce tasted great and the chicken was good (no where near as soon as Santangelos, which I ate that night, however).
I still think anyone coming here would be thrilled with their meal and the value that comes with it. It might not be the world’s best food, but it makes places like the Olive Garden look terrible, well, which they are. Joey’s is good and belongs on the to-​visit list.

I am only giving two stars because the staff was really nice
The food… well I feel like this place should get a visit from Gordon Ramsey! The scallops were DISGUSTING and the steak salad, well in-​edible.
Honestly this place had terrible food.

I have washed my hands. I have washed my face. I have changed my clothing. I have even tubbed with the baby. I cannot get the smell of Ragu jarred sauce and over salted and garlic’d imposter ‘Italian” food out of my nostrils.
Someone get this place on Kitchen Nightmares please.
Super friendly wait staff though. We like you :)

I was in town with my husband and mom for my convocation at SU, and successfully stayed away from chain restaurants during our visit! My favorite spot was Pronto Joey’s. We ended up waiting about half an hour to be seated, because the dining room was small and people had reservations since it was, indeed, graduation weekend. Once we were seated, I was very impressed!
Starters were great. The house vinaigrette on my side salad was divine, and ask for an extra loaf of that amazing warm bread with the garlic butter. I ordered off the make your own pasta menu, got angel hair pasta with marinara sauce and mushrooms. Yum! My mom said her chicken marsala was the best she’s had in a long time, and my husband, the pizza expert, raved about his personal pizza.
If I’m ever back in Syracuse, I would not hesitate to visit again!

You won’t find better Italian dining in Central New York than Joey’s. My family has been coming here for years, and very rarely have we ever left unsatisfied. There’s a reason why it’s remained open so long and that celebrities make it a top place to visit on their way through town.
Like huge portions and affordable, delicious food? Then this place is for you. The service is always fantastic, and they have a pretty solid wine list to boot.
I recommend starting off your meal with a caesar salad accompanied by some of their bread with garlic butter (don’t worry, there are breath-​mints by the door on your way out).
From there? Try the veal. It’s the best in the city. And if veal isn’t your thing, try the chicken francaise.